a terrible person?!

When we first arrived in Chicago we knew that we would be here for a minimum of 5 years. so getting my Illinois license was a must. I had no choice. Surprisingly, the sweet little old lady that helped me was an absolute delight. Unassumingly she checked the box "donor" without even asking me. As I skimmed the form to ensure the information was correct, I caught the error. When I mentioned it, she said "Oh don't worry, I'll change it before your license gets printed."

Turns out that sweet little old lady was a dirty liar.

So now I have received a letter thanking me and congratulating me on my decision to become an organ donor.

Oh crap.

I emailed the office, since they NEVER answer their phone. and received the following response back...

"Dear Ms. Miller,

We have received your request to have your name removed from the Secretary of State's Organ/Tissue Donor Registry. While we are sad about your decision, you may be assured that your wishes will be honored.

We are sorry for any inconvenience this may have caused."

Seriously?! So now I'm making unknown people sad? This is awesome. now I feel like a terrible person.

how did i get here?

chicago, 2011.

10:35 pm

my place of employment (which will remain un-named)

3 customers stand at my desk waiting to be told just how long it will take them the walk to the two blocks to the restaurant I suggested just moment before. (along with a helpful map and specific directions) my cell phone vibrates quietly. My husband's smiling face glares at me from the picture we took at disney and is now his photo when he calls. I know he's waiting in the drive along with our beautiful boy duncan (the dog).

10:40pm

finally slump down in the seat of our perfect little car. Duncan licks my face pleasantly as we begin our short trek home. Although kevin is not happy about coming to pick me up, he is happy that I informed him about the 2 muggings that took place on my hotel's street the night before.

10:50

elevator to our apartment. Neighbor hops on and invites us to the club room to watch "the game." side bar, we live in a city with many professional sports teams. Kevin and I occasionally enjoy a baseball game, he always enjoys a soccer game, and we LOVE football. But I am savvy enough to know, none of those things were happening tonight. (back to the story) "I think its hockey," kevin states as we enter our apartment. "hockey? seriously? We are not good northerners," I retort.

12:10 am

game over. Chicago lost. Still don't care about hockey. laying next to my husband in our wonderful bed. I realize, I'm so stinking lucky.

my very best friend and husband - check

apartment I love - check

job I'm actually good at - check

cutest dog in the world - check

12:15 am

completely content. absolutely no complaints

Another Day

Another day of gloomy skies. How I pine after the sunshine I once knew. As a child I resented the onslaught of bitter tourist who crowded my beaches. As a teenager I secretly screamed at the out of state drivers that clogged my new-found roads of freedom. As a college student I sought my silent revenge by pouring regular coffee when the cheap, low-tipping-snowbirds would request decaf. Ha! I'll show you!!

(side note, a 10% tip is roughly equal to a D+ in school; 15% tip, to a C+; 20% is a B or maybe an A-; anything above that means excellence!)

Sadly, I suppose the joke is on me. Today, April 22, 2011 I sit in this gloomy northern city longing for the beautiful white sands of my youth. the sting of a (mild) sunburn, the smell of cocoa butter and aloe. What I would't give to spend the entire day in my bathing suit (even under my work clothes) because I know I will clock out and be on a towel in under 15 minutes.

in short...

Dear Chicago,

you suck from November to May.

sincerely,

Shivering in Chicago

mommy-gene

so here's some jeopardy info for you

Toxic levels of Iron in a dog are 50mg per kg. So for our "sweet little boy" that would be about 500 mg.

how did i learn this, you might ask? Oh that's simple. Our "sweet little boy" decided that my iron supplement looked delicious. It was at this moment I suddenly realized (though to a much smaller degree) what a mother feels like when her child finds his way to the cleaning supplies.

there was scolding, hugging, an attempt at inducing vomit (it only worked on me), and finally a stifled call to the vet. Thankfully our "sweet little boy" only ingested 65mg so we are safe.

lessons learned for he day...

1. regardless of teaching, training or awful stench dogs will ingest anything

2. dogs do not have an auto-gag button

3. I can be a good mommy, if I can ever learn to put things out of reach

4. Speed dial is my friend

so many thoughts....

yes, so many thoughts, in fact, that I thought a glimpse into my inner dialogue might amuse you... (yes i say dialogue, because I do actually answer myself)

"Ugh kevin's alarm went off."

"I hate morning"

"just a few more minutes of sleep. I don't have to be at work until 3"

"i should go workout"

"(sneeze, sneeze, sneeze, cough) maybe I'll workout tomorrow"

"coffee"

"did he take the dog out? oh, i hope he did. It's so cold outside"

"It's freaking april, why is it still snowing?"

"just 4 years and we can go back to florida."

"coffee"

"i miss the beach"

"i really should go to the gym, so i can go to the beach. It'll take me 4 years to get back in a bathing suit!"

"coffee"

"(sneeze)"

"stupid weather. let's see if I can be sick every month this year. That's a great record for your first year of marriage"

"he made coffee. I love that man"

"why did we get a one bed/one bath. Sometimes I don't love that man"

"good day chicago, they need to rename that show because it's never good news"

"$6 for a gallon of gas?!?!?! seriously?!?"

"what am i gonna wear today?"

"jeeze amy, GO TO THE GYM!!"

"what time is my bus?"

"crap, I gotta go"

the best part is, if you know me at all, I usually don't speak before my second cup of coffee. So all of this goes on in my head while I sit in silence on the couch next to my husband. He's not a morning person but he's much closer on the spectrum then I will ever be. So he's usually pretty perky in the AM which of course is utterly annoying.

anybody relate?