De-Lerious

It's been a while, blog.

Things have been extraordinarily excellent pretty much from the moment I quit NMH. Which was just two and a half months ago, but might as well be another lifetime.

My brother was married in June. The wedding was beautiful and I felt so astounded by how much he's grown and he amount of love he has in his life. It's a nice feeling. I also spent a week in Ohio with my family the week before the wedding (the longest I've been there in 5 years). It was good to just spend time together without feeling rushed.

I've been spending my summer bicycling around the city, studying for my prereq classes in coffee shops, and wandering around farmers markets. I feel very free and also serene for the first time in quite a long time. I hope it lasts. I've been eating healthier, exercising more frequently, and have been able to take real time for myself. All this well being has also led to a weight loss of 11 pounds in a little over a month.

Other things... We spent more time in ohio this weekend to see Dan's family. It was very relaxing and full of lots of long talks on the porch until well after midnight, visits from Xander and Cole, dog hugs, and swimming. A great way to spend the 4th. And always reassuring to spend so much time with my in-laws and to come back to Chicago wishing for a little more time.

I'm teaching puppetry this summer. Two weeks in (after two years away) and it immediately feels like being home again. The kids are very focused and are turning out very interesting work. It's getting me excited for classes this fall.

Tonight we sat on the porch at Ryan and Yo's place until well after dark. There was a great breeze, I drank ice tea and ate cold watermelon. We talked about life and family and the babies. And eventually Melissa and Bea showed up and I was sort of struck by how lovely all of their friends are and how deeply we've become a family of choice in the last year. It's neat. And Bea is a delight. She made a lot of memorable two and a half year old declarations.

Anyway. Life is good. I am in a really healthy place physically, mentally, and emotionally. I hope I can maintain this, because it is a great place to be.

Tiny Happy.

6 full work days to go!!!

I had my big pink bicycle tuned up this weekend. I only go to my neighborhood's bicycle shop once per season, but the kindly old Russian owner remembered me and my bicycle. "How could I forget?" were his exact words. I asked him if I could see baskets, as I will be commuting to work each day and will be carrying my lunch (and in the future my homework). He pulled out this amazing basket that quickly detaches for carrying with you while shopping. It was love at first sight. Even Dan had to agree that the basket contained magical powers.

It was nice to go home this weekend. To hug my dad and Jan and to be treated like an honored guest from a far away place. "This is Mitch's brother, from Chicago," they all said. It made me feel much fancier than I am. It was also fun to talk with my dad about grad school and our future plans. I told him all about our extensive budget plan. He was pretty impressed with the amount we've thought about it. To be honest, I'm impressed with the amount of time I've put into planning out every detail of it too. But I really want this. I want to work part time and be a graduate student. And when you want something... you figure it out.

On Sunday Dan made his famous (famous in our house, anyway) toasted gluten free sandwiches and then we took the dogs on a long walk all around Lincoln Square and Ravenswood. It was fun to see all the kids and families in Welles Park. It was a perfect Chicago type day. We got home after our longest jaunt this year and sat down and I looked at Dan and said, "Want to go to the movies?" and he said, "Duh!" and we got back up and walked to the Music Box to see Super. The organ player was there, regaling us with selections from South Pacific. The movie was great and as we walked home the sun set. It was a really excellent day.

Last night I figured out all the loan stuff. Even with the fellowship, we still feel like it's in our best interest to take out a small loan to cover extras. Thankfully I was awarded a federal subsidized loan, so the government will pay the interest while I'm in school. That was very nice of you, government.

This week is going to be Busy (with a capital B). We've got bookish nerd plans for tonight and Wednesday. Friday night is my friend Liz's birthday party. On Saturday we're taking Renee out for a pre wedding celebration. And on Sunday we're hanging out with Lydia. And next week... well, next week we've got a play on Wednesday, a concert on Thursday (and a friend in town), and then Brian and Clinton land in Chicago on Easter. I already feel tired.

Next week I'll also be registering for summer classes and training with Yolanda for Poppinsing. And I'm being interviewed by Columbia College as a Spotlight for their newsletter.

April has been crazy. But I like it. And sense only good things to come.

Nerds.

So everyday Columbia College sends me an email about different activities that I can be involved in if I like... like being a guest reader at the Printer Row Book Festival, or submitting work for an art show, or volunteering at a performance art venue, or spending my summer in Florence... it is so nerdy, but I am so happy that I am going to an art school. The next two years are going to amazing and I can't wait to get started. Cheers for art integration!!!

I'll be 29 when I finish my Masters. We imagine that if Dan is happy in his career around that time, that we'll likely start trying for a wee one. Eek! A plan! How brash of us!

Last night we hosted another "Sip & See." The babies met Emily, Holly and Janet. It's so fun to watch them be introduced to new people. I also practiced feeding Pippa and it went pretty well.

Nine work days left. To be truthful, it can't go quickly enough.

Snapshots

Sitting here awaiting my cousin Kryn who I will be taking out to lunch and to all the best Chicago shops. At work all week I've been getting a lot of congratulatory pats on the back for not only getting into graduate school, but getting the fellowship too. It feels good. It feels like a new chapter has begun in my life. One that I've been waiting for but didn't know exactly how it would pan out. Someone asked me what I'd do with my Masters when I'm done, and I truly felt excited to answer, "Not exactly sure yet. Teach, probably. What, who knows? I'll be able to teach a lot of different things. And my work as a Teaching Artist may afford me a neat job that I don't even know exists yet."

I can't explain really how much I knew while I was working 9-5 in an office in a non-arts capacity how much I felt like what I was doing was absolutely wrong for who I am. For what makes me- me. But I am meant to dig in the dirt with children and to help them shape a beautiful vision of their world and the future. And to help them craft crazy stories and direct little projects and to take work home with me and figure out how to map out the impossible (like having all 50 states on the floor of the classroom). I don't know exactly how I am meant to do this, I just know that I am not meant to be a professional. It feels too much like work to me and not enough like living/creating. We expect the next two years to be rough, even with part time jobs already lined up, fellowships secured, and a pretty decent federal loan I just found out I have been awarded. I got our rent lowered and we are cancelling our dog walking, which will save us some cash. And we are lucky in that we have a solid group of friends who live near us and like to spend their evenings at each other's houses making dinner/watching movies/enjoying company. We recently started a North Center bar hopping club. Not actual bar hopping - more of a "let's meet at a different bar in North Center each week until we find the one that belongs to us," sort of club. I can't wait to start nannying. It'll be hard, but rewarding. And I'll be helping out my friends and will be directly involved with the health/happiness of my godchildren. How cool is that?

I will say that I don't think I've ever felt such pride over a role given to me, but the role of GodParent makes me feel perpetually and unequivocally proud of myself. I feel like we've been really helpful and every time I see the babies I feel like each time they know me a little more. As in... well, not that they recognize me or say, "Oh, hello Aunt Danielle," but more that I am an okay person for them to be held by.

n epic nerdiness, and because I LOVE lists, here are all the things I'm excited for this summer:

1. Riding my bicycle to work. 2. Walking with Dan and the dogs around North Center as the sun sets. 3. The NorthCenter and Lincoln Square Farmer's Market. 4. Taking the babies for long walks around Welles Park in the afternoon. 5. Wearing whatever I want to work (hello sneakers & threadless t-shirts). 6. Hell, the possibility of getting my nose pierced or dying my hair, like a true young adult. :) 7. Teaching kids how to be puppeteers this summer!!! 8. North Center Bar Night with the ladies and Dan. 9. Being in a community of artists again. 10. Volunteering more at Open Books and starting to volunteer at 826 CHI. 11. Working significantly less hours per week. 12. Thrifting with Lydia. 13. MY BROTHER'S WEDDING! 14. 4th of July trip to Ohio. 15. Potential camping trip over Memorial Day Weekend. 16. The impending arrival of our new Tempurpedic Bed. 17. Free movies and music in the park. 18. Going to the library in Lincoln Square after work. 19. Did I mention babies?!?!?! 20. Picnics with the family.

Notice I didn't mention art fairs/street festivals. I'm sure I'll probably still go, but I feel sort of... I don't know... ambivalent right now. The street festivals always end up being tons of drunk people and crappy stuff that I could find on Etsy. The art fairs... well I love the Bucktown show and I'm sure I'll go to Renegade... but after 5 years (DAMN, WE'VE LIVED HERE FOR FIVE YEARS!) of attending the same fests every summer, it's a little bit of a "been there, done that." It's always the same artists hawking the same stuff that again, I know I can find on etsy. I'll go to Renegade likely to support all my artist friends, but I dunno, it seems more of an adventure to me to hit the flea markets in the suburbs and to scavenge the streets of Chicago for Garage Sales and Church Sales. I want to be surprised again. The art fairs used to surprise me. I sound like I'm talking about a bad marriage. :) Speaking of marriages... we are close to our 2 year anniversary and feeling more in love than ever. Awww, vomit. I recently redid his office space for $80 and he was so damn happy about it. And it looks really nice and now I think I have a good idea of how to approach the room if I want to continue to jazz it up for him. Love does silly things.

Drunken blogging ftw

I am pleasantly dunk and trying to blog on my iPhone. We shall see how this goes.

I found out Saturday that I got into Columbia College Chicago! They are giving me close to a full ride, so minimal student loans. And I'm going to be working as a nanny for my godchildren and teaching puppetry while going to school. Cue me putting back on my Bohemia hat! I'm so done with desk jobs. No more. Give me a room where I have to be "present" to work, please! I am done with checking out from work and eking out a life. I want to live! I can ride my bike to nanny, Damnit! Amazing.

In two years I'll have a masters, a teaching license and certificates in elementary Ed, special Ed, and theatre k-9. Working with kids, creating curriculum... Ahhhhhhh! It's for me. I am that artsy fartsy teacher.

I gave my three weeks notice at work. I feel damn good. They have offered to take me back part time anytime I want if I need extra cash. Thy are all supportive, which is cool. They recognize that it's a step up and a huge opportunity. Which I did t expect to happen, but it's nice.

Since I found out and since I quit.... I just... I haven't felt this happy in a long time. This feels really right. Ryan took me out for champagne on Saturday and my husband took me to Sola for a celebratory dinner on sunday. Yesterday holly took me for lunch and Tonight our good friends Emily and Janet took us out for martinis. A week of celebration!

Tomorrow we go to Ryan and yolanda's house to babysit. This week feels like a blur. Dan and I both feel hopeful for the future. I think i needed to go back to the creative side of things to get the rest of me going again.

I want to be more social. I am normally, but I feel like work has killed that. Other than the baby hole we have mostly been hibernating since january. But now we have plans in advance for fun outings. We even have made weekly Corner Bar plans with Emily and Janet. North center yo.

Okay. I hope this makes sense when I read it tomorrow.

Haha!

Passed all five exams! Test taking genius, say I! This means I will find out about AUSL within the next two weeks.... And if I do get it I'll be playing nanny April-June!!!!! Feeling good!

Fortune

Heavy Things on my mind...

• Michigan. Specifically, Detroit's school cuts, collective bargaining, and the ability for the Governor to declare a "financial emergency" in any city and then strip that city of it's elected officials.
• Wisconsin. Probably don't need to expand on this one.
• My cousin Andy, his wife Sharon, and their newborn baby Quinn, who are on the Misawa airbase in Japan. Right after the earthquake they reported in as being okay, but since then the tsunami's have hit and we don't know for sure where they are. I know in my gut they are probably fine, he's a top gun fighter pilot after all, but mostly I'm scared for their baby.
• My Mom. Anniversaries are rough.

Exciting things on my mind...

• I get my test results back at 5pm tonight. Here's hoping that I pass all five exams and don't have to retake anything in April.
• I have my big interview tomorrow. My lesson plan is prepped and I've been reading it aloud to myself at work all day. I feel pretty confident about it and it would be amazing to know whether or not I "get it" by the end of March.
• Being a god parent. Since the babies came home, we've been pretty consistently going over to help every week. It feels really amazing to be able to be so involved in their early days. I keep thinking about when we first met them in November and how much they've changed and it brings tears to my eyes. And I've been having a lot of fun changing diapers (really!), changing clothes, swaddling, comforting crying babies, and learning how to give bottles. And really, watching Dan do all of those things is also an amazing experience. We have fallen in love with our godchildren and they've really inspired us to start thinking concretely and not just whimsically about having children. I think we're both ready.. Eek!
• Seeing HAIR on Saturday night. Let the sun shine in!!!
• My brother's wedding in June and the bridal shower in April.
• Making time to cuddle every night before bed, and setting our alarm a little early so we can cuddle before we get up every morning. :)

I guess that's about it. Which is actually quite a lot.