I see the rain...but where is the ice?

So today, in this lovely metroplex I live in, they shut schools down early around (at least my kiddo's) due to 'impending ice'. It is now after 5 and I am still waiting on the ice that caused the school to shutter and delayed the opening tomorrow.

Aren't we always looking for a reason to protect ourselves against 'impending ice'? I think so. We make up reason we can't do this or that. Reasons why we need to be somewhere at some time. Reasons we can't see that person, or talk to this person. Why do we do that? I am going to try something, I am going to try to not protect myself against the 'impending ice' and live life for not what might happen, but for what it is. Let the walls down, have fun with Life. A wide open chance at new challenges, ups and downs.

Let's see how that works for a while.

It's Friday!

Remember when you were a kid in school and Friday was the best day of the week because it meant no school for two whole days??? Now, as an adult, we look forward to no work for two whole days and yet...are the weekends as relaxing as they were when we were kids?

I am the first to admit that the weekends are less relaxing in our house due to the many activities the kiddo has...and the wonderful friends we have, and the fact that I love to spend time with them. Frankly, they sometimes stress me out. That being said, why is it, that even at my somewhat older age, Friday nights still seem daunting and if I want to just head home after whatever practice we have and sleep, I feel like I am doing something wrong?

Tonight is a prime example - I am in the mood to crash. I have had a rough couple weeks at work, busy (yet wonderful) time at home and woke up with a wicked fever at 5am yesterday - which didn't stop me from drugging up with aspirin and heading into the office. Emotionally I am pretty sure I am this close to a breakdown (not the commit me kind of breakdown, the cry in the pillow or sitting on the stairs for no apparent reason breakdown and seriously, what good does that do?!?). YET, I feel like it is Friday night and if I go to bed right after I put the kiddo down, I am the biggest loser on the planet.

I think it is time to rise above that feeling; so tonight, for all you not yet old but no so much young adults out there, I am going to say it is fine, nay, wonderful that we are a point in our lives where if we want to go to bed at 9, we are totally allowed to and no one or nothing can make us feel badly about that.

GOOD NIGHT (or at least it will be after I take this Tylenol PM)
:-)

Yawn....

Today I am just tired. It isn't that I didn't get enough sleep last night, I fell asleep on the couch flipping between the balls and funny shows (still love The Office - hits so very close to home!) closer to 9 then 10 only to wake up uncomfortable to go upstairs and get in bed.

I could try to blame it on the weather, but it is a chilly sunny day so that's not it. Work - well duh but it's not like that is new.

We had a GREAT weekend with lots of family and a birthday. Maybe that wore me down - my little one is not so little anymore and I am nowhere near where I thought I would be at this stage in my life. Or maybe it is just one of those worn down weeks. You know you have them, and if you don't admit to it - you are just lying to yourself.

Regardless of any of that, I felt the need to announce to the cosmos that I am just tired. And I am sure I am not alone in that fact.

Questions versus People

Everyone has heard the saying "There is no such thing as a stupid question". After many years of school and now work in the corporate world I would like to take that one step further.

There are no stupid questions, just stupid people.

Think about it - how many times have you been sitting in a meeting, or class (or even at a social gathering I suppose) when someone asks a question that is just stupid? Maybe it is something that was just talked about, or maybe it is something you know cannot be answered (legally or otherwise). You know you are thinking "What an idiot" but manners and humanity teaches us to keep our mouths shut and just smile.

While we are in school, we are learning so really, there aren't stupid questions, just not thought out ones - I will give students that. In the older world, I will give you no such excuse, stop being stupid and use your brain. It is what you are paid the big (or small) bucks to do.

It's a new year...

What does that mean? It means, a lot of people quit eating, drinking, start going to the gym, eating healthy, going to church...

Have you noticed the new year means starting and stopping? It is like a big traffic jam of life. People tend to put all this stress on emotional instability at the holidays, what about the bipolar direction the first few months of the year? For me, January and February are the two hardest months to get through...anyone agree?

2009 is a big year for my family - our family is growing, our little one is going into jr. high, and life is just changing...good thing I love roller coasters.

Day 3...no snow, but there are martinis!

So today it was back downtown to the Museum of Science and Industry with a drive by of Soldier Field, US Cellular Field (Comisky) and the Navy Pier. Good times had by all - we omni-maxed the Grand Canyon too which of course the kids loved.

2008 is ending for us in the warmth of Pink Pants Manor with the aforementioned martinis, lobster claws, and the kids on various electronic machines 'watching' Shrek 2. It is a calm way to ring in the new year to saw the least, and yet oddly comforting. No fighting crowds, just games and martinis.

People have the habit of making resolutions going into the new year - I don't make resolutions, I make promises to myself which I sometimes don't keep. This year, I have to admit, I did not keep all my promises but we had a fun year and both of us are alive, happy and healthy to tell about it. We have the love of family and friends, a steady job, and our health. In this day and age, I am not sure you can ask for more.

Welcome 2009 - we are happy to have a fresh year to continue what we started and start new chapters that only add to the fun.

Cheers!

IT'S SNOWING!!!

An amazing day spent in the city...we did Sears, we did Giordano's, we did the EL, we did WRIGLEY!!!! Of course, Wrigley is currently under major construction due to the Winter Classic but we still got take pictures all around and then, through one of the drive in doors, saw the ice rink!!! The most amazing part was showing my kiddo Wrigley and seeing the joy in his face. I don't think anyone can actually understand the majesty of the old parks until they see them first hand.

It's a known fact that I am a city girl when it comes to the hustle and the atmosphere. Sears Tower shows you the whole city, and yes it was foggy but still beautiful. Seeing the 'tourists' (yes, I know we are tourists as well) and their bright eyes, knowing that the hour long lines we waited in to get to the top of the US are a distant and forgotten memory - it only adds to the drama that you feel from being so high above the world. It wasn't my first trip up, and won't be my last, but wow - each trip is better and better.

One of the best parts of the day, despite all the wonderful sites we saw, was walking arm in arm with my son from EL stop to EL stop, block to block. We passed shops, people, Daley Plaza, houses, the city. Surrounded by people, yet we were on the journey alone - there are no words.

Flurries did start tonight, there is a light dusting on the ground, but now have stopped. Time to curl up with the fresh apple pie my wonderful friends are making and the boys to enjoy this glass of Maker's Mark.

Good night Chicago, thank you for hosting us and making us feel at home.