Spring Break 13, baby!

Spring Break! It totally rocks. I don't care that I am not in a warmer climate (well, maybe I care a little LOT because that would be awesome...there is really nothing better than the warmth of say, Florida, in late March, the warm breeze just a hint of what is to come in the next six weeks or so for us in the Midwest).No matter where I spend it, Spring Break is a lovely break in the routine. For example, I didn't have to worry about buying stuff for my school lunches (I eat the exact same lunch every Mon through Thursday, a little something different on Fridays) today. I didn't have to think about lesson plans or writing a report today. Instead, I had the most fun Saturday buying....
a MOTHER OF THE BRIDE dress!
Everyone is always asking me if I have gotten my dress yet. It really has not been at the top of my to-do list. I am not sure why. Maybe because I know no one will be looking at me when they see the beautiful bride. But today I took my three top fashion advisors with me into the city on the quest for just the right dress. My fashion advisors were 1) Jean, my walking partner and friend for the past 17 years; Jean has that knack for finding just the right thing to wear; 2) Sally, the bride and my most honest critic...I don't know what I am going to do without her living here, telling me when I haven't blended my makeup properly; 3) Jack, my husband, who always has good insight as to what looks good on me. Jack dropped us off at Neiman-Marcus on Michigan Avenue and parked the car while we started the hunt. We had fabulous service at N-M, including water bottles for all and a dressing room large enough for all of us. But we did not find the dress.
Jean suggested we try Saks Fifth Avenue, also on Michigan Avenue. I had a good feeling when we walked through the door and even said that to Sally. But then we could not even find where the reasonably priced dresses were (I am sure it will shock you, but I was not looking for a $3,000 designer dress), and when we did find them, there was not a huge selection. I tried on a few, then was getting dressed to leave and Jean and Sally came in with two more dresses. The moment I put the first one on, I knew it was it. After positive feedback from my advisors, we made the purchase. All of this in less than two hours! We had plenty of time for a great lunch at the Ritz before heading home.
A fabulous start to Spring Break!

Marmar's birthday=St.Patrick's Day

My mother's birthday and St. Patrick's Day are one and the same in my mind. Marmar LOVED her birthday, as we all know. This morning Jean and I saw a pair of cardinals, the bright red male and the less distinctive female, while we were on our walk. It was cold (30 degrees or so) and gloomy and we were surprised to see the pair not once, but twice! They flew across our path at one point, then a few blocks later we saw them again. I felt a warm glow come across me because I KNOW that was Marmar sending a message. She loved cardinals almost as much as she loved her birthday. That's a lot.

I have a fun story to share about an interaction between my mom and me. We were shopping together with Baby Wayne, back in the day. She was looking for a swimsuit because she was going on a business trip with my dad. My mom was an attractive woman, always in pretty good shape, and the swimsuits looked great on her. Mom was just not happy about with any of them, though. She sighed, "Oh my body is just looking so old!" In an effort to reassure her, I said, "Mom, you look great for someone who is close to 70". She replied, "PATRICIA ANN! I am only 65! That is not any where close to 70!!!"  At the time, I thought Mom was being a bit sensitive and unrealistic.
Can I just say? Now, almost 25 years later, I get it!!!!

I am so happy for Mom that she is in Heaven with the crew.

Father of the Bride and flower girl dresses

It has been a nice weekend with a slower pace than last. We kicked things off on Friday night with a Lenten dinner at Reel Club with Sally. Matt is in northern Wisconsin with his dad and uncles; that is why he wasn't included. It's only 112 days til their wedding. It is so exciting! After a fabulous dinner (almost a lunch since we had 4:45pm reservations!) with 3 courses for $16.95 per person, we were home by 6:45 and put on the movie "Father of the Bride". Sally was feeling especially nostalgic. Such a sweet movie and so many truths to it.
On Saturday morning we shopped for flower girl dresses. Sally, Beth, Abbie, Nina, Susie and I met at a small bridal shop in town. We found the dress within 10 minutes. Super easy when Abbie and Nina and the dresses are all adorable. Afterward Jack met all of us at Egg Harbor. During our discussions during lunch, we found out that Beth had never been to Kirschbaums. Unacceptable! Jack, Sally, Abbie, Nina and Beth made a trip over there after lunch, then made a quick trip over to St. Cletus to show the girls the aisle they will be walking down. While they were there, Jack showed them how to light prayer candles.
It was a fun family time and great to be together, preparing for The Big Day.

Sally was getting choked up watching Father of the Bride

girls in white dresses with blue satin sashes

Nina approves

Busy Times for a Wimp

I am hitting one of those patches when things are busy in several areas of my life, all at the same time. And I am not used to all the busy-ness and late nights! Here are some of the happenings:
At last I am all set with the new washer and dryer. Dryer finally got installed on Tuesday so I am thankful for that. Still adjusting to my new friends, but I will have their cycles and settings figured out soon enough.
On Thursday night, we had our first Parent Education event. Parents of students in my Mon-Thurs classes were invited to a presentation about our program from 7- 8:15 pm. We had an incredibly good turnout and it was such a positive experience. We put a lot of effort into it and it was worth it. I got home around 9 so it made for a long day.
And Friday was Friday. Always a challenge. I did not do a very good job with my Social Skills group with the middle school aged class. Just did not handle some disrespect issues as well as I know I can and have. That wasn't the best way to end my work week. I let it go because I will try to do better next time.
Friday night Jack and I had the pleasure of attending a community revue/show that two of our friends were a part of. Very entertaining. Teri and Deanna danced and sang their little hearts out. We enjoyed the show and also hanging out with Chuck, Grandma Ellen, Colleen, Steve, Keegan, Chas and Julie. We didn't get home til midnight. As my faithful readers know, I am usually in bed by 9 on Fridays!
Jack and I spent yesterday resting up for another night out. Yes. I was out 2 nights in a row. We were invited to a trivia night at our friends' house. Nick and Susann did a great job of coordinating a fun evening. There were about 35 people divided into 6 teams (teams determined by the hosts, no couples on the same team). Super fun night. Home at midnight again. Plus the time change. Plus a warm rainy Sunday. Yawn. However, I have a really busy week at work (3 annual reviews) and a technology class after work tomorrow from 3:30-7:30. And tomorrow night is The Bachelor Finale! So I have to make good use of my Sunday...get lots of schoolwork done, put the laundry room back together (still a mess in the basement after having had to move everything out of there for the installation of the new washer and dryer) and get myself to 5pm mass somewhere.
I will. After my nap.

Snow!

We got one of those late winter snows. Predictions were dire. Many schools were closed, but not ours. And that was fine because it was just a typical Chicago winter day. Slow going, but easy to get where you needed to go.
Jack made us some amazing chicken tortilla soup for dinner and we hunkered down for the evening.
Oh, and our new washer and dryer are both hooked up now. It's all good

Time for a Change

We have had our washer and dryer for about 20 years now. Can't remember exactly when we got them, but it has to be pretty close to that. Last weekend, I noticed that it took over an hour to dry a load. And the next load was never really dry. I tried it again a few times over the next 24 hours, but it was clear. Time to say good bye to an old friend. Maybe 2 of them. We had reached the tipping point of repair to replace. We decided to replace the washer too since there were rust stains in the basket that could not be fixed. Simple, right? That is what I thought. Just go to Sears, buy another basic washer and dryer, get them delivered and installed and I'd be back in business.
Well, not so simple, at least for us. Purchase and delivery went smoothly, but then things ground to a halt. It turns out the dryer could not be installed because the venting we had was plastic which is no longer legal. And to replace the venting where it had previously existed would require lots of tearing up of floors or shower tiles. We needed to have a whole new outside vent installed. Try finding someone to do that! Not easy. Last night I googled and googled with every key word/phrase I could think of and finally stumbled on a business named Just Dryer Vents. And the guy agreed to come out today. Several hours later and several trips to hardware stores and Home Depot, Jack and Ron (the Just Dryer Vent guy) got the new outside vent installed. But then the adapter for the gas line to dryer didn't fit. Arrrrrggggh!!! Bottom line is now Sears is coming back out to finish the installation. On Tuesday. I hope. "What a nightmare this has been", I said to Jack. We looked at each other and laughed. Really, so NOT a nightmare, just annoying. Gonna wash up a couple loads in the morning and head over to the laundromat. If this is our biggest problem for the month, I'd say we are very blessed.

Danieboy

February 25th was the eighth anniversary of  Dane leaving us. No words for that. Dane was such a light in our lives. On Saturday night, a bunch of us got together to celebrate our boy and I took great comfort in seeing Dane's legacy all around me. The Dude abides.