SUPER BOWL SUNDAY January 30, 2009

Pittsburgh Steelers VS. Arizona Cardinals

Televisions most watched broadcast, the Super Bowl, is here!  Time to bring out your jerseys and invite friends over.  This year it’s the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Arizona Cardinals.  I am not a fan of either team.  However, I love to partake in what some people consider, a national holiday!

What are your plans?  Mine?  John and I are hosting a Super Bowl Sunday party at our apartment. It’s potluck and dressing up is welcomed!  Hopefully, I will have pictures to share with you all on Monday.

Happy Super Bowl Weekend!!

UPDATE: JOHN ON ER January 29, 2009

ER

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Hi All -

I know we told everyone John would be on ER Thurs., Jan. 29…BUT they moved the episode up one week and it aired this past Thurs., Jan. 22.

For those of you who missed it, and still want to see it, check out the link below:

http://www.hulu.com/watch/54240/er-love-is-a-battlefield#s-p1-so-i0

Fast forward to minute 33:42 – You will see John as a cop.  It’s no Greek, but he did get paid more…which we all love!

XOXO

WELCOME TO MY HOME January 29, 2009

The Piero Apartment Building

Pool During the Day

Pool at Night

Hot Tub

Arbor

Fountain View

The Colonade

Workout Room

Sauna

Tanning Bed

Study

Conference Room

Recreation Room

Lobby

Security Desk

Lounge

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Welcome to my home!  John and I have lived at The Piero for 2 years.  It’s located Downtown LA, which means it’s a 25 minute drive to the beach (on a good day!)  We have a 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom apartment.  Fancy, huh?  Well, surprisingly enough, the amount of rent we pay does not reflect how nice our apartment is.

Here is the secret!  The closer you live by the beach, the more $$$ you pay.  John and I could not find a 2b/2b apartment in our price range by the beach.  This is why we live downtown.  The rent is cheap because they want to build up Downtown Los Angeles.

Word on the street is they have plans to make Downtown LA the next Times Square in NYC.  Will this happen, who knows.

I hope you enjoyed the tour of my home (away from home).

LA TRAFFIC January 28, 2009

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This morning I left for work at 8:15 am, driving in my adorable red jetta, trying to get to work by 9am.

Well, this morning it took me 2 HOURS to get to work because of this FATAL CRASH.

Two men were killed in this fiery crash on the Santa Monica (10) Freeway, shutting down several lanes at the start of the morning commute and backing up traffic for miles!

According to reports, a wrong-way driver was traveling in eastbound lanes just moments before the crash occurred.  Was he DRUNK?

Not knowing about the accident at the time, I was so frustrated with the TRAFFIC so I called my DAD to complain.  I’m sure he enjoyed that especially since he was busy at work…but that’s what Dad’s are for – right?!

Anyway – I hope your morning commute was much easier than mine.

EMAIL FROM GRANDMA FRAN January 27, 2009

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Hi All -

Below is an email from my Grandma Fran (on your right in the picture above) regarding John’s situation.  I laughed so hard, so I wanted to share the love.  Grandma Fran is a riot and I love her VERY much!

Ps. She tends to get Grandma Joyce (My Dad’s Mom, on your left in the picture above) in trouble.   More about that later!

Enjoy!

Cate

_________________________

From: Franbrownson@aol.com
To: cate_lombardo@bhimpact.com
Date: 01/26/2009 09:53 PM
Subject: John

AcceptTentativeDeclineCalendar

AcceptTentativeDeclineCalendar

Cate, dearest:

I understand John is ailing.  What is wrong?  Are you taking good care of him?  If not, I will fly to California and beat you with a noodle.  Please write and tell me he is okay.

Lotsa love and hugs and stuff,

Gramma B.

P.S. Hello Brady

JOHN CUTS BROTHERS HAIR January 27, 2009

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Over the weekend, John and Emma decide to cut Matt’s hair.  Here are the pictures to prove it!

XOXO

Cate

VENICE BEACH January 27, 2009

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Hi All -

This weekend we went to VENICE BEACH!!! As you know, John’s family came in town because of his crazy reaction to cat litter!   Above I’ve posted pictures of Venice Beach to show you all how crazy this beach is, and how entertaining it can be!

We (John, Barb – John’s Mom, Emma, Matt, Cory and I) walked the boardwalk.  It was very windy that day and super cold.  We were all bundled in oversized sweatshirts thanks to John.  It was a great day, so I thought I would show you VENICE BEACH.  Enjoy

XOXO

Cate

UPDATED: JOHN’S REACTION January 26, 2009

Hi All -

The past week has been a nightmare.  As I previously posted, John has been in and out of Urgent Care.  His family flew from MN to CA to be by our side.  John’s doctor gave him Epinephrine – a serious drug for an Emergency Treatment of Allergic Reaction.

To be continued…  John is having a hard time breathing.

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Hello again! (Mon., Jan. 26, 2009)

I am back!  John is doing much better – Thank God!  As I posted before, John had a chronic allergic reaction to something in our apartment.  It took us 4 days to figure out what was causing John to break out in hives all over his body, have difficulty breathing, and feel dizzy all the time.

WHAT CAUSED JOHN’S REACTION?:  CAT LITTER!!!!!!!!!!!  If you own a cat, please do not use Fresh Step cat litter (See picture above).  I bought this cat litter because I heard it was great – it clumped the cat’s poo and was odor eliminating.  Sounds great, right?! Umm… NO!  The Fresh Step brand of cat litter is extremely dusty and has a lot of chemicals in it.  (I wish I would have known about that BEFORE I brought it into our home.)  Anyway, the chemicals and dust where now EVERYWHERE in our apartment.  The Doctor told John that whatever he was allergic to, it was airbourne because it was ALL OVER HIS BODY! (YUCK!)

HOW DID WE DEAL WITH THIS SITUATION?: \John was in and out of Urgent Care four times!!!  He received several steroid shots (he wants to bulk up – I said heck NO!) In addition, he has 8 other medicaions that include an inhaler and Epinephrine!!!!!

Because of this “airborne” infestation – we (mainly ME because whatever John would touch made him break out into hives) had to pack our entire closet into bags.  I’m not saying a few shirts…my entire wardrobe is in hefty black garbage bags!  We cleaned the carpets – twice!  We sent Brady (my baby kitty) to a friend’s house (I cried), and all our furniture was turned upside down and well, our apartment looked like we were moving out.

OUTCOME:  Our apartment is extremely clean!  Brady (the cat) is back.  John hasn’t broken out in hives in 4 DAYS!!  Our furniture is back in place, but we still have to wash all our clothes.  Our closet is empty – minus a few pairs of shoes.  You’d think I’d be going to work naked?  No – I have to take my outfits to our Friend’s place to wash them so I can wear them at work.

LESSON LEARNED:  Do NOT buy Fresh Step cat litter – It will ruin your life… for about a week!

XOXO

Cate

CAT LITTER January 22, 2009

Over the past five days, John has been in and out of Urgent Care.  John woke up Saturday morning with hives.  The next day, he was complaining of difficult breathing, fainted, etc.  I will update this blog later in full detail.  Thankfully, John’s Mom, Sister (Emma) and Brother (Matt) are coming to LA tomorrow.  Thank God for Family.

Bottom line, I think (hope!) this is the cause of our new cat litter.  TBD.

XOXO

WELCOME THE CHANGE January 20, 2009

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Tomorrow will be a day to remember!

At 12:00PM, January 20, 2009, Barack Obama will take the oath of office.  This will mark a new chapter in our lives.  Let’s hope the CHANGE that was promised will be made.  Democrat or Republican, we should all embrace this change.  Below is a quote that’s inspired me:

“It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent that survives. It is the one that is the most adaptable to change.” – Charles Darwin

Where will you be when Barack makes history?

XOXO