Everyone who travels has their favorite airports–and their least-favorite ones, too–and in fact while I was in Detroit I had a discussion with a friend who was highly opinionated about both categories. On her least-favorite list? Chicago’s O’Hare Airport. She said that in her experience she has found that every airport employee at O’Hare is extremely unhelpful and downright rude, and she had some other grumbles as well. Her opinion took me by surprise because I happen to like O’Hare very much, and it’s not just because it’s one of my two hometown airports (the other being Midway). One of the best things about traveling via O’Hare is the scenery…
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In This Case, “PH” Has Nothing To Do With Chemistry. (Scientific Chemistry, Anyway.)
By far one of the best things that has resulted from blogging since the fall of 2007 is the fact that I can travel just about anywhere and have the ability–time allowing–to meet up with a friend or two (or three, or four, or five) who happens to live there. As soon as I found out I was going to be in Detroit this week I messaged my friend Melissa to let her know I’d be in town and although I didn’t know yet what my schedule was going to be like, I hoped that she would mark the date so we could attempt a meet-up. Melissa has been blogging…
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Taking A Moment
I’m currently in Detroit on business and I’m excited about it, not only because of what I’ll be doing while I’m here but also because I’m only THREE! DAYS! AWAY! from visiting my sistuh-from-anuthuh-mutha AND because I have been workingworkingworking like crazy on all of my various jobs for the past ten days in order to be able to make my deadlines AND not have to worry much about work other than “maintenance-type stuff” during my two trips. Shew. That was a long sentence. Actually, if you try and read it without taking a breath, you’ll have a teeny bit of an idea how it has felt to live my…
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Listen To Your Mother 2014: And We’re Off!
I have said it a thousand times, but always enjoy repeating it: co-producing Chicago’s LISTEN TO YOUR MOTHER SHOW (with Tracey Becker, the Phoebe to my Monica!) for the past two years has been a life-altering experience in the best possible way. We are an awesome team and I truly can’t imagine working on the show with anyone else. We know how to have fun. Of course, we also know how to get down to business, even when we’re just acting like we’re working for the camera. (Pictures courtesy of Sabrina Persico, by the way.) All of our work sessions, whether they are on the phone, in person, or via…
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Experiencing The Luxury of ESPA Skin Care Products At The Peninsula Spa
Remember when I visited The Peninsula Spa in Chicago for their new, heavenly Bamboo Harmonizer Massage? I walked out that day thinking, “Wow, this place is dreamy. I hope I get to come back sometime soon!” As it turned out, “sometime soon” came sooner than I imagined it could when I was invited to an intimate breakfast at the Peninsula Hotel with Sue Harmsworth, Founder and CEO of ESPA (a luxury line of beauty products), followed by a facial. I mean, is this real life??? I made my way to the city and, upon meeting Sue was immediately both charmed and impressed. This woman, who is in her late 60s…
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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…
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Be Careful What You Wish For
I have a reputation for being organized (or at least making it look like I am!). I have a reputation for going above and beyond, and I have a reputation for being overly busy. I have a reputation for getting things done. Bear in mind I’m not typing those words with any bit of ego: if you know me, you get it. Every now and then someone will say to me (either verbally or via internet) something along the lines of “I wish I could be like you.” It happened again today, thanks to my dear, sweet friend from north of the border (The Illinois/Wisconsin border, that is). She typed…
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Lessons Learned As A Hotel Manager’s Daughter
Jim and I stayed in a hotel over the weekend and each time we left the room I followed my usual “tidying up for the housekeeper” protocol. Starting in the bathroom, I toss my cosmetics into my makeup bag and scoot that into the corner. I make sure our toothbrushes and toothpaste are off to the side, and put Jim’s stuff in a pile. Then I make sure that any towels we want to continue using are hung on the hook and any towels we no longer need are in a neat pile on the floor. I go back into the bedroom area and make sure all of our clothes…
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Life Rule #1073: You Can’t Choose Your Own Nickname.
As J got settled in at school, he began talking more and more about the new friends he was making. He gets along very well with both of his roommates–what a relief!–as well as the three guys across the hall and so many others both on his floor and in his classes. A few weeks into the semester we started hearing about various nicknames they were bestowing on each other, and J was hoping he’d get a good one. In discussing the topic with Jim and me, the three of us agreed that “T-bone” would be a great nickname. If you’re a “Seinfeld” fan, you get it. We said, “Yeah!…
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I Knew This Quote Would Come In Handy!
As I write this, it’s still Friday. As you read this, it’s Saturday. (Thank goodness for the ability to schedule posts!) In anticipation of a busy weekend that includes parent activities at J’s college through Sunday morning, some catch-up work on Sunday afternoon and then a surprise activity Jim has planned for us on Sunday night, I was in a slight panic that I would have to throw the white flag up in the air on the second day of NaBloPoMo; things are crazy around here. My Friday consisted of Dailey Method class (of course!), a couple of errands, a shower, quick lunch, conference call, and various other pre-weekend tasks…