April cold

So Far this month..

Favorites

thunderstorms esp when not flying through them

#2 position on crj

finding new place: a deal I couldn't pass up right near the lake. It won't be my own place but I'm really very excited and I think it will work out well!!

future pet roommate will be a dog! Penelope (above)!

no apartment hunting

kansas soon

Not so favorites

3:00 am wake up calls

passenger with bad b.o.

ready to move now! not in two months..

March wrap up

March flew by...

Faster And Faster And Faster

As people get older, "they just have this sense, this feeling that time is going faster than they are," says Warren Meck, a psychology professor at Duke University.

This seems to be true across cultures, across time, all over the world.

No one is sure where this feeling comes from.

Favorites

signing up for a race 10 miles! ("Soldier 10") http://www.soldierfield10.com/

training for race - helps having focus

Birthday celebration

Good crews - makes work fun!

visitors = eating out/brunch

supperclub

planning next vacation to germany

Not So Favorites

working a lot

thinking about apt hunting

ku loosing

dating

Things to look forward to

summertime!!

kansas

seeing spoon and kings of leon in concert

having my own place

europe

eating and drinking outside

bike rides

New Season

Yikes! Its been awhile since I've posted anything...

I have traveled far and wide in the past few couple of months as you can see from above:

*New York so good to see my best friends at last! Planning another trip soon

*Dubai amazing experience and a unique place and great spending time with Yolanda and John

*Mardi Gras (New Roads, LA) super fun laid back small town Mardi Gras style. Also a great time with Andrea and her family

*Road Trip from Texas to Montana beautiful drive (once out of texas) to carry a heart broken friend to heal with her family.

-Next up will be visiting Kansas first part of April

I recently realized this month of March is the first month I have not traveled anywhere on my own in almost three years. It sounds crazy but I'm pretty sure its true. Nevertheless there are lots of things happening this month while residing in Chicago and winter is almost over. Winter was bearable in Chicago this year and I actually kind of enjoyed it :-/. Although it might have to do with the fact I wasn't around for most of it.

on another note... breakups keep happening. It seems as if its a chain link reaction with close friends and I. All I can think is it makes us stronger and who we would rather be. The big love is waiting in the future.

Out of Chicagoland

"It's not about coming out ahead or behind in life. Its about the ride,

you got to have a kick ass ride."

xmas spirit

Goal for the week: Awaken xmas spirit.

Favorites

working with favorite crews (see photo)

retail therapy

play dates (brunch and ice skating!)

dec schedule (2 weeks off for xmas)

currently reading A Tree Grows in Brooklyn

New Moon

keeping up with the gym

pumpkin pie

Not so favorites

working on T-day (but getting paid time and a half)

must do some cleaning

married pilot having a crush on me (yuck)

missing friends in far places

emotional waves (but necessary)

Favorites

Big China Trip Concluded:

FAVORITES

- Forbidden City

- The Great Wall

- Summer Palace

- Bob taking me along to eat every night

- Hostel

- Cheap Cab rides

- Feeling like a superstar everyone taking a pic of me

- Getting a taste of a vastly different culture for the first time

- Learning a few chinese words I'll most likely never forget

- Feeling Safe

- Sitting first class from Tokyo to Chicago

NOT SO FAVORITES

- Scammed by a rickshaw driver=vulnerable

- being touched and feeling too much pressure to spend money at the silk market street

- getting lost by a taxi driver and therefore not getting to eat "good duck"

- not getting a chance to get a "foot massage" (next time) but scored a face massage on the seven hour layover in Tokyo!

- Overcoming jetlag

TODAY'S Favorites

- Found a great honest auto mechanic on craigslist (may seem like a bad idea I know)

- making dinner for friends

- planning more trips abroad

- apple/berry cobbler and bread pudding

Apache Blessing

May the sun bring you new energy by day

May the moon softly restore you by night

May the rain wash away your worries

May the breeze blow new strength into your being

May you walk gently through the world and know its beauty all the days of your life

The Greatest

Reasons why my life is amazing

Peaceful - when things quiet down

Healthy - physically and mentally

All love surrounds me - friends and family

Leaving on a jet plane - whenever I want

Traveling abroad - finally!

Very flexible job - enjoyable too

Not having to commute anywhere :-)

Knowing what makes me happy - oh happy day!

oct #2

Today... days of warm weather are over. Everyone is talking about how cold it is already and you practically need a coat today. It's time to put on the duvet cover..

Newfound.. appreciation for hot tubs, steam, and sauna rooms. Its going to be a nice treat this winter.

Thinking.. spending time relaxing with close friends and family can be just as healing if not more right now as to being busy working. A no brainer really but being at work is a steady atmosphere.

Tomorrow... going to get a visa to go to china which will be the farthest place I have traveled yet.

Today

Today I am seeing... A long layover in Richmond.. beautiful fall day does not make me want to start my work day at 5:00 pm. Looking forward to fall but not winter.

I am feeling... Possibly a cold coming on.. or a yucky weight of going through a break up. So many ups and downs. Never know what today will bring. I'm trying to see through the future and know that this is a good thing. They say they are always for the best and I wish it could feel like the best thing right now.

I am hearing.. My hotel room fan.. makes me want to take a nap not get ready for work.

I am thinking.. only positive.. my future travels.. weekend San Antonio with Vanessa, few weeks later weekend in Mexico, next Beijing, Kansas, then Dubai in Feb. and Germany in May??!! Somewhere I would like to squeeze a weekend in NY to see my friends who live there... So much to see and so little time. (sigh)

bye bye summer

A new season is approaching along with a season of life changes and a new direction... but exciting adventures lay ahead.

GIRLS IN MY CIRCLE   When I was little,  I used to believe in the concept of one best friend, And then I started to become a woman. And then I found out that if you allow your heart to open up, Life would show you the best in many friends.   One friend is needed when you're going through things with your man.  Another friend is needed when you're going through things with your mom.  Another will sit beside you in the bleachers as you delight in your children and their activities.  Another when you want to shop, share, heal, hurt, joke, or just be..  One friend will say, 'Let's cry together,' Another , 'Let's fight together,'  Another , 'Let's walk away together.'   One friend will meet your spiritual need, Another your shoe fetish, Another your love for movies,  Another will be with you in your season of confusion, Another will be your clarifier,  Another the wind beneath your wings.   But whatever their assignment in your life, On whatever the occasion, On whatever the day,  Or wherever you need them to meet you with their gym shoes on and hair pulled back,  Or to hold you back from making a complete fool of yourself .  Those are your best friends.   It may all be wrapped up in one woman, But for many, it's wrapped up in several..  One from early school years, One from later school years,  Several from here and there,  A couple from old jobs, On some days your mother,  On some days your neighbor, On others, your sisters, And on some days, your daughters.   So whether they've been a friend for 20 minutes or 20+ years,  AND ONLY IF YOU'D LIKE TO, Pass this on to the women that time has placed in your life To make a difference.. Including the one who sent it to you. Thanks for being in my circle.      If the grass looks greener on the other side of the fence, you can rest assured that the water bill is higher there too!       "Live Simply, Love Generously, Care Deeply, Speak Kindly and Leave the rest to God"

Chicago in July

I always forget every year july means hearing fireworks every night weeks after the 4th.  It's the sound of summer in Chicago land.  Also, for the past few weeks (that is after the extreme heat spell we had) the weather has been pleasant enough to leave the windows open 24/7. Hence enhanced fireworks noise. Makes it seem summer hasn't quite arrived yet.... or maybe someone hit the fast forward button and its already fall.. hope not ;-( 

LOTS of visits so far this summer. See below highlights of Todd, Renae, Colt, and Rayne's visit to chicago. I think the most excitement was Colt and Rayne's first ever plane ride in which I managed to schedule myself to be the working flight attendant.  Cool beans!!  It's why I love my job. 

I enjoyed Val's visit in June and the food I always get to enjoy at Gregg and Amy's house. Thanks!! 

Next up will be Mariah's visit yea!!!! 

After that I will looking forward to my own vacation and relaxation on Myrtle beach in Aug.  Ahhhh waves crashing sound in my head.... 

Back to today - there are a few things to be excited about. 

I read in a magazine about a website called booksfree.com  and it works like netflix for books. Perfect for me!! 

Also I can't wait to check out the new show called "Ruby and the Rockits" on ABC family channel. Premiers tonight!  I know one of the characters I think she plays a mom on the show. She is the daughter  of my mom's long time friend Kathleen.  Katy is her daughter.  I remember her telling me when I was very very young on one of our visits with them that she wanted to be an actress when she grew up.  It's amazing to see it come true! 

Chicago Tourist

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