Mookie

Today is Miss Madeleine's 7th Birthday!

Happy Birthday!!!

Two Front Teeth

As of January 3rd I worte that Maddie has yet to loose a tooth. As of today, she has lost two teeth and the tooth fairy lost $10 bucks. Maddie says she's saving for college.

I start my new job tomorrow. Pray for me!!! If it doesn't work out, I may need to borrow Maddie's tooth money to help pay our bills.

What I Like

Mike asked me the following question: "What do you like? What makes you happy?"

My faith in God, Madeleine's spirit, blue eyes, smiles, random acts of kindness, Mike's laugh, autumn, sincerity, apologetics, kisses, soup, hugs, imperfection, family, goat cheese, euchre, bonfires, good music, Nantucket Nectar lemonade, braised lamb, Ecclesiastes, St. Patrick's Day, love, fresh strawberries, prayer, the smell of citrus & black licorice, hard work, affirmation, validation, vulnerability, trust, honor, puzzles, unexpected blessings, color-codes, peach Jelly Belly jellybeans, stonewear, friends, tulips, walking, precocious children, Hawkeye football, the color red, stripes, blobs, water, painting, washing dishes, fireworks, watching my grandparents hold each other, board games, public displays of affection, respect, Chicago, pianos, stone houses, soy bean fields in September, Memorial Day, remembering the smell of my grandfather's cologne and the way he'd kneel by his bed to pray every night, reminiscing, philosophising, dreaming, planning, adventures, maps, state quarters, educational trips with my dad, recognizing extraordinary beauty in ordinary places, meeting new people, quiet time, and humilty... just to name a few.

Chicago

Mike, Maddie and I went to Chicago over the weekend. In short, Maddie celebrated Christmas & her birthday with her dad's family and Mike and I spent time downtown and watching football on my brother Matt's freakin' huge t.v. in Naperville.


Mike, Matt and I drove downtown to eat at the Berghoff before it closes at the end of February, but we were too hungry to wait in a line that extended to the end of the block. So, we parked underground, strolled through Millenium Park where we experienced "the Bean" and the huge spitting face screens before traveling north across the river and deciding to warm up at Heaven on Seven (on Rush) for some cajun yum yum.

We dashed across the street after scarfing down gumbo and red beans to take a look at Room And Board, a furniture store that - IMHO - didn't stack up to Crate & Barrel, which is where we headed next - sans Matt. Throughout our visit to the C&B I was happy to discover that, although Mike and I don't necessarily share the same passion for haute couture, we like the same furniture. Perhaps there's a future for us after all! We browsed a bit - coveting much of what we saw - before we headed on to Pottery Barn and the Ghirardelli store (I totally spelled that right on the first try - I rock!).

We stopped at Rosebud on Rush for a drink on the way back to the car. Mike enjoyed the nickel he got back in change after he handed the bartender a $20 for the 2 drinks we just purchased. I apparently enjoyed a $13 chocolate martini. It was good, but c'mon... $13 bucks!?!

We were treated to a fireworks show at the Chicago River bridge as the local Bears fans were getting ready for their big game vs. the Panthers on Sunday (didn't turn out favorably for the locals). Chicago was a proud and energetic city that night. The air was crisp and romantic as warm smiles revealed the love that happy souls had (and have) for their hometown. I was glad to share the experience with Mike.

Having to Eat Crow

"Ride of the Valkyries" is Wagner...

NOT GRIEG.

Yeah, yeah. I'm not as perfect as I let on.

The Offer...

I got the job offer today. They called with a starting salary and I negotiated up a bit. Just a little, because I've never done it before... but it was something none-the-less. I'm supposed to call back tomorrow with a formal response and I'm leaning toward accepting the position.

Mike and my family are concerned that this will be a high-stress position and that I'll be sacrificing my life (so to speak) for a higher salary. Specifically, my mom is concerned that I'll be a bear at the end of each day.

So, the question is this: How does one turn off the work-day when one arrives through the front door at home every evening?

Random Items...

1. Public restrooms. Given multiple stalls (women's rooms), please do not elect to use an open stall adjacent to a stall currently in use unless absolutely necessary. Please alternate. Potty patrons are not better off by concentrating such olfactory pleasantries and audible delights - especially for those of us who suffer public performance issues.

2. My parents met Mike's mom yesterday. It went well...

3. Maddie is nearly 7 and has yet to loose a tooth. She has one that's been slightly wiggly for a couple months, but not loose enough to pull. All in good time, I suppose.

4. Christmas was fun this year. I actually had a good time with family and friends - sans gift-giving. I recommend to all that obligational gift-giving be tossed out the window and replaced with time spent together playing games, reminiscing, etc. We're a society who buys what we need and want immediately - we don't need an excuse to exchange more stuff (because sometimes taht's what it seems to be - just stuff).

5. I met my brother's girlfriend Kiley over the holiday week. She is sweet as can be and gorgeous - a real-life Snow White. They've been dating just over 4 weeks and all seems well. In case you didn't know... this is a big deal.

6. New Year's Eve. Mike and I spent the evening with his friends in Dubuque drinking local wine, eating prime rib (yum), and playing games. We watched the ball drop with Dick Clark as he attempted to be the ageless man he'd been in the past; however, he suffered a stroke not long ago and the symptoms were evident. I feel saddened that it seems a tradition may be lost, but I respect him for persevering despite his hardships. Humbling, indeed.

7. I had an interview Friday morning and will probably accept the offer [when] it comes within the next two weeks. This is a tough decision because I know it will be a high-stress career that yields a high salary. I know, going in to this job, that I will not like it for many months. I feel that I'm selling out... just a little. However, I think I'll still pursue my Masters Degree in Education so that I can one day become a high school english teacher. Prayers requested and accepted!