Happy New Year

Happy 2020! I literally stubbed my baby toe BAD 30 seconds into the new year. Hope that’s not a sign! - Lisa

Hello 2020

2019 was ok. It's the rest of the decade that sucked.

Get it?

Times Change

20 years ago tonight Lisa and I were at a concert in Boston, having flown out there just for the show.

Tonight, I fell asleep on the couch at 9:30 for an hour. Now we're thinking about making pizza rolls before midnight.

Excuse me as I take something to control my excitement.

 Lol sure don’t! Had family members that loved the game but could never quite remember which piece could do what! - Lisa

Advice?

 New Years is usually a fail for me. I feel like there’s three kinds of parties: 100% drunk and nervous as you watch others drive home, OR buy a $200 dress, $100 shoes, and pay $300 a couple at a hotel ballroom OR celebrate at a kids event with 300 6 year olds

Any advice? - Lisa

UnCut Gems

The only bad part of this movie was seeing it in a theater packed with youngins barely old enough to vote. Not that that's automatically bad, but it did lend the room a frat house vibe. As a matter of fact, I don't think there were any females in the room, and no one else over 25. Which was odd, bc this was a serious, sometimes artsy movie.  

No one in the film is a very good human being, except perhaps the wife and kids (and maybe not even the kids), and nothing good happens to any character along the way. 

It's misery and miscue and poor life choices, one after the other, building tension until the movie finally screams "Enough!" 

Sandler is wickedly good and should give Joaquin a run for Best Actor, and the movie itself, while not for everyone, impressed me greatly.

Sorry Alderman

 Apparently my privacy settings have been set to only show my posts to alderman T Anthony Zielinski. I’m guessing it’s been this way at least a week!

omg. Hope the alderman has enjoyed the content! - Lisa

Lash Perms

 How “playing with your Christmas toys” has changed around here over the years;

LuLu permed our eye lashes!

Before:

After:

The Addams Family and Frozen 2

I saw these movies on successive days at Showtime Theater and was impressed by both. 

I was surprised to like Addams Family, as I have no love for the source material, but it was funny and the animation was STELLAR. 

 I took Junie to see Frozen 2 on Boxing Day despite the fact that I've managed to avoid ever seeing the original. I thought it was a good story and the "fight" against the river was legitimately impressive. I can't speak to how it holds up against the first one, but I dug it.

Judy

Three trips to the movies in three days? #IBeRich! But seriously, Junie really wanted to see this Judy Garland biopic so away we went. I'm no fan of Judy but I enjoyed the film. It's sad as heck, but ya know, that's the truth of her life; it wasn't always moonbeams and butterflies. In fact, rarely so. Oh, btw, great job Renee Zellweger! Go see this!

More Cookies

 More ugly sweater decorating fun. I think they lost their Xmas spirit when LuLu brought out the leftover knife sprinkles from Halloween lol - Lisa

Stop it Facebook

 So whoever told fb I’m fat forgot to tell them idgaf about it

Atleast 10 weight loss products/gimmicks on my feed this morning. Ffs!

- Lisa

For Real

 How has hobby lobby not put Michael’s out of business yet? Just night and day on everything! - Lisa

A Christmas Carol at the Rep

 Thanks to my sister in law [Katie] for last minute tickets! - Lisa

Yum Yum

Smiley makes a mean tuna casserole! 

Send us Your Addresses

We have sent out close to 70 Christmas cards in 2019  but have lost many addresses over the years. If you would like one - or simply know someone who would be cheered to receive mail at this time of year, let us know. At this point it may arrive late, but it will be sent all the same, and no card is expected in return.

* * *

Rise of Skywalker

I just returned from a midnight showing of Rise Of Skywalker with Smiley . My verdict: I enjoyed it a lot, and thought it was a fun and action packed way to end the Skywalker saga. That doesn't mean it was a "great" movie. It was derivative and often predictable , esp in the paint by numbers third act. But I wasn't looking for innovation, and I'm happy they spent time retconning the crap out of TLJ. It's the best film of this trilogy and worth a trip to the theater.

Helping at the Food Kitchen

Lisa and I spent part of the late afternoon helping the Street Angels prepare 100 pork dinners for local warming stations. Well, she helped with food - I got stuck washing dishes in the church kitchen. D 'oh.

(There's an outbreak related to it)

ISO

We have a family friend in need of help to make Christmas special. If anyone wants details on how to help dm Dan or myself. - Lisa

Ms. Heidi

Smiley considers this lovely lady his most important teacher. Smiley has speech apraxia, and Heidi Reid was crucial in his speech development. We finally hooked up on Facebook to insure a connection after our youngest leaves Humboldt Park school. Happy to have her in our fb circle - Lisa

A Christmas Message

Two families we know will be forced to have Christmas without one of their children (very young adults) this year. Two kids aged 14 and 16 lost their mom and dad very unexpectedly. For a few adults in our circle this will be the first Christmas after a parents death. Treasured pets have been lost. Some are suffering with brain tumors, addiction, cancer and homelessness. Dan and I are filled with gratitude and hope for the future, coming out the backside of a particularly rough year. Wrapping up our shopping and feeling blessed! Hug your kids, and hug your parents. Help those in need with your time and generosity. Spread kindness to everyone. Merry Christmas a lil early❤️❤️  - Lisa 

Get an Editor

Mainstream Media screwup #2 of the night: it's  "berth," not "birth."

The Baby Jesus Statue

I teased Dani for this old chipped GIANT baby Jesus flea market find. Made him wait multiple weeks to get it, telling him he was nuts and weird and that we already had a nativity. Well, It’s rare but sometimes I’m wrong. I love it now, and don’t see a future tree with out it at the center! ❤️  - Lisa