This Date In SulliParents History

Two years ago today, I proposed to SulliMom (she was not known as SulliMom then, for the record).

I remember being really anxious. Nervous I was not, but I can tell you I didn’t sleep at all that night before. Luckily she said yes.

MORE HISTORY: Speaking of history the UIC men’s basketball team upset #12/14 Illinois at the United Center yesterday afternoon. What a fabulous day for UIC athletics. It was one of those great moments when all the hard work pays off as a group of college kids and an emerging coaching staff put the pieces together to stun the Illini. Click here for a recap and the Flames Holiday Upset Special–it’s time to hop on the bandwagon. It was a good day for Molly’s team as well. Butler beat Stanford on national TV by more than 30 points. Here’s a good story on the Horizon League’s success this weekend. (photo courtesy of Zoe Kind and uicflames.com)

DENTAL WORK: A front tooth on the top is emerging in Liam’s grill. He is discovering it because when he eats the Gerber food he makes a really funny face and his tongue is seen rubbing the top gum line.

Nudity Not Here

(using the term nudity was a ploy to get you to open this post since it’s been so long. As it states there is no nudity here. please enjoy your visit.)

During recent blog research the key to a successful, amateur blog is consistent and constant news. That is, an update each day.

Me=fail.

I’m making an early New Year’s Resolution-minimum of twice a week on the update. Now, in about two months the SulliDad blog will reach its one-year anniversary. At that point, I will evaluate the situation and decide whether to continue.

Preview of the holiday party attire

To keep up with Liam I truly need to update the blog each day. He is getting stronger each day, close to full crawling and slowing down on the drool. He sleeps in the same position each night. He loves random specks of lint on the floor. Watching Mickey Mouse Clubhouse is already a staple of our home (don’t judge us for allowing television this early). Yup, I just googled Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. Weird. He is just getting over a little illness. He’s enjoying his first antibiotic, which he loves. It tastes like bubble gum he told me. But he is a really good sharer. SulliMom and SulliDad were able to enjoy the bug too.

Liam rocking the FBI attire. Liam has friends in the bureau. But he can't reveal their names. Bureau guidelines. Thanks S & S.

He sits up pretty much without aid and his hair continues to spiral out of control. He is learning how to clap and wave. Funny noises spew from many parts of his body. We’re enjoying letting the little guy roam, scoot and roll all over his room playing. All in all he’s a lot of fun.

CRIPES–
What’s not fun is bad news…Bad news and bad things happening to good people. I believe this will be a tough lesson to teach Liam because I have a difficult time with it despite an even keel demeanor. I’ve heard a lot of bad stories lately–I can only believe there is a reason that is way beyond my ability to comprehend. Our prayers and thoughts are with a couple of very important people/families.

Just hangin' out with Mom

HOLY CRAP-
My sister is getting married. I was thinking about that the other day. It’s nuts but outstanding. I think the date is set: St. Patrick’s Day, 2012. St. Patrick’s Church. K3. If you’re not invited, crash it.

BACK ON THE HORSE-
Here’s something to consider–I’m lazy. I have completely bailed on running. This will change soon. Mark my word, er, blog: I will run at minimum a half-marathon in 2011. You heard it here first. I need a race to provide a little motivation. Who’s with me? Which one should I run?

CHRISTMAS TIME-
I enjoy finding shops, stores and outlets that I think I’m the only one who knows about especially around the holidays. For example, despite Molly discovering it, the Bridgeport Bakery. Near Archer & Loomis, it is for real. An old school, no frills outlet, it provides a refreshing alternative to our standards-Panera and Starbucks. Check it out for donuts, bread and more.

Another staple of my holiday shopping is The Tie Bar. Check it out. Post your good finds please–I’ll steal them and say I found them.

THE FLAMES-
UIC men’s hoops is struggling, but come out to the United Center this Saturday and watch the Illini and Flames tangle at the home of the Stanley Cup Champion Chicago Blackhawks.

ON TV-
Part of the lack of blogging is due to consistent television time. Big appointments in front of Mr. Samsung include The Sing Off, Biggest Loser, Law & Order SVU and LA (Not bad actually), ESPN 30 for 30 and How I Met Your Mother. Liam does prefer the aforementioned Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, but enjoys SportsCenter, too.

Catching Up Online

The SulliDad train is slowing down. I’m like a Metra caught behind a freight train because the freight train owns the track the Metra is renting.

It’s tough to keep up with the blogging. But I really enjoy this part of my day (or my week as it has been recently). Maybe some donations from the general public would increase my motivation/time management to post more often…I’m just saying.

But I digress…let’s visit the rundown:

The Script At The Riviera: Last Friday, SulliParents had a chance to capitalize on SulliMom’s Father’s Day Gift–tickets to see emerging Irish rockers, The Script. The Riviera proved to be an excellent venue for this trio from Dublin (right near the Guinness factory, in fact). They we’re really good–sounded solid, were funny, energetic and an impressive presence. I highly recommend them. We started the night at one of my favorite northside spots: Fat Cat. It features great bar food, solid beer selection, chocolaty desserts and Jameson.

The Script At The Riv

The Chicago crowd approves.

Bad photographer. I need the new iPhone camera.

Liam’s Moving Up: Liam turned six months this week which meant it was time to move into the larger car seat. This Britax model seems pretty solid. I wonder why there are options for car seats? I mean, it’s not like Liam can tell me, “Dad, I hate the way this seat handles. The balance is off, I can’t reach my pacifier and my freakin’ toes hit that stupid mirror you hung from the head rest!”

Shots, Shots, Shots, Shots, Shots, Shots: Not those kind of shots–medical shots. Liam picked up a few more shots today–as did SulliDad. We’ve all completed our flu shots–although I think Liam gets another dose at some point. He did quite well; just a short burst of sourness.

Go Flames: Hoops season gets underway next week for most college basketball teams. UIC is no exception as the Flames hit the hardwood Wednesday night for a men’s/women’s doubleheader. I suggest you call 312-413-8421 and buy tickets. It should be the start of something pretty good this year. At least bookmark the new blog of UIC basketball: Flame Throwers. At that link you’ll find several news stories on the Flames. Flex Plans are $99. Just buy one. Or, get some tix to the UIC-Illinois game at the United Center or the Butler-UIC game at the Pavilion.

Cross Country Challenge: It’s time to enroll in the 2010 edition of the Cross Country Challenge presented by Nike and Dick Pond. Get a team together and get it done.

UIC Basketball – Bringin’ the Fire

Typically I won’t use this platform for work purposes.

But I’m quite excited and optimistic for the future of UIC basketball.

Now, as a former cross country/track athlete at UIC and university employee–I’m upbeat for all of our sports. But I came to UIC in the fall of 1997. Seven months later the UIC Flames were Dancing’ in the NCAA basketball tournament.

That’s about as excited as I can ever remember our campus getting over anything.

I think those times could be returning over the next few seasons. Enter our new head coach, Howard Moore. Here are a bunch of opportunities to get to know the guy I first met (I assume I met him at one point) when I was in grade school when my good friend Tom Kilbride would invite me along to Big Ten towns to watch his big brother Andy play for the Wisconsin Badgers. They were teammates in Madison.

I think it would be wise now to buy season tickets while they are a good deal and you can get good seats. Remember how bad the Blackhawks were a couple seasons ago?

And it would be nice for me to catch up with SulliMom’s alma mater–Butler–on the college hoops scene. I don’t need Liam wanting to wear Butler blue.

–Video highlights from press conference (Share With Friends, please)
–Howard Moore Podcast
–Howard Moore Press Conference and Photo Gallery
–Official Press Release
–Sun-Times Story
–Trib Story
–Daily Herald Story

(A Liam update is coming soon–we have solid footage and photos from a week full of him making new sounds, rolling a throwing up a little more than usual.)