Two weekends ago, we went on a quickie birthday trip to Colorado. It was a surprise trip for B and also for my friend who lives there, I was able to keep it a secret from both of them, which was no small feat. We flew in Friday, my friend's husband picked us up from the airport (he was privy to the surprise) and we came up with a brilliant plan that he would drop us off a few blocks from the house, I would call her and chat and then walk up and ring the bell, and we would be happily reunited...which would have been a possibility had she answered her phone, but unfortunately it went straight to voicemail and there was no doorbell. So we ended up just walking in, which scared the pants off my friend but after the panic and confusion subsided, we were in fact, happily united again.
Our friends have a ski house up in the mountains that they were renting with some friends. So after a quick lunch, we drove up and met up with their friends and a pair of cousins that were in town. We had dinner and attempted to go bowling, but the bowling alley had only 6 lanes and the wait was far too long, so we called it a night.
The next morning, we were awoken by my friend's overly enthusiastic husband who was rearing to go. We headed up to Vail for a day of skiing. The last time we were here, I had gone skiing for my first time and it was a frightening experience only to return home with head to toe bruises. So it was no surprise that I was nervous and a bit nauseous going up the gondola. But my rental skis fit significantly better, I had a helmet to wear and the beginner hills were open this time, all good things. My friend who is a freakishly good skier was pregnant so she hung back with me as I slowly but surely made it down the hill. I only fell a few times and by days end was able to make it all the way down unscathed.
That evening we returned to Denver for the night with plans to go find an Irish bar to celebrate Patty's Day, but in the end were too exhausted and stayed in. The next morning, my overly active friends wanted to take us on a hike. So we went off to Red Rocks and drove around a bit and then set out for our hike. Hiking is one of those activities that I want to like, but think that walking with a myriad of obstacles and an increased risk of turning an ankle is never a super fun way to spend time. It always feel like I am on some forced death march, unable to enjoy the beautiful scenery because my eyes are glued to the ground. But when in Denver, do what weekend warriors do...
After we returned, B couldn't stop talking about how much he wanted to move out there, how fantastic it would be if we could live by mountains and partake in all of the glorious outdoor activities that are seemingly sponsored by rei, north face, and patagonia. Part of me likes the thought of living there, I would be close to my friends that I miss so much and it would be great to raise Ethan with so many outdoor activities, and the dreaded Chicago winters would be replaced by 300 days of sunshine. It also helps the cause that I am currently in a holding pattern called unemployment, so if there was a good time to go somewhere new, perhaps now is the time. I do love Chicago and would miss it terribly but with this past year finally behind us, a fresh start is pretty appealing.
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
supply and demand
It is my understanding that one of the fundamental business principals is supply and demand: if there is a need for something people will buy it. If it is available, that is. I have had three opportunities to give my money over to our recessed economy only to be faced with a stone faced employee telling me no. The first of which was at Target last month, to purchase an ice scrapper due to B's over zealous scrapping, and subsequent breakage. We asked a friendly saleswoman the whereabouts of said item and were told that they had been sold out for months...months?! This left both of us completely mystified as to what manager didn't think to re-order them after selling out of an item that just about everyone in this frigid city requires.
The other two incidents happend just yesterday. I was inspired to get into the spirit of the St. Patrick's holiday and decided to make corned beef and cabbage. I searched different recipes on the interwebs and found one to my liking and skipped off to store feeling optimistic due to warm thoughts of feeding my family a lovely dinner. I went to the store #1 and was met by woman in hairnet telling me that they were sold out. I was struck with disbelief, how were they sold out, this is an annual holiday, shouldn't they have a rough idea as to how many they would need? Off to store #2, where I was met by a young man who before I even got the question out, told me that they had no more left. Disappointing.
After facing such defeat, I was left with no choice but to drown my sorrows in a shamrock shake. So I went to order, to which I was told they were no longer were selling. Isn't the whole concept of this shake based on this particular holiday? Left in despair, the only thing left to console me was some Beamish stout, which was quite delicious and made everything Irish again.
The other two incidents happend just yesterday. I was inspired to get into the spirit of the St. Patrick's holiday and decided to make corned beef and cabbage. I searched different recipes on the interwebs and found one to my liking and skipped off to store feeling optimistic due to warm thoughts of feeding my family a lovely dinner. I went to the store #1 and was met by woman in hairnet telling me that they were sold out. I was struck with disbelief, how were they sold out, this is an annual holiday, shouldn't they have a rough idea as to how many they would need? Off to store #2, where I was met by a young man who before I even got the question out, told me that they had no more left. Disappointing.
After facing such defeat, I was left with no choice but to drown my sorrows in a shamrock shake. So I went to order, to which I was told they were no longer were selling. Isn't the whole concept of this shake based on this particular holiday? Left in despair, the only thing left to console me was some Beamish stout, which was quite delicious and made everything Irish again.
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
on the mend
After spending five days in bed with the flu, I am finally feeling better. It's pretty amazing how fast a day goes by when it is necessary to take both a morning and afternoon nap. Unfortunately, B seems to have come down with it too, but in a milder but still irritating version of it. Ethan was safely quarantined from the apartment, his dad and grandma were nice enough to hold onto him this past weekend.
On the job front, I have finished up my contract job. I would liken the work to that of data entry for designers. Very basic production work with some admin thrown in at the very end. It was mind numbing, but I did get a lot of reading done and played way too much scrabble to pass time. There were days that I had to stretch two hours of work into seven, because that is all they had for me to do. They even let go of the other designer because I was so efficient, and also because his files were incorrect, which was worrisome because the work was so basic. The highlight of my month there was when someone stopped me to say what a great job I was doing, which ended with me explaining the difference between vector and bitmap graphics (yes, her eyes did glaze over a bit) at which she exclaimed that I was an expert. Which couldn't be farther from the truth, but always pleasurable to hear.
I have had a recent run of interviews. One of which led to a second interview and an invitation to a third, which led to a great hee haw of excitement that I was finally going to get a job offer and proof that I wasn't completely worthless. There was an odd period of silence between the phone call inviting me back for the final interview and me phoning back a week later, which was met with the assurance that it was all a matter of timing. I had an unsettling feeling that something seemed amiss, and those feelings were confirmed when I got the call that they offered it to the other finalist (and no, there was never a third interview). Needless to say, this was disappointing news, but I have no other choice but to pick myself up and keep applying.
In more cheerful news, Ethan is continuing to prosper and his little personality is emerging more and more each day. He is talking a lot, though there is room for improvement in the enunciation department. Last week, we had a play date planned, his bff from school was coming over for dinner, so we had a pep talk before hand about sharing and not fighting over toys. After dinner, the boys scooted into his room to play, and as we were talking in the other room, I could hear a fight a brewin' and was surprised when Ethan came marching out of his room holding his bouncy ball and put it in the corner, and ran back to his room; favoring the if we can't share, then I shall remove this toy diplomacy. After we picked our jaws up off the ground, I couldn't help but beam with motherly pride, it makes me tear up a little just thinking about it.
On the job front, I have finished up my contract job. I would liken the work to that of data entry for designers. Very basic production work with some admin thrown in at the very end. It was mind numbing, but I did get a lot of reading done and played way too much scrabble to pass time. There were days that I had to stretch two hours of work into seven, because that is all they had for me to do. They even let go of the other designer because I was so efficient, and also because his files were incorrect, which was worrisome because the work was so basic. The highlight of my month there was when someone stopped me to say what a great job I was doing, which ended with me explaining the difference between vector and bitmap graphics (yes, her eyes did glaze over a bit) at which she exclaimed that I was an expert. Which couldn't be farther from the truth, but always pleasurable to hear.
I have had a recent run of interviews. One of which led to a second interview and an invitation to a third, which led to a great hee haw of excitement that I was finally going to get a job offer and proof that I wasn't completely worthless. There was an odd period of silence between the phone call inviting me back for the final interview and me phoning back a week later, which was met with the assurance that it was all a matter of timing. I had an unsettling feeling that something seemed amiss, and those feelings were confirmed when I got the call that they offered it to the other finalist (and no, there was never a third interview). Needless to say, this was disappointing news, but I have no other choice but to pick myself up and keep applying.
In more cheerful news, Ethan is continuing to prosper and his little personality is emerging more and more each day. He is talking a lot, though there is room for improvement in the enunciation department. Last week, we had a play date planned, his bff from school was coming over for dinner, so we had a pep talk before hand about sharing and not fighting over toys. After dinner, the boys scooted into his room to play, and as we were talking in the other room, I could hear a fight a brewin' and was surprised when Ethan came marching out of his room holding his bouncy ball and put it in the corner, and ran back to his room; favoring the if we can't share, then I shall remove this toy diplomacy. After we picked our jaws up off the ground, I couldn't help but beam with motherly pride, it makes me tear up a little just thinking about it.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)