Joe

Remember that from SNL? So Simple...and SO FUNNY at the same time. What happened to that show? I'm kidding. I just like to complain about how bad the show is, though, this past season hasn't been THAT bad. Sadly, there were no clips of Jack Handy on You Tube...thought there would be. The best was Justin Timberlake doing "$*@ in a box" a few weeks ago. If you want to see what I'm talking about go to www.youtube.com and put in Justin Timberlake SNL. There is a clean AND dirty version. At the Shamrox game the other night my brother in law and I were cracking up talking about it. The directions in the song are the best part.

I left really early yesterday to get home. Kelly is sick (with whatever I had a week ago) and Steven is too. So, got home, hung out with them and then had to take Steven to the doctor around 1:30. Doctor said he's fine and just working through his cold. He's been really clingy on me lately cause Kelly is sick and he is kind of isolated from her. Last night I left Kelly at home to rest and took Steven up to my mom's house. She loves it when he comes up and was in rare form running around like crazy when we got there. She was saying he was a "daddy's boy" cause he kept running to me every few minutes. 

My mom is tired I can tell but she is a trooper. The chemo is continuing and she actually goes to the doctor today. I don't know how she does it. I'd be a mess. She's strong. Four bouts with cancer. FOUR. She shaved her head (hope she doesn't mind me saying that) this past weekend and is wearing a hat. I'm thinking about her today cause she is going to the doctor again. I've spent a lot of time with her lately and just am in awe of her attitude. I'd be a basketcase I think if it were me.

One of my favorite shows used to be "Titus" on Fox. It was a short run and based on his comedy. The guy is twisted and has a great take on things. I pulled a clip from his comedy special appropriately named "Norman Rockwell is Bleeding" on Comedy Central. Here is a quick clip. His show starred Stacey Keech (Cheech and Chong fame) and was GREAT. Too bad it didn't last!!

If you get a second check out the News-Sun for a HUGE feature on our friend Glenn Timmerman...Lake County (and the world's) biggest Bear fan. www.biggestbearfan.com is his site.

Oh, and www.joecicero.com. I may do something finally with it today. They have templates to work off of and I may use one and dabble so look for that later today.

OK...enough for now!! Take care.

JC

Sorry about the lack of blogging. I'll kick it up a notch this week for sure. Last week with the holiday and being sick I was kind of out of it. That cough syrup with codeine was something else I tell ya!

You'll notice that to get to my blog you go through www.joecicero.com. As Feisty pointed out I may have too much time on my hands. I agree. But I've had that domain for a long time and for awhile there was NOTHING up there. So, now there is something and I'm trying to figure out what to do with it. I guess my thinking is it's MY site so that makes it easier for people to find me. I don't know. All I know is that the popcorn thing is funny to me. I'm thinking about doing a lot with it...but need to just take the time to do it!! Oh, and I Googled my name to see if it came up and something that is just as amusing came up. Remember when the Lake County Traffic Authority (or some organization like that) had those meetings we sent Potsy too? We sent him with a CD of people complaining on the air and they actually played it and transcribed the WHOLE THING. It's a hilarious read. Check it as a PDF file here! 

Not too much to report from over the weekend. Stopped up at my mom and step dad's place on Friday to give Kelly some much needed quiet time at home and ended up sleeping there with Steven! Didn't plan on it but he fell asleep (is sick too by the way) and I didn't want to wake him up. So it's like 11:45 and I have enough for one more bottle to feed him and decide if I'm sleeping over I should get formula. So I made a run to Dominick's and got some formula and baby water and just left it at their place. It was that or get up and leave if he woke up in the middle of the night! It turned out to be a lot of fun. We watched some "Curb Your Enthusiasm's" On Demand (wish I had Comcast!!) and then my mom and I started to watch one of her favorites and one of mine cause of her..."Young Frankenstein". Teri Garr in that flick...hubba hubba!! 

So I slept there and stayed up most of the night with Steven cause he kept making noises and was all snotty. My mom got up and relieved me which was nice and I slept a few hours before I left. 

Saturday night was that Chicago Shamrox game!! It was a BLAST! It was me, Kelly, RJ,and his girlfriend Arazue and then Jillian from the station (works with sales) and her fiance Eric. Hopefully we could get some more tickets for another event because seriously who would have known that LaCrosse could be that fun?! I didn't. And the Sears Centre in Hoffman Estates is an awesome place. Maybe a little weird with parking, but other then that a fine facility. 

Sunday, I just sat around and watched some football. Nothing major. Some good games on and I'm looking forward to the Bears playing next weekend.

Kelly has been in bed ALL DAY cause she is sick now. So it's her, Steven, I'm almost well, and then our sitter (my sister in law) has two sick kids. So, she is staying home Monday with Steven...I'll get home as quick as I can to take over and relieve her, and Dominic and Ashleigh, my niece and nephew, have low grade flu strains or something. It was kind of scary actually cause Dominic had a fever seizure Saturday night. Kelly and I were JUST reading about it when Steven had a fever for a few days and I said don't worry it won't happen and it happens to little Dominic. Poor guy!!

Well, everyone has less then a month to get better cause Steven's 1st birthday is officially planned for Saturday, February 3rd. I'm excited and he better smash his cake!! Dominic cried when he saw his.

I have some pics to share...click to enlarge as usual...


The pyro show from my cellphone before the Shamrox game...makes it look bad...but it was really cool!


This is before the game during the National Anthem...they had bagpipe dudes there...


Steven hopped up on Dimetapp last night...in his Pack N' Play...he seems to like it....and so do we!!


Steven and his guitar...well...that Hawaiian guitar thingy I can't spell...he's rockin' trust me...thus the blurry face!

JC

Got bored and put something up on my domain at www.joecicero.com 

Enjoy the weekend...oh...and make sure the sound is ON!!

JC

Sick.

I was hellbent on going on EVERY night of this vacation that started on Friday, December 22nd and I pretty much accomplished that in one way or another. Not drinking every night or anything like a binge or anything, but just enjoying the time off.

Saturday was a surprise party for my friend Jason Turner and I had a really bad headache and was all hopped up on the Tylenol. Well, it could have actually been on Friday when I went up to Durty Nellie's to see the Gin Blossoms perform (I use that term loosely) or was it Thursday when I played in a Texas Hold'em tournament...or, Wednesday at the Wolves game with Tim...like I said I went out a lot!


Can I get into trouble for this from DCFS? Thanks for the pic Tim!


Look at Uncle Tim stepping up!

 
My friend Jon at Durty Nellies in Palatine (so cliche eh?)


That's Jason, just turned 30, on his cake!

So, I feel horrible right now and am contemplating calling in sick tomorrow morning (which is actually just hours away). 

In between my seriously crazy nightlife (ha!) I got to spend mucho time with the family including sleeping over at my mom's house last Thursday into Friday and spending most of the day with her and Steven. When I got home Friday he screamed for forty-five minutes and knocked my tooth loose (I think I blogged about that already). 

Also had a chance to see some good movies including with my mom and step dad on the day after Christmas. We saw "Night at the Museum" and for as much as it got panned by the critics I thought it was pretty good and actually clever in some instances too. I think it actually was the number one movie a few weeks in a row.

"Blood Diamond" with Leonardo DiCaprio was outstanding. I'm a huge Leo fan and am pulling for him to snatch up a Golden Globe and maybe even an Oscar for his role in this flick. It's is VERY violent. Not implied either...downright bloody, but very good. If you aren't familiar it takes place in the mid-nineties in Sierra Leonne on the western African Coast during a very bloody civil war. It's all about diamonds and how they financed much of the conflict. History Channel had a two hour special on called "Blood Diamonds" which I just watched tonight which was excellent too.

My Net Flix account has been coming in handy too. Rented "Jackass: Number Two" which is loaded with so many extras it is like another movie on the DVD. Actually watched that twice so far since we popped it in during the Bears loss on Sunday night for New Year's Eve. Also got "Click" with Adam Sandler. Wow. It is a seriously sad movie!! Don't want to ruin it...but it's got everything you'd expect from a Sandler flick with a little twist included. Really enjoyed it. The one I didn't get to was "A Scanner Darkly" which is next up!!

Goodnight...I hope!

JC

I'm lazy and this is what you get until the return of the show on Tuesday!!

Just wanted to say HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

JC

How confusing not working. I've stayed up late every night and TRIED to sleep in (see earlier blogs for reasons I didn't get to) and today I thought it was Thursday. It's Wednesday though and I only know that cause I'm hooking up (not "hooking up") with our newsman at the Wolves game with my wife, son, his brother in law from Mexico (no idea what's up there) and Jamie and Mario some listeners whom we've become friends with. Befriended? Is that a word?

Was up last night late switching between Leno and Letterman when the Special Reports started rolling in on President Ford passing away. First place, NBC, Second place, ABC, Third Place, CBS (they just put a scroll up!) and fourth place Fox which didn't do anything. Needless to say you know they had those obits in the can already waiting to be played. Remember they screwed up and put up Reagan's early online? Anyway, right back to programming then! Steven woke up a few times and I let him fall asleep in my arms. THEN, I found this cool site where you can take any picture and make a puzzle out of it. Somebody sent it to me actually. www.flash-gear.com It's a great site and I sent one to Tim late last night.

So, Steven and I spent the whole day together playing with blocks he got for Christmas. I LOVE the blocks and took some video of him playing with them with my phone (ignore the stamp in the middle I'm too cheap to buy the program!). This is the real time version! And, this is the Oscar Winning version with music from Lord of the Rings just for Tim!

Had fun messing around with that stuff and sent a TON of pics to my mom at work today to keep her company. Actually, since we were just two boys on the town I brought Kelly lunch at work today.


Have that stuff to me first thing in the morning!! "The Executive"


He really thought he ran the place...did whatever he wanted too...


This is Christmas Morning...he was more into the PAPER then anything else. Kelly and I broke down and bought him just TWO TOYS so we had a photo op to save forever. The "Busy Basics" thing to the lower left and the squishy toy just under his left hand. Everything else was from relatives. We saved big time and still got a sweet shot or two! My mom and stepdad got him that monster toy with the little froggy to the right.


Is he exhausted you think?


Click this to enlarge!! My new favorite picture of Steven TOTALLY baffled as to why a big red dog named Clifford is holding him. Yikes!!

I think we finally nailed down some New Year's Eve plans...hope you worked that out already!!

I was thinking about working on a Top 10 list for 2006 since everybody else does it. I mean, a PERSONAL top 10 list. Maybe we should all do it since we'll be hearing about it ad nauseum anyway. Do I go over the top cliche' and put the birth of my son as #1? Or, do I leave it off? Where does Tim fall into it? Is he on it? Will Feisty Mamma be there? 

Tune in...same time...same bat channel.... ha ha ha ha..........

JC

Hi all! This is about the time I'd normally be getting up to come in but as you may already know our return to the airwaves isn't until next week. Hope your Christmas went well! It was A LOT of running around once again.

I'm up because Steven was screaming his head off for some reason. This is his new thing unfortunately. Friday he screamed for FORTY FIVE MINUTES straight. I didn't know what to do I was getting worked up along with him which probably didn't help. He was flailing his arms and legs and HEAD and hit me in the mouth and knocked and chipped one of my front teeth. Not a bad chip but my teeth are expensive kid!! 

Good to see that Jake (Tim's son) is feeling better. I'm sure he'll update on that later.

Not sure when I'll blog...hopefully not after a screamfest!!

JC

My TiVo had some "30 Rock's" from NBC on them and I'll tell you what...it's REALLY FUNNY!!! Vacation is nice to catch up on TV! :)~

This is all of the stuff I was looking at to get Tim for Christmas for our $10 gift exchange that was started last year. He didn't get all of it like the Bubba Santa doll (what the?) but he got a good haul. I spent $9.87 and to my credit was the closest to $10. Plus, the guy there who remembered me from last year was REALLY cool and didn't ring one thing up. Nice! The pen is the sweetest thing and the hat will come in handy I'm sure on the chilly nights when the heat at Tim's is out since his utilities go out daily!! Kidding dude!! Merry Christmas!!

Yesterday I left the station and headed straight downtown to visit my mom in her office. She is in the business district on the 49th floor and it is huge and the views are awesome all over the buliding. I of course took advantage of my camera phone to share too! You should be able to click to enlarge...maybe!


This is the view from my mom's desk...pretty nice and a beautiful day (at least sun wise)


Looking down from behind her desk...I get woozy that high I swear!


Another shot of the skyline ( I used to work in the Prudential with the pointed top!)


My mom at her desk...right before we went to eat...look at that lasagna!)


An artsy look at the skyline...ha.


Oooooooooohhhh...


If you enlarge this you'll see Soldiers Field...there is a bright glare off the top of it to the back. Not that you have NEVER seen this!!


Millenium Park from one of the conference rooms...


1 Bedroom for $400,000? I'll take two!! 


The BEST part of the day...paying for parking!! Geez. I should have parked at Millenium for $12 or $13 instead!!

(click to enlarge...well...more!)

Dance Center North did a great job putting on this show at the Genesee this past weekend! We had a blast. That is my mom next to the Sugar Plum Fairy. The Nutcracker wasn't bad. I mean, I really enjoyed it and so did my mom. I think I'm good for the next year when it comes to doing special stuff!! Kidding! We were at the show and then went to Steven's in Gurnee for a dinner that was outstanding. It was date night with mom.




That is my mom on the left and Nita (Rebecca's Mom) on the right.








POTSY!!!!

The marathon is over and I am back to blogging. Not sure what happened exactly but I meant to blog and never got around to it. Even had a bunch of pictures ready to go but it just got so crazy...so fast!

Thanks again to everyone for their support it was very nice. Thirty-eight hours is a LONG TIME!! Next year I'm thinking more of Twenty-eight hours! 

I slept (a total) of eleven hours Wednesday. On and off and on and off the whole day. Still feel woozy I swear.

Tons of busy stuff going on with family that is for sure.

My mom started her chemo treatments on Tuesday during the marathon which was a little bit of a distraction and then on top of that my father in law was having surgery on his leg for a blocked artery. I feel kind of bad because I know Kelly could have used my support and I was here, but she's strong and I'm just over analyzing. Today I'm going to run around a lot to help out as much as possible and then attend a Christmas party for the homeowner's association.

Be patient I'll post some more tomorrow probably. Those pics...including one of my son with Santa for the first time!! He didn't cry AT ALL. Amazing.

Take care,
Joe

P.S. A gentleman emailed about a spot for a divorce lawyer but did not leave an email address. So, this is for him. I went straight to the top with the complaint! You can see what he wrote a few blogs ago as a comment. My feeling is that tons of people call about this particular law firm and USE it so they are doing something right. I can't force people from getting divorced and if it can make it an easier process for them then that's their business.

The following is an email from our GM, Rory Fraley, to this gentleman whom I appreciate for composing an email.

Steven wanted to (well, we wanted him to hang out) hang out in the snow last Friday!
(click to enlarge any pics!)


He looks so much like my younger brother when he was little...wait...what?!


Remember "A Christmas Story"...Randy: "I can't get up!!"


My mom hanging out with Steven this past Saturday in Wisconsin...


My mom stopped by and had an idea to put my shoes on him...looks like a clown!

We are gearing up for our "Caring for Kids" Monday and Tuesday of next week. There is A LOT planned and make sure you guys call and say "hey" to us to keep us going. It'd be appreciated.  THIRTY EIGHT HOURS!! Crazy eh?

Allendale Association in Lake Villa does good things and we are pumped up to make things bigger then ever this year. I'd say that it's back and badder then ever but that would be copyright infringement on the Birthday Battle.

Talk to you later,
JC

 

Right. So, better late then never on the blogging right? Here's the thing. I wanted to do it yesterday morning but didn't get to it and then I just got lazy yesterday. Nothing more then that.

It was such a long weekend and very nice actually. For starters, it was nice to have a couple of nights of good sleep for a change! Thanksgiving Day we just hung out at the house and went up to my parents house in the afternoon for the big dinner. It was fantastic and my mom's sweet potatoes are second to none. They are my all time favorite. That and her lasagna which it has been awhile since I've had it. 

Friday morning I DID get up to shop and got a new phone since my contract was up this week. From Nextel to Sprint and I love the phone. Cameraphone (you'll see some in a few relax), video, MP3 player. It's "tight" as the kids say.

Friday night we went to go see the newest edition to our family Daniel Patrick Moran. I told his mom (my wife's cousin Julie) that with an Irish name like that the kid will be a very heavy drinker and look out on St. Patty's Day. Cute kid. 

I actually met Kelly there and stopped for Pizza's at the Rosati's I used to work at for a few pizzas and caught up with the guys there. They asked me to work on December 8th and they are looking for a pizza maker. I made pizzas for about six years straight and then on and off for the next four. So I'm well schooled in the art, yes art, of making them. Throwing them up and spinning them and everything. I'll probably do it just to have a little fun for three or four hours. When I was 15 I was making pizzas and the one thing I hated was it was at night and weekends!! I would get off at midnight or one on the weekend and then go out. During the week when I dropped out of high school my junior year I would make pizza's, go out, come home, and sleep into the afternoon. Nothing like getting up at 2 or 3 for work at 4. What a life. Honestly though, I could probably open up a place if I wanted since I know it so well. The cool thing is the two guys that own this Rosati's now both worked there when I was there. One is a year older then me and was the boss's brother (still is but he is the boss now!) and the other was a driver. Kind of a cool story. I'll let you know how that goes.

Then on Saturday I was to fill in bowling in this league for my inlaws with Kelly. Didn't do too bad either. Bowled a 132 as my highest game. Before then though I didn't pick up a ball for about five years! The bar was right behind us and I ended up doing too many shots and drinking too much and my games went downhill. I just barely broke a hundred the last two games of the three. It was a lot of fun and we were home by about 11 or so and my mom was watching the baby. He was sleeping, got up, my wife went for Taco Belll, and then my mom left. THEN...I woke up around 3am with Steven and soothed and shooshed him back down and watched ALL of Urban Cowboy and Sixteen Candles. Sick, I know, but fun!!

Sunday...the Bears lost. That is all.

Here we are on Tuesday and I told you I'd put up a few pics from the long break. So...here we go:

Sometimes I get hyper when I drink...this is me playing with the new phone...


Kelly bowling...


Don't you love the 70's decor of the bowling alley...I wasn't allowed in there by the way...


Baby and momma sharing a moment...


Steven looking past me at some wires to chew on probably...he is CLICKING his teeth now it's driving us nuts!


The wagon that I put together wrong...wheels are screwed up...see it sticking out on the left? I stink!!


He didn't really mind though...LOVES the wagon!!

FROM THANKSGIVING AT MY PARENTS:

The classic take a picture of each other...my godmother Aunt Michele (2 L's?)...


My Aunt and Steven...his GREAT AUNT!! :) It is...but she doesn't like that!


Steven and Dominic get ready to destroy the place...


Ashleigh takes the ball from Steven...my mom is to their left...


My mom with her two grandsons...Dominic in her arms and Steven down below...


Grandma and Ashleigh having some fun...she likes to choke people I think!


Stop looking at the fluffy pink thing son!!! Ha! Uh oh!!

Ok, so, I have some video from the weekend. First...from Family Guy...this could EASILY be Tim and I if we carried a wallet full of our kid's pics. Maybe he does I'm not sure. Check it out here.

The other one they should show in schools for kids that want to do bad things. Check it out! "Cops: Girls Gone Bad" My favorite part is the classy move where she digs in her pants. That's daddy's little girl!! LOL!

Oooh..and just added...one of my favorite moments from 16 Candles!! Check it out!!

Alright, enough for now...this should hold everyone off!!

JC

So much to get too!!

I have some pics from my new phone to post up. Including some drunk shots. Saturday was rough. Jager anyone?

Plus, shopping insanity!

I'll put them up and let it all hang out after the show.

JC

First off...Rosie O'Donnell is a mess! She says that Kelly Ripa is a homophobe because she talked about Clay Aiken's hand and NOBODY is pointing out that CLAY IS NOT GAY (or at least he's never said he is).  The whole thing is ridiculous!

What's with celebs? Insanity I tell you! Michael Richards, OJ Book, Rosie and Kelly, Britney and K-Fed...enough!! Can't wait for the freak show on Monday to see who screwed up over the weekend.

We are just running around to family this week including a stop by my mom and step dad's place tomorrow for dinner and then to Kelly's parents since her grandmother is in town. I'd be lying if I didn't say I could really use the time off to relax. Though, I don't know how much relaxing that rug rat is going to let me do! He is all over the place. Either way I'll enjoy not having to come in so early. I can't believe I've never taken a sick day. I actually asked for last Friday off but my boss said "no" which kind of sucked.

OK, sooooooo...I don't plan on blogging this weekend (maybe I will), but I've got a bunch of pics to hold you over. Happy Thanksgiving!! 

Wow. Kramer!! Come on already?! Did you see this video of him flipping out? It broke yesterday but is readily available on the web including at one of my favorite sites www.tmz.com. He also showed up on Letterman last night to apologize and you can find that up at www.youtube.com just search and it will appear magically!

Doesn't it make you think how many other celebs are like that and just people in general? You NEVER KNOW what you are dealing with and you shouldn't EVER make comments like that. He may have committed career suicide even though (as his heckler pointed out) he's got nothing except for Seinfeld. By the way, Season 7 is out on DVD today! Yikes!!

Kelly was up early this morning watching "The War at Home" on Fox. I LOVE this show. It is fresh and is very topical for the times. It doesn't pretend stuff doesn't exist in society. The last episode had to do with swearing at parents and drug use...oh, and the daughter MAY have been on "Girls Gone Crazy (not Wild cause of TV ya know)"

If you can, check it out and let me know what you think. It's on Sunday nights. Check out some clips here on You Tube. 

Kelly's bringing Steven downtown to visit my mom at her office again which is nice and she can show him off to her coworkers and say "hi" to him. I didn't really get to see him yesterday cause I left a little early to pick up my car at the mechanics before going to Buffalo Wild Wings. Tuned up for the winter and ready to go! Don't want to chance it. Though, I need a timing belt which is REALLY important in a car cause if it breaks your talking lots of $$$$$$!!! As it is I got the spark plugs changed, belts, oil, and actually NEED breaks which stinks but gotta have it.

Cannot wait to have some time off (sorry!) over the holiday to spend some time with family. We are headed to my parents place for Thanksgiving and then to my in laws. We still split it up for some reason. It's not that bad, but busy for sure.

Big ups by the way to Tim for coming out to Buffalo Wild Wings with his wife last night! It was nice. No Jake though...he stayed home with his girlfriend. What...wait. 

Talk to you later,
JC

About fifteen minutes until showtime and I'm rockin' out to one of my favorite bands...er...artists! Yes, Anthony Gomes! He's a blues guy from Canada with some Chicago ties. He is one of the best guitar players and he's got some downright depressing AND uplifting music I've ever heard. Think Rob Thomas solo stuff/ John Mayer and mix it into one. Actually, Rob Thomas latest song Streetcorner Symphony reminds me A LOT of Mr. Gomes.

I've seen him live and my family will tell you I may be in love with him. Seriously, if you get a second fire up his website. www.anthonygomes.com (I have on "Now She's Gone" right now)

He has some deal on his website if you buy 100 CD's he'll come and play an acoustic gig for you. Anyone? Ha! I'd love it! There are some shows in Chicago and even in Crystal Lake coming up next month. You'll see that in the tour section and I just HAVE to make one of the shows. Maybe we can meet! Nice!

Not a bad weekend at all. Hung out with the family on Friday night at my brother in law RJ's place. Played some Sony Playstation (I rarely do)...not the new one that people are killing and stabbing over I think it was Playstation 2. 

Unbelievable but Steven slept THROUGH THE NIGHT for TWO NIGHTS IN A ROW. It was crazy. We didn't know what to do. We were just shocked and loving it. Hopefully it continues. 

Sunday I went up to Kristof's Entertainment Center to watch the football game with Glenn (www.biggestbearfan.com) Timmerman and what a game! Now that they won I may have to go there EVERY game. Actually I'm heading down to see a game against Minnesota in a few weeks which should be awesome. Last year we went with Glenn and it was the coldest game EVER in the NFL. Hopefully there is not a repeat of that scenario!

Your weekend was good I assume?

Talk to you soon,
JC

P.S. My friend Jason Turner (who gets a lot of mentions here) is mad at me I think cause I called him and his wife like four times cause I beat her in fantasy football and my guy kept scoring TD's. Sorry...but it was exciting dude!!

Looking forward to it!

Enjoy yours and talk to you early Monday!

Not much more to say right now. :)

JC