Family

I am packing up the teenagers, the peanut and heading north to Michigan for 4 days. Tim has to work Wednesday and Friday so he will celebrate with his mom and brothers family.

My brother Jim is hosting Thanksgiving at his cabin near St Joseph's MI. My siblings and father will all be there. 

I am looking forward to just relaxing and hanging with my family. Lots of family bonding and outdoor activities will fill our days.

I am coming off a month plus world wind of movies, auditions, photo shoots, work and just the grind of have 3 boys.

Tim and I have so much to be thankful for: happy healthy kids, good solid jobs, a thriving new photography business. Great friends, family and a wonderful community. Endless future possibilities for our kids

Happy Thanksgiving to all

light

 two weekends ago we spent the weekend downtown at the JW Marriott for our anniversary. Saturday after we dropped TJ at his acting class we took Alexis with us to sight see. Our 1st stop was the Driehaus Museum . 19th Century home of banker Samuel Mayo Nickerson.

Just stunning! Flash photography was not allowed, but there was no stopping the beautiful light shinning through the stain glass windows

Happy Birthday and Happy Anniversary

photo taken by me at the Chicago History Museum of the Great Chicago Fire 

This weekend Tim and I celebrated our wedding anniversary and his birthday...2 days apart. We spent the weekend downtown and as always has a fabulous time. I was born and raised in Chicago and I love the fact that 47 years later we can find new things to do...always a tourist!

The latest McGinty toys

Tim, his brother, Callahan and my niece have been enjoying all this snow for the last few weekends

Annual Wisconsin ski trip day 1 and 2

We were able to sneak away for 5 nights. Callahan and karrick had  Friday and Monday off...TJ had Mon-Tue off. We were able to have TJ take his last 2 final exams scheduled for Friday on Wed and Thur. I was stunned at how accommodating TJ's teachers were. We called the other 2 boys in "skiing" on Tuesday to their schools. We headed way up to Wausau Wisconsin to Granite Peak, Rib Mountain. We left Thur around 5pm...weather was awful driving.

We arrived around 10pm ish and had just enough to hit the pool that closed at 11pm. The best thing we did was get 2 adjoining rooms, suites were sold out for Saturday night which would have been more trouble than it was worth to keep switching rooms. My stud of a husband got our rooms for $59 a night with his smooth talking.

The next day we went into town to rent Tim and TJ skies, cheaper than at the ski mountain. Callahan owns his own skies and boots. I must say my TJ was freaking adorable trying on ski-wear...1/4 inch more and he can finally start modeling again. Liliy's signed him at 5' 9 and have been waiting patiently until he reaches 5' 11. He does not look 14...at all...he's not even 14 1/2 yet....just sayin

He has the moves down

Mint Cafe for lunch...good cheeseburgers

Must be just like "the brothers" at $19 for glasses and $30 for the hat

Callahan above and below....we drew the line at the pink glasses

Brand spankin new Holiday inn and suites in Rothschild WI...all the nicer hotels by the ski resort were booked. This turned out to be a beautiful hotel.Lobby was stunning with big leather furniture, fireplaces...yes plural and flat screens. Flat screen in the marble bathroom in our rooms too! Only problem is there was nothing for miles so we had to drive to fast food pl;aces to eat...Aarrgh

I honestly felt like crap by the time we had left...all I wanted was a fruit salad

We had th hotel pretty much to ourselves on Thur,Fri, Mon Tue. Sat and Sun it filled up. Much to TJ's delight a teenage competitive dance team stayed on our floor Saturday and Sunday

a Day for Mary

01/05/2011

A Great Day Downtown

===========================================

Wednesday I had a day off and used my day off wisely...on me! I made my way to the

ellehomme spa for my monthly laser hair removal. I may suffer from some unwanted facial hair....alright, I'd grow a beard if I ever lapsed into a coma...whatever, I'm not perfect....I just play one in real life. Actually I bought a Groupon well 2 Groupons. 6 treatments for $150 which is like free in the laser hair removal world. After the 1st treatment there was such a difference. I am a huge supporter of the Groupon. Tim and I have gotten many $99 fancy downtown hotel rooms, a sailing trip, many many restaurant 1/2 price meals.

After my laser treatment, I had a 60min massage scheduled...not a Groupon but a $100 gift certificate for $50 from the spa website.

This was my changing room, I just snapped 2 quick pics and they don't do justice...all the amenities including toiletries, robes and slippers

After you get on your robe and slippers you enter the Zen room...a dark candle lit soothing waiting room. I didn't take a picture cause that wouldn't be very Zen like and who am I to disrupt the Zen Gods.

I had a wonder 60 minute deep tissue, aromatherapy massage.

Since I was in the West Loop, I jumped on over to the financial district to meet my man for lunch. Tim's office(E*TRADE Captial Markets) is now located in my old building. Oh, and I need at amend a earlier blog error. Tim is not a "systems administrator" he is a "System Engineer" my bad. I guess my faux pas is like comparing a physical theripist to a Neurosurgeon .
 Who knew?
  We had a nice, but quick lunch and I got a tour of Tim's office.
Small world that I parked in the lot across the street that I used to park in 100 years ago. The same old man still works there and gave me a giant hug. He then asks "How old is TJ now" He remembered! TJ started going religiously to the CBOE (Chicago Board of Options Exchange) with me at 4 weeks old until age 3. He was the only baby in a sea of 1000's of traders. TJ's personality was well developed, not to mention he was the cutest baby EVER! He was quite popular to say the least.
All good things must come to an end, so at 1:30 I hoped back on 290 west did a little shopping before getting my Karrick from school


A lovely day I must say

My visual art debut

 Yesterday I headed downtown to be part of a visual art film project being shot at the

Tri-beca Flashpoint Media Arts academy. Can I just start out by saying....this six story film/art/music/animation school is so freakin cool, decorated with breathtaking and interesting artwork. I almost wish I was super artsy so I can go here. I want to go back and take photos of it all. I loved the vibe I got while being there. I'm usually on the waiting room end of all things artistic.

My kids agency Lily's Talent Agency gets requests for the non-actor/model...the real life person. Finally one came along that was made for me. An artist had an idea to do a visual art piece using real moms. The piece   

"It is meant to grant a sense of well-being and kindness ie. a corrective emotional experience"

The goal is to have this film displayed in Contemporary Art Museums .

I was brought to the studio and put in front of a green screen for a good 30-40 min. I spoke and I even sang a song....YES I DID! 

My kids would be mortified. When I was done the artist/director "Tim" told me I did great and even used the word "excellent". Then Tim walked me out (from the 6th floor to the first) uh huh,  sure did! okay he was going on a break, but whatever...

While we were walking, he of course mentioned my kids very unique and cool names AND he complimented me on my "wonderful smile that just LIT UP THE SCREEN!"  Lit up the screen, people...yeah, ME!

All I'm sayin is, "Julia Roberts, watch your back!"

I drove home with my box of chocolates, small monetary wage and parking fee paid for...on Cloud 9.

Hopefully this man's dream becomes a reality and I don't end up on the "cutting room floor" see I even have the lingo down.

It was fun and I was nervous as HELL. When I got to work this morning I received an email from the

 cinematographer that I originally set up the appointment with. I will copy and paste his email

"thank you for helping us out on this film.  I heard your warm Irish smile lit up the screen.  much appreciate your time."

A STAR IS BORN people....just sayin

Christmas week

 The McGinty's made it through another Merry Christmas. I'm loving my new boots and Christmas sweater from Tim. Tim and I as always had a lot of fun shopping together. I feel like I won the lotto with a husband that loves to shop, but isn't gay...I just don't have any use being married to a gay man...thats all....just sayin

Moivng on, it was wonderful to spend time with family and just hanging out with the kids. It is a gift that TJ isn't playing a sport now....so much free time. That being said,  he'll NEVER go without playing a sport again. Holy Mother Mary of Jesus! TJ needs an outlet from his competitive nature. Thank God baseball training starts in 2 weeks

Moving on...

 TJ was very excited to receive an acoustic guitar. Uncle Casper gave him his 1st lesson

 Callahan scored his own tool set, complete with power tools from grandma and grandpa McGinty. Must nurture that creative mind. Callahan will go in the garage or basement and just build...build from scratch a working trebuchet and motorized airplane

 A little boy warms cold sledding fingers by the fire

 Xbox kinect was under the tree, can I say that it is just amazing! We also own the Wii, but this blows it away. I am pretty sore from boxing and I am incapable of jumping hurdles. One would think with my extra long legs it would be a breeze...not so much

 Karrick has some secret that allows him to win at boxing every time...I even bribed him with Lego's to tell me. He is not budging 

 doing the TKO dance

 When Santa leaves an 11 year old a hatchet, one must allow him to chop things up

 best buddies 

 lots of snow boarding down the deck steps and up the snow covered bike ramp

last, but certainly not least is my Android 10 in Archos tablet. What else would I expect from my anti-Apple system administrator computer genius of a husband?

It is super cool and will serve me well during my 8 hr days of baseball  in the summer 

Michigan

shot by TJ McGinty...St Joseph, MI

We were invited up to Michigan this week to spend time at my brother Jim's new cabin in Coloma.  It was amazing and I can't wait to blog about it, I must say I shot some amazing pictures.
 I had to pay Google for more blog memory, which should be updated tomorrow.  Yikes, has this happened to anyone else? I realize I post a lot of pictures and my camera is 15M but geez

USLA- Cocoa Beach Fla

It was time for the Fall USLA Board of Directors meeting held in Cocoa Beach Florida. I decided to bring the boys for some fun in the sun and sneak in a little education. Lifeguards come from all over the country. Some I have known for 20+ years others I met at the Spring meeting in Kauai.I decided to indulge and surprise the kids with a limo for our ride to the airport.

We stayed at the Holiday Inn Ocean front Resort. It was very family friendly. We arrived a day early and had the place to ourselves. I can tell TJ is growing up...he likes alone time.

I booked the 2 bedroom loft with the full
kitchen. With 3 little boys it turned
out to be a great decision

The Lands End "slimming" suit was well worth
my $80. I don't care if you're 125 or 325, this
suit shaves off 20 lbs just by putting it on.
You get used to the somewhat labored breathing.
What we gals do....


Sports Illustrated eat your heart out

We made friends with a wonderful family from
England that were there on "holiday"
They pulled their kids out of school for 3 weeks.
I didn't feel so bad, I only pulled mine out for 1.

Now the education part...a trip to NASA! We had

a great time. What amazed me was the size of the rockets. I've never seen them up close before. The kids got to see how our space program has evolved over the last 40+ years. We did ride the "Shuttle Launch Experience" Not a smooth ride.

I felt our blast off the next day as I hobbled to the pool, pausing every couple of steps and waiting for the angry muscle spasms in my lower back to subside. Once I safely made it,I popped a Vicodin and a muscle relaxer, plopped my fat ass in a chaise and didn't move for the next hour. My back today, reminds me that I am not cut out for any trips that require leaving our atmosphere.

Actual capsule, looking at 2 seats through window...I think not

A lot of playing on the beach

At the closing banquet

I was awarded the"Meritorious Act Award"
for saving a mans life in Kauai. A 30 yo man dove in the surf and broke his neck. He is now a quadriplegic for life.I happened to be swimming 10 feet away from the man when I saw his limp body rolling in the surf. The horror one must feel, not able to move your arms and legs while being bashed around in 2 feet of water. Myself and another guy pulled him out. I maintained c-spine and calmed the man down until help arrived.He was airlifted to Oahu. I think about him often. I was not expecting an award, but was glad my boys were there to share with me.

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