Many of us have loved ones who have been diagnosed with breast cancer. Two of the cast members from Chicago’s 2012 LISTEN TO YOUR MOTHER show are survivors, in fact. Brandie Langer and Katy Jacob are two of the reasons why we chose a local organization that is a support service and exercise program for breast cancer survivors to be the beneficiary of 10% of our ticket proceeds this year. There are, indeed, lots of worthy organizations and events that raise money towards research, care, prevention, and treatment of breast cancer. I’ve got another one for you right here. The Avon Walk For Breast Cancer, a two-day, 39-mile fundraising walk…
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Hearing The Signal Loud And Clear
I have spent the last two and half weeks coasting through my days with only about half of my hearing. (Nothing to see here, just a little excess wax buildup that apparently couldn’t be taken care of with over-the-counter fixes. IT HAPPENS TO LOTS OF PEOPLE. Pretend I didn’t feel the need to explain it to you in order for you to not have to worry about me.) I finally went to the doctor today, having made my appointment after Liz and Momo repeatedly texted me things like “Go. To. The. Doctor.” and “OMG!! GO TO THE DOCTOR!” and “JUST MAKE AN APPOINTMENT ALREADY,” which they had to tell me…
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Buick Regal Baby, Or…Buick Regal, Baby!
Back in November I attended an OnStar Immersion event in Detroit that was co-sponsored by Buick. I have worked with General Motors for a few years now, but was mostly driving Chevrolet and GMC vehicles* (loved every single one!). This was my first up close and personal look at Buick. That weekend I rode in a Buick LaCrosse and was even an accessory to (simulated) Grand Theft Auto of a Buick Enclave, but spent the most time riding shotgun in a Buick Regal. Before that weekend, the Buick brand was never on my radar much. I knew it was under the General Motors umbrella, of course, but that’s it. I…
- Amazing People, Best Thing Ever, Blessings, I'm Apparently Old., My Kid Has Mad Skillz, Proud Moments
A Simple Birthday Message
For J, who turns nineteen today… I knew I wanted to write a post on your birthday, but I wasn’t sure exactly what I wanted to say. I kind of wanted to say that I can’t believe you are nineteen already but that, although true, sounds overdone. I definitely wanted to write about how I have just one more year of saying I have a teenaged kid, but that’s stating the obvious… I was going to write that I am so proud of the young man you have become. You’re a caring, thoughtful, and responsible person, and I couldn’t ask for any more than that. You care about your school…
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It Takes A Village To Lift All Those Boats
Yesterday I drove to the north side of the city for a lunch meeting with my “City Half”, Margaret. I am always energized after I meet Margaret for lunch, and I don’t think that’s the Gino’s East deep dish pizza that has become our lunch of choice doing the talking. In fact, the effect that so much fat and carbs in one meal would have on the average person technically means that I should be feeling extremely sluggish and lazy after indulging, so the fact that I feel ready to set the world on fire really speaks to the power of our not-often-enough ninety-minute meet-ups. Anyway. I call our lunches…
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And, Exhale.
It’s amazing how, sometimes, things just fall into place. The last couple of months have been extremely stressful for D as he has worried about finding a job or two—any job—right out of college so he could continue living in the Wisconsin house with his friends until their lease ends on May 31. Things hit a fever pitch after Christmas because the time clock was ticking down to zero on his ability to stay in the house: we paid his rent through the end of January and he needed to either fish or cut bait. The uncertainty was troublesome, to say the least. He was applying for jobs both in…
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When Mother Nature Has Bad Timing
Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you are well aware of the Polar Vortex that hit the United States this week. It has been colder—way colder—for almost everybody, even those who live in the south. In Chicago? This week’s weather could only be described as “cray cray”, truly. On Monday we broke our old record when the thermometer basically hit -17 (and then jumped in its car to drive to Key West). The horrors of this kind of weather are, well, horrible. Here are some really awesome pictures of “Chicago Under Ice”, but as I wrote when I shared it on Facebook, it’s way cooler to look at than…
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Just Friday.
I currently have two pumpkin pies in the oven. The turkey’s going in around noon. I know, Thanksgiving was yesterday. I didn’t make the traditional Thanksgiving dinner yesterday though. Because it was just the four of us plus my sister and my parents (my in-laws couldn’t make it this year) we decided to make reservations at the Brazilian steakhouse for meat-on-a-stick. I can’t let the Thanksgiving weekend go by without making a turkey, so today it is. (And tomorrow? Latkes and blintzes for our big Hanukkah family celebration. THAT’S MY SUPER BOWL, you guys.) Thanksgiving is such a weird holiday for us, and I’m not even talking about how Hanukkah…
- Amazing People, Best Thing Ever, Blessings, Friends, My Friends Have Mad Skillz, Something That Could Change Your Life, We Are An Awesome Couple
My Favorite Things: The New Jersey Edition (Yo!)
Yesterday was my last day in New Jersey and, because she’s real smart like that, Liz thought we should go out to breakfast and do a little more local sightseeing in the area rather than sit around at her house, crying because we had to say goodbye in the afternoon, which totally would have happened. During a lovely walk in Thompson Park—which is NOT named after Liz or her husband Garth (Not His Real Name); I checked!!–we talked about our week and I told her that I didn’t even have a favorite part; the entire visit was my favorite. That was only a little true. I have some favorites, but…
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Age Ain’t Nothing But A Number
Today I turn 45. Forty-five. I must admit, I am having some trouble with that number. It doesn’t have anything to do with “feeling old” because truth be told, I feel younger than I did fifteen years ago. It’s just…the number. I don’t like thinking about it, and I don’t like saying it. When I was a kid I did the math to figure out that in the year 2000, I would be thirty-two. I remember thinking, “Wow, that’s really old! I can’t even IMAGINE being that old!” And here I am, thirteen years older than that. I’m thrilled that I have the type of outgoing personality and active lifestyle…