Mark of Fridays - Anne edition

 

Mark of Fridays: Animal planet

During a recent trip to the Racine Zoo, Mark encountered a kissing monkey, three daddy-nibbling birds and a camel named Toby!

Mark of Fridays: That's gonna leave a me

Wearing goggles can be fun. But wearing goggles for too long can be hazardous to your face.

Mark of Fridays: Aunt and Uncle

It's a bit early, but we thought you'd enjoy an Uncle Josh picture is honor of his 45th birthday.

Happy early birthday, Uncle Josh! You're old.

"Stop talking about me!" Tom said swiftly.

So what do you do when you're a big nerd and you're married to a big nerd and your sister is a big nerd? You get in a Tom Swifty War, that's what.
Yep. Serious Nerd Alert.
For about two weeks Lynne and Matt engaged in a furious Swifty War with Megan and Josh.
It all started with some Tom Swifties on a bathroom calendar. That prompted Matt to begin sending Swifties to Megan, unannounced and unexplained. She retaliated with her own Swifties. Suddenly, the Great Swifty Nerd War of 2011 was in full bloom. It still hasn't officially ended.
What's a Swifty? Well, there's a pretty good explanation on Wikipedia here. But they're probably best explained with the examples below, taken from the GSNWo2011.

MEGAN and JOSH

“You are going to have to scrub a lot harder to get that rust off, you idiot!” Tom said abrasively.

“Ah, those birds are really lovely,” Tom tweeted.

"You already said that," Tom repeated.

"I'm going to punch you in the face," Tom said abusively.

"I really have to get this done before I vomit," Tom said feverishly.

"These pencils need sharpening," Tom said dully.

"I would like some Chinese food," Tom said wantonly.

"This road is going to --," Tom said abrubtly.

"I need my sunglasses," Tom said brightly.

"These pretzels are making me thirsty," Tom said saltily.

"The train is fast approaching," Tom said flatly.

"I just visited Wisconsin," Tom said cheesily.

LYNNE

"I really thought she'd smack me for that comment," Tom said unabashedly.

"But I really thought I earned an 'A' on this paper," Tom bemoaned.

"I can't be too late for the meat giveaways," Tom said mistakenly.

"I feel best when I'm naked," Tom disclosed.

"I think I calculated your grade on this test incorrectly," Tom remarked.

"Don't cross those wires!" Tom said shockingly.

"I think there's a cat stuck in the air conditioning system," Tom said fervently.

"I love to eat beans," Tom said breezily.

"It's time to stop," Tom said haltingly.

MATT

"I think I'm in love with a goat," Tom kidded.

"Was that Matt's butt?" Tom asked cheekily.

"Be quiet and leave this place," Tom shouted.

"I'm at the doctor's office," Tom said patiently.

"I know we broke up but no one else is going to date her!" Tom exclaimed.

"I took me two tries, but I knocked over all the pins," Tom said sparingly.

So, here's the contest: the best Swifty posted in the comment section wins a free night of babysitting! And we won't stay out late!

Congrats Megan and Josh!

No pictures - yet - but what a fantastic day and fantastic new couple: Mr. and Mrs. Jankiewicz!

Meet the family

Meeting Aunt Megan and in an arms of an officer of the law.

Note: Same day, different outfits.

Better Know A Baby: The Answers

And now the answer to The Baby quiz!

1. Baby Hanley is likely to be:
A. a Mets fan
B. a White Sox fan
C. a Brewers fan
D. anything but a Cubs fan
Sorry Grandma Hanley, it's not gonna happen.

2. Lynne and Matt get free tickets to a White Sox game. What is likely to happen?
A. They buy a third seat and take Baby Hanley along.
B. Lynne stays home with the baby and allows Matt to take a friend to the game
C. They call in the grandparents for some babysitting service.
D. They stay home and watch the game in HD.
Pass up something free? Matt's not going to let that happen.

3. Jack and Baby Hanley meet for the first time. What is likely to happen?
A. Baby Hanley is lulled to sleep by the smell of Jack’s breath.
B. Baby Hanley pulls on Jack’s tail.
C. Jack licks a whole meal off Baby Hanley’s face.
D. Jack steals one of Baby Hanley’s socks.
Jack does like socks, but Baby will be wearing a onsie. Jack has terrible breath and stump tail, but he does love to lick faces. It's kind of weird.

4. Lynne leaves newborn Baby Hanley at home with Matt for the first time. For what reason is he most likely to call for backup?
A. He doesn’t know how to change the baby’s diaper.
B. He can’t figure out how to snap the baby’s onesie.
C. He doesn’t know where to find the baby’s bottles.
D. He can’t remember his shoe size.
Or how to turn on the stove. Or what size shirt he wears. Or where the checkbook is...he's clueless.

5. Which Peanuts character will newborn Baby Hanley be most like?
A. Snoopy
B. Pigpen
C. Sally
D. Charlie Brown
Bald and big head. That sounds about right.

6. Grandma is watching Baby Hanley. Which of these is most likely to happen?
A. Grandma has to stop Baby Hanley from eating out of Jack’s bowl.
B. Grandpa stops by and falls asleep on the couch.
C. Grandma meets the neighbors in the driveway and talks for hours.
D. Grandma calls Matt and Lynne five times for help.
Since the neighbors speak no English, it has to be B. And it doesn't matter which Grandpa.

7. Which of the following baseball players’ nicknames will NOT apply to Baby Hanley?
A. George Herman Ruth
B. Ted Williams
C. Harold Reese
D. Frank Thomas
"Babe" Ruth, Ted "The Kid" Williams and "Pee Wee" Reese could also share nicknames with The Baby. But not Frank Thomas, "The Big Hurt".

8. It’s 2 a.m. and Baby Hanley starts crying. What is likely to happen?
A. Lynne gets out of bed to rock the baby.
B. Matt gets out of bed to rock the baby.
C. Jack gets out of bed and cries louder than the baby.
D. No one gets out of bed; Matt is still awake.
Lynne wakes up early; Matt stays up late. They may meet in the middle when Baby Hanley arrives.

9. It’s time to change a really poopy diaper. What is likely to happen?
A. Jack tries to steal it.
B. Matt tries to compost it.
C. Lynne runs away --too stinky!
D. Matt and Lynne simply change it; they’ve seen worse from the dog.
There was this one time...uh, never mind.

10. Aunt Leslie and Aunt Laura will be responsible for teaching Baby Hanley to:
A. do the Cha Cha slide
B. root for Western Illinois University
C. swim underwater
D. get under Lynne’s skin
We already know the baby will be an Illini fan, so B is out. But both Leslie and Laura are super swimmers. Unlike Lynne and Matt.

11. It’s Baby Hanley’s first Christmas. What is likely to be his/her favorite gift?
A. a new set of golf clubs from Grandpa Seago
B. a mustache comb from Grandpa Hanley
C. goggles and fins from Aunt Leslie
D. the wrapping paper
Wrapping paper is a cool gift.

12. Matt gets a bonus at work. What are Lynne and Matt likely to spend it on?
A. diapers
B. baseball cards
C. college savings bonds
D. a return trip to Peru
Trick question. Matt will not be getting a bonus at work.

13. It’s the day of Aunt Megan’s wedding: July 17, 2010. What is Baby Hanley likely to do?
A. crawl down the aisle as the Flower Child.
B. cry harder than his/her dad.
C. stay up later than his/her mom.
D. eat the party favor when no one is looking.
Lynne's bedtime is 6:45 p.m. And no one will be crying more than Matt.

14. Matt and Lynne will spend a lot of time reading to Baby Hanley. Which of the following is s/he most likely to enjoy?
A. Roger Ebert’s year in review
B. A Child’s Guide to Medieval History
C. The AP Stylebook
D. Casey at the Bat
The AP Stylebook is good reading, however.

15. On the day Baby Hanley is born, which of the following is likely to be happen?
A. Lynne will cite historical precedents of famous births.
B. Matt will panic and try to name the baby Gargamel.
C. Grandma and Grandpa will be unresponsive to calls and e-mails.
D. The baby will be welcomed by a loving group of family and friends.
Nuf said.

If the Hanley Family gets any more good news our heads will explode and we will be walking around like headless people who are very happy and excited

So, let's review some of the latest news.
In case you haven't heard Lynne is storked. (Turns out she's actually fond of that expression.)
And Matt's grandma turned 80! And had a great birthday party!
Lynne and Matt are having a baby!
And Matt's mom turned 29 and became younger than her own son!
It's true - a kid of their own for Lynne and Matt!
And Matt's cousin Michael graduated from college!
A new, not-yet-house trained roommate!
And Matt's sister Megan graduated from grad school!

And then, last week, Megan and Josh got engaged!
Yes, Josh made the leap that several other brave people have made and volunteered to be part of this wacky family. (Somehow, we know he'll fit right in.) Josh proposed by Lake Michigan. Of course, Megan said yes.
Matt was aware of Operation Big Question and had been waiting all day for a call from his sister. So when she finally calls she says, in a monotone voice: "Hey, what's up?"
"Nothing," Matt replies, unsteadily. He can't let on because he doesn't know yet if Operation Big Question has been launched.
"Cool, cool," she says, with a somewhat evil level of detachment. "Nothing much with me."
This went on for at least three more minutes before she finally fessed up. Cruel. Very cruel.

No matter. We are so proud and happy to have Josh join the family. He's very good to Megan, she really likes him and he's been around Matt with his shoes off but didn't flee, so this is a very good thing. We're also pleased to announce that Josh - in order to meet full approval of his future brother-in-law - has agreed to become an Illini fan. Smart move.

So, all in all, it's been insanely good around here, and we're not complaining.

Indiana still has a football team?

Ah, the Ultimate Football Weekend. Or, as it is sometimes known, the annual Josh and Megan Humiliation Game. Last year, Illinois did pretty well. Remember that?
But certainly Josh had learned his lesson. He couldn't really root for the team in red, could he?
He could. He did. Well how'd that work out?
Matt thinks it worked out pretty well. Like 55-13 well.
That's right, the Orange ran wild all over the Red again this year. It was a massacre, right from the beginning. You might think a result like that would deflate the visiting team, discourage them or - heck - just give them pause. But, nay, not the Indiana Hoosier band! Each time - each and every single time - Indiana got a first down, they'd launch into some sort of torturous fight song. Bwahaa be bah be bahhhhhh be BAHHHHHH. Merciless.
Even Megan and Josh had fun at the game, it is believed. Sadly, Lynne lost interest pretty quickly. Even from the second row, the blowout meant she was thinking about other things. Like practicing saying the name of Illini's massive tight end Michael Hoomanawanui. Uh-oh, ma now a noowie!!
But the weekend was about more than football. It was about realizing how old we were. It was about realizing how glad we were that the game started at 7 p.m., and how we all pretty wanted to go to bed immediately afterward. It was about realizing that Legends - Legends! - has a life-sized Chief inside. (Very sad, Matt'll never step foot in there again. Probably.) It was about seeing the Jazz and the Bulls play a game in...Champaign? (Odd, but cool.) It was about grillmaster Dave and stretching the babysitter's hours and Lynne abdicating the Oreo crown to...who remembers that sort of thing when you're this old?
Anyhow, it was another great weekend with great friends, including people who flew in from Colorado and Texas, and drove in from Iowa and Wisconsin. Matt was both thrilled and honored that everyone took time out of very busy schedules to visit. Yet another reminder this year how lucky Matt is to be surrounded by great friends.
But the fact is Matt should have written this post right after the game, as he intended to. Instead, Matt waited until after Illinois lost to Wisconsin and then WESTERN MICHIGAN. The Western Michigan Broncos?!? Ugh. From the Rose Bowl to losing to the MAC second place squad.
Butkus, Grange, Mendenhall vs. Jason Babin and John Harbaugh. Again with the torturing, I see.
Looks like it's back to the .commers for the Illini. Insight.com Bowl. GarbageRemoval.com Bowl. Com.com Bowl. The possibilities are .com less.

Can't tell the players without a scorecard!

Scoooooorecards! Getch yur scoooorecards here!

A few people mentioned they couldn't get to all the tables to see all the centerpieces, so we'll post the line-up cards here.

Lynne and Matt chose players they had some connection to - like a favorite player, or a player who excelled in a game they attended. And, as often as possible, they tried to connect that player to someone sitting at the table - sometimes more directly than others, as you'll see.
(All the cards on the centerpieces were from Matt's collection, except for Ryan Theriot because Matt burns every Cubs card he gets.)

TABLE 1 - Pee Wee Reese: The captain played in 10 All-Star games and was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1984, by the Veteran’s Committee. Reese was one Matt’s grandpa’s favorite players on his fave team, the Brooklyn Dodgers.

TABLE 2 - Ryan Theriot: Since his debut with the Chicago Cubs in 2005, Theriot has found a way to keep himself in the lineup. He’s having one his best season’s yet, batting over .300. He’s Lynne’s favorite Cubbie. She’s often heard saying, “Can’t quiet The Riot.”

TABLE 5 - David Wright: This Gold Glove slugger is one of Matt’s favorites. On July 16, 2006, Matt and his dad enjoyed watching the Mets score 11 runs in the sixth inning against the Cubs, capped by David Wright’s long two-run homer.

TABLE 9 - Ted Williams: Teddy Ballgame has nearly the best offensive numbers ever, despite two stints in the Marines as a fighter pilot. Of the 900 pictures Matt took before seeing a game at Fenway, at least one was in front of the Splendid Splinter’s statue.

Table 12 - Shawon Dunston: The Cubs shortstop with the rocket arm became famous when the "Shawn-o-meter" appeared at Wrigley Field, tracking his batting average. Shawon was one of Megan Hanley's favorite players.

TABLE 14 - Ernie Banks: The slugging shortstop nicknamed Mr. Cub was twice the National League Most Valuable Player, and was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1977. He was also one of Mrs. Hanley’s favorite players on that ill-fated 1969 Cubbies squad.
TABLE 14 - Gil Hodges: After a great career with the Dodgers, Hodges took over as Mets manager. On Sept. 10, when his team passed the Cubs in that fateful 1969 season, Mark Hanley was at the game in Shea and Diane Majewski was at Wrigley. It’s fate!
This was the only split table. With Matt's mom (the Cubs fan) and Matt's Dad (the Mets fan) both seated at Table 14, they couldn't risk a riot.

TABLE 16 - Jack Perconte: The slick-fielding infielder wore #16 in his one season with the Indians. He was twice MVP at Murray State. He’s married to The Rev. Linda Misewicz-Perconte, who officiated Lynne and Matt’s wedding. He also enjoys reading.
Yep, it's true and Mr. Perconte was seated at his own table. Incidentally, that note about his love for reading came from the back of his 1985 Topps card. You can't make stuff like that up!

TABLE 18 - Darryl Strawberry: As a kid, Matt worshipped this lean Mets slugger. In a game against the Cubs, while the crowd chanted ‘Daaa-ryl’, Matt saw him hit one out of Wrigley. Sadly, ‘The Straw’ turned out not to be the best role model for young men.

TABLE 21 - Roberto Clemente: Growing up in West Virginia, the Pirates were the closest baseball team. Barry Seago got to watch Clemente fly around the bases and make rifle throws at Forbes Field. The four-time batting champ finished with exactly 3,000 hits.

TABLE 24 - Joe Crede: This power-hitting, smooth-fielding third baseman is at his best in the clutch, winning the 2005 ALCS MVP for the Chicago White Sox. Joe Crede also happens to be the favorite player of Mrs. Lynne Hanley.

TABLE 25 - Jim Thome: When Thome hit his 500th home run to win the game Sept. 16, 2007, Lynne and Matt were there. Matt was so excited he nearly cried. On an unrelated note, the Peoria native looks remarkably like Buzz Lightyear.

TABLE 27 - Vlad Guerrero: Matt can't find this one, but the fact was something about how this hard-hitting Angel hit a home run at Matt's bachelor party and Lynne's bachelorette party.

TABLE 28 - Matt Hanley: This very light-hitting and average fielding second baseman hit a robust .308 in 1991 with 7 hits, 4 RBIs and no homers. Sadly, the Big League offers never materialized and he retired to life of obscure writing.

TABLE 30 - Ken Griffey Jr.: Matt, Dave, Angela and Adam were in the first row behind home plate when Griffey and Sammy Sosa - both with 500 homers - faced off at Wrigley Field. Sosa went deep to become the Cubs all-time home run leader.

TABLE 31 - Greg Maddux: In 2006, Alex invited Matt to Wrigley to watch Maddux face fellow 300-game winner Roger Clemens, the first time in 106 years that 300-game winners faced off against each other.

TABLE 32 - Manny Sanguillen: This likable catcher was a mainstay on the ‘We Are Family’ Pirates teams of the early 1970s. When Matt visited PNC Park in 2006, Sanguillen was sitting in centerfield greeting fans. Because he apparently had nothing else to do.

TABLE 41 - Tom Seaver: ‘Tom Terrific’ was Mark Hanley’s favorite. When Seaver was traded, Mark wrote the Mets a letter, vowing to never come back. He didn’t break the promise until 2007, when his son took him. Matt later got to interview Seaver.

TABLE 42 - Curtis Granderson: This University of Illinois graduate was patrolling centerfield when Matt and his dad visited Comerica Park on Father’s Day, 2008. Granderson, who was not fazed by actor Gene Hackman sitting in the stands that day, hit a single and a triple.
TABLE 45 - Bobby Jenks: In 2005, the burly righty became the first rookie to save the clinching game of a World Series. Lynne, Matt and Barry love to see big ‘ole Bobby Jenks coming in to the song: ‘Here comes the boom!’ A Sox win is sure to follow.

TABLE 47 - Tom Glavine: On Aug. 5, 2007, while with the New York Mets, the lefty won his 300th game, vs. 197 losses. While he beat the Cubs 8-3 that day Lynne, Matt, Mr. Seago and Laura Seago cheered him on.

TABLE 53 - Moose Skowron: When he came up in 1953, Moose wore #53. He went on to hit eight World Series homers, won five rings and was inducted to the Polish-American Hall of Fame. Later, Matt, his dad and grandpa met him in a Hoffman Estates video store.

TABLE 72 - Carlton Fisk: Fisk wore 72 while with the White Sox, reversing his Red Sox number. Matt has more than 100 of the Hall of Fame catcher’s cards. Matt got to interview “Pudge” when the Field Museum opened a new Hall of Fame exhibit.

Jose Reyes, Ichirio, Jonathan Papelbon and Todd Helton just missed the cut. Should have hustled a little more!

Kevin Bacon ain't nothing.

Here's what Lynne and Matt learned during a wonderful wedding weekend:

- Bobsledding can happen anywhere, anytime.
- Time travel, apparently, does not exist.

- Sugar has been poured upon Matt. Similarly, Matt finds that it is good to drink beer with his harrumph arggh friends. Furthermore, if you can make it in New York, it may be possible to make it anywhere.

- Matt's dad knows what a "shout out" is.

- Matt for sure, yes, will take care of Lynne.

- Kalli can dance like a superstar. LJ is a wonderful guy.
- Laura, Megan and Alex give great speeches, even though Laura's was completely improvised. Mr. Seago gave a wonderful blessing.

- Friends and family traveled from 15 states and 3 countries to be at the wedding. Wow.

- Ties are also good headbands.

- Chicken fingers are irresistible.

- A lot of people have never seen the Numa Numa kid before.

- When people say: "Your wedding is going to be so crazy, you're not going to have time to enjoy it", they're wrong.

- There was a lot of people at that wedding. Maybe even more than it seemed at first.

- Pastor Linda and Father Rizzo are generous with their time and spirit.

- With just a little nail polish remover, Clorox, a sponge and Goo Gone, you can get White-Out off the bottom of your rented shoes.
- Kevin Bacon has nothing on Matt's dancing feet.
- Sinkholes exist.

- Nathaniel's garage is empty.

- Lynne and Matt weren't the only ones having an amazing week! Congrats!
- Peru and Africa? The same thing.

- Ultimate football weekend: Oct. 18, Illinois vs. Indiana.

- Two faiths and two families can come together in one place to celebrate an important day.

- Lynne and Matt are blessed to have wonderful, generous friends and a fantastic family. They are truly lucky.

Hope everyone had as great a time as Lynne and Matt. We love you all. See you soon!

That was not a shower. Apparently.

Lynne desperately did not want a shower. Showers are boring. Showers are silly. Showers stink. Boo showers.
So, instead, Lynne got a luncheon. What's the difference? Lynne didn't want a shower. Everyone loves Lynne. So no one had a shower for Lynne. They had a luncheon.
And you know what? Lynne loved the luncheon. Absolutely, adored, hasn't stopped talking about it, loved the showe...luncheon. Almost slipped up there.
Thanks to extraordinary amount of planning by Mom(inlaw), Megan, Grandma, Aunt Nancy, Sara, Aunt Shelley and Kalli, the luncheon was a big success. These ladies gave up a lot of sleep to create a Peru-themed luncheon with Peruvian food, Peruvian trivia, Peruvian posters (which were obtained from the Peruvian consulate) and even Peruvian decorations. Lynne (and Matt) were frankly overwhelmed at all the time everyone spent decorating, cooking and preparing. People made trips to consulates, stayed up making taco shells, made up games and, finally, made Lynne and Matt very happy. How do you say thank you for such generosity and love?
Lynne and Matt sure hope that everyone had as much fun as they did at the showe...luncheon. Whoops! Special mention to Aunt Maryanne who flew out for the day from New York. She always said if someone offered free food she'd show up. Matt thought that was a joke.
One of the many highlights of the day was the Lynne and Matt quizzes. The how-well-do-you-know-the-couple questions are posted below.

The answers will be posted in a few days and in the meantime you can make your guesses in the comments section. No cheating if you were there. The postee with the most right wins a recipe for Peruvian potato salad.

If you can beat Matt -(14 1/2 right) or Lynne (17 right) then you get a homemade batch of Peruvian potato salad.

Let’s Learn About Lynne!
1. Who was Lynne’s favorite singer as a little girl?
2. In what state did Lynne win a state writing contest?
3. What TV sitcom did Lynne love so much that as a kid her dad had to change the channel during a Super Bowl party so she wouldn’t miss it?
4. What was the color and make of Lynne’s first car?
5. Who did Lynne refer to as “her baby”?
6. What catastrophe struck on Lynne’s 7th birthday?
7. When Lynne was young, who was her favorite person in the whole world?
8. What college did Lynne visit that she thought was “all concrete”?
9. To where was Lynne’s favorite Girl Scout trip?
10. When Lynne was little, what did she want to be when she grew up (occupation)?
11. The name of Lynne’s first dog?
12. The first time Lynne flew without an adult, where did she go and approximately how old was she?
13. What city did Lynne go to in order to get immersed in another language?
14. What was Lynne’s first college choice?
15. Lynne is a member of what sorority?
16. What language did Lynne take in high school?
17. What two movies did Lynne watch over and over and over (and memorize) as a kid?
18. What was the only test Lynne ever took and failed?
19. Where did Lynne study overseas?
20. Lynne dressed up as what cartoon character and sang her songs?
21. Name the high schools Lynne has taught at.
22.What baseball game did Lynne go to where “everybody hits & everybody scores,” and one of the teams went on to win the World Series that year?
23. When her Dad punished her for something she didn’t do, what was her punishment for him?
24. How many countries can you name that Lynne has been to?
25. Who is Lynne crazy about that taught her about “Robby Wagner”?

Matt Mania!
1. At one point Matt would only answer to one name (that was not his own). What was that name?
2. How many times has Matt completed the Chicago Marathon?
3. What happened to Matt when he overdid it on his favorite food as an infant? How does he feel about that food now?
4. What significance does this house (the Sunderlage Farmhouse, where the luncheon was held) have in Matt’s life (prior to today)?

5. How many baseball stadiums has Matt visited? (And do you know which ones they are?)
6. What baseball player did everyone who visited Matt at U of I get their picture taken with?
7. On what holiday did Matt have an upset stomach that his mother blamed on the meal he had the night before? What was really wrong?
8. What collegiate team did Matt “walk on” to during his sophomore year?
9. What was the subject of Matt’s first professional published article?
10. Who is Matt’s all-time favorite baseball player?
11. What was Matt’s famous comment about his Dad’s barbecuing?
12. What big journalism award has Matt won in each of the last two years?
13. What was the reason for Matt’s senior year trek to Miami?
14. When was Matt first time on an airplane? Where was he going?
15. What is Matt’s favorite movie?
16. What was the name of the club that Matt started with his roommate (Nathaniel) in college?
17. During what movie did Matt let out a tremendous wail right at a particularly quiet part?
18. What did Matt do that almost caused his roommate to get expelled from medical school?
19. Why did Matt visit Fort A.P. Hill in 1994?
20. What kind of house played an important role in Matt’s Eagle Scout project?
21. What did Matt stop doing on his 7th birthday at exactly the time he was born?
22. Where was Matt when he lost his first tooth?
23. To what University was Matt awarded the top journalism scholarship?
24. What was Matt’s first job? How long did he work there?
25. What were Matt and Megan singing on the fateful canoe trip where he met the girl that he is crazy about?

Good luck! And thanks to everyone who made it a great day.

Happy birthday, Megan!

Well, today (and we do mean today since - as you can see - this was posted on June 3, not later then postdated) is Megan Hanley's birthday.

You previously met Megan as one of Lynne's bridesmaids. But did you also know that she is Matt's sister? It's true.

And did you also know that she is a fantastic teacher in Zion, Ill.? It's also true. So today, which is June 3, Megan turns 27. Somehow, she still has the energy of three 9-year-olds.

.

.

.

Megan, Josh, Matt, Lynne, the Hanleys and Grandma all went to an awesome spy restaurant in Milwaukee, Wis., today, June 3, which is Megan's birthday.

We could tell you more about the restaurant - like that it had secret trap doors, and the front door's hidden in an alley and you have to know a password to get in (all true) - but then we'd have to noogie you.

Happy birthday Megan. Thanks for being a great sister. We love you and we're very proud of you.

The Wedding Party: Meet the Bridesmaids

Lynne gets very few opportunities to post on this blog. It's not that Matt is greedy with the posts or that he forbids her from adding her own commentary on this site. It is, quite frankly, that she'd rather read his writing than create entries of her own. Or that he is posting about totally crazy stuff that she'd never think to write about... on the American Internet or anywhere else.

But, she does have a few very important posting responsibilities. The first has already been taken care of: introducing the groom (which is probably still here somewhere for you to read if you missed it). The second (drum roll please!) is to introduce "her side" wedding party--which basically means all of the girls. So, without further adieu, here they are....

Leslie Seago

Role in the wedding: Bridesmaid
Relationship to the bride: Little sister
Known since: March 13, 1982

As a kid... Leslie was Lynne's best friend and her partner in crime. In fact, from the second Leslie was brought home from the hospital, Lynne called her "My Baby" and cared for her as such, going so far as to tell family members and neighbors alike how My Baby liked to be held, what foods she liked to eat, etc. As Leslie grew up, Lynne taught her all sorts of tricks, like climbing on top of the refrigerator to steal cookies from the cookie jar, and even helping her with legitimate things like homework and essay writing. Of course, as Leslie grew up, she needed less and less help from her big sister. She even started to do amazing things on her own, like serving as the captain of her high school swim team, swimming butterfly and freestyle--sometimes for a mile at a time!--first for Lincoln College and then for Western Illinois University, and graduating from WIU with her teaching certificate and her degree and Physical Education. Lynne may not have helped with many of those things, but she was very proud when her little sister accomplished them.

Today... Leslie is a P.E. teacher at Lakewood Falls Elementary School in Plainfield, Illinois. Aside from the early mornings, when she serves as a crossing guard outside the school (basically holding a stop sign in the middle of a busy road and hoping the cars actually stop), she plays games with kids all day. A great job, Lynne thinks. Plus, Leslie always has hilarious stories to tell at the end of the day. Leslie also swims on the Masters Swim Team, which is designed for adults of all ages who want to continue competitive swimming after their college careers are over. As a Masters Swimmer, Leslie practices at 5:30 AM each morning (YIKES!) and swims in several meets each season. She also coaches children's swim teams, both in the summer and a few nights a week during the school year.

Fun facts about Leslie:
1. Her favorite color is pink. In fact, she wears so much of it that the elementary school kids get
confused and can't recognize her when she comes to school clad in another color.
2. She likes to add -ie to the ends of most words. For example: "Once I finish my snackie and
my drinkie, I'm going to go upstairs and take a tubbie."

3. When she laughs really hard, no sound comes out.

What she brings to the wedding party: Leslie's main assets are that she is very helpful, and she's game for anything. She's the kind of person who's happy to ride along in the car with you when you're running an errand, just "so you have a buddy" and you don't get bored. This will come in handy because planning a wedding involves many, many boring errands and lots of occasions on which having a buddy will come in handy--like when you're stuffing envelopes, stapling programs, or putting together party favors. Lynne is counting on Leslie's help for all of those tasks, which Lynne knows will make doing them a lot more fun. Of course, it goes without saying that Leslie is fun. Lynne is looking forward to getting to do wedding-ie things together and to having Leslie right by her side on the Wedding Day.

Laura Seago

Role in the wedding: Bridesmaid
Relationship to the bride: Little sister
Known since: December 19, 1985

As a kid... To be honest, Lynne didn't like Laura much as a little kid. Laura broke all of her toys and tried to butt in when she had friends over. Plus, Laura bit. Hard. However, as both Lynne and Laura grew up, they developed some common interests and became good friends. They both like sports, especially baseball--go White Sox! They both like theater, and Laura accompanied Lynne to many plays, including several works by Shakespeare, while she was still in Junior High and High School. Like Lynne, Laura also likes to travel. When Lynne went to study in Cambridge, England, in the summer of 2000, Laura flew across the pond with her, and they spent a week touring Britain and France together. Of course, there were many notable moments on that trip, including "biking an inch" on the map of France--after renting the bicycles and getting directions entirely in French--and getting so sore in the process that they couldn't even squeeze their butt cheeks together. Through this and many other experiences, Lynne learned that her little sister--far from being that annoying, toy-breaking kid--is a very fun, very easy going person who knows no strangers and can make just about any situation funny.

Today... Laura is completing her fourth year at Western Illinois University, studying Hotel and Restaurant Management. This is really a great career choice for Laura, since her greatest asset is her personality. Laura is easily comfortable with everyone, and she can make anyone feel comfortable and included. She easily and readily talks to strangers, then quickly assesses and sums up their personalities. She is also fun and fun-loving, and she has a talent for turning even boring, routine activities into a rip-roaring good time. She aspires to be an event planner at a hotel or on a cruise ship, which would be a great use of her talent for working with people. For now, Laura is enjoying college life at Westie (as she and Leslie call it), where she is an enthusiastic member of Sigmas Sigma Sigma sorority (so enthusiastic, in fact, that Lynne and Leslie like to count the Pieces of Sigma that she's wearing at any one time), a bartender at a local bar, and a resident of the Best Party House on Campus.

Fun Facts about Laura:
1. Since the Seago family is from West Virginia, they pronounce Laura's name "Lah-ra," like it has no "u." Since high school, however, Laura has adopted the more common Illinois pronunciation, "Lor-uh," which she uses among her friends.
2. Laura is a hilarious person to play the game Cranium with. She's always coming up with crazy answers. For example, if you act out a burglary, she'll guess "Sneaky Stealer!" And the little wiener dogs? Not daschunds. DUTCH-HOUNDS!
3. Laura has the stinkiest feet in recorded human history. Seriously.

What she brings to the wedding party: Laura's main assets are her vivacious personality and her total fearlessness. Since she makes everything fun, Laura is sure to up the fun quotient on the Wedding Day. She's also likely to say or do something that will be both hilarious and memorable. Besides, she is quite comfortable in front of others, and she has willingly embraced the challenge of giving the Wedding Toast at the reception. So you can look forward to that.

Megan Hanley

Role in the wedding: Bridesmaid
Relationship to the bride: Future sister-in-law
Known since: July, 2004

As a kid... As you may have figured out already, Lynne didn't know Megan as a kid. But through Matt, she does know a thing or two. Megan was a super-cute little girl who liked to pose by the door before her first day of school each year. She was involved in Girl Scouts and dance. She liked to listen to Snoopy's Christmas on tape. She once participated in a Mock-Icecapades in her living room, but cried when the "judges" gave her the silver medal rather than the gold. She broke her femur while in college at Indiana University. She was also incredibly tolerant, because she put up with a brother who liked to listen to songs about baseball and sing them incessantly.

Today... Megan teaches Reading and Language Arts at Central Junior High in Zion, Illinois. Megan is always thinking of interesting ways to teach the kids--especially with the spelling words. Megan also leads the Craft Club. She lives in Kenosha, Wisconsin, and she now has a Wisconsin license plate as well as a Wisconsin telephone number. For some reason, Megan seems ashamed of this "evidence" that she does, in fact, live in Wisconsin.

As Matt often says, Megan and Lynne are "giggle buddies." It seems that whenever they are together--at U of I Ultimate Football Weekends, family get-togethers, or Game Nights with Lynne's sisters, Lynne and Megan are cracking up about something (although it's usually Matt). Lynne really does have a lot of fun with Megan. So much so that, as she tells Matt, she'd want to be friends with Megan even if she and Matt had never even met.

Fun facts about Megan:
1. A few years ago, Megan was on Oprah's "My Favorite Things" show--the episode was geared specifically toward teachers. On Oprah, Megan won a flat-screen TV, a washer and dryer, an MP3 Player, a GPS System, and a trip to a spa in Arizona. Megan gave away much of her winnings to members of her family.
2. Megan often gets bored while eating. If she gets a 6-inch sub sandwich, for example, she is often bored with the flavor of the sandwich before she has eaten half of it. Likewise, Megan gets bored with reading menus or determining what foods she should eat. For this reason, she is prone to ordering a #1 at any restaurant with a Super Value Menu.
3. Megan's favorite expression is: "AAAWWWWW Schnapp!" No one knows why.

What she brings to the wedding party: Lynne is also looking forward to having Megan with her on the Wedding Day. Of course, it is very important to Matt to have his little sister be a part of his wedding day. He is very proud of Megan, and Lynne and Matt are both very proud to have her standing up with them. Second, Megan provides the Hanley Connection--very important for communicating with Matt's parents and other family members. And last but not least, she is fun to giggle with. There's sure to be plenty to giggle about when both of these families (not to mention all of the crazy friends!) get together in one place. And if not, Lynne and Megan can always fall back on what they're most familiar with--laughing at Matt. Even Leslie and Laura could probably chime in with that.