Bonus Prize for My Presence (Presents)

I normally have a small amount of dread associated with baby showers and I know I'm not alone. The reason is simple: It feels like I have to be there--and they always tend to go on about 2 hours too long. With that said, it's always for a happy occasion and is therefore just one of those things that I grin and bear. These things are always made better by finding the kitschy fun in the silly games we play--and winning never hurts, too. So, today's baby shower was made especially good by the fact that I was the Big Winner of a random drawing that entitled me to a lovely gift basket that included, among other nice things, a good bottle of wine. There's the compensation I'm talkin 'bout.

No More Ho Ho Ho's Down Under

This is by far the most entertaining thing I have heard all day.

Say It Ain't So

My brother (and Diva Niece's dad) had an interview today for a great promotion in his company. Of course, I think he is very deserving of it. But there is a great cost to this promotion: The job is based in San Diego. Which is a fantastic place and all -- but sooooo far away for him to take my little Diva Niece! We're so fortunate to see each other often that my heart broke at the mere thought that she could be so far away.

And yes, I'm completely jumping the gun with this emotional leap. I know I should wait and see if he even gets the job before I go all flippy. Therefore, I am officially going into denial.

In Flux

My subconscious has been telling me I have been in a dither over something (or lots of somethings) for several weeks now. I know it's bad when I start cooking. And boy, have I been cooking. I'm practically in the running for Miss Midwest Domestic Goddess. Unfortunately, I've been so busy I haven't had a chance to clear away the clutter (physical, mental, emotional) and find the source of this/these issue(s).

So my subconscious is giving me a kick in the pants- er, head really. The clutter in my professional and personal life has seeped into my dreams. Last night I dreamt that there were piles of luggage and lamps and boxes and, well, clutter throughout the foyer leading to my door. The door was ajar and as I clambered to reach it to shut it, I was tripping on all of this stuff and it was exasperating. I just wanted to kick it or toss or move it. And then the alarm went off.

Now I could be interpreting this all wrong (and that's likely), but it seems the [one] obvious message is that the internal me is drowning in clutter and needs to be saved. Either that, or perhaps the slightly open door is a sign that hope (or help) is near. Or, all of it just means I bought a place that has been too small since the first week I moved in. Yeah, that could be it, too.

Loss

A former co-worker from a few years back and good friend got sacked today. She had seen it coming for well over a year and had made preparations for when this day arrived. We're having a Liberation From the French party this Saturday.

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A former beau/very good friend emotionally tackled me today so he could lament to me and be cared for. I don't know what it is about me, but there are a fair amount of men in my life (in whatever capacity) who come to me for comfort in these over-the-top times of need...which is creepy in this I'm-not-you're-mom way. His marriage of three years has not been going so well since, oh, day 1 (but I'm not the type to say I told you so) and due to a course of trivial events that occurred around Halloween, he's fairly certain his wife is intending to leave him. Without getting into too much detail, someone needs to leave someone because there are just too many bad issues in that troublesome union. The loss in this relationship happened before it probably ever really began, but what's especially sad is this is the third relationship in the past year amongst my friends to be in such dire trouble. Ack! To become another statistic...

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The man who sat next to me on the train tonight was the Good Doctor's doppelganger, and my heart ached just a little wondering what it's like in (and how he is liking) Kansas--and if he ever misses the Midwest and his [former] life here. Funny how the past has a way of reeling us back in when we least expect it.

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Time has a way of escaping me these days. It seems like my entire October was lost to world travel. Between an especially long stay in Berlin and a whirlwind week in Brazil, the entire month flew by in a flash and only now am I coming out of this work-addled haze to find that it's nearly mid-November.

The good news: Just a few more weeks before the thorn in my side is gone.

The excellent news: In less than a month I'll be on the beach in St. Martin sipping rum-filled cocktails.

Christmas Season Comes to Chicago

It's no surprise that the Christmas season arrives earlier and earlier with each passing year. Hell, Walgreens had Christmas decorations up and about weeks before Halloween! Of course, our gluttonous consumerism and the greedy corporations that profit from the spendthrift nation add to the always-increasing commercialization of this holiday.

Lucky for me, I'm a big fan of Christmas and all of the festivities surrounding this time of year. And though I think it's despicable that the holiday season is trumping Thanksgiving and the Pilgrims and all of that good historical stuff, I do find it to be oddly exciting that our all-Christmas-music-all-the-time station has officially started playing holiday tunes as of today.

Despite the lack of a Christmas tree in Daley Plaza and no lights along Michigan Ave. and storefronts still bare of their holiday themes, it does appear as though as the Christmas season has begun in Chicago.