When you just get bored with life, uh huh..
Tired of all the worry and strife, uh huh..
There's no need to holler or wail 'cause
You might get a ukulele in the mail, uh huh...
Sunday, May 15, 2011
Thursday, May 12, 2011
Spring?
I don't like 40 degrees in May. Nor do I like 90 degrees in May. And I hate to be one of those Chicagoans who is just never satisfied.. complaining one day that it's too cold and then the next that it's too hot. Seems awfully pessimistic. But unfortunately, it's the truth.
We're talking 46 degrees overnight on Friday, May 6th (that's chilly.) and a spike to 91 degrees in the afternoon of Tuesday, May 10. I, for one, find it ridiculous that THE FIRST TIME of the year that we got to go outside with no jacket it was actually uncomfortably hot and sweaty. Ridiculous. It makes me mad actually.
Not to mention the instant sauna created in my top floor apartment because my old, cold-blooded, first-floor dwelling landlords still hadn't turned off the heat by Saturday, and the constant threat of rain keeps our windows shut during the day. Last night after it cooled off enough to send rain down in sheets, I ascended all three flights of stairs and stepped into my muggy abode. I had had a bad night of sleep the night before--too hot, even with my window fan circulating air on high speed. The thermostat on my window fan read 78. Too hot for sleeping. Despite the fact that I couldn't really wrap my brain around how it would work with my bedroom door closed, I took the leap and switched both sides of the dual window fan to intake mode.
Ahhh relief. I only woke up when the thunder and lightning began striking at exactly the same moment with such intense claps and crashes that it sounded like bombs. But I didn't care because it was 68 degrees in my bedroom.
So my question is, did Spring get skipped? Are we in summer now? According to weather.com we're going back to the low 50s over the weekend. I'm considering moving to a 70-degree-year-round-day-time climate, and I'm open to suggestions.
We're talking 46 degrees overnight on Friday, May 6th (that's chilly.) and a spike to 91 degrees in the afternoon of Tuesday, May 10. I, for one, find it ridiculous that THE FIRST TIME of the year that we got to go outside with no jacket it was actually uncomfortably hot and sweaty. Ridiculous. It makes me mad actually.
Not to mention the instant sauna created in my top floor apartment because my old, cold-blooded, first-floor dwelling landlords still hadn't turned off the heat by Saturday, and the constant threat of rain keeps our windows shut during the day. Last night after it cooled off enough to send rain down in sheets, I ascended all three flights of stairs and stepped into my muggy abode. I had had a bad night of sleep the night before--too hot, even with my window fan circulating air on high speed. The thermostat on my window fan read 78. Too hot for sleeping. Despite the fact that I couldn't really wrap my brain around how it would work with my bedroom door closed, I took the leap and switched both sides of the dual window fan to intake mode.
Ahhh relief. I only woke up when the thunder and lightning began striking at exactly the same moment with such intense claps and crashes that it sounded like bombs. But I didn't care because it was 68 degrees in my bedroom.
So my question is, did Spring get skipped? Are we in summer now? According to weather.com we're going back to the low 50s over the weekend. I'm considering moving to a 70-degree-year-round-day-time climate, and I'm open to suggestions.
Wednesday, May 04, 2011
To be always learning..
A conversation with a very precocious 6-yr old student:
Elise: Have a happy Mother's Day, Mrs. Caitlyn!!
me: Well, thank you!
Elise: Wait, are you a mother?
me: No, I am not a mother, but I have a mother so I'll celebrate.
Elise: What do you mean you're not a mother? How old are you?
me: 28.
Elise: 28?! That's a mother!
me: Elise, you can't be a mother if you don't have children.
Elise: (exasperated) Yes you can! Sometimes you can be a mother alone.
This is news to me. She was so determined that she was right, that I couldn't argue.
Saturday, April 23, 2011
A look at how the baby's grown!
We had another slow day at work, so I couldn't resist the chance to take another look at the baby. I can't believe how much bigger it looks!
In this video the baby is showing of its amazing acrobatic skills and doing a head/handstand. Just as I was about to shut off the machine the wand caught the baby in an angle where I could actually see the little valves in its heart beating! I couldn't see that 4 weeks ago when I did the last one. It was so neat being able to see inside its heart! I wish I could feel it moving in there. You are supposed to be able to start feeling it at 18weeks and as of tomorrow I'll be 15weeks and the baby is about the size of a navel orange.
In this video the baby is showing of its amazing acrobatic skills and doing a head/handstand. Just as I was about to shut off the machine the wand caught the baby in an angle where I could actually see the little valves in its heart beating! I couldn't see that 4 weeks ago when I did the last one. It was so neat being able to see inside its heart! I wish I could feel it moving in there. You are supposed to be able to start feeling it at 18weeks and as of tomorrow I'll be 15weeks and the baby is about the size of a navel orange.
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Brief Foray into Cool
Depending on who you ask, actually.. strike that. It doesn't matter who you ask. I have never been "cool" with the 10-18 year old crowd. Especially when it comes to music. (I mean, I grew up with Cajun Alligator Stomp and I got a cow that slobbers bad from the Ozarks.) But as the music teacher of several very cool kids, I am having to learn to stay relevant.
I suppressed a chuckle when an 8th grader requested to learn a Nick Jonas tune, but I dug in and learned it too. Shortly after she brought in her Justin Bieber CD, we ordered sheet music, and now I find myself randomly humming his song as I walk down the street. Several elementary students have begged me to let them learn a Lady Gaga tune, so I have now learned Poker Face and Bad Romance.
Way to go, me. I thought. You are successfully crossing the generational divide to make music accessible to these kids. AND YOU ARE COOL.
And then last week, a 5-year old student was chanting/singing, "Boom, boom, boom. Even brighter than the moon, moon, moon." And I beamed at her. "Elise!" I said. "Did you make that up?" Her brother rolled his eyes at me. "That's Katy Perry."
In this day and age, you can only be cool for a second. At least that's what I'm telling myself.
I suppressed a chuckle when an 8th grader requested to learn a Nick Jonas tune, but I dug in and learned it too. Shortly after she brought in her Justin Bieber CD, we ordered sheet music, and now I find myself randomly humming his song as I walk down the street. Several elementary students have begged me to let them learn a Lady Gaga tune, so I have now learned Poker Face and Bad Romance.
Way to go, me. I thought. You are successfully crossing the generational divide to make music accessible to these kids. AND YOU ARE COOL.
And then last week, a 5-year old student was chanting/singing, "Boom, boom, boom. Even brighter than the moon, moon, moon." And I beamed at her. "Elise!" I said. "Did you make that up?" Her brother rolled his eyes at me. "That's Katy Perry."
In this day and age, you can only be cool for a second. At least that's what I'm telling myself.
Wednesday, April 06, 2011
Lost in Translation
This weekend I had the pleasure of a visit from one of my Spanish professors in college. Claudia was my Spanish teacher in Chile while I was studying abroad, and this past weekend she stopped over in Chicago before heading to a forum in Boston. We hopped from sight to sight along the grand-Chicago-tourist route, while I tried to clear some of the fog that has settled over the Spanish-speaking regions of my brain.
While walking through Millennium Park I spotted a robin. I pointed to it and asked Claudia what the name of that kind of bird is in Spanish. She turned slowly towards me and raised one eyebrow. "Catalina," she grinned, "listen. Yes, I teach Spanish, but remember who you are talking to! For ME, if it flies, it is called un pájaro (a bird). If it is green and grows from the ground, it is called una planta (a plant). Unless it is colored, in which case, it is called una flor (a flower). Any questions?"
While walking through Millennium Park I spotted a robin. I pointed to it and asked Claudia what the name of that kind of bird is in Spanish. She turned slowly towards me and raised one eyebrow. "Catalina," she grinned, "listen. Yes, I teach Spanish, but remember who you are talking to! For ME, if it flies, it is called un pájaro (a bird). If it is green and grows from the ground, it is called una planta (a plant). Unless it is colored, in which case, it is called una flor (a flower). Any questions?"
Saturday, April 02, 2011
There's a baby in there!
It was a slow day on labor and delivery today, so after stocking all the rooms, my orienter for the day said let's take a look at your baby and fired up the ultrasound machine. We just had our first prenatal appointment on Thurs but because of insurance, they didn't do an ultrasound. So we did it ourselves! Pretty amazing. The baby is about the size of a lime at this point! I'll put up some pictures after we get them scanned!
Friday, April 01, 2011
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Work To Do
This week I am working on smiling at cute guys. It is SO HARD. I can smile at sweet old people, children, unintimidating women, and unattractive men, but I see a cute guy and it's like my eyes take on spastic tendencies. They just keep flickering around and REFUSE to move in the direction of said cute guy. It's totally annoying. Yesterday I went to a coffee shop to prep for my lessons and strategically sat facing two attractive gentlemen working on their computers. I spent an HOUR trying to work up the guts to smile when our eyes met rather than flicking away. Finally as I packed up my things I made the decision to take one last look in this dude's direction as I whirled around towards the door. I whirled, our eyes met, I smiled, I continued whirling and nearly crashed into the door. Oh. I have work to do..
Saturday, March 26, 2011
Labor and Delivery
I started my new job in labor and delivery last month and have now had about a month's worth of orientation. Remember how I used to call some of you and say maybe I'd made a mistake with nursing because I was so unhappy? You won't be getting any more of those calls. At least not for a while. I love my new job! All of my co-workers are really nice and there's a wonderful sense of a team on this unit. Everyone pitches in and helps each other. It is so refreshing to leave work smiling. To get into the car and drive home feeling like I can't wait to tell someone what a great day I had. I get to see little miracles nearly every day. I have had a new dad and 2 different patient's parents give me hugs. HUGS. Thanking me for everything I've done. A friend from my old floor just started this past week and we were 1) really excited to have someone we knew on the floor and 2) we both could not stop talking about how much happier we are.
In other news, I have my first prenatal appointment on Thurs with the midwife. I'll keep you all updated on what we learn, etc. As of now, we are planning to wait to find out the sex of the baby, we'll see if we can make it! We finally got pictures from the honeymoon and wedding up in our living room. I'll have to take some pictures of our now art-filled living room and the stairway. I am posting our shots of the supermoon, which was hard to capture because of our topography, but Mike put up with me and we drove out into a field and got some pretty nice pictures.
In other news, I have my first prenatal appointment on Thurs with the midwife. I'll keep you all updated on what we learn, etc. As of now, we are planning to wait to find out the sex of the baby, we'll see if we can make it! We finally got pictures from the honeymoon and wedding up in our living room. I'll have to take some pictures of our now art-filled living room and the stairway. I am posting our shots of the supermoon, which was hard to capture because of our topography, but Mike put up with me and we drove out into a field and got some pretty nice pictures.
Friday, March 18, 2011
Happy St. Pat's!
Isabelle is one of my newest and youngest students. She turned 6 last week. I was drilling her on an exercise and could tell she was starting to get frustrated.
Caitlyn: Isabelle, let's try this one more time. You are doing great! You're about 90% of the way there.
Isabelle: (without batting an eye) 90% to nowhere.
Pachelbel's Canon is a well-known tune written by, none other than, Johann Pachelbel, in about 1675. My 7th-grade student Skyler was nearly finished with it after a few months of hard work. Yesterday in a moment of frustration, she said very seriously, but in an I'm-so-cute-and-I-know-you-think-so-too way that only a pre-teen can achieve: What on earth was Joanne Pachelbel thinking when she wrote all these repetitions!
And finally, during my lesson with 8-year old Paige:
Caitlyn: Paige! It's St. Patty's Day! You're not wearing green!
Paige: Well, I don't really celebrate St. Patrick's Day. I'm Jewish.
Caitlyn: Isabelle, let's try this one more time. You are doing great! You're about 90% of the way there.
Isabelle: (without batting an eye) 90% to nowhere.
Pachelbel's Canon is a well-known tune written by, none other than, Johann Pachelbel, in about 1675. My 7th-grade student Skyler was nearly finished with it after a few months of hard work. Yesterday in a moment of frustration, she said very seriously, but in an I'm-so-cute-and-I-know-you-think-so-too way that only a pre-teen can achieve: What on earth was Joanne Pachelbel thinking when she wrote all these repetitions!
And finally, during my lesson with 8-year old Paige:
Caitlyn: Paige! It's St. Patty's Day! You're not wearing green!
Paige: Well, I don't really celebrate St. Patrick's Day. I'm Jewish.
Monday, February 14, 2011
Grandpa Perry
We are so thankful for all of the years that we got to spend together. We love you, Grandpa.
Friday, February 11, 2011
Insanity
Extreme cold induces insanity. It’s happening to me. Yesterday it was -6 degrees (-17 windchill) when I left for work and as I shuffled along grumpily, I couldn’t help but chastise my fellow commuters (under my breath). Sir, your Northface FLEECE is not appropriate for -17 degrees. And YOU, missy, are you really so concerned about messing up your hair that you won’t wear a hat IN -17 DEGREE WEATHER?? How vain are you? I honestly had no control of the words coming out through my clenched teeth, hidden of course, by my wool scarf.
Today I was walking down the street with my normal brisk, city-walker stride. The sidewalks are extremely narrowed right now due to all the snow piled up on either side. As I approached my street I was cut off by a giant, elderly man, walking stiffly at about half my pace. His legs were each about 6 feet long and he swayed gingerly from side to side as he strolled along. I slowed practically to a halt behind him because there was no way to pass—he was taking up the entire sidewalk. Like any normal insane person I started tail-gaiting him.
As a pedestrian.
He finally noticed that someone was behind him and stepped aside to let me pass. And once I got past him and realized that I had just tail-gaited a pedestrian, I started laughing so hard that the air began to freeze in my lungs. And as I choked I only laughed harder.
And that was when I knew I was truly insane.
Today I was walking down the street with my normal brisk, city-walker stride. The sidewalks are extremely narrowed right now due to all the snow piled up on either side. As I approached my street I was cut off by a giant, elderly man, walking stiffly at about half my pace. His legs were each about 6 feet long and he swayed gingerly from side to side as he strolled along. I slowed practically to a halt behind him because there was no way to pass—he was taking up the entire sidewalk. Like any normal insane person I started tail-gaiting him.
As a pedestrian.
He finally noticed that someone was behind him and stepped aside to let me pass. And once I got past him and realized that I had just tail-gaited a pedestrian, I started laughing so hard that the air began to freeze in my lungs. And as I choked I only laughed harder.
And that was when I knew I was truly insane.
Wednesday, February 02, 2011
Blizzard 2011
We're right there with you guys digging ourselves out. You can see that it is about level with the top of our picnic table and almost covers the top of the picket fence! The kids are having a blast!! The middle picture is the wall of snow Kevin cut with the snowblower on our front sidewalk.
I think this is the first snow day Kevin has ever taken!!
My Car
Snowthunder
PS-don't know about anyone else, but we had thunder and lightning last night during the worst of it!
Blizzard Central
Family of Five
A few weeks ago I had Blaise and his family over to my apartment in Chicago for a photo shoot. A friend of mine is launching a baby clothing line and he needed some babies to model his onesies. We had a great weekend, and got some great photos out of the deal. Since Jennifer's been so busy figuring out life with three, she hasn't had much computer time for posting photos. I've taken it upon myself..
the Big Snow Feb 2011
Well we experienced a white out last night with 2" of snow per hour and 50 mph winds. I shoveled the front porch and front of the gargae door and within 30 minutes it looked like I hadn't even touched it. Trouble is my "mighty" snowblower gets pretty wimpy when the snow is more than 12". By morning it was still coming down furiously and we had drifts around 5 feet deep. Around Chicago, snow on the ground quickly turns to ice if you don't get after it, so a-shoveling we went.
Tuesday, February 01, 2011
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