Category Archive for ‘Holidays’ at gotshoo?

Archive for the 'Holidays' Category

LOLDOG - Clancy.

Published

on 12/20/2007

. 1 Comment

Finally did a loldog. You’d think I would have followed up on this meme a long time ago.

This dog loves his bones. Might have to do something with the snip-snip. He’ll chew a bone till it’s completely gone which is about a half hour. He’ll even whine to point of hyperventilating (thank you spell check on that last word) if Buddy takes his bone. It’s amusing and funny at the same time. It’s kind of like when the fat kid takes a toy from the skinny kid. BTW, Buddy is not fat, just big boned. God didn’t give him much clearance from the ground anyway. He makes up for that with his sturdiness.

Mrs. Shoo and I were kicking back watching tv the other night when Clancy yelped (yelped as in it scared the crap out of us) out with excitement and jumped to the floor to tackle an unclaimed bone. We looked at each other as if did that really happen?

Yup, dogs are never boring.

The Christmas sweater.

Published

shoo

on 12/10/2007

in Mrs. Shoo, Tereasa, Unnecessary Documentation and Xmas

. 10 Comments

The Christmas sweater is a right of passage in some places of employment. Below two young, brave and good looking teachers take their inaugural sporting of the Christmas sweater. In the same way a kid gets to drive a car for the first time, a college students taps his first keg; this too is a pivotal moment.

Nothing says more “I rather be grading essays” than over sized snowman and Santa Claus prints on brightly colored knitted displays of holiday cheer.

You better watch out, you better not cheat, because someone is Googling your essay.

You know your husband is going to bump us and post something about his DIY projects before he ever posts these pictures. We serious need to play another game of Atmosfear. - direct quote.

No bones about it.

Published

shoo

on 12/5/2007

in Buddy, Clancy, Flickr and Xmas

. 3 Comments

Seriously, the dogs want to know what you are getting them this year?

The photo above was ~~edited~~ turned into a master piece with a new add-on service in Flickr called Picnik. It’s a pretty cool service that lets you edit a photo in the browser through a Flash interface. It has basic features to fix red eye, change color / contrast, crop ex-girlfriends. Very cool stuff if you’re uploading a photo and the computer you’re working on doesn’t have some kind of graphics program.

Now if everyone could be a good photographer and fix all those beady red eyes.

Picnik also has fun Xmas stamps. See above how they add the Christmas cheer to the photo.

First family turkey dinner.

Published

shoo

on 12/3/2007

in Buddy, Clancy, Colorado, Friends, Holidays and Mrs. Shoo

. 9 Comments

This post is a little late in coming, but a good ~~cook~~ blog can never be rushed? Last year for Thanksgiving we snapped a ‘family’ photo and posted it for the intertubes to see. This year we did the same, but Thanksgiving put us in a coma of turkey and we forgot to hit the post button.

Well, we may of missed the Thanksgiving post, but GTG loves turkey so much that she made her first turkey tonight and invited our parents over and our favorite Berry. So in last year’s Thanksgiving tradition, here are things we are thankful for (these are all coming from me, GTG may update the post later on):

1. A cutie-pa-tootie wife (see last year), who’ll slave night and day over the best turkey in the world (this way up) then go to Target and buy me pajama pants because I need pajama pants.

2. Two ‘boys’ that act like real life brothers. They fight, they race down stairs, they get in trouble.

3. A new set of family members that are awesome. A brother-in-law who is going to be a sound engineer and can talk music and computers. Parent-in-laws that are just way too good to a Mr. and Mrs. Shoo.

4. My family, who will kick in a hand, a buck, or word for any situation. Possibly two hands with the future DIY projects coming up.

5. Colorado, some day we will be back.

6. Our friends in high and low places, where they always know our name.

7. Work.

8. A brother that put on a great best man speech.

9. A happy family.

Best Buy Tent City.

Published

shoo

on 11/27/2007

in Holidays, YouTube, daveheinzel and podcast

. 4 Comments

This post is late in coming, but hey, nothing like some left overs. Dave Heinzelhas an excellent podcast featuring people from the tent city outside of Best Buy this past Thanksgiving. I would expect that most Gotshoo readers frequent Dave’s site often, but by the slight chance you’ve missed it (there was an excellent Skyler Duncan podcast this week also):

The only time I’ve stood in line for Black Friday was almost 10 years ago when I purchased a $40 dollar 56k modem that with rebates only cost me $5 bucks. Back then I think you left the house at 6:30 am, not 12pm Thanksgiving Day as the early birds in the video.

Turkey again?

Published

shoo

on 11/26/2007

in Blatant Recollections, DIY, Family, Holidays, Lil g and Mrs. Shoo

. 3 Comments

What a wonderful Thanksgiving extended weekend. Wow, what a lot of turkey! It’s almost 12 am Sunday night and it’s the first real time that I’ve sat down at my computer and looked at emails. I really should be in bed, but I ate way too much at family dinner tonight with my parents, brother and his gf (Lil g) and my stomach is upset. I just couldn’t help myself after playing a game of Taboo this weekend and coming across the word Bosnia. The thought alone of that country can make anyone starve for days. But again, I should be in bed because the wife and I, still don’t know what to call her in gotshoo land - I guess I could call her by her real name? - honey?), are getting up around 5 am to head over to Fitclub to work off some StoveTop. I am dreading every second to waking up at 5.

In DIY news, I finally ran wire and put two new boxes for outlets and then ran cable and ethernet to the living room this weekend. It was a two day project but ranked pretty high after I rearranged the living room and notified all occupants that entertainment would be on strike in respect to the writer’s union. That and there was no cable or functioning outlets on that side of the room. I’ve got some non-interesting pictures, they’ll probably be posted as filler some time this week.

One final thing, one week after the wedding we were eating a high priced dinner right off the Chicago River. Two weeks after the wedding we were eating chicken nuggets and a salad in the basement. We’re back to being normal again.

Memorial Day weekend.

Published

shoo

on 5/30/2007

in Buddy, Clancy, Grilling and Holidays

. 6 Comments

What’s Memorial Day weekend without a little cooking out? I treated GTG’s parents to ribeyes and grilled asparagus last weekend. It was the first time I had grilled asparagus, and I don’t even like the weed like vegetable. I covered the asparagus with olive oil, salt and pepper, stuck a skewer in the bottom, and grilled for about 1 1/2 on each side.

Since I grilled it, I had to try it. I was surprised, it was really good. The other pro asparagus eaters agreed that I did a good job as well.

The ribeyes were excellent. They’re not even cooked in this picture and I still want to take a bite!

The dogs did stuff and I took pictures.

Clancy is in the process of losing his baby teeth. I pulled one out the other day with my bare hands. Kind of like the crocodile hunter.

Clancy jumps for joy as GTG tells him that he’ll get some leftover scraps this weekend.

Bud is not impressed as he requested a whole steak medium rare.

Thank You Santa.

Published

shoo

on 12/26/2006

in Blatant Recollections, General, Holidays and Xmas

. 2 Comments

Christmas is over… if you hadn’t gotten the memo. This one was definitely a memorable one. GTG and I were on a Xmas tour this weekend. Her aunt’s part of Christmas Eve, then my grandparents for the rest. Afterwards we stayed the night at GTG’s parents house so we could promptly open stockings and presents in the morning. Later on Christmas day, we were at my parents for more presents and then my aunt and uncles for food and a small family get together.

I am pooped.

Memorable moments:

I gave GTG a ’sparkly’ necklace. She was either wearing it, or it was less than five feet from her grasp. - I did good.
I won a $116 and two free tickets from a stack of lottery tickets gifted in a gruesome game of the numbers game. (The numbers game, a Shoo family tradition, is a game where players put a gift into a pool where other players can select or take gifts. Order in which players select a present is determined by drawing numbers. A player can select a present from the pool or choose to ‘take’ a gift that has been opened by another player) Gruesome because they exchanged hands more than 5 times with four different people.
GTG gave me a GPS and asked, “Okay, now what can you do with it?”
My Dad gave my Mom a ’sparkly’ ring for her (age withheld)th. The ring was boxed in multiple wrapped boxes. I think she opened at least 5. When she got to the actual ring box it was a light up pink plastic ring. He got a few boxes thrown at him. He turned around and then gave her the actual ring. She was a happy kid afterwards.
My brother, whom by all intentions needed everyone of them, had opened quite a few packages of underwear and pairs of socks was a little ba-humbug when he got to his last present. His last present was an iPod Nano that GTG and I gave for his recent graduation from LLCC and Christmas. Needless to say he was not expecting it. He had it opened and connected to his laptop in less than a minute.
Drinking bubbly with GTG’s parents till 1am. (Makes for a long day when you went to mass at 7 am earlier in the morning)

Everything was wonderful and I am thoroughly grateful for everything I received, but I think this year I enjoyed being with my and GTG’s family as much, if not more, than opening presents. Good memories and great times.

I hope everyone else had an excellent Christmas!

The gift of giving.

Published

shoo

on 12/22/2006

in Holidays, Mrs. Shoo and Xmas

. 1 Comment

Guest Blogger GTG:

As Nattie points out, I don’t think waste mgt. employees, mail carriers, etc. expect tips, but I’m sure it’s appreciated. Tips don’t necessarily have to be a monetary gift. You could give your service provider a batch of homemade cookies, or, as Shoo is creatively doing, gift certificates…$5 goes a long way at Hardees. Christmas is supposed to be a time where you show others that you appreciate them by giving. Giving doesn’t have to come in the form of anything more than a card. Really, the old saying, “It’s the thought that counts,” is still applicable today. (Although you’re not getting out of giving me something sparkly for Christmas, Shoo. You need more than a thought.)

As a service employee (a different kind of service, I realize), I don’t expect presents from my students, but I tried this year to give each one some sort of Christmas cheer…a card, a cookie, a piece of candy. I didn’t expect anything in return; I just wanted them to know that I’m thinking about them this holiday season. I also gave each of the other English teachers (and a couple other teachers I’m close to) a holiday card. Again, just wanted to let them know I appreciate their support and hope they have a happy holiday. And again, I don’t expect anything in return.

Did I appreciate those holiday cards and gifts I received from my students? Of course. I love that they actually thought about me as they were getting ready for Christmas. I really love that they appreciate me and what I do enough to recognize that with a small gift. I got anywhere from a very nice picture frame with a photo of me and Buddy, to a coffee mug with candy in it, to an interesting earring holder, and a smattering of cards. None of them are more or less important to me because it’s the thought that counts.

You can choose to recognize your service employees with gifts or cards, or you can not. It’s obviously up to you. But why question their motives? Couldn’t they possibly just want to spread Christmas cheer? To let you know, “Hey, have a good holiday”? Maybe I’m just naive…

gtg takes over…again

Published

shoo

on 11/23/2006

in Holidays and Mrs. Shoo

. 7 Comments

Hi, GTG here.

I’ve taken over gotshoo for a moment.

I just wanted to tell everyone Happy Thanksgiving. I stuffed myself. I know Shoo did too. Two Thanksgiving meals will do that to you. But I think that just makes us that much more thankful…the more you eat, the more thankful you are??

Anyways, just wanted to share what I’m thankful for…

1. a sweetie, peetie boyfriend, who’ll make me chocolate chip cookies and go get Chinese food with me even after I’ve stuffed myself on two Thanksgiving meals…who puts up with my crying every night because I work a stressful job and who even tries to make it better…even though I yell at him every time he tries.

2. my family, who loves me all the time, and who, despite the fact that I’m 24 years old and live on my own, still try to take care of me like I’m five. (Especially my daddy who was doing Borat impressions over Thanksgiving dinner).

3. Shoo’s mother’s pecan pie. And the rest of the Shoo family because they’ve been nothing but nice to me since last Thanksgiving when the random waif showed up on their doorstep with their son/grandson/nephew/cousin/brother, begging for food.

4. The cutest puppy on the planet…who also happens to be the best cuddle-buddy.

5. The Fit-club…because I’ve gotta work off Thanksgiving somewhere warm.

6. My friends. I don’t see them as often as I’d like, but they’re the best.

7. My students because they give me hilarious stories.

8. My bed…because I really like to sleep…

Hmm…think my list may be getting a little silly now. So, this dangling participle is going to sign out.

Post courtesy of GTG Productions. Copyright GTG 2006.

Thanksgiving.

Published

shoo

on 11/21/2006

in Deep Thoughts, General and Holidays

. 10 Comments

Turkey day is just around the corner and I couldn’t be any happier. The first food I think of when I think of Thanksgiving is always mashed potatoes. Sometimes with gravy, sometimes with a ‘lake’ (you know what I am talking about) of melted butter. Yum.

This year will be the second time that GTG and I have had dinner with each other’s families. Last year I think we both were timid about meeting the opposites family. My family, which has a bead on this blog and anything mentioned here will be a choice topic for conversation, was civil but wary of the hotty English teacher. She’s now liked more than I am - go figure. GTG’s family was tame as well but of course as a new person in the group you get the questions:

Where did you go to school? (In my case I say ‘University of Illinois …. cough .. Springfield’ - under our graduation contract all alumni of UIS are allowed to get away with this)
How did you meet? (always lie on this one… say the park)
What do you do for a living? (avoid mentioning computers - you might be taking one home to fix)
Brothers - Sisters? (Be careful how you answer this. Aunt Suzy may be looking to hook up her not so kind to the eyes daughter - I am just sayin’)
Future plans. (This is like an interview question, think and prepare often. Here are some keywords: investing, new home, upgrade, healthy)

Then there is the topic of sports. I am not a huge sports person, but you have to have some picture of what is going on in the world of sports and mild to moderate knowledge of at least one. It is one of the biggest days for gnawing on a turkey bone and watching football and Uncle Bill is going to want to ask you football questions. If you can’t hang with the big dogs in football trivia hold up your red card and take yourself out of the game.

A. Switch sports. I prefer to bring up baseball. You may need to move to Nascar, polo, or basketball. Again watch it, Uncle Bill is an all seasoned couch potato.
B. Be the thoughtful listener. Respond with “Ohh really”, “I didn’t know that”, “How far did he go?”, “Kids these days”,”You’re sh!t’n me”.
C. Cranberries are the leading cause of diarrhea on Thanksgiving. Pull up a copy of Reader’s Digest and wait it out.

At the end of the day, take leftovers home. Grandmas do not like strangers who do not take leftovers home. She thinks it makes them shady and they are too good for her food.

Hopefully if you are the new person this year at Thanksgiving these pointers will help out.

Gobble, gobble.

Belated Jesus birthday

Published

shoo

on 12/26/2004

in Holidays and Xmas

. 2 Comments

I don’t know if its a new trend but I have heard more than once this holiday season that people / churches were having Jesus birthday parties. Yes, I know what Christmas is but I just never heard it before being celebrated especially as a birthday party. I think its cool.

Talked about a holiday jammed season, I’ve got so much to tell but I don’t think I can remember everything. I would like to say a thank you to Kyle for the Beastie Boys: Anthology DVD. I am watching some of the videos right now as I type. I am a HUGE Beastie Boys fan. Coolest gift ever.

So one gift that I gave along with my brother to my dad was a wireless weather monitor. You put a temperature device outside and then have a base inside that will read the outside temperature as well as the humidity and some other crazy stuff. So I was expecting my dad to like his present but not to the extent that he would have it setup, working, and have bought a second device that work off our orginal present so he would even have more temperature ‘data’. Dude went crazy with it. Well I am happy he likes his present.

Myself on the other hand, got a lot of socks and boxers. I have 14 pairs of socks. Most of all of them came from my mom. She later said after opening my presents that she thought she went overboard with the socks. Well at least my feet won’t be cold. It was even more funny and ironic because the night before I had told my 5 yr old cousin that if he was bad that Santa was going to bring him a lot of underwear and socks. I guess I was the bad boy.

I did get one cool little toy. (of course I had to ask for it) I got a USB Bluetooth connector for my laptop. Which means to you non-technology geek people, that I am able to connect to my phone wirelessly and use it to transfer my pictures, video, txt messages, mp3’s, and even send faxes or connect to the internet through my cell phone. Its totally nerdy, but cool.

Ohh, I think this is probably the best holiday news someone could ask for. My friend Rachel (Gee) and Rich just got engaged. Rich popped the question Chistmas eve morning by making breakfast and putting the ring under Rachel’s toast. I am so happy for them. Rich is a great guy and I think they were really meant for each other. The best of luck to the both of them.

I have more to tell but alas, I’ve places to go and people to see.

5 dolla conversations

Published

shoo

on 12/21/2004

in Holidays and Xmas

. 1 Comment

So I didn’t get mugged. Chicago is so great! I don’t care how cold, how windy, or that most of the people are Cub fans.

I got into town about 8:45pm on Saturday. I stepped out of Union Station and realized the first thing I forgot to pack, even though it was right in my other coat; gloves and ear warmers. Boy it was cold and windy. Obviously, but hey its the ‘Windy City’. The skyline and atmosphere was just freaking awesome. There were hardly any cars in sight, it was snowing just right. It was beautiful. Like a real life post card. I don’t know if anyone else does this but it seemed like the whole time that every thing was in slow motion. I took in everything.

So I got on the “L”, had to make one transfer. Not a big deal at all. I actually liked riding it.

I get up to Melanie’s and I’m greeted by 6 elves and a Santa. It was friggin hillarious; Mel’s roommate Amanda and her friends were going bar hoping. Too many guys in tights though. I wish we could have gone out with them, but alas we didn’t have elf costumes and were heading to another party.

We (as in myself, Melanie, Beth, Becca [another roommate], Matt [Becca's bf], and Heather [Becca's bf's sis]) took two cabs and headed off to the party. The guy having the party, Joe, works with Mel. We show up and there are about 40-50 people in this apartment. It was awesome. The main attraction was that Joe had made some ‘home-made’ egg nog w/ wiskey. Unfortunatly, it was all gone by time we arrived. However he did have this wicked drink (not even really a real drink) called ‘Dragon’s Breath.’ Dragon’s Breath consists of Gin, Jaeger, and Creme de mint. Talk about nasty. I had half a glass. But luckily I was able to fall back on some keg beer.

So I was feeling good. I talked to a lot of people. Chicago people are stupid when it comes to acknowledging where Springfield is located. It was just easier to say I was from the capital. And they would be like, ‘ohh ya.’ I had a lot of 5 dollar converstations. Meaning that I ended most of my ranting stories with “and I found 5 dollars.” Not really, but hell I don’t remember I had the Dragon in me.

But I do remember talking with a couple at the end of the night about the difference in cost living between here and Chi town. The guy asked me how much a 1-bedroom apartment would cost a month. I replied, “about 400.” He about fell on the floor. Now that was funny.

We pretty much closed the party down. But before we left, Mel and Beth being the sly cute girls they are asked about the presents under the tree. One of the guys said, “Didn’t you read the invite? We are giving out special prizes out during the night.” He then hands Beth a box. “But you can’t open it till you get home.” Mel chimed up, “Can I have a present?” Guy: “What will you do for a present.” “The worm!?” He ends up handing her a present anyway without witnessing the worm. The girls were all excited because they scored presents.

We get in the cab and they immediatly want to open the presents. So they tear them open faster than 5 year old trying to get the present from the bottom of a cereal box. And what did they get? Nothing!!!! They were pissed, in a funny we are so dumb kind of way. They left Joe some nasty phone messages.

Sorry, but its passed my bedtime. Part two will come tomorrow.

I Love Traveling

Published

shoo

on 12/19/2004

in Holidays and Xmas

. 2 Comments

I am on the train right now, and the conductor just reminded everyone to review the passenger safety manual. No chance in that happening here. We are about 15 minutes North of Bloomington / Normal. While we were stopped I was able to hit a wifi spot and connect to the internet. I did a check of everyone’s blog and of course everyone was slacking on posting. I don’t blame you. I usually don’t hit the net until late Sunday night.

This is the second time I have ridden the train this year. I went up earlier this year in August to visit Melanie (which I am doing again). It’s always been an eclectic crowd each time I have been on the train. I had a crazy guy sitting across from me just before the stop in Bloomington. He wasn’t that bad. He wasn’t even crazy. Okay, let me re-stereotype him. He was a nice guy that probably has a challenge mentally of keeping everything going. Still a nice guy. Then just a few seats up there are a guy and girl talking about everything from books, to South Park to Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas. And while I was sitting in the lobby of the train station there was a group of Harley Davidson enthusiasts. Maybe I just need to get out of the bar more often.

The next big step in this journey is to make it on the “L.” I rode the L last time I was in Chi-town but it was with Melanie and very early in the morning. I think I can do it. Mel gave me directions and I printed out a map. I am so going to get mugged.

Okay, maybe I won’t get mugged this evening, but I am riding the “L” to South Chicago tomorrow afternoon to meet up with Laura. My parents kind of dropped their jaws when I told them where I was meeting up with Laura; in South Chicago. If I haven’t told you before Laura is also up in Chicago visiting her friend Stephen. I am riding back home with Laura and Stephen. I am not too worried; it will be a Sunday afternoon. Who wants to mug a person on a Sunday afternoon? They all have to be asleep.

Tonight is going to kick butt though. Can’t wait to get up there!!!! Expect updates after Sunday. Unless I get mugged or killed.

Tata