Look Ma, No Hands!

Today was an amazing day. I woke up to the song of some very persistent birds in time to see the sunrise from a peaceful meadow overlooking a beautiful valley.

I brought some comfort food to help me prepare for what was next.

Yep, that's right, what was next was jumping out of a plane at 13,000 feet with Chad strapped to my back. Or was I strapped to his front? Either way, we were really close. Surprisingly enough as I was kneeling at the door of the plane I was completely calm. As I was falling all I could think was that I was 100% present in the moment and I was loving every second of it. The freefall was fantastic! I had so much fun spinning around and watching the ground race up to catch me. I even managed to deploy my own chute at the correct altitude! We then glided for the final 5,500 feet, pulled some tight spirals, flew threw a cloud and touched down gracefully. Enjoy the pictures!

I honestly think that this may become my new favorite hobby. It is beautiful, peaceful and a heck of a lot of fun. I would love to spend an entire summer at a dive site and jump 5-7 times a day or maybe I'll try to do a jump in every country I travel to from now on. What a life.

Ba-Ba-Reeba Birthday

Today for my birthday Stephen & Angela took me out to a tapas restaurant called Ba-Ba Reebas. It was DELICIOUS!! I got to have this egg-potato-onion concoction that I fell in love with when I went to Spain in 8th grade ... it's called a tortilla española. But the best part of the dinner, the icing on the proverbial birthday cake if you will, was this butterscotch pudding.

A-MA-ZING. I just about died. Seriously.

On a side note, I whipped out some of my new eyeshadow tonight and went for the somewhat smoky blue look. Definitely not an everyday thing but when you're feeling special why the heck not?!

Anniversary Sale

This weekend is the best weekend at one of my favorite stores. Nordstrom. It is their anniversary sale where they put all the new fall clothes on sale before they are picked over and the only things left aren't your size. My girls, Jamie and Sarah, at the Trish counter did my make up. I look fabulous! I have some fun new shades of eye shadow that I am excited to play with and some new basics ... foundation with all kinds of super additives like spf 15, green tea and antioxidants, black eye liner, my favorite fragrance ... and something called a luminizer pen that make it looks like your face is lit from within. And then there were these ...

... they are quite possibly the best pair of black heels I have ever owned. Shiny, peep toe, buckle around the ankle. Can you ask for anything more?



I decided to take my new Obama shirt out into the open during my little shopping trip. I loved all the reactions! There was this cute old lady who asked me where she could get one, someone that walked up to me and said "we can only hope" and then walked away and one of my friends who told me that she knows him. It was interesting to so publicly declare my desires for the future to a mall full of strangers. I felt like I was exposing my most intimate self without knowing how I would be received.

Entering the Arena, Sort Of

For the first time ever I have contributed to a presidential campaign. Granted I made a contribution of about $30 and in return I got a magnetic bumper sticker and a t-shirt but part of Senator Obama's 52M in June was all me.

Concerts in the Park

Tonight my friends Kate and Whitney met me in Millennium Park to hear the Grant Park Orchestra perform Beethoven's Symphony No.7. It is tradition to bring a picnic to the concert and dine on the lawn while listening to some really excellent orchestral performances. My grand plan was to hop on a Purple Express train and get downtown in record time, grab some Chipotle on the way over and have a fabulous time. No muss, no fuss, no stress. Unfortunately in my rush to change out of my work clothes and run to the train I must have left my "I am a local - ask me anything" sign tied around my neck. Not only was I questioned about the nature of the express train, I also helped several people get off at the right stop and explained the menu and ordering procedure at Potbelly's not having been able to find anyone with a sign similar to mine when I went one El stop too far while trying to explain where to go to a very confused passenger and couldn't remember which street Chipotle is on. In the end I was pleased to have been so helpful to so many people and did make it to the concert in time for the Beethoven. It was definitely a night to remember in my beloved Chicago.

Memories

Five years ago today I left Paraguay to return home after serving a year and a half long mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I have spent much of the day thinking about my friends there, the people I taught, the lives I helped change and the impact the experience has had on my life. As I sit here I am listening to my favorite Polka Paraguaya and dreaming of chipa and cocido. Even now my heart is full of an indescribable love for the people of Paraguay.

Coronation

That’s right, I’ve been crowned. Or I’ve had my first crown “seated” in its elevated position in my mouth. I am no stranger to dental / orthodontic work having had nearly everything you can throw at a person’s mouth lobbed in my direction. One notable exception to that is headgear. Thank goodness!! The remarkable thing is that, in spite of all my experience, I really don’t mind the dentist. I even kind of like my dentist even though he does that thing where he goes to shake your hand with his palm facing the floor. I once read that this indicates a subconscious feeling that one is superior to the person toward which they are extending their hand. In the arena of oral hygiene I’m sure his subconscious is right about that.

What endeared me to this dentist is that midway through my hour long appointment during which he seated my crown and did six fillings he stops, hands me a mirror and says “I want to show you what I’m doing because I think it makes it more fun for you”. Why on earth would seeing six of my teeth with holes drilled in them make the experience more fun?? Gross, yes, but fun? What can I say? The man likes his work.

On a peculiar side note, this go around my sensitivity to Novocain reached an even stranger level. My nostrils went numb. Not the outside of my nose. Just the nostrils.

Independence Eve

As many of you know, in a few short weeks I will be leaving the ever fabulous city of Chicago for a new adventure in Boston. Due to my impending departure I have decided to relish everything I love most about summer in this amazing city and yesterday was packed with some serious highlights.

Walker Brother's Pancake House

I love this place. I remember coming here as a kid and in the three years that I have been living in Evanston I have taken full advantage of having some of the best pancakes in the world right up the street. This is one of my favorites ... the Dutch Baby. Yum Yum!















Wandering around the loop

After pancakes I went downtown and went to some of my favorite places.


This is my all time favorite local news station, ABC 7 Chicago. I'm a bit of a news junkie. In fact, it borders on obsession. I happen to go to the same gym as one of the anchors and whenever I see her on the treadmill I get on the one next to her but I have yet to talk to her because there is a tiny part of me that thinks that might be creepy. Seriously though, seeing the set where the magic happens sends tingles down my spine.






















Next up was a trip to the old Marshall Fields State Street store with it's famous clock and amazing interior. What other department store has a ceiling like this? I love the sheer size of this store! It is a full city block and who knows how many floors high. I have literally gotten lost inside.

Under the category of amazing ceilings, the restoration of the Tiffany dome in the Chicago Cultural Center is finished! For those of you living in Chicago this is a must see. Truly awe inspiring.

The Taste of Chicago

In a city that loves it's food as much a Chicago does it only makes sense that there would be a ten day festival dedicated to food. Where else can you eat Italian beef, hot dogs, Chicago style pizza, pad thai, watermelon, empanadas, steak tacos, turkey legs as big as your head and so much more all in one day.



These are some of the tastiest tastes. Steak tacos and the most flavorful watermelon I've had this season.

Concert and Fireworks

After the Taste I made my way over to the Petrillo Music Shell to pick out a good spot for the evening concert and fireworks display. Some friends joined me and we settled in for the show.



The fireworks were amazing. These are my favorites.


There is something about sharing something so impressive with 1.5 million people that immediately brings people closer together.


Then again, maybe that closeness is spawned during the rush to the El after the event.

I work in the coatings industry as an analyst. This is good for two reasons the first of which being that I am a generally crafty person so the unlimited access to free paint is a major plus but the more important reason is that I love Excel. In fact, it is one of my most closely held beliefs that any problem can be solved by the creative use of an Excel spreadsheet. There are; however, moments where I feel like Asok in this Dilbert cartoon.



I love my spreadsheets, especially the tracking ones, but sometimes I wonder if they matter to anyone but me. Today is one of those days. I also feel a bit like an overeager intern at times but that is a subject for another day.