This is where you stick random tidbits of information about yourself.
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
I'll get around to it.
Catharsis
Tuesday, March 19, 2002
Man oh man oh man oh man!
Last week was one wild ride! I started my new job last Monday and I love it already! I have the good fortune to work with a fantastic group of people. I love my new boss and I adore my office-mate. There's a lot to learn and it's a bit overwhelming but I'm confident I'll be okay. I've also been in training so what I'm not learning here in my office, I'm learning in class.
Thanks everyone for your expressions of concern recently due to my silence. Everything's fine I'm just really busy. And I think it's probably going to stay this way for awhile. I'm not able to blog at work and I rarely have time in the evening to get online.
It's okay, there isn't much to discuss right now anyway.
You all go on now and have fun. I'll be along after awhile.
4:26 PM
Thursday, March 07, 2002
Well, another fantastic evening with my sweet guy! Dinner was great (it always is) but for some reason, I've been much less interested in food lately. Wonder what's up with that? The concert was great, too. Not what we expected. Neither of us are familiar with Mary Black but we knew of her Irish heritage and her long-standing Celtic popularity. She did sing a couple traditional songs but the rest were more of a pop/folk style. It was still great -- how can you argue with live music? It has to be really awful for me to be disappointed. I absolutely love watching musicians who love what they do, pouring their souls into their work, losing themselves in the moment of music. It's just beautiful and a feeling I completely understand.
I need to hold out one more season. After we've moved and established the boys in the new school and completed my certification, I'm hoping to start with voice lessons again. I'm longing to sing with the chorus again.
Of course, my sweetie is talking about learning the bass guitar. Now THAT sounds interesting!
8:47 AM
Wednesday, March 06, 2002
Nothing much here, kids.
I'm down to the wire at my current job and start my new job Monday (3/11). Lots of training classes at first. I'm very excited about the whole prospect but very sad to leave at the same time.
My mom's doing very well and is having no further problems. She's taking it easy though. We're going over this weekend to help them assemble their tax information and I'll probably do some cleaning for her when I'm there. I'm certain my dad is glad my mom's home because now he doesn't have to put up with the rest of us!
Tonight is date night! WOOHOO! We're going to our favorite Mexican restaurant and then to see Mary Black at the Sheldon. A lovely evening will be had by all, I'm certain!
Monday, March 04, 2002
Thanks so much to all of you who sent your positive energy! My mother is home now and we're all happy about that!
I've decided on my baking project -- I think an assortment of items is called for. How about some miniature bundt cakes (a chocolate and a pecan, and maybe a rum) along with some cookies (molasses, snickerdoodles, and probably some chocolate chips). Even though I find chocolate chips to be a total waste of time and calories, I know others like them so I'll oblige. (Nico, if I have time, I'll do a few miniature pies as well. Just for you!)
Anyway, it was a good weekend and I'm glad everything's back to normal around my house.
Thanks again for all your support. You guys are the best!!!
8:39 AM
Friday, March 01, 2002
Well, kids, life was crazy yesterday.
Before I get started, I'd just like to take this opportunity to express my deepest gratitude to every EMT and paramedic everywhere!. If you are an emergency service worker of any type, I'd love to hug you and kiss you full on the mouth! You guys just don't get enough credit!
My mother felt as if she were having a heart attack Thursday morning so I rushed over there around 5:00 AM and got there the same time as the ambulance. My mother's not the type to complain and usually waits too long to call the doctor about anything because she wants to see if it gets better on its own. So this call was especially alarming! She made all the right decisions and called all the right people though, and I'm very glad the ambulance was called! Everyone was professional and thorough and did their best to put my mother at ease and reassure the rest of us as well. It was stressful for a bit when every single hospital in the metropolitan area (that's about 20 hospitals) was on diversion and refusing to see my mom in their ER. One of the drivers asked for a personal favor from someone he knows at one of the closer hospitals and they took her. The paramedics stuck around the ER to see how she was doing and before they left, visited with her. As she was apologizing for interrupting their sleep, they reassured her that she did the right thing and to never hesitate to call them! They frequently get calls just to check on elderly people and don't mind doing a little visiting when not in the middle of an emergency.
She is now in the hospital and enduring all the usual cardiovascular tests (echocardiogram, Thallium stress test, and possibly an angiogram). She's having a prolonged bout of atrial fibrillation and her chest pain is diagnosed as angina. Her EKG and cardiac enzymes reveal that she did not have a heart attack (Thank you, baby Jesus!) They're being very thorough with her and I'm very happy with her care. I'm not sure if she is because she's been NPO since midnight last night and is probably getting quite hungry by this time! LOL
My brothers and their wives have been absolutely fantastic about everything! (I'm feeling much more connected to everyone now. Wish it hadn't taken something so scarey but I'm glad it happened nonetheless!) We've come up with a schedule so we can take turns being with my father so he doesn't spend any time at all alone. His neighbors have also come to the fore and I appreciate their support ever so much!
It's scarey to see the deterioration of your parents -- no matter how you feel about them at other times. I just don't like being reminded of their mortality! For now, the prognosis is good for my mother and I believe she'll be out of the hospital in a matter of days.
I'd also like to thank all of you reading this right now for your thoughts and prayers. I want you to know how much I appreciate your support. I know your thoughts are with me, even if you don't leave a comment, because you guys are just all so great!!
You know, I think I'll do a little baking this weekend and take something to all the firehouses in the area. What do you think: cookies, cake, or pie?
Wednesday, February 27, 2002
Don't worry. Things are okay here. I'm just extremely busy. I'm trying to finish up things here at work and I have absolutely no time whatsoever at home for any internet stuff. And like so many other things in my life, I fear that this whole blogging thing is a passing thing. I used to spend a lot of time in a chatroom. I mean -- A LOT! An inordinate amount of time. I would cram what little real life I had into the spare moments I was away from my computer. I'd run straight back to the room as soon as I got home or finished a task at home. I couldn't imagine not being online every single day -- at least twice a day. And I don't think there's anything really wrong with that -- I'm not making any sweeping statements here, just relating my story -- it's merely a reflection of how little interest I had in being around other people at that time. Not really so surprising given the circumstances. Anyway, I started to become more active and more social and finally the day came when I didn't have time (or make time) to get online as much. It just kind of fell away from my life.
I feel the same thing starting to happen with blogging. I've lost the desire to write as much. I still read every single one of you guys and I enjoy your stories and I comment once in awhile but I don't have as much to say about my own life. My interest seems to be taken up with other things right now.
Lee, I know you'll read this and wonder if I'm going to make the move. Truth is, I don't know. I don't see myself staying online for a great deal of time. I read blogs that have been in existence for a year or more and wonder if I would enjoy it for that long. I don't know.
Please be patient with me while I sort this out. Thanks, kids!
And now for something completely different -- a little list about me.
1. We're planning on moving this summer and I'm very excited about it.
2. The house needs a lot of work to get it ready for the market (painting, minor repair, and definite deep cleaning).
3. I save everything until I can stand it no longer and then I do a major purge.
4. I remember something I wanted to keep is now gone and I punish myself endlessly because of it.
5. I have a graduate degree in procrastination.
6. I set unattainable goals for myself.
7. I have repetitive motion syndrome and often experience shoulder or neck pain due to a poorly configured workstation.
8. The ergonomic specialist at work has made suggestions but it won't be changed any time soon.
9. My new office is more spacious and hopefully, more ergonomically correct.
10. My children are looking forward to living in a new house.
11. The younger son wants to paint his room black.
12. I have a headache.
13. My older son wants to bleach his hair, "not just regular blonde but a clear blonde."
14. Please pass the Excedrin.
15. They're both great boys and we have a wonderful family.
16. We all love and respect each other.
17. My father has advanced Parkinson's Disease.
18. My elderly parents moved 100 miles from their home to live near me.
19. I'm thankful they have their own house.
20. I love them very much.
21. They can't be in the same room for 10 minutes without sniping or arguing.
22. I have finally realized that I can't fix their marriage altho I still wish I could.
23. I feel disconnected from my brothers.
24. I would love to sing chamber music again.
25. I need to take voice lessons to rid myself of some bad vocal/breathing habits.
26. See #5.
27. I would love to learn to play the upright bass.
28. See #5.
29. I wanted to study at the Chicago Conservatory of Music.
30. Aside from a few minor irritants, I totally enjoy every minute of my life and have no regrets.
31. I love being outside.
32. Walking is one of my true joys.
33. The gravitational pull of the earth increases as soon as I put on rollerblades.
34. I'd love to have a miniature horse.
35. And a llama.
36. And puppies or kittens or even baby rabbits so my children could share in the experience.
37. I want to get organized.
38. See #5.
39. I love my new job already even though I won't start for another 1.5 weeks.
40. I'm a fantastic cook and can make just about anything without a recipe.
41. I own over 50 cookbooks.
42. I love to read them but rarely use them for food preparation.
43. I have no self-control.
44. I have loads of guilt.
45. I haven't sent out Christmas cards in over 5 years.
46. See #5.
47. I make friends very easily.
48. I have made a public spectacle of myself.
49. I love to read.
50. I'm very creative.
51. I have many unfinished projects at home.
52. See #5.
53. My dressy winter coat has no buttons.
54. I used to date a tailor.
55. My mother quilts.
56. I know how to sew on buttons.
57. See #5.
58. I used to go to church often.
59. I gave it up for Lent.
60. I'm not sure how I feel about organized religion anymore.
61. I feel I'm deeply spiritual.
62. I don't drink enough water.
63. It's not that I'm indecisive, just that very few things really matter to me.
64. My loved ones matter more than anything else.
65. Overwhelming feelings of love and joy reduce me to tears.
66. I used to cry every day.
67. Not anymore.
68. I used to play the piano every day.
69. Not anymore.
70. I afraid of being in water over my head.
71. I can't swim.
72. I can do the backstroke.
73. I don't consider the backstroke swimming.
74. I want to freestyle.
75. I love to travel.
76. My singing has given me opportunities to travel.
77. My favorite city is Chicago.
78. I'd like to win the lottery.
79. I really should start buying the tickets.
80. See #5.
