Finally a decision!

Well the BF and I found the place where we hope we can host our wedding reception. At first I was so overwhelmed with the questions and emails. Then we got that under control but the realization about how much places cost. It put me in a mini panic attack.

But we think we found the venue that is not too typical and is us. I am not going to reveal the details just yet.

I am very very excited. Now we have to just work on the details. We are taking my mom with us to check out a wedding expo in a few weeks and hopefully we can find what we are looking for.

One interesting thing that happened yesterday as we were checking out the last of the few venues. We stopped at a Croc store, you know the shoes:

And I scoffed, but I wanted to see what the big deal was with these shoes. So I tried a pair on and I was hooked. But what amazed me was the variety and I got a cute pair of these:

Cute huh and they are super comfy! I must say I am reformed. The BF got a pair too and is considering wearing them when we get married. So we shall see, I told him that I want him comfy so that works for me.

I also met with with Diana for our bootcamp class and the teacher canceled again. We were pissed and that was it for me. That was my last class, she went to the gym and I used my Wii Fit.

On Tuesday this blog will participate in Blog Secret, it will contain a secret from another blogger and my secret will be hosted on another blog. Thanks to Nilsa for setting this up. Be sure to check it out

Muse droppings

Just a random kind of day

-Maryland is a nice state, I was there yesterday for a meeting for a few hours.
-O'Hare sucks
-Guacamole and chips for dinner is not a bad thing
-The BF and I make killer cookies
-Having a cat sleep on your head is better than having the cat scratch the walls
-Sleep is never overrated
-One more boot camp left to go
-Watching "Purity balls" on TLC last night freaked us out. The BF thought it was going to be an infomercial on some type of product that turns things pure.
-The office and 30 rock are on tonight…whew
-Hearing that I may have a dedicated staff to work on my project...AWESOMENESS
-We kind of set a date....sort of (more to follow)

Another Saturday night

So on Saturday night at 6 pm, where were you? Were you out on the town, watching TV, going to the movies?

I was sleeping on the couch. I was exhausted and it was only the middle of the weekend! There I was out cold while the BF was playing his video game. I was so tired from the day and Friday night. On Friday we went to look a possible wedding venue, then on Saturday morning, we had boot camp where Sgt, Crunch berries really pushed us and we did a lot of leg and arm work. My legs and butt are still killing me. Then that afternoon we went to look at two more venues and eliminated one. After that we grabbed a great late lunch/early dinner and went to do a few errands. Then I fell asleep, I woke up at around 9 to check my email and then went back to bed. Even the cat was confused as to why I was in *his* spot so early in the evening.

Sunday I lounged in bed for a bit then we went to visit the BF's dad and my friends who just had a little boy 6 weeks ago. He is so darling and made me kind of want one. My friends are so happy but sleep deprived and it was awesome to see them. We made it home and the Sunday night rituals of getting back into the swing of things and getting ready for work began.

At least there is next weekend to look forward too!

So you got a secret

The purpose of having a blog is to write, write about your ideas, thoughts, opinions, etc. but once people start to read your blog, do you limit yourself? Do you want to share a secret but don't because people know you or your secret is out of the norm of your everday writing?

Here is your chance, Nilsa over at New Somi is organizing a blog swap, the idea is that you would write your secret, send it to her and on a designated day, your secret will be posted on someone else's blog. Your blog will post someone else's secret.

So you can get whatever you really wanted to say off of your chest!

I am going to participate.

Here is how you can too.

Crush

I have a crush, the BF knows fully about it and supports it. He actually likes the guy and he lets him hang out in our bedroom on most nights. I sometimes fall asleep with his voice ringing in my head.

Who is it you ask…why it is this man here.


I adore him. He was the one who broke the news to us about President Elect Obama. He was the one that we turn to each night to put things into perspective, make us laugh and make us think.

He made it on to our invite list.

Who is your crush???

Yes We CAN...

As of 10 pm CST.
.

Yes we DID.

What a day, what a moment in time, what a piece of history that I am proud to be a part of.

God bless America, God bless us one and all!

What ?!?!?!?

What are you doing here.....VOTE

Decisions to make

I had boot camp again this past weekend and my abs got a bit of a workout. Granted the instructor was about 20 minutes late and kept harping about cereal and how he allows himself 5 pieces of candy a day, it was a good one. I followed up the session with the WII fit yesterday and further "toned" the abs. I totally worked up a sweat.

Saturday afternoon my friend and I went to look at bridal gowns. It was a totally different experience from my first shop last week. Last week the woman was so attentive this week, not so much. I tried on about 8 dresses and narrowed it down to two. One was a cash and carry (meaning if I had the cash I could have taken it with me) the other one had to be ordered. I only found a photo of the latter and send it to my mom and MOH. However, my mom likes the one I tried on last week better and my MOH loves the one I tried on this weekend. I need my mom to get here and look at them with me. Decisions, decisions! That night the BF and I went out to dinner just the two of us and it was nice. We haven't had a dinner out together in quite a while.

Yesterday, being lazy was on the agenda. We took care of some house cleaning activities and just vegged (and wii fitted). The BF made a turkey dinner with fresh homemade mac and cheese. It was so good, the turkey was perfect! The day got away from us though.

Tomorrow is election day so go VOTE!

Wii kicked my abs

So while I was away in the lovely Tri-state area last weekend, the BF got me my Christmas gift. I have this knack for guessing what it is or insulting it inadvertently as you may recall from this episode.

But he was planning on giving it to me anyway when I got home...he got me a

While he was away I used it and it was a lot of fun and more challenging than I thought it would be. I sweated and today my Abs are killing me. It will be a good thing to do to supplement my trips to the gym.

The BF got home last night and we were all glad to see him. I do not have to get up at the butt crack of dawn to take the dog out and I was able to warm my feet against him last night. He is the perfect heater.

Tonight the girls and I are going to take a garlic cooking class so vampires beware!

The dog barks at night...

The title sounds like there is a secret spy network and that is a code name for a top secret project….maybe it is or maybe it isn't. Maybe the dog DID bark at midnight and woke me up. Maybe it was not a doggy dream. Maybe she was protecting her mommy and kitty bro because her dad was out of town. Maybe….

So I have a totally huge brain jumble going on. I have so many ideas for the wedding and things to do but haven't a clue about how to tackle it all. So here is the root of the plan that we have to work on. First we have to pick a date.

Now that does not seem to be too difficult but since we are having a Catholic church wedding and we don't belong to a parish that is a tad difficult. The BF and I found one that we liked a few weeks ago but we just have to register as parishioners and see if we can meet with the priest and then pick a date. So that is the task we are faced with tomorrow. I will be working from home and the BF may work from home so we can dash over at lunch. Or at least that is the plan.
Sure we can have a wedding without the whole church part but, I wanted it. Now I am not much of a practicing Catholic, I have a deep aversion to plaid, a healthy fear of nuns, a deep respect for Franciscan friars and know about theology, biblical studies, Catholic thought in the modern world and morality-thank you all the years of Catholic school. I have also come up with my own ideas and thoughts that contradict what I learned. But that is what the whole liberal arts critical thinking Catholic college instilled in me which was question everything and think for yourself.

Regardless, getting married in a church has some elements of tradition that I hold strong. both the BF and I had parents who were/are married to each other for so long. Saying part of the vows that our parents, our grandparents, our great-grandparents said just has this link, this bond that runs and that means something.

The rest of the wedding will be more reflective of us.

The one issue that I am having a problem resolving is whether or not to include my SIL. I am not close with her, I have nothing against her but very little in common with her. I see her 3-5 times a year at most and don't really have any sort of relationship other than her being my brother's wife. However, because she is my brother's wife my parents are bullying me into having her as part of the bridal party. My issue with this is that by having her in the wedding means I have to not ask one of my good friends, a friend whom I have known for almost 15 years to be in the wedding. My conflict is that my friend has been there through the ups and downs and my SIL is not a friend to me.

This caused a much expected argument with the parents. The BF hit the nail on the head when he said to me later that night that from his perspective, the fact that my mom wants this picture perfect family and as such is forcing me to be her friend , to like her, to bond. Which in turns causes me to naturally resist. If my mom let it be, then things will fall into place and we can develop a relationship organically.

I want to limit the bridal party to a few people and this whole issue has upset me. I know I am damned if I do and damned if I don't but the real issue is the question what would cost me the most down the line. It will be thrown in my face in a few months, years, decades if I don't include her. So I've decided to bite the bullet and ask her. Not that I am too pleased about it but in reality it is a drop in the bucket and I have a lot of things in this planning process to look forward too.

Question for you all. The BF has 5 nieces and 1 nephews that range in age from 2-13. I would like to ask the oldest girl and the only boy (the two oldest) to be part of the wedding. But if I do that, I will exclude their sister and their three cousins. I just think that 6 kids in the wedding party is too much. The three girls who we see the most often can get really hyper, rude and just unruly. I am not too keen on including them. the other three are just peaches, so polite, fun and just good kids. But can I get away with just asking the two oldest or should it be best not to ask them at all?

Weddings are just so political!

Can I have my weekend back

So the best part of the weekend was the NKOTB concert. It was freaking awesome. We had such a blast and all the people there were around our age. We did see the dutiful guy with his wife/girlfriend/daughter. I had such a fun time. At one point I called my friend in NY when they started to play her favorite song.

Getting up the next morning was not fun. But the BF drove me to the airport and I headed to NJ. Then went to my parents house for dinner.

On Sunday, my mom and I went to try on some wedding dresses. I found one that I liked but I am not sure if it is the one. So this weekend I want to check out one or two more stores and make a decision. Of course now we just need to set a date.

Monday was my meeting which went well and left me with some more work to do for another meeting in a few weeks. During this time I will be traveling at least two more times before said meeting. It is wearing me out. Plus I ate something yesterday that did not agree with me and lets just say I was glad to be home. In fact, I am working from home today to be closer to the facilities if I need them.

Such a long week ahead of me!

Word to your motha

So this evening my girl and I are heading to see the New Kids on the Block! I know you are now banging your head against the keyboard for one of two reasons:

A-You are so freaking jealous
B-You can't believe that I admitted that

We are going to party like it is 1988. We are going to out dance any tween. We are going to sing at the top of our lungs. We are going to remember our crushes...Oh Jon, sigh!

I hope I don't break a hip!

Hangin tough

So I am heading out east again for the take two meeting. Ya know the one that had me in the office a few weeks ago, the one when I got up at 3:30 in the freaking morning ,the one that got canceled! Yeah that one! So I have to head back for a meeting on Monday morning. The one good thing is that the COO has made it perfectly clear that all must attend and in my passive aggressive way, I mentioned that I will not be conducting a web based meeting which means there better be butts in those chairs!

Before said meeting I get to spend a few days with my parents. They have not seen me since the summer and not since the engagement. My mom can't wait to see the ring even though they've seen photos. Plus the negotiations er discussions have to begin and Mom wants to look at dresses.

There is a chance that I have to head out there in a few weeks again for another meeting that could be done via webinar. But nooooo, they want me to come out to east to go to this small town in a battleground state. It is hours away from the nearest airport and I do not want to go.

The only upside is that I am getting me some frequent flyer miles. So that means we can fly first class to our honeymoon destination. Spain or Italy anyone?

Oh and tomorrow I am going to the NKOTB concert....so I am reliving my pre-teen years with a few adult beverages.

Re-cap now with crunchberries

So this weekend started off with a snooze. I actually fell asleep on Friday at 7:30 pm. I will let that sink in for you all...that is right 7:30 pm. One minute I was on the sofa reading then the BF* woke me up to play video games and I fell back asleep while he played then went to bed because I was too pathetic!


Saturday I got up early for me on a Saturday, picked up CBN and we met up with Diana to have our morning bootcamp class. We were tired but all ready to go and we were waiting and waiting only to have the receptionist call our teacher and be told that he had to report to guard duty that day. So no phone call or anything. But all was not lost, we headed out to breakfast and chatted and laughed. And we did work out, we did some fork and coffee cup hand movements.


That afternoon the BF and I headed to the burbs to see his dad. One of the BF's friends came over as well. So we all sat and chatted. Then his brother and his bro's GF came to show us their new car. It was getting late so after a debate between the boys (they are like the odd couple) we decided to head out to eat where we continued to chat.


It took us about 15 minutes to find a parking spot when we got home. Ack! Yesterday morning we went out to breakfast at this place and then we headed to mass. We are seeking a church for the wedding and this is one of two that are near us. We really liked the church and the priest was very nice and not fire and brimstone...the Catholic version. So we are thinking about setting something up there.


I got this award from Princess Pessa. this girl has gone through it all and has lived a life beyond her years. Yet through it all she approaches life with a mature attitude and is making her way in the world. She is a happy soul!

And I have to nominate at least 7 blogs:


Diana-she is just such a wonderful awesome person! We met through blogging and she is one of my dear friends. Her blog is funny, honest and just plain fun.

Come back Nikki-another cool blogger who is another dear friend. She writes with such honesty and conviction. Her stories are priceless and she is just a great woman.

Jessica-My first commenter! She is a mom to a beautiful son and is a keen observationalist. Her snippets range from family, polls and fun. I am glad to know her

Slick-What can I say about slick...he brings our the inner pervert in all of us. His posts make me laugh and his touching post about his mom a few weeks ago had me in tears. His blog is required reading!

SoMi-A new newlywed who is now in Costa Rica after getting married this past weekend. Her blog is one that I look forward reading. She writes about politics, her wedding and life in general. I hope to meet her soon

Cranky Prof-With a frank and honest take on life, she brings us into her world as a mom and a professor. She highlights the stupidity of the world and makes us laugh with stories of her kids. I love her frank and snark.

Teriana-She has a different look on the world but she is intersting and has taken some cool twists in life. She is working to become a police officer and I have such respect for the path that she is on. I want her in my corner!

Caustic Cupcake-A blog I have been reading for a while now. She is the cool bartender at night student by day superhero. She is going to school and balancing life. Plus she has a cool BF and a bunny with dangerous streak.


Finally I would nominate the BF if he ever posts!


So pass on the wealth!


*I decided on keeping BF but rather than Boyfriend it will be Best Fiancee

That time of the month

Nope not THAT time of the month but the monthly bank account check up.

I am doing better than I was a few months ago because I consolidated my students loans and this month our living room set will be paid off. We've also cut back on eating out and with gas prices going down, I've been spending less. I did have two splurges this month one was my hair cut and color and the other was the few outfits I got a few weeks ago.

On the downside, I am impatient to get my savings up to where I would like it to be. I know it will take time but it is not quick enough.

I am worried about how we can afford the wedding that we want. It will not be over the top, we want it to be a reflection of us with some quirky parts. I've gotten a few good ideas that we can do ourselves. But at this point we do not have a budget yet. We are working on that one in the next few weeks. The wedding industry is amazing how much is out there and the costs! I had my freak out already and both MR and the BF* calmed me down. Both had words of wisdom that reminded me why I hold them in high regards.

We are thinking of hiring a wedding planner (when we nail down a budget)to work with us to ensure we get more bang for our buck. Plus they have more clout with vendors and others than we will. And to prevent my freak outs.

Above all, I will be marrying my best friend and when it is all said and done that is all that matters.

*BF is not a good name anymore, what shall the mystery man be called now?? Let me know what you think.

The babysitter?

I have to head back to the east coast for work next week. I am not pleased about it but this trip is due to the fact that my meeting last week (while I was in the east coast office) had to be canceled. the reason was that some of the directors who had accepted the meeting invite forgot about the meeting including the champion of this project. My next phase is critical that I have their approval to move on because after the meeting no changes will be made.

I hate babysitting middle aged men, come on people! My boss was madder than I was and sent a few emails expressing his disappointment, how respect works and a veiled threat if they miss the next meeting. My boss is awesome. We have this cool working relationship that is very easy and supportive.

So I get to do this all again. The upside is that since the meeting will be in the morning on a Monday I can fly out on Saturday and see the parents for the weekend. My mom especially is wanting to sit and discuss all things wedding. (she has emailed me some pictures of the dresses that she is wanting to wear).

I went to work out last night. I have found my motivation and decided to try and work out at least 2 times a week. The girls and I did our bootcamp on Saturday and Capt. Zen (our nickname) had us work on arms and legs the whole time. It was a long hour! Yesterday, my arms and legs remembered Saturday and they are killing me today. But I am seeing tiny changes in the body so that is what the purpose is.

I was in the gym at the hotel last week to work off the anger I had about the meeting being canceled. So I am getting it in. I hope to keep the momentum going.

Is anyone else having issues with google reader? Mine is no loading and I can't cope with not having it. I am getting the shakes!

Not it

D tagged me for a meme so here it goes:

A. Attached or single? Attached
B. Best friend? My Girl MR, who I've known since college many many moons ago
C. Cake or pie?Depends on the mood, I love tarts more (quite telling eh) but sometimes I want a chocolate cake or a carrot cake. I love cupcakes though.
D. Day of choice? Saturday
E. Essential item? Eyeglasses/contact, keys, and cell phone
F. Favorite colour? Shades of purple and blue
G. Gummy bears or worms? neither
H. Hometown? Somewhere in NY
I. Favorite indulgence? Make up and a good haircut
J. January or July? Neither but if I had to pick...July...I don't have to shovel out my car in July, just clean the bird crap.
K. Kids? Two beasts
L. Life isn’t complete without? Fiancee,Friends, family and the pets
M. Marriage date? Sometime next year....Ack we have to pick a date.
N. Number of magazine subscriptions: 3
O. Oranges or apples? Oranges
P. Phobias? death, fear of falling off tall buildings (glass walls are an oxymoron and freak me out)
Q. Quotes? "The most important thing to remember is that you can always get more toast"-Albert Goldman played by Nathan Lane in the Birdchage
R. Reasons to smile? My fiance, my dogs, my cat, my friends, the beautiful fall weather
S. Season of choice? Spring and fall are my favs,
T. Tag 5 people. Anyone
U. Unknown fact about me? I am starting to get addicted to my Wii....Super Mario Brother Galaxy.
V. Vegetable? Tomatos, spinach, carrots, corn.
W. Worst habit? I pick at my nails
X. X-ray or ultrasound? X ray - the last time I had and ultrasound I had to drink tons of water and they pressed on my bladder and told me to "hold it"
Y. Your favorite foods? I love pasta
Z. Zodiac sign? Virgo

So who is next?

You all

Thank you so much for your kind words and best wishes.

It is still a bit surreal. This morning when I got up I check on the ring to make sure it was not a dream.

We've been so lucky to have our family and friends get all excited. Some people cried, others screamed and all offered such wonderful thoughts. All of your comments and emails mean the world to me. I never knew how a blog could enable me to meet and talk with such amazing people. I have met two awsome women via blogging and I have plans to meet some more.

Thank you for reading, thank you for commenting, thank you for the laughs, thank you for the support. You all are some amazing people. I am so fortuante.

So thank you!

He

He makes me laugh many times a day

He is my rock that I can count on when the storms come

He cooks me amazing meals

He pokes fun of random things that come out of my mouth

He lets me be who I am

He is my biggest cheerleader

He saw me through finance, two medical issues and career ambiguity

He let me get a cat and at times tolerates my need for another dog

He lets me refer to my self as mama to the dog

His smile lights up my world

He is the love of my life

He asked me on the beach to marry him...I said yes.

A stay in bed day perhaps?

So tomorrow I get to head out to the east coast (again) but this time I will be taking a 6:30 flight. Yep, that is 6:30 AM (!) so that means that I have to be up at 4 and out of the house by 4:30. I am debating whether I should drive to the airport or take a cab. Both have their pros and both have their cons. I don't necessarily feel like driving at 4 something in the morning so the cab is looking more realistic.

But....my first email this morning was from one of the major key players in my project and while he accepted the meeting he now has to decline due to another meeting that his boss called. So he can't make it. He is the only reason that I called this meeting and will be heading out east. He is the only one who can formally approve the project and while others will be at the meeting. His viewpoint is the only one that really matters. So in essence my meeting will not be as productive as I want it to be. I am currently in a holding pattern and I just want to move forward.

So it is frustrating. I just want to get this trip out of the way and all the points we need to be approved to get approved.

In other news, I already spilled on my white sweater. So it is so far a stellar day.

Being an adult

Sometimes being an adult can suck. The BF and I had our finances talk last night, we are ok and will be able to pay the bills. However, I have to think of ways that I can save more. I kept a spending log in August and found that most of my money goes to food, groceries or going out. Gas and random shopping was second on the list. So we've cut going out to eat and with the gas prices falling the fill ups are a wee bit less expensive. I am also taking public transportation a bit more rather than driving to save on the wear and tear and gas costs. We've also discovered a local grocery store that we are able to get our staples at a lot less than the major stores for the same items. So we are going to do most of our weekly shopping there. I am not as big as a shopper as I used to be so at least I do not have to cut that out.

To add to that, I have been paying off my student loans which I have reduced by consolidating but I added years to the repayment schedule., I am seriously thinking about how to get extra money just to add to my savings account. I have considered getting a second job (just don't know where or what to do) and selling some old jewelry that I never wear. I am also thinking about selling some of my paintings. I am starting to think about my job and how I can leverage that to get a raise or another higher paying job.

We are fortunate that at the end of the month all our bills are paid and still have a few dollars left. Other than the car payment, the student loans and the mortgage, I have no debt. I pay my credit card off every month. It is just I am not at the point I want to be with my savings account, I like to have a set number and I am falling short.. I also don't know if (and when) we can afford the wedding that we are talking about (no we are not engaged....yet) and that stresses ,me out needlessly.

With the holidays around the corner, I am thinking of what and how I can get gifts. I've decided to start shopping now so that way I can but items here and there without the major January bills.

Or I can win the lottery (attention Lottery gods!)

So, with things the way they are, what are you doing to save a few bucks?

On the flip side, after our serious adult conversation, I made pecan banana pancakes for dinner. So sometimes being an adult can justify the need for such a treat.

Squat

So yesterday, D, CBN and I went to our bootcamp class. We met D there and she had the look of pure relief when we walked in. Apparently our instructor was chatting with her and it was a bit odd.

It turned out that we were the only three in class. We suspect that he toned down the original work out in for us. But he was the king of squats and lunges. IT seemed that every third move involved a squat or a lung or both. At the end my legs were burning and today, my ass hurts.

The three of us were so worn out! But it got us moving and in a way it was like having a personal trainer as it was just the three of us. He was teaching the next kick boxing class which was after ours and after our work out he proceeded to do all these push ups, sit ups and running exercises.

When we got home, the BF and I ran a few errands. We went to a store know for their designer mark downs and got a Le Crusset pot for half off. We grabbed that (and a yoga mat) and ran (We did pay). Today we ran a few more errands and my beef stew is stewing.

I am not looking forward to another Monday. Ick

Moment of Zen

We've been to the new gym two days in a row. On Tuesday we just did our typical work out to get a feel for the gym and the flow. Yesterday, I talked the BF into taking a basic yoga class with me. I used to take yoga classes about 6 years ago with my mom. I loved it, I felt so refreshed, relaxed and streach-y (I know it is not a word in the technical sense). when I stopped going, my body missed it. But life went on and I have not really taken a class in years until yesterday.

My body totally remembered the flow and some of the movements. It was like my body was saying "About bloody time". Some of it was challenging but the other part was just relaxing. I had a great time

The BF though it was OK and did like some of it. the instructor had a heavy accent so it was hard to understand her at some points and that made it harder for him. But he gave it a shot and I was glad that he did.

So I plan to take at least one yoga class a week in addition to the other stuff to get my Zen on.
However the annoying cat woke me up at 2 this morning being his normal abnormal self. It was hard for me to get back to sleep. Of course I fall asleep at around 4:30 only to wake up for work an hour and half later! I also had this killer stomach ache this morning. Maybe all the movement and flow caused a mini freak out in the system.

On Saturday I will be taking a book camp class with D and CBN. I plan on sweating and swearing a lot!

Burn baby burn

So I got a steam burn while making dinner. fun huh! I quickly put my arm under cold water then ran to Dr. Goggle to see what else I can do, it said not to put the burn under cold water! It is very minor and is a bit pink today but nothing serious. I feel bad for those who have been seriously burned, the pain that they are in.

In other "burn" news, we are heading to our new gym today. I am very excited to get back on track. i also signed up for a boot camp class on the next few Saturdays with these girls. It is seriously going to kick my ass. I am a little afraid.

For some reason, I got this song stuck in my head. While I was waiting for the BF to get home and while I started dinner, I was singing it to the beasts. So when the BF got home
I told him how it was stuck in my head. He went to his computer and downloaded it so we could have it to sing along. It is still in my head... and now perhaps in yours.

What music is stuck in your head?

Another weekend come and gone

This weekend was a typical run and do errands weekend mixed with fun. On the upside we checked out the gym and we were pleasantly surprised. We can start going there tomorrow. On the flip side, we went to one of the local malls to use some of the gift cards that I got and the clothes that I tried on did not fit well. So that got me a bit down but more motivated. I think I will be at the gym a few times a week based on their classes and machines. Plus we can take the EL and it is one block from the EL stop.

Friday, D took me to Movico to catch a flick and dinner. That place is posh and she is so right about the the VIP section, it was in the second tier away from the common movie goers. I had a great time and will have to head back there again. Plus we had a great chat as always.

We also got some more boxes unpacked and we got the cat a new scratching post. Thank God he likes it, hopefully it will help quell his need to paw at the wall, my nightstand, the couch and the closet at 3 am. Now he has a place to scratch away.

Our developer has decided to call a pseudo association meeting this week and guess what the proposed date and time is....Thursday at 7:30, a half hour before the debate. Sure we can tivo it but it is not the same as it is when it is live. We counter proposed and hopefully they will accept it because I for one want to hear how one is more adept at foreign policy based on the proximity of one's house to a country lets say Russia.

The leaves have started to change and the days are a bit shorter...Fall is such a pretty time of year.

Random

I decided to just post random facts about me:

*I can be a real homebody at times, but I tend not to be as productive as I should be
*Ever since I started to cook for more than one person, I marvel at how my mom managed to cook and feed 4 of us in what seems like an effortless dance but when I try to replicate her efficiency I realize that there was more going on than the eye can see.
*I had never eaten Sloppy Joe, until I met the BF.
*My bed room closet has turned into a disaster, it is a project that I need to handle soon.
*I miss painting, I need to start to paint again
*My mom asked to go through some things that are still in my bedroom when we are home for Thanksgiving. It is making me sad to think that.
*We found a new gym that is near the Red line so we'll be checking it out Saturday.
*I will be getting my hair cut and colored in a few weeks and I have no idea what color to go to. I am thinking low lights.
*I want to take a few months and travel around France and Italy with the BF
*I am sooo happy the new season of "The Office" starts tonight. I heart Jim.

Ok so now that I have whetted your appetite, what do else do you want to know about.

Out of the ordinary

Out of the ordinary

Today was one of the not normal in the office day, it was We appreciate our customers day

-We could not park where we typically park because we had to save the room for the visitors
-The visitors got a tour of our facility, I felt like an exhibit at a freak show
-We had to remove personal items from the top of our cabinets for a "clean line" look
-We got the hand me down sandwiches
-We got the left over swag bags
-We had to dress up (by that I mean like business wear not casual business wear)
-Cousin It made an appearance
-No radios could be on

I am looking forward to tomorrow when things at the loony bin can return to somewhat normal.
It is strange how much of a creature of habit I become that any slight disruption in my routine can make me feel so out of sorts.

In other news, I swear that my mother is trying to make me into a mini her. I want the shoemaker i to make me a pair of red high heel peep toe shoes. I want them to be in red preferable patten leather. so my aunt informs my mom that the shoemaker got another job so he is unsure if he can make them before she comes to visit. So my mom told her to give him options so if he can't do red to do them navy blue. Navy Blue! If I wanted that Navy Blue shoes I would have requested Navy Blue shoes. Ack, so she was suppose to correct this. I suspect that she does not want me to have red shoes so I should get another sensible color rather than perhaps look like a harlot, please lady, us harlots have lots of fun!

Noodles

So on Friday i took a class at our favorite cooking school with these two girls. It was "Italy in Autumn" and there was a varied menu. I was looking most forward to learning how to properly make pasta! The last time I attempted to do so ended up in a crumbly mess and was tossed in the bin. So I learned that I needed more moisture and that most recipes call for extra large eggs so to add one extra normal egg to the recipe.

So on Sunday night I made the dough and yesterday I made the noodles! It actually worked, no crumbly dough! With the help of the BF, we made some fettuccini and ate it with gusto. The next time it has to be rolled out a wee bit thinner but it works. So now I al looking forward to making ravioli, chicken soup with home made noodles, spinach pasta and more.

When shall I expect you for dinner....I am serious.

After dinner, I had a mini freak out when I lost a bill. We changed the layout of our office and in the ensuing mess and clean up it went missing. I am normally so good about keeping them in one place and this one just went missing. the problem is that it is a passbook for the place where we got our couch (they are a bit behind the times) so now tomorrow I have to go and pay in person and explain the situation. I am hoping that between now and then it appears. I won't ask any questions....

Tonight we are heading to the gym. Got to start somewhere I suppose.

Case of the blahs

I have been feeling blah (and cranky) lately. I think that part of it is the change in season mixed with the fact that clothes are starting to get too small for me and the unexpected expenses (like a new tire) that seem to creep up just as I am starting to get my finances straightened out.

Ugh!

It can be overwhelming and just seem like I am facing a mountain. Frankly, it just sucks.

What are some ways do you deal with a funk?

So what did I do?

I spent the day liek a typical Sunday. I tried to sleep in but the pets were ansy and my mom called and woke me up. so the BF took me to breakfast then we went to Target to look at garbage cans (I know you all are jealous) followed by a trip to a few more stores.

Then we came home and worked on the office then I vegged out in front of the TV reading some mags.

Oh and the bf bought me a dog.

So that was my day. Mellow and with the person and pets I love.

On a side note today is talk like a pirate day so you be having a good day!

what say you?

Lets say that tomorrow is my er "your" birthday (for arguement's sake) and you took the day off what would you do?

Lets say that you wanted to go to the Shedd but the oceanarium is closed and that is the best part, where would you go?

Lets say you don't want to stay at home and organize the office, clean the bathroom on your day off. How will you prevent yourself from doing it?

Lets say that your BF is off as well, what would you do?

So what say you?

Ike'd

We got Ike'd this weekend. Two days of non stop rain and flooding in some parts. WE found a hole in our kitchen window that caused a minor leak but a leak nonetheless. So that will have to be taken care of.

Yet, despite of the rain we got a lot of things done. On Saturday it was our typical running around to do errands. So we hit a few stores and bought groceries. We headed out to a fondue dinner to celebrate my birthday early because it falls in the middle of the week. I've never had fondue before and it was a fun experience and the food was delish!

Yesterday was organize the office day. So we spent the day moving the boxes out of the office and filling part of the kitchen and living room. The BF built two bookshelves and we started to move things back in. We have not finished because there is still some work to do. Basically I have to clean and organize my desk and area. However, we are pleased with the results, our office is now more spacious and open. Yukon now has a dedicated spot and more room to move. This week we hope to finish it all up so we can start to actually hang pictures in the condo!

I also make rice krispie treats for the BF and for dinner lasagna rolls. They both turned out to be very good and now we actually have left overs to munch on during the week!

I was hoping to have a house warming/birthday part this weekend but it does not look like it will pan out. So I am thinking that this year will be a birthday sans a party. I am kind of bummed about it but another part of me does not want to be bothered with planning it. I guess it does mean I am getting old!

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,

Never the same

Randomness

Some random items:

*Mineral oil is crucial for the maintenance of your butcher block products. It is also a laxative.
*The BF makes the best steak au prove hands down
*Red wine + me =Drunk
*The weather is now fall like which means cold mornings and warm afternoons and I have no idea what to wear
*I was the one who made the banana bread that was the BF's good idea (actually I was suppose to help out which turned into I want to make it)
*I have no idea where to start to look for a headboard.
*tomorrow we are having dinner with some college friends. One who lives a few blocks away from us and another who is in town for work. I haven seen my friend D (from out of town) in about 5 years.

The end of the BBQs

This weekend was packed with food. I mean a lot of food.

Friday we went to not celebrate a friend's birthday. It was just the 4 of us at a tapas place in Andersonville. It was yummy but a bit overpriced. Since it was opening weekend it was packed with people and the bar is cool so I hope that it will be around for a bit. On our way, we stopped to get her a bottle of wine and headed to this part of Andersonville that we don't often head to. It has such cute stores and eateries. There was a gelatoria ,a oil and vinegar store, a hand made in Morocco store, the wine store next to the wine bar etc. We bemoaned how much we miss Andersonville but we could not afford a place there. At least it is a few El stops away.

We got our IKEA kitchen island on Friday so on Saturday the BF began the IKEA building (I helped by holding things, go me!). But we had to end sooner that we would have liked because we had a BBQ to go to. It is one of the BF's friends and it was fun to meet some of his friends that I have not met before. We drove one of this friends home and they were both privy to a call from MR.

I sent her a text earlier in the day about how I am fat and not happy with my body right now I am finding myself having a hard time getting clothes to fit and I am not happy about it. See on Friday I wore a pink top and sweater but my stomach was bulging out of both. It was like the scene from Tommy Boy "big man in a little coat". The BF laughed at me because of it so of course he got the stink eye and I changed but the fact that I am getting too big for some of my clothes upset me. I can't afford to replace them at this time. So on our way home, she called me and the first thing I said was "Girl I am so fat!" So yes, the BF's friend got an earful. (Sorry J) At least she knows how to put a few things in perspective!

Sunday we had our condo BBQ. It was nice to meet some neighbors who I did not know. The BF knew everyone because he is typically on the back porch grilling or is walking the dog. Our condo is very dog friendly. So it was nice to chat and get to know each other.

The IKEA island took a few more hours to finish but we are 97% done. It looks great and today I get to sand and apply the mineral oil. I am so excited because that will mean that our kitchen is D-O-N-E!

I hope that we have a much needed slow weekend next weekend because we need some down time.

In a big red bow

So my birthday is coming up and people near and dear to me are asking what I want for my birthday. To be perfectly honest, I have no freaking clue. There are things that I need like a few million dollars but that seems to be a big stretch. I have it narrowed it down to one thing...a puppy.

However my request for a bulldog or shih tuz or rescue puppy has been vetoed. I tried to cajole my beloved that the puppy is because Yukon wants to have a dog. (she does she told me when I was rubbing her belly) Somehow he is not buying it. In the past two months five people that I know got puppies and I so want another dog. I have been asking for a dog since we met and he is surprised that I still ask for one.

I ask daily, right now he is reading this and if you listen carefully you can hear BF's eyes roll to the top of his head. Shhhh....see told ya.

So besides needing a dog that I will not get nor the million that will not appear in a birthday card help me figure out what I want for my birthday?

Yes, I napped

I so needed a three day weekend, in fact, I think that all weekend should be three day weekends.

We started off our weekend with a trip to IKEA because they finally had the kitchen island that we have been waiting for since April in stock. So after work we braved the traffic to the western burbs and plopped down our money for this and a few other things like a bookshelves and some cute wooden planters. Of course we are having them delivered because they would not fit in the car and the BF refused to carry them alone. So they are due in on Friday where we will start the ubiquitous "Figuring out how to assemble IKEA furniture" (AKA How to use four letter works effectively). But what we are excited for is that our Kitchen may finally be on its way to being done as is completed as in less stress for Christina. Then the office (will be finished). This room is a nightmare it is full of clutter from the two of us and is just getting out of hand. The bookshelves should organize that mess and have it under control. Well, one can hope.

Saturday I stayed in bed a lot. I woke up watched a movie, was cajoled out of bed for errands only to return a few hours later to take a 3 hour nap. It felt good, real good.
We headed to the 'burbs for a BBQ at the BF's father's house. It was fun, the food was good and we found parking upon returning to the city. It was a wondrous sight indeed.

Yesterday we cleaned the condo. there was a lot of little things to do that we have been neglecting since we have been busy. We took the dog to the beach and just walked around the lake for a bit. There were tons of people and BBQs going. The lake was this beautiful blue-green-grey and it was a warm day to just enjoy the end of summer.

Where did the summer go? I can't believe it is September....which means I am closer to another birthday.

Oh and I joined another bandwagon, I now have Google reader! How did I manage to live without it?

Card Carrying Member...

It is official I am old.

I got home yesterday evening and after catching up with he BF, petting the dog and cuddling the cat I went to look over the mail that arrived over the past day. Then I saw it....I double checked to see if it was send to the correct address and name or was it a mistake. Nope it had my full name and my correct new address.. There it was, I ran to show it to the BF who laughed (and pointed, I am pretty sure he pointed). I called my parents (to let them know I arrived safe and sound) and told them about this offending piece of mail. Both of them laughed (and I am pretty sure pointed as well)

It was a letter from the AARP asking if I want to subscribe to their magazine with my temporary AARP card! Yep this AARP.

I am going to be 32 years old, is that the age that qualifies you as a "retired" person. Should I just pack up my life and move to Boca, start eating dinner at 3 pm, complain about when there were wooden nickels and wear socks with sandals?

I was telling my mom this and she welcomes me to the club and says "well, I am only 39"!

I know that they say that 40 is the new 20, but is 30 the new 65?

Back and forth

I have to head out to the east coast office today. Again for less than 24 hours and I am already tired when I think about it.

I will be back in Chi town by tomorrow evening and all of this is for a meeting that I called, I am such a glutton for punishment.

So last night in anticipation of my trip (and because we were so busy this weekend) I was the ultimate 50's wife. I did two loads of laundry, unloaded and loaded the dish washer cleaned the dishes that were hiding in the sink, scrubbed the sink so that it is gleaming, swept the floor, took a shower, folded one of the two loads of laundry, packed and went to bed. No wonder why I am tired.

At least it is a three day weekend coming up.....Thank God!

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!

Vacation recap

Without futher ado...

We drove up to door County on Tuesday, it took us about 6 1/2 hours because we stopped a few times but the first thing we did after checking in was head to a fish boil:


According to the BF it was a good fish. I had nice chicken sandwich since I don't eat fish or any type of sea food.

Afterwards we went mini golfing, where the BF won by two strokes and I got more holes in one though (cause that is how I roll). the photo below is of the ball that got away from the BF and landed in the water hazard.



Day two had us hiking in the state park, we were going to walk to one of the lighthouses but after realizng that we are SO out of shape we drove, but here is the light house:

We also walked around Fish Creek, bought fudge, tried some wine at a winery, ate a bunch of things with cherry. Oh did I mention the FUDGE. That afternoon we vegged out and read and then had dinner at a restaurant with a salad bar and boy were they proud of their salad bar. They were the only restaurant in the town of Ephraim with a salad bar. Then watched the sun set...

Day three was more of the same. We went to Egg Harbor walked around. We did buy a really cool original photograph of Venice (go figure) to start our art collection. We decided that when we travel and see an art piece that is reasonable we should get it to start our collection. That was our first piece.

We then took a walk in the Ephraim wetland perserve which was pretty and were I got this nasty bug bite


Our day ended at a local dinner joint where they seriously had one of the best burgers ever. followed by this sunset:
We headed home on Friday sad to go but we stopped at the Mars cheese castle for some cheese (duh) but we bought some salt there too. The trip ended with the last hour sitting in traffic on the damn Edens but we made it home safe and sound.

I think that the next time we go it will be in autumn because the leaves must be amazing!

Well at least part of the fudge remains but not for long....

Because I am lazy

I still have to write up my vacation re-cap but just have not gotten around to it yet. I did download photos though which included previously un-downloaded photos of my college reunion that happened in June and pictures of the dog, cat and misc. items from March...so yes I am lazy when it comes to things like that.

I hope to do the recap tonight after I get the car washed (again damn tree sap), make meatballs and sauce for dinner, take a shower, paint my toenails and watch the Olympics....

So in other words....maybe tonight....

Back in the city

We are back in Chicago and we had a lovely time in Door county. We are glad to be back and are tired but the the pets are exhausted. Yukon got a good report card from her stay at the dog hotel and apparently had a great time that she is pooped and has been snoring for the past few hours. Chaplin was so glad to see us and then feel asleep on our bed.

Door County was lovely and the best part was sitting and doing nothing. We read and watched the sunset. We tried some wine, went shopping and went swimming. It was a very low key relaxing time away. Photos will be forthcoming.

Oh and the cherries...in jams, jelly, juice, salsa, salad dressing, covered in chocolate, dried, tart sweet, in pies, tarts, donuts, strudels. Yum.

One thing that has kept us enthralled is the Olympics. We have been watching them every evening. We are so into the games and it has been the first time that I have watched them as much as we have been.

It is sad that we have to come back down from our vacation high. That is always the rough part.

Vacation has begun

I got back from the east coast in one piece. But dragging a carry on and carrying a lap top through the airports really caused such pain in my shoulder. When I got home my shoulder was red and in pain. I spent a whooping 4 hours in the office!

This weekend has been awesome, yesterday we went to the burbs to see my friends' new puppy and her granddaughters. Then went to take the BF's father out to dinner. The puppy was so cute, I want one!

Today I went to a whole grain cooking class with two bloggers. We all had a great time and it was as always a yummy experience. I really liked the cookies made with flax seed and almonds with chocolate chips and dried cranberries and the whole wheat pizza. The chef was someone who I had not had before and she was funny and very knowledgeable.

Our vacation has started. A whole week that is work free. We head to Door County on Tuesday. We are so excited!!!

The possibility of six hours!

I have to head to the east coast tomorrow for a meeting on Thursday. I will be there for less than 24 hours.

Yet there is a silver lining...I may actually get to sleep for a few hours straight without a cat causing havoc 2-3 times a night. The bags under my eyes are big enough to carry my clothes without paying the extra $15 per bag!

Monday re-cap

So another Monday and work week is ahead. This week will be a busy one because I have to head out to the east coast for one meeting. I will be there for less than 24 hours (but this depends on the sure as shit delays at the airports, really they are becoming so predictable.) Thankfully, I return on Thursday so I can sleep in an extra hour and work from home on Friday.

This Friday we went to Ravina, why didn't anyone tell me that the venue was awesome. We went to hear the CSO perform the music of the movies by composer John Williams. There were people dressed up as Storm Troopers, Harry Potter and other characters. We got our photo taken with some Storm Troopers as did the couple we went with. The music was awesome and we had a bottle of wine and some great sandwiches as we picnic'ed. My favorite piece was the Theme from ET because it brought up so many memories.

Saturday we slept in...we were so tired. Then we ran errands. Yesterday we went to the Andersonville sidewalk sale. Then headed out to a bar to see the BF's friend who was experience a very slow day as a bartender. Finally we went to get a book as I need something to read on the plane.

Thankfully we are off next week....vacation time

5 years later

This time 5 years ago I was drunk in a bar somewhere in Manhattan wearing cute jeans. (I remember that fact due to the photos that exist) The next day movers came and took my stuff out of my shared apartment. A few hours later I was on an airplane heading to Chicago.

I had no idea what to expect. I found an awesome apartment and had my same job just in a different city. I had no car, no sense of direction, no clue about what was ahead of me. I lived in a hotel for a month because the movers had the good fortune to have two flat tires one in Ohio and the other one in Indiana which delayed me getting my stuff. I moved into the apartment a few days before Labor day.

I scoured car reports and asked my friends what to buy and did the comparison shopping. Then there I was at a dealership signing what was at the time the biggest check I have ever written (this was nothing compared to the down payment on the condo!) and driving away in my first new car.

It is strange to look back at that time. In less than six weeks I decided to move to Chicago and then I was there. I had to get used to a different place, a place that was so out of my comfort zone. I barely knew where the grocery store was but I knew where IKEA was. The first few months were very hard, I missed NY so much. I missed my friends. It was a bit tough but it made me a lot stronger.

So as of tomorrow it will be five years since I moved out to the midwest. Here is where I found my home.

I am NOT spoiled

On Sunday we had to attend the BF's niece's seventh birthday party. Thankfully it was just family and not the overly sugared pack of unruly children that often plagues these events.

Well of course the birthday girl was eager to open her gifts and when she came to ours she opened the card and slammed it down with a shrieks of "I am not spoiled!" See the card that was picked out has a Happy 4th birthday motif and it was not realized until I was wrapping the gifts. So I found a card that I meant to send to a friend with a picture of a dog on it that said "Enjoy being spoiled and adored on your special day." So that is what triggered the outburst in which all eyes were on us. Thankfully, her mom read the card outloud and the looks dissipated.

Later her uncle (the BF) explained what the card meant and how there was a difference with being spoiled and being a spoiled brat. It went over her head as most things do at that age!. But now at least her sister can identify the difference between a spider and insect. Ahh progress...

TGI home

I like working from on on Fridays.

I can wear yoga pants and "not work appropiate" tee shirts
It allows me the opportunity to sleep in an extra hour
I can take a :pet the random beast break"
I am saving wear and tear on my car
I am saving on gas
I am not subjected to mindless chatter at work

But the best reason, the greasy spoon a few blocks away makes a killer burger!

My thoughts

My thoughts are with Deb and Erin who both lost loved ones.

Sunday night already

Another weekend has come and gone...it is Sunday night and the prospect of work is just so unappealing.

I got my hair trimmed on Friday and then it was humid and rainy so it is not so salon-y.  Damn Chicago summer.

Yesterday, I met up with another blogger for dinner at this tapas restaurant that is one of her favs (and now is on my "Must go back" list".  It was so yummy.  I actually ate some olives and I am not an olive fan.  I could have eaten them for days.  The we talked non stop for a few hours and had so much fun. .  I think we almost closed the restaurant down!  Just like D it is nice to have made another friend just by blogging

Today was a lazy day, I stayed in my pjs all day.  But I made these lasagna rolls that were so amazing.  Oh and I balanced my checkbook and cried.

My student loans are going to be the death of me.  It is sad that the cost of education is not something that the government thinks is important.   I am trying to figure out how to make the payment and have some money to save.  It is frustrating.

So there was this monkey

I had a dream that I went a jungle/tundra tour and I was chased by what was called a "Blood Faced Monkey". It was awesome!

Why am I happy about that you may ask, it means that I slept for most of the night without being subjected to the kitty tantrums of late. He has been really annoying these past few weeks when he jumps on my nightstand and starts to bat my alarm clock around at like random hours of the night. Then he gets bored and starts to scratch my closet doors to get any sort of attention. If that is not enough, he will jump in bed and patrol the middle, sniff us, lick us and then finally lie down near our hands so he can try and get a pet. And then repeat!

He grew resistant to the water bottle. Until I heard about lemon juice, apparently cats are not fond of the smell and the taste. So I put a tablespoon in our sprayer and when he acted up he got sprayed. This time he did not look at me like "whatever lady", he actually was started and did not like it. Granted it took a few more tries over the course of the past few nights and the BF had his nerf gun at the ready. After a while it started to work.

Last night, we went to bed and he curled up on the top of my pillow and slept like that for hours. I had to get up to go to the bathroom but then went back to bed and so did he. It was heavenly.

So I welcome being chased by monkeys....well in my dreams only. Unless you are a 30 year younger Davy Jones.

Disclaimer...I know now that I have had the put this out in the universe, tonight may be another story.

Food TV is my drug

We are Food TV junkies. (I can hear all of you gasp in shock!)

But the worst thing is to watch a program and crave what they are making regardless if you are eating dinner while watching said program.

Alton Brown is the worst. I was watching Good Eats and he was making cinnamon rolls, it was ten at night and I wanted cinnamon rolls, my mouth was watering. So what was the first words out of my mouth on Saturday morning when I woke up...cinnamon rolls.

We ended up going out for breakfast and we ordered some cinnamon rolls but they were not very good and they did not look like the ones Alton made. We were a bit disappointed.

Now I blame Alton with the need to make them oh and the pretzels that he made the other day...

Vacation...holiday...

The BF and I are in the midst (abet delayed) of planning our vacation. This is the first time in a few years that I can actually go away during the summer. When I was in grad school, I took summer classes and by the time they were done I had two weeks before the fall session began.

Last year was my bro's wedding so heading to NY and having a heavy dose of family drama was our vacation. Although we did sneak away to Lake Geneva last year and of course the cruise in December. But we want to get away during the summer, especially the BF who has been busy at the job-o and as a result is getting a wee bit stress-o.

When we started to think about vacations in oh January we had a huge wish list. In fact, we were planning on heading to Paris until the Euro came and whooped our ass. So then we decided that we should stay in the North American region. Then we decided San Francisco would be awesome...so we looked at what we wanted to do, where we wanted to stay and how we would get then and then looked at our budget and they did not match. So that was shelved.

So then we decided that the Mid-West is not so bad after all but maybe Toronto. We planned on driving and that would only be like 7 hours. So we decided to investigate...the city was also our of our budget.

Then the BF announces that he wants to get back to nature. (Me not so much) But then we thought Jackson Hole....again too much.

So we finally decided on heading up north to Door County for some R and R.

We are going to "check in" the dog at a new dog hotel. I am very pleased with this development as the last time we went away we were fleeced and the dog got a sore on her nose. They have people on staff 24 hours (unlike the vet), she gets her own area with a nice cozy blanket (If we want we can upgrade her to a suite where she can watch animal planet 24/7), she gets to play with other dogs, go out for walks, and will get groomed before she heads home.

The cat we are not sure about yet. We are only planning on being gone for a few days so we can leave him plenty of food, a clean litter box and his water fountain (yes he has this) he should be okay. But he needs love and pets on the head so I am not sure how I feel about this. We can also check him in the hotel but he and Yukon won't be together and he did not react well when he was in his carrier when we moved. We suspect it was because he was crated at the shelter we got him.

So we shall see, hopefully I can get days off.

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!

Top of the list

So as of yesterday Chicago has the highest sales tax in the country...10.25% Bigger than NYC and LA!

Bastards!

But then again I have not shopped for anything other than food and gas.

I will give them a stamp!

I have sufficiently calmed down to regale you with a tale of my intense dislike for one post office.

Our door buzzer is not working and as such, the mail carrier can't enter our building to delivery our mail. This has been a problem for about a week. So they have put a note saying as much and that they are holding the mail. (I will get to that point in a second). Well they delivered some mail on Friday because someone buzzed them in. But they did not deliver all the mail (I will get to that point too).

The bf has (had) contacted the developer who has in vain tried to get the electrician over to fix the buzzer. They are making every effort to get it corrected.

In the meantime, today is June 30, which if you live in Chicago, means that you have to have your car city sticker in place by tomorrow. So about 2 weeks ago I went on line to order and pay for the sticker. I need this sticker otherwise they will issue tickets. So I rang the local post office and was told that:

a-they have tried to ring the bell but nobody was home....duh most of the residents in the building work
b-that we CAN'T pick up our mail because it is against policy. Only if you have a PO box or a vacation hold can you pick up your mail.. If they allow ME to pick up MY mail then we won't be getting it fixed and they can't be holding our mail. but after 10 days they return it to sender!
Also how do they know that my neighbors won't be wanting to do the same thing. I mean after all it is OUR mail.
c-When they delivered the mail on Friday it was just that day's mail not the back log because it is too heavy for them So once they are satisfied that it is fixed then they will deliver the rest.

Classy huh? Holding mail hostage.

Well after 20 minutes, speaking with three people my patience was wearing transparently thin. I have names and I was told by a manager that even though it is against policy that I can pick up my mail.

Granted I would like to glance at my mags but more importantly I need that damn sticker.

Update-So I got to the post office at 4:50 and left at 5:30, the line was out the door and they had the slowest people working there. But I got our mail after the wait and the name dropping. Ironically I was told that I could not pick up the mail that was addressed to my bf but in the bundle that they gave me was his mail too. Oh and the buzzer is fixed.

the 40 year old frat boys

Last night Diana and I had our monthly cooking date. We were going to participate (ie eat) the food and wine of Spain. I was looking forward to it but mostly because they were going to make churros and chocolate.

So we arrived and it was a relatively small class. The demo kitchen where we were in holds up to 15 people and there were about ten of us all women and all who were excited and nice to be able to get out and have a fun night. Then about 15 minutes into the class five middle age men loudly walk in. They too were part of the class. At first we thought they were gay (it is pride week here in Chicago so hey you never know) but it turns out that they were all high school buddies in town to celebrate a friend's retirement. One of the guys decided a cooking class would be fun.


They were kind of buzzed before class as they had a few drinks at a bar. Then they had a few bottles of wine. One guy A Mr. Clean look alike would not stop talking and his comments would illicit the others to participate. The chef (who I've had before) is awesome but his questions and comments put her way behind schedule. Normally, during the class we eat by 9, last night it was 9:30. She was a great sport and even though the guys were a bit loud and behaving as they regressed 20 years, it was a fun class.

At least there wasn't any gold lame wearing trixie!

The ma and the pa

Right now somewhere in the Ohio area, my parents are heading west. They left NY early this morning and are heading out to visit us this weekend.

In the past, I would have start to wail and gnash my teeth because a visit from my mom has not always been easy. She would come and then slowly start to nag and rearrange things. It would get to a point where she moved something that I needed and would start to argue. This time will be different because she is coming to our house and she would not dare to do that in our house.
My parents adore my BF and out of respect for him would not go about moving things and suggesting a better way to do this or that. Also my dad is with her and he tends to defend me with a "leave the girl alone" which has this magic effect of making her back off.

Plus they are staying in a hotel but that is more because we have a cat and we got the cat to "spite" them. My dad has minor allergies and my mom does not like cats so when we got Chaplin she took it personally as a sign that I don't want her to visit.

So this parental units visit should be a pleasure...but there are still bottles of wine at hand in case.

Plus the condo is pretty awesome so it will give her something to talk about other than snippets how my hair is too long, how that the salt should be put here etc.

We also have vodka....

First amendment crusader....

He was witty, smart, topical, honest, cheeky and funny!

Rest in peace George!

Joined the bandwagon (AKA will you be my friend?)

Well when I was in NY with my friends I got some slack for not being on any social networking site. So after hearing all about it I joined one....facebook.

It has been a fun looking for people. I found one of my friends from when I used to live and work in the UK. Then I was pushing (ok nagged) the BF who was already on to be my friend and then classify me as his "relationship with person". I have found people from jobs and from school and then I found the ex (hence the regression to the BNL songs). Finding him brought back a flood of memories. No we are SO not friends nor do I intend to be.

I have been cautious to not put too much info as to prevent stalkers like me. But some things are there for my friends to find me. (An ironic statement at its finest!)

So while I am into this site for now and until I get bored with it.

If you want to be my friend, I am on face book

Too sleepy

I am bleary eyed, wanting to sleep at my desk tired.

I am so sleepy that I can't even look at the computer straight and posted a weird comment on another blog. I need a nap!

Here is the best part, I have a presentation to give in a half an hour. Oh joy....let's hope the caffeine will work.

Rebuild

This was another song during that time.

But it was more for me to help me rebuild.

When you were born, they looked at you and said....

I came across this song again recently.

It got me through a rough break up a few years ago. Time changes perspectives but, this is still an awesome song

Pinwheels...

The BF has been very busy and stressed out at work.

Yesterday while working from home he accidentally spilled coffee on the laptop and broke a dish. He worked for about 9 hours and was tired.

I heated up leftovers and he spent time killing things on his Xbox. I went to the couch to watch some programs I DVR'ed and picked up a random cook book and began to look through it. This was a cookbook I got for $5 at the discount area a few years ago and all the recipes contain 3-4 ingredients.

So I began to look through it and found something that I could make for the BF. I tried it last night for dessert and oh my God it was so yummy and easy. So I am going to share it.

Cinnamon Pinwheels:
1 sheet of thawed puff pastry
1 beaten egg
1/4 cup of sugar (I also used some vanilla sugar that I had)
2 tablespoons of cinnamon

-Preheat the oven to 425 degrees
-On a floured surface roll out the puff pastry, not to thin
-mix the sugar and the cinnamon together
-with a brush, brush the pastry with the egg
-sprinkle 3/4 of the sugar mixture on the pastry
-Roll the pastry (not too tight) and brush the egg wash on it
-Sprinkle some of the sugar mixture on it
-cut into pinwheels
-Bake on a baking sheet with parchment (or a Silpat) for 10 minutes

When they are warm sprinkle the rest of the sugar mixture.

Warm they taste like cinnamon rolls. Cool they tasted more like a pastry for coffee or tea. I should know I ate about half of them!

I am already planning on buying more puff pastry this week. Plus, I am thinking of making them savory with ham and hard cheddar, spinach and perhaps Gruyère or feta.

Yum!

And now she is back....

I am back from my happy fun reunion weekend. It was good to see some people that I have not seen in years! It is interesting to see what people are doing and how things have changed. There was an air of familiar but changed surroundings. But all things change or so I suppose.

It was also great to be in the upstate region of NY. I forgot how beautiful it is to have mountains and hills. But at least I have the lake.

Of course the drama was with the actual getting to and fro. O'Hare was having serious issues (as always) my flight going was delayed about an hour and half and my flight coming back home was delayed by at least 3 hours. Plus they stop selling food at the airport that I was stuck in at 6 PM. I felt bad for the crowds (yep there were crowds) at O'Hare when I landed at around 10 pm, the gates were flooded with people and every food and Hudson news was open. However, as my plane landed in a thunderstorm, I suspect that many of the passengers were going to be stranded.

O'Hare sucks, it is the hands down worst airport ever!

The BF managed the house hold without me. He is awesome because while I was gone he:
-got my car detailed
-filled the gas tank
-took the dog to the groomer (she is sooo soft)
-unpacked boxes and bins
-put said bins in the storage room

All while the AC was out. Thankfully, we still had the AC and he was able to sleep one night. The HVAC guy came on Sunday and fixed the problem.

Yesterday, I was home catching up on the news, email, blogs oh and got a pair of tickets...for these guys. Well the BF did actually on my behalf.

He's got the right stuff and kept reminding me.

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!

Two...

Such a magical number.

Happy second to my special someone. We' ve had the ups and downs but we have had each other.

The Menagerie

We have added 10 new additions to the casa. Gold fish for our "pond".

Last week, it a fit of gardening we purchased some water lilies to see if we can make them grow. We got a plastic vase like bucket and dropped them in the water. They are starting to sprout and the BF was afraid of mosquitoes (especially since a mosquito with West Nile was found in a west suburb were his sister and her fam live). So to combat the bugs the BF decided we should get fishes.

So yesterday we introduced 10 of them and they seem to be okay so far. No floaters!

Although I am not allowed to name them to quote the BF "I am not going to listen to you cry because "Harry" or whatever you would name the fish died. I would not even know which one he is anyway."

Got to love him!