Just One

Hey Now, Hey Now, Our Momo's Back!

2008-08-05T09:44:00.000-07:00

That's right kiddies, Momo and Mike and Matilda were back in town for the weekend. We behaved ourselves for a few hours on Friday night, before Amy took baby Matilda home for the evening (dang, no pictures of Amy here, sorry, Amers)!

Once babysitting was secured, we got back down to...well...not behaving ourselves, so much.

It's ok. She's no longer preggers.

Lord knows what Clint's listening to here. If you know Atef, you'll know why I say that. If you don't know Atef, I'll just tell you that it could be something about chicken milk, flarting, or how he will pollenate all of the women in the world.

There's Marcy, and a new Melissa. We have 2 Melissa's now. For some reason, I'm missing pix of the other Melissa also. Second apology of the day, here.

There's Mark. He took most of the pictures on this entry, actually. But not this one. He couldn't take this one, with both of his hands in the photo, silly.

Me & Shirley, trying to look sultry. Or drinky. Don't bother me with semantics.

If you look carefully, you'll see that this is actually 2 pictures..one of Melissa, and one of Evan. See, there were 2 almost identical, except that Mel looked good in one, and E looked good in the other...so I cut them down the middle and put them together

Mark better button it; Marcy's kicked his ass before.

Hey, what are the odds that Dan will be her from Connect-i-kut the same weekend that Momo's here?!! Pretty good, apparently, you should have placed your bets.

Momo and Melissa have exactly the same size hands. Bet you didn't know that.

My turn to listen to chicken flarting. I mean, chicken milk. And no, we've never figured out what chicken milk is, so don't ask.

I crack Momo up.

Big Glasses Night

2008-06-23T08:32:00.000-07:00

We J1 bloggers have been slacking, haven't we? Last entry was December, and I KNOW we've been out since then. Tsk tsk.

Well, back to it. Our first "big" Happy Hour(s) of the year was Friday night, with Georgie declaring the theme to be "Big Glasses," and bringing a pair for everyone. Ohhh, how jealous the other girls at the other tables were! One lady tried to buy a pair from us, but we smacked her hands and told her no!

Ok, we're nice; we would have sold them, but they were already designated for other friends to come.

You know how you can get about cutting up and making noise that annoys those at other tables? Well, big glasses are pure magic for making all of those other people just laugh right along with you. You just can't be mad at people with big glasses on!

Lori (the former LA Lori; she has moved back, so we are both IL Lori's now) and I put ours on, grabbed a spare pair, and circled the block to see how many "takers" we could get for a photo op.

We noticed that those much younger than us seemed to think we should just go home and tuck ourselves in for the night, while people "our age" were extremely open to trying on big glasses and getting their photos taken. We even warned them that they'd be bandied about the internet.

Our concensus, then: Folks "our age" have fewer hang ups, and hence, are more fun. After making that decision, we went on home and tucked ourselves in for the night.

Little orphan pokerchicks.

2007-12-14T12:44:00.001-08:00

shameless crosspost. forgive me.

(photo by Laurie - I only wish she was in it too!)

Sadly, we were missing 2 of our pokerchicks last night. We were hoping for a full house.

A lot happened this week for all our chicks. One has a very sick cat. Another has a husband with a herniated disk. There are work issues for several, kid issues for others. It's just that time of year, you know? As for me, my hub was stuck in Boston after all the flights were canceled because of the huge snowstorm. Wouldn't have been so bad, I suppose, except he was stuck outside waiting for a train in the storm for hours freezing his tush off. Oh and did I mention that I packed him his left glove and my right glove? Do you know how small my hands are? Oops. I have to say, he was a trooper. Hopefully he'll get home today. But I digress.

Last night was an extravaganza. And it was clearly the distraction that we all needed. Stacks (not her real name) set up an amazing spread - crab cakes, shrimp, nuts, cheese, toffee and more along with champagne and lovely wines.

We talked, we laughed. And we laughed some more.

Oh, and we played poker. Baltimore, Follow the Queen, High-Low, Omaha. We played 'em all.

No big losers last night (well, maybe one).

So maybe it wasn't the most serious game we've ever had. But speaking for myself, I think ranks up there with the best.

I love these chicks. And I love this night every month.

Happy Hallowe'en

2007-11-04T13:20:00.000-08:00

Ok, so I know this is heinous cross-posting, but who cares? This is what Hallowe'en is all about:

Those broomsticks are a bugger to fly! Anyway, much fun was had and all the other photos are posted on Flickr. The party season is upon us. Hurrah!!!!

Tiara Night

2007-09-23T18:08:00.000-07:00

It was Tiara Night last Friday, though just barely. You'd think with Halloween approaching, a dozen tiara's would be an easy find, but it wasn't until Friday afternoon that I found these, at Big Lots. $2 each. That's right. Cuz we're worth $2, each.

The evening was monumental for a couple of reasons. First, well, the tiara's. Second...

well...

I don't want to tell you the second...

but...

Momo is moving to Jacksonville, North Carolina, on Wednesday. Wahhhhhhhhhhh. This is seroiusly cutting into our J1 Style, when one of ours has to leave us. We're going to miss her, and Mike, and baby Matilda like crazies. But we J1'd in style on Friday night; they actually let a friend babysit Matilda for the first time that night, that's how much they love us.

Third, because new friends joined us for the first time also, and we coerced dozens in the bar to pose with a tiara to mark the evening. There are about 1 million photos of the evening, here are a few highlights. Watch them as we get out our hankies, and sniff away. (Remember, dab, don't rub.)

Fake Laugh Night

2007-09-15T05:32:00.000-07:00

There HAVE been Girlz Nights in Champaign, Illinois, this summer, but the blogger in charge has been a bit of a slacker. Or rather, overwhelmingly busy. She's sorry, and will return to regularly scheduled GirlzBlogging.

After missing a few funny shots (funny, if you've had Just One), we came up with the idea of photographing one another's fake laugh, a few weeks ago. This is Mark #1, posing for his fake laugh, but insisting that it made him real-laugh.

Melissa is cracking up here:

Mine is very realistic:

I don't think Mark #2 is fake laughing at all, I think he's just sitting there, drinking just one:

Bartender Rich wouldn't fake laugh for us, but I think he was probably fake smiling here, trying to appease yet one more table of crazy women, when all he wanted to do was clear our glasses from the table and get away from us.

I think this is a real laugh too, but I didn't come home with Georgie's fake laugh:

Gratuitous girl-on-girl shot. Look fast before Georgie and Mel see that I put it up here, and make me remove it!

Start snapping your fake-laughs and posting them, and stay tuned: Sept 21 is Tiara Night for the Champaign Leg of J1. We loves to have a theme.

Okay, I know this isn't appropriate for this blog!

2007-08-28T07:42:00.000-07:00

But it's cute, no?

I just couldn't believe none of us has posted since July and, well, I didn't have anything really appropriate to post. So, here's 2 of my guys in their spiderman boxers.

Anyone have anything on target to post?

Just None

2007-07-08T22:07:00.000-07:00

Here's one of our's, kiddies, that hasn't had even ONE, for the last 8.5 months.

We, in the Champaign Satellite of Just One, wait anxiously, for the next 2 weeks!

Monday night on the town?

2007-07-03T15:09:00.000-07:00

I went to pick Kristin up - we were going out for a drink. I brought my son to babysit for her kids. They're posing here...

Whew. We made it out the door! Our jolly waitress greeted us and twisted our arms....we ended up with a bottle of wine. (and some seared tuna and calamari!)

Kristin didn't take to getting photographed right off the bat...

But she got into the spirit of things.

Because she's that kind of girl.

I guess I'm the lucky one - I was the only one with a camera!

Saturday night with a cold

2007-06-30T13:57:00.000-07:00

Tragic, isn't it. The flat looks nice from this andle though.

I promise I will post some fun on here soon - it's summer after all!

Fire 'n Wine Night

2007-05-08T08:25:00.000-07:00

Di and I have taken to winding down our weekends with a glass of wine around the firepit. After housework, and yardwork, she having dinner with her grandbabies, and me having taken Mom out shopping, we pull on sweats and pjs, and meet on her deck around 8 in the evening.

This week she made popcorn. When Di makes popcorn, she does it right: Black popcorn, cooked in an old-timey popper, and real butter poured over the top.

Then we sit back, drink our wine, eat the popcorn, and blather away until about 11 or so.

Won't be long before the extra blankie is unnecessary...

Ahhhh....That's Sunday nights, Girls. Grab Just One beverage and a lawn chair, and come on over.

The prodigy.

2007-04-09T06:53:00.000-07:00

Okay, it's not just girlz, but Kristin's family came for dinner last night & I got some cute shots!

Pre-Wedding Pizza and Pool (and a few more)

2007-04-07T08:20:00.000-07:00

A GAME! One of These Things is Not Like the Other. Pay close attention, now:

*******BEGIN GAME******

******END GAME*****

How's THAT for rejuvenating this blog?

These photos from a little Pizza Suare at Jupiter's a week before Melissa and Joey got married. There was pool, pizza, just one drink, and lots of singing. 70's songs, mostly; you should hear our version of "Afternoon Delight."

Here's Joey giving us his...uh...devil horns gangsta homey boy yo yo yo thingy fingers.

And playing pool:

Melissa and Jim waiting for their turn at the table:

Preggy Marcy wasn't drinking. No fun for her, but this sure was. Her changing body is a constant source of entertainment for us. It's not just her tummy that's growing like crazy, that's all I'm sayin.

Me, Mel, and Lori. Cheeeeeeeeeeeese

And this was from the next day, Girl's Shopping. Well, Marcy, Mike, and I shopping for wedding gifts. Here's Mike trying on a napkin ring at Pier 1 Imports, and insisting Marcy kiss his ring:

As I write, Mel & Joey are celebrating their 1-week anniversary. I love this photo of them, it's so indicative of their relationship; they're always laughing and happy.

Boys' night in

2007-04-01T13:02:00.000-07:00

Following on from the last post, I though this was appropriate to even up the scores and restore balance to the universe.

Party of 4: Girlz E-mail Thread

2007-03-15T11:52:00.000-07:00

The names have been changed to protect the innocent...and hairy.

***********

I can't believe what I tweezed off my forehead/eyebrow last night! I plucked out one eyebrow hair that was 2 inches long!! Two inches!! How can I not see a black 2 inch long eyebrow hair? If that's not bad enough, I plucked out a white short hair that was so stiff and hard I could have used for a toothpick! How can my body grow those monstrosities and how can they just appear over night? I feel like my dad. If I start growing ear hairs, will someone please tell me?

I found a 3/4" hair on the tip of my chin the other day. I was on the phone at the time, and said "this wasn't here 1/2 an hour ago!"

You know that mirror you got me for Christmas last year? Well I used to use it a couple of times a month then went to a couple of times a week now I’m at every other day.

I won’t tell you what I plucked the other day from my BOOB!

The other day I seriously thought of using [husband's] nose hair trimmer. I didn’t use it because I thought, “I’m a GIRL for godsake.” Now that’s a great reason isn’t it?!

Works for me! I have pulled a hair or two off my chest. I just pretend that it was a stray hair from my head that got glued on there with hairspray.

Six Nations

2007-03-02T09:32:00.000-08:00

On this side of the Atlantic we, as the most civilised of nations on the globe, have established a marvellous little competition called the Six Nations. We get fifteen of our fittest, muscliest men together and pitch them against each other with no form of protection and one object: get the ball over the line. Oh, and no passing forwards either. Keep your American football with your pads and helmets: rugby is the sport of kings! But this blog isn't about sport, it's about parties; and what better reason to party than Ireland (I may look and sound British but I'm Irish underneath) smashing England into the ground with a 43-13 drubbing. Aha ha ha ha ha ha! Aho ho ho ho! And just for good measure: ho ho ho ho ho.
So, Simon I went out to celebrate!

And we all know that a night's not complete without getting in a photo with some random fat rockers; Simon didn't disappoint.

Is that guy licking his ear?

Another Mother/Daughter Post

2007-02-19T07:12:00.000-08:00

This is a little clip I took of Melissa and daughter Kirstin, rockin out on a $5,000 chair at Home Elements, in downtown Chicago. Love how Mel checks for the clerk first...

Lunch Sessions / Post Valentine's

2007-02-16T11:28:00.000-08:00

I did not get to spend Valentine's with the second most important woman in my life....no, not Vader....Empress.

So today, to make up for a lost Valentine, she called and asked if I was up for lunch. I had made plans with True, but he canceled and we were free to roam.

To my surprise when Empress rolled up to pick me up at the office, she got out of her car, with 3 Huge Sunflowers in her hand....and two Cards...lovely Handmade ones, with a picture of us both...

You gotta give it to the gal...she got me sunflowers...one of my favorite flowers...she knows better than to get me roses...I'm so not roses.

So we drive about, settle for a quick lunch, but the spot is full. We decided to get out of the parking lot and the lady who takes our ticket says:

"You have to validate this ticket ladies"

Empress quickly cuts her off..

"But..the lot is full...we just drove in..."

"You have to validate the ticket".

She sounded like C3PO's long lost lover.

"But the lot is full, we want to eat but it's full" Empress beginning to lose her temper..

"Well, you should have come earlier".

::gasp::

"Did you hear what this Bitch told us??"

I quickly covered my face with a magazine. I feared for my life.

I guess the C3PO did too, she let us out.

We settled for Ponderosa and Sirloin Steaks....

She tempted me for dessert, but due to my missing sweet tooth, I declined.

It's always nice to have lunch and gossip about women who we loathe and threaten our piece of mind....

And it's always so much better when your best friend who hasn't seen you in a while compliments you:

"Oh my...you look so skinnier...your boobs are even smaller...they no longer protude out of you chest so much!!"

Ah...that's a friend...

Of course there wouldn't be a lunch session without some pics vids...Enjoy!

Me with my sunflowers...and the scenery after lunch...(Empress took one on her cam of the both of us..but she still has to send it via email...)

We wanted to sing a lil' Japanese song for you like her ringtone, but alas, we do not know Japanese, but we can sing mentioning a whole crap load of Japanese Brands for ya'...and it could've fooled anyone....

All Hail the Queen...

2007-02-14T11:26:00.000-08:00

There are no Martini's...no men...and no gossip....no crying (well maybe a lil' later on...)

But it's a Girls Afternoon Out, regardless....

We celebrate the day of love and friendship...

And the reigning Valentine's Day Queen for two years straight...

"All Hail the Queen" was what the crowd cheered...

After the ceremony,

A mommy and a daughter bonded over Happy Meals, Sprites, roses, chocolates and a beautiful handmade card....

I love u Miss C...
her response: I love U too mommy!!!

Now that's what I call a Girls Night Out...
Happy V-Day !!!

Happy Birthday, Scott.

2007-02-04T05:56:00.000-08:00

Last night was Scott's birthday party. Remember Melissa and I made bowls out of records for centerpieces? They looked great. She had posters made of Scott's band, The Low Expectations. This was their world premier.

So the party was great. We met some terrific new people. Danced up a storm. Good times. Good times.

And now for your viewing pleasure, The Low Expectations performing Mary had a Little Lamb. No, not that one. This is great... (The sound is good. The picture stinks. I did everything I could figure out to make it better, but it was very dark in the room and, well, this is it.)

And now, the band performs Ride Around Sally...

Scott's brother really jazzed up this version of Tequila...

And the pièce de résistance, my darling Andrew on lead vocals of Gimme Three Steps.... (Such guts! And he had fun to boot!)

Happy birthday, Scott! We hope you had as much fun as we did.

Dinner Night

2007-01-28T06:53:00.000-08:00

Diane hosted Dinner Night this month. I'm sorry to say that I didn't come home with any photos of our hostess...or of myself, for that matter. Above we sit around her table, after a to-die-for dinner of homemade lasagna, salad, garlic bread, and angel food cake with strawberries.

The food was too good, we all helped ourselves to extra servings, and made short order of her hard work. It would have been beautiful-er if I'd taken this photo before dinner:

Di claimed to be sipping on wine & sparkling water, but we all laughed when we noticed her self- bartending technique: THIS much soda, topped off with white wine. And she didn't even have to drive home.

Di has THE warmest house you'll ever step foot in. It's warm. It's cozy. It's candle-lit, and full of beautifully arranged, homey stuff from her past and present. Ask her about anything in the place, she has a memory about it, and will make you love it as much as she does.

It's not just her home that envelopes you, it's Diane herself. When you are her friend, in her house or not, she's taking care of and nurturing you.

We've been friends for over 25 years, and one of my favorite memories of her "taking care" of me, was when I stopped into her place, an emotional mess when my marriage was falling apart.

It was late spring, raining, and I was freezing. She ordered me to take off my shoes, curl up in a blanket. I did just that when she came out a few minutes later with a hot towel. She'd put that towel in the microwave and heated it up (did you know you could do that?!), and proceeded to wrap my feet in it. I don't think I'd ever felt so safe and comfortable in my entire life as I did that evening. Everything really would be ok.

Anyway, Marcy was on the receiving end of this warming on Tuesday night; here she is bundled up on the world's coziest fluffiest loungy chair thing, after Di had tucked her in for some TV:

On the agenda for the night: Cash & Treasures. Zia wanted to catch a show about geodes, and we were all so entranced that we stayed tuned in for the diamond mining episode also. Marcy's a diamond nut, so we all declared that after her baby is born, we'll strap it on her back, grab a pick-axe, and take a girl's trip to Arkansas to dig for diamonds. Wouldn't that be fun?!

We left for the evening to find a few inches of snow blanketing the world, and had a bit of fun yakking and cleaning off our cars.

After mine was cleaned off, I did donuts in the cul de sac Diane lives in, hooping and hollering, and yelling yeeeeee-haaaaaw!!

There was clearly no water in my wine.

Gay night

2007-01-27T11:13:00.000-08:00

The only photo that came out, taken right at the start. Probably just as well, since I end up looking like this on 'mornings after'...

Ready, aim, fire!

2007-01-26T10:48:00.000-08:00

So what happens when two bloggers go out for dinner and a huge pitcher of sangria? Dueling camera-phones!

Here's Kristin trying to take a picture of me. I think mine came out better. (ha!)

When we ordered a pitcher, we didn't realize it was this huge. I must add, we did finish it.

Girls Night In

2007-01-21T14:58:00.000-08:00

Mike's out of town for the weekend, so Momo and I decided to get together Saturday night. A very glamourous evening: home in sweatpants.

Oh. Some of us wore boa's:

We did run out to Village Inn for a few pies. We got the circular booth in the corner, which was cool and very drafty. Unable to find a warm spot, Marcy and I decided body heat was the only way to go, and scooted together for dinner. It was quite romantic.

We came home for manicures:

And chick flicks:

Lazing about in front of the fireplace:

And curling up in the sofa.

Until the wee hour of 11:30 p.m., when Marcy's baby-growing work put her to sleep, and my red wine put me to sleep.

We aren't always Girls Gone Wild.

In record time.

2007-01-20T09:36:00.000-08:00

I've decided that I must invite anal retentive people into my life. People with big ideas -- ideas with lots of details to implement.

So....

Melissa is giving a party for her hub's 40th. He's in a blues band. The theme is blues and barbecue. Yum! She asked for my help on some details. We found a great venue. She hired a great barbecue restaurant to bring the food. Of course, beer and wine is under control. But how can we make the place look the part?

Music-related confetti for the tables. Check.
CDs to hang around (with fishing line) to pick up the lights. Check.
Posters of old concerts. Check.
Centerpieces? Hmmm...

Let's make bowls out of old record albums! Yeah, lets!

Turn the oven on to 225 F. Put the record balanced on top of a glass jar that is on an old cookie sheet.

After 3 minutes, take it out (with a potholder!). It'll be all floppy. Lay it over a bowl and shape it.

We decided we liked the 'pinched' method the best. But even the 'scrunch' method looks pretty groovy!

Now we need to decide what to fill the bowls with -- Kisses? Chex Mix? Pretzels?

This party is going to rock!