Rainy Monday...Again

It's been awhile. Oddly enough I didn't think anyone was paying attention. I've been busy living life which has all been good. As I go through new experiences I often think of topics that would be great to expound about in my blog - but then I move onto something else and never get back to it. I would guess this is typical.

Some of the things I've been thinking about (not in any particular order): Frank Lloyd Wright and his dramas, pumpkins, Fall, attending church, health insurance, the election, ACS Strides for the Cure, Mad Men, West Wing, my friends, gluten free diets, weight watchers, media consultancy rates, fund raisers, life insurance, bad cat behavior, beer, reviews/pitches, the new Chicago Tribune, cleaning, winter clothes, blogs, Christmas, NYC at Thanksgiving and painting (both watercolor and acyrlic).

No wonder I'm exhausted. I won't pontificate on all these fun topics. But I would like to say that I have been learning a lot about Frank Lloyd Wright. We went to Taliesin in Spring Green, WI a couple of weekends ago and I was fascinated with the stories about the multiple fires there and Wright's insistence to rebuild. So I'm reading two books about it one fictional, Loving Frank and one historical, Death in a Prairie House. I won't ruin the story for anyone else but needless to say there's murder, intrigue and romance everything one would expect from a great story.

We had traveled to Taliesin West (in Scottsdale, AZ) last Christmas which kinda started the whole journey into all things Wright. We also visited Oak Park a couple of weekends ago to continue to FLW education. Our next anticipated stop will be the Robie House on the South side.

We'll continue our journey next spring with a trip to Running Waters in Pennsylvannia.

Anyway...oddly enough when I was out to lunch with a perspective client we got to talking about architecture. Who knew? I am firmly convinced that art vis a vis architecture or anything else creative will continue to be more closely intertwined in my life moving forward and all I can say is; that's cool.

Other recent highlights have been my being invited to a party with folks from my ex-job (awkward wording but what else do I call it? suggestions would be appreciated). I was the special guest and those of you who really know me, know how much I like to be "special". I had a great time seeing and talking to everyone that was there. I loved hearing the stories, and couldn't help but be glad that I was no longer an active participant. As usual there were lots of news and lots of changes so the world keeps on spinning as I long suspected.

Other big news - yes Weight Watchers is back. It's now been a week, I've lost 3 pounds and have plenty more to go. I'm begrudgingly doing this so I can enjoy the holidays, have fun and not weigh a ton. So it's back to counting the points and weighing/measuring the food. Fun times.

Now I'm thinking about the holidays and our trips, which is fun. We're planning on home made gifts this year - kind of expanding on our cookie gifts from last year. We're considering making pickles, marinating mushrooms and/or olives, or olive oil infusions. So it's fun to look for the recipes and the containers (at least right now).

As far as the other things go, I'll ramble more on that later in the week.

What's with Monday and Raining?

Maybe it's to help the folks that have to go to a job feel better about the weekend ending. Probably just coincidence.

Although it's now raining I must say the day has been very good. I met a friend from the business for lunch and manicures at the Four Seasons. I must say it was nice to take advantage of this media whore perk, even though my days as a media whore are over, or at least somewhat limited.

I find the more that I talk to people about why I left and what I'm doing now and how different my life is now that I seriously wonder how I could have stayed in the role for as long as I did.

Knowing that everything happens in it's own good time answers that question.

My new found time has allowed me to spend an inordinate amount of time watching CNN, CNBC, etc. This country is in a frightening time (understatement I know). It's amazing that the Republican zombie's continue to tout their nonsense. I'm looking forward to the debate tonight I'm hoping that Obama can make a solid case for change and really position himself the clear and only choice.