Friday Business Lunch.

Mmmmm... nothing like an office lunch on a Friday.  A 30 pack White Castle "Crave Case" will not only kill a small animal... it will give me gas for at least 12 hours.  No, I did not eat all 30.

Blogger Dream.

Last night I had my first blogger dream.  Yep, my little head spent part of the night dreaming about meeting up with all of these bloggers I "know" at (get ready for it) a (ready?) Red Hot Chili Peppers concert.  It gets better (how could it get worse?).  It was in my high school gymnasium and there was only about 100 people there.  It was fun to meet all of you... thanks for stopping by.

Maybe this is a sign I don't get out enough.

Sore.

I love living in the city. In NYC I got to walk by the Flat Iron building almost every day. In Chicago during the summer I get to play softball right by Buckingham Fountain which is tops. Really... how great is it to be at the plate and look up and see Buckingham Fountain to the right, the Sears Tower to the left, and Lake Michigan is one block behind me. Love it.

I usually take the El to the games, but since I've been riding my bike more than usual this summer I thought I would ride the ten miles to the game. By the time I got there I was a little tired since I went fast to be sure I was not late (was was more than an hour early). The game was one of the best my team ever played... so yes, we won. Then being worn out from the game it dawned on me I had to bike home. I tried putting on the new handlebars light I just bought for my bike and I could not get it to work. Grrrrr.  So I just turned on the red back lights and headed off down the bike path by the lake.

Bad idea not to have a front light on the Lake Michigan bike path when it's dark outside. Since I could see very little on parts of the path (especially north of North Ave) my brain thought it was a good idea to ride faster (get home faster since it's only getting dark by the minute). I am sure I was talking to myself because my mouth was open enough that I ate a few hundred bugs (mmmm... dinner).  All went well.  No accidents.  No flats.  Then came Belmont Ave where my legs started cramping.  No fun.  For some reason I could peddle just fine, but whenever I had to stop at a light and take a leg off my peddle it would cramp and I could barely get it back on.  I am sure I was a sight to see.  A sweaty mess yelling at my legs, and to top it off... my jeans ripped in the butt.  Now I knew there was a small hole, but in the process of riding home I my jeans were slowly turning into hot pants.  Hot pants on the Niner... not so hot.

I made it home.  Ate the most random dinner ever.  I saved the environment so much yesterday that I thought I'd save myself by driving my SUV to work today.  Yep, I'm am one sore mess.

6 Questions.

Today's post is on the ever so awesome [Cherry] Ride. Cherry is starting a new six questions segment, and I was victim number one. I was honored... and then over thought about how to answer the questions. I wanted to be funny and not be lame or douche-y. Hopefully there are few haters out there when it comes to the comments.

Bummer.

What a bummer way to start the week...

1. George Carlin dies.
2. The Cubs swept the White Sox this weekend.
3. I did not go to the Taste of Randolph... because I was a cranky bitch. So I missed the Drive-By Truckers and Bobby Bare Jr.
4. I did not go for a bike ride, see good music, or go to the zoo.
5. I forgot my lunch.
6. George Michael keeps popping up on my iTunes player.

But...

1. I did hang out with the Cherry & LP and see Get Smart which was fun. Really. It was.
2. The punker show on Friday ended up being a hoot of a time with some friends.
3. Went for a long walk, not bike ride, with K.i.D. which was good times all around... and we signed up the K.i.D. for the YMCA - so maybe, just maybe I'll finally get off my ass and go.
4. Woke up the morning and received an email notification that my tickets for this Friday's Sox vs Cubs game sold for way too much money! Yea! Going to buy a car seat!

So it was not all bad.

Weekend.

Warning: Today's post is boring.  It really goes no where.  It's not funny.  Half way into writing it I almost hit delete.  So if you don't want to read it... don't.  Fun times will be back next week.

This weekend has so much going on in Chicago that it would be sad if on Monday morning I woke up and realized I did nothing... which might just happen since I feel like I've had a lack of good sleep.  Some of the activities I want to partake in:

1. Sox vs Cubs Series.  Since it's on the Northside this weekend I will not be attending.  Next weekend are the Southside games which LP and I will go to.  Both of Chicago's baseball teams are currently in first place so it's going to make for six exciting games over the next week.  The players just see them as any other game, but the fans get so fired up... probably too fired up.  Cubs' fans take it so personally that their team has not won a championship in 100 years... and White Sox fans like to rub it in.  My highlight for this weekend is I get to wear my "Cubs Blow" jersey.  And since my office is five blocks away from Wrigley Field I wore it to work today.  While getting coffee this morning this fortysomething dude game me an evil look.  Love it!

2. Taste of Randolph.  The Liars were planning to meet up at the yearly Randolph Street shin-dig and drink beer, eat funky food on a stick, and see good music (Drive-By Truckers are on Saturday night).  But no - one Liar thinks it would be more fun to go jet ski, and another Liar thinks it would be more fun to hang out with other (non-cyber) friends.  Okay, they both have good points, especially the jet ski.  The best part of the Taste of Randolph is the people watching.  If I go I will bring the camera.

3. Good music.  There are some great shows this weekend (Willie Nelson, Black Angels, Warlocks, Dilated Peoples, Sadies, Meatmen), but I'll end up missing all of that and going to a terrible punk show that I need to attend for my work.  Ug.  At least I can drag some friends with me.

4. Bike Ride. I was hoping LP and I could take a bike ride along the lake this weekend... but with her tummy getting so big it's hard for her to ride a bike.  

5. Brookfield Zoo.  This is one of the few things LP and I have yet to do in the city.  We have gone to the Lincoln Park Zoo many times, but never the Brookfield.  It's one of those places you know will always be there so we can go any time.  And my guess is we will probably be going there a lot more in the upcoming years with the new little bundle of boy.

6. Sleep.  Yep, I want a nap.  Maybe even two.  It's something I always feel guilty about doing, but when you don't take a weekend nap and then wake up on Monday morning you think to yourself... I should of taken a nap.

Enjoy your weekends.

Presents.

Last night at the White Sox game we got baby presents from two ladies that have become part our summer family.  They bought us a little White Sox tee shirt and some White Sox booties.  Too great!  Our baby-to-be is set for the world with White Sox gear and some Giants gear my brother and sister-in-law bought us.

Having partial season tickets has been a blast these past few years.  It has given us the opportunity to meet some good new people (although none have led me to a new job).  From April through September we have this summer family of people we see only at games.  We all share the love of the game of baseball and just being outside.  On days the Sox are winning we pick apart what they could be doing better, and on days they are getting shelled we talk about other things (politics, food, family, names of towns).

Not sure if we'll be able to afford tickets next year... depends on what a new job for me pays - but I highly recommend season tickets (does not have to be the entire season) for anyone who has ever thought about it.

Random Cute Kitty Photo Day.

Miss Eloise checking to see if the mail is here.

Instead of writing about my depressing job search or the feelings about becoming a parent in a few months... I am sharing with you all a cute kitty photo.  Why?  Well, I have not posted a new photo of either furry in a while - and instead of typing away I am going to try and play catch up on the many blogs I have not had time to read in the past week.

Note 1: My jeans are rolled down today.
Note 2: Tabby, I cannot access you blog... sadcakes.

Huck Finn.

This photo makes my feet look huge.

It's summer time in Chicago... not technically, but it's been warming up so many residents of this fine city have been sporting their shorts and flip flops.  And I have too.  But on the days where shorts are a no-go I often will go with the jeans rolled up.  LP calls it my Huck Finn look which she adds other comments that are in line with: you look like a dork.

This all started when I started riding my bike a lot and rolling up my pants so the chain did not eat them up (it has happened to me a few times).  When I get off my bike I am too lazy to roll them down since I'll just have to roll them back up at some point.  That lead to me just liking my pants rolled up.  Maybe I'm just preparing for a flood, or maybe I just really want to be a dork - but I dig them this way.

Wasn't Huck Finn cool?

On Repeat.

Yesterday when I got home I had plenty to do... so instead of opening a beer and sitting on the couch with the cats to zone out on the television news I got right to work (of course after feeding the meowers). My big task was to disassemble our huge CD shelf and downsize it since we now own less than 1,500 CDs.

Before getting started I loaded the CD player with some music (I knew I'd be too busy to flip records every few minutes) and hit play. The first album was Colin Meloy's new live album which I've found a huge fondness for... a huge surprise since I am so tired of the Decemberists. The CD player got the seventh song (maybe it's the sixth, or eighth) called "Wonder" which a favorite of mine. I know the song is all about having a baby, but yesterday I listened to it in such a new way. The song completely grabbed me. I hit the back button when it was over and listened again. And then again. And then again. And then finally just put the song on repeat and finished the shelves (which look pretty good).

On a day when I found out the my job is gone at the end of the year (possibly sooner) since they are closing my office... and on a day when I did not receive any calls for interviews... and on a day when I am not sure how I can right the situation... and on a day when you put all of this together you would just want to give up and cry - well I got lost in one song by Colin Meloy. I put all of these huge issues aside and just thought about what an amazing happening is going on in LP. How us two are creating a new person. A new person that is going to change both of our lives forever.  And most importantly how I am so lucky to have LP in my life to go through this journey with.

When LP got home I was on the phone talking to my mom and she asked if I was okay since I apparently looked sad. I guess I should have been - but I was not. Not even for a second. I guess I was in wonder. I guess I put the good in front of the bad. Some might say I was not being realistic, or that I was day dreaming or avoiding what needs to be done. That's fine, they can say that. I was proud of myself for taking some time for me to reflect on what is going on in my life, and LP's life. I was in wonder. 

"My darling, what wonder have we wrought here? It’s weird and it’s wonderful dear. An ankle, an earlobe, an elbow bone. It’s weird how it wonderful grows. And it was only me and you that made this three come out of two."

- Colin Meloy

Road Trip: The Highlights.

Here are some highlights from our road trip to Memphis this past weekend.  Since I am still exhausted from the trip I am not posting any pictures so just imagine them in your special little heads.

1. We passed a Cooter twice, and also came very close to meeting a Cleetus.
2. Bought the new Weezer CD and learned only one line of the first song which I sang over and over and over.  LP was ready to shoot me.  It's a really good line.
3. Swimming pools are awesome, especially when it's 98 degrees outside.
4. We spent more than twice as much on gas as we did the first time we made this drive... which was in June 2004.  Remember the good old days?
5. We listened to some amazingly awful political talk radio in Southern Illinois... followed by Rush Limbaugh which was funny (sad) for about five minutes and then we had to turn the station.
6. Very little Peter Cetera on the FM and AM dials this trip.
7. I spent the last two hours of the trip looking out for tornadoes... which never came.  But we did drive by the destruction left from a tornado that hit Monee, IL on Saturday.  That was the closest I have ever been to a tornado (yes, just seeing the wreckage it left).
8. Favorite Quote #1: We are were at a birthday party for LP's grandpa which was held at the hall of a very very conservative church.  One of LP's Great Uncles came over to me and said... "Just remember the bible says that the sinners of the world will be sent of wicked ruler.  And that ruler is George Bush."  I laughed so hard.  Found out he was a die hard democrat.  Classic.
9. Favorite Quote #2:  Heard on the radio... "Even if the Eagles did a reunion show in my backyard I would not attend."  So true.
10. Last night back at home I tried to finish watching the movie Dune (1984) which I have never seen.  I did not make it through half.

Frustration.

With the likelihood of me losing my job becoming more real day by day I am truly at a loss on how to find a new job. I have tried many different angles, but always end up not getting anywhere. Headhunters don't work for me since I want to change industries (because there is no music industry in Chicago). Just applying does not work since I have applied for an average of 3o jobs for the past ten months and not gotten anywhere.

No one wants to think outside the box (even though so many of these companies preach that daily) and take a chance on someone who is a fantastic project manager and would improve any company, firm, or agency. No one wants to even call me up and ask me some questions on the phone. A few have let me know that my background and resume are fantastic... but I have no experience in their industry so they did not need my services. And everyone I know does not have any connections for me landing a new job. None.

I have applied for jobs at ad agencies, pr firms, marketing agencies (all in account services), design firms, non-profits, museums, colleges and universities, beverage companies, and random office manager jobs and assistant jobs.

With no job on the horizon, and baby on the way... I just do not know what to do.

Road Trip.

We are off on another road trip... and should be few hours into by the time this goes live. Off to Memphis for a long weekend to attend our first baby shower.  No matter how many times we do this nine hour drive it never seems to go any faster.  Well, it should be a lot of fun, and also very exhausting.

Politics.

What I heard from the three speeches given last night from the final three candidates.
John McCain:  Uh... I'm change.  And look at my green background!
Hillary Clinton:  Me Me Me. (I'm a sore loser).
Barack Obama:  We are all Americans first and foremost.

Hot Dog!!!

We found out this morning we are having a... BOY! A hot dog, not a bun. We would be happy with a boy or a girl, but it's fun to know and share with people. So now you all know. Enjoy!

In case you wanted to see more than a photo of a hot dog.

Boy or Girl?

Tomorrow morning we should find out if there is a boy or girl in LP's tummy.  That is if little Niner or little LP will open their legs.  It's been on my mind all weekend... just getting antsy to know what we are having.  

When it comes down to it, I am happy with either. Really. I don't have this deep desire for one or the other.  A few people have told me that they thought I would want a boy since I am so into baseball - but I'd be happy if my kids are baseball fans, that would be great - but there is no expectation  or hope or dream for them to be a MLB player.  It's been entertaining how many people give us their opinions on what they think the baby will be... and why.  Most people say "it's just a feeling" but some can "tell" based on tons of "theories." It is only a 50/50 guess, so everyone has the same chances of being right.  It is very sweet, and LP has been such a champ... not sure I could deal with that many people touching my belly.

So if we find out tomorrow I'll let you all know... then you can help out with names.