Trashy?

Not much new going on around here.  Nico and I are going up to Kalamazoo on Thursday to see Uncle Scott.  Should be fun.  It's nice to be able to drive 2 hours and see family.

Dave has been working on setting up work space in the basement.  Which is awesome.  Seriously, when you are in the basement, it's easy to settle into a nice little zone work-wise.  

I found the missing piece to the bed.  But for the life of me, I can't figure out how to put the damn thing together again.  Seriously.  We put it together last night, but it was not right.  I heard loud creaks and bangs from the bed frame this morning and it definitely has an unnatural slant to the middle of the bed.  I think we may just get rid of the damn thing and keep the box springs on the floor.  Is that trashy?

Holy Weekend!

We had a bit of a wild weekend!  Dave's boss Craig was in town, so I took Friday off to hang with Nico and Craig's daughter Lila.  We started off by going to Lincoln Park Zoo.  Which is awesome.  It's free, so it wasnt that annoying when Nico decided 20 minutes after being there that he wanted to go.

After the zoo, we headed back to their hotel, where the kids went swimming in the indoor pool.  We also had Giordano's pizza for lunch.  It was amazing.  It's what deepdish was always meant to be.  Sooo good.

Saturday we had kind of a chill day.  I went to a fitness class in the morning and Dave and Nico went on a drive about.  They went up to Niles and Lincolnwood to check things out.  When they got back, we caught a quick nap and then headed over to the lake for a late picnic.  It was a bit cool, but not too bad.

The grill is one of those portable/disposable things that we got for our emergency preparedness supplies (in case we ever had to stay at a shelter for a week or two due to a hurricane).  Here is Nico the Firefighter putting out the fire.   

Then on Sunday, I gave Nico a hair cut.  Isn't he just precious?

After, we took Lila and Craig to see the Cubs play!!  As an early Father's Day present, Nico got Dave a new Cubs shirt!  The game was awesome.  They won.  And Nico was really good for the whole game.  Seriously.  He lasted all game.  It was great.  I was very proud of him. Lila left her purse in the stadium, so I went back for it, and they all headed back to the hotel, which was down in The Loop, where there was more swimming.  I think it's probably time for swimming lessons for Nico, because little homey is completely unafraid in the water.  

He's been okay, considering all the change.  He still gives Dave a rough time of it for nap time.  But we haven't had any back sliding in terms of potty training or anything.  He says he's going to start sleeping in his firetruck bed when he turns four (yes he still sleeps with us- dont judge).  

Ice Cream

So, one of the best things about the new place is it's proximity to a Dunkin Donuts/Baskin Robins.  When I got home from work yesterday, Nico and I sent Dave to do some work at a coffee shop and we did some stuff around the house.  I tried to put the bed together- but failed because we are, apparently, missing a piece (don't ask me how).  Then we had some dinner and walked to get ice cream.  Isn't that awesome!!

I have biked to work two days this week.  It's a nice ride... about 12.5-13 miles round trip.  Overwhelming though, because I see all these places where I want to go... this bar...this restaurant... this book store.  Its hard to keep my bike going.  It's weird because I used to be so gunshy about riding my bike.  I would go out of my way to stay on bike paths.  And often I would end up lost.  I've finally just said, "to hell with it!" and just got out there with the cars.  I fully expect to get tagged some day... but since I am riding on crowded city streets,  I am banking on the offending driver only going about 20-30 mph when they hit me.  And since I am wearing a helmet, I think I will be okay.  I mean, obviously, it would hurt, which is why I am careful- defensive. When I have questions about other drivers being aware of me- I just hop off my bike and wait for them to go by.  No big deal.  

It's cool. 

I also finished my work for the College of Medicine this weekend.  I had been working half time for the grant since I left in April... helping with presentations and posters and such.  Yesterday was the big annual meeting and I helped pull together the figures for it.  It was a bit unceremonious of an end for me.  The person who took over my position seemed grateful for my help, but my old boss seemed a bit ambivalent about my contribution.  Oh well.  Consider that a life lesson learned.  

All for now. 

In Chicago

We've made it safely to Chicago.  We are still unpacking- hence the no updating.  Nico is loving the crap out of the city.  He likes riding the train (no surprise).  I have been working while Dave and Nico are at home.  This has resulted in this thing where they go do fun stuff without me.  Nico and I have a new thing where I tell them not to have fun without me.  Then at the end of the day, Nico reports on all the fun things they did.

Nico seems to like our new house.  I am so relieved to be past that shitty part... past living apart from my boys, past packing up, past unloading the truck.  Now we are slowly putting together our house.  I have a girl cave.  This is a place for all my craft stuff.  I want to make it a craft space+photography studio+home office space.  Dave says the weird little room in the basement isn't big enough.  I say challenge accepted!!

Our kitchen is tiny.  And apparently, I can't say no to kitchen devices.  Seriously, I just can't do it.  The result is that our painfully small kitchen is spilling out into the dining room.  So I took this island and made it a bar cart.  As soon as we get those plates off of there.   

Thursday I came home from work and scooped up Dave and Nico and went to a German place called Leshatt's Inn.  Was one of the best meals we've had in a long time.  Of course, it's not hard when you have a crazy beer selection.  Afterwards, we stopped for ice cream... which was completely off the chain.  Nico loved it of course.

I found out that four of my five favorite musical acts are touring this summer (Springsteen is touring, but it looks like mostly Europe for now:(  Counting Crows+Wallflowers and Goo Goo Dolls+Matchbox 20 will both be in Chicago this year.  I keep trying to convince my sister and mom to please come to Chicago so they can go with me.  To no avail. 

I think I might suffer from some type of mild manic depression, only with out the depression. Because I get on these whiriling, high energy "must do all the things now!" kicks.  The latest one has produced a new blog... that is separate from the Royse show.  It's more about crafty mccrafterson stuff.  

http://thejbrshow.com/

Basically I just want to blog organization+food+crafty+diy+photography+awesome+memes+chicago stuff for moms who ain't got time for that!!  Still trying to figure out a posting schedule.  But I am working on it.  Especially now that I have a girl cave.  

Starting to get Sad

It struck me today, that we are leaving Tallahassee- and it's not all rainbows and butterflies.

I was talking to Nico tonight on the phone and we were talking about how we are going to be moving in a few days.  The conversation turned to Graham, and Nico insisted that Graham is coming with us.  I guess when they have talked about it school that has been the conversation: that Nico and his family are moving to Chicago and Graham is going to come with us.  And I just got really sad for Nico.  I don't question the decision we made.  In the long run, this is going to end up being amazing for him.  He doesn't realize it, but things are going to change for him this weekend.  His two best friends (Graham and Ovid) are still going to be in Tallahassee and he will be in Chicago.  We are going to try to see them one final time this week, but it's difficult, because none of them will realize that it's probably the last time (at least for a while) that they will see each other.  

This spring, I read "Nurture Shock" by Po Bronson.  It's basically about what the latest science says about children and how they develop.  One of the most intriguing chapters of the book was about the psycho-social development of kids and the degree to which they learn sharing, compassion, and empathy from the relationships that they have with siblings.  Turns out that the better predictor of their abilities to express compassion, empathy, and to share come from the relationships that they have with their friends.  Since Graham has a little sister, he's always had to share.  And he is awesome with her.  He is very matter of fact about her abilities and the fact that she is little.  But he doesn't ever seem to view her presence as a drag (bringing down the fun that Nico and he were going to have).  His way and what he wants aren't the only thing that matter.  So when he interacts with Nico, they have a really fun way of playing, where they go from activity to activity to activity, both playing together.  Bossing each other and pushing back against the bossing, but never abandoning each other.  Never getting pissed at each other and deciding to do something different.  Which I think is awesome.  I hope that someday, when Nico is an older brother, he is half the brother Graham is to his little sis.  

In any case, we'll try to do google hangout and facetime and all of that.  I am in the process of assembling a mail kit for Nico, so that he can send letters and post cards to Graham and Ovid.  I'm also going to have a photobook printed of his friends and the house on Atapha and the hospital and the house on Apakin.  And the parks.  I hope it will help.

Swimming and May Day!

So, Nico had a pretty terrific weekend.  It started with a going away party at Joe and Kari Follick's house on Saturday.  And guess what?  There was swimming!!

He has suggested that it is time for him to start learning how to swim.  Which I am completely okay with.  I think we might need to look into swimming lessons up here.  He seems like he's old enough now where he can go and listen to the teacher and I can lounge nearby in the sun.  Just as it should be.  

His school also did their May Day celebration.  

In this event, there was singing and a party.  When someone (whose name rhymes with Rave) finally uploads the video, I will post a link to some of the performances.  Apparently, Nico knows that after doing a performance and people clap, you should bow.  He was the only kid who bowed.  Which is awesome.  

There were also horse rides, which is fantastic.  Nico has been on a horse more in the last three years than I have been in the last 20.  And I lived on a horse ranch.  Go figure.  

I fly home tomorrow to scoop up my boys and bring them to Chicago.  Don't know what next week will look like, so I probably won't post much.  Once we get to Chicago, there will be all the unpacking.  Can I share with you how much I am looking forward to having all my kitchen stuff?  Mixing bowls?  Pans?  A microwave??   Thank god.  If I have to eat another shitty spinach smoothie for breakfast, I was going to have a fit.  Surprisingly, sugar-free andes mints added to the blender, a delicious breakfast smoothie don't make. 

Singy McSingerson

Nico's school is having a big May Day celebration this year.  We've noticed that Nico has been singing songs that we haven't taught him.  He's kinda shy about it, so Dave had to record this surreptitiously:



I think they might be doing this song too at May Day, because Nico knows the words:


Also during bath time, Dave has been teaching Nico all the words to yellow submarine.  Which is awesome

Plants and the Cubs!

Last night, when I got home, I got the chance to put my herbs into plants and hang them.  Plus, I started some tomatoes.  Don't they look cute?

Also, Dave's boss is coming to town in June, and we want to take him and his daughter to a Cubs game.  So I bought tickets.  It's going to be fun!! Of course, I am a bit spoiled.  The first game I ever went to at Wrigley, we were in the 12th row of box seats.  So, I am a bit spoiled.  

Weekend with my boys!

I flew home on Friday, for Mother's Day weekend.  I had a bit of a debacle leaving Chicago though.  Apparently, there was going to be some bad weather, so Delta delayed my flight out of O'Hare, but I would have missed my connection in Atlanta.  And not get into Atlanta until 1145 pm.  And Mama don't play that.  So, after consulting with some coworkers, they suggested, I get in a cab and then get on the phone with Delta when I couldn't get the Delta website to work for rebooking my departure.  I did and was able to get Delta to reroute me through Midway, leaving an hour earlier.  This put me into Tallahassee at 830 pm to see my squish and Dave!

Saturday, Nico and I started with a trip to the park with Ovid.  There is a new spinner thing that they just did not get tired of.  It was pretty much amazing.  

Saturday night, we stayed in and tried to watch Finding Nemo.  Nico was still not entirely interested in watching a movie all the way through (even though I thought he'd be all over Finding Nemo).  Oh well.  

Sunday morning, Dave and Nico took me to a special Mother's Day brunch at the Hotel Duval, which is kind of a swanky place in downtown Tallahassee.  The brunch was very nice.  We had to get dressed up. I am not sure, but I think Nico might be modeling here.  

The brunch was delicious... there were mimosas, floats, quiches, etc.  It was awesome.  The brunch was held at the Level 8 lounge (which is the bar/lounge of the Hotel Duval).  It has a fantastic view of the skyline of Tallahassee.  

Sunday afternoon, we scooped up Graham (Nico's best friend) and Graham's sister Lydia, to take them to the soccer field.  I wanted Dave to be able to play soccer, so I kept the kids.  Nico and Graham had a grand time... they played nicely for two hours, with the occasion break for snacks.  Including watermelon.

  

Then, this morning, we took off for the airport.  Nico and Dave dropped me and I flew back to O'hare and headed to the office.  In all, it was a great weekend.  Nico's been a peach- but I am definitely looking forward to getting the boys up here.  

Walking with History

I am becoming a massive fan of Yelp.  I love being able to open the app on my phone and search nearby for "Cheap Dinner" or "Burgers" or "Brunch".  On Wednesday night, I had a massive headache (which I think was brought on by either hunger or dehydration) so I went looking for a place to eat something quick before the event I went to.  

I ended up at a place around the corner called "Lincoln Station".  Had dinner, it was okay.  But then today, when I went to review it on Yelp, I found out that it is across the street from The Biograph Theatre, which is where John Dillinger was killed by the FBI.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biograph_Theater

That is crazy. 

And that is what I love about Chicago and all old cities.  That you can walk though the streets and literally be walking where history has walked.  LOVE IT.  

In other news, I am headed home today... I say "home" because home is wherever Dave and Nico are.  I cant wait to get them up here. 

Green Thumbs Unite!!

Not much going on here.  Last night I went to an event that was hosted by the DePaul Social Science Research Center.  One of the organizations that we work with was having a launch party, and my boss was supposed to speak.  So, I went.  It was ok.  I am looking forward to doing cool stuff like that.  Last month, DePaul hosted Sister Prejean and Tim Robbins (Sister Prejean was the sister the story of Dead Man Walking was based on).  Why Tim Robbins, I dont know, except that he might be a Death Penalty Advocate.  Other things that are awesome about Chicago: The Counting Crows and the Wallflowers are playing Chicago.  Together.  (Counting Crows being one of my favorite bands).  And other such cool things. I am pretty sure Springsteen plays Chicago whenever he's one tour.  And Jimmy Buffet.  So that will definitely be cool... getting at least have the opportunity to see great acts.

This week, I went to Home Depot to get the garden started.  There are three not so great things about our house:
1.  The kitchen. Its small.  And not impressive.  But all electrical outlets work.  And I havent blown a fuse yet... so that's cool.
2.  In the summer, there are rats in the alley (we have an alley that runs behind our house- where the garbage cans are).  WHAT. THE. ACTUAL.F? Seriously?  Supposedly, its because we live so close to a park (I dont know what that correlation is).  I was talking to a neighbor when she told me about it.  My thought is that there are clearly not enough predatory snakes in our neighborhood.  Cuz you know, Florida snakes don't get down like that.  I am considering what it would take to have an outdoor cat... could we get an outdoor cat to handle that?  Build her a little house or something?
3.  The yard is tiny.  And gets a lot of shade.

So, in terms of the yard situation, I think I might try to funnel most of the gardening efforts into container gardening- which is great, since we have so many containers.  So, I headed to Home Depot, where I spent the better part of an hour wandering around the garden section.  Guess what else they have in Chicago?  Seasons.  Like, where you can grow things besides cotton, peppers, and tomatoes.

Look what I found:

Based on what was on sale at Home Depot, this is very popular: large bowls of color annuals.  I guess, since so many people have decks, terraces, and balconies instead of yards.  I really wanted it- but I could not justify the $90 for it.

So I settled on some containers for herbs that can hang on the steps going out to the back porch.  And some peat pots for mai seeds.  When Nico gets up here, we are going to have to hit the ground running getting some seeds going.

Settling into Chicago

Not much new going on here in Chicago.  I am flying back to Tallahassee on Friday for Mother's Day Weekend.  I am definitely looking forward to seeing my boys.  Especially squish.  I call Nico lots of names: Squish, Meatball, Nicholas Michael Royse, the Boy, Lil Man, etc.  I started calling him Squish because Ms. Sue (his teacher at his old school), would ask, "Jessi, why is he so squishy? (huggable)".  And he is.  You just have to snuggle my boy!!  

Here is a picture of the place where I wait to catch the bus.  I dont know what that kind of tree is called, but it was in bloom last week and the blossoms hadn't fallen completely off- so it was beautiful.  I don't mind waiting for a bus when I get to wait here.  

Last month I bought a groupon for OnRamp Crossfit classes.  Crossfit is... I guess its a bit like a cult.  It meets most of the sociological definitions of a cult.  But it's mostly based on functional movements and strength.  Every year, they have Crossfit games- which are kind of like the Olympics.  The winner is the "Fittest Man/Woman on Earth."  The workouts combine running, rowing, gymnastics, power lifting, olympic lifting, etc.  In any case, I went to the first class yesterday.  It was 1.2 miles from the office, so I walked over there (knowing full well, I might have difficulty getting myself back to the office on my own volition).  

It wasn't too bad.  I thought that my left knee was going to be a big problem, but we worked on technique for squats.  If I do squats "right", then my left knee is not a problem.  I did a 6 set tabata (which is 20 seconds of action followed by 10 seconds of rest).  Squats/situps/lunges.  So I did squats (as many as I could in 20 seconds, followed by 10 seconds of rest). Six times.  Same with situps.  Same with lunges.  I bailed on the last 5 seconds of the 5th set of lunges (mostly because my legs were shaking so bad).  In all, it wasn't too bad.  And I walked my own self back to the office.  

Bonus: I got a pic of the bridge.  I have this goal of running/walking over all the bridges in Chicago.  I already have a bunch done.  It's nice to unexpectedly add one to the list.  

Other than that, not much is going on.  I rode my bike to campus on Saturday, just to see if I could.  It wasnt too bad.  Bike lanes or bike paths almost the entire way.  But then I got lost heading back to North Park.  Per usual.  

I went up to Evanston on Saturday night to Robyn and Jordan's house.  Robyn was the one who sent me the job post for the DePaul job.  I basically fell in love with their street.  I think that when the time comes, we are definitely going to have to consider Evanston (when its time to buy a house).  We had deep dish pizza with Kevin (who I also know from FSU) and his girl Jen, and another couple (Cheryl and Andy).  It was pretty fun.  

Sunday, I went for a run and hit up whole foods (yay!), even if it was like Mad Max Beyond Thunder Dome.    I am trying to eat a lot more fruits and vegetables lately.  I make kale or spinach smoothies for breakfast, have salad for lunch and some type of protein for dinner.  I thought I would try this Odwalla juice because there was sale on it at the grocery across the street from my work (yeah, that is pretty much awesome).  The only problem with this juice is that it tastes like carrots.  

I dont know what I was expecting- maybe something that didnt taste so much like the carrots?

Invalid

Here is a picture of Nico in a bowler hat.  Your argument is invalid.

Missing my boys.

So this period that I am in Chicago is the longest that I have ever been apart from Nico.  It's so weird.  17 days.  As of today, it's ten more days till I see him in Tallahassee (for Mother's Day).

Luckily Grandma and Grandpa are in town this week, so I hope they are a good distraction for him.  I guess when you're getting to go to Chuck E. Cheese and to the park all the time, I bet it's not hard.

It's crazy how grown his face looks.. He's really losing the toddler/three year old look and is starting to look like a big kid.  It's been hard with him- I was hoping that he would be more interested in video chatting and talking on the phone, but he isn't.  I think he might be a little mad/annoyed at me.  I hope he isn't but, I would be pretty pissed too if I were him.  I am trying to send him postcards and care packages and notes and such.  But I don't think he "gets" it.  

My only hope is that he doesn't remember this month.  At all. I know, that in the end, he will have so much more opportunity than if we had stayed in Florida on all fronts: sports, academics, culture, etc.  I can rest assured that if he goes to do ODP when he is a sophomore or a junior in highschool, he will do so having a really good idea where he stands because he will have played with all those guys.  He has the chance to attend schools that rank in the top 50. IN THE COUNTRY.  He might have a choice of judo clubs to fight in.  I hope someday he realizes this... 

Getting there...

Well, I made it here safely.
I left Tallahassee on Tuesday April 23rd and rolled into Chicago on the afternoon of the 24th.  It was an easy drive, except for some hard rain I encountered leaving Louisville on Wednesday.  I brought the Kia, loaded down with clothes, toiletries  kitchen items and a few craft things.  I got them all unpacked and into the house by Wednesday night.

The house has two stories and a basement.  I moved all my clothes into one room upstairs and am sleeping in the other room (on an air mattress).  I didnt do much last week, except figure out how to get to work and where the closest grocery is.

On Saturday I drove to Plainfield to get a firetruck bed for Nico.  A tollbooth lady told me that I could pay with cash at my last tollbooth, I couldn't.  So, I can't wait to see the ticket or the fine I will get for that. Should be good times.  When I got back, I headed over to campus to video chat with the boys (since my internet at home isnt being installed until Thursday).  On my my way out of there, I swung by the fiber arts store I found in Lincoln Park on my last go.  I picked up some yarn for a hat for Nico (for Christmas). Saturday night, I went to Target to get a few food items.

I went to a benefit on Sunday for the Read/Write Library of Chicago.  One of my friends/coworkers helped organize it.  I went and got to see another part of the city.  In all, things have been pretty good here.  I miss my boys like crazy.  Dave's parents are in town this week- so hopefully Nico won't notice how much he misses me.

My main source of transportation to work is the brown line from Kimball station to Fullerton.  There is apparently work going on on the brownline somewhere so transportation is a little wonky now.  But I asked a transit worker and he directed me in the right direction.  No big deal.

I have a life list item to run all the bridges in Chicago.  Today after work, I am going to give my first couple a try.  Should be fun.

I have a list a mile long of things I still need to do.  Then there are the things I want to do.  :)

All for now.  Will write more later.

Play him out Nico

Not much going on here... I have three days (counting today) left of work at the FSU COM.  So, I may not update again until next week.  Until then, I give you the musical stylings of Nicholas Michael Royse.

Springtime and the Cards

We had such a great weekend!!  First, Dave and Nico went to the downtown get-down on Friday night.  I was in a time-crunch to get a video done for Madi Harris.  JJ was meeting with a coach he knows and wanted to show him video.  So that was my big project last week.  In case you are interested in it, here it is:

I need to fix a couple of things.  But I really like how it came out.  I feel kind of jipped though.  Back when I had to do my highlight tape, it was with actual tapes.  And if you screwed anything up, it was so hard to fix.  this, the most trying thing for me was having enough time to go through all the video we have, looking for the best Madi video.  

Then, Saturday morning, we went to Springtime Tallahassee with Graham.  There were firetrucks.  I think you can imagine how that went.  

Nico and Graham really do get along well.  We stayed at the parade for basically the whole thing, because Nico and Graham were having such a great time.  Usually we're like, "There are no more firetrucks?  Alright! Peace!!"  So that was fun.  Seriously, shouldn't Nico be a model?  He is incrediably adorable.  I hope he doesn't get ugly when he gets older, I dont want people to see pictures of him at this really adorable time in his life and be like, "Dude, what happened?"

Sunday we did some chores and played soccer.  It's funny how soft my skin gets when I haven't played in a while.  One dive and two slides and I have scrapes on my forearm, my hip and my left knee.  But I hadn't played in 6 months.  So I guess that is fair.  

Saturday night, I gave all the soccer stuff to Nick.  It's so weird.  It filled up the back of a SUV.  Uniforms, balls, coolers, pinnies, cones.  It's crazy.  I am going down to the county tomorrow to give them all their charms.  The charms are a tradition I started with them the first season that I coached them.  The first season on the team, I give them a bracelet with their name, WHS Girls Soccer, and the record for the season.  Then in subsequent years, we add another charm for the record, and other soccer charms, and their number.  It's one of the things I am most proud of, that I have done for them.  I know, it's strange. But I love the tradition.  

The Cards won on Saturday night.  Dave's boss had gotten him two tickets for the Championship game in Atlanta for tonight.  Dave asked me if I wanted to go... which let's be real here, any sports fan would want to.  But It doesnt seem right, I've only been in the picture for 9.5 years.  His best friend Christian has been cheering for the Cards with Dave for at least 20 years.  So, they are going to the game tonight and Nico and I are going to hang out at the house.  He doesn't know this, but item #141 on my bucket list is helping get Dave to see the Cards play in a championship game.  So, that is nice.  

In good working order...

So I am officially a short-timer at FSU.  Less than two weeks.  When I started thinking about transitioning to DePaul, I was a bit cavalier with Dave and Nico.  I just figured that we would figure out a way to make it work.  The problem is... the legislature.  Seriously.  When I got the job at DePaul, we were in the drop dead period of just before the session, so Dave couldnt leave.  But DePaul wanted me there yesterday.  So, I just figured I would figure out a way to make it happen.  Dave and I have been apart before.  I went to Malawi.  I went to DC for an internship when I was 7 months pregnant.  Whatever.  I just didnt think it would be that hard on Nico.

Turns out- it is.  

The thing is, it might not be, if the session wasn't happening.  If Dave could sort of coast at work and go into overdrive at home, then it might be doable.  Its just really hard to be in overdrive at work and at home.  What that means is Nico gets pretty unhappy when I am gone.  And I am caught between that rock and the hard place... knowing that in the long run, the kinds of things Nico will be exposed to in Chicago will be far outweigh the shittiness of being away from me for 1.5 months.  But then I have to ask myself, "there is no harm in asking right?"

So long story short, I asked my new boss at DePaul if I could push my physical start date back by about 10 days.  He said yes, and that is great.  But I can't help but feel like I am on the verge of being fired.  From a job I just got.  Wouldn't that be unfortunate?  It gets us closer to when Dave's mom can come up... which is great... Nico likes hanging out with her.  But there is nothing like the feeling of about to be fired from a job you just got.  

Does this mean that I am going to stay on for another 10 days at the College of Medicine.  No.  I will not be doing that.  I hope to use the extra days to get packing.  And help out as much as I can with DePaul stuff here in Tallahassee.  Which is great, because I wasn't really sure how I would get stuff packed up on Friday April 12 and leave on Saturday April 13.  But I just assumed it would happen.   

Other than that... going through the list of stuff that has to be done before we can move. Yesterday was doing something about our bikes.  We have three.  That we never ride.  One has been sitting out in the yard for a year, the other two in the the shed.  So I asked a friend to get them in good shape for us.  Nico's new favorite thing is checking to make sure something is "in good working order."  So that is what we did after school yesterday.  He kept saying, "Mom, I am getting this bike in good working order."

It's pretty great.  Dave made it home last night before we were done with dinner, which means he got to read to Nico before shower time.

Easter 2013

So, like an idiot, when I made my transportation plans to and from Chicago, I didnt realize that I would be coming back Easter weekend.  Which is kind of annoying, since Easter is one of my favorite holidays.  Luckily, Dave took Nico to Premier on Saturday for an egg hunt (after the "Spring Bunny" made an appearance at his school on Friday- apparently Nico is pretty boss at finding eggs... which is a step up from where he was two years ago, where he was terrible at it.)

The Easter Bunny brought Nico some fire trucks and some candy.  Turns out one of the firetrucks was a collector's item.  Which is no longer in it's box.  Yikes.

I ordered a Chicago Fire Department Sweatshirt from CafePress before I left.  I had it sent to Chicago, thinking I would put it in a box with some candies and other stuff (a care package, if you will), but it didnt get to Chicago till my last day there, so I ended up just bringing it home... which the boy loved!!

Isn't Dave photo bombing Nico funny?

The House

So, we have a house.  In Chicago.

I am so excited about it.  It's actually a townhouse.  But it's an end unit.  And it has a basement.  And a fenced yard.  And two bathrooms.  And three bedrooms.  And plenty of storage.  We might even have room for activities.

Even cooler?  The place is about a 40 minute commute from my office... a bus for about 10 minutes and then the train for about 25 minutes.  It is completely fabulous.  Nico, Dave, and the dogs are going to love it.  

The place is a little bit older, but it looks like it has been taken care of... all the lights work and such.  Which can't be said for 1522 Atapha. #justsayin.  It has tile and hardwood floor throughout, except for the stairs going down to the basement.  But I suppose that is so that Grannies can't hide out in their rooms down there and scare kids as they walk down the stairs.  True story, Granny Bishop threatened to do that.  

Assuming that I don't get fired and or kicked out of the city, I think this is definitely a place that we could live for a while.  Dave and I are hoping that our next place will be a house that we buy.  A real fixer-upper.  Seems like it's about time.  In any case, I missed my boys like crazy last week.  I didnt get much done on a the writing-blogging-working out schedule.  I did manage, however, to watch all of Season 5 of Mad Men.  So, I have that going for me.