Exciting New Horizons

I've heard interesting news from two of my friends tonight. One didn't get a job she was hoping for... another gave her notice at a job that was causing her much stress and anguish. It's actually so ironic because these are two people who are very close to me, but individually, they don't know each other! And they are in completely different parts of the country and at completely different points in their lives.

Yet both of them are embarking on similar journeys... journeys which are certainly going to be a bit scary. But there's also the possibility of new opportunities in these journeys. I hope once the fear and uncertainty wear off, they will see how amazing they both are, and that doors to new possibilites will open wide for them.

I guess this is more of a wish and a prayer for both of them. They are both strong, amazing women who deserve great things. And great things will come to them!

(And in the meantime, I hope the both know that I am here for them no matter what! for support, for whining, for wine, for laughs, for tears. I got your backs!!!)

First Day of School

I officially have a kid in school! Alex's first day of K4 was today! He did great, too. If he was nervous, we certainly didn't notice. (Other than some crabbiness first thing this morning-- and let me tell you he comes by that honestly. I'm as far from a morning person as you can get and I was a BEAR to get up when I was a kid). And you can tell from the big grin on his face that he was totally excited to be at school. We snapped off a few pictures before dropping him off.

A hug for Daddy

And one for Mommy too.

Showing off the backpack, which is almost as big as he is!

Big smiles for the first day!

I'm sure he's going to have a great year!

You have time to read?

I have kind of a vent right now. I can't tell you how often I have received this response when I tell people I'm in a book club.

"You have time to read?"

(usually uttered in a stunned, incredulous or condescending tone)

This is usually followed by some lamentation about how they're too busy with their kids, or work, or life etc. to pick up a book, magazine, whatever and read.

Seriously?!

Here's why this irritates me.

1. You think a woman who works 45+ hours a week and has a 4 year old and another on the way isn't busy? Or are you trying to insinuate that I'm somehow neglecting my job/family/household by taking 10-15 minutes out of the day to read?

2. Why don't you have time/make time to read?

I have been reading since I was 4 years old. I've been obsessed with books since before then. My parents had the 1975 World Book Encyclopedia set, plus a set of Childcraft books that I would page through for hours on end. There were always newspapers and magazines in my house, books on the bookshelf, and I have vivid memories of seeing both my mom and dad reading novels as a child out in the open where anyone in the family could see. I learned to read early... so early in fact that my kindergarten teacher thought my parents were full of it when they told her that I could read. Proved her wrong. Once they realized I could read I got to select books from the first grade shelf. By second grade I was grabbing chapter books from the 4th-5th grade shelf. Books have always been my escape, my refuge, my way to explore unknown worlds. You were more likely to find me with my nose in a book in the summer than out playing with my friends. I wasn't anti-social, I just preferred reading.

This love affair with reading was cemented thanks to some fantastic English teachers in junior high and high school. Then of course I saw "Dead Poets Society," a movie which changed my life. I flirted with the idea of being an English teacher, but instead majored in English in college (along with journalism as a double major). Reading to me is life. It's learning. It's expanding your horizons. It is something I truly love to do, so why wouldn't I make time for it in my busy life? If you like boating, you're going to make time for boating, right? Same thing with crafts, television, movies, insert whatever you want into the blank.

I think I'm setting a great example for my son by reading books not only with him, but in front of him. I'm teaching him to value books and to treasure reading. He has his own bookshelf and will sit for long periods just pulling books off the shelf, looking at pictures or telling his version of the story. That makes me so proud... that I'm nuturing his love of reading, fueling his mind and his creativity through books.

If you don't like reading books, fine. I have no problem with that. There are a lot of things I don't like, so I don't do them. But when you hear someone talking about books, their book club, reading etc., don't flip back at them "You have time to read?"

I Love Chicago

I've blogged before about my love affair with Chicago. I went there last fall to see "Wicked" with my book club friends. I posted some pictures from that visit. One of my best friends was back in the city visiting her sister, so I took a day off and snuck down to spend the day with her.
Sangeeta and I have known each other since we were five. That's nearly 30 years now. Amazing, huh? We can finish each other's thoughts and sentences. We know each other's families. There's almost a short-hand I have with her that I don't have with anyone else. We only see each other a couple of times a year. I saw her at Thanksgiving last year and before that I went to visit her in D.C. We always have a great time and yesterday was definitely a great time! We did an architecture tour along the Chicago River. Walked on Michigan Ave. Went to the beach. Ate a lot of really good food. And talked and talked and talked. FAB!

I'm not frightened in this picture... we were on the boat for an architecture tour. The first photo the random stranger took made me look hungover. So I opened my eyes a little too wide for this one.
We spent some time on Oak Street Beach. Still trying to figure out what they do with the palm trees on this beach in the winter. Doesn't seem fair to make the palm trees try to survive a Chicago winter.

From the boat... forever in my heart the Sears Tower.

TrumpTower from Millennium Park

Looking East from the Chicago River

The Bean in Millennium Park. I think they need to put video cameras inside to record all the silly things people do when they look at their reflections.

I have another friend who lives in Chicago who I hope to visit in Sept. She's pregnant too. I've known her since kindergarten too. Guess I'm lucky that way. The September visit will be Craig, Alex, and I. This whirlwind day trip actually gave me some great ideas. Can't wait to get back to my favorite city again soon!

Fun Yet Productive Weekend

We got so much done this weekend and it feels great! Fun stuff and practical stuff.

*Friday night I went shopping for baby presents for a baby shower I was going to on Saturday. (Of course I also had buy something for my own baby-to-be, too!)

*Saturday morning Craig went to the bank, picked up the comforters from the drycleaners, and mowed the lawn. I trimmed the dead stuff off my day lilies, watered my flowers, went to the baby shower for my friend Therese (no pictures... took my camera, set my purse down, and didn't think twice about it).

*Saturday evening we went to the Back-to-School Backyard Bash at Alex's new school. We met some of the school families and kids, had some snacks, watched a movie outside. It was fun!

*Today was church, lunch, groceries, cleaning up, laundry, etc.

I even squeezed in a little time for reading and crocheted a little bit... I haven't crocheted in months so I had to remind myself what to do.

The week ahead is going to be crazy! Tomorrow I'm off to Chicago for a girl's day with one of my best friends. We have an open house for school, then the first day of school Thursday. Oh, plus a doctor's appointment, a work trip for Craig, an early morning at work for me. Whew! Glad we got so much done this weekend! I hope to post lots of pictures this week!

Good Reviews

Everyone in their life should get a good review. Reviews are a necessary part of work life. In my past TV life, my biggest beef with reviews was that in 8 years at the station, I had 3 reviews. I should have had one a year. The first one was good. The second one was good. The third one was weird, then I left. I wasn't at my last job long enough to go through the review process.

So imagine my surprise when this week I was told that I was having an informal "half-way there" review. I admit I was nervous. I went from a doing PR for a decent-sized non-profit to doing PR as part of a team at a Fortune 500 company. Big change! I wasn't sure to expect, but was relieved that at the least it was informal.

To my great relief, the review was terrific! I don't mean to brag, but they love me! It was great to hear the supportive and encouraging things my manager had to say. She also gave me some great tips for improvement. It felt really good! It certainly doesn't mean a raise... my annual review isn't until next year. But I feel like professionally I'm in a really good place right now.

Add to that being in a great place personally (great husband, great kid, great extended family, and a baby on the way) and it's just icing on the cake!

While normally I would celebrate with a drink or a glass of wine... tonight... there is chocolate. WOO HOO!

Awesome Neighbors

You are looking at two Wisconsin State Fair cream puffs in all their powdered sugar coated glory. Our completely awesome neighbor Kathy stopped by Sunday morning with three cream puffs for us. She has done this every summer since we moved here. I personally have never been to State Fair (not in Wisconsin, not in Illinois, and not in Iowa... though we may invade my brother's house one of these summers and make him take us along to their state fair). I have nothing against the fair, I just never think of going until it's too late. But the cream puff is the highlight of the State Fair for most people who go. I got to enjoy them over the years because the newsroom would be lousy with cream puffs dropped off by the fair and numerous other groups. Alex got his first taste of a cream puff Sunday night. As you can see, he gobbled up as much as he could (less than half a puff).

While I enjoyed the sugar extravaganza, I have to admit I'm a bit of a cream puff snob. My mom occassionally whipped up cream puffs when I was a kid... and she put vanilla pudding in them. I'm getting hungry just thinking about it. I obviously won't turn down a cream puff (or pretty much any other dessert) and am certainly grateful to have such a nice neighbor who always is generous with her treats!

Male Bonding = Girl Time for Me

Craig and Alex went camping this past weekend with Craig's folks and with his cousin's little boy, who is 5. They went to a nearby Jellystone Park campground and a good time was had by all. There was roasted marshmallows, dancing and partying with Yogi Bear, putt-putt golf, swimming, and just some good bonding.

That meant that I was flying solo for the weekend. It was very quiet around here without the boys. I got a TON of stuff done, though. I cleaned out the closet in what will once again be the baby's room. Ran some errands. Took the dog for a long walk. Read an entire book. They weren't gone the whole weekend... we had a picnic to go to for Alex's daycare (that will be another post later on). After the picnic, the boys headed back to the campground and I spent the evening with Cary Grant. -sigh- "An Affair to Remember" was on AMC. I had intended to watch "Sex and the City" but got sucked into that classic movie. It's just sooo romantic. And Cary Grant... don't get me started. I popped open a bottle of non-alcoholic wine (thank you Therese!) and settled in for an evening of chick flicks. While I enjoyed the quiet "me time," it was great to have my boys come back home on Sunday... even though they both took really long naps!

To Decaffeinate or not to Decaffeinate...

Now that I'm pregnant, I'm struggling with my love affair with caffeine. I am by no means a caffeine fiend. In a non-pregnant state, I generally enjoy a traveler mug of coffee in the morning and a can of Diet Coke at lunch, and that's pretty much my limit.

When I was pregnant with Alex, I decaffeinated. It was not pretty. You would have sworn I was coming off something serious. I was cranky, irritable, generally unpleasant to be around. My fuse went from short to non-existant. But I managed to get through my withdrawal, switch to Sprite and 7-up, drink hot cocoa instead of mochas, etc. I admit, I didn't give up chocolate... but there's only a small amount of caffeine in chocolate anyway.

This time around, I have simply cut back on caffeine. I tried to drop it altogether, but this pregnancy is so different. I was extremely tired early on and still adjusting to a new job. So I'm limiting myself to one small mug of coffee or tea OR a Diet Coke. I tried to go without caffeine the other day and by about 3pm, I was ready for a nap. I think I just need that tiny little boost.

I guess it's like all things though... best in moderation!

My Little Water Baby

That's my water baby! Alex loves to swim. This picture was taken in Indiana at a family reunion held by one of my mom's cousins. Alex has turned into quite the swimmer this year. He's in his second round of swimming lessons at the YMCA... first time without mom in the water, too. We're getting ready to sign him up for the next class. It's amazing to me how fast he's learning and how much more confident in the water he is now.

I think it is so important for kids to learn how to swim. Most municipalities offer very reasonably priced swimming lessons. And the YMCA doesn't turn anyone away, so if you're concerned about price there are usually options available. (disclaimer: I did work for the Y for just over a year. I no longer work there but still fully support the institution)

It's just such an important life skill to have. I'm glad my parents enrolled me in swim lessons as a kid. Swimming is great exercise and it's something we can do together as a family. What more could you want??

Back To School Time

I'm charting new personal territory as a mom... back to school. This is the first time I have a child entering school. Real school. Not "school," as we have referred to daycare since we first started taking Alex there when he was 8 weeks old. (Calling daycare school made me less weepy and it minimized the mommy-guilt. Hey. Whatever works, right?)


Alex is getting ready to head off to K4 (4 year old kindergarten for those of you unfamiliar with it) in a couple of weeks. It's right around the corner. I'm proud of myself for getting everything on his school supply list already. Fortunately it was a short list. Still waiting to find the perfect backpack. I know what he needs, he knows what he wants, we just have to find it.


Today I made my first pass at school clothes shopping. Alex will be going to a Catholic grade school. K4 students don't have to wear uniforms, so we needed some fall stuff. I knew we had jeans taken care of between gifts from my mom and my mother-in-law. I knew I had some khaki pants that were hand-me-downs from a friend. I hit my favorite store because it was associate shopping weekend, and they had special early morning discounts, and I grabbed a few shirts, and a couple more pairs of pants. I think from the waist down, the kid is set! We still need a few shirts, but I'm going to wait until the weather cools down for that. The selection isn't too great because there's still a lot of short-sleeves out there. I know eventually they'll rotate to more fall-type shirts and pants. But we're in pretty good shape right now.


Now clothes for me for fall... ugh. I don't even want to think about it!

Busy Busy Busy

I have been swamped at work... I'm in the middle of pitching about 6 different stories and dealing with other little issues that always seem to bubble up when we are busy.
By the time I get home, I'm exhausted! I haven't been online much outside of work the last week or so. I've been reading when I can find a few spare moments. But that's about all that's up with me.

Pregnancy-wise, the swelling of the feet and ankles has begun. I've been told by my doctor that I need to drink more water, so I've been working on that. I'm starting to feel something a little stronger than flutters from baby. I'm kind of nesting... this past weekend I finally took the down comforter off the bed, washed all of our bedding, did a boatload of laundry, and cleaned the bathroom... all in one day. In my defense for the comforter, it's been an abnormally cool summer. We haven't used the down comforter, but it's been folded at the foot of our bed all summer. So I swapped it out for the regular comforter... which we've decided to replace for our 9th anniversary.

(Which was July 29th. I forgot to post about it. We didn't do anything huge. It was the middle of the week... Alex had swimming lessons, so we ordered dinner from Noodles & Co. YUM! It was fun, really!)

I need to get back to crocheting. I've got friends who are having babies who I want to create things for. I've got projects half-finished that need to be finished. I have family members who I have yet to crochet things for... hopefully I can make them something neat... or at the very least a set of potholders. :-)

So that's about it for now. Hoping to get back to posting more than once a week soon!