Negativity Reflects.

As in my previous post, I was pretty crabby about the whole Thanksgiving thing, and I'm not too sure why.  Still.  But this weekend has been pretty saddening, and I think its all based on my attitude.  My stupid infection came back, my dad fell backwards into the bathtub after his blood sugar plummeted, and my sister is stuck in Champaign with her loveless husband.  Oh boy.  How I wish this all could have been prevented.

Crappy.

What's with me?  Why do I loathe the holidays so much?  Is it the repetitiveness of year after year, driving over to the west or driving to the east?  Dealing with martyrs on both sides?  Eating the same food?  Being so poor that I cannot afford gifts?  Feeling burned out from work and needing relaxing time off that I won't have?
Ugh.  But no.  Don't say "Happy Thanksgiving" to me. Please.  Just don't.

Thanksgiving week

Where, oh where has my time gone?
How is it already Thanksgiving?  I look back to an early blog, in which I complain about having to decorate the front my my parents house the day after Thanksgiving as it is a tradition I do so every year.  What is different about this year is that my dad, really for once needs the help.  The treatments have been going well - 2 down, 6 to go - but he's so tired, and easily irritable.
This year we are going to get the tree early, so Bill on Thanksgiving can help us mount it in the front.  It's a crap ton of work, so it will be nice to have his help!

Anyway, Halloween happened - here are some pictures.  As per usual, wen to John & Kadima's and it was really fun.

And with Rachel back, I have been doing lots of baking, too!

And with Denise & Colleen, we have attempted planking.

Super Duper Lows and One Great High.

And in Ford news, dad's Amyloidosis is the unfortunate kind, he has too many lymph cells and in turn the treatment is going to be once a week for 6 hours for 8 weeks - intravenous.  It's going to be uncomfortable to say the least.  It's also a mild form of Lymphoma.  It's creepy, scary and Amy and I are handling it differently.  I don't want people on Facebook to know. I have colleagues, peers, and people I'm not truly friends with, they don't need to know my business. Oh well, she gets it.

Anyway, on a decent note I don't have high blood pressure anymore - I guess the Wellbutrin is working for my anxiety!

On a super high note, James and Rachel moved back!  YEAH!  I'm so happy to have them back in Chicago. Rachel got a job at Kurtis Productions.

Rachel and James

                                                          Olive, Colleen, Denise & Me!

                                                                Kristin leaving our CSA

Mid October

This semester is flying by.  I can honestly say I haven't been this busy is a crazy long time.  I like being busy, though but it also bums me out because I can't see my friends as much.  I haven't seen Molly since the beginning of summer :(
Things with the family are a little tough.  My dad recently got diagnosed with Amyloidosis.
This is a rare blood disease that occurs when your bone marrow has too much protein.  The fantastic news is that its treatable.  We find out on Monday what type of blood cells are in his protein then we start the treatment.
And I have high blood pressure - I'm sure most people do but I have been running on anxiety for a few months now, and it shows.  I'm working on it, though.
Bill and I celebrated 8 years of knowing eachother yesterday!  Although we didn't actually celebrate - Bill worked late and I made breakfast for dinner and went to bed!
I can't believe its been eight years!  We met at Gold Star.
I wish we would have stopped there for at least one drink yesterday!

I'm an Event Planning Fool!

With the Fall semester up and running, I have events coming at me all over the place.  Check out some of the posters our graphic design student worker has done!

I have to assist tognight for the Crowdsourcing event, and tomorrow I moderate two panels - the Casting Directors (in from Los Angeles) and Gina Rugulo, Talent Manager.
I can't wait until Saturday!

And there goes summer!

How on earth, is it that when you feel like as a kid that summer goes so fast, but as an adult it goes faster? Well, I lost my cord for my camera, and it was a teeny, tiny cord, so I had to do some fast magic to download these pictures.  Anyway, here is the rest of the summer is summary.
Work was mellow during the summer, now we have two new creative liaisons that started in the portfolio center and thus far, barely two weeks it seem to be working out ok.
However, here is the real reacap on life.

My lovely friend Amanda's birthday party!  She's third from the right and one of the coolest people ever.

John & Kadima's engagement party at the Bristol Renaissance Faire....amazing as you assume.

Bill and I at the Ren Faire, what a great and awesome engagement party!

Our lovely Christian and his girlfriend Jackie moved to Miami, and this was his going away party. He is a crazy talented cinematographer, and just a wonderful guy.  He worked at Sip Coffee House and we have known him for at least 5 years.  Hell of a guy, super sad that they moved.    But they're doing well in Miami, for now!

 Oh how I love Denise and Colleen, our downstairs neighbors.  This is Denise at her birthday party, straight off the trolley.  We are honestly blessed to have instant, awesome and amazing great people right downstairs.  It made the summer even funner, and makes it even harder for us to move!

Mr. Bob Sage was in town, Bill's best dude.  He's awesome, and a lovely man who is crazy smart and a wonderful person.  It was so great to have him around for a few days, Bill was over the moon with him in town!

 Ryan and Harper about to eat their birthday cake!

 How are these girls so grown up?  Sofia and Zoe with little Jimmy.  How in the world is Zoe a freshman?  I'm not ready!  I'm not ready!

 News flash!!!!! This hat is going to be on everyone's Christmas list this year!  I mean, how can you not want an Alevizos hat!!!!!!!

Our little bunny Jimmy.  check out those smudge legs!  I love him!  What a joy he is!
Hmm....anything else?  Lets see.  Work. Summer. Love.  Oh wait, sleeping dogs!

How can you not love those faces????