Ode to Late February

The snow is blowing sideways.

When will it end?

Spring is in my heart,

But in my lungs, phlegm.

Pooped out

I haven't posted over here for a while. I don't really have much to say, but Elinore always does. So I thought I'd let you in on what she said at lunch today.

As we were getting out of the car today I said, “I’m pooped.”
When I walked around to get Elinore she asked me, “Mama, did you poop in the car?”
I explained to her about that expression meaning that someone is tired.
About a half hour later while Elinore is eating lunch she asked me if I needed to sleep. “Yes, Mama needs a nap today because Mama is tired,” I said.
“You been pooping?” she said.

Birthday List

So, my birthday is coming up soon and I guess I should probably get a list out there for you guys. I don't really need anything but here goes...

The Queen DVD
Wedding Crashers DVD
Every Living Thing and The Lord God Made Them All books on CD (Amazon wishlist)
Vosges Aztec collection (I miss Argentine Dulce de Leche)
A good book
National Treasure DVD
Pirates of the Caribbean 2 DVD
Real dishes/silverware
Crockpot
some fun games
The Sweet Far Thing by Libba Bray (I'm not sure if Mom got this already)
tube socks
a massage

I'll see if I think of anything else that seems like a good start

The Third Shoe

Thanks for everyone's sympathy last week. Some of you were lucky to avoid the "I'm-sick-please-feel-sorry-for-me" calls during the 2.5 days that I was home from work. Mom received multiple... per day... and into the weekend. You're a real trooper, Mom.

Well, I have news. They're not over. Whatever I had in my chest last week has moved on up to my sinuses and "taken up housekeeping," as Mom put it. Today at work while my head was pounding and my nose running furiously, I threw in the towel and scheduled myself to see a doctor tomorrow morning. So you can all call tomorrow to feel sorry for me.

On the way home from work I decided to stop at my local grocer to buy some vegetables for a soup. But as I approached, a green sign in the window read that my grocer's license has been suspended effective today by the Chicago Dept of Public Health. Great. I just bought groceries there last week.

Don't mishaps come in threes? I'm waiting for the last shoe to drop. Stay tuned...

Star-Struck

Dear Blog,

Long time, no contact. Remember me? I'm the middle sister of the Bodine crew--the one who lives life from one awkward moment to the next.

Last night some of my girlfriends and I attended an event at Vosges Chocolat (normally a gourmet chocolaterie). Once a month they use their retail store to host an event that celebrates their theme of "travel the world through chocolate." Last night was their Chocolate and Henna soiree with a focus on aphrodisiacs. In addition to delicious Indian appetizers, they served kir royales of champagne and rose water, had plate after plate of exotic chocolates and carmels to sample, and arranged for guests to have their hands painted by a henna artist from NYC. Mine is the one with the diagonal vine.

After being painted we had to hold our hands over candles so the henna could dry. It was at that moment that I looked up and saw a woman that I recognized walk through the door. This was my first ever celebrity-spotting! Unfortunately none of you know who she is. Katrina Markoff is the owner and founder of Vosges Haut Chocolat. She is such an inspiration of a woman who has followed her passion and created a unique and succesful company doing what she loves and bettering the world in the process. She is also gorgeous with a kick-a** sense of style. I want to be her when I grow up. So anyway, after squealing and exclaiming to my friends about who she was--they all know I'm obsessed--I looked back down at my henna tattoo and realized that I had singed off all my arm hairs.

Nevertheless, as the night wore on my girlfriends encouraged me to go over and talk to Katrina to tell her what an inspiration she was and ask for a job, but I couldn't muster up the courage. Finally Colleen walked over to her to tell her what an inspiration we all thought she was. She was warm and personable and told us that you just have to not give up, and all I could do was stand there sheepishly with a stupid grin on my face.

So much for being bold and going where no woman has gone before. At least I didn't introduce myself, so if I apply for a job she won't know that I was the star-struck one.

Watch this video, and you'll understand my obsession.

http://www.vosgeschocolate.com/who_we_are