Following the lead

Well, maybe I should read this book. I hi-lighted the parts that are most accurate...

You're Watership Down! by Richard Adams. Though many think of you as a bit young, even childish, you're actually incredibly deep and complex. You show people the need to rethink their assumptions, and confront them on everything from how they think to where they build their houses. You might be one of the greatest people of all time. You'd be recognized as such if you weren't always talking about talking rabbits.

Consider it peer pressure... Chris and Gina did it... Dave did it... Why can't I?!

My dad....

I have it on good authority that there are A LOT of flowers in heaven. It was one of the last things that my father taught me.

He was like that... always learning and passing on his knowledge... forever noticing the wonders of this world and sharing his observations. He surrounded himself with beauty that was simply a reflection of his own heart.

He was my daddy. He was also a son, a veteran, a respected business man, an honored mentor, a dear friend to so many and a husband who remained devoted to one heart.

In recent months, visitors and friends would make it a point to share with me how lucky they felt to know my father. As I would settle down next to him, speaking quietly of those well-wishers, he expressed the same honor to have known their friendship.

I find this telling of my dad. Not only did he surround himself with beauty, he surrounded himself with beautiful people... beautiful like him. He was... Genuine and unique like a rose, wise and willing to share thoughts, funny with a quick wit, intelligent beyond comprehension and generous to all around him.

I will miss him desperately. I will miss his contagious smile. I will miss his enveloping hugs.I will miss his words of wisdom. I'm not sue how each day will be as bright; but he prepared me well and I will continue to see the beauty in the world around me. I will always cherish its wondrous flowers. That was daddy's gift to me.

I find peace in knowing that he is happy. Happy with my mom, dancing and celebrating in the gardens of the heavens that he described as beautiful.

Home Search 2007

So... most of you know that moving to Crystal Lake has taken up literally 50% of my time lately... followed closely by caring for and worrying about my dad. Between showing the condo, working on our mortgage application and looking for the perfect home, I'm obsessed with things that are not my work... Thank God I have an understanding and supportive boss!

Anyhow... we've looked at almost 350 listings now and of the 35ish that we've seen, we have (4) favorites! I'd say that's pretty good considering it's totally possible that NONE of them will be available when we finally get an offer on our condo! Clinton and I are both positive thinkers though and believe in things meant to be. We're on the right path!

So, I've listed a few photos of our "top 4" (2 from Clinton and 2 from me) Can you guess which ones belong to whom?

Enjoy!!!

While we both REALLY love all 4 homes, we each have different top 2 lists...

Answer: Photo 1 - Clinton' #1, Photo 2 - Jenny's #2, Photo 3 - Clinton's #2, Photo 4 - Jenny's #1

Ponchos...

So, last year (or the year before) I jumped on the bandwagon and purchased the latest fashion trend... the poncho. I have two of them... lovely, multicolored, stylish ponchos; and I like them.

Feeling a spring in my step (get-it... it's spring) I decided to wear one of these said poncho's to work today. Left the house feeling confident that I looked lovely (as usual). Got to work, everything is fine. Made it to lunch... great day.

Then, while tooling around on the Internet, something caught my eye. No, it wasn't the fashion police apprehending a poncho wearing perp, is was an image... of a television character... and I suddenly wondered...

Am I Ugly Betty?

The latest pain in my side...

At least I posted some positive thoughts about spring first!!!

Since Clinton is working his tail off, and commuting like a bastard, I've been trying to figure out how to move us to Crystal Lake as soon as possible. The problem is that we can't move until we sell our condo and, it you haven't heard, the real estate market SUCKS! So the past few weeks, I've been a busy little bee (whilst caring for the dear old dad) putting our plan of attack into action...

Step One: Clean and organize the condo... check! I made good use of my time with dad watching TLC shows... "Flip that House" and "Sell this House." HUGE difference in shows and the goals of each but, I took lessons from both on how to get the condo in selling shape. Spent a few days putting things in storage and organizing. Hired a cleaning crew to do the dirty work. Had the carpets shampooed and wa-la... we're off and running!

Step Two: Put our condo on the market... check! I'm meeting with our realtor this evening and everything should be a go!

Step Three: Sell the condo... this is the unknown factor. The market SUCKS! I think we'll make the listing read as follows...

"Jenny wants to see her husband more... so she's selling her condo and relocating to Crystal Lake! In addition, she wants to have a baby and doesn't have the space in the shoebox condo that she bought six weeks before she met her darling husband! So... all you twenty-somethings looking for a great condo in a great area for a great price, call Jenny immediately. Dingo the dog not included."

No really...

"Two bedroom. One bath. Sunny first floor condo in West Bucktown listed below market value! Gut rehabbed in Dec '05, owner hates to move... relocation. Fantastic European kitchen featuring integrated refrigerator and dishwasher, designer hood, stainless oven, granite counter tops, garbage disposal, great cabinets. Marble bathroom w/ whirlpool tub, wood window blinds, easy parking, security system and low assessments. Don't miss this one! Bring all reasonable offers!"
.................................................................................................$209,900.

Step Four: Pray.

Step Five: Find a new house... check! Well maybe. We've been looking with our realtor since January; trying to see what's out there, what we can afford for our $$. We've been through almost 300 listings, checked out about 30, and there are a ton of homes that are practically brand new in our price range. So, getting a home, once we sell, probably won't be an issue... after all, it's a buyers market. That said, we found our dream home last weekend. Perfect in every way... and it'll probably sell before we have a chance to grab it... boo.

Step Six: Pray.

Ahhhh.... Spring!

I'm blessed... My father instilled in me a love for all things beautiful. I spent the last two weeks with him and enjoyed his company and his beautiful yard. Spring is wonderful! We were able to watch the tulips emerge, the daffodils bloom and the crocus' come alive. We watched birds feed from the newly filled feeders and befriended a pair of ducks, lovingly named Ralph and Maude after my mothers grandparents.

Every spring I get the urge to visit with nature... it's not that easy in the city... but occasionally I find a little oasis that makes me forget about this concrete jungle and pay tribute to the idea of the country or even just a yard! Yesterday, I went shopping for some blooming plants to "springify" our little home. The Home Depot and I have a great relationship... they set up tents filled with plants and natural wonders and I joyously peruse the aisles touching and smelling the treasures... then I buy beautiful things that I'll kill inside of 3 weeks. While dad instilled in me a love for beauty, I did not inherit his green thumb!

While "vacationing" at the Home Depot, I had the urge to purchase a million plants for a yard that I don't have... including a magnificent Japanese Maple tree... another pleasure that dad and I had last week... watching the Japanese Maple bloom. It really is amazing to see branches and twigs suddenly develop buds and go from brown and bare to bursting with beautiful burgundy leaves. I love Japanese Maples and as soon as we get a house... in the Crystal Lake area... I will purchase one and make Clinton help me plant it... in the front yard.

It should also be noted that caring for my daddy the last few weeks really instilled in me that "nesting" thing that women get during their child bearing years. I went to kiss his bald little head and it smelled like my newborn nephew. The wonderful two weeks made me want children even more... to care for and educate and inspire.

So... that's been our spring so far... we're taking one day at a time, caring for dad, selling the condo, working, house hunting, and stopping to smell the flowers.

I married a Chiropractor!

I married a Chiropractor and I've found that the vast majority of the general public have ABSOLUTELY no idea what a Chiropractor truly does!

It's amazing the reactions I get... people shake their heads and assume that I've joined a cult or that I've been brainwashed by my husband because I "get it." I understand, that is, that Chiropractic is important and could be beneficial to anyone!

When we were children, we had these people come into our school and do a spinal exam. I didn't even realize that it was a spinal exam, until my husband discussed a recent spinal screening he put on. I remember standing up against a wall and a man looking at my shoulders and hips to see if they were straight. Then I had to bend over and touch my toes and he looked at the curve of my back. Just like when they did the fluoride thing at school and kids got sick... or the head lice check and some kids got special shampoo... it was a maintenance thing that was required.

Think of it as going to the dentist or for your yearly medical exam. These are things that everyone does as a "maintenance" program for their bodies. Unfortunately, the Chiropractic community has failed (so far) in communicating the importance of Chiropractic exams.

So, here's a lay persons attempt to educate the 3 people that read this blog.

Your BRAIN is connected to every single organ in your body through your SPINAL CHORD.
Your SPINE protects your SPINAL CHORD.
There are bunches of NERVES that come off your SPINAL CHORD, go through your SPINE and to your ORGANS.
If your SPINAL CHORD is not ALIGNED, that means it’s CRUSHING nerves that are needed to get vital information to whichever ORGAN those nerves are connected to!
This means that whatever organ that CRUSHED NERVE is going to, is not working at 100%!

Quite Simply...

"When bones of the spine become misaligned or move out of their normal position, they can distort the flow of information from the brain to the body. Without the proper information from the nerve system, the body cannot function to its full potential.1"

Chiropractic has been proven to help people with reoccurring problems such as migraines, sinuses, ear infections, throat issues, joint and arthritis pain, heart burn and kidney function, among other health issues! But, most people would rather pump themselves with chemicals to relieve pain or deal with an illness… we are brilliant!

If you want to read a little more about the basic philosophy of Chiropractic a quick description can be found at: http://admissions.palmer.edu/info/whatis.htm

Rant complete.

- 1 Taken from the Palmer College of Chiropractic website

Happy New Year!!!

Well, 2006 has definitely been eventful! But I must start the 2006 recap a little further back.

July of 2005 saw the end to another relationship. It was short lived and only heartbreaking because it was yet another failure. I mention it because it prompted me to take a hard look at where this life of mine was going.

I had been hoping for a relationship to fill some emptiness that was going on in the old heart and decided that this concept was crappy and unsuccessful. I don't mean to imply that I was un-happy. I wasn't. The happiness level just wasn't quite as high as I thought I deserved. Time for some ch-ch-ch-changes!

So, I took it upon myself to devise a plan... I called it my "sans man plan." It's purpose: To figure out what I need to be truly happy and content without a relationship. After thought and prayer and a bunch of sappy songs that made me cry (Jesus Take The Wheel - Carrie Underwood... no comments from the peanut gallery) I realized that this was only a 2 step plan! It all seemed so simple! And I was off...

STEP 1: New J O B - I was disgusted with the politics of the firm I was with. Not happy with the amount of design I was doing and thwarted by a design director who annoyed the hell out of me, I decided that I'd be better off in a smaller firm where I could actually make a difference. I found ESA and after several interviews (mostly to make sure I was comfortable with them) I started as a Designer October 3rd 2005.

STEP 2: New Home - I've wanted to own a condo in this fantastical city for 10 years. As part of my "sans man plan," I decided that I wanted to feel as though I had my own little piece of this city. I searched and searched and finally found my little shoe box place. I closed on the condo on December 2nd, 2005 and moved in with my most wonderful room mate Laura the following weekend... just in time for Christmas.

It worked! I was in bliss... happy and content with my new job and my new home. My 2006 New Year's resolution was to stop thinking about a relationship because I didn't need one. I was happy on my own... with Laura... and dingo... and my new job... and my new condo. 2006 was looking great!

Now, I believe in God. I believe that things happen for a reason. I've come to believe that I set out on the "sans man plan" because I was unconsciously readying myself for what would come next. And wouldn't you know it... the next thing came in the form of a man! Here's my 2006 recap...

He e-mailed me for the first time on January 22nd.
He spoke to me for the first time on January 26th.
He smiled at me and hugged me for the first time on January 28th.
He was my valentine on February 14th.
He was my date to my sister's wedding on February 18th.
He brought me to meet his family on April 27th.
He became my roommate May 13th.
He became my fiance on May 26th.
He was my birthday boy on September 13th.
He became my husband on November 11th.
He was my New Year's kiss on December 31st.

So you see... I've had the best 2006. And do you want to know the best part... He says that his 2006 was better than mine.

Happy New Year from Clinton and Jenny Garda!!!