Say what?

Well today was my first day on the new job - and what a day it was.  I will be flying to Boston at 11am to assist with an event at the Kennedy Compound in Hyannis Port all weekend - nothing like baptisim by fire.  When I asked what I will be doing the VP said I will most likely be an escort for the celebrities…lol  this is hysterical as I don’t know one celebrity from the next.  I will have to text Jonathan to see who they are.  I will update next week and let you all know how the event went. 

Enjoy your weekend!

It has been awhile since I have updated.  Some very exciting things have happened over the past week.  We traded in our SUV for a very fuel efficient Honda Civic.  We were averaging 12 mpg with the beast and on our trip to Chicago last weekend we got 37 mpg! 

I have accepted a job in Chicago :)  I also have negotiated with them to let me work from Cincinnati for the next month giving Jonathan more time to find a job and time for us to pack.  It is a very exciting position with lots of room for growth and creativity - those of you who know me and have worked with me know that is a must for me.  My job title has yet to be confirmed as I am the first one in this position.  I will be in the charge of all of the Illinois special events for Best Buddies International (dedicated to enhancing the lives of people with intellectual disabilities by providing opportunities for one-to-one friendships and integrated employment).  If you want to learn more about them check out their website at www.bestbuddies.org.  There is also a possibility that John,my old boss from AWBC, will take the State Director position for Best Buddies and we will be working together again.  Amazing!

Saturday we found a place to live in Chicago :)  I was pretty dead set on living in Wrigleyville, but when a friend of ours (thanks Lisa!)  told us about this place that a mutual friend has just bought we thought we would take a look.  We feel head over heals!  We will be residing in Bucktown (the nice part of Bucktown )  and the place is fantastic.  We will keep you posted on the date of our house warming party.  We hope to move mid-June.

The only thing left we need to do is find Jonathan a job.  Please send our your good thoughts his way.  As always, if you know anyone hiring in HR be sure to let us know.

If you know of anyone looking for a great house in Cincinnati be sure to let us know too!  We are right on the border of Oakley and Hyde Park - the house is very charming, the landlord is great and it is a great deal.

Today is officially my last day of unemployment - I can’t tell you know happy I am about that!  These past few months have been tough. 

Hope you are all well.  Let me know what’s going on in your world.

I know many of your in my network of friends will not be able to help me out…no worries I wouldn’t have been able to help you either. Jonathan’s mom wants us to prepare a sidedish, salad and dessert for Mother’s Day at her home (which she keeps Kosher). Did you know there were three kinds of Kosher? I am learning all kinds of interesting things these days. However, my good Polish and Italian cookbooks are jammed packed with delicious treats that all contain milk products. Any help would be greatly appreciated

Over the past few months my sleep time has been anything, but calm and ordinary.  I often wake up scared, anxious, laughing and talking nonsense.  Here are a few glimpses into my dreamworld. 

One night I was dreaming that my cousin, Rae Anne, called me and urged me to go to the Gap and buy these new vitamin popsicles.  She said they all tasted great (as she decided on the variety pack)and she feels so much more alert and energetic.  Wow…this could be a fantastic idea!  But, only a dream for now.

Nightmare!!!  There were all of these Asian women in our house trying to kill me.  I was so scared.  When Jonathan was leaving for work I asked him to bring a weapon to the bed for me and to put the phones in bed with me too.  I also asked him to check the locks four times and suggested that we contact our landlord to install key less entry where by we would enter our home through a finger pad.  Hmmm…is Hyde Park/Oakley a rough area??

Ah yes and then there was the night when I went back to being in a childhood fairytale…soaring above the land on a magic carpet with my friend Sara and the carpet keeper.  We soared above castles and vast green hilly areas.  I even got to "drive" the carpet…I made it do loops!

Last night I had a dream that I was working back at my first job in Public Relations.  Todd was the only other co-worker still with the company and he came into work frantic because he house was on fire, but it was ok because he thought the fire would only destroy the wooden staircases.  Another odd thing about being there is that everyone called me Earl instead of Allie…Earl, Earl who the hell is Earl?

I long for the nights when I am so exhausted again that I fall asleep watching Wheel of Fortune and sleep soundly through the night.  The need to find a job is much more beneficial than just finances.  Oh to use my brain again!  Oh to feel like a productive member of society!  Oh to feel tired…

We have logged many miles between Cincinnati and Chicago this past year.  We have gotten to know many small towns and where the best rest stops are.  We recall my accident at Exit 140 off on 65 North and look to see if my left bumper has finally been removed from the median.  Jonathan phones Matt as we sail past L.S. Ayers.  We play the normal car games…the Alphabet game, the I’m going on a trip and taking game, the who are they and what do they do game and we have gone through the book of 200 questions. 

On our return home trip yesterday - along with seeing the regular Abortion kills bumper stickers, proclamations of following the Grateful Dead, Jesus Saves and my kid beat up your honor role kid - we saw this…No Muslims.  No Terrorists.  Wow…I was so disturbed.  I wanted to hold up a sign when we went past this man that said "No right winged Republicans.  No problems."  We decided against it as we were certain he had a right to conceal license.

What is the most disturbing bumper sticker you have ever seen?