Some of you may not know that I was a gymnast for many years, and that I am a complete and total gymnastics fanatic. I don't attend many meets anymore, not like I used to anyway, but for the last fifteen years or so I've never missed a home U. of Michigan women's gymnastics meet except for a few rare occasions. This year has been a rough one for the Wolverines. They lost three of their top gymnasts to season-ending injuries at or just before the first meet of the season. As a result, instead of being ranked near the top of the nation, they ended up ranked 12th in the nation. Nonetheless, the other girls stepped things up several notches, and the team improved enough over the course of the season to make the Regionals. ladylardence came to visit me and attended the Regionals with me a couple of weeks ago, and my Wolverines placed second and qualified to nationals. I am so proud of them!

Nationals are taking place in Salt Lake City today through Saturday. How it works is that twelve teams qualify to nationals, two from each Regional. At nationals a blind draw is conducted to divide the teams into two preliminary sessions of six teams, who compete in the afternoon and evening on Thursday. The top three teams from each session continue on to the Super Six final on Friday night. The top eight scorers on each event during the Thursday preliminaries then compete on Saturday for individual event titles. Ideally, the preliminary sessions would each end up with three top teams and three lower teams, making the competition to get into the team final fair for everyone. Inevitably what happens, however, is that one session ends up stacked with most of the really good teams, and the other has only a couple of good teams, and almost inevitably Michigan usually gets the short end of the draw, ending up in the stacked session and struggling to get to the finals. This year, however, luck was on our side. The morning session has four really good teams and a fifth that frequently is fighting for a place in the finals, out of six teams. The evening session has Michigan, two other good teams, and three teams that should not pose a problem for Michigan to beat. So we are almost certain to go to the Finals this year. *celebrates wildly* So, being the fanatic I am, I'll be watching the evening session tonight via the internet, following the live scores to see if my Wolverines make it through to the finals.

In other sports news, the Detroit Red Wings start Round 2 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs tonight. *nervous* We're a really good team, but so is San Jose, so this one's going to be nerve-racking. I'm not sure if we'll survive Round 2.

Not much more to talk about today, besides the sports update. Such an exciting life I lead. ;D

I just found this photo while doing a bit of internet surfing at lunch, and I'd not seen it before, so I thought maybe my flist Larry girls might enjoy seeing it. Click to enlarge it.




Enjoy! :D

A very, very, very big thank you to make_a_move for the Christmas card (yes, hon, I could read your writing!), to clandestine269 for the beautiful postcard from New Zealand -- very unexpected and it made me squeek -- and to melissa2u and ladylardence for the U2 dvds! Melissa, the things you sent me were really unique! And Dawn, I'm still dying over the "buckets full" and Larry "tooning the drooms". :D I watched the Late Late Show today and squeeked mightily. I started to watch the Unauthorized, but had to fastforward 'cause the guy calling B. "Bone-oh" drove me up the wall and back down again. But I was enjoying the MTV thing, especially Larry going completely silent when Kurt Loder asked him if he saw "his bits" in the Zoo TV stage show. Unfortunately the Devon-air-raid-siren went off mid=way through that, so I had to leave it for another day. Heee.

I do have to say, and I think maybe only one other person on my flist might understand this (though if more than one do, yay) -- Nini -- but, watching Wide Awake in Dublin, especially hearing the notes for the intro to A Sort of Homecoming, absolutely had me in tears I was so homesick for Dublin. I was there first the year after that show took place, and the missing Dublin was almost a physical ache when I was watching it. I can't explain it otherwise, really. It's just -- I always loved Michigan and living in Ann Arbor, where I grew up, but when I went to Dublin from the moment I set foot there it felt like I had finally come home. It was just an incredible, overwhelming emotion that spilled through me from the instant I arrived, and which made me cry my eyes out when I had to leave. My life is here now, back in Michigan, but I still miss Dublin more than I ever missed Michigan when I was away. When I was away, living in Europe, I missed Michigan a little and my family a lot. Back home, I miss Ireland like a best friend lost. Anyway, now you all think I'm crazy, right? ;D

A quick update on Devon. On Christmas morning he woke up with a slight fever. We gave him baby tylenol and went to my mum's down in Ann Arbor as planned. By 4pm, though, he had a 105 degree fever. We took him straight to the University of Michigan hospital, since we were still in Ann Arbor, and he spent most of the night in the Children's Emergency Room. In the end they decided not to keep him, just to send him home with antibiotics for his pnumonia and ear infection, but man was it a scary, stressful night for Devon, Dad and Mum all. Luckily, today he is seemingly almost completely better and back up to his usual mischevious, energetic ways.

Finally, another update on my nephew's band, Canada. In December the band was Spin Magazine's band of the week, or whatever they call it, which is really cool as Spin Magazine is a big time national music press, and also last week a radio station in New York City featured one of Canada's songs and discussed it for several minutes after playing it, then offered it as a free download for a limited time. Somewhere in the neighborhood of 1,500 people downloaded that song over the next two days! That's an enormous number, way above average!

By the way, those who I promised copies of Canada's CD to, don't despair. The band had sold out all their copies, so I've had to request them from the record label. I'm going to get the band to sign them as well, if I can, before I send them out. So you will be getting them, it just may take a little time to get them and get them signed.

CAMPBELL SOUP HAS A PROMOTION FOR EACH CITY WITH A
NFL FRANCHISE. GO INTO THEIR WEB SITE AND VOTE FOR THE YOUR FAVORITE. FOR EACH VOTE THEY WILL DONATE A CAN OF SOUP TO A SOUP KITCHEN.


> http://www.chunky.com/clickforcansvote.aspx

This is an on-going promotion -- you can vote every day and each time you vote Campbell will donate a can of soup to the food banks -- so add it to your favorites and keep voting! :D

I am in mourning this week. Not only did my Wolverines lose to Ohio State, but Bo Schembechler, our legendary former coach, died. *cries* He's been out of the game for a while now, more than ten years, but man we're gonna miss him and his inspiration. I can see it now, though: Woody Hayes and he are up there in the big football stadium in the sky, organizing their teams now, getting ready for the dream Ohio State/Michigan game. ;D

Happy Monday, and safe travels to all who are travelling this week for the holiday.

Ooooh... this looks fun! :D Nabbed from melissa2u

2 Points) My name:
(1 Point) My last name:
(5 Points) Take a stab at my middle name:
(3 Points) Who am I in love with:
(2 Points) Where did we meet:
(2 Points) What kind of car do I drive:
(2 Points) where do I work:
(3 Points) what am I afraid of:
(2 Points) Do I smoke:
(3 Points) Do I drink:
(2 Points) Do I have any siblings:
(2 Points) How many:
(1 Point) Do I like 'em:
(4 Points) What's one of my favorite things to do:
(2 Points) How many piercings do I have:
(3 Points) What's my favorite type of music:
(4 Points) Am I shy or outgoing:
(3 Points) Am I a rebel or do I follow the rules:
(2 Points) what’s my favorite color:
(3 Points) name something I hate:
(4 Points) name a talent I have:
(4 Points) what kind of sneakers do I wear:
(4 Points) do I have any pets:
(2 Points) Who am I dating right now:
(5 Points) how long have I been dating them:
(5 Points) what is the color of my room:
(5 Points) what is my worst habit:
(5 Points on creativeness) If I were stranded on a desert island, what would I bring:


Responses screened so no cheating!

This is Devon's first year deressing up for Halloween. They are having a costume party at daycare today, so we dressed him this morning. As Mickey Mouse. He was adorable! He liked looking at himself in the mirror, although he wasn't too fond of the ears being on his head. I need to take pictures tonight, before we go trick or treating.

Otherwise, not much to say. Hope everyone has a Happy Halloween!

Devon has an ear infection in both ears. Poor baby. Needless to say, I didn't get much sleep last night. So feel free to spam me today, to keep me awake. :D Happy Larry Day!

The concert was very good. The audience were fairly into the bands this time, which helped a lot. And I blew a kiss to Phil and he blew one back! :D That's four concerts in a row, now. *smirk* He is looking better and better. His hair is growing longer, and he is in such great shape.

The only thing to mar the evening for me was that Mark decided to sit through the entire show with his head down. He said he was "tired". I had three other people I could have given his ticket to, any one of which would have actually enjoyed the show. But no. Even as late as Monday night he insisted he wanted to go. Next time I'm going without him. The last three concerts he's done that to me. I'm not doing it again. *so mad at him*

It never fails to amaze me the outfits some people wear. Once again we had the girls up front-center wearing mini-skirts that barely covered their arse and tight, tight, tight little halter tops. And we're talking big girls here, with rolls of fat hanging between the halter tops and the mini-skirts. Not saying anything bad about overweight people here. I could bear to lose some weight myself, and I certainly have my own rolls of fat. But for goodness sakes, it looks horrid to dress like that, and the rest of us are embarassed for you! Not to mention it's hardly going to make a good impression on the band! Why would someone intentionally dress in a manner that accentuates their negatives? *shakes head in confusion* Oh, and the shoes my sister refers to as "hooker heels". Yikes! At least this time, though, no one showed up in a cow suit. *giggle*

Two of the girls in the front row had naughty shirts on, that is, t-shirts made up with naughty things written on that were plays on words on the titles of some of the Leps' songs. But they looked good in them, and the band definitely got a kick out of them. Sav kept teasing the one who had his name on her shirt, holding his hand out to her, then pulling it back when she reached for him, and cracking up. His whole face lit up when he first saw her shirt. It was adorable. He is just such a sweetie!

Not much more news here. Hope Megs had a great time at the Killers show last night, and that she and Nini have a great time tonight! :D

Happy hump whichever U2 member you can track down day! ;D

I've just run across the funniest quote ever. I've no idea who said it, but I thought I'd share just the same.

"The problem with defending the purity of the English language is that English is about as pure as a cribhouse whore. We don't just borrow words; on occasion, English has pursued other languages down alleyways to beat them unconscious and rifle their pockets for new vocabulary."

Tonight is the Lep concert! \0/ So excited. As a result, I won't be online at all tonight. Instead I'll be flirting with Phil and Sav. :D Hope Megs has a brilliant night at The Killers' show, too.

Not much more to say, really, other than to wish everyone a happy Tuesday.

It was a busy weekend of go, go, go. But my U of Michigan Wolverines won their football game, and I found I had lots in common with my highschool friend, so all was good.

This week looks much the same... busy, busy, busy. Tomorrow night is the Lep concert. Saturday is an all day scrapbooking workshop at my sister's house. Between now and then I have to go to the doctor, have four meetings at work, and somehow manage to find time to get my digital photos printed so I have something to work on on Saturday.

I have two meetings this morning, so from 9:30 until probably close to noon I will be gone.

Have a good Monday!

This was interesting. Taken from siorai_gra_

- Pick your birth month.
- Strike out anything that doesn't apply to you.
- Bold the five-ten that best apply to you.
- Copy to your own journal, with all twelve months under a lj-cut

November:

Has a lot of ideas. Difficult to fathom. Thinks forward. Unique and brilliant. Extraordinary ideas. Sharp thinking. Fine and strong clairvoyance. Can become good doctors. Dynamic in personality. Secretive. Inquisitive. Knows how to dig secrets. Always thinking. Less talkative but amiable. Brave and generous. Patient. Stubborn and hard-hearted. If there is a will, there is a way. Determined. Never give up. Hardly becomes angry unless provoked. Loves to be alone. Thinks differently from others. Sharp-minded. Motivates oneself. Does not appreciate praises. High-spirited. Well-built and tough. Deep love and emotions. Romantic. Uncertain in relationships. Homely. Hardworking. High abilities. Trustworthy. Honest and keeps secrets. Not able to control emotions. Unpredictable.

( Months )

Hey... anyone thinking about this new "LJ Talk" IM service?

There's snow on the ground this morning. I like snow, but what happened to Autumn? *really big pout*

Nothing more to say, really, except to wish everyone a happy Friday.

Taken from gandolforf:

Comment with your username and I'll give you an honest compliment. Then post this in your journal and spread the love.

Devon has been melting me with the cuteness of late. He's still not walking on his own, which would be worrisome for an 18-month-old, except that it's so obvious that he could if he wanted to. He walks all-around things holding on and moves from one piece of furniture to another walking, by holding on. He also does a lot of standing up in one place, on our bed, and then flopping forward or backward... his version of jumping on the bed. And then there's the bear-walking: he walks on hands and feet, like a bear, saving his knees, I suppose. So he can do it if he wants. He just doesn't want to.

Last night, though, he decided it was time for bed and he was going to go upstairs. I followed him directly behind to make sure he didn't fall, and caught his balance for him slightly once, but otherwise he climbed on hands and knees and sometimes feet all the way from the first floor to the second floor by himself. It was so sweet! We have to watch him closely now if he's not inside a closed/gated room, so that he doesn't climb partway up and fall, but I was so proud of him!

The other day, Mark came downstairs to find Devon sitting in the tub we have for storing his toys when we're going to someone else's house (one of those long,flat plastic bins that can fit under a bed), playing happily. It was so cute!

Not much more news to report, actually. Mark has been placed on the felony list for one county, meaning he can now be assigned to represent clients charged with a felony. He's still on the misdemeanor list in the other county, as well as the juvenile offender lists and various other ones. So things are improving for him. He's still not making money, and has not actually done a trial yet -- every case so far has settled, which is not uncommon for misdemeanor violations -- but he's comfortable in court now and likes what he's doing. He actually told me the other night that he doesn't know if he wants to get a job for anyone else, because now he actually likes what he's doing. That's a big change from a few months ago, where he was miserable and depressed. Yay! Now if we can just survive another year or so until he starts actually making some income...

Megs, hope everything is alright with you and your boy, as well as with your Canadian. E-mail me when you get the chance, let me know how you're doing, okay?

Dawn, hope you slept better last night! And Donna, your muse has mine in a tizzy! Heee. I think we may go play racquetball after feeding Devon his supper, so I will be online, but it might not be until a bit later than normal.

Hope everyone has a good hump-whichever-good-looking-celebrity-you-choose Day! (I chose one Mr. Larry Mullen, Jnr., m'self.)

Just a note for all my sweeties: It's Mark's birthday today, so I am taking him out to dinner. I will definitely be online tonight, but it may not be before 7:30 or 8pm. See you then, lovelies. *snuggles*

Hi dear friends list. Remember me? S'been a while. Mostly because my life has been so hectic. Just a quick note today to request that those among you who are lucky enough to get U2 by U2 at the beginning of this week please put discussion/comments about contents/snippets of text either under an lj-cut tag or with a header noting that the entry contains spoilers. I won't receive my pre-ordered copy until Wednesday probably at the earliest, possibly not until Friday or Saturday and I'm trying really hard not to have it spoiled before then. Thanks guys! :D