professionally speaking: when you want something, go out and get it. that's what i just did. and yes! my hands sweated the whole time.

the one new thing i learned today:

"you lose brain cells all the time. (slap abby's head). see? and you stop producing them after age 26" -- jeff.

yikes! now i wear ear muffs.

heard this in my brother's car the other day...

I'm so tired of being here. Suppressed by all my childhood fears.
And if you have to leave, I wish that you would just leave.
Cause your presence still lingers here, and it won't leave me alone.

These wounds won't seem to heal, this pain is just too real, there's just too much that time cannot erase.

When you cried I'd wipe away all of your tears. When you'd scream I'd fight away all of your fears. I held your hand through all of these years.
But you still have...
All of me.

You used to captivate me by your resonating mind, now I'm bound by the life you left behind.
Your face it haunts my once pleasant dreams. Your voice has chased away all the sanity in me.
These wounds won't seem to heal, this pain is just too real, there's just too much that time cannot erase.

When you cried I'd wipe away all of your tears. When you'd scream I'd fight away all of your fears. I held your hand through all of these years.
But you still have...
All of me.

I tried so hard to tell myself that you're gone.
But though you're still with me, I've been alone all along.
When you cried I'd wipe away all of your tears, When you'd scream I'd fight away all of your fears. I held your hand through all of these years.
But you still have...
All of me.

: My Immortal :: Evanescence :

...and i got teary-eyed

PepsiCo Company Picnic @ Brookfield Zoo -- Saturday, June 26, 2004

hellllloooooo WEEKEND!

a friend sent this to me. a sort of afternoon inspiration...
Comes The Dawn

After awhile you learn the subtle difference between
holding a hand and chaining a soul
and you learn that love doesn't mean possession
and company doesn't mean security.
And you begin to learn that kisses aren't contracts
and presents aren't promises
and you begin to accept your defeats with your head up and your eyes ahead with the grace of an adult
not the grief of a child.
And you learn to build your roads today
because tomorrow's ground is too uncertain for plans
and futures have ways of falling down in mid-flight.
After awhile you learn that even sunshine burns if you get too much
so you plant your own garden
and decorate your own soul instead of waiting for someone to bring you flowers.
And you learn that you really can endure
that you really are strong
and you really do have worth
and you learn
and you learn...

by Virginia Shopstall

BBQ Par-tay @ Leynes Home -- Saturday, June 19, 2004

my hero

Myra's Birthday Dinner @ Via Carducci Trattoria on Monday June 14, 2004

updated Pictures from 11th Annual Chicago Cares Serve-a-thon

oh my god, someone throw some cold water on me.

You think that I go home at night, take off my clothes, turn out the lights
But I burn letters that I write to you, to make you love me

Yeah, I drive naked through the park and run the stop sign in the dark
Stand in the street, yell out my heart...to make, to make you love me

I am extraordinary if you'd ever get to know me
I am extraordinary...I am just your ordinary average every day sane psycho
Supergoddess...average every day sane psycho

You may not believe in me but I believe in you so I still take the trash out
Does that make me too normal for you?

So dig a little deeper cause you still don't get it yet
See me lickin' my lips, need a primitive fix and I'll make, I'll make you love me

I am extraordinary if you'd ever get to know me
I am extraordinary...I am just your ordinary average every day sane psycho
Supergoddess...average every day sane psycho

See me jump through hoops for you. You stand there watching me performing
What exactly do you do?
Have you ever thought it's you that's boring?
Who the hell are you?

I am extraordinary if you'd ever get to know me
I am extraordinary...I am just your ordinary average every day sane psycho
Supergoddess...average every day sane psycho

: Extraordinary :: Liz Phair :

Pictures from Memorial Weekend 2004 w/ Ian @ Walt Disney World Resort Dolphin/Swan in Orlando, FL (May 29-31, 2004)

these always bring a smile to my face

Mother's Day: Chicago Cubs vs Colorado Rockies Game -- Sunday May 9, 2004.

UIUC 2004 Graduation Party @ Tini Martini -- Saturday May 22, 2004

Chicago Cubs vs St. Louis Cardinals Night Game -- Sunday May 23, 2004.

RENT with Liss, Junior, Andrew, Sharon, P.J., Paul, Fatima, Melanie -- Saturday May 1, 2004.

Papa's 55th Birthday -- Tuesday April 6, 2004.