Erica Reid

I just signed up for the International Distance* Chicago Triathlon!!! Guess who starts training tomorrow?!

 

*1 mile swim, 25 mile bike, 6 mile run.

First of all, I apologize to the delinquency of this post--I've been promising it to my mom for the last 2.5 months. Sorry for the delay!

Ok! So we all know how my favorite thing about Christmas in Chicago is the Christkindlmarket in Daley Plaza. Last year, I shared with you all the amazing and incredible glass ornaments that we purchased for our tree last year (if you are a new reader to this blog in the last year, please click that link for reference), something that brought me great joy. Well, this year, we were determined to not go hog wild again. We were also determined to get the ceramic boot filled with mulled wine that they have each year, that is usually sold out by the time we make it down. So this year, we went on opening night! We weren't going to let that boot pass us by!

 
Success!

 
Remember when Fuzzy had only a mustache?

So anyways, mission number one was accomplished. Last year, we only went into one of the 2 glass ornament houses, so this year we decided to start by going to the other one. If we had missed Jesus-Being-Swallowed-by-a-Dolphin (if confused, see link above) in the other one, surely it was going to be in the "animal" themed house. So in we went. And here is what happened.
A turtle! I decided that since I can't put tchotchkes on dad's grave any more due to new cemetary ownership, instead I will buy a frog or turtle ornament each year in his memory. New tradition! (pay no attention to my cuticles.) (oops, I just called attention to them.)

 
Tiny white chicken! Every christmas tree needs a chicken...

...or two. Look at how fancy he is!!

 
He really makes a fashion statement.

Last year we got a white squirrel, so this year I got him a friend.

 
Brown Squirrel!

 
I love clownfish--always have always will--so this was a must.

 
Fuzzy love raccoons, so this guy was also necessary.

Then we met this guy:

 
And we couldn't stop looking at him. Or rather, he couldn't stop looking at us. I think he might have actually possessed us and forced him to buy us. When I put them on the tree, I made sure to position it to always be looking at Fuzzy.

We also got a couple that we just thought were cool and pretty:

 
This photo doesn't do this justice. It is so sparkly and beautiful in the light!

 
And of course, you know how much we love the Chicago flag.

So we sadly made it through the hut without finding our friend Jesus and the Dolphin. We were disappointed, but it was ok.

We went to pay for this year's bounty, when I spied something behind the register.

There it was! In all its glory! In a special box, even! I asked if we could see it, and we asked the cost. It wasn't terribly expensive, but it also wasn't cheap, but we decided we couldn't go another year without it. Besides, we had a bigger tree this year--we HAD to get it!  They told us it was the last one, so it was really meant to be.

Voila! He is ours! Mission Accomplished!

Feeling good about our purchases, we decided we would only waft through the other hut, but not really buy much more. On the way, we saw a booth selling glass wares, and these triangle Santas caught our eyes. They were pretty, yes, but they also looked very demonic, so we decided we had to get the gnarliest looking one:
ZOMBIE SANTA IS COMING TO GET YOU!!!

Now, we all know that the score of last year was the torso of the bikini man and woman. Well, of course, I needed to get them some friends:
Check out their white poofs!

Here they all are, hanging out:

Hey baby...

SO! Here it is! This year's tree!

Please note the skeleton tree topper.

Of course, just like last year, there were some poor choices made...one that got away, if you will. Let's take a look at the one that we passed by this year.
Why, look at all those fellas! What's going on with them?


Oh, dear...is that a penny coming out of his butt? Is that intentional?


Oh. Yes. Yes it is.

Next year, Money Shitter, you will be mine.

This is totally for real. I can't wait.

Also, Steve was listed as number 41 in Newcity's recent "Fifty People Who Really Perform in Chicago"

41 Steve Gadlin
Actor
Steve Gadlin and his Blewt! cohorts create some of the funniest, most imaginative projects anywhere, from the "Impress These Apes" show that first brought them to our attention, to his more recent "Nairobi Project" wherein he commissioned an email spammer to create plays for him which he produced. But he's on the verge of going big-time now: his "Don't Spit the Water" game show pilot recently aired on television and, later this month on January 27, he's really breaking out when he appears on ABC Television's "Shark Tank" to pitch rich investors on his project "I Want to Draw A Cat for You." Sounds Trump-worthy to us.

I'm one of those "cohorts!" WOOO!

I am happy to report that I am FINALLY feeling better, thank goodness. I hope that tomorrow I will be back to 100%, so I can start being active again (and eat a cheeseburger...)

I was writing an email to a friend today, and the sentence that came out of my head and fingers made me happy. It might be my new catchphrase:

Just trying to enjoy the now and figure out the next.

I'd say that is pretty damn accurate.

I am still feeling shitty with this gastroenteritis or whatever it is, and I've felt like a slug all weekend. I barely was able to do anything but sleep and watch movies. I had the luxury of having no plans all weekend, so I just stayed in my jammies and rested as much as I could. I have to venture out of the house in a little while, which I am nervous about, and today is my last day that I can really stay home from work, so I need to be better tomorrow no matter what. Since I just dealt with a worse form of this last fall, I know it isn't as bad as it could be, but it still isn't pleasant. I was just looking some things up online on how to make it better, and one website I found said "accept that you're sick" and "give yourself a few days to rest." Which I almost never want to do, cause when I am sick, I just feel like an idiot and want to get past it. Especially since I feel like I am sick all the time, now. When I was really active, I wasn't sick at all, but for the past several months, I've not been able to get back active again, cause I feel like I am always sick. But that site put it into perspective for me--I had a really rough week, losing a close family member among other things, and it is ok that I am not 100% right now. I need to cut myself some slack. Be nice to myself. Be ok with it. So that is what I am working on today. I am just doing the best I can, and I am ok that right now that best is kinda puny.

My bestie, Erica Livingston, was in town for New Years this year, and we are no strangers to posing for odd photos and making odd videos. This was this year's project.

The Ericas in repose.

Last year, for Christmas, my mom gave Fuzzy and I plush red "Slanket/Snuggie/Blankets with Sleeves" and they are awesome.


"Who's the fairest in the land?"

And of course, we had to get Parker in on the action:
Snuggles in Snuggies!

This week, my friend and colleague, the amazing Steve Gadlin will be featured on ABC's Shark Tank, in which he will try to convince the "sharks" (Investors) to invest in I Want to Draw a Cat for You.  Seriously. He's gotten a ton of press about it--read everything here. I am so excited to see this!

Another friend and colleague of mine, the incredible Donna Touch, is competing to get a slot in the finals of the upcoming Viva Las Vegas Burlesque Competition. To do so, she needs your votes! Go to this link, click on the photo of Donna, enter your email address and click on the confirmation link that is emailed to you. You won't be signed up for any mailing lists of receive any spam (I should know, I am really obsessive about not-signing up for things.) You can see Donna perform at the Kiss Kiss Cabaret, Fridays at 11pm!

I've been trying to think of a way to write a nice little tribute to my grandmother, but every time I think about it, I get overwhelmed and have to stop. So I just decided to do some random stream of consciousness writing here about her, to get these things out of my head.

I was born on Memaw's birthday, which has always been so special to me. She always made a point to take me out for a birthday lunch, just the 2 of us when I was growing up. We talked every year on our birthday, even when I moved away, and it's been weird for the last few years with her being in the nursing home not being able to call her to wish her a happy birthday. It'll be weird this year without her.

Memaw made the BEST chicken and dumplins and unsweet tea I've ever had. I use her dumplins recipe when I make them, and while mine are good, they just aren't the same.

I wear the "Mother of the Bride" dress that she wore in my aunt Linda's wedding for the character of April May in "Impress These Apes." I have a lot of her old dresses and jewelry, and it is so special every time I wear them.

Christopher and I loved spending the night over at her house. At night, she and papaw would let Buffy (the parakeet) out of his cage and fly around the house, which was the MOST EXCITING THING to us. Papaw would listen to records, and memaw would watch Lawrence Welk (my favorite line ever from the show: "Well, there you have it. A nice group of pretty good dancers.") The next morning, we would watch Saturday morning cartoons in the living room and wrestle ("Germ Caterpillar" [catapiller] and "I Bet You Can't Break Through This Fort" were the best to play at her house) and she would make us either french toast or toast with orange marmalade.

Memaw played the organ at the church we grew up in. It was so fun running up to her after each service for a hug, and on rare special occasions, we would get to sit next to her during the service in front of the whole congregation. She taught us piano, but my focus was dance, so in our lessons that were supposed to happen before my ballet class, I would often convince her that I need to rest before class instead of take lessons. She almost always let me.

Memaw and I shared another bond--hyperhidrosis. Mom said that when I was a baby, only a few weeks old, my feet would turn bright red and I would cry and cry. Memaw suggested once that she put socks on my feet, and that made me stop crying. She knew then and there that I had it.  Hyperhidrosis is such a horrible condition, and it helped that I had a family member so close to me who knew what it was like to not be able to touch people, hold paper, use a pencil, etc. When she played piano (and when I did as well) or organ, she would leave little droplets of water on the keys, and I would always clean them up for her after the service.  When I discovered the surgery that would later change my life (for which I am still forever grateful to Shelly Gossman for finding for me and sending my way), Memaw was so supportive of me, telling me that I had to do it, and she would if she could, also. The decision to have that surgery was one of the best decisions I have ever made in my life, and I think she was happy that it made me able to live a more normal life.

Memaw was so supportive of me when I decided to move to Chicago, both emotionally and financially. I struggled there for a few years at the beginning, when I was working 3 jobs, in classes and doing shows, and she would always send along a little check right when I needed it most. I tried to keep her updated on my shows and goings on, and when we cleaned out her house a few years ago, I found every card or letter that I ever sent her. She never threw them out.  In the cards that she would write me, she would always apologize for her "chicken scratch" handwriting.

This is a random memory, but my brother and I, while being best friends, fought like cats and dogs growing up. Whenever I would say that I hated him (something I would never ever say today), she would just repeat the word "hate" over and over again to make us realize how stupid and mean it was. "Hate. Hate. Hate. Hate. Hate." and eventually it would get me to admit that I didn't hate him, I was just mad at him.

When we found and scanned all the photos of memaw as a child and young girl, it offered a glimpse into a whole world that we didn't know existed. She looked so exotic! I've had some friends tell me that I look a lot like her, and I think that is the nicest complement.

At the funeral, the pastor talked about how Memaw always brought out the best in people and wanted others to be happy. It was neat to hear that, as that is the kind of life that I strive to have as well. I want my friends to succeed, and I want to help them in whatever way I can for them to be happy. I like to think that most of us in my family is like that, but it was nice to hear it in words and know that I am following in the footsteps of such a great lady.

At the funeral, I was reminded of our sweet little family, and just how many have passed on before us. Memaw Burns, Papaw Bane, Lollie, Papaw Reid, and of course, my Dad. Every time we lose someone new, I miss my Daddy more and more. It was weird not having Christopher and Katie there at the services, and I know they had a hard time not being there as well. But sweetly, there was also a melding of both sides of the family. Susan, my Dad's sister, sat with the family, and their brother Carl was a pall bearer. At the funeral home, Linda had put together a slideshow of old family photos, and there was one of Memaw, Papaw, Mom, Christopher (who was holding his koala Eukie), Dad and me (who was holding my blanket Dird)--it was so quintessentially US, and it really showed just how much over the years the family has changed. I am so grateful that I was blessed with the family that I was blessed with. They all taught me a lot, and I am who I am because of them. 

I am so honored that Helen Juanita Burns Bane was my grandmother. She will certainly be missed.

I didn't get a lot of sleep Wednesday night. I just didn't feel right and couldn't do it. All day Thursday, I felt like I was going to vomit, but I was able to get through the funeral ok. Fuzzy and I thought I was just worn out and stressed, but I couldn't shake the nausea.  At Linda's afterwards, I laid on the couch the whole time and tried to eat a little, but wasn't successful. We left Linda's and I laid on mom's couch a while before we headed to Jackson. I dozed a little there. I slept on the plane almost the whole time, but when we got home, the stomach flu symptoms set in. (Thank goodness I wasn't puking on the plane!) I promptly fell asleep about 10 minutes after getting in last night, and Fuzzy brought me gatorade. My stomach felt so bad that I tried taking more pepto, but I could only take half the dose, so I left the cup of liquid on the nightstand. I knew that was a bad idea, but I didn't have the energy to do anything about it. I was up and down all night sick, so when it came time for work, I knew I had to stay home. I basically slept til 2:00pm, just now, when I decided I should try to eat some crackers since I didn't have dinner last night. Right now, my room is not especially tidy, and there are shoes, socks and magazines all over the floor by the bed. So I get up, grab my bottle of gatorade and the crackers, and...say it with me...drop the crackers onto the open cup of pink pepto, spilling it all over the floor, my socks, some magazines, and the heat dial from our heating pad on the bed. Yep. We all saw that coming.

http://www.fisherfuneralhome.net/fh/obituaries/obituary.cfm?o_id=1369970&fh_id=12459

Helen Juanita Bane
(April 12, 1928 - January 16, 2012)

Helen Juanita Bane, 83 of Vicksburg, MS, died Monday, January 16, 2012 at Shady Lawn Nursing Home in Vicksburg, MS.

Mrs. Bane was born in Neshoba County but lived most of her life in Vicksburg. She was a member of Highland Baptist Church where she served as Organist for a number of years. Mrs. Bane taught piano and organ for many years.
The family would like to thank Hospice Advantage and Shady Lawn Nursing Home for the love and care of Mrs. Bane.

Survivors Include:
Daughters:
Linda Bane (Don) Antoine, Vicksburg, MS
Patricia Bane Reid, Vicksburg, MS
 
Grandchildren:
Christopher (Katie) Reid
Erica (Fuzzy) Gerdes
Matthew Antoine
Scott Antoine

Preceded in death by:
Parents: H H Burns Sr. and Laura Mae Parker Burns

Brother: Henry H. Burns Jr.

[EDITED]- Husband: George A. Bane

Son-n-Law David Reid

Funeral services will be held at 10 a m Thursday Jan. 19,2012 at Frank J. Fisher Funeral Home in Vicksburg, MS with Bro. Marvin Curtis officiating.

Burial will follow at Greenlawn Gardens Cemetery with Rev. Ron Burch officating.
 
Visitation will be held on Wednesday, January 18, 2012 from 5 to 7 p m at Frank J. Fisher Funeral Home .

Pallbearers: Don Antoine, Matthew Antoine, Scott Antoine, Fuzzy Gerdes, Carl Reid, L. H. Abraham