I am currently on a road trip from Los Angeles to San Francisco taking the 1 and 101 North along the Pacific Ocean.   The views have been unbelievable.   I feel like I have taken for granted the beautiful country we live in.   I am one of those people that thinks you have to travel halfway across the world to see amazing sites.  I am having fun learning you only have to travel halfway across the country.

The State of Wisconsin is doing us all a solid this week and reminding us that we may have some unclaimed property (aka – free money!) from old accounts or that they owe us.  I checked last night, and although I don’t have any…I found some family members who do!  (And will consequently, be taking me to lunch.

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Orianthi, the guitarist for Michael Jackson’s This Is It concerts, stopped by the WMYX Studios to perform and chat w Van McNeil about MJ’s last rehearsal, plus her own album and a ton more.

NEW YORK (AP) — The New Year’s Eve crystal ball that drops in Times Square will have a new kind of sparkle when it descends at the stroke of midnight Thursday, and revelers will be able to toast 2010 without popping a cork.

Organizers of the celebration unveiled a new design Sunday for nearly 300 Waterford crystal triangles to be installed on the giant ball. The crystals feature an interlocking ribbon pattern, woven into a Celtic knot, to illustrate the theme for 2010, “Let There Be Courage.”

Plus this year you can have fun with your i-phone on NYE…click here to find out what app you must have.

source: latimes.com

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Why is it whenever you haven’t seen friends for a really long time you end up doing things you would never do? Like staying out until bar time and being invited to an after bar. What is that? I haven’t been invited or gone to an after bar in at least 5 years. But, when you get in that “we never see each other” mode and you know your on vacation, anything can happen. So, after a late night I spent the entire day on the couch watching “The Hangover” with my hangover. I quickly realized that my night was kind of tame compared to theirs.

I am now on a plane to Los Angeles for the week. I am going to be driving through wine country and ending up in San Francisco where I will be ringing in the new year. I am excited to take a ton of pictures.

Day one of my winter vacation began with a visit to Sobelmann’s for one of the best burgers in town.   I have friends visiting from all over the country and find it funny how excited we get for our burgers here in Milwaukee.   After lunch we headed to the Milwaukee Art Museum to experience the Andy Warhol exhibit.  Prior to our visit I only knew him as the Campbell’s soup guy.  He did a lot more than that and was a very unique character.   His obsessions ranged from Campbell’s soup to Mariyln Monroe to Jesus Christ.   The Warhole exhibit is only here until January 3rd.   Find out more about it by clicking here.

Do you remember these?

1. Jon and Kate seperate
2. Conan O’brien takes over for Jay Leno on The Tonight Show
3. Jim and Pam’s wedding on The Office
4. Glee premieres
5. Kris Allen wins American Idol
6. the F-word is accidentally said on SNL
7. Kanye West steals the microphone from Taylor Swift
8. David Letterman apologizes for his sex scandal
9. Edie leaves Desperate Housewives
10. Brett Favre gets booed at Lambeau Field
11. Bachelor Jason dumps Melissa and starts dating Molly
12. George O’Malley is John Doe on Grey’s Anatomy
13. President Obama’s inauguration
14. Ellen Degeneres tells her studio audience she will join American Idol
15. Dr. Ross returns to ER
16. Susan Boyle performs on on Britan’s Got Talent
17. Milwaukee’s own Danny Gokey makes the top 3 on American Idol
18. infomerical king Billy Mays passed away

Feel free to add your most memorable moments in TV from 2009

A friend of mine works at the mall in Sheboygan and saw this child’s Christmas list.  Check out #6!

Take a look inside w Van…

I’m so excited! This will be the first Christmas that my husband Aaron and I will be able to wake up Christmas morning in our own place!

Our first home was in Green Bay and for Christmas we were always back home in Milwaukee at my in-law’s house – which meant we’d wake up in their house on Christmas morning.

Now we’re in our own place, in our home city (which means no need to travel for the holidays).  I can’t wait to wake up in our cuddly pajamas, make a big breakfast, drink some coffee and open our gifts – just the two of us!

Wherever you’ll be this Christmas, I hope it’s a great one!