Well, it's official. I am home! It feels so weird to write that. You know when you have traveled between time zones and everything seems a little foggy? You can't quite get things into focus, and you are trying to adjust? That's how I feel right now. I know I am happy to be here, but I am also out-of-sorts a bit.
I arrived to sunshine and so much GREEN! I seriously feel like I landed in Ireland or something. I know I am suffering from a Vitamin D deficiency so the sunshine and near 80 degree temperatures today are SO WELCOMED!
When I got here, I came in and my house had already been set up with all new beautiful things, and it felt good. This a re-start and I know this chapter will look so much differently than any others. My mother-in-law took my tax return and was able to refurnish the entire house with creative finds from Craigslist and Garage Sales. It came together so nicely and I am beyond appreciative of her hard work to get it together before I came home. There is a whole room of STUFF for the nursery, so that will be so fun to put together with Shea in the coming days. And my Aunt Mary (visit her site www.agreatimpression.com) sent me a few preview shots of Harper's custom made bedding which looks absolutely BEAUTIFUL (and I've only seen the quilt)!
There is a still A LOT to do. It amazing how much work goes into home ownership. I need a whole day for the inside and another for the outside, and a third for the pool. Plus a fourth for the nursery set up with Shea. I mean, everything is fine, but as you all may know I am perfectionist and I want everything to look and be perfect before Harper's big arrival in less than three weeks!
Speaking of arrivals, my niece Eleanor was born on Saturday morning! She waited until the very last second to meet her Uncle AJ, but she made it out just in time. I got to snuggle with her and visit with her Mommy and Daddy in the hospital. She is absolutely perfect and Carey was a rockstar during her delivery. I told Carey to take care of Harper's BFF until I get to see her again and introduce our girls to one another. Harper is going to be blessed with several wonderful girlfriend cousins. It will be so fun to watch Rilynn, Mekaty, Sienna, Ellie, and Harper all grow up together. I can already picture many rounds of Red Rover, double dutch, and I want them to all be pen pals for eachother. Eeek, so cute!
Today I am headed to San Francisco to meet with Urban California people and spend the day with my father in law. Tonight I hope to visit with my pals and get started on setting up the house.
Oh, in case you were wondering, we hit In-N-Out immediately after landing! It was SOOO good, I got real chills when we drove in and I could smell it. Yum....
Monday, April 4, 2011
Monday, March 14, 2011
Perspective
My sister Crystal is here visiting from Idaho this week. I always love to showcase this city to others, and it puts my life into perspective for me. My sister, a stage four cancer fighter is facing her own impeding divorce right now. I never had a brother, so I've had the benefit of many slumber parties with my sisters, where we sit up and have "girl talk" and those only get more fun and the topics more interesting the older we get. With two divorces, a lot of beautiful little girls that bring us joy, failed relationships, joyous relationships, crazy families, approaching thirty (her sooner than me), parents approaching 50, babies, breast feeding, travel and health, you can imagine that the conversations have stretched far into the last few mornings and had us near tears, or laughing until we cried. What I appreciate most about my big sister is that she has always listened to me. She hears what I have to say and takes my opinion seriously. She shares openly. She doesn't hold back the truth, but doesn't deliver it harshly either.
A few revelations I've had all revolve around one common theme. I am giving up control of all of the situations I could never manage, but always tried to for my entire life. I am done parenting, worrying, and trying to hold everything together for everyone in my circle (because they don't need me to). I am putting Harper first, and me second and everyone else has to get in line behind that. I don't know why it's taken me so long to realize this. It will be harder on me than any of them. In fact, I think it will be easier on them. I have always been a self pleaser, and I thought if I harped long enough on how so-and-so should budget their money better, quit drinking or smoking, and do this-and-that more like I do that they would somehow be happier. I like to be the boss. I like to get my way. I like to be right. And somehow, that has prohibited me from just being present or just listening. I have felt this change coming on for quite some time, but I am glad it came to me now so I can make a change before I push people away or force un-needed barriers between me and those that I love.
We went and saw the show Too Much Light Makes the Baby Go Blind last night at the Neo Futurist's theater here in Chicago and its a collection of 30 short plays done in 60 minutes. Many of the themes were political, controversial, and inspiring, but one that has stuck in my head is play number 27. In it, the actors come into the audience after doing a monologue after closing the theater doors and asking what we would all do if we got locked in the theater and had to live out the rest of our lives as just the 130 of us. Who would become friends, enemies, and lovers? What would we create together? What would we fight about? What would we talk about? The moral of the story was that you only have who you are with at this very moment. They said, "think about that and put down the damn texting device, look up and engage with those that are around you!" I had goosebumps. And I looked at all of those faces in the theater, as they scanned me and for a split second we all just got it. We are all human. We all want the same things. We want family, relationship, love, understanding, and respect. We are all the same.
It made me realize that I didn't say that final I love you to those that I care about. And if you are reading this post, than it's intended for you too. I am thankful for family, friends, and my sister Crystal for being a constant reminder of the love and beauty I have been blessed with. Cheers to all of you and to St. Patricks Day too.
A few revelations I've had all revolve around one common theme. I am giving up control of all of the situations I could never manage, but always tried to for my entire life. I am done parenting, worrying, and trying to hold everything together for everyone in my circle (because they don't need me to). I am putting Harper first, and me second and everyone else has to get in line behind that. I don't know why it's taken me so long to realize this. It will be harder on me than any of them. In fact, I think it will be easier on them. I have always been a self pleaser, and I thought if I harped long enough on how so-and-so should budget their money better, quit drinking or smoking, and do this-and-that more like I do that they would somehow be happier. I like to be the boss. I like to get my way. I like to be right. And somehow, that has prohibited me from just being present or just listening. I have felt this change coming on for quite some time, but I am glad it came to me now so I can make a change before I push people away or force un-needed barriers between me and those that I love.
We went and saw the show Too Much Light Makes the Baby Go Blind last night at the Neo Futurist's theater here in Chicago and its a collection of 30 short plays done in 60 minutes. Many of the themes were political, controversial, and inspiring, but one that has stuck in my head is play number 27. In it, the actors come into the audience after doing a monologue after closing the theater doors and asking what we would all do if we got locked in the theater and had to live out the rest of our lives as just the 130 of us. Who would become friends, enemies, and lovers? What would we create together? What would we fight about? What would we talk about? The moral of the story was that you only have who you are with at this very moment. They said, "think about that and put down the damn texting device, look up and engage with those that are around you!" I had goosebumps. And I looked at all of those faces in the theater, as they scanned me and for a split second we all just got it. We are all human. We all want the same things. We want family, relationship, love, understanding, and respect. We are all the same.
It made me realize that I didn't say that final I love you to those that I care about. And if you are reading this post, than it's intended for you too. I am thankful for family, friends, and my sister Crystal for being a constant reminder of the love and beauty I have been blessed with. Cheers to all of you and to St. Patricks Day too.
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Ten Weeks
What a difference a week can make. A week ago today I was wheels down in California which turned out to be a much needed trip for clarity on a bajillion things.
I now know two things for sure.
1) I absolutely can not wait to move back to California. The Golden State was created for me. The weather, the people, everything just fit back together. I was somewhat angry at myself for ever feeling so alone or deserted there because when I looked around all I saw was love for me, in leaps and bounds. And not the fake California movie scripted kind of love, but genuinely concerned friends and family members who were concerned about me and are excited to welcome me back.
2) I am severly under-prepared for our baby girl to come in (clears throat) 10 weeks or less. While my other expecting friends are hanging mobiles and making final touches on their nurseries, I don't even have a couch. Literally, I don't have a thing.
I got to attend Harper's ultrasound with my ex, and got to see all of her organs, her spine, and yes her part that makes her officially a GIRL! When I think about her, mainly because of the really frightening face shot you get in those ancient ultrasounds, I keep calling her Daddy's little panda bear! She has the Fernandez circles already! And she has hair...apparently they can tell that in the ultrasound!
Since I got back to Antartica...oops I meant Chicago...my mind is constantly wandering and my stomach in knots. Ten weeks, ten freaking weeks until Baby Harper arrives! Let the countdown begin.
I now know two things for sure.
1) I absolutely can not wait to move back to California. The Golden State was created for me. The weather, the people, everything just fit back together. I was somewhat angry at myself for ever feeling so alone or deserted there because when I looked around all I saw was love for me, in leaps and bounds. And not the fake California movie scripted kind of love, but genuinely concerned friends and family members who were concerned about me and are excited to welcome me back.
2) I am severly under-prepared for our baby girl to come in (clears throat) 10 weeks or less. While my other expecting friends are hanging mobiles and making final touches on their nurseries, I don't even have a couch. Literally, I don't have a thing.
I got to attend Harper's ultrasound with my ex, and got to see all of her organs, her spine, and yes her part that makes her officially a GIRL! When I think about her, mainly because of the really frightening face shot you get in those ancient ultrasounds, I keep calling her Daddy's little panda bear! She has the Fernandez circles already! And she has hair...apparently they can tell that in the ultrasound!
Since I got back to Antartica...oops I meant Chicago...my mind is constantly wandering and my stomach in knots. Ten weeks, ten freaking weeks until Baby Harper arrives! Let the countdown begin.
Thursday, February 3, 2011
The update
I had such a magical weekend with my Mom, sister, and niece Sienna. They arrived on Thursday night and it was non stop until they left on Monday. We shopped up and down Michigan Avenue, had a wonderful meal cooked by Logan at Stephen's apartment, and Carey's baby shower was a nice, relaxing culmination to the weekend. Katie and I got to cut loose and dance it up with Nick one night, it's so much more fun being adult siblings. You actually WANT to be around your siblings instead of having to be separated constantly for fighting when you're kiddos. I am so proud of my sister. The old Busha would have snapped off or had a nervous breakdown with a crying overtired baby and self, whereas adult Mama Katie taught me a few things about being Zen. My Mom always makes me smile, and I am so blessed to have been raised by such an open/accepting human being who has never cut someone down based on anything other than poor character. She also trekked Chicago like a local and I believe went away with the understanding that Illinois is a wonderful place to visit, but an awful place to actually live. They made it both out safely before Snoprah Winfrey...the great Blizzard of 2011 hit so I was thankful for that.
Many of you have asked for an update from me on what's happening in my life. When I first came to Chicago I had this grand dream of starting over as Carrie Bradshaw in Sex in the City leaving behind California and all of the horrible things that happened to me while I was there. I thought about, even posted to Facebook, that as soon as I got away from the madness that I could finally breath again. My Mom even wrote how she would move here and we both spooled up this idea that I would have an amicable split from Shea, start my career over here, and Mom would help me with the baby when I had joint custody of her. I would take long walks through the streets of Chicago with my best friend and our daughters would grow up hand in hand playing patty cake together. My best friends would be an active part of Harper's life and everyone would live happily ever after. It was a great dream, actually an incredibly amazing one. There was only one major problem, it was a complete falacy and about 48 hours after I landed, reality smacked me in the face. My friends, while they love and adore me, had their own lives and partners that actually loved and respected them and who, understandably so, get to use up all of their spare time outside of 50-60 hour work weeks. They had also experienced 4-6 Chicago winters and were all nearing Chicago retirement. My Mom didn't hear anything about a job transfer and I realized that if and when it ever happened that she too has a husband and full time job so the likelihood of her being able to babysit was slim for atleast the next 15-20 years that she is a full time worker. And I fell into the deepest darkest time of my life. I slept for 12-15 hours at a time, and only could pull myself out of bed in enough time to throw on some clothes and show up to work. I lost even more weight than I had in California, and my mental and physical state was deteriorating with every passing second.
And then I started thinking about California and how much I loved living there. How I told people every single day that Roseville was the most wonderful place I had ever lived. The weather, shopping, accessibily to San Francisco, the Ocean, Tahoe were all spectacular. And my home, with the pool and yellow lawn furniture was something I dreamt of and worked tirelessly to be able to have. I was ruining my credit and financial future for my baby, and I had worked too hard and too long to give it all up. Sure, Shea was the reason I went there initially, but did she deserve the right to take everything away from me that I loved? Hell no! Should her family have to suffer because of her absolutely horrendous mistakes? No. Did she hold the weight to ruin other aspects of my life, like my credit, well being, and newfound deep friendships I had formed there? Absolutely not. So around Thanksgiving I had already started considering moving back to California. It was becoming apparent that Shea was not sorry for what she had done or was continuing to do, and I was missing my unborn baby more than I could ever put into words. How could I simply concede to allowing Shea to pass on any of her new ideaology to my baby, when I knew that it was so wrong and fundamentally against everything I knew was right in this world? And I was just supposed to start over, and rebuild everything I had worked so hard for? I simply couldn't do it...
But then I thought, what will everyone else think and how will they react? I could already picture my Mom's response, and I cringed at the thought of ever having to tell her I was "going back into the fire." I knew she prayed every single day for me to get the hell out there and how could I admit that I wanted to go back. Also, my work had just told me that I was going to start interviewing for jobs at our home office, a dream of mine with a more than comfortable salary, regular 8-5 Monday-Friday schedule, and with a company that I loved. Only problem is that the dream job with the dream company was in Philadelphia! I was already hating Chicago and missing California, how could I ever consider going even further away from my child just to make myself happy.
And on Christmas Eve it just clicked for me. I remember something my old boss would say, "life is about the journey, not the destination." I got an email from someone who loves me very much begging me to consider coming back and giving it another go. She wrote, "it won't ever look the same, but it doesn't mean you have to give it all up." And just like that, I knew. I knew that I had to tell Urban Outfitters to no longer consider me for the promotions, I bucked up and explained it to Mom and my closest friends (and got a lot of apprehensive looks and chats, understandly so) and made the final decision that California and Harper were not just calling me home, they were screaming for me to get back.
So yes, I will say farewell to Chicago in April and head back to California for good before my daughter is born. I am so thankful for the time I got to spend here. I was able to see my best friend through her pregnancy (and meet her baby in person before I go) and reconnect with my closest friends on this Earth and make new friends as well. But as I wrote above, home is calling. I will be in California this upcoming week for a few days to start the process of transitioning back permanently in eight weeks or so. I am attending a prenatal visit with Shea, finalizing all of the paperwork with an attorney, and figuring out how life will be (as much as you can pre-plan, and everyone knows I am a planner) when I go back. Where will I live, how will I get around, how will being a full time Dad and full time employee actually work? There are so many questions, but I am so certain of my decision and know that God will guide me through the rest of these dilemmas. And if I ever needed a tip on the iceberg to validate my decision (which I really didn't) Snoprah Winfrey took care of that for me. 40 hours couped up in an apartment while 23 inches of snow falls will make anyone wish to be ANYWHERE but here. Golden State, I am coming home...
Many of you have asked for an update from me on what's happening in my life. When I first came to Chicago I had this grand dream of starting over as Carrie Bradshaw in Sex in the City leaving behind California and all of the horrible things that happened to me while I was there. I thought about, even posted to Facebook, that as soon as I got away from the madness that I could finally breath again. My Mom even wrote how she would move here and we both spooled up this idea that I would have an amicable split from Shea, start my career over here, and Mom would help me with the baby when I had joint custody of her. I would take long walks through the streets of Chicago with my best friend and our daughters would grow up hand in hand playing patty cake together. My best friends would be an active part of Harper's life and everyone would live happily ever after. It was a great dream, actually an incredibly amazing one. There was only one major problem, it was a complete falacy and about 48 hours after I landed, reality smacked me in the face. My friends, while they love and adore me, had their own lives and partners that actually loved and respected them and who, understandably so, get to use up all of their spare time outside of 50-60 hour work weeks. They had also experienced 4-6 Chicago winters and were all nearing Chicago retirement. My Mom didn't hear anything about a job transfer and I realized that if and when it ever happened that she too has a husband and full time job so the likelihood of her being able to babysit was slim for atleast the next 15-20 years that she is a full time worker. And I fell into the deepest darkest time of my life. I slept for 12-15 hours at a time, and only could pull myself out of bed in enough time to throw on some clothes and show up to work. I lost even more weight than I had in California, and my mental and physical state was deteriorating with every passing second.
And then I started thinking about California and how much I loved living there. How I told people every single day that Roseville was the most wonderful place I had ever lived. The weather, shopping, accessibily to San Francisco, the Ocean, Tahoe were all spectacular. And my home, with the pool and yellow lawn furniture was something I dreamt of and worked tirelessly to be able to have. I was ruining my credit and financial future for my baby, and I had worked too hard and too long to give it all up. Sure, Shea was the reason I went there initially, but did she deserve the right to take everything away from me that I loved? Hell no! Should her family have to suffer because of her absolutely horrendous mistakes? No. Did she hold the weight to ruin other aspects of my life, like my credit, well being, and newfound deep friendships I had formed there? Absolutely not. So around Thanksgiving I had already started considering moving back to California. It was becoming apparent that Shea was not sorry for what she had done or was continuing to do, and I was missing my unborn baby more than I could ever put into words. How could I simply concede to allowing Shea to pass on any of her new ideaology to my baby, when I knew that it was so wrong and fundamentally against everything I knew was right in this world? And I was just supposed to start over, and rebuild everything I had worked so hard for? I simply couldn't do it...
But then I thought, what will everyone else think and how will they react? I could already picture my Mom's response, and I cringed at the thought of ever having to tell her I was "going back into the fire." I knew she prayed every single day for me to get the hell out there and how could I admit that I wanted to go back. Also, my work had just told me that I was going to start interviewing for jobs at our home office, a dream of mine with a more than comfortable salary, regular 8-5 Monday-Friday schedule, and with a company that I loved. Only problem is that the dream job with the dream company was in Philadelphia! I was already hating Chicago and missing California, how could I ever consider going even further away from my child just to make myself happy.
And on Christmas Eve it just clicked for me. I remember something my old boss would say, "life is about the journey, not the destination." I got an email from someone who loves me very much begging me to consider coming back and giving it another go. She wrote, "it won't ever look the same, but it doesn't mean you have to give it all up." And just like that, I knew. I knew that I had to tell Urban Outfitters to no longer consider me for the promotions, I bucked up and explained it to Mom and my closest friends (and got a lot of apprehensive looks and chats, understandly so) and made the final decision that California and Harper were not just calling me home, they were screaming for me to get back.
So yes, I will say farewell to Chicago in April and head back to California for good before my daughter is born. I am so thankful for the time I got to spend here. I was able to see my best friend through her pregnancy (and meet her baby in person before I go) and reconnect with my closest friends on this Earth and make new friends as well. But as I wrote above, home is calling. I will be in California this upcoming week for a few days to start the process of transitioning back permanently in eight weeks or so. I am attending a prenatal visit with Shea, finalizing all of the paperwork with an attorney, and figuring out how life will be (as much as you can pre-plan, and everyone knows I am a planner) when I go back. Where will I live, how will I get around, how will being a full time Dad and full time employee actually work? There are so many questions, but I am so certain of my decision and know that God will guide me through the rest of these dilemmas. And if I ever needed a tip on the iceberg to validate my decision (which I really didn't) Snoprah Winfrey took care of that for me. 40 hours couped up in an apartment while 23 inches of snow falls will make anyone wish to be ANYWHERE but here. Golden State, I am coming home...
Saturday, January 22, 2011
Baby you are a FIREWORK!
When I was with my sister Katie in Florida right at the beginning of this journey, she made me watch the video for Katy Perry's "Firework." I loved it from the second I heard it, and throughout the nearly three months I have been in Chicago, she still texts me every once in a awhile with a quick lyric from the song. It's my anthem. Really, if you haven't listened to every single word, you should YouTube it right now and listen with your eye's closed. I promise if you don't smile when you listen than you didn't hear it right.
"Maybe a reason all the doors are closed is so you could open one that leads to the perfect road." This week, I have put myself out there in ways I never expected. I just am starting to realize that maybe, just maybe, Katy is right. After a hurricane, comes a rainbow! Now I am not expecting for things to turn around overnight and I am still right in the middle of the hurricane, but I am starting to believe that the rainbow is out there. And that is the first time since my world crashed in on me that I am starting to believe that.
My Mother in Law wrote to me yesterday about a dream she had about me. She is really intuitive sometimes. She said I was a bit older and beefier (don't know how I feel about that!), still sitting with my knees pulled into my chest (as I do) and smiling. She said it was the best she's slept in a long time. It made me smile.
The last two days have been so nice. I spent a lot of time with Stephen. He really is such a reliable friend. He and I haven't had much time together since I got here because of work (he works for Urban Outfitters too) because of Holiday, Inventory, and our corporate visits this week. It was nice to just be in the same space and talk endlessly about nothing. He is funny, witty, and such a "sturdy" friend. I am so thankful for him and so happy to see life returning the favor by delivering him happiness in leaps and bounds as well. He deserves every good thing he gets because he gives joy to those around him while never expecting anything in return. I want to be like him when I grow up.
Tonight we had a small dinner gathering at Carey's. There was no occasion or holiday, just Logan, Carey, Nathan, Stephen, and I all around the table eating pasta and pie. We chatted for hours about everything under the sun. I had to excuse myself to go to the bathroom twice to wipe my eyes and express my gratitude to God for these people. They are so much more than friends or family. They have literally saved my life and I have to pinch myself for having these kinds of people in my life.
This week my mommy and sister and niece are coming! I am like a giddy school girl. I can't wait to show them the city and just sit around and laugh and cry and have fun with them. There hasn't been a single time in 11 years where it's been just the three of us. They get me without having to say a word. I am so blessed. And baby, I am a firework!
"Maybe a reason all the doors are closed is so you could open one that leads to the perfect road." This week, I have put myself out there in ways I never expected. I just am starting to realize that maybe, just maybe, Katy is right. After a hurricane, comes a rainbow! Now I am not expecting for things to turn around overnight and I am still right in the middle of the hurricane, but I am starting to believe that the rainbow is out there. And that is the first time since my world crashed in on me that I am starting to believe that.
My Mother in Law wrote to me yesterday about a dream she had about me. She is really intuitive sometimes. She said I was a bit older and beefier (don't know how I feel about that!), still sitting with my knees pulled into my chest (as I do) and smiling. She said it was the best she's slept in a long time. It made me smile.
The last two days have been so nice. I spent a lot of time with Stephen. He really is such a reliable friend. He and I haven't had much time together since I got here because of work (he works for Urban Outfitters too) because of Holiday, Inventory, and our corporate visits this week. It was nice to just be in the same space and talk endlessly about nothing. He is funny, witty, and such a "sturdy" friend. I am so thankful for him and so happy to see life returning the favor by delivering him happiness in leaps and bounds as well. He deserves every good thing he gets because he gives joy to those around him while never expecting anything in return. I want to be like him when I grow up.
Tonight we had a small dinner gathering at Carey's. There was no occasion or holiday, just Logan, Carey, Nathan, Stephen, and I all around the table eating pasta and pie. We chatted for hours about everything under the sun. I had to excuse myself to go to the bathroom twice to wipe my eyes and express my gratitude to God for these people. They are so much more than friends or family. They have literally saved my life and I have to pinch myself for having these kinds of people in my life.
This week my mommy and sister and niece are coming! I am like a giddy school girl. I can't wait to show them the city and just sit around and laugh and cry and have fun with them. There hasn't been a single time in 11 years where it's been just the three of us. They get me without having to say a word. I am so blessed. And baby, I am a firework!
Friday, January 14, 2011
A lot on the Horizon...
I have a lot to look forward to in the coming days and weeks.
For starters, I have this WHOLE weekend off. Yep, that means a Saturday and Sunday off for me. I love when that happens.
Tomorrow I am meeting with a long lost friend for lunch and then going to finally see Black Swan with Carey before the award show season. After the fiasco at Country Strong we got free passes from the manager so we are going to use them. Carey's also been eager to try Five Guys, a big time Burger Joint so we're going to hit that up too.
On Sunday, my friend Emily is back in Chicago from New York and I am going to meet up with her.
Then, in less than two weeks Mom, Katie, and Sienna will be here. While I am nervous of how we will all fit comfortably into my little studio apartment, I already know it's going to be an amazing weekend. I am so looking forward to connecting with them and showing them the city. And Sienna, sigh, I can't wait to pinch those cute little cheeks again. I love my neices'...they are all so special to me.
And then the week after, I am headed back to Sunny CA for a week. I will be so excited to escape the Chicago winter, if only for a few days. It will be a chance for me to attend a prenatal visit with Shea and get some of the affairs in order that I have been prolonging and trying to escape since I have been here. I am nervous to go back "into the fire" but know it's a very important step for me too. Plus, I get to pig out on In N Out too! Funny how the places I have lived are DEFINED by my favorite restaurants there too. When I was in CA I would obsess over Potbelly. Now, I am Potbellied out and craving In N Out. Hehe, the grass is always greener I suppose...
Inventory is officially done at work, and while we have a big visit this Thursday, Inventory is when we finally check off the end of the holiday season. Man, it flew by and drug on at the same time, if that makes any sense whatsoever.
Well, it's late and I am off to bed.
For starters, I have this WHOLE weekend off. Yep, that means a Saturday and Sunday off for me. I love when that happens.
Tomorrow I am meeting with a long lost friend for lunch and then going to finally see Black Swan with Carey before the award show season. After the fiasco at Country Strong we got free passes from the manager so we are going to use them. Carey's also been eager to try Five Guys, a big time Burger Joint so we're going to hit that up too.
On Sunday, my friend Emily is back in Chicago from New York and I am going to meet up with her.
Then, in less than two weeks Mom, Katie, and Sienna will be here. While I am nervous of how we will all fit comfortably into my little studio apartment, I already know it's going to be an amazing weekend. I am so looking forward to connecting with them and showing them the city. And Sienna, sigh, I can't wait to pinch those cute little cheeks again. I love my neices'...they are all so special to me.
And then the week after, I am headed back to Sunny CA for a week. I will be so excited to escape the Chicago winter, if only for a few days. It will be a chance for me to attend a prenatal visit with Shea and get some of the affairs in order that I have been prolonging and trying to escape since I have been here. I am nervous to go back "into the fire" but know it's a very important step for me too. Plus, I get to pig out on In N Out too! Funny how the places I have lived are DEFINED by my favorite restaurants there too. When I was in CA I would obsess over Potbelly. Now, I am Potbellied out and craving In N Out. Hehe, the grass is always greener I suppose...
Inventory is officially done at work, and while we have a big visit this Thursday, Inventory is when we finally check off the end of the holiday season. Man, it flew by and drug on at the same time, if that makes any sense whatsoever.
Well, it's late and I am off to bed.
Friday, January 7, 2011
The Next Generation
Tonight my friends and I realized that we are no longer the next generation, we are officially grown ups. As we settled into our seats to see "Country Strong" tonight, a group of 6-8 13-16 year old boys came in and sat behind us. About five minutes into the film they began talking and being so annoying and I turned around and said, "Shut the hell up." They did for a few minutes and then started again. Next Carey spoke up, "I don't know if your Mama's paid for your tickets, but I paid for my own and you all need to shut up." A few minutes later, Stephen finally had it and told them to Shut the fu*& up and when they still continued to talk (now about an hour into the movie) I finally got up and went to get the manager. He came in and warned them, but as soon as he left they began with farting noises and belches. We finally had it and I read them their rights after the movie ended, Carey was tempted to throw her Coke on them, and Stephen chased them downstairs and right into the manager who offered us free passes and apologized for all of the disruptions. Still, what is happening with this next generation? I get the whole "kids will be kids thing" but I know that if my friends and I were ever even able to go see a rated R movie at that age and were corrected by an adult we would have shat ourselves and not even moved to take another bite of popcorn for fear of getting in trouble. We had respect for our elders and we knew that if we ever got in real trouble in public we would be in twice as much trouble at home. I reminded my friends about the time I had a fit in an Olive Garden (around 8 years old) and my Dad took me into the bathroom, dropped my pants, took off his belt, beat my ass, and then made me go out and apologize to the table and waitress and other patrons for the disturbance I caused them. I never, ever acted up again in a restaurant.
Earlier this week, a 5 year old boy was throwing a full blown tantrum on the El Train system on my way home from work. He was crying, striking his mother on her leg, and screaming bloody murder for about three minutes straight. Meanwhile, the mother continued texting on her phone and did absolutely nothing to correct the child.
So at Chili's after the movie that we only got to half watch because of those damn pip-squeeks we began asking what has happened to the youth in America? We have teenagers who literally pass up getting their drivers license on their sixteenth birthdays because they have instant access to everything they need on their cell phones and laptops. Why would they ever need to drive when they can connect instantaneously with their friends through their Wii's? I was waiting at the DMV on my sixtienth birthday at 9 am to be the first in line to apply for my drivers license, as was every single other person in my class. We have kids addicted to television, video games, and the Internet and wonder why Autism and social disorders are increasing by the double digits every single day. And there is absolutely no fear of consequences for bad behavior because so what if you get grounded to your room, you spend all of your time there anyway video chatting with your virtual friends?
I think this generation of parents (the thirty somethings) just got sideswiped by the Internet age, but I also think we are going to see digressing with the next generation. I feel sorry for mine and Carey's children, because while their friends are connecting with the new IConnect or whichever new product is on the market, they will be forced to get off their asses and go roll around in the mud. There will be very limited time constraints on technology, television, and video games. And they will be required to be in the house for dinner every night before the street lights come on and eat together as a family. I know so many twenty somethings entering into parenthood that share these same ideals. We see our younger siblings, cousins, and friends lost in this world of non-reality and it's distressing.
I wanted to beat the crap out of those little bastards tonight, but really who I wanted to beat the crap out of was their parents. Why do you not know where your children are? Why are they not in fear of a manager coming in and asking them to shut up? Why is that mother ignoring a tantrum from her child? Grrrr! Sorry, I really needed to release this tonight.
It was a great night and great conversation with friends, but man oh man were we pissed. When did we get to be old folks?
Earlier this week, a 5 year old boy was throwing a full blown tantrum on the El Train system on my way home from work. He was crying, striking his mother on her leg, and screaming bloody murder for about three minutes straight. Meanwhile, the mother continued texting on her phone and did absolutely nothing to correct the child.
So at Chili's after the movie that we only got to half watch because of those damn pip-squeeks we began asking what has happened to the youth in America? We have teenagers who literally pass up getting their drivers license on their sixteenth birthdays because they have instant access to everything they need on their cell phones and laptops. Why would they ever need to drive when they can connect instantaneously with their friends through their Wii's? I was waiting at the DMV on my sixtienth birthday at 9 am to be the first in line to apply for my drivers license, as was every single other person in my class. We have kids addicted to television, video games, and the Internet and wonder why Autism and social disorders are increasing by the double digits every single day. And there is absolutely no fear of consequences for bad behavior because so what if you get grounded to your room, you spend all of your time there anyway video chatting with your virtual friends?
I think this generation of parents (the thirty somethings) just got sideswiped by the Internet age, but I also think we are going to see digressing with the next generation. I feel sorry for mine and Carey's children, because while their friends are connecting with the new IConnect or whichever new product is on the market, they will be forced to get off their asses and go roll around in the mud. There will be very limited time constraints on technology, television, and video games. And they will be required to be in the house for dinner every night before the street lights come on and eat together as a family. I know so many twenty somethings entering into parenthood that share these same ideals. We see our younger siblings, cousins, and friends lost in this world of non-reality and it's distressing.
I wanted to beat the crap out of those little bastards tonight, but really who I wanted to beat the crap out of was their parents. Why do you not know where your children are? Why are they not in fear of a manager coming in and asking them to shut up? Why is that mother ignoring a tantrum from her child? Grrrr! Sorry, I really needed to release this tonight.
It was a great night and great conversation with friends, but man oh man were we pissed. When did we get to be old folks?
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