A new year!
It's strange to think I started this thing in 2001. Near the end, yes, but this is still the fourth calendar year in which I will have blogged.
Last week went by rather quickly. I was sick on Monday and stayed home from work. I'm not sure I've ever stayed home from work due to illness, in all my years of working. I can think of a few times when I probably should have, but this is the first time I did.
Tuesday I was still sick, but thankfully, it was my day off. And actually, being the stubborn person I am, I refused to give up my plans to go downtown with my mom and sister. Maybe not the best choice, but after two and a half days flat on my back on the couch, I needed to get out for a few hours. We took the train downtown to Marshall Field's. We saw the windows (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory) and ate in the Walnut Room. Did a bit of shopping in between, as the wait for a table was three hours (!!!). It was good, not strenuous, and the day wasn't too cold.
Wednesday I worked, and then Sarah, Brad and Aarti came up for New Years Eve. Good times! We actually ended up going to Aarti's friend Mary's apartment downtown. We had dinner at a little Mexican restaurant and then played games at the apartment, and made brownie sundaes. YUM. It was very low-key, but exactly what the doctor ordered. ;) I actually don't know a single person around here who went OUT for NYE. Everyone seemed to have a low-key night of being at someone's house. Guess it was just the year for that.
On Thursday, I made breakfast for everyone. Three kinds of pancakes (regular, blueberry, and chocolate chip), Dad made some eggs, and Jess did sausage and bacon. It was fun to have a "real" breakfast with everybody again! Then Aarti and I went shopping some, came home and made fondue, and then John and Meghan came over. Hadn't seen John since Em and Frank's wedding, so it was good to catch up while he was in town.
Friday, work again. It was sixty degrees out! Can you believe it? In Chicago in January!! Went home and watched Emperor's Club with the 'rents. Good movie.
Saturday, work once more. Came home and rushed to the movies with Dad and Jess. We saw Return of the King, second time for Jess and me, first for Dad (he'd had to work when we went with Mom, and he was all bummed that he'd missed it, so Jess and I treated him). It was just as good, if not better, the second time! In honor, a new little icon picture thingy on my sidebar. Isn't he pretty? I colored that picture in myself with PSP8. ;o)
After the movie, we went to the Melting Pot for some fondue. Ohhhh, heaven. We had the Wisconsin Trio as our cheese fondue (with bread, veggies and apples to dip), then the California salad, and then we got three meats: center cut serloin, teriyaki steak, and chicken to cook and dip in sauces. THEN we had dessert. We got the Ying Yang, a white chocolate/dark chocolate mix fondue. Mmmmmm. You dip strawberries, pineapple, bananas, pound cake, cheesecake, brownie bits, and marshmallows into the chocolate. The PERFECT end to the meal. Took two hours, but it was DELISH!
Today, it's snowing. I am living in a snow globe. Big fat flakes swirling around. It's very pretty! They're saying 6-9 inches, but I'll believe it when it actually happens. Too many times last year they predicted a foot and we got an inch. It's awfully pretty, though!