Givin' Thanks

I'm thankful for (in no particular order)... Tootsie Rolls; healthy children; Darrin's warm hands that hold onto mine; cars that function; my mom and dad; the ability to fill my lungs with air; the colors of God's creation; my in-laws; a job; eyes to see and ears to hear; worship at Armitage; chocolate; lunchtime spent at the gym; legs and muscles that keep me running; Ben "Batman"; the testimony of Robert Malnati; summer vacations; our tomato garden; perennials; U2's Vertigo tour; a best friend to pray with each work day morning; the joy of new born babies; our finished basement; God's sustaining grace and mercy; spaghetti; Kennedy and Lottie; my parents' example of hard work; and my salvation.

Lord you are good and your mercy endures forever.

The best tall, skim chai tea ever!

The city has been invaded by various non-urban types. I ran over to Fields at lunch to splurge a little on myself with my multiple leftover gift cards that I've accumulated between last Christmas and my birthday. Prescriptives and Clinique were my benefactors today. I even picked up ornaments for the yearly hope Christmas tree gifts for my nieces and nephews. They are silver, mini picture frames with 2005 etched on the bottom with a dove charm. I have the traditional green Marshall Fields gift boxes to put them in ~ very appropriate since Fields' day are numbered thanks to the clueless Macy's executives.

Take the Long Way Home

The drastic change in weather brought about our first snow yesterday and a 16 degree commute to work this morning. The skin on my fingers is already dry and cracking. My yellow rose bush which yielded three new blooms this past weekend is now supporting limp and shriveled petals today. Ah, autumn in Chicago!

We'd make our annual trek down to Turkey Run State Park in Indiana about this time each year. Actually, we would head down the day after Thanksgiving and spend the rest of the weekend hiking the trails on the other side of Sugar Creek. A buffet breakfast in the park and dinner at the Pizza Hut. I heard Supertramp this morning on the radio and it brought these memories to mind. Steven falling off of the cliff. The wrestling matches between Jim, Phil and Kevin in the cabin. Non's first hiking experience. Covered bridge festivals and icy creeks. Just being together and laughing out loud.

"When you look through the years and see what you could have been oh, what might have been, if you'd had more time."

Two after 10

My youngest child turned 10-years-old on Monday ... at 8:32 p.m. to be exact. She came into this world on a cold, Tuesday evening at St. Joseph's Hospital overlooking the lake. The contractions began soon after we arrived home from a doctor's appointment and ate a meal featuring gyros. I managed to get my contacts out and answer the standard questions by the nurse as my contractions rapidly fired out. It was my parents' anniversary and they were present to receive this gift. She was born within an hour from the time we arrived at the hospital. The residents on call told me not to push as they scrambled to get things ready. My doctor was on his way from Evanston, but he would not make it in time. Darrin was right by my side offering support and a strong hand to hold on to. I prayed aloud -- a specific prayer for only 2 or 3 more contractions -- because I was doing this as naturally and drug-free as this free spirit could handle. He heard my prayer and within a few minutes, our dark-haired, feisty daughter tumbled out and made her big appearance. There are some things you just do not forget ... nor should you.

Cock-a-doodle-do!

I generally encounter the usual array of city animal critters (squirrels, birds) each morning during my walk to the 'el station at 35th Street. Today's walk brought me to one my most unusal encounters. As I headed down Leavitt on this glorious Friday, out of the corner of my eye I noticed the movement of a brownish-redish figure in a gangway a few feet ahead. I figured it was just a cat, but, as I walked by, I turned my head to see what it was and there stood a BIG rooster. I think he was startled by me as well because he turned around and headed toward the back yard of the home he was trespassing on.