weird the way it happens

so I spent the better part of my night (last night) missing my dad. There really wasn't a trigger. I was just overwhelmed with the desire to see him, hear him, laugh with him. I really miss his laugh. Not the curtesy laugh he would do by whistling through his teeth with a wide grin. No, I mean the deep belly laugh as he heaved up and down "like a bowl full of..." (no offense dad, but it's true) He would lay his head back and laugh, mouth open, volume up. Then slap his belly one time or clap his hands. When it was a really good one, he would tear up slightly and finish with a pleased sigh. I miss his laugh.

one of those days

have you ever had one of those days when...

1. you have an interview at the first place to call you back in 2 months

2. you try to go to bed early but you aren't tired

3. your husband decides TONIGHT is the night I'm going to start snoring

4. You can't actually fall asleep

5. Your AC doesn't work because your new building is "going green"

6. Your husband gets called in to work at 8 (instead of his standard 12) so his alarm goes off at 6:30

7. Your husband doesn't take the dog out or treat his infected ears b/c he's too drowsy to think.

8. you can't find a single thing to wear for your interview

9. you make it and have a 2 hour interview

10. finish the interview then realize you have to go to the grocery store

11. You mindlessly wander around the grocery store wondering why you were there in the first place

12. make it home by noon and melt into the couch?

ya... me either

When the praises go up...

So this is (technically) my step-niece, Kaitlin. although she's really more like a younger cousin. She's so sweet. We don't get to talk that often because she's in college and we both are less then stellar at keeping in touch. None the less, she sent me the sweetest email yesterday asking how she could pray for me. I filled her in about the job situation. Wouldn't you guess that today I got a call and set up an interview for tomorrow morning. I mean if that's not perfect I don't know what is :) love you sweet kaitlin!!!

a wife by any other name

How bout a little sunshine today to balance out the gloom of monday.

It dawned on me late last night that this whole moving/marriage thing is pretty rough at times. Then kevin got home. Instantly, I was thankful for the man who gave me his name.

light bulb.

Could I have moved to chicago by myself? Sure. Could I have survived without him? Of course. But Why should I? I have my very best friend. The one who can make me laugh at any given moment, even through tears. The one who believes in me far more than I believe in myself. The man who makes me smile even when I'm blue.

i have a blue house with a blue window...

outside the window, the snow just keeps fallin. So... the job search continues. Can't take Duncan out until after 5 (and yes as of right now it's 5:14, but I have been trying to write this post all weekend so I'm not taking him out until I finish it)

Last week I had such a wonderful outlook on my life. "I'm embracing my inner housewife." Which was in fact a great idea, except that was last week, this is this week and I no longer find joy in washing my husband coffee cup and french press then sitting down to my computer for more resumes.

So, I'm begging... does anyone have (a.) inspiration to reinstate my love of housewife-dom (b.) a job offer (in my field) that will release me from this apartment.

oh the possibilities

what to do today...

1. continue applying for positions that probably will not even consider me

2. walk around spending money we don't have

3. read the books I checked out of the library about starting a business that I don't think I'm ready for

4. sit and watch lame TV sulking and feeling bad for myself

it's ok, I know you are jealous of my life.

mommy instincts

well if I ever questioned my maternal instincts, I am now reassured.

poor little baby boy. Double ear infection, growth on his neck, growth in his mouth and nails cut. poor thing. I just wanted to scoop him up and hold him all day.

Even though he's not allowed on the couch I will probably spend the afternoon on the floor with him.

Do stars go to the DMV?

If I were to walk into a DMV office in LA would I find lindsay lohan applying for a replacement license? Where does matthew mcconaughey go to renew is motorcycle license?

Well,in Chicago, there is a stuffy room in the basement of a huge building. When I walked in around 2:30 there were 8-10 rows of 10 chairs and every seat was full and the line to get in was 5 deep. Thank God for the Iphone... wait... cement building, basement level... the written word solidifies my love.

It gets better. Turns out you have to take a written test after IL takes your money. AWESOME! Thank goodness I have a photographic memory.

The silver lining to this story... Turns out I took a pretty good picture. AND the guy taking my pictures said I smiled like Miss America. Who needs chocolate? I had a fairly good day. :)

valentines in the windy city

My valentine's day. Unfortunately my valentines day will consist of resumes, Insurance companies and dinner alone. Thank you, kevin's job. But before you get mad at the new husband (who hasn't channeled the spirit of February's patron saint) I will share what we did this weekend which was much better.

To your right, you will see part of my gift to him. He is a HUGE car buff and was totally stoked to spend the day drooling over things we will never own. I now completely understand how men feel about shoe shopping with us. Although, the highlight was watching his face light up as he told me all about each and EVERY car.

Next was my portion of the gift. He took me to dinner at one of chicago's nicest restaurants. Trattoria #10 is absolutely beautiful.

On Sunday we decided to explore the city. The temperature in the city has finally reached comfortable so we hooked up Duncan and off we went. Apparently my husband had a double life and is actually a photog. Who knew? but the majority of the day was spent with him crouched somewhere getting some shot and me holding duncan back from sniffing/licking a passerby.

Yup, that's him. On an upside, he did manage to put the camera down every now and then and just enjoy the sites with me. We ultimately walked 5 miles and rewarded ourselves with a cheese and wine night. it was great!

Apparel Care Specialist

yes that is my new title. There is very little prestige and even less chance of promotion. But hey, it's all about the client. As long as the client is happy then my work is done.

satyrical? perhaps. Honestly the picture of my life? Definitely

SUCCESS!!!!

My day might have been lost to such randomness but today I proved to myself that I can do this. I can be a wife. Nothing earth-shattering but slow and steady!!

Tomorrow I will attempt bread... maybe

my my my how things change

so I began my domestic quest today with lofty ideals of healthy oatmeal cookies and homemade bread... this is what i ended up with...

steamed rice with grilled chicken and apples in a lemon brandy sauce with steamed broccoli. may seam simple to you but I, on the other hand have never attempted something like this. Though a leaning slightly towards the blander side of things, I'm intensely proud. Too bad my husband is working late. He'll never believe I made this :(

today is a new day

It has been far too long since last I posted. So I thought this would be a great time to fill in the blanks... enjoy the showLike I said, new ring...

new goals... my first 10K

New memories with the girls....

My man goes to DC...

My new husband...

My new family...

my new city...

Our new home!

Now if only I can get that "new job" we'd be set. Frozen, but set.

So now you may be wondering why the sudden onslaught of updates. Well I have a secret addiction that I am not ashamed to admit. I love The Barks Blog. She is just so stinking creative. I am even attempting her fabulous looking bread recipe tonight. for all who know me, that is incredible. I don't cook but I have been known to bake on occasion. she really did just make is look too darn easy. So since I have no job, no child, no real purpose to speak of I have set my mind to the building of my homemaking skills and my business. yes I said it, my business. But to find out more on that, stay tuned.

twenty something and shocked

Today my world is different. Today there is no magic, no whimsy, no disney. Today is real life. Dark, painful, suffocating. Today something in my was jerked out of my bubble. I don't know how to get it back. don't know if I CAN get it back. Today is a sad day.