talk me off the ledge

I’ve used wi-fi in all the usual places — the coffee shops, the library, the airport. But today, I am enjoying a first — taking advantage of the wireless access at Carle Clinic’s South Clinic lab. Even though I sometimes feel as if this place is my second or third home, today I’ve moved on in. Computer — check. Phone — check. Water — check. I might as well set up a meeting or two here.

Don’t worry, I’m not in labor. I am taking the three-hour test for gestational diabetes. I had it during my pregnancy with Peanut too, so this is no big shock.

Some of my longtime readers may remember that I quit blogging for awhile during my first pregnancy. I just got too busy, too tired, too disinterested. I am feeling the same way again, so if you don’t see me around for awhile, I hope you understand.

a fall feast

This is another one of those Central Illinois weekends where everyone decides it’s the time to have their special event or fundraiser. Of course this is a good time to do it, with the Illinois football team on a bye week and the weather still pleasant. If we could be a zillion places at once, here’s where we would be:

The Worldwide Day of Play (or Go Healthy Month, whatever you prefer) — Savoy’s Prairiefield Park, Saturday, noon to 2 p.m. If you miss it, Urbana is celebrating this “holiday” on the 27th instead.Free.

Shakespeare in the Park — a modern retelling of Twelveth Night invades Hessel Park on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Free.

Road Race for Animals — A 5K walk/run fundraiser Saturday morning for Canine Companions for Independence, which provides highly-trained assistance dogs for children and adults with disabilities, as well as the locally operated A Pet’s Place, which provides no-cost housing and medical care for the pets of women living at two area domestic violence shelters.

Illini Volleyball Family FunFest – A kid-focused meet and greet with the ranked University of Illinois volleyball team. Meet the players and try out volleyball skills, like serving, spiking, and passing. Illini face painting and team autographs and free posters will be also available. 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, free.

Toys for Troops Care Packs, Brats & Potluck — Volunteer your time to pack care packages for injured soldiers’ families on Sunday afternoon. This is a grassroots effort started by one of our very own, C-U’s Lori Stewart.

Sangamon River Forest Preserve Dedication — It’s not every day that Champaign County opens a new forest preserve. Sunday, 2-4. Free.

Teddy Bear Picnic — Come to the Urbana Free Library for a teddy bear picnic with songs, stories, and a snack. Bring your bear. Sunday, 3:30 p.m. Free.

boy oh boy what a week it has been

In case you haven’t noticed, our fine little burg has made national news in the past week. First, it was the (alleged) drug-dealing priest at the UI, who evidently garnered a mention on Saturday Night Live’s weekend update “news” segment over the weekend (If anyone has this clip, please send it along. I haven’t been able to locate it online). You know you’ve made it big when you hit SNL’s radar.

Now, it’s the “Rantoul Journal” that appeared in today’s New York Times, detailing the special Generations of Hope non-profit program that supports a diverse intergenerational neighborhood to support families of adopted foster children. Now there’s something to be proud of.

we’re a target

Add Houlihan’s to the list.

For some reason my family has a propensity to be spilled on at restaurants. And our first visit to the new Houlihan’s at the i Hotel was no different.

Usually, I am the target. This time, Mr. lbotp bore the wrath of the spillage. Luckily for him it was only soda. When we were at Jim Gould’s over the summer for a lunch with the parents, I had hot coffee and ice water dumped down my back — at the same time. Luckily for them, and thankfully for me, it wasn’t too bad. But they did comp several of our meals, and the manager came out to apologize. At Houlihan’s, I thought it was pretty tacky that the waitress didn’t comp his soda.

It was a rare lunch out alone for us and we decided to try the new guy; we left with mixed feelings. The salads are unbelievably soggy (note to self: order dressing on the side). The menu, at least the lunch menu, was terribly confusing. It shouldn’t take a Ph.D. to be able to order lunch. (They do all these combo thingys, etc. which takes a little bit to figure out). We both ordered chicken fingers which I do have to say were perhaps the best I’ve tasted in town, not that I’m a connisseur of such food. It just seemed appropriate on a rainy day.

We will try Houlihan’s again, if only to see if the children’s menu is as good as advertised. We might not order any drinks, however. If we do, we’ll all bring sippy cups.

seven years ago

In seven years I have moved states, gotten married, bought a house, had a kid, changed jobs more times than I care to count and generally built myself a life (oh and this blog too).

But seven years ago seems like five minutes ago when it comes to today’s date, but I didn’t wake up this morning thinking about what today meant. I was in the van listening to the simulcast of CNN on my XM radio when I “heard” the moment of silence being observed at the Pentagon. And my cheeks burned with shame that I had lost track of the calendar, and there it was and I was transported back in time in an instant.

On September 11, 2001, I was not living in C-U. I was far away in a foreign state (yes, Texas is a foreign state). My long-distance fiance, now Mr. lbotp, had returned to C-U the night before after a long weekend visit. I was getting ready for work with CNN on the television, not fully comprehending why a plane had hit one of the Twin Towers. And then the second plane hit, and the rest is history.

I find it cathartic to relive those moments. So I invite all of you to share your 9/11 story, because remembering is one of the most important things we can do.

true confessions

I wish I could say that the only reason that I’ve been tuning into the new old series 90210 on the CW was to check in on Champaign-Urbana area native Jennie Garth’s career.

But that would be a big, fat lie. After all, it’s not like I faithfully watched Dancing With The Stars when JG fruitlessly competed there.

No, I’ve been watching because mindless entertainment is just what a pregnant woman needs. Especially when it involves cheese with a side of cheese and cheese on top. And it’s even better that it is a “reboot” of a series that I hated to love way back in my carefree days way before life (and my big belly) got in the way.

Oddly enough, Garth, the real-life mother of three, reflected on her flyover-state upbringing in an interview last month with the New York Times. She recalled how her character was a spoiled rich socialite, not exactly someone she could relate to coming from the farm.

“, and it was a great character for me, because I didn’t know anybody like that, and I’d never been around anybody like that. Because I’m from Illinois, from Champaign-Urbana, and they just don’t cut them like that there, on the farm where I lived.”

Maybe that’s why it was so easy for her to slip back into character. Or something like that. Whatever the reason, my empty brain thanks her.

pardon my rant

DISCLAIMER:  Yes, I know there are more important issues in the world than what I am about to complain about. Not that that has stopped me before …

I really want to know why more restaurants in this town don’t invest in some decent kids’ cups (here’s an example). Putting a drink in a regular cup with a flimsy plastic lid and a straw just doesn’t cut it. It is usually overfilled and often too cumbersome for the really little ones to handle. If handled correctly, this could be a great marketing opportunity.

That’s how Biaggi’s does it. We liked them so much we even took them home. And now it’s actually a reminder that Biaggi’s caters to kids, since their name is front and center on the cup. We don’t eat all that often at chain restaurants, but I’m sure there are others in town that have other branded kids cups. (I often forget that Biaggi’s is a chain since it started up the road in Bloomington and the Champaign restaurant was its second location.)

Of course I could just always remember to bring our own cup. But that’s too easy. And what’s the point of eating out then if I have to do the dishes, ha.

pass the chips and salsa

You may have heard the news that the Big Ten Network’s “Friday Night Tailgate” will be returning to Champaign-Urbana tomorrow night.

Not only that, but the show, which mostly serves to preview the next day’s slate of football games, will be broadcasting live from downtown Champaign.

Yes, you read that correctly. Downtown Champaign. That’s where everyone tailgates, right? Maybe they will, since the area around Memorial Stadium is still an unqualified mess with T-minus 48 hours until game day. That’s probably the real reason they headed toward the downtown area, although. But one wonder if local cable monopoly Comcast hadn’t consented to an agreement to put the BTN on its systems earlier this summer, if the BTN would have been so bold to actually venture off campus.

Still, it’s hard to get excited about the BTN. Now if it were ESPN’s Gameday in downtown Champaign, that would be a sight to see.

good deeds (another edition of random thoughts)

My pregnancy obsession has been Hansen’s Diet Pomegranate Soda. I found this up north at Trader Joe’s and I’m hooked. Now I’m trying to find a local dealer in C-U. If you know where to find this, I will put a zillion blessings on your head like my dear old Aunt Ruthie (may she rest in peace.)

Peanut’s latest obsession is Clifford the Big Red Dog. Unlike Thomas, Princesses and Cars, it’s not easy to find Clifford “stuff” besides books and DVDs. If you know where to hook me up with some Clifford stuff (and yes I have looked online, it’s slim pickings) I will again put a zillion blessings on your head.

The Wordy Diva, aka Lisa who is the wonderful and fearless organizer of the Market on the Square, is looking for feedback to make the market even better than ever. Drop her a line at the Market’s blog. There have already been some good suggestions. Mine would be to have free babysitting (giggle).

Speaking of the Market, it was great to meet Seth, one of the guys behind Smile Politely, on Saturday.

I’ve enjoyed the bru-ha-ha over the University of Illinois student group paying disgraced former VP candidate John Edwards $65K to speak here on the topic of “The American Dream.” That just begs for a joke, and Mr. lbotp was quick to ante up one about the speech’s chosen title … doesn’t take a genius to figure that one out, but since there are young adults who read this blog, we’ll keep it clean.