Homeownership - Week 1

Wow - I can't believe its only been a WEEK since we moved!
Really?  Wow!  Well, here is an updated picture of the bathroom - we totally rocked it:

It looks Ah-Mazing and we love it!
Lenny is having a hard time adjusting.  He got into the fridge - twice, and after I put baby locks on it, and then he got into the freezer.  I don't have time to run to Target, so here is hoping that packing tape holds!

Lenny also needs a major attitude adjustment - he hasn't been nice to people in the past, and I really hope he's nice when people come by tomorrow!  Bill and I disagree on all of this, of course, but I really think he needs to be on anti-anxiety meds....yes, for my dog.

We Bought a HOUSE!!!

Yes, its true!  Our (expensive) dreams are coming true!  We finally bought a house - which is something we have always wanted.
We closed on Friday, and started installing floors and painting right away.  YEA!

I'm so sad to say farewell and so long to my lovely Ukrainian Village and my wonderful friends and neighbors.  No one will be luckier then Bill and I to have had such wonderful friends and neighbors who were always there in our times of need, or a beer, or a party, or just to have a conversation with. I will always covet our friends and the times we have had.

Now we move onto Logan Square, with a yard, garage, 2 decks and a TON of work that needs to be done.....here we open the next chapter our our book.

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!