All Good Wishes for the New Year, from The Siegels!

Thanks to all our family and friends for helping us muddle our way thru yet another year here on this mortal coil. Looking forward to MORE zany fun in '09!

Wii Music

We just rented Wii Music from GameFly. It is SUCH a cute game! Super-fun and charming.

Here, my boys jam together!

Warmest Christmas Wishes from the Cali!

Dinner with the Logelins

Matt and Maddy were nice enough to meet me and a couple of my library peeps at the Polish restaurant. It's kind of a toss-up which was more rad -- the company, or the FOOD! (And that's really saying something about the food cuz the company was STELLAR!!!)

Thanks, Matt & Maddy!

When you have a chance, check out Huell Howser's visit to Polka Restaurant!

Rad Hanukkah present!

Check out this *awesome* prezzie The Boy got from his Auntie Kathie today!

Update on Lymphoma Steve

Soooo, 'member that guy I blogged about awhile ago who needed a stem-cell transplant for his non-Hodgkin's lymphoma? Well, I have a terrific update about him! ... Awww, heck, why don't you just read HIS telling of it, here...

New Can

I'm not sure how I feel about this new caffeine-free diet pepsi can. On the one hand, it's a nice clean look. On the other, how will I ever adapt from the switch away from gold?! ::sigh:: ::shakes head in dismay::

Christmas Tree!

The tree is done!

For some close-ups of ornaments, check out my Flickr photostream.

Visiting the In-laws in Chicago

Not only did we visit the living rellies during our Thanksgiving visit to Chicago, we visited the ones who are 6-feet under, too.

The cemeteries in Chicago are VERY OLD and VERY BEAUTIFUL. Somehow, the cold weather and bare trees made it seem even prettier...

MadDog Says Goodbye

This just makes me really sad.

That's all.

Gingerbread House

The Boy has always wanted to make a gingerbread house! This weekend he got his wish. (Praise Odin his Papa does this stuff with him, cuz this sorta think ain't Mama's cup o'tea.)

Holiday Decor

The Boy is feeling crafty. He just presented me with this delightful Christmas decoration, which he made with his own little paws! Such cuteness. Thanks, Sweetie!

Our Nephews in Chicago

While we were at my bro- and sis-in-law's, I was whippin' out my fone-cam every five seconds to snap a pic of one of my feline nephews. The orange one is Tigger; the black, panther-esque fella is Cosmo! THEY. ARE. CUTE. We ::heart:: them.

Rock-n-Roll McDonald's

In the heart of Chicago's River North district is this super-Vegasy McDonald's known as "Rock-n-Roll McDonald's". It has 2 stories; posh seating; flat-screen TVs; an ice cream/coffee bar; and little seating areas which salute a particular decade. I've included a photo of the "'70s Room".

Pretty. Freakin'. Awesome.

Rush Hour on Lake Shore Drive

Even rush hour here is pretty.

The Siegels are in Chicago!

Here are the boys upon arrival at O'Hare!

Me and The Boy outside the Art Institute.

Kate with the Millenium Park statue known as "The Bean".

And finally, here is a bizarre treasure I spotted at the Art Institute.

Tomorrow, we're hoping to go on a jaunt up to Wisconsin for some awesome cheese!

I am...

...a really sucky blogger. BWAHHAHAAHHAHAH! Oh well!

Saturday, we're off to Chicago, so maybe I'll *LiveBlog* from there! Maybe not... We'll see!

xoxo

I got my wish...

My one wish for our day off today was to go out to breakfast. Well... I got my wish! And not only did we go to breakfast -- we went to the awesome DuPar's at Farmer's Market! After leisurely consuming Southern California's most delicious pancakes, with a side of bacon and a coffee chaser, we wandered out into Farmer's Market and looked at all their funky wares (if I get motivated, more pix of that will follow). Then we went to The Grove, which is kind of the antithesis of Farmer's Market; where Farmer's Market is cheap, old, and funky, The Grove is shiny new and super upscale.

As if all this weren't enough, we followed it with lunch at the KFC on Sunset and a visit to Meltdown Comics, also on Sunset! All in all, a super-awesome SoCal day! :-)

Y'know what's really freakin' hard to clean up???

Srsly, Peeps -- this stuff leaves such an incredible stench and slime in its wake!!!

It's kinda pretty, tho...

Galco's Soda Pop Stop

For years and years (like, I dunno -- maybe 20?) we've been meaning to go to this funky store that's about 40 minutes from here in an L.A. enclave known as Highland Park. It's a family-owned market which over the years has morphed from a grocery store, into a specialty soda-pop store! Yes, that's right, it's a store full of soda pop! You'll also find beer, wine, and candy here, as well as a little sandwich counter in the back. You may have seen this place featured on Huell Howser's show, or on the Food Network. In fact, it's even got a little mention in this month's Sunset magazine! Anyhoo, we popped in there today and bought a ton of bizarre sodas and some nostalgic candies (like Mallo Cups, wax lips, Zotz, and candy cigarettes).

Please enjoy the following photo documentation! And by all means, if you're ever in the area, do stop in at 5702 York Blvd.

Puppeh Graduation!

I am proud to report that Kelsey & her Daddy have successfully completed beginner training at PetSmart's dog training program in Woodland Hills! This was a great 8-week class. I'd really recommend it! Kelsey learned to sit, stay, loose-leash walk (kinda), lay down, come, and -- her most impressive feat -- "leave it", in which she leaves a yummy treat right in front of her until told she can have it.


Thanks to teacher Katie and her awesome example-pooch Opal, who was like amazing Eye Of The Tiger Dog. Hardly blinked unless Mommy told her to.