It's about that time...

I am sitting on my couch and I am actively practicing denial. I'll be gone from Chicago in three short days. There is so much I have yet to do and see and explore here...and sadly those adventures will have to wait until I visit my adopted hometown again.

On the bright side- this has been a great last few weeks in Chicago. My mom has been here visiting for over a week now - she was here taking care of me while John was in Colorado. It's been lovely having her here - and it illustrates how much I need to find a wife to take care of John and myself. I saw a couple plays - including Superior Donuts at the Steppenwolf. I can't say enough good things about that show. The weather has been pretty good, work wasn't bad...all in all it's been a good time. And now I have to leave.

This past weekend a handful of my friends threw me a baby shower. A huge thank you to Chandra, Patricia, Steffie, Jackie and Betsey! We had a great turn out - though I missed everyone who wasn't able to be here. We received many lovely and heartfelt gifts including three handmade blankets, lots of clothing, books galore and the best breast pump ever. :) I can't wait to use them all with Chaz. It was overwhelming how much love was swirling in the room with us...I had a wonderful time. That evening we had a going away party - also a wonderful time had by all.

I have tons more details to type...but sadly and scarily - the movers just showed up. Yikes yikes yikes.

Please keep all of us in your thoughts and prayers!!!

merriment

HAPPY 2008!

It's been a fun winter season - with plenty of time at home and with family. We've had a Thanksgiving feast, a Christmas party, a Drake alumni event, a Christmas in Chicago, a "tweener" weekend in Wisconsin and a very relaxed welcome to 2008. Looking back on the past month+ of activity - it feels like one big extended return to childhood. Ok, childhood with a few perks...but it has been a fun month. I'm sad to see it end as it has been a very happy time for me and the family.

Here are some pictures chronicling our adventures.

Our work "Holiday" Party. Ole!

Drake Alumni Event...Sara and Stephanie came in for the weekend
- and we enjoyed a really fun dinner and comedy event. However -
the best part of the weekend was seeing my Drake girls. (note: Sara left Des Moines to come to Chicago for a Drake alumni event...there was no end to jokes about that).





If this doesn't capture "laid back Christmas" (carhart's and a santa's hat)...I don't know what does.

Wisconsin...how we love you. In our trek up to Wisconsin, we were able got to see John's ma and pa, as well as spending time with John's cousin Jim, his sons Jeff & Carl, his lovely grandma Lorraine, the always engaging Uncle Bob and his incredible hostess of an aunt Ann. I wish there would have been more time for snowshoeing and snowshoes... but alas we have to return to the world of being an adult. One of the best experiences was having Tycho off leash and enjoying the big wide world, without leaving us too far behind.

Here is a shot of me in Natarajasana (Dancer pose). I can't explain how balanced, free and strong I feel in this pose - and I hope to carry this feeling with me throughout 2008. Balancing in snowshoes was pretty fun.

Here is little Tycho, pooped after so much snow and running.

And, while no photos were taken this morning, we had an awesome laugh-fest of a brunch with the lovely, charming and beautiful Chandra & Venus. Life is made so much richer having these wonderful women in our life.








So - again, I wish everyone a very happy 2008. May this new year be filled with love, life, strength and joy.

Cha-Cha-Cha-Changes

Hi. I realize that no one will really be reading this because I haven't updated since June. Embarrassing. So, I will write to my imaginary audience, much like I used to DJ for an imaginary audience when I was a college radio DJ at Drake. However, we were not radio DJs because our station was on the TV...and hence why no one listened to us...it's not like we were VJs playing videos...and no one wants to turn on the TV to listen to college...um...radio.

Anyway, there are a lot of changes going on in my life...and I thought I might as well record them somewhere...I hope you (imaginary audience) are sitting down. And that you have provisions...this is a long post.

Here goes...

a) "Cha-Cha-Cha-Changes" is how I entitled my farewell email when I left the big bad Big 5 consulting firm (Big A) and started working for the big bad MRO supplier company (Big G). I may steal it again as I'm leaving the big bad MRO supplier company for a small, hopefully good local consulting firm (Smallish S). I start October 1...but that doesn't mean I'm not spending time reading up on my new client- located in downtown Chicago!

b) John and I have decided to move. We've chosen the Boulder, CO area. John has an interview the first couple weeks in October...and knock on wood he will knock them dead...or better put knock socks off...or something. Regardless, next spring we'll be loading up our possessions and dogs...after having successfully sold the condo (hopeful thinking)...and we will go west. This will hopefully lead to much less stress and much more time at home...

3) Eventually, I will be going back to school...probably Law School. I went to the LSAC Forum this week - a college fair for Law Schools (on crack). It was crazy. People in suits, resumes flying, bullshit all over and a general feeling of pandemonium. I start my LSAT class on September 29th (2 days before I begin a new job...can I do it all?? Stay tuned and be patient..I'll probably post again in Septovember.

iv) John "went green" and bought a Prius. Wheee. The car is completely silent, doesn't need a key and shifts thru a joystick. It's crazy. I have also ordered a new car...I don't know quite what we're thinking...except both of our cars needed to be replaced. My therapist told me not to worry...just to think "it's ok...the money will be there."

e) Tycho has mange again. He also has an ear infection. We medicate twice a day which is lovely. He's also managed to eat half of a rotisserie chicken, a slab of french Boucheron goat cheese (with plastic wrap) and half of my lemon meringue tart (that happened tonight. i am still bitter).

f) Ella is a trooper. She is fine.

g) The fish are not so fine. Only Hari (the celestial) survives. I lost Steve Zizzou & Lil Elvis/Pricilla back in August (fittingly Lil Elvis died on the 30th anniversary of the King's passing). Yesterday, Pabst went to join her fellow goldies. Hari was lonely, so we brought home Mr Sprinkles...Sprink is a calico fantail. We're letting the big tank sit empty for a while...then we'll probably get some neons and other less emotionally involved fish. Don't laugh...goldfish are really...personable.

8) I think that is all the news that is fit to type. Except maybe I could talk about all the time I'm spending on celebrity gossip sites...or conspiracy theory sites...but I don't need your pity.

8.5b) I won a gift basket this weekend when I was at Ravinia with my darling hubby and my dear friends Chandra & Venus to celebrate Chandra's birthday and see the beautiful and talented Emmy Lou Harris. There was a raffle sponsored by a new Westin that just opened in the area...I signed up...and won a Heavenly Robe, 2 Heavenly towels and some Heavenly bath product. Heavenly! The Starwood gods shone upon me. I am most excited for the robe. (again, I need no pity).

Thanks for listening. Until Octobuary...

Why I hate fire

So, Global Warming is causing our planet to die a very untimely death. You can watch Al Gore's Oscar-winner, you can read about it in the Economist...or hell the Wall Street Journal...you can feel it when it hits 85 degrees in early May. However, the way that I experience the pain of global warming is as the wife of a Wildland Firefighter.

I never really knew I'd be so well versed in fire. As a former Coloradan, I was at least aware of wildfire because we're a semi-arid climate and fire is always a threat. Forest Fires and the fire danger that Smokey talks about- always top of mind, especially in the Summer when you go camping or hiking or you're just driving in the mountains.

Well, now as an Illinoiseian...I wouldn't really care as much about wildland fire, except I married into it. And...it seems to be closing in on us. This past week, John went to the UP to fight a Fire called the Baraga Bump fire. It wasn't that big of a deal...they got it contained quickly...and I foolishly hoped he'd get sent home. No deal. Now he is in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area (BWCA) and he's fighting the "Ham Lake Fire." Check this out for more news and info about wildland firefighting: http://www.inciweb.org/.

Both of the fires John has been on this year are far from here. So, we all have a false sense of security. However, I'd like to remind everyone of a very baaaad night in Chicago and Wisconsin history. No, not the night Chicago died...but when we burned. October 8, 1871 was a bad night for Chicago when a cow (or a drunk) started a fire and everything burned down. That is why we have so many frickin fire hydrants taking up valuable parking real estate. However, just north of here in Peshtigo, Wisconsin an even deadlier fire started the same night. Conditions were windy and dry (similar to the weather here...and in the upper US). I could retell the story, but that is not my point. My point is...I think we may start to see Wildland fire creep closer and closer to our metropolitan areas if we continue to have the experience ever-worsening drought conditions. And why is it so dry? Because of global warming. We're all screwed. Thankfully I live close to a lake.

But that isn't why I hate fire. Fire can be really great for our forests and prairies. I hate fire because it takes my husband away for weeks at a time and plops him in the middle of the wilderness with no cellphone coverage. So, as I sit here and type and try to ignore the whining of my boy dog...I curse global warming for making this fire season start so early and with such a bang.

P.S. Please keep the safety of John and all the firefighters in your thoughts...it's a risky business.

Early spring on the tundra?

What a beautiful image of my fair city found on msnbc.com this morning. The groundhog may have predicted an early spring, but personally I predict a lot of weather chaos. Maybe general chaos will be status quo for the next couple years, and that's really what this blog will cover. I am no genius, I'm only moderately clever, I'm opinionated but lazy, and I am not starting this to chronicle a particularly brave or exciting feat. This will be more a journal of chaos made somewhat palatable by pretty pics and occassional witticisms. At least, that is my hope.

Today, John and I were going to see Bodyworlds 2 at the Museum of Science and Industry with his cousin Laura and her family...but predicted blizzard activity has postponed our plans. So, instead, we're considering our musuem options here in Rogers Park or Evanston. And...that is how we happened upon this happy place. Not exactly the MSI, but still interesting and in our own back yard.

Tomorrow, if we're snowed in, I might have to relive my New Year's soup extravaganza by making some Tomato Bisque. Nothing better than a complicated soup to make the time pass.

Dog update: Tycho and Ella are both doing great. We took them to a dog park today, had a small incident with a rat dog and his rat owner...but the kids wore themselves out playing and being goofballs. When we returned home after so much activity, fed the kids, settled down...and then Tycho promptly peed on the hall carpet. Joy.