Ydog's Blog

A short thankful Wednesday. Someday I will come up with a new blog idea, but not today.

2011-10-05T11:05:00.000-05:00

-I am thankful for my friends....man do I have some good ones. Some I have been friends with since birth, some more recent, and some who want to be like me so bad, that they change their major to mine, go to the same grad school and work at the same place as me. I won't name names, that wouldn't be nice, but sometimes she tries to wear the same outfits too.

-I am thankful for my job. I have some pretty kick ass bosses and co-workers. We calculate like its no one's business. Sometimes we sit in a circle and add big numbers and talk accountants speak. It makes us feel important.

-I am thankful for thankful blog posts. Otherwise, I would have no idea what to write about. I have no new ideas, I am an accountant for pete's sake.

-I am thankful for my family. They make me feel better no matter the situation. We are Polish but do nothing backwards. We are German but don't drink our beer in mugs. And a little bit Indian but don't ride our horses bareback to the TP parties. We like wine and guns. Sometimes together.

That's all...back to my broken heart

Thankful....Monday???

2011-10-03T07:43:00.001-05:00

Oh it's Monday. Another sharp pencil, another green ledger pad. I got a new stapler!! Just in case anyone cares, it is red. So much excitement. My co-workers keep coming in my room to see it. Wait a second.....they better not say they are moving me to the basement....

Today, I am thankful for these pictures (sorry, some are small):

Sarah loves this tree. Don't they look good together? GGrrrr, bear hug.

She had to walk away, things were getting obscene.

Finally, we're alone, I didn't think she was ever going to leave.

Sarah, put your leg down!! Wait...is that a different tree? You tree whore.

Your so hot....I love you, you sexy beast

She gets around.

This picture is really hard for me to look at. I can't believe my Mom let me out of the house looking like this, and my teacher looked at me all day and didn't call child protective services. I look like a hobo. A hobo in suspenders.

Oh, slumber parties. Probably taken at 3 in the morning. It's hard to believe we used to act like this....without alcohol anyway.

Ahh...college. We were excited cause we found our way back home after the house parties. Yes, sometimes that was hard to do. And, my going out outfit was a sweatshirt? I really knew how to pimp it out back then.

Hmmm...a lot going on in this picture. Let me highlight your hair. Ok. Hey, do you have any perfume I can smell while I shut my eyes and enjoy this experience. Why, yes I do!!

Here, put these on and I will sit on your lap and act like everything is normal.

We liked to pass them around. Sarah, on the other hand, is not having any of it!

They were really excited we found our way home again.

Quick!! Take a picture!! My ferbie wants to sit on your shoulder. Also, lets throw a condom in there, for good measure. I am not going to say what is in the ferbie's mouth, my Mother reads this.

Have a great week everyone!!

Not Very Thankful Thursday

2011-09-22T10:46:00.000-05:00

I have a bad cold. I feel like "H" "E" Double Hockey Sticks. And my nose is sore cause I don't buy Kleenax, I just use TP. I don't feel like being thankful this Thursday. So here are a few things I am not feeling very thankful for:

-I am not thankful for the month of August. It's hot. My hair looks like a Fraggle every day. I sweat when walking to my garage. Also, there is nothing to do. Can't fish, can't ice skate. Meh.

-I am not thankful for Facebook. It is evil. Yet, I cannot stay away. And I kick myself for that. Because I really don't think that I should be all up in everyone's business. Facebook used to be fun, there were a few people on it, I could say whatever I want. Now my parents, aunts, uncles, all 100 of my cousins, people I met for two seconds, and all their dogs are on it. Whatever I post, the whole world knows, in about 3 minutes.

-I am not thankful for growing up. I want to be carefree again. I am forced to make adult decisions and I don't feel like an adult. I feel like I am 22. That is not grown up. So why should I be forced to make these decisions? Plus, everyone is having kids and I am over it. Unless, I have a kid, then, it's cool.

-I am not thankful for boyfriends that live 15 hours away. That is all I am going to say, I think we can all agree on that one.

-I am not thankful for all 500 hundred cats that like to poop in my yard. I do not own any cats. Why do you poop in my yard, when the neighbor's yard is so close? Stop letting go of all bodily functions in my yard. Please. I know some of you only have 3 legs and have the mange and are starving, but pick another yard every once in a while. I am sick of mowing over your "gifts".

-I am not thankful that summer is over and I will not have fresh garden tomatoes anymore. Where do they get the ones they offer in the grocery store? Whatever country that is, they suck at growing tomatoes. That pile of red mush does not satisfy my requirements for a "tomato".

That is all....take that world!!

Thankful Thursday Again! So Soon!

2011-09-15T10:02:00.001-05:00

Wow, this past week has flown by. I woke up this morning thinking it couldn't possibly be Thankful Thursday again. Probably because I am so busy keeping it real. Here are some things that I am thankful for on this wonderful Thursday in September.

I am thankful that it is September. That means that October is next. I really like October. The changing leaves, the cool weather, and my birthday. And Mardi Gras, and wineries, and pretty leaves. The nicer weather will probably mean more people cruising past my house to the backroads with means more peel outs by my house. You know, those really cool guys that stop at a stop sign and peel out at all hours of the night in their awesome trucks. Makes want to run outside and get their digits in my skivvies. I wish I could find a guy like that.

I am thankful that my angel Joseph Michael would never peel out, wake people up, or generally do anything to bad. What a saint.

I am thankful I get to see The Travis's play tomorrow. Yep that's right, at the Hall, The Travis's, all night long!! Finally! I am loving this new KC Hall Management. Travis Howell, Travis Shute, and specials on Jack and Coke. I am going to request "I want it that way" by the Backstreet Boys.

I am thankful for all this chocolate cake that keeps appearing at work. Chocolate cake for breakfast, chocolate cake for lunch, and a little slice for a snack. And maybe one more little slice for good measure. I can't stay away. Sugar is attracted to me, we just have to be together.

Having Chinese for lunch. I think that I am thankful for the Chinese and their wonderful take on Chinese fast food. Cause you know all those skinny workers in there aren't eating what they are serving us. I am also thankful that the Chinese never put an "S" at the end. You want green bean? Why yes I do. You want mushroom? Yes, thank you.

Man, my diet is sounding really good lately. So therefore, I am thankful that I have been running again. I don't go very far, or very fast, but man, it makes me feel good. Love that runners high afterwards. Although at the time I feel like I am going to croak and that someone will have to call an ambulance and come get me off the track and drive one block to my house and deposit me on my couch and get a glass of chocolate milk from the fridge. For "recovery".

Have a wonderful Thursday everyone!! And come to the Hall tomorrow, for The Travis's!!

The Wild West

2011-09-11T12:04:00.000-05:00

A few months ago, I helped The Redhead move all of his belongings to Colorado. He drove the U-haul full of chew, beer and stinky stuff.

I drove his brand new truck full of cute puppy dogs and lilacs and roses.

We started in Pinckneyville and drove to South Dakota, where he was living at the time.

Then we drove long ways across South Dakota to do some sight seeing. The home of Laura Ingalls Wilder!! I was so excited. Didn't see Halfpint, Pa would be so disappointed. Yes, I was taking pictures while I was driving. It's cool Mom.

Wanted to go see the Corn Palace but The Redhead said: "No Time, MUSH!!" I think he was grouchy cause he didn't have a radio. He had no time for such silliness.

We stopped to see The Faces on the other end of South Dakota. It was quite breathtaking.

I didn't think I would enjoy it very much, but it ended up being a favorite of the trip. Not sure why I thought it was a good idea to bring such a big purse though.

Had to stop a lot to let the dogs stretch their cute puppy legs. This was the most stressful part of the trip. Those dogs are like my children and they were stressed so I was stressed. And Gracie was on such good behavior, she only got away from us 3 times.

Egads! This was before puppy dog rattlesnake shots, we had to high tail it out of their. One bite could kill a pup.

Had a wonderful time in the Black Hills. Even got to follow someone for an hour going only 15mph. Winning!

After going through South Dakota we stopped in Wyoming to visit The Redhead's Sister, Redette and Fam. She took us out to eat and we gave their kids big gobstoppers. Fair deal I think.

Josie wanted to know if the yellow tasted like cheese.

The next day we made our way down through Colorado. Beautiful drive. Actually I think I liked Wyoming best. It's Beautiful there with rolling hills and tumbleweeds. And I even saw a REAL cowboy. Not a Southern Illinois fake but a real one, driving cattle and such. Be still my heart.

Finally reached our destination! What a long 4 days!

First things first, got the pups situated and they fell asleep after a few minutes. They were exhausted. And I think Marley was upset with us, she really wanted to see the corn palace.

Then, of course, before unpacking, eating, and showering, we had to get the garden in. Update: Unfortunately, The Redhead chose Wal Mart to go plant shopping. The sweet corn was actually popcorn, the watermelons were actually pumpkins, and the snozeberries did not taste like snozeberries.

After a few days of settling in, we decided to fly on over to Egypt. I thought it appropriate to wear a Wyoming shirt, to represent the cowboys. Actually this is the Sand Dunes, an hour from where Joe is. Pretty cool mountain of sand.

The Redhead stole my camera while I was visiting nature. Yes, that is a Natural Light. We had to pour one out for our homies.

Overall it was a good trip, saw lots of things, and I only had 2 nervous breakdowns over the pups and bathroom breaks ( The Redhead loathes pit stops).

I just got back from a visit to Colorado and saw these! Elk!! And I even spotted them before The Redhead!

Thankful Thursday

2011-09-08T09:42:00.000-05:00

Just got on here and realized it has been a year and half since I posted a blog! I have been feeling like I have lost my writing mojo....nothing to write about, nothing funny to say. But.....I'm BAAACCCKKK!!

Let's start this off with a Thankful Thursday post. Here are some things I am thankful for:

1. My health. Even though I have Crohn's I feel like I am relatively healthy. Have been reading lots of blogs about people with Crohn's and it could be so much worse! I am actually very lucky, and am thankful for that. Also, have been reading lots of blogs of people with Crohn's who run marathons!! I didn't know this was possible. Maybe I should start making Crohn's my bitch and run at least a 5K or something.....Or, maybe I should walk it.....Maybe eating chips and watching the Kardashians would be enough to make Crohn's my bitch?

2. I don't really watch the Kardashians and am thankful I do not have a bubble butt and an amazon for a sister.

3. I am thankful for a very productive yard sale during the Threshermans. In particular for the carload of Mexicans that came, bought several large trash bags full of clothes and then asked if they could dig up some of my surprise lilies and pay me for them. Here's a shovel!! Dig away!! Also, lets turn on the AC in the restaurant, this is not Mexico land, we do not like to sweat waiting for our burritos, the box fan is not cuttin it.

4. Every few years or so, the planets line up and the gates to heaven open and the angels sing Hallelujah. Yes, yes, this is the year my birthday is on Mardi Gras. I guess sometimes God thinks I deserve a parade, what can I say? I am Joe Ferrero's girlfriend you know!

5. One last thankful and speaking of the Man, the Myth, the Legend, I will be very thankful when we are living in the same town. This shit is for the birds. Although I am enjoying visiting Colorado. If I ever live there, I am wearing cowboy boots everyday. I think this will help me attract those cowboy butts that drive me nuts. Just for looking! Let's not start a small town rumor here.

Happy Thursday everyone!!

He superglued his fingers to his tongue!!!

2010-04-23T18:29:00.000-05:00

Was I witness? No. Dammit. Did anyone get a picture? No. Shit. Shit. Apparently when you superglue your fingers together do not try to lick them apart. Hmmm....whats this about me being really stupid for not putting gas in my mower and then calling everyone cause I can't figure out why it won't start? Yeah...I don't think I would ever try to french kiss my superglued fingers. Yep...let me see....nope...smarter than that!!

Bahahahaha!!!

(This story is just about as good as the dog who had a raging case of the trots and decided to unload in his Natural Light case of beer....see www.igottalaugh.blogspot.com for full story)

Thoughts of the day

2010-04-07T13:44:00.000-05:00

Thoughts of the day....

One week till I will never again (till next year) be asked to shit a tax credit or hatch a big fat refund for someone with just a W-2.... wait....let me get my magic wand...poof!....tax credits for everyone!

Why are there 5 cats in heat by my shed every morning? My yard is not a cat brothel.

Honey Blush, Jonathan Apple, Weiner Dog White....these are the wines I will be drinking on April 15th at 11:00 after I blow the smoke off my wand and retire it for the year...giddyup!! Now where did I put my auditing numbchucks...

I wonder why the Hall closes on Good Friday yet is open on Christmas?

I wonder what my Bingo bullies did on Good Friday since Bingo was cancelled....probably went shopping for a new Garfield (maybe Odie?) shirt and a one-boobed bra.

New Sarah quote: "I'm hungry for some bored and I wanna eat..wait...I mean I don't wanna work". Whathuh?

Hoping I don't have moles in my yard this year. Hoping the little mole noose hanging from my porch will scare them away.

Has anyone seen the new "Meth" commercials? Man those are scary. Who knew Meth people look like the zombie people. I just thought they had sores on their face and didn't eat.

Well that all for today...until next time

Tax Season is here!!

2010-01-19T08:15:00.000-06:00

This is my favorite story when dealing with people about their taxes.

Me: Hello, this is Ydog at Awesome Accountants R Us. I still need some paperwork to finish your taxes. I need you to bring in your Trusts.

Lady: Well I don't know why you need that.

Me: I need this to finish your taxes. The information about the trusts go on your tax forms.

Lady: Why didn't you ask me for this last year?

Me: I used this information last year also. I have it here right in front of me.

Lady: I don't know if I feel comfortable bringing that to you.

Me: Well, then I can't finish your taxes.

Lady: What do you need again?

Me: Your trusts. Can you bring in your trusts?

Lady: Well, I guess I could get my son to help me bring them in but I still don't know why you need them.

Me: Your trusts go on your tax return. They do every year. Please bring in your trusts so that I can finish your taxes.

Lady: Ok, I will bring in my trucks, but they haven't been washed in years and they have weeds in the back.

Me: Let me just call your son.

Things I am thankful for

2010-01-18T15:02:00.000-06:00

Ten things I am thankful for.......serious list

1. My family. I am very lucky to say I had an awesome childhood. I never wanted for anything except for a Snoopy Snowcone....have been waiting 29 years....and have you met my brother? Totally kick ass....

2. My house. Cause its cute. And because I get to mow grass....I love mowing grass.

3. Bo Didley. I have wanted a horse since I was 5 when I started my "horse fund"

4. Friends. I have some of the best in the world

5. Having a job. Those are becoming hard to come by. And I have super duper bosses

6. Being healthy.....I am so much better than I was three or four years ago....I have my life back....and I can eat hot wings again!!!!

7. Heat....it hits home when your furnace breaks

8. Having a college education...glad I got it out of the way

9.My religious upbringing.

10. Living in a free country. Go USA!!!

Not so serious list:

1. I am thankful for the Hall's new jukebox. I know...who doesn't love Lynyrd Skynyrd and Creedence Clearwater......its ok...they are still in there....and now we can skip songs if someone decides to play the whole meatloaf album...twice

2. My town's trash pickup persons.....I can't tell you why.....anyone else have Panther Hauling and is picking up what I am putting down?

3. Thank God for the leaf pickup in my town. I don't know what I would do without it. I don't even have any trees but I am so happy to pay $3 every month to help someone who does. And have you seen how speedy they are?

4. The Redhead's stuffed green peppers. The Redhead's black eyed peas. The Redhead's chicken and dumplings. Lets just say my boyfriend can cook anyone under a table....and then some.

5. My garage....cause scrapping windows just plain sucks.

6. Finger nail clippers. I would have died of a hang nail by now if not for that invention.

7. Snail mail. You just cant beat it. Getting a letter in the mail is ten times better than an email...especially if your not expecting it.

8. Sharp pencils, new calculators, purple highlighters, and crisp legal pads. Cause I'm a nerd and I know it....oh and fresh general ledgers.

9. Bingo dabbers. So many colors...and only $1

10. Chumbawamba.....for giving me a theme song my freshman year of college

An old one

2010-01-18T15:00:00.001-06:00

Politicians. Curse and swore and hurt my ears. Even the wife. F bomb this...F bomb that. Pay to Play this...Pay to Play that. Go Illinois!!

Christmas. I'm sorry....Holidays. Don't want to offend anyone. Nah...I don't care....Christmas. Drunk bowling with coworkers, dice with the aunts, dirty santa with the cousins, and Christmas Caroling with Joe. He likes to sing the Twelve Days of Christmas cause its long. We sing it real fast when we are by ourselves. And then drink hot chocolate by the tree. Don't throw me down Clark!!

Gas. I ate chilli....just kidding. So happy gas prices are playing limbo...how low can you go...how low can you go. What a relief. Now I can afford to drive to work and don't feel guilty about driving to my mom's house 3 miles away.

Juicy Fruit, Big Red, Spearmint, Double mint. Why the new colors? This isn't the Juicy Fruit my Grandpa used to pull out of his shirt pocket. I am pretty sure he would disapprove of the neon yellow....bring back the gray....its just not natural.

Chicago. We want a divorce. We are over it. You keep your corrupt politics and we will create our own. Joe Ferrero for Governor. He has the cussing requirement taken care of.....and the hairpiece? Well...maybe in a few years. Do they make red toupe's?

30. Feeling it already. Now would be a good time to know a vampire. A vegetarian vampire. Who sparkles. And likes short hair and chicken legs.

Real Estate Taxes. There goes my "Snoopy Snow Cone" Fund. Have to start all over next year.

The radio. Do people really want to hear the new Kenny Chesney song 10 times a day? Who are you people? I have a prize for you.

New Years Resolutions

2010-01-18T14:57:00.000-06:00

New Years Resolution 1

Drink lots of water and eat lots of ham. Got a ham for Christmas. Also got a water filtration system. Ham sandwiches for everyone. What? How will we cut it you say? Well with my new Remington Aus8 pocketknife of course. Oh the joys of dating The Redhead. The theme to this year's gifts was: Society is going to fall...we best be prepared. When it does...come to my house. We will filter the water and kill the moles in my yard with my knife and make a mole pot pie.

New Years Resolution 2

Run the 5K on St. Patricks Day. I usually walk it. This year I am going to attempt to run it. I suck at running....I don't think God gave me all the parts to run. He gave me the parts to step over things....like hurdles, sand pits, and Sarah.

New Years Resolution 3

Take more pictures. Since when did I become lame-o no picture girl. I always had the pictures. The good pictures. The blackmail worthy ones...the ones you put on the door of the hall at your friends wedding...bahahaha.

New Years Resolution 4

New Years Resolution 1 leads me to New Years Resolution 4. Kill my mole. No..let me rephrase that. Execute my mole. My little mole friend has been frolicking around my yard since I moved in. I am beginning to built a noose that will hang from my porch. When his little neck is in there he will be on display for one week. Then I will tie him from the back of my car and drive him around town....we will make a few laps...Moto Mart Handee Mart Moto Mart Handee Mart. Then I will let the neighbor cats have their way with him.

New Years Resolution 5

Do more at work...I need to do more of the following: Sharpen pencils, staple things together, shuffle important papers, drink coffee, Unstaple and restaple the staples that are crooked or have the ends coming through the wrong side of the paper, add more big numbers and quit letting Sarah have them all, tune up my calculator...new ink...new 6 button, get a back up space heater in case my current one quits...I wouldn't last a day in this freezer box without it, and my most favorite....practice writing my name. Can't wait for tax season....kinda bored.

Well...thats it for now...remember....ham, water, mole pot pie....you know where to go

25 Random Facts

2010-01-18T14:21:00.000-06:00

1. I love office supplies. A new red pen makes my day. A crisp new general ledger pad is heaven. And don't even get me started about a freshly sharpened pencil.

2. I love small town living. I like hearing the Threshermans from my window. I like how everybody knows you and who your parents are. I like being close to horses and cows and chickens. The only bad thing about small towns is the fine tuned "small town rumor mill"....man that thing works good!

3. The fiddle is my favorite instrument. I bought one off ebay. I haven't learned it yet.

4. When I was a kid at Easter time my Granny would make a cake in the shape of a lamb and cover it in light blue icing and coconut. I always asked for the face.

5. I love horses. I started my "horse fund" at age 6 in an empty margarine bowl. At age 28 I took my margarine bowl and bought Bo Didley. Bo Didley has a lower lip that hangs lower that his upper lip. It appears that he is chewing tobacco.

6. At the age of 3 I had heart surgery to repair a hole in my heart caused from a birth defect. They used a piece of plastic the size of a quarter to patch the hole. Also, years later, during a checkup echocardiogram, the nurse said the doctor didn't put my heart back in the right place. Holy crap! Put it back where you found it!

7. I have had one of my best friends since birth. We have pictures together in a playpen. I am pretty sure we will be friends forever...unless she tries to steal my kool aid stand secrets.

8. My "city cousin" used to spend a week with me every summer. She brought at least 10 different stuffed animals and convinced me to be not so nice to my brother and his cabbage patch doll....Boy.

9. My favorite alcoholic drink is red bull and vodka. It makes me very happy.

10. My favorite non alcoholic drink is fresh iced tea

11. Every year I have a "Guns and Wine" party at my parents house. The girls drink wine and the boys shoot guns. It is very sophisticated....you can't hang.

12. I play BINGO at least once a month or so. I sit by my friend Louise. She is 94 claims she NEVER wins...she just donates. I also have BINGO bullies. Sometimes they cuss me out for talking too loud.

13. I am an accountant but what I really want to do is manage a horse stable...there is kinda a shortage of those around here

14. Around January I am loving tax season...around March I am ready for the Red Lobster tax day celebration

15. I can't wait for the Polish Parade. How much fun is that!

16. I have toenails that curl up. They are quit small and funny looking. Its genetic...thanks Dad

17. My Crohn's disease has been in remission for 2.5 years!!! Kudos to my doctors for finally getting my drug cocktail right. Lets drink a red bull and vodka to that!

18. I have met Dierks Bentley. He gave me two hugs and knew how to spell my name without instruction.

19. My friend Sarah and I went through high school and college together...chose the same major....went to grad school together and now work together....she is such a copycat

20. I love to mow grass....but absolutely hate to use the weed eater

21. If it was socially acceptable...I would dress like a cowboy everyday...and would demand the same from my boyfriend.

22. I love to read. I read the first three Twilight books in a week. While reading the fourth...I got depressed cause it was almost over....so I stretched that one to two weeks.

23. I am the shortest person in my family. My dad is 6'4" my brother 6'5" and my mom beat me by 1/4 inch at 5'9"

24. I have a hard time trusting God and try to do things myself...which sometimes makes a big mess....He has really been working with me on that one

25. I really believe everything happens for a reason and sometimes only God knows what that reason is.

Suprise!!

2010-01-08T11:56:00.000-06:00

Went to let the dogs out after work today. Walked in. Whats that smell? Surprise! Puppy dogs had explosive hind ends all day while being kenneled. Yea for me. Both of them are covered in brown. Tried to stay away from their back ends because I was scared of the explosions. Where in the heck is The Redhead? Attempted to give them a bath. Did not go so well as their back ends had multiple explosions and we had to make emergency runs out into the snow. Good thing it was snow because I could tell where all the explosions happened.

Called The Redhead. Promised he would be home in 20 minutes to deal with the kennel. Don't think he understood when I said "explosive". I meant EXPLOSIVE! As in your gonna have to wipe down the walls and the couch probably needs a new home in the dumpster. Finally gave bath #1. The poor pups were so sad. They thought they were in trouble for "messing" their kennel. They wanted to cuddle at a time when cuddling would mean me wearing a biohazard suit. I attempted to corral the puppies in the bathroom until The Redhead got home to deal with the situation at ground zero kennel. In the meantime I sprayed down a hankerchef with Febreeze and tied it around my nose. I stayed locked in the bathroom except for emergency runs outside with wet puppy dogs who at this point were so cold their legs were shaking.

Called the Redhead again. Says he is 20 minutes away. Once again emphasized the explosion at ground zero kennel. Don't think I got through. Gave the puppies bath #2 cause...what else are you going to do locked in a bathroom with a Febreeze rag on your face. 20 minutes later called The Redhead again. I'm starting to become irritable. He says he will be there in 10 minutes. Well, at least he is getting closer. The explosions are starting to decrease. Puppy dogs are very sad and very tired. They had a bad day. A really bad day. Don't know what time the kennel turned into a mine field. By the looks of it I am thinking it started about 5 minutes after they got in there. Poor things.

Finally, The Redhead pulls in. He witnesses a few explosions in the snow. "Whoa" he says. (except with a few more cuss words) Walks inside to ground zero kennel. Holy crap this is bad!! (except a lot more cuss words) I tried to tell him. I offer him my Febreeze rag. Doesn't want it. Don't puke I say. He almost puked twice.

So glad I waited in the bathroom and didn't attempt to resurrect a new kennel at ground zero.

Wineries

2010-01-04T15:22:00.000-06:00

Went to the winery with some girlfriends the other day. Visited a new one...Rustle Hill winery. It was nice. I haven't found a winery I didn't like. I feel so sophisticated at wineries. Everyone is sitting around, sipping wine with their pinky fingers out like we are royalty. The scenery is beautiful even on a cold winter day. There are winery dogs and winery cats walking about. This particular winery had a dog with a leopard print fur coat on. It was a cold day here is Southern Illinois. Only 8 degrees. I guess dogs even need fur coats in this weather. My new years resolution is to visit more wineries with friends. I am making a goal of visiting a winery once a month...we will see how that goes.