New Stove!

I came back from Minnesota on Tuesday full of baked goodies - Pumpkin Bread, Bourbon Pecan Pie, and Snickerdoodle cookies. On Wednesday, I was talking to my boss and mentioned in passing my problems with my oven. She became very concerned that my pilot light was not staying lit, and that gas was leaking. I followed her advice when I got home and called my landlord, and got the gas shut off until he could check out the stove this morning. My boss was correct, and when I came home from work for the second time today, I had a brand spanking new stove waiting for me! I am so giddy I can't decide whether to name it or not. Yes, who else do you know even contemplates naming their stove. I'm nuts.

My Surreal Life

So a few weird things happened today.

I made a scrumptious pie last night. This morning, I accidentally ran over it and the tupperware container it was in. Miraculously, the pie survived almost completely unscathed -just a little of the crust crumbled on one side!

I accidentally dropped my phone in dusty's water glass in the car on the way back from Lanesboro. My phone is not almost royally fritzed out, though it did let me send a text message and say goodbye to my dearest Lauren before she leaves Chicago on Thursday. I am not complaining about that at all!!

And now... I had some cookies and milk. It felt like the only way I could possibly end a day that felt more like a dream than real. Now I just better now see a mouse come around and start talking to me. The cookies are MINE!

From Every Storm Comes a Rainbow

I just got back from 3 days at the hospital with Grandma. She has had a wonderful life, and is still hanging on. I'm still numb and processing all the events of the past few days, but this picture speaks for what my heart cannot.

Food for Thought

“The eye sees only what the mind is prepared to comprehend.”

Henri Bergson

My Garden

New Blog

I started a separate blog since I really feel compelled to speak up as an advocate for those who see life in a different way as a result of hearing loss, but also not from a "woe is me, I'm deaf" perspective. Up until Thursday night of this week, I had not met another at least 50% or more deaf person who is able to function and interact in "normal" society. It can be extremely lonely at times.

Ignorance is uncompassionate at times. So this is my way to give yet another glimpse into my world, but also provide information for those curious about deafness, deaf culture, resources, and anything else that comes up. Feel free to submit questions and I'll happily address them.

Link to new blog: My Life in Mono

Thanks for continuing to read!

The View ...

This was the view from my brand spankin new office today. Yes, I was in the office at 7:30am on a Saturday. At least it was pretty!

Night out

So I don't normally go out till 1am on a work night, but last night warranted it, and it was PHENOMENAL. Anyone who hasn't listened to my advice and checked out Andy Wagner (http://www.rockproper.com/) and http://www.andywagner.net/ is seriously missing out. Always a great performer, great voice, and awesome friend. Last night at the Heartland Cafe was no less fun!

With all my stress lately, this is exactly what I needed. We made a pact to not talk about work, and would be constantly cutting each other off if we started it. At 1am we decided to finally bail the bar, and my Taxi Sweet spot continues! So far that is 4 people I have been able to hail a cab for almost instantly, including myself this morning because I was dragging a little getting out of the house.

They remembered my name!

I go to Jamba Juice as I'm walking from the train to my office maybe once every 1-2 weeks. Today, I went in and the gal remembered my name BEFORE I handed her my debit card. This totally made my day! I need to go back tomorrow and bring cash this time, so I can give her a nice tip.

New Thing to See!

I think I almost need to make a list of the Chicago things I would like to do and start crossing them off. When I actually have a life and am not working 6 days a week. I am trying to challenge myself to find free or cheap things to do that I learn something about the city. I found one!

The McCormick Bridge House museum at Wacker and Michigan Ave has $3 admission for its small museum, and you can pay a little extra to be in the gear room and see the bridge lift for the sail boats. I am totally doing this some time this summer!

CANADA!

I just traded in allll my airline points for an airline ticket to Vancouver for a week in September. Cheapest international round trip flight ever- $132!!!

Happy Birthday to me! With the promotion and new department I don't feel comfortable taking off for a significant chunk of time before then, so this will give me something to look forward and count down to. I don't think I could ask for a better birthday present than a dinner date with a guy who's one of the hottest people I know, both inside and out. mmmMMMMmm. Seriously, there's gotta be something in the water.



and yay for Canucks vs Blackhawk hockey rivalry. I am so wanting to try Yuengling now...

Interesting Dream

I always hate when I have dreams that I cannot remember the following morning. Today when I woke up it started that way, but somehow subconsciously I started going into my Kitchen cabinets and pulling out all the pots and pans. I have no idea what I was looking for!?!!

But now I have nice, fresh, belly filling coffee and I am contemplating giving Dusty an actual walk this morning before work instead of the normal dash to the tree and back before work.

Corner Office

So its Finally Official! I was offered and accepted a promotion to Manager (2 rungs up the ladder at our company) at work today that has been in the works for 2 weeks. I am PSYCHED!

I'll have a few direct reports, but its a new position/department restructure so there's still some spots I have to hire for, probably at the end of May once our database switch is over.

I'll be moving into my old manager's corner office, which has walls of windows facing North-West and North. Lakeviews, baby!

And definitely definitely cannot complain with the raise/compensation package. I don't know if I even know what to do with 4 weeks of vacation.