Screw you, July!

Ok, I'm TOTALLY OVER THIS FREAKING MONTH.  I understand that life has bumps in the road, but this is RIDICULOUS!
1st - they're selling our building.  Then they're not selling our building.  Now its "temporarily off the market".  So ARE Bill and I going to have to move?  30 days?  60 days?   If we didn't have two dogs this situation would have been so much less stressful, but the selling agent is just not a cool person.  And we don't have money to move!
 - Then -
We thought we killed Olive!  Not like that, but it was totally OUR fault we left the Advil on the counter and she got it, ate about 25-30 pills, was in the hospital was 3 days, 2 nights, and oh boy nightmare after nightmare with that.  Thank the Lord she is ok!
-Now-
Bill was asked to "step down".  What does that mean?  Do you know what that means, non-existent readers? He seems to think he's still employed by his store, but isn't working yet needs to get a job within another department.  And why?  Why would them ask him to step down?  He works harder then anyone I know.  Bill needs to work.  Bill wants to work.  But I want him to be HAPPY.  That's all.  Another pothole in the road.  I keep telling myself this is a blessing in disguise, but I have no idea.  I need to stay positive.  #1 and #2 turned out ok (especially #2) so I really, really need #3 to be a great situation.  A better situation. 

And since I'm on a tangent,  I would LOVE to leave Chicago this summer, if only for a night.  We need a vacation.  Sniff, sniff......

Summer is already half way over?

This month always goes too fast.  I love the heat and stickiness -  believe it or not - but this the month for West Fest, Pitchfork, Dad's Birthday, and the Bristol Renissance Faire. 
As I write this, West Fest has come and gone, along with Lex's "Rager" that coincided.

Frankie, Shipwreck, Me + Lex

The Carmona's were in town for a week for David's Grandma's memorial, but they had so much family stuff I only got to spend an hour with them.  They did have a great trip, and I'm happy I got one hour, its better then zero!

Carmona's

My dad's birthday was  too mellow, just went to lunch in Naperville at Schmaltz's.
Olive got extremely sick and $2500 later thank god she is ok.  She ate 1/2 a bottle of ibuprofen which can cause kidney and liver failure.  Thank goodness the vet called today, and she is 100% a-ok.  It terrified us, and it was all our fault for leaving it on the counter.  I'm also grateful for pet insurance.

Olive relaxing.

Pitchfork was fun, we had VIP again this year, but I mainly ran into co-workers, which was fine, just unexpected. 

Hipster at Pitchfork. They're everywhere.

Next up is John & Kadima's Engagement party, which will actually be at the Bristol Renaissance Faire. 
Todd, Mackie, Darren, Bill and I are going, and I can't WAIT.
I need this kind of fun, especially since they are selling our house, and Bill and I don't have a lease, and if someone wants to buy it we're on the street.  Oh, Our Lovely Home.  We went through the steps to get a pre-approval for a mortgage, but its just not for much money.  I wish we could predict the future so we knew if just an investor was buying it and we didn't have to rush, or if a house we bought was a total money pit and we should rent, or if we can just relax for once and know how long we will be there. 

I think the focus of the rest of the summer is just relaxing.  I have a wonderful yoga class Wednesdays that I totally embrace, I love my Summer CSA of Veggies, I have great friends and fun things coming up, and everything is ok.  For my final photo, please enjoy Olive + Lenny in the giant hole he dug, laying butt to butt.

Lenny and Olive laying Butt to Butt!

We grow stuff, CSA, Kicking off Summer

I'm very, very happy with all the veggies and herbs we are growing in our back yard this season.  I have also taken a lot of advice out of my Urban Farm magazine and started a rain garden, too! We also started to get our new round of our Angelic Organics CSA.  Its so awesome.

Victor's Colombines.

Today is Wednesday.

I have tweeted with my Alderman an awful lot today. 

juliealevizos Julie Alevizos @Alderman_Moreno Are the rumors true that Wal-Mart is interested in the intersection of Chicago + Western? Please say no!  Alderman_Moreno Alderman Joe Moreno @juliealevizos Where did you hear that? First I've heard.  juliealevizos Julie Alevizos @Alderman_Moreno http://t.co/Cc1O8r6 Alderman_Moreno Alderman Joe Moreno @juliealevizos No Walmart representatives have approached me. I turned them down at Milwaukee/California last month. Alderman_Moreno Alderman Joe Moreno I'm honored RT @juliealevizos: @Alderman_Moreno and you're the reason why my husband and I don't want to buy a house out of the 1st ward! And we have birds living on our deck:  And my office is at least 90 degrees and I can't stop sweating.  And its Wednesday.

Birthday Faces!

May is Birthday Month.  And August, too, but there are many more in May. Last night we went to Two Brothers for dinner to celebrate Joshie's 7th birthday.  Seven. How the heck is he seven?  I remember the day he was born.  Sigh.  He was so tiny and just a little peanut!  And now he's finishing up 1st grade and heading into 2nd. It's wild.

 

 We bought Joshie DC Skate shoes for his birthday, and he loves them!  He put them on right away in the restaurant! 

And finally, Lenny and Olive played and played and played and ate a camera and played and played for Lenny's birthday.

Then it was Bill's birthday, and we had a party. No photos, though because I no longer own a camera.  We had tons of food and beer, and it was super fun.  He got some gifts, I paid for the party and bought him a new subscriptions to  TransWorld Skateboarding magazine.  Last week was one of those weeks with something every day after work, so this was on Thursday: Bill ate this two days BEFORE his birthday from Big Star. 

My only friend from work had her last day yesterday, so Bill, Megan (whos leaving) her manpanion and another person from our office went to Big Star to say goodbye.  Ugh so sad. 

And finally, on Bill's birthday, he bought himself a new vacuum that we're both stupid excited about.  So he vacuumed around 1am after we went out for drinks!

In the thick of May!

May is a very important month to me.  It's our wedding anniversary, Bill's birthday, Joshie's birthday, David Carmona's birthday, Matt Lawrence's birthday, Victors birthday and Lenny's birthday.  Its a big month.  The season in May can be cold, rainy and warm on all the same day.  It means the end of a semester of teaching, a quieting down in life, but also more of a financial struggle.  The first of the three day weekends of the summer, the beginning of white pants, and the start to attempt to get color on my skin.
Oh May.  You're always that turning point month for me.  Before the end, though, Bill and I get to treat ourselves.  Yesterday was our two year anniversary!   We went to Taxim for dinner, a modern take on Greek food.  I honestly can take or leave Greek Town, so this was a nice alternative.  We  had the House Cured Sardine, the Ramps with leeks, dill, feta in phyllo dough, the lamb sausage and the wood-grilled Octopus.  Also for the main courses I had the leg of lamb with orzo and bill had the lamp chops.  It was delicious!

Today is also Lenny's birthday.  Here is his two year old picture:

Tonight starts the half-yearly sale at Nordstrom, so Bill is going to working like a maniac these next couple of weeks.  Sigh.  We are having his birthday party on Monday, Memorial Day so that should be fun!  We're having grilled sausage + pepper sandwiches, the Carmona pulled pork recipe, grain salad and chicken legs.  Sorry, drumsticks.

To you, Spring 2011 semester!

And finally I can relax.  Industry Night went off without a hitch....I was stressed out and working 10+ hours a day for a while there, and now its over.  The semester is over and my Film & Video, Television and Radio event was great.  Through all the concerns that came from people in various departments, it was the best we ever had.  Friday I was exhausted and made it to one art exhibit for Manifest. Here's a photo.

I made it to the grocery store soon after and just chilled all evening.  Saturday I went to Girl and The Goat with Mackie, Mary-Frances and Erica. It was great.  Erica and I are all about our 2011 to do list, and so I made these reservations in February after crossing off "get a new job" on my list.
We had: Pan Fried Shishito Peppers with parmesan, sesame and miso; Chickpea Fritters with romesco, hazelnut hummus, sesame and goat feta; Grilled Baby Octopus with serrano, treviso, celery root, braised pistachio and red bliss potato (it was so good it was crazy); Escargot Ravioli with bacon and tamarind-miso sauce; Goat Chorizo Flatbread with ramp pesto, rhubarb and fresh ricotta; Wood Oven Roasted Pig Face with sunny side egg, tamarind, cilantro and potato stix;  Goat Liver Mousseline with ham hock jus, citruis marmalade and crumpets; Grilled Pork Ribs with tomatillo-mushroom slaw and grilled scallion vinaigrette and for dessert, Blood Orange Sorbet with parsnip pot de creme, pistachio cake and three sisters cornmeal crust.  Wowzer, it was an awesome meal with awesome friends, which was long over due and super, super fun and necessary!  I can't wait to do it again soon!