It’s Monday. Ugh, we got hit with a few more inches of the horrid white stuff over the weekend. And honestly, this much snow and this kind of cold this early in the season is way out of character for Illinois. We’ve had a solid blanket of snow on the ground for well over a week now, and the thermometer hasn’t crept above freezing since mid-November. Normally we don’t see more than a dusting before January, and temps usually bounce around between the 30s and mid-40s—freeze, thaw, freeze, thaw. That’s how its been for the past 30 years. Now? I’m already getting the sinking feeling that this new pattern is just getting started.

The Bears went up against the Packers last night and lost 21-28. They played a damn good game, but it just wasn’t enough. They slip to 9 – 4 and will get a second shot at the Packers again in 2 weeks at Soldier Field.

So what do you guys think about my Christmas Car Tree? I finished it up over the weekend and I think it turned out pretty good this year. It’s getting a little crowded on this 4-foot tree, so it won’t be much longer before I’m forced to upgrade to a larger one. But for now I’m happy with it.

-keep

And no, I haven’t started my shopping yet.

It’s Friday! Nothing makes me miss summer more than an early frigid cold snap. I can feel this one in my bones. Its been a long time since we had this much snow and single digit temperatures this early in the winter. It’s like a surprise gut punch from Mother Nature—right to the seasonal depression gland. I want humidity. I want the smell of sunscreen. I want the warm sun on my face. I want burgers on the grill. I want to not need seven layers of clothing just to step outside. Jeez, I look like a clothing donation bin.

It’s time I start thinking about Christmas gifts. This is the part of Christmas that I dislike the most—trying to figure out what to get everyone. I sit there staring at my list like, “What do these people even like?” Every idea feels either too impersonal or too stupid. It’s almost like I’ve never met any of them. And on top of that, the whole time there’s this holiday clock just ticking away—mocking me. I suspect this is why gift cards were invented, eh?

Anyway, my bitching aside, it’s Friday again and I have the usual suspects gathered for today. That’s right, I have a new amateur photo featured along with double babes & double jokes. Enjoy! And don’t forget to get started on that shopping list! Ughh.

-keep

Keep, Always enjoy your holiday spreads. This Thanksgiving one was top notch. A shot of my girl Mindy for ya. -Anonymous

It’s Thursday. This is a seasonal favorite of mine. Horatio Sanz, Jimmy Fallon, Chris Kattan, and Tracy Morgan join forces to bring us the gloriously offbeat holiday gem “I Wish It Was Christmas Today.” It’s goofy, it’s chaotic, and it probably shouldn’t work—but somehow they spin a two-minute throwaway sketch into something that feels like an accidental, oddly heartwarming Christmas card.

-keep