Dressed to the 9s' in the city of Imagination

I think I am a composition of several different people/ personalities including
Holly Golightly (the girl that loves to dress to her 9s'), the regency equestrian lady (loves her farm and horses to ride but from her distance from the land.. since she is afraid of bugs), Carry (Sex and the City) who embraces things that are different...slightly irresponsible... and loves the outrageous as well as her best friends, and the typical child who says I love to you to all her loved ones...enjoys Disney movies, and will still play Hide and Go Seek.

I say all this because I have recently started to spend a lot of time in Chicago (or as I have learned (Chi-town.) I am seeing it through all of my personalities and am in love.

There is always something magical about places that embrace the different, the confused, the artistic, and the corporate boring. If Lady Gaga was not so New York, I think her next stop would be Chicago.

Since my college days in Richmond, VA, I have really enjoyed being able to walk side my side with a transsexual mo hawk sporting person who does not need to worry about anyone judging them. At the same time, I love to be able to feel safe somewhere and at the same time find the newest, coolest bar, and walk home.

Ladies and Gentleman this town is it.

I kid you not. Last week in Chicago not only did I walk to the Magnificent Mile next to a man in a life like Darth Vader outfit but also discovered the best bar of my life. Gourmet meets Mixologist = THE AVIARY
Please look it up and read about its glory!

Yes, the drinks are shockingly expensive, but when that drink tastes like liquid perfection and comes in the coolest, most creative ways (ie: like the huge Bunsen Burners and dried fruit on the table which created my perfection) this place is worth it.

Besides the taste bud stimulation of the drinks and food or as they say "bites"
the visual atmosphere is quite embracing. Think Art Deco meets Hollywood Regency. Beautiful chandlers, huge curved high back couches with beautiful pillow to spare.

Many times when are large amount of money is spend on a non-tangible item, people think... "it was not that good" and will have buyers remorse. To me I thought " I cant wait to go again."

Chicago has many, many, wonderful attributes that I will eventually write about, but I can still think about that night and smile.

The Arrival of Fall

A new visitor has graced my front door...

Fall

There is an episode in Sex and the City where Carrie can tell when fall has arrived and I believe that is has indeed.

There is something magical about the beginning of a season. Fall has the tempting allure of the smell of crisp leaves, the color portfolio of reds/orange/yellow along the tree lines. Apple cider on the stove with the sweet smell of cinnamon perfuming the air. I love the change in the air.

I think this fall I would like to camp. The perfect weather for camping is when it is comfortable during the day but cool enough in the evening to warrant a roaring camp fire toasting treats, and maybe the possibility of seeing ones own breath in the air.

I would also love to make fall crafts. I foresee a date with my Christina Marie Brown Leake for a nice afternoon of fall crafts with a relaxing documentary in the background.

Another great aspect of fall is the arrival of my FAVORITE kind of apple

Honey-crisp Apples

Hopefully, this will be a lesson to myself to enjoy the season. It goes by so quick.

A Long Time Coming

Being how it has been two years since my prior post so this is a long time coming.
After enjoying that lovely snow storm feeling nostalgic, I noticed my stomach started to hurt.
Since knowing that work would be cancelled, I was liberally partaking in adult beverages. Thinking that the stomach ache was a self induced affliction, I ignored it.

(SLEEPLESS NIGHT)

After a restless night, tossing back and forth, and various pleas to God to make my stomach stop hurting I accepted that I was not going to sleep anytime soon and was up...

I would say that I have a good pain tolerance. So, I was understandably concerned when not only was it getting worse but unbearable. Looking outside and seeing the over three feet of snow it was a "now or ever" moment to go to the hospital.
Now heading to the hospital was no easy task. A normal 10 minute trip took way over an hour and included a Kubota tractor.

Who knew that after hours of ignoring the pain that I also had ignored my appendix burst and now narcotic tissue was causing a full on septic shock to my body.

Normally, this would be a big deal. During an epic snow storm and not having a surgeon in the hospital makes it a huge deal. Needless to say, after hours of getting a gastric surgeon into the area, I finally got to "the room"

You know that room. You see it on every House or ER episode. Man, let me tell you it is a different perspective when you are on the table. Even more different when you then discover that 5 does of "Micheal Jackson Propofal" is not working! Usually, a patient counts backwards from 100 and passes out on 93.... people were starting to wonder when I was at 23...22...

Finally, I was out on the table and four hours of cutting and sewing me up I was back in the room to recover (missed both Christmas Eve and New Years) and was in the hospital for almost two weeks and three months from work.

I may not be a big blogger.... but I will always remember that blog. I had no idea what was coming with the snow storm1