2012

Ok, I think that I'm well rested from my year+ absence from blogging. It's time to get back to telling you all random things about my life that you may or may not care about. Mostly though, I'm doing this because my dear friend Robin has put a challenge in front of me and I love a good challenge (at least until I get tired of it and move on to something different and less challenging).

Robin and I made a deal recently that we would blog at least 52 times in 2012 – equal to the frequency of posting once a week without the entrapment of having to actually post once a week. We both really like a good non-challenging challenge. The deal was sweetened by the suggestion to see who reaches her goal the fastest, and then the loser will buy the winner dinner at Yoshi’s, a favorite Chicago eatery.

But, since this turned into a contest, and I am really good at laying ground rules, we came up with a few guidelines:
1) Posts must be somewhat informative.
2) Posts must have at least 52 words. (Byline: Shorter posts can combine to equal one, i.e. two posts of 26 words will equal one legitimate post.)
3) No more than one post a day shall count toward the total.
4) Photo-only posts shall count only if there is a minimum of five photos that share a commonality and tell a story (sometimes there just are no words).

After we agreed on the ground rules, we decided to proceed with the 52 in 2012 (or some other lame name) challenge.
(via Gchat):
Liz: I think that we should both post them on our blogs today. The world will keep us accountable (or the 10 people who read our blogs).
Robin: yes!!
Liz: Plus, it will put us each one post closer to 52 (although it will be a wash since we are both doing it…)
Robin: but I am one ahead!!
Liz: Oh, I’m not worried about that…
Robin: haha ok I am getting excited about this challenge. I can almost taste that delicious red snapper with the head still on
Liz: I’m looking forward to a nice steak prepared by Mr. Yoshi himself.
Robin: ooh he does real good steaks. real real good
Liz: indeed. This is going to be good.

Bring it!

Not exactly a triumphant return

I said I was bringing the blog back but I'm not doing a very good job of it. I give you one post on a vacation, a post about a breakdown and then a random question. I'll try to get better. I'm just kind of in an odd place right now in life. I'm ready for a big change but I don't know what that is. I've had a couple of exciting moments in the last couple of weeks that have been followed by some confusion and disappointment. I've wanted to be alone yet surrounded by people all at the same time. My mind is going a million miles an hour and I can't really keep up with it.
I think that I need to get back to focusing on what really matters in life. I need to be spending more time with God and less time worrying about myself. I know that He has a plan but I need to get to the point that I can trust it without questioning too much. I need to get control of my life and lose that control all at the same time.
So, that's where I am right now in life. It's not a bad place at all, it's just not my favorite. I'll try to write more often, it helps me process as well as makes me think about the funny moments in life.

Question

Question for today: Why are guys so confusing, irritating, maddening and lovable all at the same time?

Anyone that knows the answer to make it all stop will win a prize. I don't know what the prize is, but it will be awesome!

Thank you. That is all for today.

Starting Over?

The last couple of weeks have been a bit of an emotional roller coaster for me (including a very uncharacteristic complete meltdown last weekend). I think that this ride has been caused by two larger issues.

1. I feel a little like I am starting over a little bit in life. However, I'm not starting over completely by my own choice. I've had a large number of friends move away in the past year. These friends are the ones that lived across the street, one block over, or a couple of streets away. They are the people that I would run into on my way to the store. The people that I would hang out with on the weekends or for just an hour on a week night because we could. They were the neighbors that I could go borrow a cup of sugar from. While I am happy for all of them because of the opportunities that have taken them away, it has made me sad and forced me to start over some finding friends. Don't get me wrong, I still have plenty of friends in the city. But, the friends that moved away are the ones who not only lived close, but were also in the same life stage as me. They didn't have to check in with a significant other (at least not most of them) before hanging out. They didn't have to find a babysitter if we wanted to grab a drink on a Tuesday night. So, I'm redefining my circle of local friends.
I'm also starting over with work some. I'm starting the process of looking for my next career move (I'm ok saying this because my boss knows about this). I don't totally know what I'm looking for, but it's time to make a move and find a new challenge. At the same time, my current work situation is about to change dramatically with one of my co-workers leaving soon for his own new adventure. He will be greatly missed and not just because it will mean more work for everyone until we fill the position. He is a great co-worker, someone that I learn from almost daily, and a great friend. (At least I still get to be his friend after he leaves).

2. Starting over exaggerates the other issue that I'm dealing with. I'm sick and tired of being single and I don't really want to have to go through all of this by myself again. I'm at a point in my life where I am confident in who I am (both inside and out) but I start to question what might be wrong with me that a guy isn't interested (never really has been). I know that's the wrong thing to think because there's nothing wrong with me. But, that's the stupid thought that goes through my head. This second issue is what I had a complete breakdown about last weekend.

Regardless of these issues, I know that I am taken care of. I have friends who will come over late at night and bring me cupcakes and let me have a crazy girl moment. I have friends who let me borrow their husbands when I have a 'boy job' that needs to be done. I have a church family that I enjoy very much. I am blessed (I just have to remind myself of that fact a lot lately).

What I've been up to

I've done a few things over the past weeks that I thought, 'hey, I could blog about this.' But, I didn't. So, here, you will get the recap all at once.

Two friends of mine had babies in the last couple of months so I made some cute (at least I think they are) onesies as gifts. Ties for a little boy and hearts and teacups for a little girl.


This teacup one is my personal favorite.



It was time for a vacation so I decided to visit some friends in Boston and DC. I flew into DC and spent one night there. The Bears were on Monday night football and since my lovely hosts are also from Chicago, went went out to cheer them on. For dinner, we conquered the Big Green.

The next day, it was off to DC for a couple of days. I spent some time with my friend Julia in her kitchen
And wandered around the National Mall for several hours.

While not seeing the sights, I was spending time with my longtime friend Amy and her beautiful little girl, Lucia (oh, and Amy's lovely husband, of course).

Then it was back to Boston for several days.
We visited Mr. Adams and his brewery
This one was my favorite but I can't actually remember which one it was. I'm sure I'll be able to remember when I see it again.

My hosts in Boston
We walked the Freedom Trail and we found Mother Goose
Then we went to Harvard and found out that Winnie the Pooh lives there
We also spent an afternoon touring the USS Constitution.
At the end of the adventures, it was back to Chicago and real life.

I'm bringing it back!

I know I talked about it, but I think I'm actually going to do it. The blog is back! I need an outlet of some kind. It might also help me make sure I occasionally do something that you might all find interesting (and, I'm going to guess that hearing about me sitting around doing nothing, is not going to be interesting).

So, here we go...

A return?

I'm thinking about reviving this little blog of mine. But, I have one question before I do that.

Will anyone care?

I think it might be good for me to have some sort of outlet. Somewhere to vent a bit. Somewhere to get perspective from other people. If this comes back, it will be a bit different. More of a focus on life as a single, female, young professional trying to navigate life and decide what she wants.

But, what's the point if no one reads it?