Life…Take 2

 

How many times can someone start over?  As many times as it takes to get it right and reach your goal!  Easier said than done…yes I will give you that.  I’ve felt frustration, anger, loss, hopelessness and despair in my life journey but I also know that I’m no quitter.  So plan A didn’t work huh?  Well let’s get a start on plan B.

I’m thankful for the love and support of my wonderful family…and to an amazing sister who encourages me that I can do it and she believes in me.  My heart melts thinking of that special woman I am fortunate enough to call sister.

 

Yes…I could give up and remain with my family…there is comfort, familiarity and an abundant amount of love.  But those things are not stationary…those things follow me wherever I go. So years later I find myself back in a town in California…a town I thought I had left behind me.  Nonetheless I’m here regrouping, planning and looking anxiously forward to my opportunity to try it again…but this time to succeed.
 

Next up…School.

Thursdays - Millennium Park

Thanks to my friend Jason I have met a group of wonderful people. On Thursdays this city fills the park with music, food, drinks, friends and laughter, and I'm pleased to be a part of it. Here are some pictures of the last two weeks at the park, I have come to understand that its the friends you surround yourself with that make being away from all that is familiar a new kind of wonderful in a new city. So thank you Jason, Carolynn, Angel, Sara, Ricky, Jerry, Erin and many others for welcoming me in!

Quiet Saturday

This is what we had planned since the past couple of weeks we have been enjoying city life. Our plans were to chill out with a movie, pizza and looking through J's grandfathers WWII pictures.

What did we end up doing? We went to The Worlds Largest Block Party - Old St. Patrick's Church! One of J's favorite bands "Spoon" was playing so we chucked our quiet evening plans and took on a night of loud but great music, drinking, dancing and good-old-fashion-good-times! Our night was filled with a downpour of rain, red wine being spilt on my white blouse, a guy with a mullet wig winking at me the whole night, bar hoping, unexpected run-ins, getting lost and being ditched!

As you can see by my pictures as the night wore on my ability to take pictures faded. But who needs a quiet evening when we have all winter to do that?

The VioletHour

A friend took me to a little hidden gem in the city, the only thing marking the door to know that this is the right place is a lightbulb over the door. And what a place it is, wonderful music, fabulous setting and the drinks you can order from the menu or have them specially made for you (which I had done 3 times). You better come early because once all seats are filled the line begins to form outside. This is one lounge I plan to visit again! Thanks Jason for great company, conversation and drinks!

Sarah's Birthday

My Sarah turned 15! Yeah...3 more years till she is OUT-DA-DOOR! jk. We spent the day at the Lincoln Zoo, walking around town, seeing Prince of Persia, then coming home to a nice dinner and cake that her sister Serena made. It was fun spending one-on-one time with my baby girl. She doesn't talk much (unlike her mother) but when she does it keeps you on your toes. She has that subtle quick jabbing humor that your not too sure if she just insulted you or was just being sarcastic. My vegetarian-animal loving-free thinking-daughter adds so much texture to my life.

Love you my honu princess!

Blue Skies

It was a clear beautiful day and there was no reason I was NOT going to be out and about. I didn't have anything in particular that I wanted to do so I packed a small lunch and grabbed a book, off I went to Millennium Park. I sat there for hours reading and people watching. I wandered down to Navy Pier to get some "pennies" for Kevin's collection but ended back at the park...it was a lazy Saturday and it couldn't have been any better!

Kevin

Here are some pictures of my much-needed-getaway. I went to the luxurious and tropical state of Ohio...to visit Kevin. We had such a blast, our time was spent sleeping in, enjoying morning coffee, movies, a zoo (the key to enjoying a zoo that is packed with children is a "gentle shove") and lots of eating out. We went through some ideas as to where to go on vacation in Sept or Oct and he shared about his upcoming move back to California.

Like I said this was way overdue and its just what the doctor ordered! LOL Here are some pictures of our time....enjoy