ok everyone it's not whooping cough. Do NOT self-diagnose on the internet! Even when the website seems as legit as this one:

http://whoopingcough.net/

He's a doctor and he BARELY charges for his diagnosis!

O H I O tmw!

I got my hair colored darker and cut...but I am growing it out to the clavicle!

whoopers?

Hmmm...this is a boring blog post about how am I feeling. I'm heading to OHIO today to visit family and the main enticement are the baby twin girls. BUT...i've had this super-annoying lingering cough and am suspicious that it's whooping cough. Which is like super unlikely but a little tiny part of me is thinking...what if I get these babies sick? Or the others sick? And that would like TOTALLY blow. And what if I've gotten everyone sick? So, I called my doctor and guess what modern fancy northwestern---have not gotten a return call. So I'm waiting, in trip purgatory and reading about whooping cough online. And it mostly says it's horrible.

I'm not typically an alarmist about health---I have pretty bad allergies but I try to suck it up and not bitch and just take the medicine.

But this thing, man, it's knocked me on my ass.

So, I'm twiddling my germ-filled thumbs deciding what to do. Please call doctor so I can at least get in!

ok day one, and midnight in paris

one of the purported reasons I quit my job was to improve my creative life. So, let's take an inventory of goals and progress, on this day one.

1) Lose weight and stay healthy. Biked to yoga, did yoga, biked to Lis, biked home. Joined weight watchers and biked to meeting. Secretly gave thanks that center is moving up by sparkle target so I can walk there (or drive). No shame in my game--I like things up by me when I'm not working.

2) Save money. Packed a sack lunch and ate it at the beach. Read magazines and went for the last dip of the year (I imagine) in lady lake michigan. Thought a lot about schemes and dreams of how i can make a ton of $. Emailed some people about things.

3) Write more. Got up and did morning pages (artist's way, YO!), wrote a blog entry and thought about what class to take this fall.

4) Relax more. Had lunch with lis on her little deck. Sat on beach for at least 45 minutes until the flies bothered me too much to continue. Went and saw a movie after ww meeting.

5) Be in touch with your intimates. I talked to sister Beth, texted with brother Paul and spoke this weekend with sister Kitty. I owe mom and a few others a call (hello Kristin!) but am working on being able to chat more instead of running out the door.

6) Not obsess over laundry. But man, it PILES up so fast! Did a quick load today. Breathe.

Also, saw Midnight in Paris. My go-to critic who tells me how I should feel is Roger ebert. But, before I read him I'll say this---the movie seems to hate women. Rachel McAdams had NOTHING redeeming about her and i didn't buy owen wilson as the woody allen. Marion Cotillard was essentially a prostitute and we all knew he'd end up with the muriel hemingway look-alike in modern paris. And for real---Faulkner, too? But, what a charming idea, even if it was executed with little charm and humor I enjoyed the idea. Just not the final product.

Now's the fun part----I go see if Ebert agreed!

Yay Day one!

ps--would you read a blog about quitting a job? Or saving $? Or about Trackers that look like my tracker?

phew! So, to my many fans, I have some big news! I wish it was "I'm engaged" or "I'm knocked up" or "I've become successful as a writer" but it is a step in the right direction---I've quit my day job. Long-time fans will note I haven't written in this blog about the same amount of time that I've been working. But, now, here I am, day one of operation personal freedom. I've submitted my headshots to two potential auditions, I've cleaned up my acting resume, I've reached out on a few potential leads for a more flexible day job option and I've had some yogurt and done my morning pages. Off to Yoga and then a beach day (have to have some breathing room/fun on the first day off).

Fall looks like it'll be full of family visiting, time in NYC, time to journal and feel my feelings and think about the next step.

But mostly---YAY! That day job was great for a while but then it was time to move on.

PERSONAL FREEDOM!

Christmas Blog

Christmasblog

Life is winding down a bit and everyone’s pacing towards the holidays.

I don’t really like to feel crazy at this time of year so I have decided not to. I look at some friends who are pulling their hair out and stressing about the holidays and I don’t like the way it makes them feel so I try really hard not to do that myself.

Easier said then done---I don’t have kids to buy for or even a boyfriend, etc. But I also have to deal with a huge gap in my heart that isn’t filled by someone certain loving me and having someone to spend my xmas with no matter what. That’s a luxury that I hope, when I find that man, I really really appreciate.

It’s been a lovely holiday though. Kicked off with a trip to NY with sister, mom, sister-in-law two nieces and a teenage nephew. We had a ball---lady liberty, 9-11, some dumb store, then the subway, FAO (I skipped) and Apple store that I used to go to when I worked on the cruise ship and then ice skating in central park! That’s a pleasure. Walked through the plaza and then a little tiny bistro known as “TGI Fridays”. Everyday feels like Friday! Times Square at night felt like a movie set.

NJ hotel for the night then a morning in Chinatown buying cheap purses. My favorite quote was from Ben (the teenage nephew)—“Where are all the signs and stores in a language we can’t read? Isn’t that what it’s supposed to be?” This is right after we stepped out of the Chinatown starbucks (I got my splurge drink---skinny medium hazelnut latte—I refuse to call it a grande because that’s a dumb word for medium and I like to make the workers a little pissed off).

Little Italy, even with the man in his fur extolling the virtues of his establishment, using a clearly enhanced Italian accent (I’ve seen the drill before---I watched Fabio on top chef)---was a delight. The lights strung across and my mom and I were charmed by the Monastery of His Most Precious Blood (we prefer our priests to be francisican and, if possible, cousins).

http://www.mostpreciousbloodchurch.net/

Then, the second bakery—Ferraros! They had some pipe trouble in the back, but it was awesome. I said my adieus and walked the length of Eldridge street, something I’ve been wanting to do forever. Because, that’s my last name and there’s a street with the name, as well as NY’s hottest club—THE ELDRIDGE. I want to go there one day and see if they will just let me in because of my last name. Apparently, according to my employer publication, ST*R magazine, it’s Padma’s FAVORITE place in NY. Word up! When I meet Padma, we’ll have something to talk about.

I think Jeremy “The Piv” Piven liked it there, too. Until his Mercury Overdose/Career dive. It’s a FAKE bookstore front. Clever, no?

Then, cool hipster Sunday morning walk through SoHo. Oh that light going through the fire escapes! It’s really like a movie.

And then, I remembered how close I was to the lower east side tenemant museum. I’ve been wanting to go there for YEARS. So I did, and went on the tour of “The moores” led by a recent immigrant lady from Dublin.

Oh, it was amazing. It’s like every memoir come to life, that museum. And I love to see the places I read about. That was my secret dream for a while---to open a bookstore where if you were traveling, you could get a travel book, but also, get a novel set in the place you were going. Like, going to Florence? A room with a view for you! Off to San Fran? Amy Tan, please!

Then, met up with Pat and Mary and Megan for a trump through the upper west side and burgers and beers.

Finally, back to LGA.

Man, that took way longer then I thought! NY was awesome.

The following week was boss in town, and then Minny for a work party (super fun) and then out with the Red gals to see one of our own, Allison Bills on the Second City Main Stage (she was great, of course).

Last Saturday was my friend Jim’s Gay-versarry (10 years!) and then American Girl Store. Jim and Terry have a very fancy house and always cater, so that’s super fun.

Sunday was gym, and then something.

This week was work stuff, and I’ve been exhausted from the cold and another habit I’m trying to kick (fingers crossed!) and yoga potluck last night.

Today, love actually, buckeye dipping, laundry, calendar making, putzing around.

Tonight, Lis’ bachelorette party and tomorrow is another holiday party at an old old friends.

I am happy this season, which is nice.

Happy for my friends, for my family, for my home, for my job (mostly), for my creative life (anemic at the moment) and most of all, for a bit of time to chill out and enjoy it.

Too MUCH CaffeinE@!

i had too much caffeine. It's a saturday.

tomorrow is a race very early in the morning and I am driving

Tonight is LOL

Today is too much caffeine

I am doing laundry

I am trying to find my targetreciepts

I am ignoring hte sunshine now pushing through the clouds

I am too warm because our heat kicked on

i am ignoring my typos

i am eating carrots to try to stave off eating food before amy gets here

i am wiaitng to go to target until monday when i can also go to dry cleaning

ia mshowering later today

i am going to try to watch true blood to relax

i have read many books and need to update the counter

i need to read more books or i get sad

i just finished re-reading harry potter 5, one i typically ignore when i revisit

i went to a dog outing with dori and was bored

i am planning a trip to vegas today

i am going to ny too and need to make those arrangements

i am doing laudnry

my hand smells like stinky sponge because i did dishes

work is busy but manageable

romance in life is nill and no one responds to my eharmony profile

i am lonely but mostly fine

i am hyper today

i am going home for thanksgiving

i am going to watch true blood now

i like carrots

i am going to do some more laundry

these pants are too warm for today

September 1

Happy birthday me!

Blogs are all about the person writing them---so here we go.

I am definitely the baby of my family---I like to entertain, I like to get commended for doing a good job and I like people to like me.

This year has been a delightful, frustrating and surprising year.

Might as well sum it up in a blog post/journal entry?

On the plus:

My financial life has improved significantly--mostly due to...

My new fancy job! I dress up, I travel, I take clients out to fancy places, I sell a bunch of fancy products and get to be a bit enterpreunerial (sp?)

Montgomery and Cooke grew and grew and grew this year! We hosted a show and booked the acts and performed all sorts of new material this winter. I loved loved it---even having to perform on Friday nights.

Beka and Scott's wedding! What a delightful time that was down in texas.

LA in February---what a delight! We got to go to musical theatre camp---and I totally geeked out. And I hiked a fancy la canyon with Johanna Smith, Andy and Amy! I mean, come on!

Jar jar introduce me to Hall and Oates station on Pandora. I can't get enough of it.

Amy and I are re-working the new play. I love writing with her---she really makes me laugh.

But for this summer, we declared it the summer of FAB! Sting concerts in limos! Lake house trips! 20th high school reunions! Drinks on decks! Good food, good friends and good weather.

Oh! I want to Florida in Tampa to see my mom and dad and the Canadians. We played golf, ate out and had cocktails.

Christmas was really great this year---one sibling picked me up with two kids, and the other dropped me off.

Andy was gone for spring/summer---so I had an ass ton of family visits---The Eldridge girls! Beth and Matt and Tad and Ben! Beth and Jayna and Allie! Mom and Dad! Mom and Dad came with Seth last year, too---that was super fun.

I've been swimming and sunning on the shore of Lake Michigan and am as tan as I could ever hope to be. I know, we're not supposed to want that anymore but I jumped on the tanwagon super late in life, so there.

I've been running and biking and walking, even when my job has been busy. Gotta keep that up.

I feel closer to my high school gals, my college friends, my family and Chicago pals then I felt a year ago. And for that I am very grateful.

My dad and brother stayed healthy this year---no cancer! Phew!

In the "needs improvement" section--I'd have to say the hardest thing this year was the death of my uncle. It still brings tears to my eyes...and it just happened so so fast. He was my dad's only sibling, and the last of the Eldridge clan (outside of my dad---who is just fine). He was a cheerful, optimistic, loving and highly intelligent uncle. As Kit say "He amazes me".

In a circle the wagons move, he had a lot of visitors and we all got to laugh, reminisce and enjoy our time with him so so much. As Beth says, the holidays are going to be tough this year without him---but I know he's going to enjoy hanging out with his mom and dad and maybe Mimi will stop by. He always talked about heaven so know he gets to check it out himself.

phew. Enough of that.

Work can be tough. Some early bumps in the road seem to have smoothed out so I am looking towards the future and keeping my head to the ground.

I hope that next year I get to find more time to play cards, scrabble, write more of the play, perform with Montgomery and Cooke, keep working at this job, find a bit of romance, see my family more, revisit Italia, go on hikes, figure out what to do with this condo, maybe go horseback riding and listen to the Hall and Oates station more on Pandora.