long time, no post

i finally decided to log on today and give an update on life in chicago. i am terrible about blogging because it's a bit of a pain in the ass - sometimes, i just don't have anything to say. also, i have a new game obsession - it's called bejeweled 2, and once i start, i usually end up playing for hours before bed. not every day, though. i have been reading a lot lately, too. last week, i read "a tree grows in brooklyn," and, this week, I am reading "the devil in the white city." it's about the construction of the world's fair in chicago in the 19th century and a serial killer who was at work at the same time. it's history written like a novel - very good stuff. next week (although I never planned to ever read this book), i am going to read the first harry potter book. i have never had any interest in the hp books, but my boss insists that they are spectacular and brought me a copy to work the other day. i guess i will give it a try.

what else? the weather is terrible, but that isn't real news, is it? the winters in chicago are always miserable. right now, there is yucky freezing rain falling, and the sky is gray. i can't wait for spring!

here's a sesame street thing for bill: we go to lunch at this little diner about 2-3 times a week, and the waitstaff now knows all of our names (although we don't know how - they must hear us say them) and brings us our favorite drinks as soon as we sit down. it's so sweet. we just noticed the other day that they have a photograph of david bowie in the diner and that he filmed an ad for audi at the diner. i have lost my traffic cop friend, however. they replaced her with a very somber woman who never smiles or says hello :-(

interesting news on the work front: mayor daley is coming to the cafe for a publicity thing, and we are going to be in a documentary about the successes of the 10 year plan to end homelessness. one of my clients was chosen to be highlighted as a success story, so i will have to prepare him for the interview and sit with him while he is filmed and, perhaps, be interviewed as well. my 15 minutes of fame! hahahaha! i am more excited about the daley thing, however. can't wait to get a photo with him and an autograph. mr. big machine politics in real life!! love him!!

things a little better with the boss. told her in that chat about being an overachiever that it isn't what she says to me that hurts - i can take almost anything that anyone says to me. it's the way that she says them that stings so much - and she does it in front of other people - so i feel humiliated. she was truly sorry, i think, when i told her, and she apologized several times. now, whenever she is snappy, she e-mails an apology or calls me into her office to apologize. so, progress has been made - she is aware of her bahavior and is taking steps to be more careful about the way she talks to me. now if only she would do that with the rest of the staff...

some other big news: our friend barbara is coming to chicago for four days over spring break, and we are thrilled! we don't have any specific plans for her visit, except to take her to renaldi's for pizza. hopefully, the weather will be a little better. too bad spring break isn't two weeks earlier - the paddy's day parade is on the 12th, and i really wanted her to be able to see it.

what else? cats are fine. i am having a significant birthday in march - i am going to be 35! according to actuarial data, i am expected to live to be 70 years old based on where i was born, the year that i was born, and some other things. thus, my life will be half over. this is not sitting well with me. wish that i could be 20 again but know what i know now and have all of the self-confidence, self-esteem, etc. etc. that i have now. *sigh* anyway, i have decided that I am going to have a birthday party for myself, since no one has ever had one for me. am going to celebrate middle age! woohoo!

that's all for now. could write more but want to read. will try to update more frequently.