January 31, 2011

Well, I believe my interview went well...so now I just wait for a phone call, with hopefully good news.

We headed back right after my interview because of the impending winter storm that is supposed to eat 75% of the United States. We were going to stop in Peoria and visit some family, but we didn't really want to be encased in ice in a ditch somewhere in central Illinois.

My picture today is of the bridge that you cross over going into and leaving Peoria. I always remember it from my childhood and knowing that after all the time in the car, Aunt Mary's house was near.

January 30, 2011

Today after work I drove to Galesburg. I have never been to Galesburg before, so far it seems like an o-okay place. The reason why I drove 3.5 hours north was because I have a job interview tomorrow at Hill Correctional Center.

Yes, inmates! I would be teaching them job preparation skills and such. So here I am, in Galesburg, watching a Criminal Minds marathon on one of the smallest hotel TVs I have seen in a long time.

And of course, being in a hotel, I thought this would be a good picture of the day, thank you to the Gideon's that have placed this Bible right next to the Yellow Pages.

January 29, 2011

When most children are small, they have a stuffed animal that they absolutely love. Lots of bears and puppy dogs, my Goddaughter, Sydney, is rather partial to her cow named Moo. I also I had a childhood friend that I still sleep with to this day. (Don't judge me).

He is not a bear or a dog, in fact, hes not even an animal. He is a stuffed Pea Pod. Yes...a pea pod. His name is Bean Pea, because when I was small I thought he was a bean, but hes not...he's a pea.

So today's picture is of my life long friend, Bean Pea. We decided to go with a mirror senior picture circa 1989 shot. I think it brings out the best in him.

Just look at his smile


.

January 28, 2011

Today is Friday, tonight I did not go out to a bar and I didn't go over to a friends. I decided to stay at home and spend the night with my family.

We played Trivial Pursuit, and I actually won. It was a super good time, we laughed a lot.

After I won, this is a quote from my Father: "Abi, I will kill you in your sleep".

Haha, I just really love my family.

January 27, 2011

Today is my mother's birthday, shes the big 58! I am a sort of terrible child and did not remember this until about half an hour ago. Not that I forgot when her birthday was, I just really didn't remember what day today was. BACK OFF.

Happy Birthday Mom!!

January 26, 2011

Sigh, another bad quality picture, I need to start carrying my actual camera around with me, my cell phone just doesn't cut it when its dark.

Anyway, recently, Claire and I have gotten into the habit of driving to Edwardsville and meeting up with our wonderful friend Tara and then we go see movies. Last time it was The Black Swan, which left us all a little confused and disturbed. We decided it was a good movie, very intense, but none of us would probably view it again.

Tonight we watched The King's Speech. It was a very very good movie. It was nice to see Helena Bonham Carter not playing a creep and Colin Firth is always enjoyable.

I think I also really enjoyed this movie because as a kid I spent most of elementary school in speech classes because I was unable to say my "ch's", "sh's" and "th's" correctly. I know its not as a big of a deal as stuttering, but still, not being able to speak correctly was embarrassing, and I'm super grateful for all you speech language pathologists who continue to help people find their voice.

January 25, 2011

I know I know, the picture quality of this is rather poor, but I took it with my phone, so I apologize.

For those of you who are not familiar with where I live, this is the exciting town of Vandalia at night. Look at all those people....wait, they aren't there. But look at all that traffic, ok...yup, thats one car.

January 24, 2011

When will the Beiber Fever end? Everyday at work I walk by and see this kid starring at me from so many magazines. I hear hes all the rage with the young girls but...is that because he himself looks like a young girl?

January 23, 2011

Well, today I am a bit depressed because the Bears lost to the Packers...BUT, I have been known to love snow, and it has been snowing all afternoon.

Go snow go! I have no idea..

January 22, 2011

Sometimes Lily listens to Break Away by Kelly Clarkson and longs for what could be, if only she wasn't a tiny headed cat.

January 21, 2010

Well, it is like 1 degree outside so it was appropriate to build a fire in the ol' fire place. I have always loved living in a house with a fire place. Its an easy way to keep warm, and its fun to look at.

I decided to mess around with my shutter speed and I think the fire looks pretty cool.

"When there's nothing left to burn, you have to set yourself on fire"

January 20, 2010

Well, the area has been hit with a large amount of snowfall. Not anything crazy like what happens on the east coast, but its record breaking or that's what News Channel 5 said.

So, of course, heres the picture, its snow...accompanied by trees and the sun.

November 19, 2011

In no ways would anyone ever call me a beer connoisseur. Anyone who knows me knows that my beer of choice is Miller Lite, it has been for years. 2 summers ago I was up in Chicago and two of my friends took me to this bar called the Hopleaf..or the Hopfly, or something to that extent. This place basically had a million beers from around the world.

I had tried some craft beers in the past and uggh, did not like, but I thought, hey I'm in Chicago at a bar that has any beer ever, I'd look pretty silly ordering my usual. So after a long long look at the menu I chose some sort of blonde.

I took my first drink and I was distraught, way too many tastes going on at the same time. So I did what any person would do and just chugged the thing. I'm not one to let a beer go to waste. After my friends finished their beer and had a good laugh on how uncultured I am when it comes to beer, we left and went to a regular old bar and had a few pitchers of Miller Lite, and it was magical.

Well last month I decided that I would some how make myself appear a little bit classy and try to like something else. So after some trial and error, I finally found something I enjoy, the sad thing is, its a winter brew, and will be gone before I know it. Its Schlafly Winter ESB, brewed just down the road in St. Louis.

So, I will enjoy this winter beer while the snow falls, but of course, my heart will always remain true to Miller Lite.

January 18, 2011

We have a huge living room at my house, and we had a somewhat small TV. My Dad said that if the Bears make it to the Super Bowl, then we would get a bigger TV. Well, the Bears have not made it to the Super Bowl, yet...but, my Dad still brought home a TV, a slightly larger TV...a 55 inch TV.

So, its pretty awesome, and the Bears Packers game is going to be awesome, and it will look even better if the Bears are in the Super Bowl.

January 17, 2011

Anyone who has ever lived in Illinois can probably tell you that our weather is a little ridiculous. 2 weeks ago there were tornadoes in the area while a week later we got dumped with 4 inches of snow. One day it can be 15 degrees and the next 50. It really makes no sense.

This is another one of those instances. Today was kind of warm for January and the snow started melting. And now tonight, its a really eerie misty/foggy thing going on. And, also as in usual Illinois fashion, we are expecting to get him with more snow at the end of the week.

January 16, 2011

I went over to my friend Tara's tonight. She has twin boys and they are extremely adorable. I tried to get a picture of them together, but Mason kept scooting away and Kellan was just really upset. So here is Kellan, the sweet little guy that he is.

January 15, 2011

This is my brother Andy in his natural habitat. Cigarettes, orange soda, and World of Warcraft.

This is not a very rare sighting, but it is the true essence of the Andy.

January 14, 2011

My friend Kristyn celebrated her last day at IGA, so of course, it was a reason to celebrate. We went out on the big town of Vandalia.

The Full Moon has these amazing shots that taste like koolaide and yet, they are pretty much all alcohol.

So as we did last night, I celebrate this post to Kristyn, congrats on leaving IGA, and congrats on finishing up school as a physical therapist.

J-Hawk will miss you :)

January 13, 2011

January 13, 1953 Raymond and Margaret Kerkhoff became parents of their 2nd child and only son, Thomas Raymond.

Today is my Dad's birthday. I think so far hes had a decent day, made him some cupcakes, bought him a book about Major Dick Winters, and my mom got him a classic Tom Kerkhoff flannel shirt. He got home from work with a 12 pack of Old Milwaukee's Best Lite, probably a pretty good day for him. Oh, and my mom is making him steak.

So here we are, my Dad and I on his 58th Birthday.

[and...thats about as much as a smile as one will get out of my Dad.]

January 12, 2011

Well, due to the snow that I posted yesterday, I was able to drive my Mom's vehicle to work. I had been lazy and not cleared off the snow to the Camry yet, and I was running late, so, since my Mom is awesome, she let me take hers.

She got a new vehicle in November, a 2011 Chevy Equinox. Its really awesome. She also has free XM satellite radio. I enjoy the 90s on 9, brings back a lot of good memories. Tonight when I was driving home the Mighty Mighty Bostones came on, the song, The Impressions That I get. My friend Elisa and I used to listen to this song a lot, it a put a smile on my face when I heard it, so I figured it would be the best picture for today.

January 11, 2011

We got 3 or 4 inches of snow today. So I figured my picture should be my backyard. I'm hoping to get out sometime and possibly make a snowman, why not?

January 10, 2011

My cats, Forest and Lily spend their days sleeping, eating, wandering around the house, and finally beating the crap out of each other. I'm sure they are just playing..but sometimes I think they really might have some hostility towards each other.

It starts out innocent enough, one will approach the other, and lull them into a false sense of safety but licking the others head, one would think, awww they are grooming each other! But nope...this usually leads into the biting of either a head or neck, then the chase is on. This happens around 5 times a day....and it always seems to be more viscous at night when I'm trying to sleep.

January 9, 2011

I used to stare at this boat before I would fall asleep at my Grandmother's house. My Dad is quite a bit younger than his sister, she got married to my Uncle Tom in 1967. He was stationed in Turkey in 1968-1969 ish and he brought my Dad back this boat. It sat on a shelf in the front bedroom of my Grandma's house until 2004. After she died, my Dad brought it home and it now sits on a shelf in our living room.

Even though the boat actually belongs to my Dad, it always reminds me of my Grandma :)

January 8, 2011

Well the playoffs are among us so I figured my picture today would be about something that I absolutely love, the Chicago Bears.

On the day I was brought into this world I became a Bears fan, its just a natural thing for Kerkhoff's to do. Its a family bond that we all share. Of course, being a Bears fan, I have had my fair share of ups and downs. I'm too young to remember the 1985 Chicago Bears and yet, the Super Bowl loss to the Colts in in 2006 remains fresh in my mind. Sigh. But winning, losing, it doesn't matter, I love my Chicago Bears.

(and if you are wondering whose signature that is, its none other than Sweetness himself, Walter Payton.)

January 7, 2011

Here I am with one of my best friends. He is my cat, we have some pretty good times...he meows and I talk. We both drink out of glasses, we both sleep on the same bed, even though he much prefers to sleep on a pillow that is always there for him. I'd also say we are both mad photogenic. ha.

January 6, 2011

Today is Epiphany, which means it is the day that the Three Wise Men showed up and brought Baby Jesus some gifts. Of course these were gold, frankincense and myrrh. This is also the official end of the Christmas Season. This is also the day in the Kerkhoff house, where the 3 wise men are allowed to come down a few shelves, and join Joseph, Mary, Baby Jesus, the Shepherds, and of course, the cows, sheep, and what not on the lower shelf.

So I hope everyone had a good Christmas Season, and after being allowed to join the group for one day, they will be put back into their boxes until next year.

January 5, 2011

So, for some reason or another, in downtown Vandalia, we have lots of fake people on our walls, including a boy and a puppy, and a guy with an old timey bike. This gem is located out side of our City Hall building. I wonder what happened to the little girl and why her leg was amputated? And is that woman her mother? Or is she just politely smiling at the small child while she talks to her doll? Perhaps..we will never know...

January 4, 2011

I found myself driving through the Fairlawn Cemetery today, this is something I don't do often, but I felt draw there today for my picture. This is probably because one of my closest friends Dad passed away on New Years Day. I feel very sad for my friend and his family, but today in the cemetery, it had such a calming feel.

As I was driving, I passed by these graves of soldiers decorated for Christmas, I stopped and decided this would be the picture. I think I decided on this because my friend's father was a soldier. He served in the Vietnam war. So, I suppose I'll end this post here, and rest in peace, Johnny Cocagne.

Glory be to the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning it is now and ever shall be world without end, Amen.

January 3, 2011

These guys are some reading monks. The one in the middle my mom picked up somewhere along the line when she went to college at EIU back in the 70s. The others are my brother Matt's. I think they are sort of interesting...what are they reading...and who was the guy that said "Carving monks reading...best thing ever."

January 2, 2011,

Day 2 I decided to go with my cat Lily. She often goes unseen by pretty much everyone but my family. She's shy and skiddish, but also can be very cuddly and loving. Just don't get too comfortable with her on your lap because she will either bite you (with love) or speed off.

January 1, 2011

I am starting this blog as a chronicle of my life over the next year, so I hope you enjoy this journey with me :).

I rang in the new year with some great friends in the ol' Garage, it was a happening time.