Adventures and Anecdotes

Well, let's just say that it's been a hectic week with highs and lows. Night before last, I received news that my dad may have to have heart surgery - not good news by any measure, but he was already supposed to undergo lung surgery later this year. At the moment, I'm doing okay only because he still needs to get a lot more screening and tests done before any real decision is made. But this kind of news is always unsettling, and it certainly didn't help that I was dealing with quite a bit of work stress this week. Now that the deadline has passed, I'm breathing a little more easily now.

Last night we had a big send-off for The Russian as he leaves us to move into his apartment in NYC. I'm really sad he's leaving. Unfortunately, I didn't even get back home for all the food until 10:00p, so I had missed a lot of the fun of the evening. If it's any indication, Roomie had such a good time that he was quite drunk and very hungover this morning - so much so that he had to get off two stops early on the train because he was getting motion-sickness. Heh. Anyway, I went to a college alumni event, which honestly would not have been worth the $10 if it weren't for the fact that I reconnected with two people that I haven't seen since last winter. Yes, this time, we were finally smart enough to actually exchange contact information. We left the event early to go have dinner. Restaurant recommendation for the next time any of you come into town: AllensCafe. AMAZING. Appetizer of note: pumpkins baked in cinnamon and brown sugar stuffed with lobster risotto with a cream sauce drizzled over it. Everything from the spicy California red zin down to the last bite of chocolate mousse was absolutely delightful! One of the best meals I've had in a long time. (Yes, I know - Weight Watchers and I are having serious issues now. Did I mention that Wednesday night the Orientation Committe took us out to De Cero - this fantastic shi-shi Mexican restaurant? Again, another place we should go to when any of you are in town. As this post is quite long enough, I will spare you the review.)

Anyway, the funny moment of the night was that there was a big party there. "Who are they?" we asked our very zany waiter. "Oh, that's the American Bar Association." Um, HELLO - I wanted to buy them all bottles of wine and beg them please to break into the Illinois Bar Examiners' office and pass me!!! This evening, Roomie and I will be getting our bar results at 12:00a. Since I am unlikely to have access to internet, I have entrusted him with the task of looking mine up. I simply can not wait until Monday to find out whether I am legitimately a practicing member of the bar. Please pray for a miracle. I certainly didn't have enough money to buy all those tables of lawyers each a bottle of wine....

This evening I'll be driving out to Michigan to see the sis and the fam. Mom and Dad flew out yesterday despite the fact that the doctor was very adamant about the fact that he shouldn't get on the plane because of his heart condition. What's that old saying about parents behaving more like children as children start behaving more like adults? Yeah....Dad is stubborn and bullheaded.

This morning on the radio I was listening to NPR and there was just the most moving story on StoryCorps. I'm getting teary just thinking about it (yes, of course, I know - leave me alone). If you want something warm-hearted this morning: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4868494 But I really recommend that you listen to it; it's very short. At the end, the grandfather tells his son the most wonderful things. When I was listening to the grandfather talk, I was thinking that you don't often hear men say those kinds of things to other men, and I think that's what I found particularly moving and share-worthy.

All right, I'm sure you're tired of reading me drone on and on. That's the beauty of the blog though right? I can relish in having free time at work, think that you care about all of this, and you don't have to read a goddamn word if you don't want. Have a good weekend, everyone.