Aloha Recoginition

Hubs has been working on a strategic transformation project for almost a year, in addition to his day to day tasks. This project has taken off like gangbusters but has had him in the office late, coming home cranky and frustrated and put him in front of some executives. His boss's boss hand picked him to participate in this project because she sees his potential.

Last week, Hubs was extremely frustrated and snappy. He could not relax or sleep with all the pressures of work on his shoulder. He (like many others) felt unappreciated and was dealing with a number of personalities with their own agenda that is making him do more work than necessary. It was not good.

On Monday, he grumbled into work. When he came home, his spirits were lifted. He asked if I had looked into any vacations this year (I have been on and off looking a places to go) and when I replied no, he said "That is good because we are going to Hawaii!"

*Insert my mouth hitting floor*

His hard work was recognized by the person who placed him on the project as well as the executive team. He was selected with a few others to join the companies excellence club and will be recognized in Hawaii.

And I get to go! All expenses paid (well except for my taxes).

I am so proud of him and all the blood, sweat and swearing that he has done for his company. I am so glad to be his support! He deserves this!

Of course, now it means I have to hit the gym....well for him, it is worth it!

I did not want it to end

I had such a great weekend, that I feel like I am still on cloud 9.

I got to NYC on Friday and headed to my matron of honors in laws. She is currently producing a indy film and had to do some editing and the only date and time she could do it was an hour before my flight arrived. So I spend part of the day with her mother in law and we had iced tea. She had a lovely tea service all set up and we just chatted for a few hours. Plus I got a bite of good authentic NY pizza that my body was craving because there is nothing like NY pizza and frankly nothing comes close. (I do know that they are fighting words). That night she took me to dinner and there was a surprised guest, one of my college roommates. It was great to see her and we ate, talked, laughed and just had a great time! Plus this restaurant was so good, the sangria was so addicting and the tapas were so delish. Tapas are seriously the best way to eat.

Once we rolled out of there we headed to my MOHs house to go to bed. Saturday we woke up got ready and headed to my mom's house for the shower. My mom and the MOH outdid themselves there was ton of food, there were decorations everywhere. We had about 23 people there and people were so generous. I was (and still am in awe) of how much we got. I can't get over it all.

One of my friends from high school who I haven't seen in over 7 years came with her mom. It was so good to see her. She is pregnant with twins and is due any day…and she came to the shower for a little while.

My cousin's 4 year old daughter helped me with the ribbons and unwrapping the gifts before she got bored.

The highlight was when I unwrapped a "nightie", it was short and white and blue and lacy. So she asked what it was, so I told her it was a nightgown…she looked at me and the nightie and then said, it was too short to be a nightgown. Everyone died laughing!

It was a great time.

I have amazing family and friends.

Ever the same

I often look back at the college days with fond memories. There were the ups and downs, the good and the bad and the highs and lows. Some of the people that I met became friends.

Living in an environment where the community is small and where you can see your friends by walking across the hall or even across campus seemed so easy. It was a cold reality when we graduated and scattered all over the world and seeing friends would be a, phone call, car ride or plane ride away. In fact, I lost touch with people and really stayed close with a few friends.

One of my friends J9 moved to Chicago with her now husband a few years after I did. We now live 5 blocks away from each other and yet due to work and life it is hard to make time to see each other.

Last week a friend our ours D had a message on Facebook that he was going to be the Chicago area. So I send a message to let me know if he wanted to grab a drink. Last night J9, her hubby, D, the BF and I went out to dinner. It was the first time I have seen D in about 5 years and the last time I saw J9 was in February.

It was so much fun we ate, drank and were merry. Some things don't change after all these years. There was a lot of catching up and waxing nostagicly. We talked about our friend S who passed away in 2000 and our random school memories like the pasta noodle on the ceiling of the dining hall that stuck for 4 years.

At one point I looked around the table and remembered some random things that we all used to do but at the same time, saw how far we have really come. I am in awe of my friends sometimes.

It just made me feel that no matter where we all end up, the our college bond still stays true to our hearts,

The winning weekend

Well after the weekend we just had the BF and I should play lotto!

On Saturday we had my company picnic and it was in the burbs at this campground. So there was a pool, huge fields, a DJ, bouncy house (or Moon castle as I believe is the new PC term), and a dunk tank. No, I declined a seat on the dunk tank but it was fun to see some managers and other brave souls at the hands of others. They had really good food and a raffle where I won a tote bag with a golf shirt, two mugs and two umbrellas.

After the picnic we went home where our neighborhood was hosting an art fair. There were some really good pieces out there and we ended up buying a hand blown glass vase. It looks perfect in our living room. It was a pretty afternoon walking around and just wandering among the different stores.

Saturday night we went to a fund-raiser for Lupus that was in honor of one of the BF's friends who has the illness and it is unfortunately out of remission. It was a stand up comedy routine with about 10 comics. One was horrible, I mean it was painful to watch him bomb. Three were awesome and the rest were in between the two points. During intermission the BF bought a few raffle tickets. So at the second half of the show they did the raffle where he won not one but two prizes. The first prize was a four week burlesque dance classes, his friends were high five'ing me and I was laughing so hard that tears were coming down my face. The second prize he won was a gift certificate at a local restaurant.

According to the BF, he is not taking these classes, even though they have classes for me. He will insists that I should take them. We even came up with my dancer name in case I make it big in the burlesque world.

Yesterday we ran errands and headed back out to the burbs to take his dad out to dinner for his birthday. Needless to say, my condo is a mess and I have to do laundry tonight because i have to pack to head back out east tomorrow for less than 24 hours again! There is never enough days designated for a weekend!

9:31

My four day weekend is sadly over and it is back to the grind.

We had a very relaxing and no stress weekend. Friday we went to the 'burbs for a BBQ at the BF's dad's house. There were tons of food and we ate and ate and ate. We saw some fireworks on our way home but the best part was that we found a parking spot when we got home. That is a praise worthy event worth shooting fireworks!

Saturday was errand day. The cat has gotten oblivious to the water bottle so we had to get something more. When he gets sprayed he takes it as a shower and starts to bathe rather than stop doing what he is doing that got him sprayed in the first place. We got a nerf gun (although I am not sure about using it). It has his red target light which turns out, attracts the kitty, We have been playing with the light and watching Chaplin chase and attack the red dot. As of last night it disappeared under the bed....he is still looking for it. Good times.

We also went to see Wall-E. It was a cute movie and we had fun with it. We strolled around Evanston for a bit and then headed home.

But the monumental thing we did this weekend was to buy this:

Yes, we have a Wii. the BF was on line bright an early on Sunday and was one of the lucky 30 to get one. It has been fun for the two of us and all day on Sunday we played the few games that we got. Now I want (yes *I*) want the Wii fit! But we did go out to enjoy the sun. We took Yukon to the beach for a nice long walk. She loves her long walks and it got us out and it was a beautiful day to do that. The Lake was a beautiful shade of blue and it water was cool but not cold.

Yesterday we played official hooky (we both had vacation days so it was not like we called in with a fake cough). We went to The Chicago History Museum. On Mondays it is free so we went and spent a few hours wandering around. I really had a good time because it was when we left that I realized how sore my feet were. Afterwards, we went to the Spice House in Old Town and did not leave empty handed.

So overall we had a very good much needed relaxing weekend. I wish that I had taken a few more days but we have planned our vacation for August so that will keep me going!

Only a Decade

Tomorrow I am heading to the wonderful area of Upstate New York for my 10 (gulp) year college reunion.

I will be heading to Swigmore U (no that is not the real name) to see my friends and I am beyond excited. Some of my friends who came for another milestone will be there which means that I have not seen some of them for over a year and a half. Some of my other friends who will be there I haven't seen in about 5 years!

I am excited to go back to the place that I called home for 4 years. I met my closest and dearest friends there. In fact, I do not keep in touch with friends from high school or earlier but talk to my friends from college often.

College itself was not full of wine and roses it was tough. Classes were challenging, there was always some sort of drama, there were roommate issues, there were boy issues, there were lifestyle issues, there were late night discussions, plenty of interesting drinks made! There was the finals which had us up late and punchy due to amounts of chocolate and soda or coffee consumed. There were tons of slices of pizza and wing consumed, the utter dismay of the cafeteria selections, the fire drills at 3:20 am (a special shout out to the drunk pudgy freshman to who decided in his infinite wisdom to see if the sprinkler system pipes could hold him...it did not)
There was the semester abroad in London. There was the graduation where we just were amazed we made it and were scared shitless as what to do next.

Here we are 10 years later Some are single, some in relationships, some are married, some are divorced, a few went to grad school. There have been ups and downs tears and laughter. There have been a lot of job changes and promotions. We all lost one of our dear college friends in 2000 at the age of 24 due to cancer, we cried a lot over that loss and had each other to comfort. We've moved all over the country.

But this weekend some of us are heading back to where we really grew up and were some of the foundations as to who we are were solidified. But the best part is seeing my friends!

Get ready, get set....

So tonight begins the first round of "the move".

We have our walk through with our real estate agent and the inspector. Tomorrow we are both off so we will pack, drop of items at the salvation army, run errands and hit the bank for the all important check!

Friday is the closing. (I just read that again, I need to take a breath)

Whew!

On the decorating side I think that I found the sofa. We are looking for a new sofa for the new condo because mine has seen some better days. The BF's requirement is that it is leather and would prefer a sectional. I want a sleeper sofa. Well after searching web sites I think that I found one that fits both of our needs and is on sale which makes it fall way under our budget.

I can't wait to see the place tonight with the painting done and the granite countertops installed!

The fun has just begun!

Got it!

I got my diploma in the mail the other day. Rather I got two, one for my "office" and one for home. My mother wants me to make copies like the doctors do to put it in the different rooms. She is nuts.

So I an official MBA graduate with distinction!

It is a tad bit anti-climatic though.

Girls only!

So the past two nights I have had girls only nights!

Monday, Diana and I went to the chopping block for a dessert tasting. Basically, the chef created 4 desserts and showed us how to make them, tips of the trade and at the end we got to try them. She made this unbelievable Carmel pecan bread pudding that was so refreshing because it was not overly sweet. Since I am a sweet girl (in so many ways ) I think I may add some semi chocolate chips. I wonder if you can add dried fruit...hmmm that is an idea to!

She made homemade cream puffs. I always though you had to be on top of your game but the puffs were not that complicated. Plus you can add sweet or savory fillings. It may be nice with a cream cheese herb mix.

The chocolate mousse was heaven in a mousse! It was so yum but a bit too sweet. However, it is one I will try.

Finally, she made a coconut banana cream pie. The crust was chocolate and plain graham crackers but the filling was eh. She did not let it set long enough so it was soupy. But I am not much of a coconut person so it worked for me.

Overall, Diana got me hooked on the Chopping block. We have another event next month...Cooking with Wine!

Yesterday, I had dinner with my BF's brother's girlfriend. She is really cool and we haven't hung out without the boys so we decided to grab a bite. We really had a nice time.

The BF has had this horrible stomach bug so he has been out of commission for a while. He was really bad Monday night and yesterday morning. But he started to get better yesterday afternoon. Yukon and Chaplin were good nurses.

Which brings me to something that struck me the other day at the supermarket. We are feeding the cat dry food and he is okay with it. The adoption center did say we can give him wet food now and then. Well we are at Jewel and decided to get him some wet food, we decided on "Chicken medley souffle with garden greens". I was thinking what the hell? It is chicken and veggies! The power of marketing...anyway....the Chicken souffle made a repeat appearance this morning and thus there will be no more chicken medley souffle at our house!

Puppy dog tails

The cutest dog ever! Charlie Beau

I have decided to rave about dogs and dedicate this post to Ringo. My co-worker/friend had to put Ringo down the other day due to a tumor on his pancreas that was causing him to have seazures and low blood sugar, he was 9.

I adore dogs, always have, always will. When I was a wee lass, I begged and pleaded with the parents to allow me to have a dog. There used to be a store in the local mall that sold puppies and I would have to be dragged out. It got so bad that my brother and I were not allowed in that store anymore. So then the teen years came and I was much more interested in other things like big hair (please don't judge) and NKOTB (I was 13, give me a break :>). Well it was not until after I graduated college and earned my first real pay check did the "I want a dog" come back. I was living with my parents and had to beg them. I finally wore my mom down but dad, he was not relenting.

Finally one day at work my mom called and said "Dad said yes". I could get a dog. I was so happy but little did he know that I picked one out. There was a local store that sold puppies and I checked them out for months and made sure that the dogs were treated well and did not come from puppy mills. I also had to make sure that they had certain dogs because my brother and my dad has allergies. So that narrowed the breed pool to about 4 dogs. That night I ran to the store to see if the dog that I wanted was available but she wasn't. I was bummed because I wanted a girl. But her brothers were still available, so I decided to take a look and I knelt down to the cage. There were two shih tuz puppies, one peach and white the other black and white. The peach and white just slept but the other dog took notice of me and came over and sat down. Then he got on his hind legs and just looked at me. That was my dog.

I got him and paid and the next day my mom, brother and I went to pick him up. Oh he was so nervous and was shaking. But cuddled into me on the drive home. As so as we put him on the driveway, he peed and my dad said "Great now it begins" and it sure did.

He was nameless for a few days and we finally agreed on Charlie and I added a middle name Beau. He quickly became so important to us all. He was 3 pounds when we got him and could not go down the stairs so as a game he would run all the stairs and cry until someone got him. My bro thought that this would continue all the days of his life. When Charlie finally went down the stairs you would think that we won the lottery we were so excited. Of course like all puppies he had his fun. I once came home to find him entangled in one of my new expensive Victoria Secret bras because as all boys do he loved to play with bras!

He totally won over my dad. My dad told me that he would NEVER walk, feed or touch the dog. But Charlie had his ways, when my dad was watching tv, charlie would just sit next to him. when dad got home, charlie would be at the door wagging his tail with a toy ball. One day my mom and I were in the kitchen and we peeked to the living room after my dad got home and there it was, dad was petting and playing with Charlie. Now that dad is retired, Charlie is his home buddy and in the summer they sit in the back yard reading or walking the block.

He used to sleep in my room and I would wake up to a fuzzy face next to me on my pillow. He despises Elton John's song Crocodile Rock because I would dance with him to that song as a wee puppy, he has to have his dinner cooked, he hates the rain, toddlers are his enemy, loves car rides, and is the cutest thing.

I miss him, after I moved to my apartment in Brooklyn I had to leave him behind and he became attached to my mom. Then when I moved to Chicago I could have him but my work schedule and a new environment would not be the best for him. So he is still with my mom and dad spoiled rotten and happy. We've had him for over 8 years and he has brought such joy.

Currently, I am taken by the BF's dog, Yukon. She is a lab and is also just the cutest. I am not used to big dogs but she is a star. When I was sick this weekend she was in bed with me, when I make dinner she is next to me to cover the floor if something drops, she loves her ear rub and sometimes I wake up to her staring at me with a toy that I got her in her mouth. I have prevented the BF from buying a dog Yoda costume and a dog elf costume. She is my buddy.

A few weeks ago, Dixie, the BF's childhood dog died. She was almost 16 and was just fading away. His dad found her curled on her bed. I met her a few times and in July when I first met the family, she was the first one (besides the BF) to like me. She had some spunk in her and was a feisty little girl. When GP told me she passed I began to cry. I can't imagine how it would feel to go through that. I have my fears about it but, I know that it happens, it is the circle of life.

I've been a pest to the bf whining about how I want a puppy. He humors me but, we know that right now it is not the right time for us. With me being in school and us living in two different apartments, it would not be right. But hope spring eternal

I truly feel blessed to have known these dogs. They are truly angels and I do believe that all dogs go to heaven.

Rest in peace Ringo, I know that when your mom gets there you will be at the pearly gates waiting for her.