Big Moments

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“I don’t want to wait anymore. I choose to believe that there is nothing more sacred or profound than this day.  I choose to believe that there may be a thousand big moments embedded in this day, waiting to be discovered like tiny shards of gold.  The big moments are the daily, tiny moments of courage and forgiveness and hope that we grab on to and extend to one another.  That’s the drama of life, swirling all around us, and generally I don’t even see if, because I’m too busy waiting to become whatever it is I think I am about to become.  The big moments are in every hour, every conversation, every meal, every meeting.” from Cold Tangerines by Shauna Niequist

Going Up?

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I was in a meeting today (yes, a meeting, because apparently, I’m a grownup now) and when discussing best practices for hiring, the “elevator” factor came up.  “You know,” said Evanston Alli, “like, would you want to be stuck in an elevator with that person or not?”.

I’ve been thinking about it all day.  Who would I want to be stuck in an elevator with (even outside of work/hiring)?There are so many things you have to weigh–what would you do with this person?   Do they have enough good stories?  Do they have advice/wisdom to impart to me during this time?  How long are we talking here?  If you don’t know them, what are the chances that 5 hours later you would want to claw their eyes out?  If you do know them, would 5 hours in a confined space make you not want to know them?  Lots of push/pull with a decision like this.

Here’s what I’ve come up with:

1) Perez Hilton.  He has something to say about everything and everyone.  5 hours could go by so quickly.  First part–salacious gossip.  Second part–world issues.  As much as I love me some good gossip, I feel like there could be some amazing conversation about social injustice, world affairs and politics.  And he could probably give me some good fashion and man advice.

2) Holly Herlein.  We have been friends for 10 years and have yet to run out of things to talk about.  Between our European travels, dating disasters, nicknaming our dating disasters and our shared love of politics, literature, Europe and dating disasters, 5 hours would not be enough to get through recapping our shared history (things happen to us that just don’t happen to other people, I swear), let alone touch on new hopes, dreams, goals and shoes.

3) Rhoda Pitcher.  She sits on the board of directors for my company and is, hands down, one of the most amazing, inspiring and motivating people I have ever had the pleasure of meeting.  The way she gets real with people from the get-go is just incredible and I would love to pick her brain.  Oh and she’s a hugger.  I love huggers.

4) Robert Gardner.  My grandfather has been gone for nearly ten years now but living in Chicago, I think about him often.  He grew up on the South Side (his mother used to sell newspapers to Hugh Hefner!) and I would love to hear about what the Chi was like in his day.  I think he would get such a kick out of me living here, going to the same Wrigley Field that his father took him to on special occasions, swimming at the same beaches in the summer, walking the same Michigan Avenue.

5) Cristiano Ronaldo.  No explanation necessary–google him and you’ll get it.

In a quick survey, responses I got from friends were Patrick Kane, Patrick Sharp, Jude Law and Barack Obama.  Why 2 Chicago Blackhawks?   I was told it was because they were “relevant and sexy.”  Good enough reason for me.

Who would you want to be stuck in an elevator with?

Softball Saturday

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My friends are a very well rounded group.  In addition to their 9-5s, they are actors, volunteers, singers, writers, video gamera and now, every Saturday morning at 10am, recreational softball league players.  Team “Get In The Van, We Have Candy” no longer partakes in consuming (too many) adult beverages on Friday nights because they have to be ready for “the game” the next morning.  They are dedicated.  They are committed.  They go to sleep with their Corcoran’s t-shirts freshly pressed and their mits polished, dreaming of a victory that will put them in the Chicago Recreational Sports Hall of Fame.

Never mind that both teams they have played consisted of middle aged co-workers who have finely tuned their game over the course of the last 20 years.  Never mind that the girls on the team don’t know how to play their positions.  Never mind that my friend Linda was heckled into striking out by her own boyfriend.  This is a team with their eye on the prize because they have already won an award so prestigious, so elusive, so surprising because no one even knew this award was up for grabs.

Team “Get In The Van We Have Candy” was awarded “Best Team Name in All of Chicago Rec League Sports”.  Before the season even started.

I mean, really–it’s all how we measure success.  Those old folk opponents of “Team Get In The Van We Have Candy” might measure it by getting so far ahead that the mercy rule is invoked within 45 minutes.  But “Team Get In The Van We Have Candy” knows the true accolades are those felt in the heart, not seen with the eye.

Besides, Coach Matt came up with a game plan for today, at the request of players looking for more direction: Drink more beer sooner.  The game may be at noon, but drinking starts at 10am.

High five team, high five.

Puppy Power

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I’d love to take credit for this little gem but I have to give credit where credit is due.  Lulu Lindsey was driving down Lakshore Drive when she came across a guy who not only thought it was necessary to drive his vespa on a highway going 50 mph but also found it necessary to bring his poodle along for the ride.  Linds said the dogs ears were whipping all over the place from the wind but it didn’t appear that he was going to jump out so I’m assuming they made it home safely.

Nothing says manly like a man with a vespa.  And a poodle.

Bacheloretting

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I ventured from my fair city this weekend to attend the bachelorette party of my dear friend Mallory.  Armed with a new dress that has pockets, champagne and cupcakes from More, I was ready to celebrate. 

Sidenote: I don’t know what heaven smells like but I hope it smells like More Cupcakes.  Walking into their Delaware Street boutique made me want to curl up in the corner and just breathe in chocolate-y, sugary, frosting-y goodness for the rest of the day.  Amazing.

I’m not sure I understand bachelorette parties, the bride costumes worn during a night of drinking or the necessity of decorations in the shape of phallic symbols but I do understand the value of girlfriends coming in from all over to spend some time together before one of those girlfriends enters a new season in her life.  Mal is a friend in the truest sense; that person who knows the importance of close friendships and holds those in her life very close to her heart.  She is marrying a man she has loved for a very long time and seeing her grow even more in that love as her excitement  hits a fever pitch about their upcoming wedding has been such a blessing to see.  Celebrating these leaps and seasons are exactly like the cupcakes I gave as a part of her gift: sweet, nostalgic, and a rare treat.  I wouldn’t have missed it for the world.

Plus, Mal had these fabulous pink shoes and if there was ever an occasion to take them out, it’s for your own bachelorette party.  A reason for celebration, indeed!

 

Bittersweet

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“When life is sweet, say thank you and celebrate.  When life is bitter, say thank you and grow.” Bittersweet

Chicago author Shauna Niequist is releasing her second book in August and I’m eagerly anticipating it’s arrival at my door–the first book I’ve ever pre-ordered.  Titled “Bittersweet: Thoughts on Change, Grace and Learning the Hard Way”, it comes out in August and I can’t wait.  I had the pleasure of meeting Shauna through participating in a book club for her first book “Cold Tangerines” –a book filled with tons of delicious “me too!” moments–and I’ve followed her writing ever since.  It just makes you feel warm and inspired and heard, even though it’s her words you are reading.  It’s one of my favorite books, the kiind you keep going back to and reading a chapter when you need some sustenance or inspiration.  I highly recommend it.

The above quote from Bittersweet really struck me.  The good stuff–promotions, babies, engagements, good news, holidays–is easy to celebrate because you know that’s what you’re supposed to do.  It feels good and you act accordingly (preferably with champagne and chocolate).  But the bitter, the bitter is always so much more difficult and, at least with me, I always struggle with knowing what to do.  And I rarely feel grateful for it.  But what if I went into it like that quote from Bittersweet–going into everything with gratitude and then action.  Amazing day?  Thanks, let’s get tapas!   Scary and bumpy cab ride home with a guy who smells and listens to bad music?  Thanks, I’ll take the train next time.  Gratefulness, learning, AND growth.  What a concept. 

High Five of the Day:  The Barefoot Contessa Cookbook. I ate my cereal this morning while delving into it and bought the ingredients for Lobster Pot Pie to make tomorrow.  Stay tuned.

Burn

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I forgot to bring my own bags to Trader Joe’s yesterday. Dangit. I have all these great reusable grocery bags and while I’m probably not as Eco-conscious as I should be, I really do try to make an effort. So I was very disappointed that I was going to have to use paper bags from the store. I was apologizing to the cashier for my Eco- blunder and his response caught me off guard.

“How’s it feel to hate the environment? What’s that like?”

He was kidding in that “haha, I’m joking but not really…” way. Ouch.

Hey buddy, it felt really bad to hate the environment. I try really hard to be a good person and sometimes I just forget stuff, ok? I recycle my Diet Coke cans and I turn off lights when I leave rooms and once it starts up again, I’ll go to the Green City Market to buy local, sustainably grown produce. I date a carnivore who I can’t convince to trade beef for organic tofu. But I try my best and I’ll try harder, Trader Joe cashier man.

I’ll start by bringing my own bags to the grocery, everytime.

Ommmmmmm.

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More often than not, whenever I don’t know what it is that I need, yoga fits the bill.

I’ve been practicing yoga exactly 6 months today, a fact I realized after a really fulfilling practice at Core Power Yoga. I hadn’t practiced in awhile and was feeling a little off kilter all day.  Make that the last few days.  Ok, fine–the last week.  I’ve been really trying to reconnect with myself (how anyone gets disconnected from themselves beats me), figure out why I’m so off balance, come up with an action plan…and nada.  Couldn’t come up with anything.  But after work today, my body was just crying “Do yoga.  Do yoga.  Go get sweaty and twisty.  Do yoga.”  So I did yoga.  I brought all the excess noise of life to my mat.

And you know what?

I feel better.  I didn’t solve global warming (what is up with it snowing today, btw?) or anything other huge issue but an hour and fifteen minutes of focus on only my breath and my postures…wow.  I always underestimate how amazing it makes me feel and how back down to earth it brings me.  It’s not that I’m “good” at yoga–it’s that it’s a practice. It’s called a yoga practice, not a yoga show so there’s never any pressure to do it perfectly (at least for me–forgive me if I’m wrong, yogis).  My “utkanasana” was not pretty today but I held crow for 10 seconds!  There was not a snowball’s chance in hell that I was getting up into birds of paradise today but I was a super good frog.  It’s just all about wherever I happen to be that day.  How many things can you say that for?  “Sorry, boss–this sub-par performance is just where I’m at today” or “Sorry, kids–this lame meal and picking you up from school 4 hours late is just where I am today.”  Not so much.  But with yoga, you just show up and that’s a beautiful practice in and of itself.  Not everything can be like that, I get it but I think that my relationships and my yoga should be.  Just showing up and being you.

High Five of the Day: The “bb seaweed” masque I picked up from Lush.  Lush is a fresh, handmade cosmetic company and I am in love with their masques. Everything made from fresh, organic fruits and veggies so you could eat it if you wanted to.  Imagine that–putting something REAL on your skin instead of chemicals.  I usually  get the Love Lettuce one that has crushed almonds in it to get rid of yucky winter dry skin but I was pleased with bb Seaweed and even had a few pieces of seaweed on my face.  Lovely.  Oh and because it is handmade and only lasts 3 weeks, there is a sticker at the bottom with a picture and the name of the person who made it!  So, thanks Joanne–you made my night.

Sunday Best

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My family came to Chicago this weekend, which was such a treat.  My mother was in on Friday on her way to visit my dear grandmother in Florida and my Dad and step-mom were here on Saturday and Sunday.  Lots of great food, lots of warm talks, lots of quality time together.  Holiday or not, any time I get to spend with my family always feels so special.  I am so lucky to have people I truly like, not just love, as parents, if that makes any sense.  We didn’t do a traditional Easter yesterday–we had Thai food instead of ham and deviled eggs and the only hat I wore was a Cubs baseball one when I went running later that night.  But I spent the day with my parents, walking around the city I love, laughing about old family stories and catching up on the details that don’t quite fit into phone conversations.  That, to me, is my Sunday best.

The Zoo

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I have lived here for over a year and have never made it to the Lincoln Park Zoo.  Lame, I know.  It’s free, it’s super close, it’s free…how did I never find time to do this?  Well, today at 10am, I found time.  After a Starbucks stop, my man friend and I walked over to the zoo.  It was 75 degrees by the time we left the house so we could have been walking to the landfill and been as happy as we were to be outside in weather that didn’t include ice, snow, or sleet.

Lincoln Park Zoo is really something.  Founded in 1868, this place all started with a pair of swans.  Apparently, there was also a bear that used to escape and roam around the nearby neighborhoods.  Today, I saw a lot of animals living happily in their habitats.  The “cat” exhibit kind of made me sad, the leopards seemed way too big to be in such a small area but there was one asleep on its back with its paw in the air that reminded me of Luna Bell.  Cats are cats, I suppose, although this leopard would not have fit in my window sill the way LB is right now.  And I suppose it would also eat more.  Anyways.  We saw lions, leopard, blue frogs, bats, flamingos, zebras, swans, guerrillas, monkeys and snakes. The Zoo was packed with families by the time we left and kids were noshing on cotton candy, popcorn and pretzels.  Such a cool options for kids in the city.  Free, fun, educational and it gave us something different to do.  I will definitely be looping in there on my next run, just to wave hi to my new guerrilla friends.