Stressed about Sunday

I really thought I had made the transition. I've lived in or near Chicago for over 10 years now and am probably going to be here for the long haul. I thought it made sense to become a Bears fan. I watch every game, read every article about the team, and obsess about every crappy offensive play call. But when they're scheduled to face off against the Bengals, I find that I just can't cheer against my old team.

The last time the Bengals played the Bears, it was 2005 at Soldier Field. I went to that game, a true Bengals fan, with Jason, Brandi, and my Dad. It was one of the first games of the season. Carson Palmer was playing like a superstar and Cincinnati had a real shot at making it to the playoffs. The Bears, on the other hand, were struggling. Rex Grossman went down in the preseason and  3rd string rookie quarterback, Kyle 'neck beard' Orton, was in charge of the offense. It was pouring rain that day and we left at halftime, but Orton threw a handful of interceptions and Cincinnati won easily.

The Bears did get better that year and even made it to the first round of the playoffs. But the Bengals were hot and we were all feeling confident that THIS was the year. Then tragedy struck. Carson Palmer went down on the second play of the first playoff game with a torn ACL. I remember feeling stunned, all my hopes and dreams shattered. Even Birds' Nest wings couldn't ease my pain.

The Bengals had a rough go of it the next few years; however, the Bears made it to the Superbowl the very next season behind a badass defense and rookie Devin Hester's punt returning magic. That was the year I bought all my Bears gear and started acting like I was a real Chicago fan. I stopped going to Bengals bars and started making fun of the team. 'The Bungles' I called them.

I feel like a fair weather fan. All it took was a couple of inspirational episodes of Hard Knocks and victories over the Steelers and Ravens, and here I am, back in my Bengals T-shirt chanting 'Who Dey' with my friends.

I don't know what's going to happen on Sunday, but I know in my heart who I want to win. I do love both teams, and still consider myself a Bears fan, too. I'm just happy they only play each other every 4 years or so. This game is stressing me out!

Don't tell my heart, my achy breaky heart

Jason, Betsy, Susie, and I headed down south to Nashville this weekend to hang out for a night in Music City and then go see our grandparents in Crossville. The trip was short, but very sweet, as you will see in the pics:

Hangin' out with Billy Ray at a honky tonk on Broadway

Scoping out Jack White's studio near Music Row

Dinner at Lime, a delicious upscale Mexican restaurant near Vanderbilt

Enjoying the view from Grandma and Grandpa's back porch

Grandpa, Betsy, Me, Susie, and Grandma

As you can tell from our attire, it wasn't very warm in Tennessee. In fact, it was colder in Nashville last weekend than it was in Chicago! But the leaves were changing, the sun was shining, and we were in good company, so I can't complain :)

Happy belated 25th birthday to the Sus!

Before you think I'm a bad sister, I would like to note that we did go out for dinner AND present Susie with a gift (H&M sweater, JCrew matchstick jeans) on her actual birthday (Oct. 1). However, the party and celebration didn't end up happening until Oct. 9 and I have been super busy with work and travel (as you will see in the next post), so that's why I haven't wished her happy birthday on the blog until today!

I can't believe my little sis is 25! Here are pics from her bday extravaganza at Inn Joy:

Sean and Sus

Sisters

Sus and Ali (with Sean in the background). It was Ali's bday too -- happy birthday Ali!

Check Please

If you live in the Chicagoland area, check out Sarah on Check Please this week. She outs her mom for getting wasted at The Stained Glass, gets flirty with a chap named Monte, and compares a River North restaurant to an awkward teen going through puberty. It's pretty awesome! If you don't live in Chicago and can't watch the full episode on WTTW, don't worry, you can also watch clips of the show online: http://www.wttw.com/main.taf?p=1,49,2. Enjoy!

Logan, you're adorable, but you kind of suck

Oh Logan, you are so cute and laid back! The judges just can't bear to auf you. But that pants outfit? Awful! And Christopher's Hefty bag dress was pretty bad too. Even Jason was offended by it.

I really don't understand why they gave Epperson the boot. Yes, his Octoberfest frock deserved to be in the bottom 3, but it was in no way the worst of the bunch. I was also confused by the decision to put Irina's lace nightmare in the top 3. I thought it was horrible! When would anyone ever wear that thing? Carol Hannah's dress was way cuter.

I think the only good decision of the episode was to give Giordana the win. She won't make it to the finals, but this week, she definitely had the strongest design. I don't even know who to pull for now that Ra'mon and Epperson are out. Carol Hannah maybe? Disappointing season so far.

The O'Gradys step out

Jason's mom, Grandma Janet, and Uncle Keith came in town last weekend for the St. Charles Step Out: Walk to Fight Diabetes. We called ourselves Marsha's Motivators and ended up raising almost $2,000 for the ADA! Can you believe it? Our team was one of the top 10 fundraisers! Thanks so much to everyone who donated :)

Keith, Marsha, and Janet in front of Soldier Field.

On our way to the Shedd Acquarium.

Hanging out before the walk in our "Marsha's Motivators" T-shirts.

"I feel good. I feel great. I feel wonderful. I feel good. I feel great. I feel wonderful."

Yup, that's Marcus Robinson, former wide receiver for da Bearsss!

Marsha "making it rain" like Pacman Jones after the walk.

Fun weekend... Marsha, Janet, and Keith, we miss you guys already. Come back and visit anytime!!

Come back Nina, we miss you!

Something is a little off with Project Runway this year. And I think it's the judging! I miss having Michael Kors and Nina Garcia on every week. It's just not the same without them.... Would the Ice Queen outfit really have won if Michael Kors and Nina were there? I'm not so sure. Epperson was ROBBED that week, by the way. His Western-inspired outfit was by far my favorite look of the challenge.

As for this week, nothing really wowed me. I guess Irina's was the best of a pretty bland bunch, but that's not saying a whole heck of a lot. I'm just happy that Louise was auf'ed and Christopher got another chance. I'm pulling for him to win it now that my man Ra'mon is gone!