Can we just have this house already?

Well, summer came and went.  No family trip to Milwaukee, no Julie & Bill trip anywhere, nothing.
I guess its fine - we have both been working super hard, and we are waiting - 10 more days to go - until we know if our house is 100% ours.

 The Bathroom will be the first big remodeling project when we have the money - its pretty lame.  I hate that tile! However I do like that little bench thing in the shower - but there is no storage at all in the bathroom, so the linen closet will temporarily be housed in the pantry in the kitchen.

 Master bedroom - converted from an attic.  It has a neat deck off the back which is a perfect extension of the bedroom, but the FIRST project is tearing up the carpet.  We STILL don't know what is underneath, but we will find out!  Also building a closet!  Its neat though, I really like having it as a private space.

 My favorite - I LOVE the kitchen!  I love the simple dark marble countertop and we will paint this coral color Turquoise!  I can't wait!!!  And Vasso's butcher block table will be perfect in here as an island.

Bedroom off the kitchen, AKA PANTRY.  This will be a great pantry - It will be awesome and BRIGHT!

Summer, oh summer.

I feel like at least 60% of this blog is about how slowly or quickly life is moving by.  Its pretty lame.  So I'm just going to enjoy the 100 degree days we have had, hide my sadness of summer being half over (ahem) and be looking forward to everything else.
Coming up:  Mackie, Amy, Mom, Dad, Joshie and Sammie and heading to Milwaukee on Friday for an old fashion Ford Family trip!  It should be super awesome, I'm stoked.  We're going to the Sprecher Brewery for a tour, then to Art Smart's Dart Mart Juggling Emporium, not because I juggle but because its rad, then to Maders Restaurant for lunch.  Then on Sunday Mackie, Mary-Frances and I are taking our first ever girls trip!  We're going to to Wisconsin, and heading to Lake Lawn in Delevan, WI.

I wish Bill and I could afford to go somewhere this year, but once again its out of the question.  It sucks.

Anyway,  here are some thing that have happened this summer, all in photos, of course.

 My CSA from Angelic Organics - Yum!

 Some crazy chick on the back of a motorcycle on the Kennedy - WTF!

 BINGO with my neighbor friends - super fun!

 Lenny and Olive, cute as can be!

 Grilling with my neighbor Kyle - July 3rd 2012

 The loves of my life - my gorgeous, happy and healthy tomato plants!

 The most awesome pretzel ever at Genes Sausage Shop in Lincoln Square!

 Cute Face Lenny Alevizos!

 My first encounter with fancy ass doughnuts from Do Rite Donuts.

 Lex - looking dapper.

 Bill at Pitchfork.

 The good old Roseanne Family.

Planning meeting for Women In Film - the events I'm planning.

WBEZ

I'm writing this only because I wasn't allowed to tag this photo on Facebook.  I have been a High Fidelity Member of WBEZ for at least three years, if not more.  And I never utilize my membership - not once have I used the member card, which is basically buy one entree, get one free at tons and tons of restaurants, or do any of their fun events.
Well, I asked Mackie to come along with me for a tour of the station (for High Fidelity Members) and she agreed!
And here we are:

CineYouth Fest

I was so honored this year to be asked to run a Pitching Workshop for the CineYouth Film Festival.  It was so fun!  It was great seeing so many junior high and high school students with their films, exploring their passion for filmmaking, and awesome to see so many supportive parents!

Hello summer! Sort of!

Industry Events is over! The Spring semester is over!  We ended the semester 2 weeks early because of the NATO summit - Columbia is pretty close (or close enough where it matters) to Grant Park where the protest are, so the school was worried about the safety of employees and students.  Now that the G-8 moved, we just have Nato, which is May 18-21.  We have those dates off :)

Anyway, time to settle into the summertime planning and moving on with my life!
Bill and I are starting the home search again - its pretty necessary.  We're still unsure whats up with our apartment, and I REALLY want to own a home.  Paint a wall, tear down a wall, etc.  I'm ready to start nesting.

Anywho you six readers out there, prepare for a summer of veggie shots from my CSA, and of course my garden.
Over and Out.

Me and Richard Steele, journalist and reporter at WBEZ at the Radio Industry Event.  Man my arm looks fat.  And working out can resume now, too!

April is kind of like February.

Longest month ever.  And its so cold!  Way colder then March.  I'm exhausted. I'm feeling a little weird about work.   We have 12 Industry Events that we are planning, and we had our first one last night.
I feel like I may not be as valued as the other CIL's, though.  I'm very logistical, but I feel like sometimes I'm not really needed.  And like I'm really not valued.

Maybe I'm just being self doubting, I don't know.  I know I'm tired and that expectations are super high.  We had our first event last night and it went really well.  I just really hope they all go that well.  I'm feeling like I'm fluttering - we have 3 events in one week and we don't have enough professionals, are unsure about the seating situation, and for one event I don't even know what room they are in.

I just hope I  can make it through.  Worst though is that Jack died today, of Jack and Angie, Bill's mom's cousin.  I know it sounds distant but its not.  Its Bill's only extended family in the states.  He's very sad as is the family, and if I wasn't working so much yesterday I could have had an opportunity to visit with him one last time.  What a month.

100th post, and I'm 34

Wowzer!  Really?  My 100th post.  Overdue, that's for sure.
I had a lovely birthday week - I normally don't have a birthday week at all, my birthday happens to usually fall on a weekend, or over spring break when I have time to take my birthday off and this year is different.  I didn't get to speak to David Carmona, the wonderful man and soul that has never forgotten to call me on my birthday.  I wanted to call back, but he's on a fantastic vacation with his family so I would rather not disturb.  It means so much more that I'm in his thoughts, I love him so much.

I had a great birthday celebration at Archie's, there were so many moments when I looked around and thought "Wow.  I'm so lucky.  I literally have so many friends here for ME.  For me.  They love me.  And I love them.  And I am so loved.  And I am so happy."  That is the most important thing I took away from my birthday.  Being blessed.  So amazingly blessed.  Friends are family and they really do make the world go round.

I guess thats it in a nutshell.  David called and left me a sweet message, Japes has yet to miss one of my birthdays yet when he shows up I'm stunned, John rolls in on his bike even without Kadima, and all my city people are there.  Mary bought me pretzel rods.  Friends brought me unnecessary gifts that I didn't need but wow, I love.   And didn't ask for at all.  Bill bought me shoes that yes, I do love.

I woke up on my birthday to a sweet birthday song from Molly, Ryann and Taylor. You can't ask for any better.

I love you all.  Thank you all for being my friends.  We travel down the road and back again.  And you know the rest.