That Was Close

While I was busy bragging about my Escalade with 186,00 miles the other day, I neglected to knock on wood. Big mistake on my part. As I drove Rick to the train yesterday morning my lights were flashing on and of, the radio was going in and out and all sorts of dash lights were lighting up. Rick, being the one that never worries about anything, told me just to drive his car since he was taking the train to work. That's all fine and good for the time being but he will need his car again soon. When I returned from the train station I called my trusty mechanic (a definite must when you have an old car) and he told me to bring it right in. When I arrived at the auto repair shop and explained to him what was going on he immediately said, "Sounds like the alternator." We all know that won't be cheap. Karla picked me up and brought me back home and I waited for the dreaded call from Bruce the mechanic. At 9:15 he called and said it was nothing more than a loose battery cable! He checked the alternator, fine, checked the battery, fine and checked the electrical system, fine too. Cost me $40. Honestly, I think I'm going to be buried in that damn Escalade!

Just Not the Same

I love all that is Christmas. Decorating, baking, shopping, wrapping and especially giving. But Christmas hasn't been the same for 5 years now. Just saying 5 years blows my mind. For 5 years there have been no Marshall Field's boxes under the tree, a staple at Christmastime for generations. For 5 years there have been no lunches under the tree in the Walnut Room, at least not for us. While Macy's decided to keep the Walnut Room, it is no longer Marshall Field's Walnut Room. The windows on State Street are no longer Marshall Field's Christmas windows. Every year during the holiday season we would take our family downtown to view the windows, skate on State (now relocated to Millennium Park) and generally just take in all that is Christmas in Chicago. Damn Macy's. It is my understanding that the Macy's on State Street is not doing so well, even after 5 years. We Chicagoans are serious about our Marshall Field's. While there are many out there who have embraced Macy's in the Marshall Field's State Street location, I have not and will not. EVER. Period. I am proud to say that I have not gone into Macy's once. That's right, not one single time in 5 years. I'm not sure what, if anything, could get me into that store. Funny thing is that when we would travel I would enjoy going to Macy's in other cities. But since taking over my beloved Marshall Field's I just can't do it anymore. They could have changed every other Field's to Macy's and left the flagship store on State Street and I and most Chicagoans would have still been shopping there. But nooooo. They had to try to make it all New York like. Well people, this is not New York. This is Chicago. And we still don't want Macy's or Donald Trump.

A brief update:

J and J and the kids have moved back to LA. A job thing. While we totally understand that one must go where the money is we miss them terribly. OK, maybe not so much J and J, but Aud and Henry, break my heart. Heading to LA in March for skating Nationals and extending our visit for a week to spend some quality time with the grandkids. While Skyping is great for long distances, there is no replacement for hugs, kisses and momos (Eskimo kisses).

Mashley are still in NOLA and loving it. Definitely their new home. Although not so new anymore since they have been there almost 5 years now.

Lauren just finished up her first semester of her senior year and has been inducted into Lambda Pi Eta, the national honor society for Communication majors. She is more excited about getting a cord to wear at graduation than anything! She is applying to graduate programs currently. She has applied to 5 schools, two of which are USC and Pepperdine. Honestly, if she goes out to LA we may go there too. To think that J and J, the grandkids and Lauren would all be out there and we would be here is just wrong on so many levels. And, yes, still skating.

Me and Rick....Let's see. Just barely keeping our heads above water these days. Sometimes it seems as though we are being pulled in every direction. But life is good in general. No real complaints. And in exactly 8 days we will celebrate 24 years of the best marriage ever. How did I get so lucky? Still crazy about the Big Man.

Ozzy is getting older and grayer by the minute. Aren't we all?! He took his first trip to College this year when we went to Florida and he stayed with Lauren and her roomies for 2 weeks. The poor dog was literally exhausted when he returned home. Too many late night beer pong games for Ozman! He needs some conditioning!

General news:

- Planning a Ubriaco family reunion in Lake Placid next year. Can't wait for that. I could go years without seeing my cousins and when we finally get together it's like we were never apart. True familial bonds there baby.

- Bears need a big win tonight against Minnesota to clinch the NFC north division. BEAR DOWN!

- The Escalade now has 186,000 miles on it and still going strong. I love my Escalade and I'm driving it 'til it drops. No matter that some dash lights don't work, one of the heated seats only works on high, there are lots of nicks and scratches, a broken fog light (who uses those anyway!) and countless other things, it is still the best car I have ever owned. Saving Rick money all the time! Too bad he doesn't believe that.

So a Merry Christmas shout out to Colleen in NM, Nancy in Lexington, my LA family, my NOLA family, my NY family, my St. Louis family and all my friends and family in Chitown. Love and health and happiness to all.