Whoa! If only my morning coffee was this sexy...

(from ThatOtherBlog)

House of Randomness

I don't have many ideas about what to write, but it's time for a new post, so here are some random thoughts.

- I hate it when I'm watching what I eat, being really good about exercise and then blow it. Yesterday, I worked out, ate very light and healthy all day, even when eating a rushed dinner - had a low fat Subway sandwich. I rode my bike to and from class. I felt great about myself, until I lost all control and ate three, pieces of Little Ceasars $5 pizza at 9:30pm and a bunch of candy. Three pieces of pizza?! Oh the guilt.

- I'm excited to see the broadway musical Wicked this weekend with our cousin Sarah who's in town shopping for her Bat Mitzvah dress. I'm not excited that I can't go to the Bat Mitzvah, because of work. A.) I'd love a chance to go home. B.) It'd be nice to see family. C.) I've never been to a Bat Mitzvah.

- Also excited about our two year wedding anniversary. Two years? Whoa time flew by.

- Mmmm hard boiled eggs

- I have learned that I hate the television show, "The View." Hate, hate, hate it. I'd rather clean toilets than watch that crap.

- Started our writing class at iO last night. It's taught by Michael McCarthy, who has written for SNL, Second City Mainstage, The Drew Carey Show, Bill Maher, radio and many other places. So far, so good. It's going to take a lot of discipline to succeed in his class, but I feel confident that it's going to help us both become better writers. Unlike many classes around town, I really feel like we're going to get our money's worth and this isn't just another excuse to rake in money from eager improvisers hoping for their big break.

- Illy coffee is delicious.

- Instant Message I just got from Corey, "Hey, does Corey like pizza 3 days in a row? Well, the answer is yes. Tomorrow is building tenant appreciation day with free pizza from Giordano's in the lobby at lunch. Ha!"

And now some ridic pics of the Madrid sisters

Turns out we like the camera a little too much.

On our way to New York. We had to get up at 3:45am. The slap happiness was strong that day.

The next morning we were still feeling silly.
If you're paying attention you'll notice Brie only has makeup on one eye.

According to her, this (below) is her "Victoria Secrets" pose.
Umm, sure. This is mine too. Agents, please take notice.
"I'm Monique. I am sober!"
Who knows?
Got me some Molly time in.

How I Spent My Summer Vacation

As you know, I went to New York for the makeup job. Lots of fun, yeah, yeah, yeah. However, the best part of the trip was just hanging out with Briette. I had a really good time with the lovely couple, Michael and Brie - shown here.



















At times, I may have had too much fun. This is me after a few beers. Somehow I ended up on two skate boards, (kids don't try this at home), the helmet for safety and Michael's 40 pound military shield thingy. At least I think that's the technical term.




















Then I got to hold his rifle! That can't be smart. Don't worry, he made sure to empty out the
chamber. Weird that he wouldn't trust his tipsy sister-in-law on two skateboards with a loaded gun.



















Next, Michael showed off the camo gear he made by hand. If you look real hard, you might be able to find me.

It's good for the fields....














And for the urban terrain.

Maybe she's born with it...

As part of their 35th year anniversary, I was hired by Maybelline for a couple of promo events. I am really lucky to have hit the jackpot with this job.

The promotional tour started on Wednesday where models were placed all across the city and handed out gift certificates to women who had Maybeline mascara in their purses and mascara to those that didn't. I wasn't on that day, but apparently a bunch of friends of mine got freebies.

On Thursday, starting at 5am downtown, I did the hair and makeup for three models, then went back home to nap. At 10am, I was picked up by a car service and driven to the Sears Headquarters in the suburbs. There, the models once again handed out mascara and gift certificates but this time there was a giant mascara mascot, a "Mascarot" if you will, running around directing people to me and to our raffle. I spent 3 hours doing mascara demonstration on women and giving them tricks of the trade.

On Friday, I spent 1/2 a day at Navy Pier as part of the "Who Wants To Be a Soap Opera Star" tour, where Maybelline was a sponsor. In the sweltering heat, I did mini makeovers on women passing by. It was nuts! Our tent was by far the most popular.













Not only did I have fun, it paid really well and I was given a crapload of makeup. I'm so spoiled!

Everything went so well that I'm going to New York on Thursday to do the same Mascara promo at the Maybelline headquarters! Plus, they're hiring Briette too and we're getting more free makeup!

I love my job!

Whirlyball!

Mo's best friend Anna was in town for a quick stop in Chicago on her way to seeing family in Michigan so we rounded up some friends and played us some Whirlyball last night! This picture is not us. I found it online, but it's a pretty good indication of what we looked like. If you've never played, Whirlyball is sort of a combination of lacrosse, hockey and Jai-Alai played while riding an electrically powered mini bumper car. The Whirlyball bumper cars are quicker and more maneuverable than traditional bumper cars, too. You play in a basketball court-sized area in a 5 on 5 game, half of you in red cars and half in yellow. In one hand you have a Jai-Alai style plastic scoop and in the other hand a steering crank. The ball being tossed around is a wiffle ball. At each end the court there are vertically hung backboards with a 15 inch hole in the center. The goal is to get the ball through the hole. Behind the hole is a net mesh swing gate equipped with a buzzer & or lights to notify the referee when a score is made. And it's much harder than it looks.

We played 3 games lasting 20 minutes each, and it was a blast. We mixed the teams up each match, and the final game was the men vs. the women. The guys won handily, 3-0 with our third goal a thing of beauty. Garrett grabbed the loose ball at one end of the court and started the fast break. Garrett passed to Dan, Dan lofted a nice pass to Christian, Christian zipped the ball to me, and I "put the biscuit in the basket". If I do say so myself, it was poetry. John Wooden would have been proud.

After Whirlyball we grabbed some dinner and it was a really fun night with good friends. I can't wait to go back.

Big thanks to everyone who played last night: Mo, Anna, Annie, Emily, Garrett, Dan, Kristine and Christian.

- Corey

Eye'll update you now

Just got back from the second Doctor to get the ingrown eyelash removed. He actually said, "Whoa! I've never seen anything like that." Great! way to instill some confidence.
Actually he was really great. To numb my eye, he had to put a needle... IN MY EYELID! AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

Crazy scary. The build up was much worse than the moment. He ended up being a very gentle Doctor, just the way I like 'em. I didn't even feel it when he pulled out the hair. He said these things are so rare that he didn't even believe that's what it was when I called him. Of course it's rare and of course it happened to me. It's out though! Now I have a teeny tiny lesion on my eyelid and just have to put some topical cream on it. A topical cream that costs... $96!
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

- Mo

Sigh... Of course!

I've been officially self-employed for 1 month now. I decided to wait a bit to get independent health insurance. I have the option of using Cobra 2 months retroactively in case, God forbid there's an emergency. Well of course something happened. Not an emergency so to speak, but some freak occurrence that could only happen to me.

I have an ingrown eyelash or hair or something in my upper eyelid. GROSS! What the Hell? This could only happen to me. It's gross, somewhat painful (if I mess with it) and worst of all it inhibits how much makeup I can wear... Cue horror scream!!!

I went to an Optometrist to see if they can help, planning to just pay out of pocket. Unfortunately the damn hair is too deep, so the topical anesthetic is not enough. She literally sat there with a needle and tried to pull the hair out like you would a splinter, you know, only WITH MY EYE!!!! It did no good.

Now I have to go to a Opthamologist for a local anesthetic and if things aren't too complicated an in-office procedure. If it's not simple then I may have to have it removed in a "simple" surgery all while depleating my bank account by who knows how much. Come on!?

Man, I have some crappy luck when it comes to this stuff.

- Mo

"Manos" The Hands of Fate

I just got cast in a new musical with New Millennium Theater Company! It's based on the movie "Manos The Hands of Fate". It got it's cult following after being seen on "Mystery Science Theater 3000" in 1988. It has been deemed by most in the industry as "One of the worst movies ever made." This B movie revolves primarily around a vacationing family taking a road trip to a hotel. After a long drive in the Texas desert, the family is trapped at a lodge maintained by a polygamous pagan cult and they attempt to escape as the cult's members decide what to do with them. Sounds lovely doesn't it! I'm not sure how much it's sticking to the story, but it should be fun.

According to the director of this Rock Opera all the marketing will be promoting this show as the most exciting theatrical experience ever...a must see. Of course it will be a ridiculous with great bad acting I'm assuming.... hmm, what does that say about my acting skills? Maybe I shouldn't be so proud that I was cast.

I'm also looking forward to the show because each night will have a different ending in which the characters take turns having their grand finale. There's a Labyrinth ending, Wizard of Oz, ET, Schindler's List (sorry Corey). This will either be great or a total cluster....

Opening night is Sept 28th and runs till Nov 3rd.

- Mo