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Chicago Sheri

Saturday, September 30, 2006

Been a busy week at work.
I am already on call this weekend, after this being my first week, and I was on my own Friday.
Considering all that, it's gone fairly well. Fixed stuff, did a bridge call, worked on some requests, had a few calls from NOCs.

I was wiped out yesterday coming home, and kind of out of it today too. Just tired. Head swimming.

Brad had a doctor checkup appt this morning. Got a file system full issue so went back home for a bit and then made it out to the Long Grove Apple Festival. It was a nice day for walking around, nice people watching kind of thing but I was disappointed there weren't more apples. No apple pancakes, apple cobbler, apple dumpling, apple fritters, apple chips or even applesauce.










The part we enjoyed best was the Lab rescue dogs. We sat down on some benches right next to the Lab rescue people with some of their dogs.

Thursday, September 28, 2006

Went to Starbucks on my way into work yesterday.
The guy training me was up late and so not going in until later, and I don't have my access to stuff yet.
Jack, one the retired Mafiosi, told me that Obama was going to be at his house for dinner on Saturday night and asked if I knew who he was. I WANTED TO KICK HIM!!!!
He had no idea how Obama crazy I am, and just casually telling me Obama, wife and 2 daughters will be at his house for dinner. I asked him If I could crash it, (I joke around with him a lot) so I am not sure if he knew I was serious, so either today or tomorrow I gotta go find him and let him know I am serious, to see if maybe...possibly I could get in. I think its his daughters dinner really, so I might not be able to, but it is definitely worth a try!

Work was long, even though it was short. No access to anything, all listening and reading for 3 days.

So I am walking around the building a lot more. They are putting in new generators, so I like watching the construction.





and so does the other guys in my office...




At the end of the day got my new picture taking cell phone, NT access, and work email set up.
Not sure about the Informix class still.

Met up with Shishie and Richard for dinner at Cheesecake Factory in Oak Brook for dinner. It was all last minute about where and when to meet, and I didn't have internet access to help direct them from where they were. They did have trouble finding the place, and I felt so awful cause I know how I get when I don't have some concrete directions, so I got all worked up and cried in the lobby of Cheesecake factory (I'm a lady and do this very quietly and subtly so only Brad knew) Cause I just felt like I wasn't doing enough and was worried about Richard being all mad. He said hearing I cried DID make him feel better. So there ya go!

Shishie brought us 4 pounds of coffee!! We love coffee!! And I had a couple of dresses for Richard's characters he does. I have left over Pasta Da Vinci for lunch today.

Tuesday, September 26, 2006

I started my new job yesterday and it is going very well.



We (me and the guy training me) are using the MTSO (Mobile Telephone Switching Office) as our office until I get going, then it will be mostly if not completely working from home.

We have bad water, this is posted above the drinking fountain.




There are only like 3 other people in this office, and luckily they are all nice.
The guy training me is super helpful. Loading me with documentation he made. Older hippy guy.
Has yin/yang things all over the place. I asked him if he has it tattooed, he doesn't yet but will.
His girlfriend was at the Morton Arboretum today and he honest to god asked her to hug a tree for him today. He is so goofy and silly in his hippiness, he owns it.
With this guy on my side helping me, I can't go wrong. Seriously.
There are no lay-offs going on or coming up.
Our boss and our boss's boss are said to be super cool, even people from other departments have said stuff to the guy I work with about how they wish they worked for them.
They are talking about sending me to an Informix class in Redmond in 2 weeks. Hope it works out, Brad said he will go with me. It's just a few miles from Seattle. We both never been.

Last night after my first day on the new job, Brad met me out for dinner. It was cool not picking him up, made it feel more like a date for me. Met him at Hugo's Frog Bar I like the bar atmosphere with the piano player but we sat in the dinner room since it was quieter so I could fill him in on my day. He was really excited for me, and really happy with how everything sounds.

From there we walked to the library for a drama about Presidents and their first ladies put on by a husband wife team that travels around doing this. Tonights focus was on Herbert & Lou Hoover. It was cute and fun, the couple really do a great job with it. They tell the story from how they met, travels, emergency relief programs, presidency through the Great Depression up until their deaths.



I'm home for a bit tonight after work (just enough to post this) and then I have my first book club meeting down the street to discuss My Sister's Keeper.

Tomorrow after work Brad and I are planning on meeting Shishie and Richard downtown for dinner while Shishie is in town for a couple days.

Sunday, September 24, 2006

Good weekend so far.
Having fun running around, doing errands, eating.

Friday watched Grey Gardens.
A movie about Edith Bouvier Beale, first cousin of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, living with her mother in a run down house in the East Hamptons.

Last night watched Lucky Number Slevin Good crime, action movie with a great cast.

Tonight we have The Station Agent to watch. All really good movies.

Yesterday we went to drive by my new work place, so I knew where it was, and how to get there.
It's a small power station, with a parking lot for maybe 7 people, a big cellular antennae in the back. It's a place for phone switches and the machines mostly. So not many people, not one of the main buildings, with sales people. So I expect we won't do much work there, maybe just in the beginning, to show me the machines, get my hands on some books, and maybe use a room for some of the conference/bridge calls to listen in till I get the hang of it. But me and the guy I will be working with live somewhat close to each other, down the line I'll just see if he wants to come over to the house with our wireless connection and work from here, or even just hang out at a Panera and use their wi-fi. I think I will end up working mostly from home. FABULOUS!!

Just watched the Clinton interview on Fox, the followup commentary with Chris Wallace is really annoying.

Saturday, September 23, 2006

Clinton Takes On Fox News

Today, President Bill Clinton taped an interview with Fox News Chris Wallace, which is scheduled to be aired Sunday. He was told the interview would focus on his nonpartisan efforts to raise over $7 billion to combat the world's biggest problems.

Early in the interview, Wallace attempted to smear Clinton with the same kind of misinformation contained in ABC's Path to 9/11. Clinton was having none of it.

ThinkProgress has obtained a transcript of the interview.


Here are some highlights:
http://thinkprogress.org/2006/09/22/clinton-fox/

Full transcript here:
http://thinkprogress.org/clinton-interview

Obama

Friday morning got up early to go see Barack Obama speak at Bolingbrook Golf Club.



I haven't been to anything like that before. Wasn't sure if it would be a mixed crowd trying to stir up trouble or what. No ruckus and informative. The Golf Club is super fancy. The Mayor of Bolingbrook (Roger Claar) is Republican, so it was very hospitable for Bolingbrook to host the speaking engagement, and for the Mayor to do the lead in speech and introduce Obama.



He said he did a radio show that morning and were asking him what he thought of Chavez. He said he thought Chavez was a buffoon, but the funny thing is, that we are financing a buffoon through his Citgo gas stations.

He spoke briefly but mostly took questions from the group. He said he was there to hear from the people of the state he represents, to know there concerns and interests.

Medical costs and issues:
(Side note: Obama's wife, Michelle, works at the University of Chicago Hospital, as executive director of community affairs.)
He said he wants better chronic care management, and prevention. For example people with diabetes, it might be better to pay someone to nag them to take their medication rather than have to down the line pay to have their leg amputated. Yeah, we shouldn't have to nag people, they should be responsible for themselves, but fact is, a lot of people aren't and medically can cost a lot of money. He wants medical records to get more high tech, no more paper and pencils, too much room for mistakes that way. He thinks that we can save some money in ways like that.

A holistic doctor asked him about alternative therapies, saying that holistic therapy is currently not covered. He said the medical community has to validate the particular therapies for them to be covered. For example acupuncture, people used to roll their eyes about it, but now over time it has been a proven therapy that works, and now it is covered. So it just takes time, and a record of showing it works to be covered.

He said we need better mental health treatment coverage, specifically for vets. A large number of homeless people are vets, he hopes this can be avoided with mental health treatment.



Education:
He feels our kids are not competing with foreign kids. He went to the Google campus and most of their engineers were foreign. He likes the fact that our businesses are getting the best of the best, and the people from other countries want to work here. But our kids are just not keeping up. His 1st bill was to increase pell grants awards to lower-income students, and didn't get passed.

He feels schools could do more to keep their costs down, they are over building. If they didn't worry about flat screens, gourmet cafeterias, expensively built building additions, they might not need to charge so much.

Illegal immigrants:
People romanticize Ellis Island. At the time we just happened to be expanding and were able to accommodate people. It's different now. People talk about the Mexicans like they used to about the Irish and Italians. Complaining they couldn't speak the language, stealing our jobs, dirty people etc. A large number of countries would come over here if they could, just not as easy as walking across the border for them. People in Africa have a 5 to 10 year waiting list to come here. We can't send the Mexican already here home, that would be heartless, even though it may not be fair to other countries who are going through the proper legal processes. We will probably be building a border wall, which won't really be sufficient just might add an obstacle. (Side note: A lot of people have fake ID's to work here, and therefore are paying social security but then will never be collecting it)
Employers should be responsible for who they hire, but to help them we should have some kind of tamper proof ID.

Troops in Iraq:
Was opposed to the war, but supported our decision. Wants troops pulled out in phases.

Said next week a hot topic would be surveillance. I didn't catch who or what specifically. But he made it sound like the issue was us watching ourselves like for war prisoners. That people would try to spin it as we are more interested in protecting the rights of terrorists, but that really we just need to make sure we got the right guy for the right crime otherwise we will be undermining our own values.

He comes across very humble, sincere and approachable. He never gets over-passioned, keeps a cool head and remains matter-of-fact.

Went out Thursday night, it was the local "ladies night". Specials at the bars and restaurants and stores.
I parked in the garage downtown and walked to Starbucks Jill's house.



Met 2 of her 4 kids, and her soon to be ex-husband. Now that they are getting divorced they get along MUCH better. They have a really nice place. We were hungry and gonna go down to Jimmy's for dinner, but she said there was better wine at Catch 35 so we went there first. Had a glass of shiraz, then her girlfriend Tippy came and brought another Jill with her.

Tippy and Jill



So then we had another glass of wine and picked on food there. I got a small salad and they got some tuna sashimi. Got pretty tipsy. Went by Jill's new store she just rented out. Should be opening in November. A shop for tweens, clothes, belts, purses, jewelry, cell phone jewelry..stuff like that. She is a big Grateful Dead fan, and so gonna have a Dead corner in there too.

Went to Seven on Heaven to pickup Tippy's man. Some kind of sports therapist for football players.



The went to Hugos Frog Bar. Nice place, had a guitarist and piano player taking requests. They played some Zeppelin for me. Had a super strong rum and diet coke, and some potato skins. Had a girl we just met there join us cause she was drunk, really funny and her friends left her.
Stayed out until about midnight.

Had a good time, will probably go out with them again.

Thursday, September 21, 2006

Senator Barack Obama will be at Bolingbrook tomorrow morning!!!!

Open discussion with Senator Obama on economic development issues.
Bolingbrook Golf Club
2001 Rodeo Drive
Bolingbrook, IL

Parking lot open at 7:30am
Doors open at 8:30am
Program starts at 9am

Sen. Ted Kennedy supports Net Neutrality


Keith Olbermann's comment on Bush 9/11/06



I did not watch any of the 9/11 TV specials. I remember and did not need to be reminded. The next day at Starbucks (a mostly Republican crowd there) someone said "I don't get why those New Yorkers can be so Liberal after that." I shot him a look that was probably missed and wanted to rip his face off, but also it really hurts me that people can honestly feel that way. Someone around me, in one of my groups could say such a thing with so much sincerity.
It implies that anyone (especially that lives in New York) is unpatriotic, unappreciative, and out-of-touch to want to criticize or question what and how things were done. To want to question our government is wrong. There are just so many arguments for this. Wasn't it right to question weapon of mass destruction, what Saddam Hussei had to do with 9/11?

Also from the local conversations that day, and the Keith Olbermann commentary that the TV special was pointing blame on Clinton when he was in office. When in fact, Clinton offered several anti-terrorist initiatives and his people had notedly passed on his terrorism concerns to just get blown off.

"Richard Clarke, former Director of Counter-Terrorism for the National Security Council, has worked on the terrorist threat for the Reagan, Bush Sr., Clinton, and Bush Jr. administrations, amassing a peerless resume in the field. He became a central figure in the commission investigating the September 11 attacks.
Clarke has laid bare an ugly truth: The administration of George W. Bush did not consider terrorism or the threat of al-Qaeda to be a priority prior to the attacks."

Taken from:
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/083006J.shtml

People should be able to question anything and everything and not be told they are anti-American for doing so.

I'm also concerned about net neutrality and to see where this goes. The Ted Kennedy video explains the issues pretty well.

Regarding net neutrality, see also:
http://www.savetheinternet.com/
http://www.google.com/help/netneutrality.html

Weird Al - White & Nerdy


Notes:
Donny Osmond dancing in the background
Seth Green with the shelves of action figures
Judi Tenuta opening the gift of power strip

Trivial Pursuit Card:
G - In what city is the largest ball of twine built by one man?
E - What's the deal with Lindsay Lohan? I mean, seriously?
H - F.D.R. - was he faking it?
AL - On what page does Harry Potter die in the next book?
SN - What is the melting point of a gorilla's head?
?? - How many Wicket Men are there on a 43-Man Squamish team?

Tuesday, September 19, 2006

I got an offer for a job and accepted it today.
It was a job that I just did a phone interview yesterday and another one today for.
I start next Monday.
I'm getting more money than my last jobs, and might be able to work from home sometimes too.
This time around my job search went much better than it had before.

Sunday, September 17, 2006

Social update:
Since we been back from Ohio, I have been keeping pretty busy.
Went to my first Bunco party on Tuesday, I'm on the sub list for 2 different groups.
It's a dice game, I have never played before.
Pretty easy, no skill or strategy needed.
Hit the margaritas as soon as I got there, and it hit me pretty good.
Didn't embarrass myself, just loosened up.
The house that held it was of course immaculate, and all the other ladies (yes, ladies) were commenting on how the host already had out her fall stuff and how they needed to do the same, switch wreaths from their summer to fall ones. Everyone was nice and approachable, and fairly laid back.
I had a good time, and met some new people. Lasted from 7 until about 10:30.

Weds - Got a waxing, my haircut (the Prince Valiant cut), therapy appt, and then picked Brad up after he got off work to take the train downtown to see Cat Power at the Vic. Brad had listened to a few mp3's and watching some of her videos on You Tube I had sent him, and thought he might like it too. We had dinner at Clarke's Diner, then walked around the corner to the theater.
The show started a little late. Brad really liked the backup band Memphis Rhythm Band, liked Cat's quirkiness, her personality really comes through. The show is considered unprofessional to some, she stops short on songs, gets bored and goes into another, plays with the equipment and talks. But we took it as part of the show, if we wanted just music we could listen to her cd at home.

Saturday we got up early to watch a cricket game. A woman, Brad works with, husband plays in a league. The game is confusing, Brad had a much better grasp of what was going on than I did. But it was nice hanging out with a work friend of his, cheering on her husbands team, meeting and spending time with her mother visiting from India.









Then later that night we had our first neighborhood couples party to attend. It's called the Gourmet Club. Saturday was the kickoff. About 30 other couples were all at another super amazing house that was too damn fabulous. We each brought a bottle of wine and an appetizer, and were served 4 different cordials that were just to strong for me, but I ate the raspberries and strawberries :)

The whole thing went really well. The house was a bit stuffy at first, so Brad and I made our way outside to the backyard. He had a gorgeous koi pond, stones everywhere, waterfall, and fire pit. Everyone was really friendly with us, came up, started conversations, made it really easy. One of the couples that sat by me live just around the corner, and are talking about having us over, and even more WOW...they have a trampoline and said I can play anytime!! So this is just what we have been looking for, an opportunity to get to know people close by that we can do things with.
Got home and just stayed up too late (3 for me) watching Dog The Bounty Hunter marathons and The Long Kiss Goodnight.

This week I don't have any outings planned, but already looking busy the week after.
Shishie will be back for a few days.
A program through the library about Herbert Hoover and his wife during the Great Depression on the 25th.
My first book club meeting on the 26th. I read the book My Sisters Keeper during our Ohio travel for this.
Another thing at the library on the 27th, French vocalist Claudia Hommel performing.
Leslie and the Lys are playing at Abbey Pub on the 29th
Then that weekend is the Long Grove Apple Fest

Ohio visit (from a week ago):The longest post with too many pictures

Left for Columbus Saturday morning Sept 2.
I read an entire book on the way.
Alison Clement's - Twenty Questions
Loved it, got totally absorbed.
Started watching the OSU NIU game at my mothers.
Ate stuffed squash and peach cobbler.
Then finished the game at my sisters and ate City BBQ for dinner.
Home to my moms to sleep. Dylan and Ben spent the night over at mom's.

Sunday Sept 3
Woke up with my 2 nephews Dylan and Ben and watched Road to El Dorado on the Cartoon Network. Then Ben wanted to go to his favorite new park Orange Park. He came in our room to ask if we could go, he was so excited all we head was "side" "towel" and "park" the rest was a blur. He meant that he likes the slide but early in the morning it still has dew and they wipe it down with a towel.

Car on the way to the park




Park play







Mom and I played on that thing the girls are on. I kept knocking her feet off, its a standing see-saw kinda thing





Then we dropped the boys off at my sisters. Went to Waffle House for brunch. I LOVE WAFFLE HOUSE!
Went to the mall just to walk around. My sister met us up there.
Then went home to change and go see my nephew Dylan play in the first season football game.



My niece Ensley wanted the people next to her to notice how awesome and cool she was and they weren't talking to her. She even walked around with a little shopping bag wanting people to ask her about it but no one bit. She was watching some little girls take pictures of themselves as she was inching closer to them. She wanted them to take her picture, so when I took my camera out and got her attention her face just lit up and she worked it.





Then we went to a church fair at St. Michaels, again just to walk around, look at people. The best part was the bake sale!! Mom got pecan pie, and I got a pumpkin roll. Delicious!
We picked up Donato's pizza for dinner, to bring back to my sisters.
I gave Ben and Ensley their birthday gifts early so we could watch them open and play with them. They both have September birthdays. The gifts went over very well. We sat on the floor and played.

Then we went out to shoot off bottle rockets. I'm not good at explaining this part. Water, pressure, pumped into 2 liter bottles and it shoots off.





The kids drove the equipment in their truck. Ben kicks major ass as a driver. Super fast, maneuvering around like a maniac.



Monday Sept 4
Went to the Upper Arlington Art Fair
Everyone at that place bought Amish brooms




Mom got roasted almonds




Then we went to my sisters to get together and take their boat out to go boating and tubing.







Dylan mostly played his gameboy.



Had Skyline Chili for dinner at my sisters. I like the 4-way with onion.

Then went back to my mom's. Her neighbor Jean was having a Labor Day party we went to. Had some cake and watching everyone play bean toss....except...in Columbus they call it the Corn Hole Toss. Ew.

Tues Sept 5
Went to Tim Horton's for breakfast.
Then met up with some old work friends of Brad's, Jen & Marianne at their work. We sat and talked at the Starbucks for about 2 hours. They are the cutest sweetest girls, and funny as hell.
We drove by our old house. The trees we planted are HUGE!!





Went to Nazareth Deli for lunch.

The owner, Hany, is such a character and just the nicest person.

Went to my sisters to watch the kids while she took Dylan to a dentist appt.

Then Brad and I went to Krema Nuts They sell peanut butter sandwiches now so we had to try one.

Went to the French Loaf so I could get the chocolate croissants I grew up on.

Went to Stauf's Bought some coffee and sat outside under the awning watching the rain and reading local papers. Then mom came by and joined us there after she got off work.

Went to Whole Foods for dinner, just to pick off the food bar, then back to my sisters. Mom, Sunny and I had some good talk time.

Weds Sept 6
Drove to Toledo.
Stopped at Chick-fil-A for breakfast, got a Starbucks iced coffee and listened to Brad sing along with the U2 cd.

Went to Brad's parents place and then went out for hot dogs at Rudy's Hot Dog.
Went shopping going in and out of several places. Then met up with his sister and her family at Happy Rose Buffet for dinner. They had the best sushi buffet I have been to. Lots of different kinds out, but only a small amount of each to keep them fresh and moving.

Thurs Sept 7
Brad's mom ordered a new queen size bed to e delivered while we were there, but when it came this morning, they couldnt fit the box spring up the stairs. She was bummed.
Had breakfast out in the backyard.

Ran around like to Barnes and Noble just to nose around and get a coffee. Anderson's, grocery store stuff like that.

Went to Tony Packo's for dinner.







Then headed over for a Mud Hens baseball game. Tim (brother in law, joined us)










Fri Sept 8
Went to Doc Watson's for breakfast. Shopping at the local outdoor mall Lewis Commons, and grocery shopping. We gave Bev her birthday gift a little early, she also has a Sept birthday. We set her up with a few months of Blockbuster movies.
Had wax bean sandwiches, a special thing he ate growing up and its really pretty good.
Went across the street for our nephew Shawn to show us his moves on his Razor Scooter.





Then Brad had to try too.





I got distracted with a hawk that landed nearby and had to go see, but then he flew away and then found a caterpillar eating a leaf on the way back for me to play with.

Went for a late night McDonald's run, and to Wal-mart just to get out for a bit.

Sat Sept 9
Went to the Toledo Zoo!!
I love their zoo.



















Shawn and I rode 2 different carousels.



We had lunch where the lion cages used to be. They made it into a food court, and you can sit in the cages. Shawn likes lemons....







We went to visit old friends of Brads, Steve & Cathy. Steve was in our wedding and Brad was in his.







Went to Brad's sisters to celebrate Bev's (Brad's mom) birthday. Lisa picked her up a doughnut cake. I have never heard of such a thing. It isn't round with a hole in it, or a bunch of doughnuts put together either. It's one big sheet cake made out of doughnut and then iced and it is WONDERFUL!!







Then watched the OSU Texas game.

Sunday Sept 10
Drove home.

Taking the week off with Brad and splitting it up with our families turned out really great.
Got a lot of stuff in, and just felt better after it all.