A day off... finally!

So... today was my first day off of work since January (when I started this new job) that wasn't a holiday or weekend. We have a low census right now so they asked me if I wanted the day off, so I said why not?!? (I had a dream the night before that I was just wailing on someone (faceless) person at work... I didn't think I was that stressed at work, but maybe?) I decided to actually do something semi-productive with my day instead of just sit around my apartment like I usually would. I sucked it up and took the train into Chicago... yes... by myself. For those that don't know, I don't really like to do things by myself. Of course, when you're single, you can't help but do things by yourself if you really want to do something, and I think I've missed out on things lately because I don't want to do it by myself. So I went into the city... went to the Art Institute (which I haven't been to in about 3 or 4 years)... went to a lecture there on Leonardo di Vinci which was super interesting... and got to see all of my Impressionist painters that I love (namely, Monet, of course). It was nice to take my time and really appreciate the artwork.
I did go into the modern gallery. I don't get modern art. Since it's art I can appreciate it... I just don't understand it. I can throw a whole bunch of paint on a canvas... make it different colors and thick in some parts... so why can't I get paid a ton of money and have my art on the walls of the Art Institute? I think I like the sculptures better than the paintings... I guess I "get" them more. If someone wants to explain modern art to me, that would be great... the last modern art I saw before this was at the Pompideu in Paris... I didn't really get it there, either (but some of it was cool... don't get me wrong!)
I spent about 5 or 6 hours at the Art Institute, so I figured I'd walk the loop a little bit and people watch on my way back to Union Station. So... I'm walking down Adams St... and what do I come across but... The Berghoff!!!! Now, my mom told me that they closed last year... I couldn't believe it was open! The menu on the outside looked similar... still lots of German dishes... so I called my mom to tell her. She told me to go inside, grab a menu. So I did so... talked with the manager for about 10 or 15 minutes and go the scoop... the Berghoff did close at the beginning of 2006... opened as 171 West a few months later under the ownership of the Berghoff's daughter. I guess so many people came there wanting the schnitzel and the rest of the German food that they put it all back on the menu! The chef that had been at the Berghoff for the past 30 years is still the chef... so... it's basically the same place, under (slightly) new management/ownership, and with a few more eclectic things on the menu but still with the german favorites (including the beer) that everyone loves! I told the manager that my mom used to come to the Berghoff often when she was younger, especially with my grandpa when he worked downtown... the whole family used to go... and I told him how my mom was so excited when I called her and told her that it was still open and that it's her birthday next week... and he told me to give HIM a call (I got his card) and he'll have a special table set up for her and make it very nice and memorable for her. ROCK ON!!!! (Now my mom just needs to figure out when she wants to go...)
Tonight when I got back home I did a bit of shopping for the sailing trip on Saturday... got a cute shirt dress to wear... as long as it's warm enough!
And now, I'm off to bed... one more day of work... then the weekend!
V

Prayers needed...

Hey all... my brother's good friend (whom he is staying with in Venice, FL) was in a boating accident last Thursday. I don't know the whole story, but I guess he was out with some of his buddies, dove off the boat, and the water was only a foot and a half deep. He's been in the hospital since then and has a spinal cord injury, a C3-4 (for those that don't know what the means, it's a high spinal cord injury... it's what Christopher Reeves had). Per my brother, he is moving both his arms and legs with extreme effort and does have some sensation... which is a good thing. He is going into surgery in the next few days for them to stabilize the injury a bit more. This kid doesn't have any family in the country and is just in bad shape. He has a very long road ahead of him... so prayers are definitely needed. Thanks in advance... God works wonders!!!
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Busy Saturday!

I am simply exhausted from yesterday. Must be a sign I'm getting old... haha! Yesterday was my friend and co-worker Nicole's bridal shower in Indiana AND her bachelorette party downtown Chicago. (Now you all know why I'm so tired!) The bridal shower was nice... it was in the church she will get married in which is BEAUTIFUL... lots of stained glass which I LOVE... it just creates a nice ambiance. Paul and Nicole made out like bandits... they received many nice gifts... the best was some luggage for their honeymoon that was from her grandmother that passed away about a year ago. You could tell how meaning full it was to both of them.
The bachelorette party was a blast... we stayed downtown at the Marriott on Michigan Avenue... went to Fado (an Irish pub) for dinner and I had some amazing fish and chips... went back and opened gifts... and then went out to Bar Chicago on Rush and Division. There were a few other bachelorette parties there... we ended up hooking up with this other bachelor party that was there and hanging out with them most of the evening which was fun. Yes, there was even some dancing on the bar involved. Oh, and by the way... the beds at the Marriott are SUPER comfortable... for future reference for anyone that wants to know!
And finally... Saturday wasn't only a busy day for me but for my friend Lyndsey down in Missouri... she had a baby boy!!! Congratulations to dad Derek and sister Gentrie as well. Gage Alan Davis is a big boy too... 9 lbs 7 oz... at least momma will have some relief now since she won't be carrying all that in the summer heat and humidity! A trip to Missouri will happen in the next month or so... I need to see the new baby!
Guess that's it for now... hope everyone had a wonderful weekend!
V

Updates

Since I was so kindly asked by Katie to update... I will... not that there is much to update on!
The cleanse... I completed 7 out of 10 days of it. I was invited to a barbeque and didn't want to be "that girl" in the corner that didn't eat... especially since it was with people I didn't know that were my age. And, I was REALLY bored of the lemonade drink. I do have a goal to try the cleanse again come January... the holidays will be done and I'll be wanting to get rid of the holiday weight that I inevitably put on... and there's never too much to do in January.
The past month has been very busy with bridal showers, bachelorette parties, and weddings. Congratulations to Danielle and Kevin who were married on July 21st, and Congratulations also to Stacey and Mark who were married on July 28th!!! Two more left and then this year's weddings will be done with... haha! The bridal showers, bachelorette parties, and weddings continue through October... and then I'll have to help Cassandra start planning hers!
At work I have an OT student... which is nice because I get to put off some of my work on her... but at the same time I feel like now I have more work! It's good for me too... I get to reaffirm my skills... and it counts for 12 continuing education units that I don't have to pay for!
I guess that's all on the updates... being that it's just me, I tend to not have a very thrilling life in comparison as many of you! Maybe I'll have to learn to blog about more random things... until that happens....
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Master Cleanse Day #3

Well... today was a bit better... but not much. Really, this is all a psychological battle... I think I might have said that yesterday (no, I'm not going crazy, I promise). Anyway, the cleanse was better today... I still want food... but I want carbs today (I could care less about a cheeseburger today)... and, of course, the pizza at lunch was a HUGE temptation. But I made it through just fine (with only a minor breakdown... that I don't think anyone else could see). I know the Lord was trying me at one point... I got into the kitchen (where we eat our lunch) where we have two big tables... there were two people at the first one, so I went to sit at the second table the furthest away from where I knew the pizza would end up. I'm standing near the second table... the pizza guy comes in... and puts all the pizza (and salad) right in front of me. I was like, are you kidding me... I knew my willpower was being tried! So... I picked up the pizza boxes... and moved them to the counter where we serve from... so that I would be again as far away from the pizza as possible. I came close to breaking tonight when I got home... really, if I look at it, I wasn't hungry... it was habit. I have some bread on the counter, cut a piece, put it on a plate, and then was like "what are you thinking?!?" (see, I told you, carbs... I want carbs). Other than that, the day has been alright. Didn't do the saltwater flush this morning like I'm supposed to... just couldn't do it. I'm hoping tomorrow will be better and I'll start feeling a bit better and doing everything I'm supposed to do. I'm still a bit tired today... they say usually around day 5 or so your energy picks up... I hope so, because I'm exhausted. Alright... I'm gonna go finish my "lemonade," drink my nasty tea, and go lay in bed and watch the all-star game until I fall asleep... which shouldn't be long...
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Master Cleanse Day #2

Holy crap... this is the hardest thing I've ever done in my life. Well, psychologically anyways. If I listen to my body, I'm really not hungry at all... my stomach isn't growling (and if it is, I have some more lemonade)... but my brain keeps telling me I should be eating. Of course, the only things that sound good are things like ice cream and cheeseburgers. They say that you crave things things only for the first few days... it's the things that are bad for you that you are getting rid of from your body... so I must have had a lot of ice cream and cheeseburgers throughout my years! I was really wanting to give up this whole thing tonight... I felt like I just needed to eat... when I got a call from my friend Missy. She's done the cleanse before and was just some words of encouragement. I know I'll feel better, both physically and emotionally, after I complete the cleanse, but it's nice to hear that encouragement that I can make it through the full 10 days. Supposedly day 2 is the hardest. I know tomorrow will be rough too... we're having a pizza party during our meeting at lunch... so it'll be pretty rough for me to make it through that. Because, unfortunately, unlike today's meeting, I can't leave in the middle of it. Please keep praying for me to have the motivation and will-power to complete this. Sometimes I think I can do it, and other times it just seems like too much to handle.
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Master Cleanse

So, for the next 10 days (officially starting tonight), I'm doing the Master Cleanse. For those that haven't heard of it, it's basically a system detox where you don't eat for 10 days... you just drink this "lemonade" which is distilled water, real lemon juice, organic pure maple syrup, and cayenne pepper. Sounds yummy, eh??? I actually made some today so I could try it and make sure it's tolerable enough to drink for 10 days straight. It's not bad... I put too much cayenne in it, but other than that it's good. I'm really trying to be more healthy, change the way I eat, and, well, lose some weight if I can (that fits into the "be more healthy" category). I'm hoping this whole thing will help me be more motivated to be a bit more healthy and care more about my body. I tend to treat it like crap sometimes, as I think we all do.
I'm a little nervous, but excited, about doing the cleanse... I've never not eaten for 10 days before. With how much our daily lives are centered around food (ie. going out to eat with friends, dinner at the parents, etc), I know it's going to be tough. It'll be a good challenge for me to complete it. I have some good supports form work and a good friend that will be doing it with me at the same time (though she's now in Cali), so hopefully that'll help keep me encouraged while I'm doing this. I ask for all your support and prayers and encouragement while I challenge myself... wish me luck! I'll update how the cleanse is going over the next few days...
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