To Sheba.....

Life is really not fair sometimes.  Today, my parents had to put their dog Sheba to sleep.  This is so sad.  Sometimes I just feel like my family takes hits constantly.  It's awful.  My parents are so sad, as am I.  I wish I didn't know this information for another 2 hours when I'm off work. 

Sheba was a beautiful Husky with an amazing personality.  As a Husky, she was an escape artist and once was found inside Binny's.  As my mom said, "She really is a Ford!".

She will be terribly missed, and I hope I can be a help to my parents during this time. 

Almost There!

I need a vacation.  So badly. I'm running on fumes at this point.  I'm burnt out. Out of creative ideas and energy.  But...finally what I have been working on (and off) is Mom's Cookbook!
Memories of Love From the Kitchen and the Heart.
I'm so happy and proud its finally completed!  But now we can only hope it comes in 9 days.  I'm kind of doubting it, so Amy mounted the front and back cover just in case.
Here are some of my favorite photos from the book:

                                       Mom, Cousin Jeanie, Aunt Carol and Uncle Denny Paul.

                                                   Me & Dad in Mom & Pop's dining room.

                                                                         Mom & Pop

 One of my favorite childhood memories was grilling outside, sitting at this table and braiding all the fringe.  And eating of course.

                   This looks like just a regular dinner at Mom & Pops. That's where I always sat.

 Uncle Denny Paul at the head of the table.  I feel like I can smell all the awesome food on this table.

        The "Nosh" portion of a Julian gathering.  Please note Bob Ford's famous Deviled Eggs!!!

                                                   Mom, Pop and Uncle Denny Paul.

                                                          Eating Amy's birthday cake.

                                                    Mom looking hot behind the bar!

                                     Proud Amy on her 8th (?) Birthday?  And that's THE CAKE.

                                                 The cover of the cookbook, Mom & Pop.

In the year 2012

I will:

LEARN from Rick Mereki on Vimeo.

And......


MOVE from Rick Mereki on Vimeo.

I have a Nude colored dress.

I bought a dress from Mod Cloth for the AICP this year.

This is Rob, one of the other Creative Industry Liaison's in the Portfolio Center.
And here is the dress at Christine and Nick's wedding:

It was a super fun wedding, it was on 11.11.11 at the Mayslake Peabody Estate.

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.