Stinkin Adorable!

Elderly couple gets $1,600 hotel room for $10
Patrons of 50 years ago offered stay for the price of their original visit

CHICAGO - It was 1947 when newlyweds Larry and Mariam Orenstein honeymooned in Chicago, paying just under $10 a night for a room at The Palmer House. Six decades later, the couple stayed in the hotel's penthouse suite for the same price — part of an offer for long-ago patrons.

The Palmer House allows one-time guests who visited more than 50 years ago to stay at the historic hotel for the price of their original stay — provided guests can submit an original receipt. The Orenstein's room goes for $1,600 today.

The Milwaukee-area residents, both 81, saved their hotel bill, along with other items from their wedding.

"I feel wonderful," Larry Orenstein told the Chicago Sun-Times at the ornate, downtown hotel. "I feel 2 years old."

The long-running deal at the 136-year-old hotel has been offered to guests since 1925. But customers have taken advantage of the offer fewer than 10 times over the last 25 years, said hotel spokesman Ken Price.

In the end, the Orensteins did not even have to pay the $10-a-night bill. As a gift, their 12-year-old grandson, Ze Orenstein, footed the bill.

Halloween at Work

So, we have a mandatory dress up policy here at work. I thought it was a hazing thing for the new employees, but no, it's a real deal. At lunch time, we're having a big catered shabang and a costume contest, then at 3pm all the kids come for trick-or-treating and festivities.

My department was having a hard time deciding what to go as, so Boss Lady and Assistant went to a costume shop in downtown LA at 9am one day last week. There was obviously no way I could make it to the costume store, so they said they'd pick something good out for me... I NO LONGER TRUST THEM. See below:

Me as Glinda the Good Witch

(yes, the costume is too big and yes, I AM wearing a hoop skirt)

Me, Assistant, and Boss Lady

Thumbs up or thumbs down?

My friend Emily has great style, even when she says she doesn't! : ) When I was at her house last week, I got some ideas for my bedroom. I love my quilt, but I've been wanting to class up my room a little. I've decided that over the next year or so, I'm going to replace my bedroom furniture with some nicer pieces, but in the meantime, I realized that I could use some nicer curtains and accent pillows to add class. What do you think?

new silk dupiani curtains and throw pillows

I used to have a quilty slip cover on that chair and have decided to make one out of silk dupiani, too!

CO and TX!

These photos are a little late in coming, as I've been pretty darn busy since I've been back, but I wanted to share nonetheless!

I had a great time with Dan, Shannon, and Grey-bug. And TA-DA, she has her first tooth, and maybe even more by now as there were a couple that appeared to be close. With the one, she kinda looks like a jack-o-lantern, but she's just scrumptious!!! Shannon and I took her to have her first Halloween photos taken. She's going to be a Skunk and she did so well in the little hat for the photos...I think I would have cried if I'd had to wear that scratchy hat, but not her! We also went to my Aunt Candy's new house in Highlands Ranch, which is just up the way. My aunt made an AMAZING home cooked meal which included rolls from scratch. She's a really talented cook and it was fun seeing her new digs!

Grey in her new Halloween kitty hat I brought her.

Me, Aunt Candy, Grey, and Shannon

On daddy's lap -- don't worry, we were in a parking lot and the vehicle was not moving. I'm sure Officer Johnson would want me to put that disclaimer in there!

After my trip to CO, I flew down to Austin to stay with Robin, Jon, Mackenzie (my goddaughter) and Travis Ayers. It was so fun seeing their new home and visiting with them for a couple of days! They've only been down there since April, but have already found out all the short cuts and good shopping. : ) They live in a darling neighborhood, which I loved. On Saturday night, we had a bit of a girls night (Mack came too) and we met up with one of my best gals from college, Jamie Kay, and Lindsay, a great friend of mine from grad school. It was so fun catching up and hearing about all the news!

Me and Lindsay (she's a stay at home mom now to Zach and also has a really cute online business. Check out the link in my "friends" section!)

Mack and Travis doing arts and crafts!
Me and Mack. She looks just like her mommy!
Robin and me (sorry I look so scary!)

On Monday, Jamie Kay and I drove through the rain to Fort Worth. I had a great time catching up with her on the road. We got to Emily, Jason, and Connor's house and spent some fun time hanging out, then went to Uncle Julio's Mexican Restaurant (a college favorite) -- mmmmmmm!

Jamie Kay brought Connor an airplane - her hubby Michele is a pilot!

Emily and I went to dinner with Ashley Dixon, a dear friend from college and sorority sister

Here's me and Connor goofing around. He's a complete doll!!!

Sara-Britt's Wedding Weekend

So my sweet cousin got married this weekend to a great cat, Pete. Sara-Britt Johnson is now Sara-Britt Guinta and tomorrow she and her husband will be off to their honeymoon in Guatamala (sp?). She was probably one of the most excited brides I've EVER seen. : ) It's always fun with the family gets together for big parties like weddings, etc, and last night was no different than usual...I just wish that I had taken today off like everyone else...I'm TIRED!!! : )

Emily, Sara-Britt, me, and Missie celebrating SB's marriage in advance. : )

On Saturday, everyone went winetasting in Temecula. Here are a few of Sara-Britt's bridesmaids and friends, and me and Missie. Sara-Britt is the gal in the purple. Ponte Vineyard is really yummy. I joined the wine club!

This was classic. At the last vineyard of the day, we saw this wasted lady who was passed out at a picnic table... As you can see, we weren't the only ones photographing her. Ha! I can only imagine that she had a burned booty the next morning.

Missie, Emily, and I. Emily is like an extension of the family and Missie flew out for the week. Didn't she JUST go back to school??? : )

Unfortunately, I don't have very many good photos from the wedding. It was really dark and during the ceremony, we got stuck in the far back...nice way to treat family, huh?! I'm working on getting some more from my dad and Carlee's husband Bryan...stay tuned.

Back to the bangs... and other things!

I'm rethinking my initial dislike of the new bangs... Now I think they're kinda sassy. I'll probably have some pics after this weekend of Sara-Britt's wedding and the pre-wedding wine tasting excursion on Saturday -- REALLY looking forward to both. : )

A few weeks back, I got sucked into an infomercial. I know, I know, there's no excuse. If I really wanted to lose weight and tone up, I'd just hit the gym a little more. BUT, I have to say, I'm really digging the weights and the DVDs! I've been really committed to The FIRM and I sweat ridiculous amounts in the comfort of my own living room! So, we'll see how it goes...so far, I've been sore all week, which I think is a good sign.

I'm going to Denver, Austin, and Fort Worth next week! I needed a vacation and decided to go west. When looking at tickets to Texas online, I realized that a lot of the flights had lay-overs in Denver, so then I wondered if I could stay a couple of days there and then pop over to TX and it totally worked out! I'm excited to see Danny, Shannon, and Grey for a couple of days, then jump down to Austin to see Jamie Kay and Michele, and the Ayers family! I've never met little Travis and I'm looking forward to seeing my goddaughter Mackenzie a ton! And I can't wait to see Robin and Jon's new house. Then I run up to Fort Worth to see my favorite Littlejohns! Can't wait to spend time with Emily, Jason, and Connor. I sent Connor a kitty cat for his birthday and apparently he sleeps with it every night. I can only imagine that Jason is dying that his son likes cats. It makes me laugh because apparently Connor has started calling one of the dogs his kitty, which makes Jason crazy. : )

This is why I live alone...

South LA Man Charged With Fatally Beating Roommate With Frying Pan
POSTED: 11:53 am PDT October 3, 2007

LOS ANGELES -- A man was in custody Wednesday for allegedly beating his roommate to death with a frying pan in the house they shared in South Los Angeles, police said.

Kevan Beech, 43, was booked for murder in the death of 55-year-old Kenneth Flanders, whose body was found in his bedroom, the Los Angeles Police Department reported. Beech was held on $1 million bail, according to the sheriff's department.

Officers were called to the 700 block of East 47th Street about 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, after Flanders' relatives came upon the crime scene, the LAPD reported. "Beach was reportedly angry with Flanders because he refused to give him money," the LAPD reported. "After killing Flanders, Beech remained in the house for at least one day before relatives came to check on Flanders ..."

Detectives believe Flanders was fatally beaten with an iron frying pan.