Catching Up

Re-Grouping

2010-01-11T21:04:00.000-08:00

It seems that I not only have problems with December, but January as well. For the second year in a row, I got back from the holidays, and was laid off. It's hard enough to lose your livelihood once, causing you to move accross the country, but to have it happen twice in one year is a bit of a shock.
I'm taking this as a warning to slow down and regroup. I need to spend more time with God. I need to get things in the house in order. I need to reconnect with people that I haven't had time to connect with. While the finances will be a struggle, it is a blessing to be able to get the rest of my life back on track, and to get my priorities straightened out.
I am blessed to have a network of amazing people around me to support me. And ultimately, I am grateful to have this time to set aside to devote to the important things in life.
I am praying for everyone who is facing struggles in this economy. I ask you to pray for me too.

More Water

2009-12-07T06:33:00.000-08:00

Once again it's December, which means time for more water problems. This time, it's not a burst pipe, but a clog in the pipe somewhere outside where all of the units in this building come together. Anytime anyone in the building uses water, it backs up into our unit and our next door neighbor's unit. Plumbers were here all day yesterday and now again today. I guess you don't realize how much you take water in the house for granted until you can't use it. I think I will be much more appreciative of these things in the future.

Planned Parenthood Exposed

2009-09-12T09:15:00.000-07:00

Please watch this.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cYaTywSDmls

Tag! I'm It!

2009-07-11T20:52:00.001-07:00

It seems that Jessica found the way to get me to post again, by tagging me! So, here goes:

8 Things I'm Looking Forward To:
1. Finding a job
2. kids
3. deepening my faith
4. finishing the move (I miss my stuff that's still in Seattle!)
5. seeing my friends in Seattle!
6. getting super healthy
7. watching the amazing things Keith will do in his new job
8. rekindling some old friendships

8 Things I Did Yesterday:
1. Met with my spiritual director
2. Had lunch with my husband
3. watched our wedding video
4. drank ginger ale out of a champagne flute
5. changed lightbulbs
6. spent way too much time on facebook
7. saw a kids production of The Velveteen Rabbit
8. played with the dogs

8 Things I Wish I Could Do:
1. learn to forgive myself
2. play the piano
3. live in two places at once :) (but only if Keith could too)
4. be better about praying
5. travel as much as I used to
6. knit
7. update my blog more frequently!
8. be the perfect wife for my husband.

8 Shows I Watch:
1. So You Think You Can Dance
2. The Soup
3. Glee (when it's on again)
4. Pushing Daisies (wish it was still on)
5. How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria?
6. Don't Tell the Bride
7. Say Yes to the Dress
8. The Muppet Show (on DVD)

I tag April and Keith

Thank You

2009-03-05T11:22:00.000-08:00

I just wanted to take a moment to thank everyone for their prayers for Keith and I. In the midst of the move, the wedding planning, the job loss, the economy, and everything else, your prayers and friendship have made all the difference.
I've been truly blessed with the amazing friends I've made out here in the short time that we've been here. You've shown me what true openness and caring can do.
My friends back home have remained friends and not drifted with the distance, and it's a true testament to the power of friendship.
As Keith and I continue to discern where God is leading us (geographically speaking), it is comforting to know that wherever we end up, He has provided us with a network of people who truly care, and are truly being His hands and feet. Thank you...for everything.

Fr. Ed made me do it!

2008-12-26T17:10:00.001-08:00

Keith and I went to dinner the other night with our friend, Fr. Ed, who pointed out to me that I haven't updated my blog in quite some time. He is right! So that I don't continue to disappoint, here is my attempt to re-cap my and Keith's non-vacation thus far:

The Perils of Debbie and Keith

Keith and I were quite lucky to get out of Seattle at the end of a storm in Chicago and halfway through one of the craziest storms the Pacific Northwest has seen in awhile. Our flight was on time and very smooth. This trip was off to a great start!

Pretty much as soon as we landed, the snow started coming down in Chicago. Again. Half the people that we were supposed to meet for dinner were unable to make it out. No big deal, we had a great time with everyone we got to see. After dinner (and an hour drive home in the snow) we were beat and fell asleep.

The next morning, Keith and I are excited because all of our friends are coming over. This is great because A) we get to see everyone! and B) they are all coming to help us pack up the house once and for all. It was fabulous! We got the entire house packed up in record time, and moved all of the boxes into the garage to await their journey to Seattle. (This is all good so far....keep reading...it gets better.)

The next day, Keith and I run some errands, and then we are off to meet Fr. Ed for dinner. We are going to go straight to dinner, but I insisted on going home first. It's a good thing we did. I heard a strange sound coming from my fireplace. When I bent down to investigate, I saw water coming out of the electrical socket. Thinking that this can't be a good sign, we call a plumber and then head to dinner with Fr. Ed. Halfway through dinner, Keith left to meet the plumber, and arrived back at dinner an hour later. It was a small pipe burst, we caught it right away, and there is no damage. Hooray! Anyway, we had a fabulous dinner (Thanks Fr. Ed!) as we always enjoy spending time with him.

The next morning, Keith and I wake up to more strange sounds. It sounds like water is running, but there is no water on in the house. I check the water meter, and it's spinning around like crazy! I mention that perhaps we have another burst pipe. Keith can't believe we would have two burst in as many days, but he goes to investigate anyway. A look of horror comes over him as he realizes the only place left to check is the garage...the very place we just put all of our belongings. He opens the door, and there is water everywhere. It is spraying from the pipe. Boxes have been toppled from the force of it. There are 2 inches of standing water on the floor. Keith and I are remarkably calm as we cancel all of our plans for the day, and prepare to go through each and every box to see what we can salvage.

After a very long and exhausting day, we realize that we've managed to save about 75% of our stuff. The best news is that everything that really meant a lot to us...pictures, books...were all spared. In some cases, entire boxes were destroyed, but the one thing in those boxes that meant something was ok! Thank you God for having this happen while we were in town and thank you for not taking everything! It was a good lesson in letting go and not holding onto material things.

The next day is Christmas Eve. Since we missed our dinner with Fr. Britto the night before, he graciously made room in his schedule for us to come meet him this morning. We navigate our way to Evanston through the snow and ice, and have a wonderful meeting with Fr. Britto. Later that day, we meet our family at church for Christmas Eve Mass, which was wonderful!

The next day is Christmas, and it was one of the most non-commercial Christmases I've had! It was great. It was good to see family and friends, and keep the reason for the celebration above all the other stuff.

Today is the day after Christmas. We are excited because we are going down to Florida to spend some time with Keith's family. Keith's family is excited because they haven't seen him in a really long time. Keith's nephew is excited because he gets to celebrate Christmas again when we get there! We get to the airport, check in, etc. only to be told that our flight to PHL is delayed, and we won't make our flight to JAX, so we can either stay overnight in PHL and hope to fly standby in the morning, or stay in Chicago tonight and try the trip again tomorrow. We opt to stay the night in Chicago. Keith's family is sad, and Keith's nephew informs us that it's the ice's fault.

To kill time, I go shopping with my mom. Oh my goodness. I will never go to Woodfield again! At least not the day after Christmas! I cannot get over the consumerism and greed, etc. that I witnessed today. It's hard to believe we are in a recession after seeing the activity today. I also see that any "good Christmas cheer" that people may have had the day before, appeared to have gone missing. It was an absolute jungle. From the parking to the walking to trying to take two steps inside the mall. I've never been a fan of the commercialization of Christmas, but this just solidified it for me. I think next year, I will be making all my gifts and spending the entire day at church. The experience did, however, make me happy that Christ has come, and I wonder what people celebrate at this time of year when they don't take the time to celebrate Christ.

If any of you are still reading this really long post about this really long couple of days, I can only say that through all of the headaches, heartaches and struggles, what comes through for me is the blessings that I have. I have an incredible fiance, an amazing family, and wonderful friends. I have a God who loves me so much that he sent his Son to us to save us. What more could I ask for? Well....maybe a safe flight to Florida tomorrow. :)

Is Anyone Really Surprised?

2008-12-09T08:57:00.000-08:00

No, really. Please tell me. Are you surprised?

Illinois Governor Arrested....Click here for story.

Now, don't get me wrong, I'm not taking delight in anyone's personal pain. I am, however, happy to see at least a little bit of justice coming to the Chicago political machine. This has been long overdue. It's high time to be looking at accountability. Who is next on the list?

Pushing Daisies will be...well...you know

2008-11-20T20:08:00.000-08:00

*Sigh* Why ABC, why? Why did you have to pull the plug on this gem of a show? Finally, I was enjoying a show that was light-hearted yet dark, funny yet moving, campy yet extremely well-written, and had a cast of zany characters, all who make you care about them.
ABC, you didn't give this show a chance. It was a fledgling when the writer's strike happened. It was an unfortunate (yet deserved) occurrence. Your mistake was waiting as long as you did AFTER the strike was over. That's when you sealed the show's fate. You had no chance of regaining the audience you had by making them wait THAT long. And you're ending the series on a cliffhanger? How cruel can you be? I hope you make good on those "rumors" of a Pushing Daisies movie.
To the cast and creative team of Pushing Daisies...thank you. Thank you for letting me into your wonderful, imaginative, colorful world for an hour each week. You will be missed.
I guess it's either back to watching poorly written, poorly acted, lewd potty-humor on TV, or not watching it at all. Well....at least until 24 starts up again!

Wedding Bells

2008-10-24T07:18:00.000-07:00

Last weekend, Keith received the letter from Rome that we've been eagerly anticipating. What does this mean? Time to plan the wedding! (finally!) Now, I know it's only been a week, but I already have most everything in place. Can you tell I'm excited?
Keith and I will be getting married on April 26, 2009 in Chicago. We can't wait!

Shopping - The Real Way

2008-10-13T20:40:00.000-07:00

This weekend, Keith and I went down to Pike Place Market. I'd been there before. (Visiting Keith and strictly as a tourist.) This time we set out knowing we wanted to spend some time there, but also knowing that we wanted to walk away with some things. After an obligatory stop watching the fish throwing, we immersed ourselves in the throngs of people trying to move through the market. I will take this kind of shopping over going to the grocery store any day! As you walk through, vendors are talking to you, people are laughing and smiling, there is just an energy there unlike anywhere else. You can reallly get a sense of the history there, from the cobblestone streets to the beautiful buildings. Fruit vendors carve up fruit to let you sample it, Flower vendors make their bouquets as you walk by, you may even catch a fish or two flying overhead. After walking through, Keith and I headed to Post Alley to a wonderful Irish restaurant called Kell's for a delicious lunch, and then headed back into the market. After buying some meat, peaches, apples, a beautiful bouquet of flowers, some pasta, and a mango, we headed home. I can't wait to go shopping again!

The Land of Coffee and Rain

2008-10-03T21:22:00.000-07:00

Tonight, after work, Keith and I actually went on a date! It's been awhile so it was really nice. Towards the end of the evening, we were leisurely walking in the rain, and I was clutching a cup of coffee. It occurred to me that I may be turning into a Seattleite. And you know what? I think it suits me.

A Whale of a Birthday

2008-09-06T11:05:00.000-07:00

Yes, it's true, I'm another year older. Keith and I both had to work late on my actual birthday, so besides just stopping by Applebee's after work, we decided to celebrate over the weekend by going Whale Watching! It was absolutely amazing!
Last Saturday morning, we drove up to Anacortes to catch the ferry to the Friday Harbor in the San Juan Islands. Just the ferry ride alone among the islands was beautiful. It looked like the Caribbean except that the islands had pine trees. When we arrived at Friday Harbor, I felt like I was in Maine. It was chilly, you could smell the water, people were grilling clams and mussels and oysters right on the street. We stopped and had crab cakes in an open-air restaurant. Then, we headed to our boat to go whale watching.
Our boat headed out on this beautiful sunny day. Our crew was so knowledgeable and nice. We learned we were looking for whales in the Salish Sea, which as I understand it is where Puget Sound meets the Strait of Georgia meets the Strait of Juan de Fuca. After watching a seal (or sea lion...I always forget the difference) eat a salmon, and looking at some fallow deer on the shore of one of the islands, we came upon the whales.
We spent an hour watching the whales, which were all around our boat. They were jumping and swimming and coming quite close to where we were. With a microphone under the boat, we could hear them communicating, and it was a beautiful glorious sound. The whole experience left me in wonderment of God's creation. Whatever I describe here will not do the experience justice, so I won't even try. I will say this, if you find yourself in this area, do it! Western Prince Cruises was very nice and knowledgeable and gave us a great experience that we are looking forward to doing again in the future. For all the pictures, you can click on the my photos link on the right side of this blog and then click on the whale watching set.
When we came back, we had some of those clams and mussels and oysters that we were eyeing earlier (which were delicious!) and then boarded the ferry to get back to our car.
It was a wonderful birthday gift and a great day with Keith! Thank you honey!

What We Did Today...

2008-08-23T23:07:00.001-07:00

That is how Keith and I spent our Saturday. 'Nuff said!

Settling In

2008-08-21T20:41:00.000-07:00

We've finally moved into our more permanent apartment. It's really big and really pretty and has a fabulous view. (We are surrounded by forest). We and the dogs have been enjoying it here. It's also been fun for me to decorate in a different style. I'm working with Keith's furniture (which is beautiful), but it's not the same style as I had at home, so it's been really fun, and a bit of a creative outlet for me, to work with decorating in a different style.
It was hot and sunny for the past week or two, but then turned cool and rainy. I just can't get used to wearing a jacket in August!
People here are really friendly. Everyone in our building is great. Actually, one family here fell in love with Qila and Orion, and went out and bought a husky puppy yesterday! The thought that our crazy dogs could inspire anyone to get a husky is just too funny. Anyway, we had a doggy play date today. Qila did really well, but we'll wait until Aries (the new puppy) is a bit bigger before he plays with Orion. (Aries is only 7 weeks old...and sooooo cute!)
I feel very welcomed by both my team at work and all of Keith's friends. If the weather is good, Keith and I will be going up to Mt. Rainier this weekend. Other than that, we're just both hard at work.
I miss everyone!

No Yellow Brick Road Needed

2008-08-04T21:28:00.000-07:00

I find it interesting that my family back in Illinois had tornados today, yet I'm the one that ended up in the Emerald City.

Ever since I was a little girl watching the Wizard of Oz for the first time, I've wanted to go to the Emerald City. Well, now I'm here.

My family had a wonderful goodbye party for Keith and I. I'll be posting pictures in the coming days. It was an emotional evening, but it was so good to see everyone and so wonderful to know of all the support that we have. It truly is a blessing.

So, driving around today, it was sunny (yes I'm telling the truth) and Mt. Rainier was gorgeous!!!!! I've been to Seattle a few times, but seeing the mountain never fails to be breathtaking. It's so imposing and beautiful at the same time.

Our temporary apartment is really nice, and we have a beautiful view of the Cascades (I think) from the Living Room and balcony.

Our dogs just landed at Sea-tac, so we are anxiously awaiting their arrival here!
I miss everyone!!!

The "Lasts" Have Begun

2008-07-29T07:23:00.000-07:00

The series of "lasts" has started. You know, the last time I'll do this in Chicago, the last time I'll do that in Chicago. Last night I went to go watch my dad's softball game, and realized it was my last chance to do that.
You have to understand, I've been watching my dad play softball since I was four years old. Probably younger but I don't remember anything prior to four. My dad is quite an athlete and I love watching him play. Also, there's nothing quite like a Chicago summer evening sitting on the bleachers with the sun setting and a gentle breeze blowing, watching a softball game.
I'm glad I got to watch my dad play again before I leave. They won! (hooray!) I also got to say goodbye to some people there that I've known for a very very long time. Lots of support, but also some tears. I went out with the team afterwards and it was just difficult knowing that this part of my life is done.
I will miss watching my dad play softball. I guess I will have to keep up with the team's exploits by reading his blog, which can be found here.
Good luck Grumpies!!!

One Week and Counting

2008-07-27T22:08:00.000-07:00

I'm finding it a bit difficult to comprehend that in one week I will be spending my first night in Washington as a resident there. To be honest, it scares me to death!
I found myself today sitting on the patio at my parents' house, relishing the sun and the warm, still air, and the ability to sit outside and not be the least bit chilly. I walked barefoot through the grass and just looked at the sun-drenched surroundings and the crystal clear blue sky.
Things around my house looked different to me too, and a bit more special than normal. I walked out my front door onto my front stoop with my dogs, thinking that I won't be doing that anymore. I stood there and watched the deer in the field that my front door leads to. I will miss having that kind of wildlife literally at my doorstep.
My 81 year old neighbor had me over for a little chat that turned into a two-hour talk. While we would see each other from time to time, I regret not getting to know her better while I lived here.
There is so much I will miss about my home, and so much I want to do before I leave, but there just isn't time. My time is spent packing and getting ready for the move, and I wish it could be spent doing the things I love and want to do here in Chicago, and getting the closure I need before I move on...but I guess that it's just not to be.
I'm sure I will have a great time in Seattle, but it's not home, and I'm finding that hard to cope with right now. I know I'm leaving for the adventure of a lifetime, and I'm looking forward to that, but it still will be hard to let go of here, and a piece of my heart I'm sure will stay here in Chicago.
I'm so grateful for my friends, neighbors and family who are all being so supportive of this move. Leaving is hard, especially when you know you won't be able to see the people you love nearly as much as you'd like.
The only thing that makes it worthwhile, is knowing that I'll be with the man I love, and finding my home in him, no matter where that may be. And that, I'm looking forward to!

Life Changes

2008-07-24T21:14:00.001-07:00

Yes, the rumors are true. Keith and I are engaged! He proposed on June 12 in a most unique way. You can go here for the full story! I can't imagine how I'm so lucky to be loved by such a wonderful man. God is most certainly great!

In other news, I'm moving to Seattle. It has been difficult for me as I prepare to leave the home I love. Having grown up in Chicagoland and lived here my whole life, I've grown to love all that this great city has to offer, not to mention my whole family is there. Deciding to move to Seattle is both exciting and a little sad, as I'm leaving behind everything I know; however, it is worth it as I will be with the man I love.

Please pray for me (and us) as I (and we) adapt to the mounds of changes ahead of us!

All Grown Up

2008-06-10T20:53:00.000-07:00

Our sweet little husky puppies are no longer puppies. Today, they turned two years old. Happy Birthday Qila and Orion! Here's a picture of them when they were little. I am so grateful for them. They bring me so much joy, they comfort me when I'm sad, they keep me company when I'm lonely, they entertain me when I'm bored, they keep me on my toes, they teach me to let go of material objects, they inspire me to laugh, and they keep me in shape!
Here's to many more years with these wonderful dogs!

WOW!

2008-04-16T19:41:00.000-07:00

This actually moved me to tears. I've watched it about five times now and I've cried every single time. THIS is how music should stir the soul.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

2008-03-17T05:46:00.000-07:00

The Ides of March and a Mouse named Caesar

2008-03-15T17:58:00.000-07:00

Today, my sweet little puppy Orion finally earned his name. Little did I know when I named him after a hunter that he would really become one. Now, Orion has a really sweet disposition. He loves to be hugged, and he has kisses for everyone he meets. In the outside world, he's a completely different dog. His prey drive (ever since we brought him home) has been really high. The problem is, my lovable pup is just a bit lazy and slow. His sister is much much quicker, however a switch goes off in his head whenever he sees a critter. Until now, he's always been just a hair too slow to catch anything.
For the past couple of weeks, I've noticed that there is a mouse living under my front stoop. Truth be told, I wouldn't have even known had Orion not drawn my attention to it. Every time we went outside, he would dart for where it was living and then stalk it. His attention never went away from it, even when I would try to take him around to the other side of the building. I thought I was getting pretty good at keeping him a safe distance away from the mouse. I was wrong.
I took the dogs out today, and immediately upon exiting the house, Orion pounced. In one swoop he caught the mouse. (The next part is not for the squeamish). He stood there looking confused and proud at the same time, as the poor mouse's back feet and tail were sticking out of his mouth, and still wiggling. Orion bit down a few more times, and blood started to ooze from his mouth. The mouse stopped moving. I finally made Orion drop his prize.
The three of us stood there looking at the ex-mouse. Qila, wondering what just happened. Orion, wanting to go back and eat it, and me, feeling very sorry for the poor mouse, but intrigued by the cycle of nature. I felt bad watching the mouse leave this world, so I felt it needed to have a name. Julius Caesar is what the dogs and I named it. He (or she...I didn't check) passed on the Ides of March, due to a surprise attack, so I couldn't think of a more fitting name.
Orion will be called Brutus for the rest of the day.

Encore! Encore!

2008-02-17T21:50:00.000-08:00

Last weekend was our production of Disney's Aladdin Jr. What a great show it turned out to be! (not that I had any doubt). It was certainly a great way to kick off the new Spotlight Theatre Company at the Elk Grove Park District.

I was truly blessed with a fantastic production team. Although there were only three of us, we worked impeccably well together. We are all sufficiently exhausted, but anxious to start on the next show!

What I'm really amazed with is the kids in this cast. We had 40 kids ranging in age from grade school to high school. With only five weeks to rehearse (and only three days a week), they had to work extremely hard to learn the show. They all went above and beyond and I'm so proud of all of their performances!

The audience reaction was fantastic. I love it when I hear comments like, "we got home and my granddaughter kept sitting on the area rug commanding it to fly." and, "My daughter just wants to watch the movie over and over again now."

I feel sad that the show is now over. And I don't know what I'll do with all my free time....wait....it's time to start on the next one! I'm so looking forward to the next show. I can't wait to work with all of the kids again. They are truly amazing!

A Whole New World

2008-02-05T07:08:00.001-08:00

I realize that I've been missing in action for awhile. I've been hard at work directing a show for the Elk Grove Park District. Although I don't think I've ever been this tired in my life, I am so energized by it. Opening night is this Friday. I have a cast of 42 extremely talented kids, ranging in age from 7 years to 16 years old. Technically, the show is really cool. The set looks amazing, and we have an actual flying carpet!!!! It is such an awesome effect! If you are in the area, please come out and see it. I'd love to share my passion for theatre with all of you!

Friday, February 8, 2008, 7:30pm

Saturday, February 9, 2008, 2:30pm

Saturday, February 9, 2998, 6:00pm

at the Prairie Lakes Theatre, 515 E Thacker St., Des Plaines, IL.

FINALLY in the Christmas Spirit

2007-12-22T21:13:00.000-08:00

It only took until Dec. 22nd, but I'm finally in the Christmas spirit!
It's been so hard for me this year to focus on Advent and and the meaning of Christmas. I had a Christmas event to plan at work, which kind of made me sick of the commercial part of the holiday. It also took time away from decorating my own house (which isn't getting done this year) and Christmas shopping. I even took a day off from work to shop, and it didn't help. I wandered around tons of stores, and everything I saw just seemed like junk. Also, with the radio stations playing Christmas carols since BEFORE Thanksgiving, I'm already sick of them.
All of this changed yesterday.
One of the girls that I work with had a Christmas party at her house. It was there that the spirit came back. As I sat around having fun with my co-workers, I looked around the room and realized how many good friendships I've found at my place of employment. I'm not talking about typical co-worker friendships. I mean actual friendships, and it was humbling. I'm so grateful for the job I have, not only because I love it, but because it has brought people into my life that I couldn't imagine being without anymore.
My heart just swelled with Christmas. I looked around, and just appreciated the decor, the food, the music, and most of all, the people. Carolers even came to the door, and we all joined in singing. It was the perfect Christmas moment.
The spirit spilled over into today, as I was able to complete my Christmas shopping. This was no doubt helped by the fact that my "bah humbug" attitude had been wiped away.
Most importantly, it's left my heart open to reflect on why I celebrate Christmas. Had I done this sooner, I think the commercialism wouldn't have gotten to me so much. The one gift that Christmas is all about, is really all I need. That love is greater than any earthly love that I'll ever know. And that love, is what filled my heart both yesterday and today.
Thank you God, for the gift of your Son. May I always remember that He is in my heart, and may my heart always be ready to accept His love.

Missing In Action

2007-10-31T21:12:00.000-07:00

I can't believe its been almost a month since I've updated. I have certainly been busy! This past Friday I had my first LARGE event to do at work. It was a Halloween event for the community. At the beginning of the week, I started to worry that nobody would come, but we had almost 1200 people attend the event!

As I was zipping around (in costume!) I was watching the families. They were having so much fun. It was great to see a ton of little kids running around in costumes. Watching all of the events unfold made me feel grateful for the job that I have. Seeing all of the smiling faces let me know that I'm in the right place.

It's so nice to have a job that's so fulfilling and does so much for the community. It's also nice to work with a great group of people who do this because they love it, and not because they "have to."

On another note, we had about 100 volunteers that helped run the event. Most of them were from the local High School and Jr. High. I can't say enough about them! They were wonderful! It was them that really made this event happen. Their excitement was contagious, and I'm blown away by how willing they were to help.

It's days like that, when the entire community comes together, that I see God at work in a big way.....and it's awesome!

Life among the dead

2007-10-08T18:53:00.000-07:00

Finally! A breath of fresh air amongst the vapid sameness of network television! Pushing Daisies is a unique, charming, funny and polished sitcom. What could be so great about a show that is primarily about death? Plenty!

Pushing Daisies is a "grown-up" fairy tale of sorts. Narrated as though it were a children's classic, it immediately sucks the viewer into the bizarre life of its lead character...and we buy every minute of it. In a world where sitcoms come and go, we are presented with many that the networks are "just trying". Most of the time, the characters aren't fully developed, and the writers haven't found their stride. This is not such a show. The acting is wonderful, (Ellen Greene is ALWAYS a welcome addition to any show, as is Kristen Chenoweth). It's beautifully shot, with bold, vibrant colors. The characters are fully layered, and the writing is intelligent and witty.

I'm hoping this show makes it. It's about time we have some real variety come into our homes. :)

"A hug is an emotional heimlich." - From "Pushing Daisies"

Cool Stuff

2007-09-07T22:13:00.000-07:00

A few days ago I had coffee with a wonderful friend of mine. She is an amazing artist and photographer. The vision she has along with her unique perspective makes her work absolutely stunning.
You can check out some of her work here. If you like it, you can even buy it! Some more of her beautiful work can be found here as well.

Beautiful Birthday

2007-08-27T19:53:00.000-07:00

I'm officially another year older, and happy as can be.
I got everything I wanted for my birthday. I took the day off of work, and spent it with Keith (and the dogs). Keith and I had a wonderful lunch, and spent the better part of the afternoon strolling down the streets of Long Grove. It was so wonderful to be able to spend uninterrupted time with him. There is no one else I would have rather spent the day with. To top it all off, the weather was beautiful! A perfect day.
Yesterday, Keith and I and my parents went to Mass at Fr. Britto's church in Evanston. It was a beautiful Mass, the music was good, and the homily was wonderful. After Mass, Fr. Britto joined us for lunch at an Indian restaurant. Later on in the day I was at my parents' house for cake with them, Keith, and my brother Mike. It was wonderful spending the day with them.
The only imperfection in my birthday was that Tommy was unable to be here this weekend. He and I will be celebrating next weekend, so all is well!
Thank you to everyone who made aging another year so wonderful!

Newness, Reorganizing, and Trimming the Fat

2007-08-25T21:59:00.000-07:00

This has been a week of changes!
Even in the midst of a great job, great boyfriend, great dogs, great family and great friends, I've been in kind of a rut. I've been slowly digging myself out of it, but I've grown impatient and decided to make some changes.

For absolutely no reason what-so-ever (except maybe my addiction to HGTV) I decided to rearrange my bedroom. I got this urge at 9:30pm. I then spent the next two hours moving every piece of furniture in my bedroom around. The end result is great! I really like the new layout of the room, and the dogs now have their own little space. It's great! I've even been sleeping better.

The next day, I decided to cut and color my hair. Now, the color didn't turn out *exactly* how I wanted it. It's much more drastic than I had intended. So drastic, in fact, that nobody even noticed that I cut about 4 inches off of my hair. Though the end result was a bit shocking, it's really kind of growing on me, and in the end, I feel more confident. Out with the old, in with the new!

The day after that, God decided to do some tree trimming. Our area was hit with some massive storms. One right after the other. Entire trees (mature trees) have been completely uprooted, and smaller trees are snapped in half. Everything is flooded and some roads are downright impassable, due to both flooding and barricades of trees. Siding has been ripped off of houses, and fences are destroyed. It's the most damage I've seen from a storm that wasn't a tornado in quite some time. 70 mph winds are nothing to mess around with! After the damage though, there's that feeling of renewal. People are working together to help each other, and it emphasizes the things in life that are really important, and those that are not. There's a strange peacefulness in the midst of the chaos after the storm.

I've also been trying to focus much more on the relationships in my life. I'm wanting to really nurture some great and budding friendships, rekindle some old ones; and also recognize the relationships that maybe are not the best for me spiritually. That last part is hard. It is, however, interesting to see the contrasts of a lot of people in my life; good and bad.

What is my point with all of this? I'm getting myself out of my rut! It seems to me that I really did need some change in my life. Even though these changes are quite small, they've done a world of good for me. It's made me excited again to see what each new day might bring. It's been a while since I've felt this way, and I realize now that I've missed this feeling.

It's good to be back!

To Be or Not To Be....

2007-08-14T19:21:00.000-07:00

... In this show.

It's hard being Catholic in a profession that's not exactly known for embracing Christian values. Sometimes, the reasons that you give for your actions (or lack of actions) are met with blank stares and utter confusion. Sometimes, people accept what you've said in front of you, and then talk to everyone about it behind your back. Rarely, people just accept it, and don't think any differently of you, and respect your decisions. This is a rarity but it does happen on occasion.

In my quest to deepen my spiritual life, I've been paying more attention to the decisions I've been making, especially in areas of my life where I've been blinded by passion. One such area is theatre. Theatre is not only what I do for a living, but it's also what I do in my spare time. It is my passion. My love and excitement for it sometimes make it difficult for me to make sound decisions based on my relationship with Christ...but I'm getting better! They say that Satan works in subtleties, and that was so apparent to me this week.

This week, I was offered a role in one of my favorite Shakespeare plays. Not only that, but the director decided to turn a wonderful male role into a female role, and that's the role it was. It doesn't happen often for actresses that we get this opportunity. The male roles in Shakespeare are usually so much better and meatier than the female roles, with the exception of Lady Macbeth and a few others. To get the opportunity to perform one of these roles is a dream. The catch with this offer was this: There is scene where the character in question removes her shirt, revealing her exposed back. Her back is to the audience at all times, with a possible side view, but the way that it's staged would not allow for anything (besides band aids) to be worn in the front. I understand the scene, understand the bit, and understand how funny this bit would be, however, I found myself wrestling with this. I'm OK with my back being exposed. I'm OK with costumes that are pretty revealing. (I've worn a lot of them in my time). This was different though. The purpose of this scene is to tease. Five years ago I wouldn't have even given this a second thought, and would have gone for it. Now, I find myself thinking about the situation in a much different light.

I'm always complaining about actresses in Hollywood having to compromise their morals to get roles. I've always said that I would never do that. No role is that important. I thought about my relationship with Christ, and how that relationship should guide this decision. Still, I found myself really struggling.

As I type this, I realize that I sound like such a prude, but that's not it. I really just felt uncomfortable with it. I found myself thinking about the teens that I work with at church, and the kids that I work with in the drama program where I work. What if one or some of them heard I was in a show and came to see me? What kind of message would it send? THAT'S what sealed the deal for me.

I ended up declining the role. This was painful for me. I love the play. I love the role. I respect the director a great deal (He's a comic genius). I miss being on stage and this would have been a fun and wonderful return for me. It was like a dream on a silver platter. In the end, all of this wasn't worth the compromise.

I don't regret the decision. I feel I made the best choice. My loyalty is to God, not to the theatre, however tempting it may be. This has shown me that I really have been growing in my faith. I had doubts that I was, but this reassured me.

In case you are wondering, the director is the rare type in this business. The one who accepted my decision without thinking any differently of me. He respected it and is still open to me doing shows with him in the future. I thank him for assuring me that you CAN still be Catholic and not shut out of this business.

Great Loss

2007-08-04T19:57:00.000-07:00

It's been a week now since the pastor of my parish passed away. After all of the shock and commotion, it's finally starting to sink in. Fr. Art was a great man and a great friend to me. He helped me through one of the roughest times in my life, and for that I will be eternally grateful. He was that rare person that could bring a smile to anyone's face at anytime. He had a great love for his parish and lived life enthusiastically. The whole parish loved him. We all have a lot to learn from him.

As I sat making plans for tomorrow, I found myself getting excited to see Fr. Art at Mass tomorrow morning, and then I realized that I won't see him. I still can't comprehend life without him, and I know a lot of people are feeling the same way. Although I know that he is with God, in my own selfishness, I miss him.

Thank you Fr. Art for taking the time to be my friend, and thank you God for letting him into my life. Take good care of him.

Bork Bork Bork!

2007-07-26T19:27:00.000-07:00

Unyune-a vhu knoos me-a prubebly knoos thet I em un efeed Mooppet fun. I theenk thet Jeem Hensun ves a creeteefe-a geneeuoos. Um gesh dee bork, bork! Tu thees dey, I cun vetch zee oold ipeesudes, und zee creeteefity nefer feeels tu estuoond me-a. My lufe-a fur zee Mooppets ves insteelled in me-a et a fery yuoong ege-a by my perents, my ded ispeceeelly. Bork bork bork! Oone-a ooff hees fefureete-a cherecters (und meene-a es vell) is zee Svedeesh Cheff, su in treeboote-a tu heem, I hefe-a pusted thees in Svedeesh Cheff-ise-a.

In case you had trouble with it, here it is in English:

Anyone who knows me probably knows that I am an avid Muppet fan. I think that Jim Henson was a creative genious! To this day, I can watch the old episodes, and the creativity never fails to astound me. My love for the Muppets was instilled in me at a very young age by my parents, my dad especially. One of his favorite characters (and mine as well) is the Swedish Chef, so in tribute to him, I have posted this in Swedish Chef-ese.

If anyone else out there is a crazed Muppet fan, and feels like having something translated into Swedish Chef-ese (or even Elmer Fudd-ese), just click here.

If you thought that it was just me who is this crazy, check out the love that Google has for the Swedish Chef. Click here.

I thought this was good for a chuckle, and I know a few of you who will REALLY appreciate it! Enjoy! Thanks dad for my love of all things Muppet. I leave you with a hearty Bork, bork, bork!

Freedom and Love

2007-07-23T20:20:00.000-07:00

The folks at Sacred Space once again have a wonderful reflection. The timing is interesting. For me, it comes on the heels of some debate about how to nurture teens' relationship with Christ. I think that (at least in my experience) teens aren't really exposed to Christ quite in this way. I think if they were, they would be able to relate to Him more. Most of the time, I see the teens (and myself too if I'm being honest) viewing Christ as this far away figure that they have nothing in common with, since He is perfect and we are not. When I think about it, I don't really think that Christ wants to be a far away figure. He wants to be in each of our lives! Every minute of every day He tries to get our attention, and most of the time we don't pay attention. But I digress. Here is the reflection from Sacred Space. And I really do think that this is a great jumping off point when introducing teens to Christ.

"The adult Christ is hardly intelligible to children before adolescence. But for teenagers he incarnates the highest values of all: freedom and love. As he appears in the Gospel he is the freest of people: unpredictable, and alarming the respectable; a shocking, revolutionary figure whom society eventually found too dangerous and had to put away; a tender and compassionate figure, reacting warmly and spontaneously to all he met; a strong and frightening figure, contemptuous of petty regulations but open to everything living, ready to change the world. Above all, he was a man of supreme interior freedom, not driven by unconscious needs, pressures or anxieties, but doing what he wanted to do, his father’s business. He was the only person who realised fully all that a parent can mean to a child: not merely Law, but the model and the promise of an independent free existence. "

Crash

2007-07-19T21:09:00.000-07:00

I finally got around to watching the film "Crash". I don't really know what I was expecting, but I can tell you that I wasn't expecting much. I'm generally disappointed in movies where A) Hollywood is trying to make a statement, or B) The film has an unusually high count of A-list actors in it, as usually all those egos don't translate well together. This movie had both.

I was very pleasantly surprised with this movie! It was beautifully shot, the acting was brilliant, and the message was profound. It doesn't happen often that I'm actually moved by a movie. This one moved me. It was brilliant on so many levels. I can see why it won Best Picture...it deserved it.

I know it's been out for awhile now, but if you haven't seen it, it's definitely worth picking up.

"The Real Story"

2007-07-02T19:57:00.000-07:00

The first week of Theatre Camp at the Park District has officially ended. The new director is fantastic! I sat in on some of the camp on Friday, and from what I've seen after just the first week....I can't wait to see the final production!
Speaking of which, the final production performed by our theatre campers this year will be "The Real Story of Little Red Riding Hood". It will be performed on Friday, July 20 and Saturday, July 21. Come out and see the these truly talented kids in a delightfully funny production!

Reason Number 2,358 Why I Hate Hollywood

2007-06-23T08:22:00.000-07:00

I came accross this story last week, and I'm just now getting around to commenting about it. Apparntly on the set of Matthew McConaughey's new movie, he tried to throw his celebrity power around. TMZ reported that during a pool party scene that involved many female extras in bathing suits, Mr. McConaughey (who is also a producer for the film) told the girls that if they went topless, they would get more money for the scene. Many of the girls did just that. Not wanting to stop there, he then requested girl on girl action. Apparantly the girls did not complain and only one girl left the set. (Good for you whoever you are!)
This is just another example of what the norm is in Hollywood. It's frightening to me that this is the ACCEPTABLE norm. I feel bad that these girls feel the need to belittle themselves in this way to work in the industry. It's sad that they are not smart enough to know that the Screen Actors Guild determines the payscale, not Mr. McConaughey.
It's becoming increasingly more difficult for honest actresses who are in it for the art to make it in this business. If an actress is being asked to do these things as an extra, is there any hope at all for modesty in Hollywood?

Both Sides are Finally Heard!

2007-06-04T20:25:00.001-07:00

This is an update to my previous yoga post. I was listening to the same Catholic radio program that I mentioned in my last post, and apparently the station was flooded with emails and phone calls expressing the same point that I brought up. The station felt it merited a follow-up episode, and I agree. They still said some things that I disagree with, but the difference this time is that they had a healthy discussion about it. Both sides were heard and argued intelligently. On today's program we heard from the host, from a priest, and from listeners. I'm glad that all opinions had a chance to be expressed, and that actual Catholic teaching was used in the arguments, and not just opinion. I'm glad that (the station) recognized the fallout, and was not afraid to step up and openly discuss it. Perhaps I judged them too hastily before. :)

Forbidden Yoga

2007-05-30T20:13:00.000-07:00

The other day I was listening to a Catholic talk radio program, as I often do. Every so often a subject comes up where the host has an opinion that he is so passionate about, he fails to see all sides of said subject. This time the subject was yoga.

His stance was that yoga outright contradicts Catholic teaching, and that Catholics should stay away from it and not even dabble in it. He had an ex-cultist on as a guest warning about the evils of yoga. They went on to explain that yoga teaches that the body is basically evil, when Catholic teaching is that the body is basically good, etc. They explained that each pose in yoga is a form of praying to the various gods that they worship, which of course is in direct contradiction to Catholic teaching. They even went so far as to say that yoga for fitness was also not to be touched.

Now, my point of contention is with the yoga for fitness. I do yoga. Please note the vocabulary here. I DO yoga. I do not PRACTICE yoga. I do believe there is a difference here. Yes, yoga is a form of religion. And yes, I do believe that Catholics should not PRACTICE yoga. Now when I go to the gym for a yoga class, at no point has the instructor ever talked about the religious aspect of yoga. At no point is she telling us to pray to the sun god or whatever. At no point does she even urge us to explore the spiritual side. The instructor simply leads us through a series of poses aimed to strengthen our muscles and increase our flexibility. That is DOING yoga.

Now I do agree that Catholics should not PRACTICE yoga. At the gym, however, I have never seen anybody practicing yoga; I've only seen people doing yoga. And if every pose is a form of idol worship, does that mean that every kindergartner on the planet is sinning since they are often in lotus position, otherwise known as sitting indian style?

I would like people's opinions on this topic. Am I crazy here? Do you think there is a difference between practicing yoga and doing yoga, or am I just fooling myself? Please feel free to share your thoughts. One condition. I don't want this to turn into an anti-Catholic rant. This was the opinion of ONE PERSON on the radio. As far as I know, the Catholic Church doesn't have a ban on DOING yoga, but does not condone the PRACTICE of it. Please correct me if I'm wrong on this.

Thoughts?

Memorial Day

2007-05-28T17:19:00.001-07:00

This morning I went to a Memorial Day service with my dad. For those of you who don't know him, my dad served in the Air Force during the Vietnam War; and I am immensly proud of him. Also, my grandfather served in WWII, and I'm proud of him as well. I don't think I ever told my grandpa that when he was alive, but I think he knows. During the service, I got to thinking of many things, and I was profoundly moved. I won't get into much of it here, as most of you didn't come here to read a novel. What I will say is that whether you support the current war or not, we should support the troops that are over there. I can't imagine that what they do is easy even if they had everybody's support, but knowing that they don't, I think it's amazing that they do what they do every day.

I was so proud to be sitting next to my father; both when they recognized the veterans, and also when they recognized the fallen. Every single one sacrificed their lives for us. Our Mothers, Fathers, Brothers, Sisters, Sons and Daughters. Those who are here today, were READY to sacrifice their lives for us; without hesitation. I'm blown away by that.

If you see a veteran today, say thank you. They simply don't hear it enough. Tell them how grateful you are that they put your life before their own; that they loved this country enough to fight for it and its freedoms.

Thanks Dad! I love you!

Tick Trouble

2007-05-20T20:16:00.001-07:00

I spent most of today with my wonderful puppies, Orion and Qila. As I was scratching Qila behind the ears today, I felt a lump. After a quick investigation, I discovered that Qila had volunteered to give a piggy back ride to a tick. Now, The Tick animated series is one of my favorites to this day, but this particular tick I was not a fan of.

Never having owned dogs before these two, and never having dealt with a tick before, I was a little unsure of what to do. Also, long and thick Siberian Husky hair made dealing with the little critter extremely difficult. After finding a pair of tweezers, the little bugger is gone, and Qila is most appreciative. I will be quickly shopping for a tick preventative for my pups.

The puppies also found time this weekend to be a little mischievous. Orion and Qila are not allowed on the couch, but after fighting with them, I finally started laughing, and this picture is the result. As you can see, they are quite happy with themselves for being rebellious. Even so, I love them dearly and found it hard to be mad at them.

Now I just need to keep them tick free, and we'll all be much happier!

God will Provide

2007-05-14T19:08:00.000-07:00

The Lord really does work in mysterious ways, and He is ALWAYS watching over us. These are hard times, and I, like everyone else, have been financially lacking from time to time. This past week, I was a bit short on funds that I needed to pay a certain bill, and for days I racked my brain trying to figure out where to get the money needed to pay it. When I finally stopped trying to control it, and offered it up to God, wonderful things happened.
I got this strange urge to clean out my coat closet. I was confused about why I felt I needed to clean it, but that urge was there, so I started cleaning. As I riffled through papers and other junk, I came across a deep blue envelope with a printed red bow that read, "A Gift for You." I opened it, and in it were savings bonds from my First Communion that I had never cashed. After looking up how much interest they had earned, it ended up being the exact amount I needed to cover the bill. The inscription on the envelope read, "May God Bless you today on your First Holy Communion Day, and may He be with you always!"
It looks like He has been with me always, and had the foresight to hide that gift away until I needed it most.
Little by little, God reveals His plans; and they never cease to amaze me.

Words of Wisdom

2007-05-08T19:44:00.000-07:00

I came across a reflection from the good people over at Sacred Space, that really hit me today. It is as follows:

In one of the gospel parables, the rich man is mulling over his treasures, and plans to build even bigger barns to store all his crops. He relishes his security: My soul, you have plenty of good things laid by for many years to come. Jesus reflects: A man’s life is not made secure by what he owns. As we grow quiet in prayer, our hearts can be invaded in the same way by false securities. In the measure that my heart is in past treasures, I am fossilised and dead, for life is only in the present. So to each of these past treasures I am grateful yet I say goodbye, explaining that, grateful though I am that it came into my life, it must move out, or my heart will never learn to love the present.

As I thought about this, I realized how true it is. It's only recently that I've been able to let go of the past, both good and bad, and I can see how much I've changed since doing so. I think that by looking at my past accomplishments too much, it tends to build up that in my mind THAT was the apex of what I can do. That's not true. We learn and grow constantly, but sometimes, we don't let ourselves grow because we are too focused on what we've already done.
Since I consciously put a lot of what I had accomplished behind me, I've grown beyond my wildest expectations, and I didn't even realize it was happening until just now. God really does have magnificent plans for each one of us. It's just that He doesn't show us the whole picture, and we get the pieces of the puzzle when we trust in Him.

I'm so happy for the present. It's the best present I've ever had.

Home Away From Home

2007-05-03T19:21:00.000-07:00

It seems so wrong to say, "I'm going to work" when I feel like I'm going to play. :)
Seriously, I've been there four days, and I LOVE it! It feels like I found a place where I truly belong; where I can use my gifts, give back to the community, and approach each task with absolute excitement. I work with a group of extremely talented people, and I couldn't be happier!

New Job Eve

2007-04-29T20:58:00.000-07:00

I know I should be sleeping right now. I am, however, much too excited to sleep. I find myself anxious (in a good way), nervous, overwhelmed, and indescribably excited, all at the same time.
Excitement aside, I had a wonderful weekend. The weather was gorgeous! Friday night, I got to overdose on scrapbooking with some friends. Saturday I spent the whole day hanging out with my mom and the dogs. We found some great garage sale bargains! Today was the bridal shower for my dear friend Kristin, which was wonderful; after which Keith and I had a barbeque at our house, and then a late-night Dairy Queen splurge with our neighbors.
I SHOULD be exhausted, but that's the thing about looking forward to something. The adrenaline wins out over sleep every time. I can honestly say I've never looked forward to a job this much...ever. I have so many ideas floating around in my head already. Hopefully I'll get to put some of them to use!

Silver Linings

2007-04-25T19:44:00.000-07:00

It's amazing what can happen in just three and a half months.
Today was my last day at my current job (which of course frees me up for my new job!). This was one of those situations where I expected to duck out quietly, because hey, I've only been there a few months, so I haven't made an impact, and ducking out quietly is appropriate for the situation. There were other plans though.
As I came back from my desk after a small break, I noticed a beautiful bouquet/plant and some cards. As I read the cards, I started getting really teary-eyed, for they were from the people I went through training with, the people on my team, a manager, and even the woman who runs the cafeteria. These people are definitely people I felt an almost instant bond with when I started, and today it became apparent that in just three and a half months, I've made friends that will last a lifetime. The company that I'm leaving is blessed to have them, and I'm blessed to have met them.
I'm truly touched by their thoughtfulness, and their excitement for my new position, and I can only hope that in time, I can impact their lives as much as they've impacted mine.

Back to Earth

2007-04-23T13:20:00.000-07:00

I'm home from retreat, and back to the everyday. Being on retreat is like a little piece of heaven. It's a chance to get away from all the earthly temptations, and spend time with the Lord. I'm always amazed at the things He reveals to me while on retreat. I feel spiritually refreshed, and reassured of the scope of His love for me.

I'm also always amazed at how much I learn from the teens. Their faith is inspiring and their openness to sharing their journey touches my heart. I'm so blessed to have the opportunity to spend this time with them.

Now I am back to Earth, physically, but spiritually I'm still resting in the arms of the Lord...and that's a great place to be.

My Other Love

2007-04-19T19:12:00.000-07:00

First, I want to say thank you to all of you for the well-wishes regarding my new position. I'm still more excited than you know.

Now, on to my other (and first) love. My faith. This weekend I will be on retreat with the teens from my parish. I'm really looking forward to all of us being there, away from our everyday distractions, to completely focus on God. I'm excited to have the opportunity to talk to everyone, and share my faith journey with them, and help them to explore their own. I of course will not be blogging while I am there, but I ask that everyone pray for us, and for the teens in particular, that they have a profound experience of their relationship with Jesus.

I will try to post again tomorrow before I leave, but if I don't, you'll be hearing from me again Sunday night.

New Beginnings

2007-04-18T10:28:00.000-07:00

I can't think of a more fitting first post for my new blog.
It's the Easter season, a time of new beginnings. So, for my first post to my new blog, I present to you my new job.
While I was not unhappy with the job that I'm currently at, something came along that makes my heart leap for joy! Starting on April 30th, I will officially be the Arts and Special Events Coordinator for the Elk Grove Park District. I will be doing the theatre program, the music program, the arts and crafts program, the summer concert series, and special events. For those of you who know me, could there be a more perfect job for me? I'm anxiously awaiting my first day. I can't wait to get started!