don't hate the player, hate the game.

I'm done picketing blogspot.

+Finished Wally Lamb's The Hour I First Believed. Wonderful wonderful wonderful. I enjoyed every single page of this book. Actually, I take that back. I think I skimmed a few of them--but only in my excitement to keep reading!

+Just started Larson's The Devil In The White City. I'm not far enough into it to be hooked, but I'm loving the Chicago history. snaps for me for getting my read on!

-Insurance. I'm head over heals frustrated with my Blue Cross Blue Shield PPO of Illinois insurance. I hate them. I'm pretty sure I hate all insurance companies, but I've really only had experience dealing with them. They are stingy motherfuckers and the reason why people in this country don't go to the doctor. Ugh.

+Dexter! Neill and I just finished season 1 the other day and we have watched the first episode of season two. at first, i wasn't a huge fan because dexter seemed like a static character (no emotions. no change. blah), but I've become a fan. It is craaazy that he is now married to the actress that plays his sister in the show. that should be illegal.

+Plans. Some more development about the school situation have happened and I'm feeling pretty good about my plans to go back to school this coming fall. I don't want to give too many specifics on here, but so far I've got THREE possibilities in mind!!!!

+Team Building. Took a little personality test for a team building building and I learned that I am an "concrete random" aka "changer". Some interesting tidbits about this follow:

• use insight to skip details and find big picture
• conforms to rules and procedures if personally acceptable
• functions well in unstructured, open-ended activities; thrives in conditions that offer choice, chance, challenge, and change.
• dislikes: step-by-step cookbook procedures; communal teamwork; details
• fears being average; losing in competition; being trapped by fixed routines that restrict freedom

my fear of losing must be why I don't play unless I know I'm going to win :)

private

does anyone know how to make a single post on blogspot private? My blog is public and I want to keep it that way, but I would like to be able to write a post that only people with whom I'm friends with on blogspot can read. I can only find features to change the privacy settings on the whole blog.

help!?!??

bikram yoga

So . . . I took my first Bikram Yoga class last Thursday! This is a big deal for a few reasons:

1. I've wanted to take a yoga class for at least the last year (probably longer) and I just never followed through with it. Why? Because I find doing new things scary and intimidating. it is hard for me to break out of my routine. I'm always "busy". So what happened that I finally tried it out? I had the day off on Thursday and I really didn't have anything to do and I'm pretty sure I was getting on neill's nerves because he had work he wanted to do and so I took a big giant leap and just did it. Whooo.

2. In high school I took a few bikram classes with my friend Alison K (who I have completely lost touch with. damn. she isn't even on facebook . . .what did people do before facebook to relocate someone!??). I really liked it, but then I joined crew and that was taking up pretty much all of my free time so I had to drop the yoga.

3. My mom does bikram yoga (at a different studio) and she loves it. and her arms are buff.

My first class was great. I LOVED the heat and it was awesome to move in new ways. After the class, I seriously felt 2 inches taller from all the stretching. Of course, the next two days my back and shoulders were SO sore, but they were sore in that good way.

Also, there was a lot of beautiful nakedness. people don't really wear that much clothing to these classes (girls in tank tops or sports bras and shorts, men in little shorts with no shirts) and some of them just have beautiful bodies. Not beautiful like sports illustrated beautiful, but beautiful like earth goddess beautiful. Maybe seeing all this flesh was such a treat because everyone is walking around with a billion layers on outside. Hmm. whatever. this is probably making me sound really weird. HERE is the thing though - i NEVER look at people at the gym. i mean, sure I look at their faces. Acknoweldge their existence. but no one looks sexy on the elliptical or lifting weights or running on the treadmill or whatever. people at the gym look like they are preparing for war. but people look good doing yoga. the movements themselves are attractive. get it?

Anyhoo . . .I'm going back for my second class today! I'm super excited! wheeee. gotta load up on some water now.

craigslist

I love craigslist. I'm pretty sure everyone does and so the fact that I also love craigslist is probably not a big surprise.

Here is a little craigslist love story for y'all.

I've been trying to sell some clothes on craigslist for a while, but I wasn't having any luck. I sort of expected this because, while everyone loves craigslist, I don't know anyone who buys clothes from craigslist (including myself). But, I figured I would keep trying because it was better than throwing them away and took much less energy than bringing them to the ark. These were nice pants too. 3 pairs of "work pants" from Ann Taylor. I probably paid like 60 bucks for each pair. If they weren't too big for me now, I wouldn't have been selling them.

Anyhoo, finally I just posted them on the "free section" and said a 10 dollar donation would be appreciated (I was asking 10 bucks a pair before). Some lady came over last night to pick them up and, instead of 10 bucks, she gave me a romance novel from the 80s! It is called Sweet Revenge and it is by Nora Roberts. I just love that she brought me a little gift instead of a boring old bill! So sweet <3

ahh craigslist. i will always love you!

*just a note, I should be honest that it is actually Neill who manages all craigslist postings. In all honesty, HE has been the one trying to sell my pants and HE had been the one who put them in the free section and HE was the one who made the trade off last night. The buyer said "I hope your girlfriend likes romance novels . . .they are kind of a guilty pleasure for me". And, actually, it is really only Neill who has ever made money from craigslist. I just spend money. Ahhh but you know the saying - whats yours is mine and whats mine is MINE.

Now and Then

Now

Then

Learning to sew?

Is anyone interested in taking a sewing 101 class with me at The Needle Shop? It is a one time, 4 hour class that is supposed to teach you the basics of using a sewing machine. It sort of the prerequisite class you have to take, before taking more awesome classes (like how to make pillows! and duvet covers! and curtains! and ottomans! oh my!!!!!).

holla back!

beautiful soul

I'm so behind on my blogging!

Let's see . . .

Thursday I went back to work and remembered how much i like my job. isn't that funny? when you aren't going somewhere everyday its so easy to remember the bad things and then you go back and -- poof -- all the good things come to mind. or maybe that just says something about the sort of person i am.

Friday my new awesome beautiful couch was delivered. last week, i was downtown and i randomly stopped into a crate and barrel. they were (are?) having a HUGE sale and they had a bunch of floor models that were hella marked down. I was really only there for like 15 minutes, but i saw this couch that was -- i shit you not -- 50% off and i just couldn't pass it up. here comes my rationalization: neill and i had been looking for a couch to put in the office and we were just going to get a futon off of craigslist, but why spend 200 dollars for a used futon with who knows what all over it when you can just spend a bit more and get a comfy beautiful couch?!?! so basically, i saw our beautiful oatmeal color couched and i said "MINE". well . . .actually i left the store and phoned them later to purchase it. but whatev.

Saturday Neill and I went to aaron and shelly's birthday party. there were a lot of musicians there and i pretty much knew NO ONE so i spent most of the time feeling awkward and out of place. a few times i made eye contact with people and i held it just a few seconds too long. it was that awkward length of time when i should of just smiled and introduced myself, but instead i looked at them at length and then just walked away. ugh. i kept telling myself that it is okay to not talk to people and just stand against the wall by myself - but come on - let's be realistic. that only looks cool on tv. in reality, you look like a loser. ::sigh:: at least neill was there for me to talk to :) I'm quite grateful he didn't leave me alone too much. <3 (and yes - sometimes i am that girl. so shh)

and now i gotta go...time to get dressed and dry my hair and get on with the business of Sunday nights aka Thursday nights.

p.s

dear lord,

please let me be like this woman some day.

thank you.

red letter year

i suddenly realized that blogging has become somewhat cathartic for me. and relaxing. or, part of my relaxation routine. its a happy realization - comforting.

its sunday night in alishaville. I haven't been to work since saturday (the real saturday). aaah sweet sweet bliss. i love my job. i love the people i get to interact with (co-workers, volunteers, interns, workstudy, everyone). i love the work we do. all this love, however, doesn't make saving the world any less exhausting! I think its all that forced interaction. yall know that im usually content to retreat to my bedroom and wander around my mind - alone. I'm remembering a time at Knox - my senior year. I was parked in my room (the one downstairs) just sort of sitting and Nish imd me. He asked me why I was sitting in my room when everyone else was hanging out in the living room. And, you know, I didn't really have a good answer. and I still don't. I just like being alone :) Always have and I suspect I always will.

anyway, at work, there is none of that. i don't have any way to regulate my interaction. In other words, I can't just "shut my office door" (as i don't have an office.ha.) all that talking totally makes me sleeeeepy. heh heh.

that being said, i think i get lots of positive things from working. hence the give and take continues.

mmm. im all warm and cozy right now. I just got out of the tub. soaking in the tub is a lost art. at least it was/is for me. but shit it feels good. im so zenned (sp??) out right now. reading in the tub is ++++ especially when you get to read the new wally lamb book. :P

things to do before bed:
finish laundry, read at least another 40 pages, and declutter desk.

What Myers-Brigg Type Indicator are you?

What personality type are you?

http://www.humanmetrics.com/cgi-win/JTypes2.asp

Does it fit?


I scored as a INFJ -- Introverted (56%), Intuitive (75%), Feeling (50%), Judging (89%).

I am:

• moderately expressed introvert
  
• distinctively expressed intuitive personality
  
• moderately expressed feeling personality
  
• very expressed judging personality

Here is more information about INFJs (from http://www.personalitypage.com/INFJ.html) with the parts I felt were relevant to me italicized.

As an INFJ, your primary mode of living is focused internally, where you take things in primarily via intuition. Your secondary mode is external, where you deal with things according to how you feel about them, or how they fit with your personal value system.

INFJs are gentle, caring, complex and highly intuitive individuals. Artistic and creative, they live in a world of hidden meanings and possibilities. Only one percent of the population has an INFJ Personality Type, making it the most rare of all the types.

INFJs place great importance on havings things orderly and systematic in their outer world. They put a lot of energy into identifying the best system for getting things done, and constantly define and re-define the priorities in their lives. On the other hand, INFJs operate within themselves on an intuitive basis which is entirely spontaneous. They know things intuitively, without being able to pinpoint why, and without detailed knowledge of the subject at hand. They are usually right, and they usually know it. Consequently, INFJs put a tremendous amount of faith into their instincts and intuitions. This is something of a conflict between the inner and outer worlds, and may result in the INFJ not being as organized as other Judging types tend to be. Or we may see some signs of disarray in an otherwise orderly tendency, such as a consistently messy desk.

INFJs have uncanny insight into people and situations. They get "feelings" about things and intuitively understand them. As an extreme example, some INFJs report experiences of a psychic nature, such as getting strong feelings about there being a problem with a loved one, and discovering later that they were in a car accident. This is the sort of thing that other types may scorn and scoff at, and the INFJ themself does not really understand their intuition at a level which can be verbalized. Consequently, most INFJs are protective of their inner selves, sharing only what they choose to share when they choose to share it. They are deep, complex individuals, who are quite private and typically difficult to understand. INFJs hold back part of themselves, and can be secretive.

But the INFJ is as genuinely warm as they are complex. INFJs hold a special place in the heart of people who they are close to, who are able to see their special gifts and depth of caring. INFJs are concerned for people's feelings, and try to be gentle to avoid hurting anyone. They are very sensitive to conflict, and cannot tolerate it very well. Situations which are charged with conflict may drive the normally peaceful INFJ into a state of agitation or charged anger. They may tend to internalize conflict into their bodies, and experience health problems when under a lot of stress.

Because the INFJ has such strong intuitive capabilities, they trust their own instincts above all else. This may result in an INFJ stubborness and tendency to ignore other people's opinions. They believe that they're right. On the other hand, INFJ is a perfectionist who doubts that they are living up to their full potential. INFJs are rarely at complete peace with themselves - there's always something else they should be doing to improve themselves and the world around them. They believe in constant growth, and don't often take time to revel in their accomplishments. They have strong value systems, and need to live their lives in accordance with what they feel is right. In deference to the Feeling aspect of their personalities, INFJs are in some ways gentle and easy going. Conversely, they have very high expectations of themselves, and frequently of their families. They don't believe in compromising their ideals.

INFJ is a natural nurturer; patient, devoted and protective. They make loving parents and usually have strong bonds with their offspring. They have high expectations of their children, and push them to be the best that they can be. This can sometimes manifest itself in the INFJ being hard-nosed and stubborn. But generally, children of an INFJ get devoted and sincere parental guidance, combined with deep caring.

In the workplace, the INFJ usually shows up in areas where they can be creative and somewhat independent. They have a natural affinity for art, and many excel in the sciences, where they make use of their intuition. INFJs can also be found in service-oriented professions. They are not good at dealing with minutia or very detailed tasks. The INFJ will either avoid such things, or else go to the other extreme and become enveloped in the details to the extent that they can no longer see the big picture. An INFJ who has gone the route of becoming meticulous about details may be highly critical of other individuals who are not.

The INFJ individual is gifted in ways that other types are not. Life is not necessarily easy for the INFJ, but they are capable of great depth of feeling and personal achievement.

i'll never tell

I finally have my flickr account back up and running. A while ago, I let my proaccount lapse on flickr so I stopped uploading my pictures. Without a pro account, flickr limits the number of pictures you can upload, the number of pictures you can access, and the organizational tools available. Since I wasn't really able to do a whole lot without the pro account, i just stopped uploading pictures. I decided sometime around the holidays that I wanted to get back into flickr though, so because santa didn't bring a pro account on xmas, I bought myself one! Now, I can access all of my old pictures again (w/out the pro account, they were hidden from me. bogus). Today -- on my wonderful lazy sunday off -- I spent a good while going through all my old pictures. Ah memories.

I also started a new book. I'm waiting for the new wally lamb book to come in the mail, so I started reading Hey Nostradamus! by Douglas Coupland. I'm not very good at discussing the literary merits (or demerits) of literature, so I won't even try. But so far I like it and thats enough said for me.

Neill and I also started watching True Blood - that series on showtime about VAMPIRES. we just finished the first episode and me likes it! I'm much more drawn to continue watching that show than Dexter, which we also started a few days ago. We watched the third episode today and I'm still feeling sorta eh about it. I dont like the guys sister. she annoys me. maybe im missing something, but the show just doesn't do it for me. but ive heard such good good good things about it, so i havent written it completely off. but true blood, ahh, i can tell i'm already hooked.

Ah. I'm so happy to be off of work! I had such a good time last night hanging out with neill and james. We drank. We merried. We stopped at under dog. It was so fun to just hang out and go out on a satuday night. it has been much much much too long since i've done that. you can see the pictures (and movies) i took last night on flickr! (or check out that box to the right of this post . . . i just added this gadget to my blog so that it would be easy to link directly to flickr from here). What would vacation be without tooling around online? hehe.

Tag. You're It!

i stole this off someone else's blog. now YOU have to do it too!

Say you marry the last person you IM-ed, what's your new last name?
Landeros? gchatting at work is the bomb.

When's the last time you fell asleep watching a movie?
Never. I can't sleep with the tv on.

Are any of your texts in your inbox locked and why?
No. I have no idea how to do that. I wish I did though. someone teach me!

Is there that one guy/girl that you'll always have feelings for no matter what happens?
Of course. I feel that way about everyone who has been in my life. I guess I'm a sap that like.

How many cell phones have you had in your life?
two

What's the last thing you laughed really hard over?
The last Its Always Sunny in Philadelphia episode where Charlie writes a musical. I heard day man!

What was the last drink you had?
water.

Who called you first this morning?
No one has called me yet. Neill texted me. I called Fro. I've answered a bunch of crisis calls.

Last night, did you go to sleep smiling?
of course.

Any summer plans for 2009?
wow thats thinking really far in advance. none yet.

How long can you go without your phone?
days. i hate cell phones. i like to keep mine on silent 24/7 and maybe just look at it once or twice a day.

Were you happy when you woke up today?
yep! lots of sleep and a cool dream leads to a happy wake up.

Are you missing someone?
not really. ha.

If you could go back in time, how far back would you go?
back to when vampires ruled the world!!!!!!!!!!! I'd look for edward <3 style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">Are you the youngest person living in your house?
Yep

Have you ever quoted a line from a movie?
I guess. but i probably butchered it.

Gummy bears or gummy worms?
don't they taste the same? either or and both!

Do you like candy corn?
YES!!!!

Did you ever want to be a lawyer?
nope. i do want to be a professional juror though!

If there were no letters on the keys on your keyboard could you still type?
probably.

Do you have a bad temper?
yep. im an aries - i cant help it. its a flah in the pan though . . .always dies down quickly.

Do you still speak to any of your classmates from elementary school?
hahah yep!!!! bffs!

Do you remember the first rated-R movie you saw?
nope

What is one thing you spend way too much money on?
hmmm eating out?

Do you believe that there's good in every body?
yes!!!!!!!!!

What TV show should never stop running?
probably a bunch of them. rock of love?

Anything you're currently looking forward to?
hanging out with neill and james tonight!

Anything special happened today?
not yet

Who was the last person to make you laugh?
froilan

Who was the last person you talked to in person?
a whole mess of people at NRS

In winter, would you rather wear jackets or hoodies?
big warm jackets!

Do you wish you were somewhere else right now?
a bit. not at work, i guess. but i like my job so its not so bad being here. :)

Look in your inbox in your phone, who are all the people you have texts from?
neill, gracie, miriam, jared, and erica . . .

What are you drinking right now?
water. mmm.

What kind of shirt are you wearing?
t-shirt from uneetee.com

Last person you talked to on the phone?
besides the crisis calls i took, my mom.

What will you do tomorrow?
NOTHING. beautiful lazy day! yessss!

Have you ever dated someone longer than a year?
yes

Would you be able to tell someone you love them, even if you didn't feel it?
thats fucked up

What color are your eyes?
blue

Do you wear your seat belt in the car?
not if i can help it. im bad and dumb for that.

Will you talk to someone on the phone tonight?
hopefully not. i hate talking on the phone.

Ever kissed someone that smokes?
im not sure. prbbably in high school maybe.

Is there someone in your life you don't want in it?
not really.

Do you get mad easily?
wasn't this covered already? when im in a mood, its easy to set me off.

Where do you see yourself in the next 2 years?
hopefully back in school. but other than that, somewhere along the same place i still am. life is good!

What woke you up this morning?
my internal clock

In the past week have you cried?
yes. stupid pms.

What made you sad today?
nothing!

What makes you not be able to sleep?
neill's snoring!

Has anyone ever told you that you have pretty eyes?
yep yep

What did you do yesterday?
Went to work, went to workout, cooked with neill, watched another episode of Dexter, and then went to bed.

What are you wearing?
cords and a t-shirt.

What is the closest green object to you?
umm. NRS logo.

Who was the last person you had a deep conversation with?
Neill.

Did you have a good day yesterday?
it was great after work.

On average, what do you think you cry about the most?
Hmm. this is a good question. frustration? or being tired. yeah. when im tired i can be a baby.

Would you ever get a tattoo?
i have one already and i want more!

Do you think you can last in a relationship for 6 months without cheating?
duh

Are you currently frustrated with a boy/ girl?
nope

Do you like redbull?
diet redbull can sometimes be a life saver

Have you ever seen a dead body?
creepy. no!

Do you like voicemails?
NO

Do you think you'll be married in 10 years?
yes.

back in the game

ah. its been a while. im not quite sure what I've been doing the last few days. probably mostly just wishing that i was still on vacation.

I finished twilight. loved it. wish there was more.

gracie told me that stephanie m was going to write books from edward's perspective, but that the project was now postponed. Does anyone else know about this?

I saw the twilight movie on Tuesday. lame. it sucked. HUGE disappointment. Bad acting. Bad special effects. Bad character development. bad bad bad. I'm thinking the next one will better...i heard it is going to have a bigger budget. is this true???

I only had a three day work week this week. Yay! So after today (im at work right now) I'm a free woman until Thursday. Whew! i can't believe I'll have a Saturday night completely free of worries about work the next day. Neill, James, and I are going to go to Quencher's. There is a band playing that neill wants to see and its just a cool bar -- good beer and free popcorn! Of course, I'm more attracted by the free popcorn than the beer. hahaha. last time we went there, i got this special chocolate stout. it was one of those extra big bottles and it cost like 12 dollars. and then i thought it was totally nasty and i couldn't drink it. my goal is not to do that again tonight. All are welcome though! I'm going to stay out past 10 tonight and im going to have fun and its going to be sweet. And then -- perhaps the best part -- i get to sleep in tomorrow!!!!

Other notable or exciting things:
+I ordered the new wally lamb book off of amazon. yay.
+I bought a couch. omg. I bought a couch on a whim. spur of the moment. It gets delivered on friday!
+neill and i made a delicious vegetable frittata (or however you spell that) last night. soooo good. crimini mushrooms. zucchini. eggplant. yum!

hiatus

dear readers,

please excuse my recent hiatus. I am much much much too wrapped up in the twilight series to offer anything remotely interesting. I'm just shy of half way through the 4th book.

Ah, the suspense.

Don't worry though -- I'll be back once I've finished.

(I'll seriously cut you if you spoil it for me now.)

Happy New Year to YOU!!!!

Since I couldn’t get my act together to send out holiday cards, I figured I would regale you with a wonderfully entertaining 2008 recap. Of course, the main and most important purpose of this card is to wish you a wonderful and happy new year! Each one of you makes my life wonderful and I truly appreciate you. I hope everything that is good comes your way in 2009!

Last year, I rang in 2008 at home watching Battlestar Galatica with Neill. We were both sick and, after I refused antibiotics, I stayed in bed and missed the first two weeks of 2008 while I watched Neill quickly regain his health. This officially marked the beginning of my belief in modern medicine. Don’t worry though – I still believe “germs” are just part of a large conspiracy to make us spend $$$ on needless antibacterial soaps, scrubs, sprays, and what not. January wasn’t all wasted being sick though. I started interviewing at the National Runaway Switchboard (NRS) on January 16th and I was officially hired as a Call Center Supervisor on February 2nd.

February was busy! I went through NRS’ 40 hour crisis intervention training and started transitioning into the working world. Man. Working 8 to 4 was certainly a shock to my system! This is also when I said goodbye to my Saturdays and Sundays and welcomed Tuesdays and Wednesdays as my days off. Weird. As I fully transitioned into working at NRS, I finished off my research assistantships. At DePaul University, I had the chance to work on a paper with other students from Dr. Kathy Grant’s lab on the moderating effects of ethnicity on the relationship between body image and disordered eating. At Loyola University Chicago, I finished working on my poster (with Dr. Colleen Conley and Dr. Maryse Richards) on the safe sex practices and sexual satisfaction of adolescents and emerging adults. Whew.

I presented that poster at the Society for Research on Adolescence in the beginning of March. Other than that, I don’t think much else was going on in March besides my birthday (the big 22 on the 23rd!). AND Miriam and Erica came to visit us in Chicago and we all had a cray cray time at SubT’s free styling night.

April started off right with going to see Explosions in the Sky on April 1st. I also started guitar lessons on April 2nd (which I have since given up). On a more humiliating note, April 9th will forever go down as the day I bowled a TWO. Yes. You have that right. TWO. Oh – and to make it worse – I bowled this horrendously bad game in front of ALL of my new coworkers. And there are pictures. Bummer. Thankfully, I was able to escape to Florida for Passover and relax some days away with Neill, mom, Lanie, and Zadie.

Between April and May, I had the opportunity to attend an eye opening training on commercial sexual exploitation of youth that was based off of a training put together by GEMS . Other highlights of May include: a visit from Jayson, checking out Thrice at the Metro, and seeing Maritime at the Double Door.

In June, I spent a bit of time being disappointed that I wasn’t in Europe like the summer before. Boo. But, on the bright side, I visited Knox for the first time since I graduated to watch some of my best buds get their diplomas! I was hot as hell in Galesburg, but I had such a great time chillin at Knox. I also took a quick trip down to Circle Pines Center with Gracie and Cathy to visit Kevin and Tessa (and drop Cathy off for her summer of fun!). When I was there, I got soooo nostalgic for Circle Pines and I’m definitely hoping to visit again next summer.

In July, we had visitors from Canada and we learned how to play the super fun card game Dutch Blitz. Also, Neill recorded Through This Night (check out their awesome review and then buy the CD!!!!) with his band, Ready the Destroyer. I’m pretty sure July also involved a lot of BBQing and beer drinking J

August was more of the BBQing and drinking. Also, Kurt and Jayson came into town for Lallapalooza. I’m happy that I got a chance to hear about all of the music without actually having to wade around with the masses in Grant Park. On a sad note, we had to say goodbye to Brian when he left for his AmeriCorps program in California L

September 1st, Neill and I celebrated our 3 year anniversary with a three day weekend of relaxation and fun. We bought each other a beautiful floor length mirror after living without one for a year. I remember thinking, “Oh…That’s what I look like!” We also started checking out the stand up comedy show at the Beat Kitchen. Very funny! One guy in particular really made us laugh. His stage name is Hannibal, but I think he has since moved to NYC.

Late September I went back to Florida for Rosh Hoshana and spent time with Lanie and my Grandfather. October was mainly lost to sleeping and TVs because I had my wisdom teeth out. Yuck. Luckily, I was still able to catch Ani DiFranco at the Chicago Theatre. (If you haven’t checked out her new album yet, I highly recommend it!) Seriously though, that’s all for October!

This is of course brining us very close to present day. November was all about THE ELECTION and OBAMA. (Actually, this reminds me, I probably spent waaaay too many hours watching the Rachel Maddow show in October). And, almost as important, Neill has his 30th birthday celebration at Piece. This was when I decided I like stouts (Piece’s flat iron stout is sooo good). Right before Thanksgiving, Neill and I saw LuLu at the Lyric Opera. This was somewhat similar to being tortured (at least for me. I think Neill liked it more). Then, James and Neill made an outrageous Thanksgiving dinner complete with 2 pies and a 20 pound turkey! After, we went to mom’s house to celebrate with my mom, dad, and Ruth.

December has been all about The Holidays and, of course, adjusting to the cold cold cold wet wet wet icey ice icey weather in Chicago. We celebrated Chanukah with my family in Chicago and then went to West Virginia for Christmas to be with his family.

I hope all of you are had a wonderful and warm holiday season! I think 2009 is going to be amazing I and I want to hear all about your wonderful adventures (or misadventures).

Happy New Year!

All my heart,
Alisha O.