A Change in Direction

I'm going to take the blog into a slightly different direction - while you'll still find the occassional meanders about life's lessons, insight into experiences, I also want to use this as a platform to give proper recognition to those enjoyable experiences in my life.

Let's start by giving notice to a couple of restaurants that I've had the pleasure of spending a little money on as of lately.

The first one is in a little city called Chicago - Frontera Grill. I satisfied my pallete there at the end of September - because the menu is ever-evolving I can't give you the specific name of my dish - but it was a fish dish with the most splendid mole sauce. Divine, divine, divine. It was perfection - just the right amount of spice. The service was excellent - I highly recommend it for anyone interested in Mexican cuisine that's a step or two above the rest.

The next restaurant I'd like to highlight is a local favorite I like to go to lunch to every once in a while. Vincent's a Restaurant. Now, this is not a restaurant to go to lunch to if you have a 1 o'clock meeting - this is where you go to lunch when you have an extra half hour and you can savor the delicacies brought forth. From the yummiest butternut squash soup to a delectable goat cheese and beet salad - Vincent's treats me right every time.

The last recognition I'd like to give is for a delightful dessert that I had the pleasure of enjoying a couple weekend's okay. That would be the warm, gooey pear bread pudding at the Palomino. Just thinking about it makes me all cozy inside.

Okay -- I'm hungry!

Day of Giving and Thanks

Things I am thankful for...

• my stable, but sometimes dramatic, marriage
• my 36 going on 15 year old husband
• our fabulous, precious, most delightful son
• a warm shelter to call my home
• a job that provides challenges and excitement
• friends who help keep me grounded
• friends who provide me fodder for laughter
• a family that likes me (most of the time)
• memories of pleasantries I am able to re-live from time to time
• being able to count to ten when holiday shoppers get on my best nerve
• knowing that tomorrow will always be a new day

That Perfect Gift

I'm looking for those perfect gifts. Those items that people sort of had an idea they wanted, but would never have thought of it themselves. It's hard, you must search high and low and in places you never thought of. It's a challenge I enjoy taking on -- the satisfaction of seeing the smile or look of unexpected delight on people's faces is great.
Another gift is D's perspective on the holidays. I always anticipated that having a child would somewhat affect his holiday spirit. This year it has -- he actually proposed putting lights on our house. This is the same man, who groaned when he saw our neighbors hanging lights up the weekend we moved into our house last year. That perhaps is the most perfect gift.

The Holiday Plan

The next two months are going to go flying by -- so the only way to get through the holiday madness with a smile is with a secure plan. This plan must take into account a few major considerations: a) our families are notoriously late in providing Christmas gifts; b) I am having a small soiree at my house on Dec. 8; c) I may be involved in a surprise party for someone else; d) I already feel like my weekends are booked.

So. Here. I. Go.

1. Finish painting the lower-level "public/guest" bathroom. (I am about 1/3 of the way done on this task.)

2. Find cute new light fixture, mirror and accessory fixtures for aforementioned bathroom.

3. Prime formal living room.

4. Paint formal living room.

5. Find delicious, peanut-free cookie recipe.

6. Plan menu for fabulous soiree.

7. Decorate house with festive cheer and holiday aromas.

The above tasks must be done before Dec. 8.

8. Find the most perfect gift for over a dozen family members.

9. Wrap said gifts beautifully, almost too beautifully to unwrap.

10. Start running (again).

11. Continue moving toward my ultimate weight-loss goal.

12. Keep calm under pressure.

13. Always remain smiling.

There's my plan so far -- I assure you it will have many, many alterations, but it feels good to jot it down.

Exhaustion

My new role at work is tiring me out unlike anything before. Every night I'm falling asleep on the couch. Of course, paranoia me then begins to think the worse - did I get diabetes? hyperthyroidism? cancer? some bizarre disease no one has ever heard of? then super paranoia me begins to overanalyze every pain I encounter. Is that my lower back - why is it hurting? where did that sharp pain in my side come from.

I now understand the phrase working for the weekends. but alas, the holiday season has officially kicked off -- so I must get out of this exhaustion cloud and kick it into gear. I have much painting to do before my house is ready for the holidays... much painting and decorating to do indeed!