Chicago Chick

Something You Can Count On

I am fully aware that the Cubs lost and I'm disappointed, but I don't really want to talk about disappointment.  Instead, I want to talk about things you can count on - good stuff and not death and taxes.  One thing that I've always known that I can count on are friendships with a handful of friends.

The thing about friendships is that they change from year to year, minute to minute, and season to season.  The ones that seem to last are the ones that can adapt to the changes in your life.  The friendships that I cherish are the ones where you don't talk to the person every day and you can go years without speaking, but when you do talk to that person again it's like nothing has changed.  One of my friendships started off with my now very good friend, Maria, saying "Ya shoulda held out for a carat" about my engagement ring.

When I told her that it WAS a carat and in fact a little over a carat, she turned her head and smiled sheepishly.  To her defense, the engagement ring had a ridiculously thick band around it which would make any diamond of any size look dinky.  A couple of years later I was talking about switching jobs and she asked what I did.  When I told her she said, "Holy shit - you're smart!?!"  To this day we laugh about that.  I actually love that story because it shows that you can be a complete goof ball and still be intelligent.

Maria is an incredible person.  She went back to get her bachelor's degree at a time when she thought she would be too old; she volunteered as a camp counselor at One Step at a Time Cancer Camp - and Maria is as much a city kid as I was and dislikes the outdoors; and last year Maria raised money for the camp by walking the Chicago Marathon.

She's doing it again this year and as I'm sitting here all flu-like writing this entry to post at a later date, I'm thinking of her and hoping that she is doing well.  Maria is just an amazing person - probably one of the most amazing person that I know.  I remember last year when Maria, her boyfriend, and I were driving down to the Marathon start site and she was understandably anxious.  When I asked her why she was so nervous she said, "This is totally out of my comfort zone."  Both Maria's boyfriend and I looked at her and laughed.  One of us said, "Yeah, like you running around the woods with 10 kids with cancer is something you were always completely comfortable with!?!"  It's not unlike Maria to push the boundaries of her "comfort zone" so for her to even say that was laughable.

She is freakishly determined and strong and she has the biggest heart.  You never know what she'll do next and she goes after a goal with 110% dedication once she's put her mind to it.  So, I don't know at this time if my friend Maria made it across the Chicago Marathon finish line (I'm sure she has), but I'm there with her in spirit.  I love ya - you're one of the people in life that I can truly count on!

Cross posted at Chicago Moms Blog

Amazing What a Little Publicity Will Do

Since the Chicago Tribune article came out on Chicago Mom's Blog yesterday, I've noticed a huge spike in traffic on my site.  Additional traffic means additional comments which is a good thing.  I've been fortunate not to get hate mail.  Okay, I think I've gotten 1 in the past 10 years that I've had an online journal.

Initially, I started posting under a pseudonym because I didn't really want what I wrote to be associated with me.  Me, the person Irene.  It gave me a bit of freedom to write exactly WHAT I wanted.  When I moved to the Chicago Chick URL, I decided to put my real name out there.  I'm not exactly sure why, but I did.

So when Jill at Silicon Valley Moms Blog contacted me about writing for Chicago Moms Blog, I thought, "Eh, What the heck!"  And, I love contributing to the blog.

This morning, my real life collided with my Internet self when I received an e-mail from one of my old co-workers from my first job out of college.  Hi Ms. Eye-Conetti - miss ya!!!!  It was a nice surprise and initially I thought, "Crap! I've blown my cover!" but then I realized that there are a lot of people out there who already know me and know about my site.  The world is a small place, but it is infinitely smaller with the Internet.

So, keep those visits, comments, and e-mails coming.  I enjoy reading and responding to them.  They're entertaining and funny and really supportive when I need a little love.

Boobies! Save the Boobies!

I first met my friend Sue when I was assigned to an implementation project.  Sue and I have a lot in common - she has 2 boys (although they're grown men), she's in accounting, and she has a wicked sense of humor.  The one thing that I never hope that I will have in common with Sue is breast cancer.  She was very fortunate to survive, but there are others who have not.

Two of my aunts have had breast cancer - one died because she didn't take action soon enough and the other one beat it, but ended up dying of lung cancer.  Both women were remarkable and when they passed, they left a trail of tears and broken hearts.  Their deaths affect their daughters, sons, spouses, extended family members, and friends even though their passing happened years ago.

Sue was supposed to participate in the Chicago Avon Walk but because of a knee injury will not be participating.  Instead, Michelle (Sue's son's girlfriend) will be walking.  Michelle needs to raise $1,800 which may not seem like a lot but it is.  If you would like to support the Chicago Avon Walk, please help Michelle raise the $1,800.

For those of you who are lucky enough to work for companies that match, it would be terrific if you could donate.  When I worked for Sara Lee, one of the cool benefits they offered - besides 50% off of Coach product - was a 2 time match.  So, if I donated $100 to a qualifying charity, the would give an additional $200.

Sadly, I no longer work for Sara Lee and they no longer own Coach, but that's besides the point.  So, go help a worthy cause out - go save the Boobies, as they say, and help Michelle raise money for a truly worthwhile cause!

For Sale

Anyone looking to buy a condo?  Our place will be going on the market soon.  It's a 2 bedroom, 1.5 bath condo in the Bucktown neighborhood.  Our place has the 9 ft high ceilings, wood floors, granite counter tops, and a balcony that's large enough to eat on and have a grill.  The master bath has a marble counter top and the bath is tiled in marble.  The place was built - brand new and not a gut rehab - in 2002.

We're 2 blocks from the Western stop on the blue line and 3 blocks away from Damen Ave.  Seriously, if you or anyone you know is interested, please let me know.  Our place will be listed in the next week or so.

Except for the 4 or so years that I lived in a Chicago suburb and the couple of years I lived in the Philippines at the beginning of my life, I have never really lived anywhere except for Chicago.  I love Chicago.  It's better than NYC or Atlanta or LA (although, San Francisco gives Chicago a run for its money in my heart).

In my first 3 years out of college, my job took me all over the world and I've "lived" (worked M through F for 3 or more months) in NYC, Atlanta, Memphis, Montreal, and Winston-Salem, NC.  I cannot imagine living anywhere else.  At one point in time, I thought of moving to Minneapolis but in the end realized that I couldn't leave Chicago.

When David and I started looking for houses almost 2 years ago, we looked in Park Ridge and Niles and other nearby suburbs.  My heart would sink at the thought of having to leave the Chicago city limits, but then my stomach would twist when we did look in the city and the prices were ridiculous.  Not that the prices of homes in Park Ridge and Niles were any better.

About 2 weeks ago we decided to look in Chicago and I found a listing after calling my friend's real estate agent.  Things are moving quickly and we don't have a final contract, but hopefully if I don't jinx it, we'll be moving soon.

This Isn't Me

I was sitting in the library updating my new iPod shuffle that my boys bought me for Christmas and since the library now has Internet, I was able to do some mindless Googling.  Recently, one of my friends e-mailed me to ask if I had posted on Craigslist and sent me a link to the post.

This is NOT me.  Then again, this isn't me and neither is this or this.  Now, I know that I'm not the only one who has Googled themselves although I may be one of a few who will admit that.  But, I'm a dork (always have been and always will be).

People have the same first and last names all the time, but for some crazy reason I seem to think that my Internet name and persona are unique.  How's that for completely self-absorbed?  That isn't really me either!

More PC BullS%$#

So, I'm checking my e-mail this morning and read on the Comcast site this headline: "Nativity Booted from Christmas Festival".  After reading about it, I searched on the Chicago Tribune and found this article.

Here is a snippet of the article:

" . . .city officials say advertising plans, including a loop of the new film that was to be played on televisions at the festival, might offend non-Christians.

'Our guidance was that this very prominently placed advertisement would not only be insensitive to the many people of different faiths who come to enjoy the market for its food and unique gifts, but also it would be contrary to acceptable advertising standards suggested to the many festivals holding events on Daley Plaza,' Jim Law, executive director of the Mayor's Office of Special Events, said in a statement.

Cindy Gatziolis, a spokeswoman for the office, said the city does not want to appear to endorse one religion over another. While acknowledging that there is a nativity scene on the plaza, Gatziolis said there also will be representations of other faiths, including a Jewish menorah, all put up by private groups."

Maybe I'm taking this a little to seriously, but Christmas or at least those attending what is called the "Christkindlmarket" is about CHRIST - as in JESUS CHRIST PEOPLE! STOP BEING SO STUPID!  And, correct me if I am wrong but the first 6 letters of Christmas or "Christkindlmarket" spell out CHRIST.  Ya think that was by accident?  Hmmmm . . . Think again!