steal a kiss, you’ll break a heart.

Morning, chickadees.

We made it through Monday with no lasting damage.

And I’d call that a significant achievement.

Last night, JW and I decided to stay in and make dinner, which resulted in pasta and shrimp, white wine and Oktoberfest (just like at our wedding, JW noted) and hanging out.

I had made a plea for no gifts (which is what I say when I want to sound non-materialistic, but just haven’t found the time to pick out something thoughtful, I confess), but as usual, JW had ignored that request.

This is what I found wrapped at the bottom of a gift bag:

 

It’s a piece of the dock that gave out on us last year, and I thought it was a pretty fun and sentimental violation of my no gifts please rule.

I’ve really got to step it up, chickens.

Up today, I’ve purchased the new Mumford & Sons album as a gift to both JW and me, and I’m looking forward to listening to all this music on repeat for the duration of the week.

 

I swoon for that vest on the right, chickadees.

And with that, I will leave you with something off the new album, to brighten up your Tuesday morning.

ever happened to me.

And just like that, Monday’s at it again.

After a long, lazy weekend in which I mostly hung out on my couch and ate vegetables, I think I’m ready to get back out there.

Just five more minutes though, okay?

*****
This morning, I woke up early and dragged myself to the pool, where I worked out another mile of laps.

I had a lane to myself the entire time.

It’s a sign that today’s gonna bring good things, chickadees.

*****

Speaking of today, chickens, guess what I was doing one year ago?

 

That picture still makes me laugh.

And is the only wedding photo I have on display in my home (this is part on purpose, part will-I-ever-order-my-wedding-photos? probably not).

This one’s a pretty good depiction of our let’s-get-married-but-just-as-importantly-let’s-have-an-awesome-dance-party:

 

It honestly feels equally like it’s been 12 years and 12 seconds since that day, and so, I’ll settle for 12 months.

Happy Anniversay, JW- thanks for being such a good sport.

And dance partner.

And husband.

And also for always making the coffee.

He’s got a lot of skills, folks.

And with that, I’m off to make my way through the crush to my cubicle.

Enjoy the sunshine if you’ve got it- it’s the start of a brand new week, chicks.

 

 

ain’t no mountain high enough

Morning, chickadees.

I’m back in the Second City, rushing around trying to remember what it’s like to have a morning commute, and wishing I had just one more beach day.

I know you don’t feel badly for me.

I don’t feel badly for me either.

In any case, the last few days have been full of old friends, exciting events, salty water, family dinners, and general relaxation.

There is something so sweet about going back to the place from where you started and knowing you can still find your spot and fit right into it.

Thanks for holding my spot while I was gone, guys.

I promise I’ll be back soon.

 

 

And now, it’s back to the daily grind- provided I remember my way back to the office, that is.

It’s been a fun-filled, busy few weeks and I have loved every last second of it, but I would be lying if I said I wasn’t relieved to get back to an excess of vegetables, hot yoga, and basic routine around this place.

Although the excess of late nights, Sam Adams’ beers, and various east coast foods was a beautiful thing while it lasted.

I’m off to tackle this week chickadees, and I suggest you do the same.

 

executing the good intentions

Hello chickens!

I’ve missed you!

The past couple of days, I’ve been hard at work in my leadership class, discussing books and generally having good conversation with smart people.

Good beers, too.

Also, cruising the city on a riverboat.

 

Now that is a lovely way to spend an afternoon.

After a few hours of watching the Olympics/catching up on some work last night, I headed to bed and set the alarm for five-thirty.

I thought this would the right kind of day to start off with a serious yoga session, complete with lavender towel and peppermint oil while I breathed into Savasana pose and felt decidedly zen-ier.

And serious it was. But I feel stretched out, calmed down, and ready for a well-intentioned, exciting trip to my home state of CT to celebrate the wedding of a friend who I’ve known since I had triangle bangs and a penchant for a horizontally-striped shirt.

You hang on to those people- when they say they love you, they mean it.

I’m hoping to see old friends, lay my eyes on my family (who I know, I’m the worst at informing about my travels- it’s been a crazy few weeks over here and I promise to make it up to you with jokes) and enjoy the general east-coast-iness of my journey.

I love nothing more than hanging by an ocean chickadees, and I’m headed straight toward executing that intention today.

Enjoy the sunshine when you have it, my friends!

 

 

home is wherever i’m with you.

And finally, some relief from the heat.

Things were getting a bit crazy out there.

As in, people were shooting each other all over the city.

And decks were catching on fire.

And I was sweating to death.

In any case, our windows are actually open this morning, and despite being sunburned (I got a little bit bold and went without sunscreen yesterday. You can get sunburned through clouds, I can hear my sister scolding me), I’m feeling much cooler than I’ve felt in days.

Weeks, maybe.

This weekend was a lovely combination of swimming, boating, wedding-going, new friend-making picnic-table sitting, and relaxing.

Also, there were kilts.

JW looks pretty handsome in a kilt, right?

Kilts in abundance. JW’s favorite part is the sporren, which is, in effect, a man purse.

I wouldn’t be surprised if he busts it out for everyday use on occasion.

And there, my friends, is the group. We did Scottish dancing, ate delicious food, and hung out in the basement when things got a little hot (150 people + 105 degree weather = one busted AC).

As previously mentioned, it was a lovely, lovely weekend.

And now, it’s back to the reality of commuter trains and laptops and cubicles.

To soften the blow, tonight I’m planning on having dinner with some pals to see how everyone survived the crazy weather.

My guess is high electric bills and lots of cold water.

Enjoy it out there, chickadees.

 

heating it up and cooling it down.

Good morning from the lake, chickens.

We’re in Michigan, enjoying the sunshine and the water, readying ourselves for a family wedding.

Not a bad sight to wake up to, right?

Last night, we visited with familiar faces, ate a delicious dinner basically on the lake, headed out for a boat ride, and finished the evening hanging out in my hilarious friend MW’s pool.

As long as the temperature stays below 100 degrees, things are looking pretty good here.

Hot weather on the lake feels a little less stifling than hot weather in the city anyway.

In fact, as JW and I headed out of the city yesterday, we received a call from our neighbor.

To tell us that our deck caught on fire.

And that the firefighters were at our apartment.

Panic ensued for a second as I envisioned my building going up in flames, but once T sent us some pictures of the aftermath, we realized that the damage wasn’t too bad, aside from the fact that we lost a chair in the blaze.

This hot weather is a crazy situation.

I look forward to 75 degrees, whenever that decides to show up.

Hopefully it’s sooner rather than later.

Stay cool today, chickadees.

while you’re telling me stories, you actually believe that they are real.

It’s an early morning in the Second City for me.

My list keeps getting longer.

But my time keeps getting shorter.

That’s a thing, right?

In any case, it’s back to the office today, where my plans include answering all the e-mails and sorting out all the projects and tying up all the loose ends.

No big deal.

It might be a long day in the cubicle, chickens.

But it’s worth it, since tomorrow I get to jet off to Philadelphia, land of cheesesteaks and good friends.

And wedding #3 of the year to celebrate.

Lots of good energy floating around this year.

Speaking of good energy, today is the birthday of my bff, JD.

She’s been my friend from here:

to here:

Here’s to several more decades of you, my friend! Happy birthday!

In other, less fun news…

I’m getting a little anxious about my packing situation (which is currently: what packing situation?), so I’ve decided to simply drag up my largest suitcase from the storage unit, open my dresser drawers, and dump in the contents.

Rinse and repeat.

That should about cover me, is the way I see it.

Aside from catching up at work and throwing my entire wardrobe into a bag headed to the East Coast, I also have high hopes of getting through some kind of yoga tonight. My bones are feeling unstretched and underused, and my mental capacity is about tapped.

My goal is to make it through the entire DVD without swearing.

Or falling over.

I’ve got high expectations of this day, chickadees.

storming into this one.

Chickens, Monday’s showed up again.

I’m trying not to take it personally.

I woke up last night to my alarm clock crashing to the ground, since the Windy City’s kicked up its heels once again.

The windy conditions convinced me to put off my first run of the week until tomorrow.

That seems to be a pattern in my life.

This was a weekend of celebration- Friday night we spent dancing, eating, drinking, and celebrating my work pal ML (now MM!) and her husband at their beautiful wedding.

Somehow, I have misplaced my camera in my apartment (are we surprised?), so the only picture I can offer you is actually sans bride.

The next morning, after a long night, we piled in a couple cars and headed out for a marathon breakfast, where we probably embarrassed ourselves by laughing so hard and making a scene for what felt like several hours.

It’s a good thing that’s not our regular spot.

Also this weekend: the first grilling of the season at my mom & dad’s house, the end of one soccer season, and celebratory beers at Three Aces.

Tonight, post reacquainting myself with my cubicle, we’re headed to dinner with Jon’s sister LW and her husband CS to try out a Korean burger place in my old ‘hood, Rogers Park.

I know, I know.

It sounds pretty awesome.

Let the fun continue, chickens. And good luck getting back out there.

forget the lives we used to live

All right, we’ve arrived at Wednesday.

This week seems to be moving pretty slow, if you ask me.

Also, the rapidly decreasing temperature is causing my nose to run and my mental toughness waver.

It’s no fun to run when you’re cold, and it’s windy, and your hands are freezing but your body is too hot, because you maybe have one (or three) too many layers on.

I read a quote recently on a running website that noted “There’s no such thing as bad weather, just soft people.”

Count me in as soft, chickens.

That being said, I have plans to trudge out five more miles tonight.

It turns out I’m too scared of my training plan to skip it.

Also up this week is the Quest for Something to Wear to the wedding I have coming up on Friday.

I keep trekking up to H&M after work, only to become immediately overwhelmed and to make impulsive, ill-fitting purchases.

I’m on my second belt in six days.

For some reason, belts which seems to fit fine in the crowded, unorganized, loud store don’t actually fit in the quiet of my own home.

It’s a phenomenon.

I might just have to wear jeans.

So look for that.

And now, chickadees, I’m off to stubbornly pull on my lightest coat, accept the fact that I’ll have to freeze on the way to work, and get this day started.

No one ever said my stubborn nature would get me far.

I just need it to get me five miles today.

dropping the bell

Morning, chickens, and welcome to the weekend.

On this, my last day of 27, I headed to bells to get in a workout before a long day of activities.

“Happy Birthday!” Gene shouted, as he shook me.

He likes to shake people.

I think he means well.

Apparently he’d seen in the system that tomorrow was my day of birth, and he told me I should consider coming to his Monday kettlebell class as the “guest of honor”.

I’ll still be sore Monday, but I appreciate the sentiment.

In any case, after grilling me about my weekend plans and advising me that I should probably not go to work on Monday (if only…), we got down to business, swinging weights.

In a moment of exuberance over my near perfect form, I launched the bell a little too hard, missed the catch, and sent it scuttling across the floor and into a water bottle.

Fortunately, I didn’t hit anyone, and Madonna was loud enough to (almost) cover up my misdeed.

Sometimes I think I’m lucky I make it out of there alive every week.

Next up this morning is a trip to the suburbs for a wedding shower. I tasked JW with wrapping the gift in my absence, since I was running on a tight schedule, and also because I am terrible at wrapping even the simplest of boxes.

When he was finished, it had a ribbon on it.

I told him I was impressed, and he mentioned nonchalantly that he remembered from past weddings that breaking the ribbon was a thing. Apparently, the number of ribbons you break has to do with the number of children you’ll be producing.

The fact that my husband remembered this left me wondering if I should be proud or concerned.

At least one of us keeps track of these things.

And now, I’m headed off to enjoy an afternoon of friends, an early evening full of big-time middle school basketball games, and a night of pizza and drinks with my friends. Enjoy this chilly, sunshine-y day chickadees!