Bus Fumes

If you think the last presidential campaign was interesting, it's got nothing on current Illinois politics. It's all Blago, Burris and Daley, all the time. Argh.

The Sun Times proves I'm prescient. And it's snowing again.

Blago's machinations are causing headaches and heartaches for medical providers.

Nobody wants Burris, but it looks like we may have him shoved down our throats for the next two years. He's certainly not going to back down. He hasn't in the past. And why does he want this so badly? As my sister says, he's got room for one more title on his tomb. Great.

At this point, I'd rather the Senate confirm him. That is not to say I'm happy with him. He's shown incredibly poor judgment in his acceptance of Blago's offer.

However, this state needs its legislators to get back to work, and FAST. The Burris sideshow is pulling far to much focus off the important issues in Springfield.

I can stamp my little foot and shake my little fist at the injustice all I want, but the fact of the matter is, as long as this goes on, the state falls farther and farther behind in its obligation to its residents.

Enough, already.

It's highly unlikely that Burris will be reelected in two years. And he's the Dems' headache now. I don't think he can do a lot of damage in D.C. all by his lonesome.

I don't like it, but I can deal with it.

Drive-Bys

If I had to buy a new vehicle right now, I think I'd be buying a Hyundai. That's a policy that makes good sense.
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Here's more news that makes Chicago look dirty. If you have advertising bucks, take them anywhere but to Leo Burnett, okay?
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Will wearing a vegetable helmet lead to a vegetative state if you're in an accident? One would think so.
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Quote of the Day:

Let 'Er Rip

Heh.
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Leanne's pencil portraits are simply lovely. Enter here for your chance to win this week!
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Giggle of the Day (and the story of my life):


more animals
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Ear Worm of the Day:


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Are you nuts? (I'm not.) If so, the Chicago Polar Plunge is scheduled for Sunday, March 1. I'm not crazy enough to take the plunge myself, but am happy to sponsor you, if YOU so choose.

Drive-Bys

Someone (some woman) in my office is wearing shoes with hollow heels that make a very loud, distinctive sound when she walks on the linoleum floor in the mail room (which is adjacent to my little corner of the universe).

What distinctive noise, you may ask?

The sound of a cat heaving a split second before it barfs up a very large hairball.

Ugh. I've been listening to this all day long.
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I don't know about your boss, but I know that this wouldn't go over well with mine.
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Giggle of the Day: Go here.
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I don't know which is scarier -- this or this. Yikes.
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Quote of the Day:

If any lesson is to be learned from this farce, it's that Democrats here know how to get elected but can't govern. It wasn't just Blagojevich who turned Illinois into the nation's most financially challenged state. Illinois Democrats were co-conspirators in wringing huge deficits, stiffing Medicare and other service providers and stuffing the budget with politically motivated programs.

The next elections in this state ought to be quite interesting.
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Ear Worm of the Day:

Tootin' the Horn

It's here, it's here, it's here!!!

(Sorry about that gleeful outburst, but I'm just too happy to contain it.)

Happy Dance Time!



(And while I normally go by "Omnibus Driver," today you can just call me "Her Geekness.")

Drive-Bys

Lust, lust, lust. Why couldn't I have seen this stuff before Christmas???

(Found via Blomma Finds, which is terrible for my budget.)
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Giggle of the Day:


more animals
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Head-Scratcher of the Day:

This is a matter of national importance. There are no African Americans in the Senate. And I don't think that anyone, any U.S. senator who's sitting in the Senate, right now, want to go on record to deny one African American from being seated in the U.S. Senate.

I guess whether he has any other qualifications doesn't matter. Or who appointed him.

Feh.
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Alpana Singh's wine reviews are always great, but this list of Champagne Cocktails in particular really rocks. In fact, this concoction is going straight to my recipe box for summer:

Sgroppino - Italian Lemon Cocktail

2 tablespoons vodka or limoncello
2 melon ball size scoops lemon sorbet (for a creamier cocktail use lemon gelato)
Prosecco
Mint sprigs or lemon twists for garnish

Pour vodka or limoncello into flute and then sorbet, top with prosecco and garnish, enjoy!

Yummy!

Then, she compounded hitting all my buttons for this suggestion, combining two of my favorite things in the whole wide world. We may have to hold Therapy Night there some time soon.
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Eugene Volokh explains Washington, D.C. succinctly. It'd be funny if it weren't so true.
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Did you grow up in or around the Chicago area? Here's a "wayback machine" my sister pointed out that has clips of commercials and shows from the '70s, '80s and '90s. Too funny.

Drive-Bys

I haven't ever followed a celebrity's blog, but I may have to make an exception for Eli Roth, who provides both the quote and the spit-take of the day:

Now, at this point you may be asking, was I naked? Let's define naked.

Try not to giggle. I dare you.
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Joanie is flogging votes for V-Man.

Go vote, m'kay?
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Blogthings, because I can:

You Remember 90% of 2008

You were paying attention during 2008. And you remember what happened really well. You'll be able to talk about 2008 for years to come... Even when most people have forgotten what went down.

How Much Do You Remember 2008?

You Scored an A

You got 10/10 questions correct. It's pretty obvious that you don't make basic grammatical errors. If anything, you're annoyed when people make simple mistakes on their blogs. As far as people with bad grammar go, you know they're only human. And it's humanity and its current condition that truly disturb you sometimes.

The It's Its There Their They're Quiz

Your Interpersonal Intelligence Score: 69%

Your Interpersonal Intelligence is High You are definitely a "people person." You enjoy spending time with others. You instinctively understand people, and you are both a good counsellor and mediator. However, there are definitely times when you've had enough. And that's when you cherish being alone.

How Does Your Interpersonal Intelligence Rate?

(Yikes. That one cuts close to the bone -- especially that last bit.)
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Tootin' the Horn

Break out the bubbly, because we've got a lot to celebrate here on the bus:

• My BlogDaddy, who I utterly adore, got hitched in Vegas yesterday. This was the big hint that he's finally outrageously happy.
• Rachel Lucas, blogger extraordinaire, beat my BlogDaddy to the altar. But not by much.
• Tammi got the best belated Christmas gift ever!
• It's Friday, and we're posting a "Let's Dance!" before JihadGene can. This is appropriate, I think:
  

Congratulations, everybody!

Drive-Bys

Quote of the Day:

I'm not a tool of the governor. I'm a tool of the people of Illinois...

He's a tool alright. (See references 6 and 9.)
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Going out tonight? Read this, first. You'll thank me in the morning.
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Ear Worm and Giggle of the Day:


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Happy New Year to you and yours!

Drive-Bys

While I've been clear that I'm not in favor of the government ordering churches to perform marriage ceremonies for gays, I am in favor of civil unions.

This really choked me up.
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Giggle of the Day (and the nightmare of this guy, this guy and this gal):


more animals

Heh.
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If you need a heart-warming story today, go here.
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Love graphite portraits? Go see Leanne's cool contest here.

I'm going to have to dig through my photo archives for this!
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One more reason drinking and driving are a really bad idea in the great state of Illinois. (And, given that we have so many repeat offenders in this state, a really great idea.)
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Blogthings. Because I can.

Your New Year's Resolutions

1) Get a pet Tasmanian devil 2) Eat more gummy bears 3) Travel to Holland 4) Study marine biology 5) Get in shape with disco dancing

What Should Your New Year's Resolution Be?

You Are the Daughter

You very keyed in to emotions. You care deeply and are quick to forgive others. You often get lost in your own thoughts and daydreams. You find it difficult to stay focused. At your best, you are sweet, sensitive, and innocent. You bring joy to people's lives. You are open and expressive. You love sharing your optimistic, dreamy vision of the world. At your worst, you feel powerless and like a victim. Your fear can paralyze you. You tend to complain and whine. Whether your complaints are legitimate or not, you're not one to solve your own problems.

What Family Role Do You Play?

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Ear Worm of the Day:



Nope. Not having a bad day. I just love this old song.

The End of the Line

Just got the word today that the cat blogosphere has lost one of its most luminous spirits. Poetry in motion and artwork in repose, Baby Cakes will be sorely missed.

My thoughts and prayers go out to Sissy, Tuck and Tiny.

Drive-Bys

Giggle of the Day:


more animals
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Ummm, ladies? If you don't appreciate him, throw him back out into the dating pool. There are loads of us out here who'd love to have the opportunity.
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Before you donate to one of those NBA charities, consider this. Tsk, tsk, tsk.
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Ear Worm of the Day:

Makin' Tracks

I'm out of here shortly. To all my blogging pals and readers, the merriest of Christmases to you!


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P.S. --


more animals

Drive-Bys

Because I haven't done one of these in a while:

Your result for The Brutally Honest Personality Test...

Sap- ESFJ

60% Extraversion, 47% Intuition, 40% Thinking, 60% Judging

Aww...you know that sensitive mamsy-pansy sap I was talking about earlier? Yeah. Well, someone had to get it and you pulled the short straw. Now pull yourself together, crybaby.

You are quite possible one of the most sensitive people I know and I don't even know you! You care what each and every single person thinks about you. You're the kind of person who sends around a txt to everyone they know saying "i thnk ur prtty. wat do u thnk abt me? rate me frm 1-5."

That's 1 meaning "I hate you" and 5 meaning "You make me vomit when I look at you." You're still crying, aren't you?

Sure. All you want is for someone to appreciate you once in a while. Aww... Boohoo. Hold a pity party sometime. The garden's free. Lots of worms down there. Big ones. Small ones. Squishy ones.

My guess is you don't understand this test one bit. You can't imagine how anyone could be so insulting or why anyone could find it even remotely amusing...STOP THE DAMN WATERWORKS, WOMAN!

Naive is a word that needs to be branded on your forehead... Alright, now I feel bad. Sure, you do have some redeeming factors, just not many. Sorry.

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If you enjoyed that test, make sure you check out my latest venture: The Presidential Capacity Quiz- It's much shorter, just as fun and just as accurate. Find out how far you would get in the race for President. Are you fit to rule the free world?

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If you want to learn more about your personality type in a slightly less negative way, check out this.

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The other personality types are as follows...

Pushover - Introverted Sensing Feeling Judging

Criminal - Introverted Sensing Thinking Perceiving

Borefest - Introverted Sensing Thinking Judging

Almost Perfect - Introverted iNtuitive Feeling Perceiving

Freak - Introverted iNtuitive Feeling Judging

Loser - Introverted iNtuitive Thinking Perceiving

Crackpot - Introverted iNtuitive Thinking Judging

Clown - Extraverted Sensing Feeling Perceiving

Sap - Extraverted Sensing Feeling Judging

Commander - Extraverted Sensing Thinking Perceiving

Do Gooder - Extraverted Sensing Thinking Judging

Scumbag - Extraverted iNtuitive Feeling Perceiving

Busybody - Extraverted iNtuitive Feeling Judging

Prick - Extraverted iNtuitive Thinking Perceiving

Dictator - Extraverted iNtuitive Thinking Judging

Take The Brutally Honest Personality Test at HelloQuizzy

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You read something like this, and you've just got to start counting your blessings. Keep this family in your prayers, will you?
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Ear Worm of the Day:



(You'll have that one rattling around your noggin for days, I guarantee!)

I have absolutely no interest in video games of any kind... but I love, love, LOVE pinball. Back in the '70s one night I ran a Playboy pinball machine all night on fifty cents.

Pinball revival? Sign me up!

BOLO

Be on the lookout for a guest blogger here -- DWF, 40's, red/brown. Smart, funny, sassy and tired of Phoenix. Loves Chicago winters. (Okay, so she's a little nuts, but I love her!)

Keep your eyes peeled.

Drive-Bys

Here's just one more reason I'm a Hawks fan. And it's a dandy, too.
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Because you know I love nature's perfect food.

Get your own here... and blame it on Suzette.
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"I guess it's hard enough for people to think about their parents having sex, let alone their grandparents."

Thank Heaven someone in Kansas has half a brain and the guts to use it. Rock on.
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Giggle of the Day:


more animals
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Susan Palwick is one of the nicest bloggers on the web (some of her chaplaincy posts really helped me through the Princess Mom's long, hard slog towards the end), and she and husband Gary going through a hell of a rough patch right now. Dad on the west coast awaiting help with heart issues; Mom on the east coast dealing with her own poor health issues, and now Gary's dad has passed away.

Keep'em in your prayers, will you?
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A few Blogthings:

You Were Nice This Year

You Were 35% Naughty, 65% Nice Okay, so you weren't *entirely* nice this year But Santa doesn't expect a modern girl to be perfect You were good enough - and you'll be rewarded for it

Were You a Naughty Girl or Nice Girl this Year?

My New Year's resolution will be to work harder on that naughty part in 2009.

(A tip of the cap to my gal Tammi, who could also use some prayers.)
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Your Kiss is Black

Your kisses are amazing. You put a lot of effort into your kissing technique. You are a perfectionist, and you never leave any kissing detail to chance. When you're kissing, you like to be in charge. You don't enjoy someone else taking the lead. You know you're the best kisser. In fact, you're often disappointed by how other people kiss. Kissing Type: Thoughtful People See Your Kisses as: Amazingly unreal You Kiss Best With: A Pink Kisser Stay away from: A Green Kisser

What Color Is Your Kiss?

(You really needed to know this, right?)
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You Are a Jam Filled Cookie

You are an idea person. You're always thinking up something new. You're also quite persuasive. People are drawn to you and adopt your beliefs. You are energetic and ambitious. But most of all, you are charming. You are a natural leader, and you are ready to lead!

What Holiday Cookie Are You?

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Ear Worm of the Day:



Blame it on Jimbo. I know I will.
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I don't know about where you live, but it's farookin' freezing here.

Hope you have someone warm to cuddle up with!

Sidetracked

I needed a giggle to get me out of my usual post-internet Christmas shopping spree funk. This did it:



(Swiped with great glee from Julie. Whether you like dogs or cats, it'll still be your best laugh all week.)

Drive-Bys

JihadGene says, "It's Friday! Let's Dance!!!" Alrighty then...


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Giggle of the Day:


more animals

This reminds me of an old pal who I haven't seen in a long, long time. (Love you, hate your shoes, Fred!)
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An appropriate Blogthing:

Your Snow Test Says You're Agreeable

You feel like something good will happen to you in the next few weeks. You don't really like to work, unless work feels like play. You only are successful when you are doing what you love. You are a cooperative, agreeable person. You enjoy the company of others, and you enjoy compromising for the good of the group. Your biggest worry in your life is your health. You tend to be a bit of a hypochondriac. When it comes time to relax, you have no problem letting go. You are already pretty relaxed as is!

The Snow Test

Hold the Bus!

Seems Governor Giveaway can't restrain himself and is giving a press conference at 2:00 p.m. central time today.

So how does his attorney feel about that?

Genson didn't sound keen on the prospect of his client making a public statement.

"I'm a lawyer by trade -- I don't like my clients to talk to anybody," he said.

Good luck to you, Bucko. That guy couldn't keep his yap shut to save his soul... if he had one, that is. (Clearly whatever meager one he had was sold to the Devil long ago.)
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At any rate, you can catch the fun live through WGN Radio's live stream here. Just click the "Listen Now!" button in the upper left-hand corner. Don't miss out on the fun.
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Update:

Blagojevich: I am not guilty of any criminal wrongdoing.

Blagojevich: I will fight until I take my last breath.

Did you expect anything less? I certainly didn't.

Drive-Bys

Another reason why Blago won't quit -- the Feds are after his campaign money! And if he's short on cash, as he claims, he'll hang on to that gubernatorial paycheck for as long as it lasts.
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Mark Brown proves that I am a genius. (See point 5.)
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If you can spare a little extra in any way, shape or form this Christmas, Toys for Tots is really hurting. And bless you.
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A little pickin' and grinnin' for Hair Boy, Denny, Kerrcarto and Charlie Delta:



I may just have to order his new CD, which I heard portions of last night. Awesome stuff.
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Oxymoron of the Day:

Mystery as century-old Swiss watch discovered in ancient tomb sealed for 400 years

Either Scotty beamed someone in, or that tomb has not been sealed for 400 years. (Aye, Captain?)
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Giggle of the Day:


more animals
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Totally gratuitous Blogthings:

You Are Most Like Tyra Banks

Totally smokin' with tons of attitude

Which Victoria's Secret Angel Are You?

... and...

You Are Considerate and Mature

You approach the holidays with responsibility and cooperation. You'll do your part to make sure that everyone else has a happy holiday. You aren't particularly picky or high maintenance during the holidays. You're happy to be in the company of people you love, and you're willing to "go with the flow." Of all the types, you are the most likely to give someone exactly what they want. You're also the most likely to wrap all your presents well - to prevent peeking!

The Wrapping Paper Test

Road Conditions

Received from my receptionist today:

National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Warning for Cook County from 7pm Thursday until 12 noon Friday, precipitation will start between 9-10pm, heaviest precipitation will fall between 2am - 8am, will be heavy wet snow with potential to fall up to 2 inches per hour, snow totals between 6-12 inches by noon Friday, precipitation will be mainly snow for Chicago.

Please take precautions during you commute and plan accordingly.

The Office of the Building

Yeesh!

(Take good care of yourself if you live in the Chicagoland area, or if you're flying in or out.)
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More info here.
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BTW -- Mayor Shortshanks? Michael Bilandic. Michael Bilandic. Michael Bilandic. So there!