Hi Mimi!

Mimi and Giddo

So my grandma, Mimi, said she checked out my blog... and liked it. (As if there would have been some doubt?!?) But, she complained that she was not featured in any of my posts, so Mimi this is your shout out. I hope you come back in time to read this.

Actually, while I am giving shout outs to relatives, a HUGE congrats are in order to my Giddo (grandpa). He is receiving a very great honor on Friday for his dedication to medicine (or something like that). I really wish I could attend, but alas my "newer" family has obligations for me. Giddo is also finally retiring for good from his practice. So congrats and best wishes!

Life in Chicago is exciting as always, what with the weather in April (rain, sleet, snow and 70's), and my studying almost over with the first round. Round two will begin in a week and a half when I start reviewing those reading I read back December and January.

Well, other than Bill finding Jesus in his junk mail, I think that is all that is exciting in the world right now.

Sorry Chris...

It looks like you are no longer the local celebrity Hmmm I wonder if they knew about the mambas, the hippos, and the bureaucracy if they would really want to hang out there :)

Settling in

So, my office is painted and carpeted and mostly put back together (who really needs grates on their radiators anyway?!?)

It is much more peaceful with out all the blinding white, but it means I have to stop my bad habit of putting my dirty shoes on the wall. I am seriously considering getting a big bouncy ball as a chair... I know it would be better for my back, but what about those days when you really want to slouch?

So on top of the AZ trip Bill and I will be joining my mom's family on a trip for Christmas. As I have just booked the plane tickets I think it is safe to say we are going (I am a bit superstitious from previous Christmas experiences). I will give you a pictorial hint (and please no guessing if you know)

I have to push the pram-a-lot

So we went to see Spam-a-lot yesterday. Very funny. I am happy to have the soundtrack so I can continut to laugh at the wit in the songs.

Anyway, This weekend went by fast. I got some new sandals, which means it is time for a pedicure.... I looked for something to wear to the wedding we are attending next weekend but decided after not finding anything i liked in my price range to sick with what I have.

Not much else going on in my life... learning all about bonds last week and this one. next week is derivitives (the hardest chapert I have heard... what with pricing swaps and all) and then I start my reviewing and practice testing. (trying to sit and test take for 3 hour slots at a time.

Homeless

I'm not really homeless, more so office-less for the next 2 days. They will come in tomorrow move all my stuff that haS been boxed up and all the furniture and then tear out the carpet put in new carpet paint the room then on Monday they will paint coat two put the rubber edging back and put my furniture back. On Tuesday I get to try out the new chairs... If we get these I get the choice of 4 different fabrics. You have no idea how excited I am to get a new chair. My one chair has a piece that looks "bitten" out of it... the other has a broken back.

This weekend we (Bill, Lily, and I) are going to see Monty Python's Spamalot. I am very excited to see the stage production of one of my favorite movies.

Tomorrow is Friday and this week has gone by 4 times faster than last week... I don't think it was weather I think I was just the sheer amount of work I have this week as compared to last week. As I type I am running programs and saving files I will need for tomorrow... And it is almost 6.

My reward for staying down here this late? Ribs and halibut and salad for wildfire. Yummy.

Hmmm....

So, Brian got back from his vacation yesterday. He send some cute pics of himself and his girlfriend to me, but since he yelled at me the last time I posted pictures of him I think I will refrain from posting the pic of him standing dork-i-ly next to some foreign car or He and Christy kissing in front of the Eiffel Tower. But I think you can get the drift from my description.

My office has been doing construction for about a month now. It brings me back to my days at m*sizzle or whatever Connie likes to call it. I worked on the floor with all the construction all summer long and just as I got set up in a new desk I left my job. What does this mean? I don't know because I have no intentions of leaving my job. I like my job. What I don't like is the paint/plaster/cement smell seeping into my office. Today they are sanding the walls so I think I should keep a protective cover on my drinks at all times.

So some people are wondering how my studying is going. But let me pose a question to you: If you had been studying for an exam since January how do you think it would be going in mid April... yeah that good. I have been told I have to get over this "hump" and get my second wind so that reviewing for and entire month will seem "invigorating." It is a really good thing that I have a convertible and red rocks to look forward to after this exam.

All righty.... I think I have said enough. Oh and just for the record Kingdom Hearts II is great... I just wish it had been released at a more opportune time, or maybe having a very long and involved video game is just what you need when studying :)

Happy Easter

So it is a bit late, but Happy Easter/Passover to all.

Went home this weekend and did the following:

• Spent the night at what is slated to become the country's largest indoor waterpark, totally last minute.
• Ate an omlett made in a ziplock baggie.
• Chatted it up with my mom's newest boarder, my cousin John.
• Went and visited with Angela and Jason (and JJ obviously).
• Ate at Lolita's, had upscale mac-n-cheese made with goat cheese and a delish chicken.
• Had cucumber water at some martini bar also located in Tremont
• Went to Easter mass at a church I haven't been to in over 4 years.
• Had a wonderful brunch/lunch with my family ate the restaurant formerly known as Marco Polos (now Bella Moon)

The happy family

Me and a sleeping JJ

Look his eyes are open!

Happy birthday kermit!

I hope you have a great day today!

The big 5-0

Happy Birthday Mom. I know you don't read this unless I tell you to, but still have a great day! I hope the weather holds out for the game tonight and I will see you this weekend.


Now on to other things. This week is dragging.... Everwood was very good, I especially enjoyed the use of the Ben Folds song. Lost was interesting, not much happened, but I am glad Rose has been elevated to "real" character on the show. Trip planning is fun, until it hits your credit card, but I am sure we will have a great time out in Arizona.

Studying is going, I can see the end, and the fact that we are planning this trip for the week after is making all the more real.

Going back to c-town rather unexpectedly this weekend. I hope to see babies!!!

Happy Birthday Bobby!

Bob's birthday was yesterday. I can't believe my littlest brother is 19. That makes me old.

Yesterday, I had my first visit to the Brookfield Zoo. I went with Brette, and old freind from the Smart. It was great to see her and catch up on her life and to she where she worked last summer (with the cute baby goats).

Last night, I finally got to see V for Vendetta. I think it was very well done, and I was surprised at how littleviolence there really was compared to the previews. My favorite part is V's introduction of himself:

"Voilà! In view, a humble vaudevillian veteran, cast vicariously as both victim and villain by the vicissitudes of fate. This visage, no mere veneer of vanity, is a vestige of the vox populi, now vacant, vanished. However, this valorous visitation of a bygone vexation stands vivified, and has vowed to vanquish these venal and virulent vermin vanguarding vice and vouchsafing the violently vicious and voracious violation of volition. The only verdict is vengeance; a vendetta held as a votive, not in vain, for the value and veracity of such shall one day vindicate the vigilant and the virtuous. Verily, this vichyssoise of verbiage veers most verbose vis-à-vis an introduction, so let me simply add that it's my very good honor to meet you and you may call me V"

Welcome to the world baby Kate

born 4/4/06

oops

I thought I would blog yesterday, but I never did. so happy belated birthday to my little cousins David and Chris...

We went out last night to celebrate Bills birthday.... I was so stuffed afterwards, but I am surprisingly hungry now. for more details see bills blog. (you might be able to catch my new haircut there too)

Today I have to study.... and another week begins....