Work

There is so much to say and so little time so I will just stick to the big one right now (although the other stuff could be considered BIG too...maybe)

I am getting laid off today. I've known for a few weeks. I don't really mind because I know there is something out there for me and I have gained so much INVALUABLE experience at the Workforce Board.

Well, today I was in the hall and I said hello to the guy who runs the insurance company next door and he asked how I was so I told him I was getting laid off and today was my last day. He asks what I do so I tell him I write contracts and so on and so forth. So, he then asks if I'd consider insurance. So I asked if he was hiring (half joking) and he told me to come see him a little later. Well, I'm sitting in my office and my phone rings and it was Jack from next door asking when my lay off date is...I said today...he asks when I get off of work...I say at 5...he says come over and see me when you are done. We'll see what happens.

More Thoughts

I talked to Carol last night and she suggested I not give up on Paul just yet because he sounds like it just takes him a while to "warm up". She's probably right. This guy is marriage material afterall. I just really don't like not knowing where I stand. He's so unavailable that Carol and Kate have not even met him yet!

On another note, I was at Excueses last night and I want to make something clear. The place is spelled "Excueses" and that is how it appears on the sign too. It used to be "Radishes" but then they made themselves a pool hall and changed the name to "Excueses". Get it?

I had an okay time there. I've had better times. There were so many singers that I only got to sing 3 times and Bert and Bobo were not there. I sang "Valentine" for one of the KJ's and I sang "It's all Coming Back to Me Now" for Bobbie and I sang "Lucky" to mix it up. One of the Wise Guys (they are 3 older men who sing d00wop stuff) begged me to sing "Independence Day" but there was no time. I guess I'll do that one next week... or Saturday, if he's there. I tried to retire that song but it keeps coming back out because it is everyone's favorite. I never should have re-introduced it.

Every week people tell me I should have auditioned for American Idol or that I shouldn't be singing karaoke on a Friday night and clarifying that by telling me I am too good. I guess it's a nice compliment. I wish I could really sing but there is not much opportunity. I have to admit it is nice to have everyone stand up and applaud when you are done performing. Maybe I should find a smaller church so that I can use singing more easily.

Just some more random thoughts.

March of Dimes

I am going to be walking to raise money for the March of Dimes. After working with infants and toddlers I am passionate about their development and the March of Dimes has the same passion...to see healthy children.

If you would like to support my cause you can go to http://www.walkamerica.org/don82tracie to make a donation.

Thanks!

Water Bottle

This weekend I was sitting on the couch and had a bottle of water on the coffee table. I bumped the table and the bottle fell off... BUT landed right side up! No water spilled on the floor!

How often does that happen?

Country Music

You read the title correctly. I am talking about country music this time.

See, I have realized that I really like Martina McBride. I sing all of her stuff! You have to hear me do "Independence Day" because that has become my signature song. I sing that when I go somewhere new to introduce myself to the crowd. Isn't that silly?

I have also been singing a lot of Faith Hill, Jo Dee Mesina and Sara Evans. I can't believe I am telling you this. I even have my car radio set to the country music station.

It just makes good karaoke. You can't find Over the Rhine in those books. I had to do it.

And since I am confessing, I also do all of Britney's stuff. Yes, all of it from "Baby, One More Time" to "Toxic".

To redeem myself in your eyes, I also do some Sixpence and Lisa Loeb.

Paul?

I guess I "forgot" to mention Paul. He's the guy I guess I've been dating.

We've gone out a few times and I think I like him but I am not sure. At least I thought I liked him after our first date. He is very very nice, he's a Christian (and a Calvinist at that) and he's a republican. He has a good job, his own home and has a good sense of humor too. He's 7 years older than me in case you are wondering. The thing is I'm not sure where I stand with him. He works alot and it's not that he really works too much it's that he travels 90% of the time and as a result I feel like an after thought.

I probably should not take it so personally but sometimes I don't hear from him for a week or so and then find out he was in Dallas or Charleston or some other warm place but when he has free time he tells me that as soon as his schedule slows down he'd like to get together again. I guess that means he is still interested in me, right?

He also has not kissed me yet and I am not used to that at all. That's usually how I tell if a guy is interested. I don't know if that is a good or bad thing that I haven't kissed him or that I've always kissed guys I've dated. I think that is normal, right?

Maybe it's the age difference? Maybe it's different communication styles? Maybe it's different "love languages"? I don't know.

Just some thoughts....

Investigation

I received a letter from the Secretary of State police yesterday that told me the began their investigation on Feeny Dodge in Palatine.

My goal now is to give Feeny Dodge as much bad publicity as possible. Iceman, at the Reef, suggested I tell channel 7 so they can do a story on it. I think the police investigating them is enough.

Refugees in Wheaton

I have not told you about another way I have been keeping myself busy!

Since July, I have been spending my Sunday afternoons with a bunch of Refugees from Sololia. Guys, it is the highlight of my week. It really is.

There are four families that live in a complex in Wheaton. The main family we go to visit, the Muya's, have 11 kids ranging in age from 1 year to 24. The 24 year old is in a refugee camp in Kenya. The rest are here. The oldest daughter is married and has 3 kids. The oldest is just shy of 3 years old and the youngest was just born! Another family has 4 or 5 and the last family has 5.

I was there yesterday and was finally able to see the long anticipated baby! She is the first American child. It will be interesting to watch her grow. The baby's name is Zenup and she is so tiny and so cute. I did not want to pass her to Kate, but I did. Kate tried to give her back to me 3 different times but each time she offered, the oldest brother, Hamadi, would come to be held. I didn't mind though because Hamadi is so cute. He's my favorite and I know I shouldn't have favorites but I do. He is jsut so cute! He repeats everything you say and has been doing so since I knew him. You can sing and he'll sing along too. He calls Kate "Cake" and all of the kids call me Teresa. I don't know how or why that started. I don't think Tracie is much harder to say than Teresa but I answer to it anyway.

This week I found that I can do leg extensions with the kids. 1-3 of them would cling to my legs as I was sitting on the couch and I would lift them all up. It was great fun...especially for them.

Another time I was there, I put a kid on my shoulders and hopped around the room. They thought that was a lot of fun.

Two of my favorite little girls are Amina and Rugia. Amina is 7 and has the most beautiful eyes you've ever seen and Rugia is 5 and is just a sweet little girl. Actually, she's a crier. She'll cry to get attention but I found that with so many kids around it's hard to get noticed so instead of ignoring her tears I have her talk out her frustrations with me.. I guess becase of this she has become my little buddy.

Two of my favorite of the older kids are two boys Juma (14) and Ali (12). Juma is the sweetest nicest kid. Until yesterday he would always give me a hug but he just turned 14 last week so he must be too old for hugs. Ali is a typical 12 year old and that is why I love him too. He is just obnoxious and trying to figure out who he is. It has got to be hard to be from a 3rd world country adjusting to a new life in America and be in middle school all at the same time.

Kate and I took Juma, Ali, Rugia and Amina to the Lincoln Park Zoo this summer and we had a great time! Rugia made me feel bad when I mentioned that I love hippos and she said that a Hippo killed her friend. Oops. We just happened to see Becca there that day too! That was very random seeing that she lives in Michigan.

I could continue with all of the kids and tell you that each one is my favorite, because they are each so unique. I can totally understand how a mother can love all of her kids the same... and I'm not even a mom yet!

My Car

My car is a continuous story.
The current situation is that I am unable to renew the registration on it because the dealer did not send the correct title to Springfield! What that boils down to is I am driving a car that is insured by my auto insurance company but one that the state says does not exist. My plates say that my registration was up in April but I am unable to register it until the dealership accepts their responsiblity and corrects the problem with Springfield. I had to file a formal complaint with the Secretary of State police and everything.
Meanwhile, I got ticketed for not having the car registered. The cop took my license and gave me a ticket to act as the license until I get everything worked out...but it hasn't happened yet.
I tried going to fix it and there was nothing that could be done until the title is in Springfield, but the woman at the Secretary of State's office gave me a temporary plate until everything gets worked out. Well, I was not able to put the plate on for various reasons (mostly because it has been so cold here) and had the temporary plate in my window.
Well, on Monday, a cop followed my into the parking lot at work and asked about the registration so I explained the situation and he let me go.
On Wednesday, a cop stopped me after church. I explained the situation and showed him the ticket. Turns out I was supposed to mail that in right away to get a court hearing but I was told not to mail it until I got the registration figured out. I was also not given the "infamous envelope". The kind South Barrington Cop gave me the appropriate envelope and helped me get the temporary plate into the window so it was more clearly visible.
Then, last night a cop followed me into my driveway after I left Excueses! I explained the situation, showed him my temporary plate and ticket (and the envelope the cop the night before gave to me) and told him I couldn't get the plate onto the car. So, the cop just happened to have a screwdriver in his car so that I could put it on (lucky me). So there I was in the bitter cold, short skirt and high heeled boots putting a plate on my car at 1 in the morning! He was kind enough to help me though.

Just Stuff

I talked to Carol last night. She was not feeling well but sounds like she is recovering well. She said she doesn't want to go to Champp's either and will join me at Excueses. She is not going to go to join me at Thornwood tomorrow though because she is meeting her friend Bev out in St. Charles. That is fine with me, I invited my friend Dan to come out Friday though. I doubt he'll join me because he is trying to quit smoking and is dieting at the same time (alcohol is not good for dieters on Weight Watchers).

I met a guy last Saturday! His name is Tony and he was really nice and kind of cute. He's the football player type and, Sarita, didn't you tell me I should date a football? He said he will be at the Reef on Friday and asked if I would be there. I told him I will but not until after 1. I'm not going to change my plans because some guy might be at the bar I will go to after Thronwood. But, I am kind of hoping he will be there. We exchanged numbers on Saturday too but he hasn't called. He didn't say he would call but I was hoping for a call. That's dumb isn't it? Carol convinced me that I shouldn't call him either because he can do it.

More on Karaoke

On Thursdays I join my friends Bert and Carol at a place close to my house called "Excueses". It's fun to go there, especially because they treat me like a star when I am there. Carol and I have even become friends with some other karaoke regulars there (DJ, Diana, Peaches and Bobo).

My roommate just called and asked me to go to another place, Champp's (there's supposed to be two "p's"), with her and a bunch of her friends from work tomorrow. I'd love to go but at Champp's you can only sing one song and you can sing all night at Excueses and people buy me my drinks at Excueses. They don't at Champp's. Plus, I also promised Bobo that I would sing "I'm a Slave 4 U" this week. AND Excueses is so close to home I can be in bed by 1 when I leave the bar at 12:45. I would not be in bed until 1:30/2:00 if I go to Champp's. I think I should go to Excueses.

Oh, and yes, I did say I am going to sing "I'm a Slave 4 U". I have not done that one before but I have done "Toxic" several times.

This is Indio. 

This is a pitcture taken at my friend, Rich's surprise pub crawl/birthday party. As you can see, I am on the right. My friend, Carol, is in the middle and my roommate, Kate, is on the left.

Cats

I now live with three cats. One belongs to my roommate and two belong to our friend, Paige, who moved to Costa Rica.
Kate's cat is a sweet little girl named Mya. Mya is a short haired gray and white cat who pretty much stays to herself. She'll come out to socialize when she feels like it, and it's not because she is a typical snooty cat, it's because she is kind of shy around the other two cats. I like to give her the rings when I open a gallon of milk. They keep her happy for HOURS.
Spike and Indio are the other two cats and they are both male. They are also the strangest cats I have ever met!

Spike is a shorthaired gray tiger stiped cat. The strange thing about Spike is that he not only needs to be around people at all times, he needs to tocuh them. I'm serious. You can sit on the couch with him on your lap and he will reach his paw up so that he can touch your face. He and Indio sleep with me at night so, if Indio is next to me, Spike will reach his paw OVER indie so that he can at least touch my arm, and if that is not good enough he will lie on top of Indie so he can put his paw on my shoulder. He has also taken to sleep at the top of my pillow, you know, the place in between your head and the top of your bed...it's strange. I move him each time he does it but he has not yet gotten the hint.
The stangest thing he does is race you into the bathroom when you are getting ready in the morning! He really does! You wake up and leave your room and he runs into the bathroom and lies in front of the toilet like he is posing for the cover of the Sport's Illustrated Swimsuit Edition. Then he decides to jump into the bathtub... can't get out on his own. I go through this routine everyday!!!

Indio is a long haired black and white cat. He is such a sweetheart too. He likes my bed and I swear he does not leave it during the day because when I come home, he is sleeping in the same spot he was when I left. He, like his brother, is also a cuddler but he's different because he doesn't insist on touching your face. He will, however, sit in front of you and cry until you tell him that he can come up on the couch, the bed, whatever. It doesn't matter. He also will announce to anyone who is home that he is alone in the hall, the bedroom, the bathroom, the living room, anywhere someone is not and wait until he is called. Kate and I mock him, "I'm in the hallway. Does anyone care? I'm by your bed. Can I come up there?" You get the point. When you hold him he is just the sweetest thing ever. I call him a big teddy bear (Kate calls him "Teddy Bear Head"). He just lies on you like a rag doll and let's you do anything to him. Honestly. Kate makes him fly and he will just hang there.
Another strange thing about this cat is he does not know how to drink water. He actually puts his paw into the dish and licks it. It is really funny to watch. Spike, on the other hand, will take his dry food and dip it in the water before eating it.
I posted a silly picture that my mom sent to me because these cats look JUST like Spike and Indie. I think they might have a secret life living on a farm

Spike and Indie Look-a-likes 

My Bar

It should come as no surprise to you that I have fallen in love with singing karaoke.

My first experience was at a bowling alley in Buffalo Grove. And what did I sing you ask? Madonna's "Open Your Heart" That was June, 2003 and I have not stopped since.

I now go out to sing 3-4 nights a week. I tell people that my weekends start on Thursday.

My usual place is a COMPLETE dive bar in Schaumburg called "The Sponge Reef. I now refer to that as "my bar". I know everyone there, my friends are there, the bar tender is Elizabeth Shue's FIRST COUSIN, there's a wide variety of people and I can sing all night long!

My Friend

Since May, I have had the pleasure of working with one of the funniest people ever. He also started a Blog at about the same time I did. I highly recommend checking it out. You will love it!

http://frenziedcognition.blogspot.com/

Chris doesn't know I am promoting his Blog but just trust me on this one. You will not regret it.

A February Day in Chicago and Amy Grant

Here I am at work but all I can do is look out my window and see the gray sky. I guess I'll take lunch now.

It snowed again last night... but at least it was only an inch this time. The sky is now so gray. I do not anticipate going outside to my car either. I can tell it will be cold.

I am trying to decide what to do tonight. I'm thinking I should go to church because the midweek services are the best at Willow Creek. They are also starting a new series which should be good. I just don't want to drive out there. I'm cold and tired. I know I should though because everytime you feel like you don't want to go to church God has something BIG in store for you. Like at Christmas I did not want to go to the Christmas service because I had so much to do with packing to go home and such. I decided I was going to call my 80 year old bar friend, Bert, and tell him I can't go. I didn't though. I met him at my usual bar, he bought me a Jack and Coke and he, my roommate and I all went to church. I was later so happy I had taken him with me. He was thrilled to meet my friends, he was amazed that we had to park in a remote parking lot and take a bus to get to the church, and he was overwhelmed to see the auditorium that holds 7500 people (we've built a new auditorium since you were there on the B & C trip) . The message was good too but the best part was Willow Creek's tradition of telling the people with you how much you love them during the singing of "Silent Night".

Today, however, I am matching the weather and am in a rather blah mood. I decided that listening to country is not what I should do today. Yes I said country. I've been listening to it a lot lately, mostly because it makes for good karaoke and since I go out to sing karaoke at least 3 nights a week it is good to have more than Madonna to sing. That can be another entry. The point is, I decided not to listen to country (why did I tell Diana I would learn "Bring on the Rain" anyway?) and listen to my trusty Amy Grant. Yes, I said Amy Grant.

Everytime I am in the kind of mood where I feel a little distant from God and just want to cry all day long I find Amy Grant's "Never Alone" (1980) to be very comforting. It's strange the music that can make a person feel better. This album is a bit morbid because it talks a lot about our mortality and pain and lonliness but offers so much hope at the same time by saying she can walk away with God or all she ever has to be is what God made her to be or learning that by letting go of something desired brought freedom or saying not to walk to middle and just make up your mind about what you believe. She was only 20 when she recorded it. Crazy, huh?

Anyway, it's a good album. If you ever see it somewhere (and do not already have it) I suggest picking it up.

Shoes

In December I decided that I am tired of complaining about the way I look and it was time I did something about it. So, I joined a gym that is about 1.5 miles from my house. I am now there all of the time... about 2 hours a night (or day depending on how early I can get up and the day of the week).

I love going there! It's a small place and the owner knows me by name. Don't you love friendly places? I know I do. That is why I chose Cardinal Fitness as oposed to one of those big places like Lifetime or Bally's. I like being a name and not just a number (although I do still have to give them my membership number when I go in).

There is a small mall in Des Plaines, the suburb I now call home. At this mall there is a Lady Foot Locker that is selling all merchandise at 70% off! I told my friend Sue (from work) about it and she and I decided to go that evening. I should first confess that I was there on Friday and bought a couple pairs already. But they were $80 shoes that I got for $20!!

Last night I found a really cute pair of New Balance that I really wanted. The problem was they were not in my size. I wear a 7 but I was determined and I tried on the 6's (because they were the ones I could find) and they were, as much as I hate to admit it, too tight. I then settled on a really cute pair of Nike's. They are white with red accents. (Can gym shoes really even be described as "cute" and with "accents"?) When I went to purchase the shoes I saw the pair of the New Balance I deisred in a BIG box by the register. This time they were 6 1/2 and I figured that since the Nike's were 6 1/2 these might fit too. They didn't. So, I bought the really cute red ones.

I did not go to the gym last night because I was so sick last week that I was still tired by the end of the day. I decided to just go home and do some floor exercises instead. I am now SOOOOO glad I got the red Nike's because when I got home I pulled out my original gym shoes (the ones I had prior to last Friday). They are a pair of New Balance that looked just like the pair I wanted last night... they were just another color. No wonder I liked them so much!

I am also very satisfied with my decision because these Red Nike's are very very very comfortable. I did not want to take them off!

So, the point in telling this story is to give evidence that I can wear and buy shoes that do not have a heel on them. Oh, and going to the gym all the time has not made a difference on my figure yet either. I know it will so I am going to keep going.

Men and Why I am Tired

For a short time in the latter half of 2004 I was involved with a guy named Jon. He was not someone with whom I should ever have gotten involved but he was HOT so I did. Looking back I wonder what I was thinking.

The only thing we had in common was not listening to mainstream music and The Kids in the Hall (which is pretty big in my book). He was also one of the most intelligent men I have ever talked to. We always had good discussions.

Things between us ended rather ubruptly under unfortunate circumstances. I would still see him around because we had a lot of mutual friends. It was hard to see him for so many different reasons. Then one night I hung out with him and was able to say to myself "I'm not interested in this guy" and I was so proud of myself for finally getting over Johnny.

Then last night it happened. A friend called and informed me that Jon is dating someone else. I should not care right? He was not what I needed or really wanted but why was I up all night crying and unable to sleep?

Emotions are fickle. Sometimes I wish I did not have them. I should just be happy that Jon found someone new and be done with it but I keep wondering what she has that I don't but try to remind myself that it doesn't really matter because she is probably a better fit for him than I am. I know he is not a good fit for me. In fact when I was with him I became someone I did not like. I am 26 and it is time I focused on "marriage material", which Jon is not.

I just wish he would not come around my bar anymore.

My Job

I have a job. It sounds like a good job but it is not fun. I miss working with people and speaking spanish. I need to find something else SOON!!!
I'm trying to get back into something where I am working more "hands on" but people won't look at me because I have administrative experience and I can't get another administrative position because all of the openings I found require a Master's degree.
Maybe I should just get one of those. The only problem is I don't know what I want to study. I was looking into programs today and the only one that intrigued me was linguistics but what good is that?
Something will come up.