So, I haven't blogged in a while. My apologies to those who have been waiting for me to get my act together (Daddy).
I could say that I've been busy, and while this is a true statement, it's not entirely accurate. Yes, I have been traveling for work... Canada 3 times in the last 4 weeks (Toronto is beautiful). But the truth is that I've been trying to wrap my head around the inevitable appearance of my 31st birthday. Yes, I turned 31 on June 5th. No, it was not traumatic. No, I didn't cry. And, no, I will not be one of those women who lie about their age and stall the clock at my 29th year. I did however, have to do the math (which is quite amazing given that numbers make me nauseous). So... I apologize if this seems a little "rent-ish"... feel free to correct my math if necessary.
31 years = 1,612 weeks
31 years = 11,315 days
31 years = 271,560 hours
31 years = 16,293,600 minutes
I thought about those numbers for a while and realized a few things. Of the 16+ million moments that I've lived this life, I have been on vacation for about 35 weeks, I have been in school for about 2,600 days, I have been at work for about 20,800 hours and I have smiled for at least 14 million minutes. Most importantly, I have loved and been loved for every single one of the 16 million + moments of my life. There is a phrase that I've been saying for years and years... most recently made popular by a certain "movie" "The greatest thing you'll ever learn is to love and be loved in return."
I now feel it necessary to throw out into cyber space a few "shout-outs" to those who have graced a large portion of my 31 years...
- Daddy, I thank you, for teaching me everything I know. I learned how to love because you and mom loved so generously, easily, honestly and truly.
- Stacy, from you I learned that loving is hard work but the rewards are sooooo great. You are the best sister I could possibly hope for. Thank you for loving me... I'll miss you, you Cincinnati bound diva, you!
- Katy, I will never truly be able to articulate how much you mean to me. My life is better because you're in it and there is a certain safety in our friendship that allows me to live my life knowing that you'll be there loving me and giving me shit no matter what I do... I love you for that!
- Girlfriends, I thank you for allowing me to love you and learn from you. My mom told me when I was young that girlfriends were the most important friends you could have. I receive cheesy e-mails daily about the importance of girlfriends and I believe all of that crap to be true! I had the pleasure of joining girl power forces with the wonder quad a few weeks ago! This foursome of fantastic women included Mrs. Ann Hermes-Tudor, Mrs. Gina Witt, Mrs. Lindsay Wookie (Bigler) and Ms. Briton Pyne. Thank you ladies for sharing your thoughts, opinions, strengths, weaknesses, passions, disappointments and hearts with me. (Hey, Laura...warm and fuzzy girl love goes to you too... you have been a blessing as a friend and a roommate.)
- Boys, Ed, Brandon, Greg, Cameron, Mike, Chris, Jason, Jac and Whitey, like it or not, you will forever be "my boys." I thank you for your hugs.
So, I'm 31 and I love it. That's only a surprise because I'm not exactly where I thought I'd be at 31. I thought that I'd be married with a kid or two by now. I thought that I'd have a great house and a successful career and a lot of things that reminded me of the place in society that I'd earned. Instead, I'm single, in a new relationship, renting an apartment, leasing a car, still defining my career and happy! It's funny, when we're young we dream about big houses, marriage, family, success and careers, but never do we dream about the people that will help us get there. Never do we dream about the types of relationships we'll have or the friends we'll make along the way. I could have never dreamed up this life... but I'm sure glad that if found me.
OK... enough of that mushy stuff... I have one question...
What's the deal with men in suits wearing tennis shoes? I understand the ladies perspective, I mean, come on, heels and pointy toes, who wants to walk around in that all day? But gentlemen, can you explain how the flat loafers are just too much to bare?
Tuesday, June 28, 2005
Tuesday, May 31, 2005
Courtyard Bliss
Have you ever stood in your court yard and listened to a chorus of laughter fall from the windows of your neighbors? I have.
Friday night, around 11:30, I was standing in my concrete jungle, so that the Dingo dog could do his "before-bed-business," when I heard familiar giggles from the lit windows above.
First, there was the chuckle of a certain long haired frat boy that lives on the 3rd floor. Then the belly laugh of the one and only "Chocolate Danny" on floor 2. Next was the Fran Drescher-like chortle of my dear room mate. Followed by the shriek of our neighbor-down-da-street, Greg.
Back up to the 3rd floor where the visiting Billy let out a little tehee. Then to floor 2 where roomies Ed and Mike cackled in unison. Then, as if the center section of the building woke up, Mike # 2 (1st floor in the middle) began laughing at his TV. Cooper, Hadley's dog (2nd floor in the middle) let out a yelp to which Hadley hushed him and then giggled at his invisible reaction. Back to my window where Laura and Greg were reveling in some sort of comment about something.
For about 15 minutes, I stood with my dog... smiling at the happiness of my friends... this is my life, my world... and I'm so glad they're all in it.
Friday night, around 11:30, I was standing in my concrete jungle, so that the Dingo dog could do his "before-bed-business," when I heard familiar giggles from the lit windows above.
First, there was the chuckle of a certain long haired frat boy that lives on the 3rd floor. Then the belly laugh of the one and only "Chocolate Danny" on floor 2. Next was the Fran Drescher-like chortle of my dear room mate. Followed by the shriek of our neighbor-down-da-street, Greg.
Back up to the 3rd floor where the visiting Billy let out a little tehee. Then to floor 2 where roomies Ed and Mike cackled in unison. Then, as if the center section of the building woke up, Mike # 2 (1st floor in the middle) began laughing at his TV. Cooper, Hadley's dog (2nd floor in the middle) let out a yelp to which Hadley hushed him and then giggled at his invisible reaction. Back to my window where Laura and Greg were reveling in some sort of comment about something.
For about 15 minutes, I stood with my dog... smiling at the happiness of my friends... this is my life, my world... and I'm so glad they're all in it.
Friday, May 27, 2005
Alternate Word Art
I've decided that one of the coolest things on the planet is the Thesaurus.
It is a tool (apparatus, appliance, bucksaw, contraption, contrivance, dojigger, engine, gadget, gizmo, implement, job, machine, means, mechanism, utensil, weapon, whatchamacallit) a device, if you will, that allows one to elevate descriptions to a level verging on an art form. Seriously people... what's more interesting, "Congratulations (Mike and Abby) on the announcement of your pregnancy!" or "Ovations on the communique of your fruitfulness!" See... art.
I used the Thesaurus a lot in high school and college, when writing papers but forgot how much fun it was. Now, in the age of computers and the information super-highway, I have a thesaurus link saved to my favorites and I find myself using it daily to describe things like "ambiance" (atmosphere, aura, backdrop, background, circumstances, climate, conditions, context, domain, element, encompassment, entourage, habitat, hood, jungle, locale, medium, milieu, neighborhood, purlieus, scene, scenery, setting, situation, status, stomping ground, surroundings, terrain, territory, turf, zoo.) to my clients.
I have however, discovered that the thesaurus can also be used to vent! This prodigious form of therapy has resulted in turning sheer anger and frustaration into hilarity and merriment (amusement, cachinnation, cackle, chortle, chortling, chuckle, chuckling, crack-up, crow, crowing, fit, gesture, giggle, giggling, glee, guffaw, guffawing, har-de-har, howling, laugh, mirth, peal, rejoicing, roar, roaring, shout, shouting, shriek, snicker, snigger, snort, snorting, sound, tehee, titter, tittering, yuck), when used to secretly insult the kingpins in my office. It's funny how "Kiss my butt, you pompous twit" almost sounds like a compliment when alternating typical words used daily with words found in the Thesaurus... "Osculate my aft extremity, you magniloquent dolt!"
I have also found the Thesaurus to be educational and useful when playing on-line scrabble with cute boys that reside in Pittsburgh. Let's say you have letters r, x, h, a, t, n and q. You need a 4 letter word starting with a 't' to get to the triple word square. What do you do? Remembering that there is a funny little word, meaning "creek," that grandma once used in a scrabble battle past, you look to the thesaurus! Cheating? Well, maybe (sorry honey)! Sidenote: that very same funny little word (tarn) was published in the May edition of Hemispheres (United Airlines in flight magazine), in an article about the french countryside... interesting!
And, at that, I will end this blog with my favorite "alternative word art" to date... fun (absurdity, ball, big time, blast, buffoonery, celebration, cheer, clowning, distraction, diversion, enjoyment, entertainment, escapade, festivity, foolery, frolic, gaiety, gambol, game, good time, grins, high jinks, holiday, horseplay, jesting, jocularity, joke, joking, jollity, joy, junketing, laughter, merriment, merrymaking, mirth, nonsense, pastime, picnic, play, playfulness, pleasure, recreation, rejoicing, relaxation, riot, romp, romping, solace, sport, tomfoolery, treat, whoopee)!
It is a tool (apparatus, appliance, bucksaw, contraption, contrivance, dojigger, engine, gadget, gizmo, implement, job, machine, means, mechanism, utensil, weapon, whatchamacallit) a device, if you will, that allows one to elevate descriptions to a level verging on an art form. Seriously people... what's more interesting, "Congratulations (Mike and Abby) on the announcement of your pregnancy!" or "Ovations on the communique of your fruitfulness!" See... art.
I used the Thesaurus a lot in high school and college, when writing papers but forgot how much fun it was. Now, in the age of computers and the information super-highway, I have a thesaurus link saved to my favorites and I find myself using it daily to describe things like "ambiance" (atmosphere, aura, backdrop, background, circumstances, climate, conditions, context, domain, element, encompassment, entourage, habitat, hood, jungle, locale, medium, milieu, neighborhood, purlieus, scene, scenery, setting, situation, status, stomping ground, surroundings, terrain, territory, turf, zoo.) to my clients.
I have however, discovered that the thesaurus can also be used to vent! This prodigious form of therapy has resulted in turning sheer anger and frustaration into hilarity and merriment (amusement, cachinnation, cackle, chortle, chortling, chuckle, chuckling, crack-up, crow, crowing, fit, gesture, giggle, giggling, glee, guffaw, guffawing, har-de-har, howling, laugh, mirth, peal, rejoicing, roar, roaring, shout, shouting, shriek, snicker, snigger, snort, snorting, sound, tehee, titter, tittering, yuck), when used to secretly insult the kingpins in my office. It's funny how "Kiss my butt, you pompous twit" almost sounds like a compliment when alternating typical words used daily with words found in the Thesaurus... "Osculate my aft extremity, you magniloquent dolt!"
I have also found the Thesaurus to be educational and useful when playing on-line scrabble with cute boys that reside in Pittsburgh. Let's say you have letters r, x, h, a, t, n and q. You need a 4 letter word starting with a 't' to get to the triple word square. What do you do? Remembering that there is a funny little word, meaning "creek," that grandma once used in a scrabble battle past, you look to the thesaurus! Cheating? Well, maybe (sorry honey)! Sidenote: that very same funny little word (tarn) was published in the May edition of Hemispheres (United Airlines in flight magazine), in an article about the french countryside... interesting!
And, at that, I will end this blog with my favorite "alternative word art" to date... fun (absurdity, ball, big time, blast, buffoonery, celebration, cheer, clowning, distraction, diversion, enjoyment, entertainment, escapade, festivity, foolery, frolic, gaiety, gambol, game, good time, grins, high jinks, holiday, horseplay, jesting, jocularity, joke, joking, jollity, joy, junketing, laughter, merriment, merrymaking, mirth, nonsense, pastime, picnic, play, playfulness, pleasure, recreation, rejoicing, relaxation, riot, romp, romping, solace, sport, tomfoolery, treat, whoopee)!
Monday, May 09, 2005
The Great American Past Time
On Saturday, I , princess of art, musicals, fine dining and all things creative, joined 39,000 others to cheer, drink beer and sing "take me out to the ball game." The venue, Wrigley Field. The competitors, Cubs and Phillies. The weather, freezing!
Those who know me understand that I am not, nor have I ever been a fan of baseball, football, basketball, hockey or that sport where crazy people grease up little pigs and run around trying to catch them. I will admit that my lack of enjoyment for sports in general, has been due to the fact that I really don't grasp the rules or objectives... But I'm learning!
My first goal, to understand the most American of all past times, baseball, is coming along at a great pace (with a little help from other lovers of the game). And one trip to the ball park has given me a new found affinity for runs, outs, bases and the like.
There was something magical about entering the stadium and seeing the technicolor green of the field sprawled out in front of me.
There was something nostalgic about the smell of peanuts and beer. Stepping on the shells and sticking to the concrete.
There was something admirable about the "fan." Cheering and fighting and wanting so desperately to be part of the action.
There was something comforting about snuggling for warmth under an over-priced Cubs blanket with someone special.
There was something beautiful about staring across the space and seeing the team colors of the club you're rooting for... Dots creating a Seurat type backdrop to the action.
The noise, the anticipation and the sheer joy emanating from those around me placed me in the front row of a Broadway musical. The applause, cat calls and smiles (minus the profanity) reminded me of the curtain call.
I won't pretend to be a fan, as I still have a lot to learn. I will say that I am excited about the potential of joining the leagues of others who get excited when opening day rolls around. Maybe it will happen by the time the playoffs begin!
Those who know me understand that I am not, nor have I ever been a fan of baseball, football, basketball, hockey or that sport where crazy people grease up little pigs and run around trying to catch them. I will admit that my lack of enjoyment for sports in general, has been due to the fact that I really don't grasp the rules or objectives... But I'm learning!
My first goal, to understand the most American of all past times, baseball, is coming along at a great pace (with a little help from other lovers of the game). And one trip to the ball park has given me a new found affinity for runs, outs, bases and the like.
There was something magical about entering the stadium and seeing the technicolor green of the field sprawled out in front of me.
There was something nostalgic about the smell of peanuts and beer. Stepping on the shells and sticking to the concrete.
There was something admirable about the "fan." Cheering and fighting and wanting so desperately to be part of the action.
There was something comforting about snuggling for warmth under an over-priced Cubs blanket with someone special.
There was something beautiful about staring across the space and seeing the team colors of the club you're rooting for... Dots creating a Seurat type backdrop to the action.
The noise, the anticipation and the sheer joy emanating from those around me placed me in the front row of a Broadway musical. The applause, cat calls and smiles (minus the profanity) reminded me of the curtain call.
I won't pretend to be a fan, as I still have a lot to learn. I will say that I am excited about the potential of joining the leagues of others who get excited when opening day rolls around. Maybe it will happen by the time the playoffs begin!
Wednesday, May 04, 2005
Dad said I should...
Well, for years my father, has been urging me to write... anything... A book, a movie, inspirational cards to trailer park trash so that they can feel special too! Today, I took the plunge. I'm certain that this blog is not the type of literary genius that my father had hoped for however, it is a start, and I am proud to join the leagues of others who litter cyberspace with their un-important, un-funny and un-interesting thoughts.
For my first entry, I will share with you (the hordes of nameless and faceless people staring balnkly into a computer screen) an e-mail that I wrote... to my dad... and his response, prompting me to finally start this "publication."
Hi daddy!
I try to send Neil an interesting observation every day. Mostly they're silly, like the older woman I noticed walking down the street with her ipod last week. She must have been 70, in her knee-hi's and house dress, hunched over from osteoporosis and years of living life. As she walked and listened to her music coming from the most recent electronic trend, I could only guess the tune that was making her smile and bop her head like a teenager. She made me smile that day.
Anyway... this is what I sent Neil today... I thought you would enjoy it as well.
So... today is a good day... partially because you will be here in Chicago the day-after-tomorrow... but also because it was the running of the sailboats day. Let me explain. My office window looks down 15 floors to the Chicago River, in all it's glory. There are several days at the beginning of every spring and toward the end of fall where they designate days that sailboats can go from the storage harbors, inland to the marinas on Lake Michigan. Today was one of those days.
The best part of the sailboat parade, aside from being amazed at the sheer quantity and beauty of these yachts, catamarans and sailboats, is the raising of the bridges. These steel and concrete structures rise and fall in this wonderfully choreographed dance, starting with Franklin Street, then Wacker, LaSalle and on and on. I stare in amazement, every year, at the complexity of these man made planes of metal and how they gracefully stand at attention as the vessels pass, as if to salute them and wish them well in the waters of the lake. To me it signifies spring, but more than that, it reminds me of what people are capable of. Being surrounded every day by a jungle of architecture, I forget, even as a designer, that towering buildings, bridges, elevated train tracks, parks and fountains are all creations that come from deep within people. Individuals and teams work to create these elements that make up the Chicago skyline that I so happily say good morning to on my way to work. Powerful stuff.
That's my observation for the day. Enjoy!
I love you, Dad!
And Dad's response....
Jenny... You are amazing. Your observations are not only enjoyable, they're literary and would grace the pages of any of our better magazines and/or dailies. You should present them as a possible column to some of the local "rags". Who knows my amazing daughtrer may be the next Kup, other gender! Love ya...DAD
I know, I know... daddies are supposed to think their daughters are wonderful. I won't let it go to my head!
For my first entry, I will share with you (the hordes of nameless and faceless people staring balnkly into a computer screen) an e-mail that I wrote... to my dad... and his response, prompting me to finally start this "publication."
Hi daddy!
I try to send Neil an interesting observation every day. Mostly they're silly, like the older woman I noticed walking down the street with her ipod last week. She must have been 70, in her knee-hi's and house dress, hunched over from osteoporosis and years of living life. As she walked and listened to her music coming from the most recent electronic trend, I could only guess the tune that was making her smile and bop her head like a teenager. She made me smile that day.
Anyway... this is what I sent Neil today... I thought you would enjoy it as well.
So... today is a good day... partially because you will be here in Chicago the day-after-tomorrow... but also because it was the running of the sailboats day. Let me explain. My office window looks down 15 floors to the Chicago River, in all it's glory. There are several days at the beginning of every spring and toward the end of fall where they designate days that sailboats can go from the storage harbors, inland to the marinas on Lake Michigan. Today was one of those days.
The best part of the sailboat parade, aside from being amazed at the sheer quantity and beauty of these yachts, catamarans and sailboats, is the raising of the bridges. These steel and concrete structures rise and fall in this wonderfully choreographed dance, starting with Franklin Street, then Wacker, LaSalle and on and on. I stare in amazement, every year, at the complexity of these man made planes of metal and how they gracefully stand at attention as the vessels pass, as if to salute them and wish them well in the waters of the lake. To me it signifies spring, but more than that, it reminds me of what people are capable of. Being surrounded every day by a jungle of architecture, I forget, even as a designer, that towering buildings, bridges, elevated train tracks, parks and fountains are all creations that come from deep within people. Individuals and teams work to create these elements that make up the Chicago skyline that I so happily say good morning to on my way to work. Powerful stuff.
That's my observation for the day. Enjoy!
I love you, Dad!
And Dad's response....
Jenny... You are amazing. Your observations are not only enjoyable, they're literary and would grace the pages of any of our better magazines and/or dailies. You should present them as a possible column to some of the local "rags". Who knows my amazing daughtrer may be the next Kup, other gender! Love ya...DAD
I know, I know... daddies are supposed to think their daughters are wonderful. I won't let it go to my head!
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