March 13

On Tuesday, my Dad had heart surgery, and had a device put in his heart to close a hole between his two ventricles... the cool thing was that they went in through a vein in his leg instead of opening up his chest. It's a very interesting medical procedure, and they had to travel to Saint Vincent's in Indy because the procedure is not conducted in Evansville. It all went really well and it was good, as always, to spend time with my family. It was really hard to see them wheeling my Dad away to surgery without any of us to go with him, though.

Dad hams it up for the camera before the surgery

The surgery board! Just like on Grey's Anatomy but with less stuff on it!

Jay pops a wheelie in Grandma's wheelchair
The sibs pose with Dad... we were all hella relieved it went well!!

March 12

On Monday night, I drove down to Indy to be with my family for my Dad's surgery on Tuesday. On the way, I am thinking "Aw, hell, I didn't take a picture today. I should just take a picture of 65, since I feel like half of my life is spent traversing this freaking highway." So I did: It's a little blue, but allright for driving on a highway at dusk. Then, right as I was taking this picture, this cop flies by me, doing what had to be far over the speed limit. I got a nice little shot of him flying past me. Am I the only one that is terrified of getting pulled over, even if you are doing the customary 5-7 miles over the speed limit? Everytime a cop goes past me, my stomache does flip-flops thinking of getting a ticket and having to pay for it.... I guess I would rather just spend my money on cute shoes. Which is not so wrong, eh?

March 11

Hallelujah, I cleaned my kitchen.

NOW people can come visit this weekend. Enjoy the fruits of my labor, peeps, although I cannot guarantee it will be clean by the time you all get here: Mike and I, we like the eating.

As a sidenote, the Mr. Clean Magic Eraser REALLY IS magic.

March 10

Tonight we went out to eat at Morton's in Schaumburg. Let me tell you, that place can really cook a steak. YUM!

The occasion was our friend Adam's b-day... he turned 30. Happy Birthday, Adam!!

March 9

On Friday, Choater scored us tickets to the Big Ten tournament and we went to watch the heartbreaking IU loss. So sad :c( But the cheerleaders doing the flag cheer with the IU logo on the jumbotron was pretty cool :c) Regardless of the loss, I had a great time.

March 8

I spent my first night in Chicago, ever, in this hotel. It's the Fairmont by the AON center, and I stayed there for my PwC internship interview. I can't even describe how impressed and in awe I was of the city.

March 7

OK, it happened. I forgot to take a picture. But to be fair my day was hella boring: Work, eat, gym, sleep. Nothing interesting.

Below is a funny picture Mike sent me, and is the reason why we call people "morans" instead of "morons" when they are being dumb. Just a little insight into the quirkiness that is Me and Mike :c)

March 6

My first go at a protein shake. Not too bad!

March 5

Today I took lunch with Mike and ordered my wedding band! It is so very pretty and I am so excited to wear it. Every day brings something new that makes the wedding and being married to Mike more real. And it's not scary, but exciting. Now if I could just be excited enough to start addressing all those invitations.....

I also had a Subway cookie and then looked it up online afterwards... just SAY NO to the Subway cookie. 210 calories? What is in that thing, pure lard? It wasn't even that good :c(

On the way back to work, I saw this ad that I like. I don't know, I like Diet Coke. It is my homey, and made many early morning classes and wakeup calls in college far more bearable.

March 4

I took this picture of my brother Jay and I after midnight last night, so I'm using it for my picture of the day. I love the look on Jay's face. Check out his rockin' black blazer. Jay is one stylish mofo.

March 3

My favorite cocktail: Beer & Boone's Farm.

Don't knock it til you have tried it!!

March 2

Katie poses in her new bedroom in Avon with her dalmation calendar. The dalmations always make us feel a bit nostalgic for our dog Lucky that had to be put down last summer. He was a great dog!! He smelled AWFUL but was great all the same.

March 1

My view on the way to the el each night.

I tried to focus on the sky in the background, the clouds looked really cool in the sunset and even though I like the picture, it didn't quite capture it.

February 28

Dinner with the Boys at Belly's

February 27

Daley wins another election

February 26

A view of the skyline from my dentist's office parking garage at North and Sheffield. It's so foggy, you can't even see it!

February 25

I took this picture on our way out of town this morning. It's my high school, Benjamin Bosse High. Don't look so ghetto now, does it?

February 24

My parents have totally remodelled their house since I moved out and got off the gravy train: stripped all the wallpaper off the walls and repainted, new windows, hardwood and tile floors, new furniture... the house looks amazing. I am a big fan of all they have done. There was were a few things that stayed the same, though, and one of those is the logs below. My mom brought back white birch logs from Michigan to put in our fireplace for decoration many moons ago, and the white birch still stays... albeit in a newly purchased and awesomely tiled-in vintage fireplace. It's kind of nice to see a little piece of Michigan and Lark's Lake staying the same in my old home.
Hanging out in Evansville rocks, I had bunches of fun with Mom today wedding-planning and shopping for bargains. ;c)

February 23

At home, hanging with the fam. Dad is doing well and has resumed his position on his "throne." (haha!) But seriously, he's doing pretty good and has enough get-well loot to divert me from the diet for awhile.

February 22

My friend Tracy poses with her pretty-sparkly. She got engaged last week!

Congrats to Tracy and Tojy!!

February 21

My friends Nick and Beth bought me these kick-ass matching gloves and socks to cheer me up on Monday. Guess who is cooking up a Rainbow Brite outfit for Halloween this year?

February 20

A shot of the super-icy lakefront. Thawing!

February 19

I am stressed the hell out, and it was all I could do today not to go to Alonti and order up the biggest vat of their chicken tequila pasta that they have (heavy on the tequila please).
I am being good, though, and stuck to my carrots and cucumber chips.

February 18 - Happy Birthday, Mike!!

Birthday cupcakes, again! Mike prefers the yellow cake with chocolate icing. Check out the messed-up "M" on the one with the candle. Go me.

Here is the birthday boy, laughing at me singing the additional verse of the Happy Birthday song: "You look like a monkey, and you smell like one too!" haha.

February 17

My treat for running 5 miles today: ice cream and red wine. YAY!

February 16

This is a view from a stairwell in a building I work in often. The stairwell is glass, and juts out into the middle of the building; suspended over the open foyer. It would be a bit scary if you were afraid of heights! But this shows the elevator bank, which is open at the back. The elevators make a dinging noise when they reach a floor, and sitting on the stairs it sounds like a slot-machine section of a casino. ding! ding! ding!

February 15

Who is that annoying girl at the gym with pink everything?
Yeah, that would be me.

February 14

Tonight, Mike and I went to a restaurant down the street called Joey's Brickhouse. It's pretty darn good and has a good atmosphere. The diet went out the window, in celebration of Valentine's day, and we got a cookie sundae. YUM. Not quite Schoolyard Tavern cookie sundae excellence, but close.


This next picture is of the mixing bowl/measuring cup thingy that is currently catching the drip coming from our ceiling. OUR CEILING, onto my crate and barrel rug, that cost me $12.50 a square foot. I hate this apartment building.
When I got home today there was a flier on our front door. "Act as leasing agents for this building!" Basically, they are looking for someone to work for $10 an hour + an extra $50 for each apartment leased, to show prospective renters around our apartment building. At dinner, Mike said, "You know, it would almost be worth it to be a leasing agent, and just tell everyone how much the building sucks. That would rock. AND we would make $10 an hour." Mike is very vengeful today, so watch out for that boy. Oh, and don't walk through the middle of our living room without expecting some raindrops a' fallin' on your head.

February 13

Just so ya'll know, this window is on my shitlist. When I got our invites last week, I put them under this window at the bottom of the stairs so that I could take them upstairs and put them in the "Pile O Wedding Crap" in the loft bedroom. This morning, it occurred to me that I should move them out from under the window ASAP so that they don't get faded or anything, and when I looked at the invites they were covered in mud/water/dirt from the window, which I guess leaked. Yeah, I almost had a heart attack. Luckily, I had taken a few out and laid them on top, so those were the only ones that really got ruined, and most of them were OK. But seriously, WTF window?

February 12

I don't look any different, but I can't feel my face.
Man, I look serious in that picture! You would too, if you just got home from the dentist where you got drilled and fitted for two crowns. Love me some dental work. My dentist, though, has a mastery of the Novocain like no other. I didn't feel anything. At one point, I thought something was on my face, and I reached up to wipe it off and realized it was my lip. I'm sure someone could smack me right now and I wouldn't even feel it. Now that is numbing. So that is my fun for the day. What did you all do today?

February 11

Mike's parents have a bird-feeder outside their window, which attracts all kinds of birds. Here, I got a good shot of a cardinal.

February 10

This weekend we went to see Mike's family in Northern Indiana. This is Aydan. His mom is saying "No hitting!" and you can see in his face "I didn't do nuthin'!"

February 9

View of Millenium Park from the Corolla!

February 8

For the love of all that is holy, it is COLD.

February 7

Tonight, I went out to Willow Creek in South Barrington. It is HUGE! And very cool. Here is a fountain in their front lobby.

February 6

Winter Wonderland!

February 5

Check out my new hat! Not only is it lined in pink, but it has a hole in it for my ponytail.... so cool.
Ya'll, if you don't live here, you should be thankful right now (only during the most frigid winter do I momentarily consider moving). It is VERY VERY cold outside.

Pretty Emmy

And check out this pretty girl! Emmy got her hair done for a gala she went to last night, and I went along for a day of girl-fun with mani/pedi and popcorn ;c)

Feb 4

I've been up making meatballs all morning! Hopefully they are good! Who am I kidding, the boys will scarf them up regardless.

And this is my new favorite food: the egg white omelette. This one has turkey sausage, american cheese, brie, and spinach in it. That's my fav combination.

February 3

Choater and I drove around Chicago, jumping out and snapping pics of cool Bears decorations! Check out the flickr page for more.

February 2

Today, my group at work did this thing where we teach kids at a local elementary school for the morning. Wow - I have major respect for teachers! These are the guys I taught with (Nick on the left, and Robert on the right).

And then I took this picture of the skyline on the way back to the office.

February 1

This is the moon rock display in the front of the Tribune building. I love looking at this thing. Isn't it weird that there is a rock from the MOON in a random display case in front of the building? I am always wondering how secure that is.