commuting

I've got one more day of work - tomorrow. Whoopee! So today I thought I'd show you some of the steps I've taken over the last 8 weeks.

Awhile back I brought my camera to work with me. It was pretty silly - me snapping pictures in the middle of a morning commute. My camera is nothing fancy, so I couldn't pass myself off as an amateur photographer or anything remotely like it. And since I was in my work clothes I didn't look like a tourist, either. I just looked like a strange working girl taking pictures. But if anyone asked, I was all ready with a made up excuse about how this was really for my kindergartner son. Of course, no one asked. The whole crowd was much too sleepy to be inquisitive. But it was fun anyway.

Ok, so here we go. Hope you enjoy this!

Here's my view of sleepy passengers taking the metra train in from the suburbs to the city. Actually, they don't look too sleepy here.

A view from my window seat, still at the station. Park & ride to the city.

After 32 express minutes, we have rolled into Chi-town. A mad rush for exits and escalators at Union Station.

Emptying out of Union into the street. The start of my walk to work. It takes me about 25 minutes from here to get to the office building where I was stationed.

There's the Chicago "L" going by. It gets a lot of bad press and always seems to have significant operating issues going on, but when I used to live down here I never minded taking it. Nice people watching view from above, don'tcha think?

If you prefer Caribou over Starbucks, as I do, you gotta look extra hard for one down here in the Loop. Worth finding it, though.

A random look up a city street.

That one was so exciting I decided to repeat it.

Still walking. I really did look like a fool with my camera. But for the blog, there's no such thing as vanity, wouldn't you say?

Something important looking going on at Daley plaza. Maybe a job fair. My mission was too important for me to stop and find out.

Ah, yes. The corner of heartbreak and despair. Macy's in the old Marshall Field's State Street location. You can hear the sobs of Chicagoans walking by as you approach the building.

More randomness here. Look, it's the L again.

By now I've worked up a bit of a sweat. I'm all the way over by Millennium Park, which is several blocks east of the train station and right next to Lake Michigan. You can see that the sky is starting to clear up a bit. Looks like we're going to have sunshine after all.

Another view of the park.

Walking next to the old Chicago public library. This looks like a shot from Paris...or am I exaggerating here?

There's another shot of the park.

Now I leave the street and I'm up on the 39th floor of the office building where I worked. This is the view out my window. Looking due east, and a little south.

Now looking north. You can see a tiny bit of Navy Pier.

And here's a view from the conference room down the hall. Straight south. Birdseye view of Millennium Park.

Now looking a little more southeast. You can see how pretty the day turned out to be.

A couple more shots.

Too bad the view was the best part of the project!

Of course I meant to take more pictures...I should have even snapped some shots looking north on this day. But wouldn't you know, they started asking me to be productive. Nice people I worked with. Miserable project, but really great team.

The next time I go downtown, I'll try to remember to take some pictures. It's fun for me to see things like this, too. You always think you'll remember these shots forever in your mind, but then you don't.

Happy Tuesday, everyone!

season's greetings

Are you ready for Halloween? After a trip to the pumpkin patch yesterday, we are. We gathered up pumpkins, apples, pies, candy corn, caramel-covered apples, hay (straw), and some corn stalks. All set. The kids ran through the pumpkins, posed for pictures with the many painted sesame street characters, and we went on a hayride through the corn field before having a picnic lunch. It felt very festive.

I've been away from my blog for awhile. No specific reason why. Things had gotten really busy with my temporary job, but fortunately that is concluding this week. The project has not been one of my favorites, but you know how it goes. You learn more from challenges than triumphs. Right? And, like I said, it's over this week. Thank goodness.

Not that I've been a terrible blogger. I have been reading your blogs, just not making myself known. But I promise to do better and get back to my comment-leaving ways.

See you in blogland, and have a great week!

week - ?

It's been awhile since my last report on the house across the street. Let's see...I believe according to the last post that we are somewhere around week 20. As you can see, the driveway has been added and most of the exterior finishes on the house look complete. Most!

Pretty exciting stuff. I know I've mentioned this before, but my kids with their Bob the Builder obsession...they just don't realize how lucky they are to have witnessed this kind of construction from their bedroom windows. I think they are taking it for granted. Big Scoop and Dizzy won't be coming around here much longer. At least, not until the next tear down...

my thoughts on Jenny

Below is a link to a NY Times column written by Cammie McGovern, the author who wrote "Eye Contact" (a fiction book I just finished and loved.) It was written last year but I just found it on her personal website. I think it sums up nicely the drawback of hearing too much about "recovery" from autism.

I enjoyed watching Jenny McCarthy talk about her new book "Louder than Words" on Oprah, and the segment she did for The View, and Larry King. I am happy that well known people like Jenny are talking openly about autism, because it makes me think that increased attention will ultimately lead to increased demand from the public for more medical research to discover how and why this disorder occurs. But hearing her mention "recovery" makes me think of the many parents I have met who are doing everything they can - everything she says she did for her son - and not seeing changes.

Jenny's commitment to trusting her "mommy instinct" is right on. Every mom knows that the inner voice is the best voice to listen to when considering what's right for her child. But her writing and speaking with such conviction about what works and what doesn't...it makes me uneasy.

I believe what I've heard and learned from the trusted professionals we've worked with over the past 2 years, people who have spent their entire medical and professional careers working with hundreds of kids on the autism spectrum. From them I have learned this frustrating truth: there so much that is not understood about autism, and every child is different. In terms of treatment, what works for one child may not work for the next.

It's wonderful that Jenny is sharing what worked so well for her son, but that's the thing - it worked for her son. It very well might not work for someone else.

Anyway, here's the link:

http://www.cammiemcgovern.com/articles_nytimes.html

a very hopeful heart

My husband my husband my husband. I see these signs around Chicago and I can't help but think of him. He is excited. And rightfully so.

Me? Of course I love the Cubbies! But he's the real tried & true, 2003-depressed-on-the-couch-with-5-outs-away-from-the-World-Series-Steve Bartman-ball-fiasco kind of fan.

As a Chicago native, he's known Cubs pain a long time. He's so excited, and very optimistic.

No jinxes here, just words of encouragement.

GO CUBS!!

lunch hour thinking

Still here at work, right now eating my lunch over the computer. I just saw this on the news wires and thought it was interesting (sorry if you are someone who also just received this in an email from me...I forget about my blog sometimes!)

I don't have a daughter, but beauty/myths/perceptions/self-esteem & the intersection of all of those issues with modern media have always been a great interest of mine. Too bad I have not had an opportunity to work on a beauty account (yet?) Imagine how it feels to be a part of this work. The entire campaign is brilliant.

happy #3

My youngest son turned 3 yesterday, and we had presents and birthday cupcakes with my family in Ohio, who we were visiting. Knowing that we were going to be away on the actual day, we had an outdoor picnic with pizza and birthday cake with my husband's parents last weekend. Then, today there was a third celebration - this time at his Kids Day Out program, where the kids and teachers sang to him and made him this crown.

He is very excited about his birthday being stretched out so. When I got home tonight he told me excitedly, "Mommy, it's my birthday again!"

How great it is to be 3!

little furry fellow

Seeing a lot of spider webs around your house these days? We sure are. The first picture is one of those 'click to enlarge' instances, but the second picture speaks for itself.

This little - no, BIG! - guy worked like crazy over the last couple of days, because we don't remember seeing a web this big over the weekend and now it is here.

I don't mind that he's set up shop down the side of my awning. As long as it helps to keep the ladybug population from sneaking inside my house, I'm all for it. But if he (or any of his brothers) decides to take his operation inside, I'll have to kindly escort him back out.

sunday night sleep syndrome

As I type I'm listening to son #1 toss and turn in his bed. We had a great weekend for sleeping, with both boys sleeping later than usual on Saturday and Sunday mornings. Then, don't you know, here it is a school night and there's trouble again.

This is a common problem around here, as I'm sure you're starting to understand. Sometimes I think it's getting better. Last summer - a year ago - we went through a phase where, when my son would wake up in the middle of the night, his first instinct was to get out of bed and run down the hall to see what we were doing. I'd escort him back to bed, cover him back up, whisper a few words of encouragement, try to get him back to sleep. He'd be back in about 15 minutes later and the cycle would repeat itself for the entire length of time that he was awake, usually about 2 hours. Eventually I'd stop talking to him and just silently take him back to bed each time. After the second visit or so I'd be pretty much wide awake, unable to go back to sleep for the rest of the night. This would happen repeatedly throughout the week.

Now he doesn't wake up as often, and when he does he stays in bed and talks to himself. But even though he doesn't come in anymore, I wake up because I hear him. I try not to go in unless his talking gets too loud and there is danger that he'll wake up his little brother. It drives me CRAZY with worry that he is up, usually for hours, in the middle of the night. Right now he has about 1.5 hours before he needs to get up, have breakfast, catch the bus to school, and function for an entire day. Later tonight after dinner he has speech therapy. But he's been awake since about 3:30. Sigh. You know as well as I that nothing works quite right when you're feeling tired. And if you're a little person with a sensory system that makes the world sometimes seem like it's not a very friendly place, I'm sure the challenge to get through a day with a poor night's rest is ten times harder.

We've been working on different strategies to combat this problem with our pediatrician and the other professionals in my son's life for the past year and a half. My son went from being a champion! sleeper to troubled sleeper, all in the in the blink of an eye. According to one doctor, he should be growing out of this problem soon. Let's hope so.

But anyway, the thing about sleeping well on the weekends and then not so great on a week night. That problem's been following me around for years, long before kids. In college my friends and I called it Sunday Night Sleep Syndrome. As in, you have all these things swimming around in your head as you crawl into bed, preventing you from getting to sleep. Instead of shutting down you think about who to call, where to go, what to do - a general review of the entire week coming up.

I don't think it's a coincidence that my son is awake tonight and that his wakeful fits don't happen on the weekends. As I was turning out his light last night he said something about going back to kindergarten tomorrow (today), very softly into his pillow. So clearly he's thinking about his week, too. Even a little 5 year-old boy is thinking about the week ahead.

snoopy visits the LC

Meet Snoopy.

(You already know him, I know, but meet this Snoopy.)

Snoopy lives at kindergarten and visits a different boy or girl from class every day. Last week was our first Snoopy visit. When Snoopy comes to your house, you are supposed to entertain him for the day and write about what you did with him in Snoopy's accompanying journal.

We played, we ate, we read books with Snoopy. He helped us feed our beta fish, Dorothy.

And enjoyed a late afternoon session on the trampoline with the little chickens (chicken #1 is in the shorts, chicken #2 is wearing pants).

I think he had a good time. We'll have to be creative and think of something new to do the next time he visits. Maybe by then a pumpkin carving contest?

Have a great weekend, every body!

middle name meme

Thank you to Laurie Anne over at Tinker's Piggies for bringing me out of blog drought. Ladies, this working thing is nice and all, but I feel as if my blog is suffering. Look, no fun picture to add up top. I should bring my camera to the office.

Without further ado, let's get going with some interesting tidbits about moi, spelled out through my middle name, Patricia.


P. Pretzels. I used to love 'em. Always the perfect accompaniment to a packed sandwich from home. But lately I've been on a pretzel hiatus, a little burned out. One day I'll go back to them, I'm sure.


A. Anniversary party. Coming up at the end of the month to celebrate my parents' 40th. Looking forward to seeing all the uncles, aunts, and cousins. And of course the couple of the hour, too.


T. Train. Turns out the best part of my work day is getting uninterrupted reading time on the train. What a luxury! I've finished 3 books so far, all from a pile I've been meaning to get to for ages. But you know, now I think my blog reading is suffering...


R. Robert Edward II. That's his full name, but I call him Rob. The love of my life.


I. Good question. The Ice Storm, perhaps? That was a movie we were just talking about the other night with our friends.


C. Chicago. I don't live here, I live in the suburbs. This fact made all too clear by my working down here lately. It's like being in another world. I'm just minutes away by train, but for how different it feels, I may as well be living in another state.


I. There's that pesky letter again. Hmmm...how about iceberg lettuce. I don't get the point of it, what with the almost-all-water-no-nutritional-value thing. You can see I don't go much for salads.


A. Annie. Little Orphan Annie, that is. I was obsessed with her and the musical when I was a kid. Still have a fondness in my heart for both, actually. Do you?


Not sure if you've been tagged already, but tagging Violet lady, Tommiea, Belle-ah, and new blog friends H & H and Tres Poshe.

highrise

As I sit here at work today (39th floor) in my capri jeans* (Lucky's), I wonder...

How long will the low-rise waist thing continue? And, is it really all that flattering?


*low-rise

the sky that day

was a brilliant, crisp, blue, like it often is in early September. I remember it.There wasn't a cloud to be seen. The air was sweet and soft, like it is in late summer.It was the kind of day you took notice of as you stepped outside and walked down the street towards the train. You took notice of it then, and you are happy that you did. Happy now that you took the time to appreciate how beautiful it was, instead of letting your mind wander towards unimportant details. Happy now that you remember it so clearly, because you will always remember what happened that day. You will always remember the events of the day, and how you felt then, and how you feel now, and how you've changed from then to now. Because of that, you may not have remembered the day itself. What it looked like at the beginning. How it felt to be striding up the sidewalk. That beautiful sky.

Had it not been so lovely.

out of step

So, I know you know that my month-long job started on Friday (and, by the way, isn't a Friday a very good day for a first day? You go through all that paper work and figuring out where you'll sit and who's who and what your password is, and then before you know it, it's time to go home and you can think about it all later), and I am the "one of these things doesn't belong here" person. And it's not because I have been hired to fill in for a new mom who is on maternity leave (so really, I don't belong...permanently, that is). Rather, it's because it's my old company and we've both had some major changes happen to us since I last left the building. My company and me. Major changes since I left it and it said goodbye to me. That was a few years ago, and yet a lifetime ago.

It is strange to come back to a place where your memories of it are all the people inside, and now those people are gone. And you are gone, sort of. The person you used to be is gone, anyway. Your friends have moved on, the business has changed, you've gotten a little older, hopefully wiser. I see ghosts as I move about the hallways. A ghost of me from that not so distant past: wearing stylish clothes, talking to her boyfriend on the phone, making plans for the weekend (new restaurant? cubs game? movie? see friends? it was all possible, especially sleeping in on weekends.) Ghosts of my former colleagues and friends, people I loved who have moved, or moved on, and who I only keep up with in distant e-mails or by way of a not so up to date grapevine. Ghosts of the clients we used to keep, the businesses I worked on that have now changed so much.

Around me I see younger girls, gentle reminders of what I must have been, must have looked like, must have appeared to be. They are young and hip, talking about their weekend plans at places I don't know, neighborhoods I haven't been to in ages. They are bright and ready to take on the world. I look at them and wonder, what will your story be? How will it unfold for you?

As I walk to and from the train station now I think about my commute during my city days. Light steps on the sidewalk, upturned collar and chin down to face the Chicago winter wind, hurrying up the stairs to the L platform, changing out of my snow boots once I arrived at the office. Or catching the bus at Dearborn/Lake with the other Lincoln Park twenty somethings, each of us clutching our Tribune as we wove our way up through rush hour traffic.

My life has changed in many ways since my days as young girl in the city. But don't misunderstand, I'm not sad about it. Instead, I'm enjoying the walk down memory lane, the chance to reflect on a past tense "me" that I don't think about very often. Once in awhile it's a good thing to open the memory book up, dust off the pages, and immerse yourself in what used to be. How it all used to feel back then.

Some day I'll think about my life in the Little Cottage and what it felt like on a night like tonight. And I know those memories will be just as sweet, if not sweeter.

anniversary wishes

a public Happy 40th Anniversary today to my dear parents. Congrats congrats congrats to my favorite couple!

hello

It's the end of the weekend and somehow I didn't get around to spiffying up my blog any more. But I have intentions to. Libby has been kind enough to offer some advice, and my husband says he can help me, too. But, where does the time go? During busy days, blogging always takes a back seat to more important things in life. Which is pretty much everything else.

We did have such a nice weekend here. It was one of those picture perfect weekends - bright sun, clear air, gentle breeze, perfect temps. Couldn't be topped. This is how I always think of September, it's the prettiest month. And so we spent a lot of time outside, in our shorts, letting the open windows freshen up the house a bit while we went about our business.

So....no, I didn't work on my blog look (and thanks for your nice comments about it, btw...what you're seeing is somewhere around version #4 from the other night, I played with the templates for about an hour before going to bed), but I was so practical and efficient over the last two days (being the Virgo that I am) - cleaning, cooking, organizing, changing sheets. I think we're all set for a busy but good week. Hopefully I'll seize another moment to catch up with you before too long.

insomnia

7:45 p.m. Two little boys go to bed

10:00 p.m. Mommy goes to bed

1:00 a.m. Daddy goes to bed

1:15 a.m. Son (oldest) comes into Mommy and Daddy's room (has to go to the bathroom)

1:16 a.m. Son goes back to bed

1:20 a.m. Son starts talking to himself in bed

1:35 a.m. Talking continues. Mommy (light sleeper) goes in to see Son, says "time to go back to sleep"

1:47 a.m. Talking continues, and now a little giggling too coming from Son's room

1:55 a.m. Mommy goes back in, "no more talking, buddy". "Ok" says Son.

2:03 a.m. Chatter continues

2:10 a.m. Mommy hears a shout, "ah-la Peanut Butter Sandwiches!!!!" followed by giggling! laughter!

2:15 a.m. Mommy, back down the hallway to Son's room, pleads for him to be quiet

2:23 a.m. More chatter from Son's room (he can't help it, he's not tired)

2:30 a.m. Any possibility of salvaging the night and getting (at the very least) a good night's rest is now officially out of the question, as Mommy tosses from side to side and tries to not think about her son being wide awake and the demands of his busy day tomorrow (he needs his rest!!)

2:45 a.m. chatter chatter chatter

2:50 a.m. Mommy gets up and heads down to the computer.

2:55 a.m. Son gets up and starts heading down, too.

2:55 a.m. Mommy intercepts Son on stairs, scaring him unintentionally

2:56 a.m. Son flies back into bed, terrified about stairway meeting with Mommy

2:57 a.m. Mommy and Son cuddle a little on his bed. He's Ok now and maybe getting a little tired, too.

3:00 a.m. Mommy goes back downstairs to read about Luciano Pavarotti

3:07 a.m. Mommy clicks on http://www.blogger.com/

3:16 a.m. Clicking through her favorite blogs

3:20 a.m. Mommy decides to post a new entry

3:29 a.m. Finished writing, she's now thinking this might be a good time to play around with a new look to her homepage.

Good night!

week 15

So, here we are, almost 4 months into the project on the construction of the house across the street. Since my last entry you will see that the siding has gone up, and that there has been some stonework done at the front entryway. And that's just the outside! And, that's just what a nosey neighbor can spy from across the street. Imagine if I could give you an actual play-by-play of what's happening inside.

How are you today? I am fine. My boys are away this morning and I am on a mission to clean my house, top to bottom. Which is why I've chosen to procrastinate by blogging instead. I also have dinner going in the slow cooker. I just got a slow cooker last spring. Do you use yours? Any good recipes to pass on? I found a website, www.tastycrockpotrecipes.net. They have thousands of meal ideas. Good for me, as my meal ideas are nonexistent these days. Today we are trying the ultimate easy 'chicken-n-dumplings'. Doesn't necessarily sound like something you'd crave on a day when the mercury will hit 90, but then again, why not?

There is news to share. Beginning Friday I am heading into a 4-week freelance project. It will go from 9-5, M-F. Back to the advertising business, however briefly! I am not sure how this will affect my blog. I have visions of me blogging away during off hours, but maybe that is being optimistic. So perhaps my entrys will be a little spotty in the coming weeks. Don't worry, I'll still be here, and I'll for sure be reading what you have to say.

Have a wonderful day, and Happy Birthday to two special little boys....one in Ohio, one in North Carolina. Enjoy!

soon to be famous blogging mama

There was an email going around recently, maybe you saw it. It was a link to an auction on ebay, written by a very funny mom. That mom is a soon-to-be (more!) famous author, Dawn Meehan. She is a fellow Chicagoan, and a fellow blogger.

Here is her story:
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-bloggermom_03sep03,1,987830.story?page=1&coll=chi_tab01_layout

Here is her blog:
http://www.mom2my6pack.blogspot.com/

Check it out!

thank you

I love my birthday comments, cards, e-cards, e-mails, and well wishes.

THANK YOU!

roll with it baby

hello! I have been a little negligent of my blogroll lately. If you would like to be linked here and you don't see your blog name, please let me know. I am trying to update it. I know my blog could use some TLC. I have never updated its look...and well, I don't have plans to right now. But some day I'll get around to it.

Do you have plans for the holiday weekend? We do: go outside, go outside, go outside! Enjoy the last weekend of the pool, take a picnic to the park, visit downtown. Oh yes, and one more thing. Celebrate my birthday! It is Sunday.

Have a great weekend, everyone!

makes you think

Did you happen to catch the CNN special report last week, God's Warriors? We recorded it and have been watching bits and pieces when we can. We are 5 hours into the 6 hour program.

In case you missed it, Christiane Amanpour's report devotes 3 segments - 2 hours each - to understanding the intersection between global politics and 3 religions - Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. She meets with religious leaders, politicians, and every day citizens in various countries around the world to profile how governments have been and are currently affected by religious movements, history, and change. It has been fascinating to watch. Very informative, educational, and thought provoking.

I see that there have been repeats of the original airings of all 3 programs. If you are at all interested, I recommend checking it out.

oops

You can't view my video. Too bad, this was my first try at posting something from youtube. Oh well, hopefully you know what I was talking about in the previous post!

today's hits and yesterday's favorites

Such a lack of things to say today. No, that's not exactly true. Ok, more precise - I can't seem to organize my thoughts enough to make a worthwhile post today. My mind cannot get past what I heard on the radio first thing this morning. I just KNOW KNOW KNOW that you know what I mean about getting a song stuck in your head!

already an old pro

Things are going well with Kindergarten. Was it just last Tuesday that I was feeling so glum? What a difference a week makes.

If you are nervous about your son starting school, it really helps if he likes it. It helps if, when you ask him "how was kindergarten?" he shouts "GREAT!!" It helps if he talks about his new schedule all through breakfast & dinner (so much so that you have to remind him to eat.) It helps if, when the weekend comes, he's a little disappointed that the big yellow bus won't be pulling up to the curb. Most of all, it helps if he's smiling all the time, obviously happy and ready to tell the world why. Yes, all these things help. And, added together, they make a decisive conclusion. How could I not be doing well right now? Kindergarten rocks!

ta da...!

Congratulations, Paige! !

Please leave me a comment w/ your address (I won't publish) and I'll send you your package.

Oh, and I can't resist saying thank you again, everyone. Your sweet comments have been wonderful to read. Even my mom has been enjoying them. You guys are terrific! xo!

here we go!

Give me a second here, drawing a name now...

with gratitude

...for all you lovely friends. Thank you for these nice - no, more than nice - inspiring comments of encouragement and support over the last few days. You've done it again....just when I needed a little pick me up. I will be reading (and re-reading) your messages all day. Quite possibly all week.

And, to show my appreciation, I want to send you something. Some sweet little thing that will arrive right at your door. Addressed to you. From me. Just because you're great!

This is for any one of my readers - even if you've never left a comment before, you're still out there and you check in on me, and I want to say thanks. So throw your hat in the ring. Please leave your comment here...let's say...leave it by 11:59 PM Thursday night....and I'll draw a name on Friday.

Thank you...so much...again. Love, Meg

better today

Thanks for those nice messages on my last entry. I know every blogger would agree with me here...comments mean so much! Much more than you can imagine. So, thank you, thank you, thank you for being thoughtful and kind enough to leave me a nice comment to read on a particularly hard day.

Doing fine today and ready for tomorrow, when everything starts - full day and all that. Anxiously awaiting arrival of new Bob the Builder lunch box...ups tracking says it's being delivered today, but where are you, Bob? And the sun is finally out after so many days of doom and gloom. So maybe later on this afternoon we'll sneak in one last trip to the pool. I think we all deserve it!

I'll miss you

My son starts kindergarten today. It is not a real first day, it's "meet & greet". Moms and Dads are invited along with the kids. We are invited to come to the classroom, meet the teacher (who I actually met last spring), see where everyone will sit, get a look at some of the other kids. It's very exciting but a little scary (for me, if not for him.) Technically we'll be there for only 20 minutes. But you know, it's the first day.

I am so very proud of my son. Working as hard as he has over the past 2 years has gotten him to this point...he's going to kindergarten with the other kids in the neighborhood, typically developing kids. It's the goal we've been working toward. He's excited, and all of the professionals we work with are confident in him. We know this year will be a challenge, but we also know that he can do it. It's going to be hard. He will be picked up by the bus at 7 to get to school at 8, and then be there until I pick him up at 2:30. He'll put in a half day at kindergarten, and another half day at a social skills program, where the curriculum focuses exclusively on interacting with peers. From what we've heard, it's a wonderful program, and so this is a terrific opportunity for him. As I said, it's won't be easy. But he can do it. If anyone can, I know he can! I have all the confidence in the world in him.

But still....there's a little voice inside me...it says don't go! Stay with me a little longer! Just stay with me, no one has to know. I'll figure out a way to keep you 5 years old forever. We'll keep going to the pool, and we'll play on the swings, and I'll jump with you on the trampoline, and you can play on the computer as much as you want. And we'll go to the park, and eat picnics on the hill like you like, and drive around with the windows down listening to Elmo and the Orchestra. I'd do it! I'd do it for an eternity for you. Just...don't go.

being nice

Thank you to my friends Deb, TulipMom, and the Sisters with Style for handing over this pretty (ooh, pink!) award to me. You guys were nice to think of me. And I'm glad you think I'm nice. I'm glad you think my blog is nice. Being nice is good. You can never be too nice, can you?

Well, maybe you can. I'm choosing to be too nice, and not select others for the award as well. You're all nice out there, and you all deserve this one. So, give yourselves a pat on the back. Nice job!

damages

Anyone out there watching this also? Isn't it GREAT!?

week 12

During Saturday's block party we met the couple who is building the house across the street. They could not have been nicer. We talked shop for a long time and heard the whole story about how they decided to knock down the old house and build the new. It's been an exciting year for them. In addition to taking on this project, they were married in January. They are very eager to settle in (they hope to be in by November 1) and start a new life in their new home together.

block party

Our 3rd annual block party was Saturday. Like last year there was a moon jump for the kids, a clown, and a live band. We stayed until it was time for the kids to go to bed...and then our babysitter came and we went back after the kids were asleep.

In other news, my son is still not feeling his best, so we're laying low. And I have to say, staying in the house like this is bad for my waistline!

one last look

This is our last stop on the tour through Lisa's house. Kitchens are always the first place I go when looking at houses online. I think you'll enjoy looking at hers, too.

I am partial to the beautiful windows here in the eating area...and what a pretty view, too! To me there's just no such thing as too many windows or too many trees. I think that's why I love her house and North Carolina. It is beautiful!

Hasn't this been fun? It sure has been for me. Hope you have enjoyed it, too.

* * *

Ok, I have to tell you - I had such a great time last night.

If you are coming to Chicago and you want a fun night out on the town, it would be great if you could meet up with my cousin. She's one of those "who's who" people. She's got the connections. She's a girl who (as my aunt said last night) does things right.

Last night at the theatre we had front row seats (dead center, no less!) I could peer into the orchestra pit and see all the musicians up close. And our tickets gave us VIP access to this special room below the theatre where we could enjoy complimentary appetizers, desserts, and drinks before and during intermission. There were a couple of private bathrooms there, too.(That alone made the passes worthwhile, you know how the ladies' room line gets during intermission.)

But enough about that - most important is me telling you about the show. It was terrific! Truly one of the best stage productions I've ever seen. Fabulous! The story, the actors, the costumes, the songs, the dancing! Oh my GOSH. It was incredible. We all loved it, and the entire audience was up on its feet screaming and clapping as soon as the curtain call started. I almost cried then, as I was clapping along. That's how much I loved it. If you ever have an opportunity to go, I highly highly highly highly recommend it. I would love to go back - I'd go back in a heartbeat tonight. *it was absolutely fantastic* ! ! !

8 more

Guess who's feeling better? I think he's nearly himself again. Some rest, maybe a nap this afternoon and a good night's sleep tonight should do the trick. Thank you for your nice comments and sending him those blogworld hugs. I'm sure that's what helped him turn the corner.

So, I cheated the other day with my 8 random facts. Not only were they not random, they didn't have much to do with me. Directly, anyway. But you know, they were facts.

Anyway, since I've been holed up in my house the past couple of days, I've had some time to think. Maybe too much time. And I've thought up 8 more facts to throw out into blogworld. These are all random and about ME and ME ONLY!

1. I love shopping for clothes now but hated it as a child. I think I didn't like it back then because I wore a school uniform, and I just did not get clothes. They were not an important part of my every day life. Shoes and hair were critical, but regular clothes did not factor in in any meaningful way. To me there was nothing worse than spending a couple of hours at the local department store with my mother when I was a child. One time we were in a nice store and she was having me try on things for fall, including a lot of stuff that was pink - pink corduroys, a pink and brown sweater. I can still remember feeling bored and hot and finally, after spending a good 20 minutes in the dressing room trying things on and tromping out each time to show her how they were fitting, she said what's the matter. I muttered something about not liking pink and she said well then let's just get our things and go. And I was so RELIEVED. Imagine, here I am a pink fanatic all these years later. Oh how things change.

2. I get terrible headaches on rainy days. Alleve works.

3. I met my maid of honor when I was 4. I moved into a house around the corner from hers the summer before we went to kindergarten together.

4. My hair doesn't grow but I'm trying. And let me tell you, I've been trying this for years. I'd like it to be about 3-4 inches longer than it is now. I'm always aiming for something longer than what I have. And it pretty much stays the same length. I have this theory that new hair just collects in the ringlets that are already going and so you can't see any changes. Why, just the other night my husband and I were looking at pictures from last summer and there was one of me. When I asked him whether my hair is longer or shorter than last year he said, I don't know...shorter? grrr.

5. In my senior year of college I was a student tour guide. It was a great job. Yes, a job! It paid $10/hr.

6. That was a big step up from the job I had when I was a senior in high school: Bob Evans hostess. I can still remember my schedule. Monday: 6 a.m. - 2 p.m., Tuesday: 7-3, Wednesday 8-4, Th 9-5. I think Sundays were mandatory for the whole staff. It paid $5/hr. Technically it was the summer after high school.

7. I'm good at setting the table. This was always my assigned task as a child. If you need to know where to put the salad fork or the bread plate, you can ask me. Better yet, ask Monogram Momma. She's a pro.

8. Tonight my cousin has invited me downtown to see The Color Purple. I am excited! Cousin, you ask? Yes, my mom's sister's daughter, who lives in another Chicago suburb. She is wonderful. Her mother, my aunt, is in town and will be there, too. I haven't seen the show yet, have not read the book, and never saw the movie. So I am very much looking forward to both the company and the production.

let's keep going

The tour of Lisa's house in Charlotte continues! It's day 4, and this is of course the master bedroom. Lisa got new white bedding recently...oh so dreamy. I like beds that look as if they are big clouds that you simply fall into at the end of the day, don't you?

I love the color of her walls and the soft curtains in the windows. As you can see, it is a very peaceful room.


It's been nice to have had these pictures of Lisa's house to share this week. Aside from the fact that they are pictures of a beautiful home, it's made my blogging so easy. The pictures speak for themselves.


* * *

But I do have one story to share...


My oldest son has had a cold over the past week and it seems to have developed into the stomach flu. Which I guess is good if that means he's getting this out of the way before school starts on the 20th. But I have to share something he said yesterday, it was very sweet.

You know I don't talk about him very often here, but I think you also know that he's my special guy. Well, as bad as he was feeling yesterday, he was still trying so hard to get all of his words in order. This takes a lot of effort on his part. When he woke up in the morning and wanted to go downstairs he was feeling very weak and asked me to carry him, Mommy, may I please carry you downstairs?...being so careful to ask the way he thought was right. A little while later he was sitting on the couch and ended up getting sick...on his jammies. It was only a little water that he had been sipping, but he was devastated. He kept saying, I spilled my water, I spilled my water. A little while later he was getting drowsy, so I carried him back upstairs to sleep. As I did I could hear him speaking very quietly to himself, I don't want to spill, I don't want to spill.

Sweetest little guy ever. Oh, how could anyone not love a child like that?

dining out

Here we are at Lisa's house again. I wanted to be sure to capture her dining room for you. Isn't it great? So colorful! Actually, the wall color reminds me of a lipstick I had a long time ago...the name of it was "raspberry glacee" (it was Clinique in case that rings a bell.)

Another view below. Lisa's breakfront has a mirror in it, which you can see. So I had to stand to the side of it as I looked into the room to avoid being caught on film. Be sure to notice the beautiful fabric on those curtains. Gorgeous!

How about that chandelier? I love it. And of course, I love Lisa's pottery collection. I needn't say anything more about that, you know the whole story already!

8 things

Ok, the picture above is more from Lisa's house...this is her family room....very very pretty. The weary vacationer on the couch belongs to me. Day 1 of our vacation...he was getting the right idea already.

While I was gone I saw that Heather tagged me for 8 Random Facts. Thank you, Heather. I find it challenging to come up with facts, don't you? But it's fun. Still, maybe I've cheated a little bit this time...I'm throwing in a lot about my family. Here I go.

1. My hometown is not small, but when I was growing up it was much smaller than it is today. My grandfather, my dad's father, ran a successful family business. It was named after him. Everyone in town knew it, and so everyone knew him.

2. My dad is the second of nine children, the oldest son. He was named after his father. My dad did not work for his father, he chose to do something completely unrelated. But he has also made a career out of working with a lot of different people in town.

3. So when I was growing up, people would hear my last name and say, wait - are you related to [grandfather] or [father]?

4. But it seemed just as often they'd say, wait - are you [mother]'s daughter?

5. And they'd say to me, I love your mother.

6. They'd say, she's the greatest lady! She's so funny.

7. Store clerks, house painters, electricians, hair dressers, receptionists, doctors, nurses, gas station attendants, hostesses & waiters, lifeguards at the pool, the local butcher, mailman, handyman, florist, and seamstress. Throughout my life I've heard these people tell me they love my mother. Many have told her outright that she is their favorite customer/patient/client. Probably because she makes a point of getting to know them, asking them about themselves, taking a sincere interest in their lives (the good as well as the bad) each time she sees them. And she makes them laugh with her own life stories. She has a strong effect on people; it's hard to describe in a way that doesn't make it seem like I'm exaggerating. But I'm not. I remember one time a woman in town had a party to honor special women around and she announced to everyone at the party that she loved my mother the most. Even as I was growing up my friends always liked her and would want to visit with her when they came over.

8. So even though her name wasn't on the sign, or the letterhead, by my account she was (and is) as well known as my dad and grandfather in my hometown. Just in a different way.

home again

We were gone 10 days, and it was glorious. We spent 2 days visiting my husband's sister & family in Charlotte, NC, and then a week on Seabrook Island, SC with my parents and younger brother.

Have you noticed, any time you are gone longer than a week - 7 days - time really does start to slow down. You begin to forget what day it is - or at least, you don't always think of it right away if someone asks you. And the people you're with ask you because they don't remember right away, either. And you start forgetting what you usually do on a typical day during a typical week in your life and all of a sudden every day is Saturday and you have so much time to do anything you want. Like eat too late. Or too early. And eat decadent things. And nap. And waste time by doing nothing but watch the waves hit the beach, even if you brought a book to read. And ride bikes with your family and not think about what you should do as soon as you get back.

We had that kind of vacation. Funny, though...it wasn't like I was away from real life. In fact, at one point I said to my husband that it seemed like I was having more than my fair share of serious talks when we were supposed to be relaxing. I had these kind of conversations with my brother, my mom, my husband, and my sister in-law and her husband. Maybe that's a natural part of vacationing...you get just far away from your regular life that you can see it and talk about it clearly. Or not.

Speaking of my sister in-law, her name is Lisa, which I think you know. The picture above is from her foyer in her lovely home. I told you I would take pictures...and I did. But I ran out of steam during my trip and all my good intentions for taking great beach pictures kind of dissipated. My husband took a lot of video, though. I am hoping I can show you some video of the alligator we had behind our house on Seabrook.

I took some pictures of Lisa's house and thought I would share them with you. Let's start with this one. Sorry there won't be any beach pictures, but what can I say. It was a nice vacation, and I was having a really good time.