More change

I've become a real blog-slacker lately. The most significant news here is that I gave my notice at my job this past week. For obvious reasons, I try to make a habit of not talking too specifically about work on my blog but I'll make the exception here.

I have a history of loving my work and loving the people I work with who always end up like a second family to me. After about the first week or two I knew this job was wrong for me. I was surrounded by a sea of cubicles but rarely would anyone speak to me. I have been feeling a real disconnect with the people but even more of a disconnect with the work. It just wasn't exactly what I thought it would be or should be. I shared some of my concerns at my three-month evaluation only things didn't seem to change. I also recently found out that I had been mis-paid and after bringing that concern to my boss, he didn't try to make it right. Then this week I read an email that I wasn't supposed to read...you know the drill. You get copied on an email and you go back to read the chain and find a disparaging remark about yourself. Not cool. It was the final straw for me in an already unhappy situation. So I made the decision to leave.

I was asked to apply for another position with the company on the same floor. I've been mulling it over for the past few days but I honestly think that the situation would be a little too awkward for me and I also am not convinced that I'll be that much happier with the work. I think I'm going to pass.

So here I am, at the same place I was a few months ago. I am trying to figure out what's the next step for me. I've been thinking about graduate school or just searching for another full-time position that seems like a better fit (although those positions are scarce in this economy) or both. I feel like I know exactly what I want to do, if I can just do it.

So, yeah, lots of changes once again. But I'm ready to just hang out for a few days, enjoy the long weekend and leave all of that behind for awhile.

Weekend visit

Cathy, Bryon and Adyson came to visit this weekend. We had hopes of going to the zoo but the rainy weather botched our plans so we spent Friday indoors at Shedd Aquarium and went out for Chicago-style pizza. Saturday we went to Navy Pier and Ed Debevic's. It's been a fun weekend. Now I'm staring down what looks like a couple weeks worth of laundry! Yikes.

Cathy and me sitting on a "couch" at Navy Pier with Bob Newhart as Dr. Bob Hartley.

Adyson at Ed Debevic's. She loved the singing and dancing.

Bryon and Cathy at Gino's East.

Cathy and Adyson at Shedd Aquarium.

Public service announcement...

My husband made his blog "private" recently. So if you have been reading Joe's blog and haven't been added as an invited reader just let me know and he'll get you added. I will also note this means if you use an RSS feed I don't think it will show up; you will have to check in the old fashioned way.

Weekend Recap

As I predicted, it's been a busy but very fun weekend. We've enjoyed having Joe's mom and brother here visiting. Tom just left for the airport and Jo Ann leaves in the morning. Yesterday we walked ALL OVER downtown, we went to the top of the Sears Tower, went to Millennium Park (the picture is with Joe and his mom at the park), Billy Goat Tavern and finally to a delicious dinner at Rick Bayless' Frontera Grill. So good that I can't wait to go back! And today we had a nice brunch. It's been fun playing tourist and tour guide.

Weekend

Joe and I will have a busy weekend ahead of us. His mom and brother come in town today for a visit. His mom was supposed to be here by now but her flight has been delayed all over the place and now she'll get in very late. This means she'll miss the Second City show we're seeing and dinner. (This happened the last time she visited, too.) I have lasagna, bread and salad all ready to go...and a cheesecake to nibble on this weekend. I feel like we have a LOT of plans that revolve around food but what's new. Also, I can't believe I've failed to mention it but my husband has a great new job. He starts on June 1. Just got the word on Monday. We'll still be here but we may eventually look for a place to live out in the suburbs to be closer to his work...have I mentioned how much I hate moving?? Yup, pretty sure I have. But I always need an excuse to clean out closets and purge.

Update: Joe's mom is now supposed to get in a little earlier than I thought and may be able to make part of the show!

Jenny

Ellen, Jenny and me.
Jenny and I hugging at her 21st birthday celebration.

Today is May 4. It’s been 10 years since my friend Jenny died in a car accident. I asked her sister, Susan if I could write about her. Even after all this time, I miss her dearly.

I will never forget where I was when I heard the news. I was working at my college internship at a local hospital and we were in the middle of a tv interview when one of the reporters got a cell phone call that there had been a fatal accident on US Hwy 61. My heart sank. It was the same road that I, and several of my hometown friends, traveled every day to college. Typically, I would have gone straight to school after my internship but that day was different. Something in my gut told me to go home. When I pulled in the driveway, my mom was waiting for me.

Nine days earlier, I had celebrated Jenny’s 21st birthday with her. It was the very last time I saw her. We had exchanged phone calls and emails but life was busy and even though we lived in the same town and went to the same college, we hadn’t quite been able to connect for that week since. I am so grateful that I have such a wonderful last memory of spending her birthday celebrating with her.

Jenny was majoring in early childhood education and she often babysat for two special needs children. She had such a kind heart and was so genuine and carefree. She touched many lives through her teaching and love for children.

We loved to watch movies together, listen to Tori Amos, go shopping for the latest cds and of course we went to parties! We also LOVED to watch Dawson's Creek and even did homework together...although I don't think either one of us did much studying, mostly it was just talking. We went to see Titanic - a lot. (I saw it 3 times but I know she saw it even more than that!) She had so many friends and so much fun.

Jenny was an amazing friend and I’m so blessed to have known her. Susan said she often wonders what Jenny would be like today and I have to wonder the same thing. She was so young when she died and was just starting her adult life at twenty-one...I suspect she would be very happy - I can't think of Jenny without thinking of her big smile. And though I think of her often, I am especially thinking of her and her family today.

Anniversary celebration

Thursday night Joe and I went to dinner with Terrie and Kirk. (Terrie is my mom's first cousin.) We were celebrating their anniversary. 26 years ago, I was their flower girl! Fantastic dinner (also happened to be at the location of the Obama's Valentine's Day dinner this year) and great company. Happy Anniversary!

Tidbits

A suspected case of swine flu has closed a Chicago school. It's enough to make me not want to leave the house until this is over.

This article in the newspaper yesterday made me smile. The world might be a happier place with more Mr. T appearances. Can't someone give him a reality show?

Cousins

I mentioned after my cousin Lea passed away that I had been looking at old photo albums and would eventually like to post some pictures of us as kids. Here are just a couple. Makes me want to archive all the old pictures and put them on cds. Unfortunately, the pictures didn't easily come out of the albums.
This is a family favorite. We were all dressed in red and yellow (or off-white) but don't you love how those 70s pictures are all discolored now so the entire thing just looks red? (Clockwise: Cathy, Sue, Amy, Shawn and Lea)

This one is circa 1984 at my grandparents' house. (Left to right from back to front is: Cathy, Grandpa Miller, Shawn, Sue, Amy and Lea.)

Weekend

Joe and I saw my parents this weekend and went to my cousin, Brandon's wedding. (Brandon is my cousin on my dad's side.) It was good to see family and this morning we went to see my grandma before making our way back home. It only takes 4 1/2 to 5 hours to get to my hometown but it just seems like such a long car ride! One of the best parts of the car ride was listening to one of David Sedaris' books on cd. I love him! And I am glad to report that Joe has almost all of his stuff on audio so this will be something to look forward to with future car rides.

Adyson at the wedding reception. She liked putting the napkin over her face and being the source of our amusement.

Adyson and my mom this morning. Her dress is a recent purchase from Aunt Amy and Uncle Joe.

Finally...

I took this photo of the tree in our backyard a few days ago. Around that time I also mentioned to Joe that I wanted to plant some flowers in front of our house where just old mulch and dirt exists. He told me if I was just patient that some plants would pop up soon. I didn't believe him. But low and behold, we were leaving the house tonight and I saw green plants coming up from the ground. It's Spring!! Flowers are in bloom! I thought it would never happen. The weather is beautiful today. Beautiful!

Sisterhood

I like to write. I have kept a journal off and on for most of my life. I used to send mass emails out to my friends whenever something funny would happen to me and then I discovered blogging. Most of the time I feel like I have nothing of importance to say but I love blogging. It gives me something to do, it allows me to write and be creative (sometimes!) and keeps my friends and family updated on my latest misadventures (or is that MSadventures or MRSadventures?). Anyway, without further adieu, today I received a blog award from Jen. (I’m feeling the love, Jen!) So now, it’s my turn to pass it along.

Here are the guidelines for this award:

Put the logo on your blog or post.

Nominate at least 10 blogs with great attitude and/or gratitude.

Be sure to link to your nominees in your post.

Let your nominees know they have received the award by leaving them a comment on their blog.
Be sure to link this post to the person who nominated you for the award.

Here are my nominations:

1. Nichole from Esmon dot net

2. Jeni from Peace and Carrots

3. Cristin from Mumma Baby

4. Alison from Musings of an Accident Prone Chicagoan

5. Sandi from The Wayfaring Stranger

6. Rachel from Rach’s

7. Laura from Prettykitty03

8. Shayla from The Smith Bunch

9. Dorian from Dorian’s Days

10. Becky from Busy Building Cathedrals

The results are in

I got to review my spine x-rays today and they showed a lot of neck damage. The doctor said it could only be caused by a traumatic accident. It HAD to have been caused by falling down my friend, Micah's stairs when she lived at an apartment several years ago. (The carpeting on the stairs wasn't tacked down and as I was leaving I fell and landed head first after tumbling down about 20 stairs.) If the damage is not taken care of it just gets worse...this is where herniated and bulging discs come in. The neck damage could also attribute to digestive problems (ahem). So we're working to correct the problem which is going to mean adjustments, therapy and massages for 3 times a week for the next 10-12 weeks. He said my damage is such that it could actually take longer. After 24 therapy sessions, more x-rays to see where we're at.

Getting "Wii" Fit

After visiting the chiropractor, it sounds like the curvature of my spine is pretty bad. And I had some xrays taken to make sure there's nothing more severe going on but don't have those results yet. (I knew it wasn't good when I got asked more than once if I'd been in an automobile accident or had any known spinal injuries.) Likely this will mean lots of chiropractic care in the future and I was told I'm supposed to be doing a lot more yoga and pilates. So Joe and I picked up a Wii Fit. We were going to get one anyway and this was a good excuse to do it sooner than later. So far, I'm really impressed. And I was definitely breaking a sweat following the routines. The interactive part just makes it much more fun than doing a standard exercise DVD and I like how it tracks your progress, although I didn't like seeing my weight or BMI on the screen - yikes! I hope this is the motivation I need to be more diligent about getting in shape and taking better care of my back!

A Splendid Saturday

Joe and I had a great time tonight with our friends, Sean and Lori from Columbia. We went to Gino's East for pizza and then on to Millennium Park and to Buckingham Fountain. And the weather was perfect today! Finally I broke out my flipflops!

Random

Joe and I went out to a local place for pizza last night. He had been there before, I had not. We ordered a pepperoni pizza with garlic on half. He likes garlic on his pizza, I do not. This has never been a problem for us before. I eat my half, he eats his half. The waitress comes back to the table with our pizza and it all looks the same so Joe asks which side the garlic is on. She literally puts it all the way up to her nose to smell in order to determine which side (I'm telling you - her nose was in our pizza) and then she makes a judgment based on smell. And when doing so, fingers our pizza to point it out. It was the craziest experience ever. Then it turns out that there was garlic all over the pizza but they only used half as much. There was no rhyme or reason but it seemed to be on almost every other piece but not every piece. Since when does asking for half a pizza with a certain topping mean half as much? That's it. Just venting. File under random.

Normal

I went to happy hour tonight with some people from work. I mention this only because I have worked at my job for about three months and there are only about two people who ever talk to me. (One of those people invited me tonight.) It's been an adjustment from what I'm used to. I almost didn't go because I knew I wouldn't know anyone but I'm glad I went. Made me miss all the happy hours with my girlfriends and work friends from back home. But I met some cool people and realized it was a big step for "the new girl."

My life has been transformed

I took the plunge. I am now the proud new owner of a smartphone! (A Blackberry to be exact.) I have wanted one for awhile and then the boredom of train commuting made me want one even more. Then my phone started literally falling apart. Then I got a coupon in the mail for a really good deal and the rest was history. I'm not going to lie, I still don't know all the ins and outs. And before I was able to text at lightening speed but this new keyboard makes me seriously slow. Otherwise, I think I'm going to love it. Oh, yeah, I guess I could have just wrote this post from my phone, right?

Just that kind of day

I've been suffering from back pain and muscle spasms for at least a couple weeks now. I am awakened usually at least once a night from back spasms and aches and pains and sometimes it just hurts to breathe. So I make an appointment...only I can't get in for awhile. So I wait. Patiently. Today was my appointment - finally. It is quite an ordeal compared to what I'm used to because I have to catch an earlier train, leave work, etc. I rush to my appointment, get to the door and it's locked. Finally someone comes to the door and just tells me nonchalantly, "We're closed." Um, no you're not. I have an appointment. "Oh, yeah, our doctor had an emergency and had to cancel." They claimed to not have my number but since I was a new patient I just gave them my number when I called last week along with every other piece of new patient information possible. I was beyond angry. Not only did these clowns waste my time but now I have to suffer the pain a while longer and take off work again. Argh. It's seriously just been one of those days. And, of course, they didn't understand why I just couldn't come back tomorrow. So now I wait some more...

On another note, I'm thinking about freezer meals. Maybe making something extra on the weekend to stick in the freezer and pull out at a moment's notice during the week. Does anyone do this and what do you recommend?

Mom

Mom is having laser eye surgery (SLP for glaucoma) tomorrow...they do one eye tomorrow and then the other eye a week from tomorrow. I don't know much about the procedure but I do know she can drive afterwards which sounds impressive. I'm sure she's ready to stop having surgeries and procedures but I'm glad she's keeping on top of her health.