A marker of sorts. A year ago I got my new ACL. I say that like it's a new car-but really it sucked. However, a year later I'm almost back to normal. Not quite where i would've thought-but I'm trying to not be picky.
I'm looking at a possible advancement in my professional life. A more rewarding personal life-as far as the social aspect. There are still kinks to work out in the system.
But all in all-it's not bad.
Car problems-but as inconvenient and unfortunate that that is. I can't really complain about it-my poor car has over 100,000 miles on it. And minus the car accidents, I haven't had any major work done on it. And as much as I stress over how am I going to figure this one out-I look back on the last year and say-I never thought I could do this on my own. With no family in the area, a limited circle of friends. But I did. So I know that I'll figure this one out as well. I just have to understand and accept that the end result may not be what I really want but what I have to do.
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Sunday, February 6, 2011
Where's my cowboy?
I must admit, I'm a sucker for a good love story. Well, who isn't really? I guess there are some. It's not that I have expectations-I much more pragmatic and realistic-but deep down, when it comes to observing other people, I'm a hopeless, mushy romantic soul.
At my last store over a year ago now, we were having an author come to do a signing. We hadn't really heard of her at our store until her uber dedicated fans started calling and asking all about the event weeks before the scheduled date. And they were so excited and beside themselves that I just had to know what crazy wonderfulness I was so ignorant of up to this point. I mean, she was a cookbook author-and I love me some cookbooks and cooking and cookware and cooking utensils and cooking appliances, and I think we all get the idea. And this is when I realized that life was utterly unfair. This author was living a dream that most women would give anything to have. Besides being this successful blogger, cookbook author, website builder wonder woman-she also had the perfect cowboy husband. A real life cowboy. A cowboy. It may be a cliche, but down deep inside of everyone of us straight women and some gay, is the cowboy fantasy. A gentleman. A person with values and roots and chivalry. The stetson, the wranglers, the horse-it's there somewhere-however irrational for those of us who live in cities where the only horses pull tourist along a paved concrete road in a carriage.
The woman who is living the dream for us all so we can live vicariously through her.
The Pioneer Woman.
And now-NOW-she has a non-cookbook out with her and her Marlboro Man's love story! Which most of us who have visited her site have read a lot-but she's added new stuff into the courtship and then she's added their first year of marriage! And I thought I would just skim along, refresh myself and get to the marriage part quickly, but it was not to be-I am sucked into this real life romance novel like I didn't read almost all of it over 3 nights before she came to my store over a year ago. And I cannot stop! Well, i can for as long as it takes to type this little post and let my nook charge up a little.
I never took myself for this mushy romantic girly girl. I was always one of the guys. Tough, willing to get dirty, a little compartamentalized (if that's how that's spelled); but this book has turned me into a teenage girl with stars in her eyes, wishing she grew up in the middle of nowhere with hot cowboys (because I'm sure all the real ones are actually hot...) and could admire thei physique in wranglers and chaps.
I've said that I don't see myself getting married; and now I know that's probably truer; because I've yet to see a real cowboy in Chicago and I don't think I could even contemplate the thought of marriage unless it was to a cowboy.
Check out http://www.thepioneerwoman.com/
It's absolutely awesome.
At my last store over a year ago now, we were having an author come to do a signing. We hadn't really heard of her at our store until her uber dedicated fans started calling and asking all about the event weeks before the scheduled date. And they were so excited and beside themselves that I just had to know what crazy wonderfulness I was so ignorant of up to this point. I mean, she was a cookbook author-and I love me some cookbooks and cooking and cookware and cooking utensils and cooking appliances, and I think we all get the idea. And this is when I realized that life was utterly unfair. This author was living a dream that most women would give anything to have. Besides being this successful blogger, cookbook author, website builder wonder woman-she also had the perfect cowboy husband. A real life cowboy. A cowboy. It may be a cliche, but down deep inside of everyone of us straight women and some gay, is the cowboy fantasy. A gentleman. A person with values and roots and chivalry. The stetson, the wranglers, the horse-it's there somewhere-however irrational for those of us who live in cities where the only horses pull tourist along a paved concrete road in a carriage.
The woman who is living the dream for us all so we can live vicariously through her.
The Pioneer Woman.
And now-NOW-she has a non-cookbook out with her and her Marlboro Man's love story! Which most of us who have visited her site have read a lot-but she's added new stuff into the courtship and then she's added their first year of marriage! And I thought I would just skim along, refresh myself and get to the marriage part quickly, but it was not to be-I am sucked into this real life romance novel like I didn't read almost all of it over 3 nights before she came to my store over a year ago. And I cannot stop! Well, i can for as long as it takes to type this little post and let my nook charge up a little.
I never took myself for this mushy romantic girly girl. I was always one of the guys. Tough, willing to get dirty, a little compartamentalized (if that's how that's spelled); but this book has turned me into a teenage girl with stars in her eyes, wishing she grew up in the middle of nowhere with hot cowboys (because I'm sure all the real ones are actually hot...) and could admire thei physique in wranglers and chaps.
I've said that I don't see myself getting married; and now I know that's probably truer; because I've yet to see a real cowboy in Chicago and I don't think I could even contemplate the thought of marriage unless it was to a cowboy.
Check out http://www.thepioneerwoman.com/
It's absolutely awesome.
Sunday, January 9, 2011
I'm trying not to be angry.
Yesterday Congresswoman Giffords of Arizona was attacked. In that attack 6 people died and 14 more were injured. A congresswoman trying to reach out to her constituents, to listen to them, and meet them and talk to them at a local grocery store, was gunned down by a deranged individual.
It's sad and tragic. But I find myself trying not to be angry. Anger is not the best emotion to carry with you. But I just want to scream at people who still don't want to talk about sensible gun laws and enforcement. It's not the gun it's the person holding it. Well you know what-maybe it shouldn't be so flippin easy to get a gun!!!
To get a driver's license you have to take classes, get in car training, and then pass a test. To get a gun, maybe a three day waiting period/background check. And in Arizona you don't have to have a permit to conceal and carry. Shouldn't it be harder than this? You have to be 18 to by cold medicine now, and Big Brother watched how much you buy, but to get a gun, you can walk into any gunshow and walk out with whatever you see and like. These are dangerous weapons. I get the 2nd ammendment. But you know what-we don't have a standing militia anymore, and we're not "living off the land" in most places anymore. And if you are a hunter, quite frankly you should be forced to eat what you kill, because otherwise you're wasting a life. Wasting a life! This isn't a video game, there are no other lives after that one. And humans aren't the end all species here. God is. And every creature is God's creature.
It just should not be this easy for something like this to happen. It shouldn't. And you know what, I'll sacrifice the 2nd ammendment so that practicing the first is safe! Get up there and spit out all the disgusting, ignorant, stupid statements you want-I won't shoot you for it. I may yell back, but at least we can do that without worrying that one of us will be dead at the end.
So, I'm trying not to get angry, but it's hard.
It's sad and tragic. But I find myself trying not to be angry. Anger is not the best emotion to carry with you. But I just want to scream at people who still don't want to talk about sensible gun laws and enforcement. It's not the gun it's the person holding it. Well you know what-maybe it shouldn't be so flippin easy to get a gun!!!
To get a driver's license you have to take classes, get in car training, and then pass a test. To get a gun, maybe a three day waiting period/background check. And in Arizona you don't have to have a permit to conceal and carry. Shouldn't it be harder than this? You have to be 18 to by cold medicine now, and Big Brother watched how much you buy, but to get a gun, you can walk into any gunshow and walk out with whatever you see and like. These are dangerous weapons. I get the 2nd ammendment. But you know what-we don't have a standing militia anymore, and we're not "living off the land" in most places anymore. And if you are a hunter, quite frankly you should be forced to eat what you kill, because otherwise you're wasting a life. Wasting a life! This isn't a video game, there are no other lives after that one. And humans aren't the end all species here. God is. And every creature is God's creature.
It just should not be this easy for something like this to happen. It shouldn't. And you know what, I'll sacrifice the 2nd ammendment so that practicing the first is safe! Get up there and spit out all the disgusting, ignorant, stupid statements you want-I won't shoot you for it. I may yell back, but at least we can do that without worrying that one of us will be dead at the end.
So, I'm trying not to get angry, but it's hard.
Monday, December 6, 2010
It's Beginning to Look...
Oh December is here-and finally with it snow. So if you weren't in the holiday spirit before, you should be now. And for the most part I am. If I weren't so annoyed with my roommate maybe it'd be a little better, but I won't let him ruin the season.
The city with snow is pretty-as long as you don't look at the ground. It can look less pretty after everyone's tredged and driven through it. However, keep your eyes up and looking at lights twinkling off of trees dressed with snow, and storefronts decorated with garland and ornaments and holiday accoutrements. A smile will come to your face. And if one doesn't you probably don't have a heart.
I'm trying to decide how to spend my Christmas this year. Do I go out, stay in, have friends over, or just enjoy the peace and quiet? I'm leaning toward the peace and quiet quite honestly. However, midnight mass is a possibility. My one catholic tradition that I try and keep when i can. Far from catholic now, it's the only mass that doesn't completely bore me or make me mad. It can be quite beautiful depending on the church. I was going to have friends over...but all the work that goes into that, and I just don't know if I'll have the energy to do it all over again so soon after Thanksgiving. But we'll see.
Customers are starting to get the holiday funny in them. Either way cranky because they cannot find anything on their list, OR, competely willing to take anything you hand them! I do love when they just listen and don't question-it's like my little bit of influence i have over the world to make sure they're reading the right things.
Still have yet to do the Xmas cards-can't find my address book. So, i may have to forgo those this year. Although it makes me a little sad to do so.
The city with snow is pretty-as long as you don't look at the ground. It can look less pretty after everyone's tredged and driven through it. However, keep your eyes up and looking at lights twinkling off of trees dressed with snow, and storefronts decorated with garland and ornaments and holiday accoutrements. A smile will come to your face. And if one doesn't you probably don't have a heart.
I'm trying to decide how to spend my Christmas this year. Do I go out, stay in, have friends over, or just enjoy the peace and quiet? I'm leaning toward the peace and quiet quite honestly. However, midnight mass is a possibility. My one catholic tradition that I try and keep when i can. Far from catholic now, it's the only mass that doesn't completely bore me or make me mad. It can be quite beautiful depending on the church. I was going to have friends over...but all the work that goes into that, and I just don't know if I'll have the energy to do it all over again so soon after Thanksgiving. But we'll see.
Customers are starting to get the holiday funny in them. Either way cranky because they cannot find anything on their list, OR, competely willing to take anything you hand them! I do love when they just listen and don't question-it's like my little bit of influence i have over the world to make sure they're reading the right things.
Still have yet to do the Xmas cards-can't find my address book. So, i may have to forgo those this year. Although it makes me a little sad to do so.
Saturday, November 6, 2010
3+ years-I can't believe it!
Shockingly I let the 3 year anniversary pass me by without noting it. But better late than never right? I've been in Chicago 3 years, 1 month and 5 days-actually. Kind of shocking. I think I'm one of the few who hasn't moved from the first place she moved in to. A lot of people move around here. I don't like to move. It makes me sad. All that packing and I end up getting rid of stuff. But it's also a physical manifestation of the past years into boxes. An odd representation of who you are or what you've become-those boxes. Well, only if you let them be.
Work: State and Elm is an interesting and challenging store. Could be challenging for many reasons-but not because it's busy. After OO nothing seems busy. But it's a funky city store with crazy customers, a difficult at times, set up (as far as merchandising is concerned) and well-there's always crazies in the city. I kind of miss driving to work, and I'm pretty much tired of the crazy people on bus. It's sad to say that-I've become jaded to a lot of it-and that worries me. I don't want to look past someone who is truly in need. But it's hard to figure out the legit from the not here. I will say, though, that I'm extremely proud of my holiday set. And I know it won't stay the same for the whole season-but I like it. And this store isn't some pretty box that you can just follow the map-but I think I did a decent job-actually I think I nailed it. But that toughest critic besides myself has not been in yet. So I will let judgement wait until then.
Looking forward to a trip to D.C. I'll be chaperoning Anthony's class trip. Me and a some parents and a bunch of 13ish year olds, tearing up the D.C. I'm actually really excited-it's been so long since I've been. Spring of senior year in college. I can't wait to go back and see everything that's changed. It's like going home-I love the place. If Deb didn't live there I might move there-but the farther away from crazy former roommates the better.
I'm having Thanksgiving at my house with friends. And although I'll be missing the family-especially little Chloe-she's growing so fast! I'm excited to have a holiday here with my Chicago family. It feels like a turning point for me. Like a point where we all realize that this is my home now. This isn't an extended stay in a nearby town. This is home. It's kind of weird-but I'm adjusting.
The knee is almost there! I'm done with PT as of a week ago. I still have to schedule my doctor's appointment and then hopefully, keeping all fingers crossed, he'll discharge me. I still have some swelling and soreness-but that can last for up to a year. And the numbness on part of it may never go away. But I'm moving a lot better, taking stairs up and down. Driving still seems to get me-I'm not sure if it's because it's bent or what. Tomorrow we're going to head out to the lake front and try a little jogging on a surface that doesn't move. I kind of miss the tred mill at PT-though i'd never admit it outloud. But I'm afraid that my energy level is going to drop if I don't keep up with the aerobic stuff-and I have to keep strengthening the quad so the doctor will discharge me.
Looking forward to the holiday season-been listening to some Christmas music already. Love it! Not sure I'm completely ready for the cold weather-but I guess if I want one, the other pretty much comes with it.
A little worried about Grandma E. She's been in and out of the hospital every 3 weeks or so. And she's in her 80s and I just don't know how much more a human body can take? Congestive heart failure every few weeks because of all this fluid in her body that then surrounds her heart. But this has been going on since at least August-that I know of anyways. She's not in good health, she's old, she's had heart attacks. I just don't know how much more she can handle.
Reconnected with Tom through facebook-and that made me pretty happy. He looks good and I'm hoping there's an opportunity at some point to see him in person. Sean posted about them coming to see me when he gets back in the states in December-and that would be pretty cool. I haven't see either in years. I was a witness for Sean's and Maureen's annullment and that was odd for me-but I've only seen her and not him since the divorce. So it would be good to them and make sure I'm still the person I've always been.
I do feel like sometimes I've kind of lost myself out here. It might be because my circle of friends is so much smaller, and the no family thing, but it's nice to regroup. I got to do that when I went home for Chloe's 1st brithday. Played cards with Ray, Brad and Blaise (although Blaise being old enough to drive himself around kind of throws me). And Steve was randomly here last month-and that made me extremely happy. But I do miss them all. And I worry. So it's always good to be able to see and touch.
See and touch. Yep on that note-goodnight.
Work: State and Elm is an interesting and challenging store. Could be challenging for many reasons-but not because it's busy. After OO nothing seems busy. But it's a funky city store with crazy customers, a difficult at times, set up (as far as merchandising is concerned) and well-there's always crazies in the city. I kind of miss driving to work, and I'm pretty much tired of the crazy people on bus. It's sad to say that-I've become jaded to a lot of it-and that worries me. I don't want to look past someone who is truly in need. But it's hard to figure out the legit from the not here. I will say, though, that I'm extremely proud of my holiday set. And I know it won't stay the same for the whole season-but I like it. And this store isn't some pretty box that you can just follow the map-but I think I did a decent job-actually I think I nailed it. But that toughest critic besides myself has not been in yet. So I will let judgement wait until then.
Looking forward to a trip to D.C. I'll be chaperoning Anthony's class trip. Me and a some parents and a bunch of 13ish year olds, tearing up the D.C. I'm actually really excited-it's been so long since I've been. Spring of senior year in college. I can't wait to go back and see everything that's changed. It's like going home-I love the place. If Deb didn't live there I might move there-but the farther away from crazy former roommates the better.
I'm having Thanksgiving at my house with friends. And although I'll be missing the family-especially little Chloe-she's growing so fast! I'm excited to have a holiday here with my Chicago family. It feels like a turning point for me. Like a point where we all realize that this is my home now. This isn't an extended stay in a nearby town. This is home. It's kind of weird-but I'm adjusting.
The knee is almost there! I'm done with PT as of a week ago. I still have to schedule my doctor's appointment and then hopefully, keeping all fingers crossed, he'll discharge me. I still have some swelling and soreness-but that can last for up to a year. And the numbness on part of it may never go away. But I'm moving a lot better, taking stairs up and down. Driving still seems to get me-I'm not sure if it's because it's bent or what. Tomorrow we're going to head out to the lake front and try a little jogging on a surface that doesn't move. I kind of miss the tred mill at PT-though i'd never admit it outloud. But I'm afraid that my energy level is going to drop if I don't keep up with the aerobic stuff-and I have to keep strengthening the quad so the doctor will discharge me.
Looking forward to the holiday season-been listening to some Christmas music already. Love it! Not sure I'm completely ready for the cold weather-but I guess if I want one, the other pretty much comes with it.
A little worried about Grandma E. She's been in and out of the hospital every 3 weeks or so. And she's in her 80s and I just don't know how much more a human body can take? Congestive heart failure every few weeks because of all this fluid in her body that then surrounds her heart. But this has been going on since at least August-that I know of anyways. She's not in good health, she's old, she's had heart attacks. I just don't know how much more she can handle.
Reconnected with Tom through facebook-and that made me pretty happy. He looks good and I'm hoping there's an opportunity at some point to see him in person. Sean posted about them coming to see me when he gets back in the states in December-and that would be pretty cool. I haven't see either in years. I was a witness for Sean's and Maureen's annullment and that was odd for me-but I've only seen her and not him since the divorce. So it would be good to them and make sure I'm still the person I've always been.
I do feel like sometimes I've kind of lost myself out here. It might be because my circle of friends is so much smaller, and the no family thing, but it's nice to regroup. I got to do that when I went home for Chloe's 1st brithday. Played cards with Ray, Brad and Blaise (although Blaise being old enough to drive himself around kind of throws me). And Steve was randomly here last month-and that made me extremely happy. But I do miss them all. And I worry. So it's always good to be able to see and touch.
See and touch. Yep on that note-goodnight.
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
New Game Plan
okay, we need a new plan. This knee rehab thing-well it's not going according to plan. I was supposed to be discharged today-but I'm still in for two months and at least another month of therapy. 6 months out. It's supposed to be almost over at this point. I was supposed to be PT free and just doing home exercises.
But since that's not the case-new plan and new goal.
In one year, I'll be a year and a half post surgery and that's the time limit the doc gave me to solidify the knee, and I'll be sky diving! All are welcome to come.
Shorter term-get out of PT. Flashcards at work. I'm going to disperse flash cards in the different areas of the stores with exercises that I have to do and when I stop by on MOD rounds, I'll find one or an employee will give me one and then I'll have to do that exercise for however many reps.
Part B will involve home stuff that I've yet to figure out. But I will. I'm thinking post it notes on the walls and windows. And some sort of reward system-I'm good with rewards.
Otherwise it was a crazy day of running and running, doctor, PT, Chiroracotr, and all errands. My day off was wasted running around and not relaxing and sleeping in.
But i'm making eggs benedict tomorrow-so i guess there's a silver lining!
But since that's not the case-new plan and new goal.
In one year, I'll be a year and a half post surgery and that's the time limit the doc gave me to solidify the knee, and I'll be sky diving! All are welcome to come.
Shorter term-get out of PT. Flashcards at work. I'm going to disperse flash cards in the different areas of the stores with exercises that I have to do and when I stop by on MOD rounds, I'll find one or an employee will give me one and then I'll have to do that exercise for however many reps.
Part B will involve home stuff that I've yet to figure out. But I will. I'm thinking post it notes on the walls and windows. And some sort of reward system-I'm good with rewards.
Otherwise it was a crazy day of running and running, doctor, PT, Chiroracotr, and all errands. My day off was wasted running around and not relaxing and sleeping in.
But i'm making eggs benedict tomorrow-so i guess there's a silver lining!
Sunday, September 19, 2010
Falling down
Fall is upon us. Or at least I was hoping so-but it looks like we'll be back in the 80s this week. Which, hey i'm not complaining that much. I know with Fall comes winter, and with winter snow, and with snow that means it's colder than the Fall.
The knee today. Ugh. It's better than yesterday, but not back to where it was before Friday and whatever I did to make it so unhappy this time. I mean, I don't think I re-tore anything-but man, I was liking walking like a normal person, and my hips being properly aligned, etc. You start to get used to it and quickly, easily and completely forget what the other end feel like. The bad end, the not normal end. But life has a way of reminding you with a sucker punch to the gut. Here's the deal-just a week ago I was walking around Chicago with Steve-yep he came to visit!-kind of-and, whereas I'm slower that about half the population, but still faster than the lost tourists, it wasn't bad. It was almost normal. And now, the thought of walking to the bus makes me do an inward cringe.
I'm, quite possibly the only person excited for the holiday season at work. Although, sometimes I wonder, I love the holiday season, and everything leading up to Christmas, but being away from everyone, I wonder if I'm more excited to kind of face it and get it done with? Probably half and half. Maybe one day the family will actually venture out here for the holidays-spend it in Chi-town, take in A Christmas Carol at the Goodman, see the skating rink at Millenium Park, Zoo lights at Lincoln Park Zoo-which are so much better than the Cleveland's zoo. The Kriskindle market downtown. I'm not holding my breath-but it's a nice idea.
Well now I'm tired and need to sleep. Peace out peeps.
The knee today. Ugh. It's better than yesterday, but not back to where it was before Friday and whatever I did to make it so unhappy this time. I mean, I don't think I re-tore anything-but man, I was liking walking like a normal person, and my hips being properly aligned, etc. You start to get used to it and quickly, easily and completely forget what the other end feel like. The bad end, the not normal end. But life has a way of reminding you with a sucker punch to the gut. Here's the deal-just a week ago I was walking around Chicago with Steve-yep he came to visit!-kind of-and, whereas I'm slower that about half the population, but still faster than the lost tourists, it wasn't bad. It was almost normal. And now, the thought of walking to the bus makes me do an inward cringe.
I'm, quite possibly the only person excited for the holiday season at work. Although, sometimes I wonder, I love the holiday season, and everything leading up to Christmas, but being away from everyone, I wonder if I'm more excited to kind of face it and get it done with? Probably half and half. Maybe one day the family will actually venture out here for the holidays-spend it in Chi-town, take in A Christmas Carol at the Goodman, see the skating rink at Millenium Park, Zoo lights at Lincoln Park Zoo-which are so much better than the Cleveland's zoo. The Kriskindle market downtown. I'm not holding my breath-but it's a nice idea.
Well now I'm tired and need to sleep. Peace out peeps.
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