A Chicago First - For Me

 In the 12 years I've been in Chicago, I've never been to the Crosstown Classic. Now, I can cross that off my list.

We went to Game 1, where a walk-off homer won it or the Cubs. And to start the game - 2 home runs. 

We had seats in the bleachers. A fun fact, my Grandpa Mac cleaned the stands after home games at Wrigley when he was a teenager.

Now, there was another first at this game. Linda has never attended a MLB game in her life. So, we learned from our bartender that if you go to Guest Relations and let them know you have a ballpark "virgin," they will give you a button, stickers, and a commemorative "plaque" (a piece of paper). The same bartender let us know that you could also go to the same place and if you told them it was your birthday, you'd get a birthday pin and stickers too! Of course we needed to get both.

We had the best time taking in the tradition of the game, the bleachers, and the food (of course we had to get peanuts - also a first for Linda). Plus, it gave me the opportunity to wear my new Cubs hat commemorating the team's 150-year anniversary. Plus, don't you think this is just a me hat (a little extra bling). 

The Big 5-0

I remember when this seemed so old. I often tell people I still feel like I'm 22. It helps that I live on the 22nd floor, park in space 22, and have an apartment number that includes 22.

Here are my 50 life lessons - as of today (and subject to change without notice).

1.     Life is not all rainbows and unicorns as I was led to believe. 

2.     Life is also not a box of chocolates.

3.     Don't take the easy way out.

4.     Max out your vacation each year.

5.     Try anything once. If you don't like it don't do it again.

6.     Don’t take advantage of you.

7.     Success is not measured by how smart or competent you are, rather how much you kiss ass (and I've never been good at that).

8.     Don’t judge others.

9.     Do what makes you happy. 

10.  Stop shrinking yourself to make you palatable for others. 

11.  Cherish your friendships, they are harder to come by the older you get.  

12.  Get a pet. They will teach you patience.

13.  Travel.

14.  Be a standout.

15.  Chair dance (I’m an expert). 

16.  Be a cheerleader, not a Debbie downer.

17.  Don't live your adult life where you spent your childhood.

18.  Be interested in the world around you.

19.  Read political autobiographies when you are 13 (Colin Powel’s was my favorite).

20.  Buck the system. 

21.  Fight back even when it damages your reputation (because you're doing what's right for you).

22.  Forgive, but never forget.

23.  Never say "I'm sorry" (still learning that one).

24.  Never work for a friend because it will ruin the friendship.

25.  Love, even though it will destroy you.

26.  Never play by the rules. 

27.  Break curfew and skip school (which I never did either one).

28.  Read the classics (which I never did and always say I will).

29.  Never shy away from a difficult situation.

30.  Never let anyone else fight your battles (a lesson learned from the Mac Daddy himself).

31.  Never rely on anyone else to support you (my Mom and Dad made sure we could support ourselves).

32.  Have a long-distance boyfriend (distance does make the heart grow fonder).

33.  Live on your own (but do it before the age of 36). 

34.  Go down swinging.

35.  Go to a restaurant or a movie by yourself, you'll be better for it.

36.  Listen more than you speak.

37.  Stare down the competition until they shake in their boots (My look was perfected at the swim block and the tennis court).

38.  Never be ashamed for being the best at something.

39.  Never seek to change someone and never change yourself for someone else.

40.  Do what you love, not what is expected of you. Always.

41.  Love yourself more than you love others.

42.  Use the F word as much as you want.

43.  You can't take it with you.

44.  Red at night, sailors delight. Red in the morn, sailors be warned (this has never been as true as it has this summer). 

45.  Stop caring what other people think of you.

46.  Ask for help when you need it. Take the help when offered.

47.  Always let the people who matter in your life know they matter. 

48.  Love does not conquer all, and lust and love at first sight are two different things.

49. Sing at the top of your lungs even when everyone is looking. 

50.  Make sure people know you love Elvis.

Festival Season

Yes, Lollapalooza is in full swing at the moment, but this is not the festival I'm speaking of. I'm speaking of the Peoria Festival of Trees. Yes folks, the decorating has begun.

A few weeks ago, I joined Kristin and the decorating crew for move-in and design for the 2026 festival season. No, I didn't like move-in better than last year (in fact, it was worse because we had less help, it was 100 degrees, and MORE boxes to move). 

We did complete the move from the storage facility to "the shop" in under 4 hours (although it took two trips). I, however, did not need to to participate in the second trip because Kristin wanted me to work with Marci to unpack the speciality ornaments. It was a job I had last year, so she thought I could handle it. 

It took all move-in day and 1/2 of the following day to get all the specialty unpacked. A few observations: 1. There are too many snowflakes (this will be important later in this post), 2. The design crew used a lot of specialty ornaments last year and Kristin has - almost - held true to the promise that she would not buy anything new, 3. The elves are creepy, 4. Kristin bought a "deer" ornament that is not my cup of tea (and for that commentary, I was tasked with helping design a tree using this ornament).

This is the "deer" ornament in question. 

These are the creepy elves.

Also, I thought that unpacking ribbon last year was the absolute worst job in the shop. I was wrong. The absolute worst is unpacking floral and organizing all of it into bins. However, I was so good at it, my sister had me doing all of it, with the help of another decorator Sarah.

Sidetrack for a moment...I also got to spend quality time with my nephew Finn. I'd feed him in the morning and give him his treats in the evening. And for the first time ever, he let me pick him up and hold him. It was less than 30-seconds, but I as very happy he finally let me do it!

Back to regularly scheduled programming. We got the shop fully unpacked in 5-days and began the design process for the trees. 

I stayed long enough last year to design a single tree and really disliked the process. Why? Well, we had just finished putting everything away and the design process involves removing ornaments, ribbon, floral, etc. from the place we just put it away in and then, whatever we don't decide to use gets put back on the shelves. In the meantime, whatever they will use for the design gets packed up in a storage bin to be brought out later during the decorating process. I mean, didn't we just get done with that? However, I stayed for the all tree designs (we didn't start on wreaths or hearth and home before I left).

Here's a sneak peak at the "Gingerbread" design, the first design of the season.

And the start of the BLUEY tree.

And, Toy Story.

But the tree I am most excited about is the one that Kristin let me design with an ornament I've been looking at in the shop for the past three years and wondering why it is not being used. It is my favorite ornament. 

I can tell you that the tree using this ornament turned out awesome. This is not the design aesthetic of my sister, but in the end, she loved it. And everyone else does too. 

Oh, and remember all the snowflakes I said the shop had? Well, Kristin let me design a tree using a number of snowflakes (top move inventory to speak). Here's. sneak peak of the design inspiration.

Now they've completed this tree in the shop and I can tell you it is stunning. Of course it is! I do have the eye for this sort of thing (which I know my sister doesn't love)!

We also did a few other things while I was in town. We attended the retirement party for Decorator Kim, had a few Framily dinners with the Reed family, hung out with Patty P, and of course went to the Walmart, Hobby Lobby, Costco, and Menards (no festival trip would be complete without visiting those places).

But the absolute best thing I did while I was there was attend decorator Sandy's weekly swim time. Yes, she and a friend swim three times a week for an hour. So, I was in the pool at 5:50 a.m. and loved it. For those who don't know, I was a champion swimmer in my youth (and very good at it). I hadn't been in the pool in years - well swimming laps in the pool that is. But, it was great. And look forward to doing it again in the future.

Oh, and I can't finish this post without sharing that we have a new shop shirt this season. Or as I like to refer to it, the uniform.

Cosmo's (19th) Birthday

Today would have been Cosmo's (19th) birthday. I'm sure he is playing with all his friends, and enjoying limitless McDonald's french fries, chicken, and chips.