Toddlin'

I realize I haven't posted much lately. Simply put, I haven't felt like anything's happened worth sharing. Also, I usually prefer posting with an accompanying photo, and I haven't been taking any interesting ones. Not even in Chicago, where the Dude and I went this weekend for his friend's wedding. How come I don't have any photos of the Windy City, you ask? Well, we didn't spend much time in the city itself. We flew into O'Hare, drove downtown (in our XM-radio-and-GPS-equipped rental car...now we are both hooked on both amenities) to do a quick spot of shopping and lunch-eating (at Flat Top Grill, hooray!!!), but I was too busy doing the driving to take any nice skyline photos, and also it was either smoggy or rainy, couldn't tell which, but it made for a less-than-picture-perfect view. We spent the rest of the weekend in the 'burbs, where our hotel and the wedding both were.

Even though the Dude brought work with him, it turned out to be a fun and relaxing weekend -- and miraculously, one with so few travel mishaps that even the travel-patience-impaired Dude was satisfied. The wedding was nice, and we caught up with several of the Dude's friends (most of whom I already knew). And we caused quite a sensation at the Outback Steakhouse near the hotel when twelve of us marched in near closing on Sunday evening, including the bride and groom still in full wedding regalia.

That's probably my last major trip for a while, aside from a couple of possible weekend excursions to the likes of Philadelphia and Bethany Beach...until we cruise at the end of October!

Oh, and I should be getting my used Harry Potter tonight...so far I've avoided spoilers. Hope I can for a little while longer.

NO SPOILERS!!!

...Well, I can't spoil it because I haven't read it yet. I didn't even pre-order it. I debated doing so, and then figured that since I'll be out of town this weekend and don't want to lug it around and stuff, and since a friend has offered to give me his copy once he's read it (he collects the British versions of the books to keep, but he will read the U.S. version to tide him over until he gets his U.K. version), I'd hold off.

Clearly I have a knack for finding dead-mom meaning in everything I encounter, but really, seriously, the release of the seventh and final Harry Potter book is bittersweet for me. It is, of course, bittersweet for many, in that they want to read it but don't want the series to be over, but there's an additional layer of emotion in it for me, as my mom was an avid Harry Potter fan and commented on more than one occasion that she fervently hoped she would live long enough to read the final installment and find out what happens. When she died, I had only seen the movies (at that point, the first four). I have since read all (well, the first six) books, and of course seen the fifth movie. So I get it. I get the big deal about the books. They're great.

The physical books are special to me too, as they were all the ones my mom bought and read. (Hey, I'm cheap -- was I supposed to go out and buy myself a set when I inherited six gently used installments from her?) I actually don't like to get new books...something about a used book is neat to me. I like knowing that someone else was enjoying the same words from the exact same pages before me. So it's fitting that I'll be "inheriting" a used copy of the final book as well.

So to all you fans, enjoy Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Enjoy it for my mom as well as for yourself. But don't tell me about it just yet.

I'll say!

You've Been a Little Ruined by American Culture

Whether you live in the US or not, deep down you're a little American. And there's nothing wrong with loving American culture, but it may have negative effects on your life. Slow down and enjoy what you have. Reconnect with life's simple pleasures. You don't need to be in a consumerist rat race. Life's too short to overwork yourself!

Has American Culture Ruined You?

One year

This Friday is the one-year anniversary of my mom's death. It's hard to believe. Sometimes it feels like it was just yesterday, and other times it feels like eons ago.

One year ago, I was sending flowers for a friend's dog who'd just died, not knowing that many more condolences and flowers would soon be coming my way. One year ago, I was excited for a friend who was about to depart for a year-long master's program in Australia. (He's coming back this week.) One year ago, I was looking forward to seeing the second Pirates of the Caribbean movie in the theater. One year ago, I was in a different job. One year ago, I chose not to go up to New York for the long Independence Day weekend, even though it would afford me more visiting time with my hospitalized mom, because I thought it would be a good chance to unpack into my new apartment, where my mom was supposed to come stay with me when she got out of the hospital. Now the only part of her that is there physically is a small keepsake urn from her cremation. And myself, since I am (or was) physically part of her.

One year ago I had no concept of how drastically and permanently my life would change in just a few short days.