And the truth shall set you free....

I was going through old blog entries, and ran across this one. I wrote this post a year and a half ago while I was still living in Chicago. I thought it was very ironic that I ran accross it, because my husband is turning 30 this week, and I can't believe how much we have gone through since we started dating almost 7 years ago.

I do remember why I never published this however. It's because I get a little embarrassed about writing about my husband sometimes. I am a bit.... well... I guess you could describe me as...ummm.... ok, I am super high maintenance. So when I start writing a post about something that I think is wonderful that he did, I am instantly embarrassed by the reason in which he did it...... The obvious and honest reason is because he loves me and wants me to be happy....but the underlying reason is typically because I act like a bit of a diva....

So this story, is a perfect example. What I wrote originally is not exactly how it all went down.... the "truth" is highlighted in parenthesis:

For about a month now, (embellishment...it might have been 2 weeks) our gate in the parking area of our building has been broken. It operates on a remote, kept in the car, so that we can get in and out of the parking lot safely. Since it has been broken everyone in the building has had to drive up to the gate, get out, open the gate, drive through it, get out, close the gate, then leave. This is annoying, but it goes from annoying to " the most wretched experience ever" when there is 12 inches of snow, and its 2 degrees with a -5 degree wind chill. (it was not the most wretched experience ever....it took like 30 seconds) We have been bugging the building developer to come out and fix it, we've called the gate company to come check it out, and nothing has been done about it yet.


Ken has been so accommodating to me, being a southerner and making it through these winters. He walks the dog, he shovels the snow, clears the snow from my car windshields and warms my car before i get in it, so i wont be cold on the way to work. (this is all true..diva...diva...diva..) But, on Saturday when i was again, struggling with the gate late at night, he saw the frown on my face and decided that enough was enough. (ok, the truth is....i came in the house, threw my stuff down, and glared at him...he probably could feel the evil radiating from my body)

I woke up Sunday morning and heard him digging in his tool box. I also heard him going in and out and in and out of the door. This went on for about an hour, and I finally asked what was going on. (ummm...no...i was very irritable when I asked what was going on, because he woke me up, and I was not at ALL happy about it!) He told me everything was fine, and to go back to sleep. So I did. Another hour passes, and I wake up again to find him standing in the entrance of our bedroom, covered in snow, with the biggest smile on my face. He then states, very proudly, "I fixed the gate so my wife doesn't have to get out of the car in the cold anymore....and i think i might have frostbite."

Of course I asked him how in the world he got a remote controlled, electric gate fixed. He told me the night before he got online, printed off diagrams, bought the tools he needed from Lowe's and went out there and fixed it. " I just didn't want you to have to deal with that anymore" he said.

Totally sweet right? So of course at the end of this, I feel like crap because there he is standing there with blue, numb, almost frostbitten fingertips, from spending two hours in the snow fixing a gate for me. All while the princess under the warm down comforter was snapping at him for waking her up because he is "making too much noise" and "letting cold air in!"

Seriously...where do I get off?

I guess I can say that I am just so thankful that I have such a warm, loving, and patient man in my very flawed life..... Don't get me wrong, he has his flaws too, and I am sure all of you married ladies know the challenges that marriage brings. But I am not so much of a diva that I won't acknowledge that dealing with me is no easy task....and I figure since its his birthday, I can remind him of that.

Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago

I can dig art....i wouldn't say i know much about it, but i enjoyed Art History in high school! On the first Friday of every month, the Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago has a "First Friday" happy hour event. My friend and co-worker Gina invited me to go with her, and since MCA was on my list of "things to do before i leave chicago" list, i thought i should definitely go. Additionally, who can really say no to food, drinks and a live DJ in a cool museum??

Here are a few of my favorites from the night....

The sculpture on the right is a seal balancing balls.

This was a display of a miniature city. I thought the layout and the lighting was super cool.

These next few pictures were just a section of an entire room filled with silhouettes. They were drawn by a southern woman, who wanted to convey images of african-american people during the time of the civil war.

I wish i had more pictures to show you, but as i was very forcefully informed, picture taking is avidly prohibited in the Museum of Contemporary Art. However, pictures are allowed in McFadden's....which is where we topped off our very sophisticated evening....

The Eberhardt's Head to the Polls

SCENE: 5:55 am, Chicago, IL

Ken: There’s a line! I knew we should have gotten here at 5:30, then we could have been in the front of the line.

Christina: That was never going to happen.

Christina: Did you download the ballot to take a look at all the choices?

Ken: Yup.

Christina: No you didn’t.

Ken: Yes I did. I know exactly who I am voting for.

Christina: So other than the presidential candidates, you know who you are voting for?

Ken: Yes.

Christina: Good. Who?

Ken: Well….Dan Seals….

Christina: Riiight…..Dan Seals isn’t on our ballot Ken. We aren’t in his district.

Ken: (laughing)

Christina: Who is taking pictures?

Ken: What?

Christina: That woman over there is taking pictures.

Ken: Wow…

Christina: She didn’t get my permission to take my picture!

Ken: She is just excited.

Christina: Whatever….that’s so rude.

Ken: Are those paper ballots?

Christina: What?

Ken: They are using paper ballots!

Christina: Mmm Hmmm

Ken: That’s CRAZY! I have NEVER used a paper ballot! I voted in Tennessee and it was ELECTRONIC!

Christina: Yes dear, I know. Just another reason why we should leave this ridiculous city and move south…..how long must you keep me hostage here?

Ken: (sighs)

Christina: Ken….Oh my gawd….that woman just got in her car and is driving up with that camera again. She is taking pictures out of her window….is she serious?

Ken: Oh wow….

SCENE: Ken and Christina enter elementary school, get ballots. They are side by side in voting booths. Minutes pass as they fill out their ballots.

Christina: oh no……oh no……Miss? Miss? Can I have another ballot?

Ken: What?

Christina: I messed up on my ballot…..i filled in too many lines….

Ken: (grumbling) Oh my…..what the…..can’t believe you….

Christina: Oh shut up Ken…. I am from Georgia….i don’t use paper ballots!

Dear Pharrell....

Dear Pharrell,

I think you should know that you are by far one of my favorite entertainers. I love your music, I love your style, and i think you are a musical genius. When we locked eyes at the Common Ground Celebrity Bowling Event, i too felt the sparks fly. The room was suddenly quiet, like was no one there but us. It was fate that put us together in 10 Pin that day, not only because we were in the same place at the same time, but that we shared a bench and bowled next to each other. I know that our conversation would have been wonderful....if all those girls had not been coming up to you every second wanting to take you away from me. I saw how upset you were every time our moments together were interrupted.

Pharrell, i hate to tell you this, but i am compelled to be honest with you. Do you remember that guy in the corner? The tall, skinny one glaring at us? Well, that was my husband Kenneth. He really is darling, and i love him dearly. Unfortunately, he beat you to the punch. You were so close. Just 13 short months ago, i could have run away with you, and we could have been together forever....touring across the country...meeting Jay-Z and Beyonce for lunch and setting the red carpet on fire.... But Pharrell, i told Ken till death do we part, and i intend on keeping my promise.

We will always have that day together though. We will always have that unforgettable moment when you wrapped your arms around me, pressed my head into the nook of your neck and leaned your temple to mine. (clearly shown in the picture below) I know that in the midst of that sweet, precious embrace you were thinking, " I want it to be this way forever..." I do adore you Pharrell, but this has to be the end.

And Pharrell....please don't call or write me....it's just too hard.

Warmest regards, Christina

Oprah....

Two and a half years ago, i moved 800 miles from Atlanta, to Chicago. I was perfectly happy with my life in Atlanta, but the long distance had begun to wear on Ken and I and because i got transferred, it was sort of a no brainer to move. Now don't get me wrong, Chicago is a nice enough city, but I never fell in Love the way others have with this city. I am a southerner. I don't care how many museums, restaurants or sports teams you have....i am never going to be able to get over the fact that there are 9 months of winter here EVERY YEAR! (bless its sweet heart).

There were only two enticing elements about Chicago, that i was overly excited about. 1) Kenneth and 2) the chance to go to the Oprah show. Truth be told, i was pretty sure my chances of marrying Kenneth were much higher than the chance of me being able to go to the Oprah Show...considering it has been statistically proven that you have a better chance of winning the lottery than getting tickets! So i did what everyone does. I went online and wrote heartfelt stories on oprah.com, in hopes that they might throw me a bone and I could get some last minute seats. That didn't work. Seriously, i wrote the saddest fake letter about my impossible destitute financial situation to try to get on a Suzy Orman episode... to no avail! So i asked myself a question....What Would Oprah Do?? Oh yes! She would...duh...PUT IT ON HER VISION BOARD! So here is the answer to everyone's question... YES!! Vision Boards work!!

So i got a ticket....not one... but FOUR tickets!!! Now here comes the hard part...who do you invite? And that's where the vision board ended. So alas, I am ECSTATIC about the opportunity, but equally sad that I knew EXACTLY who i wanted to bring, but yet many of them were much to far away to come with me. And no one was more upset about that than my poor mother!

I did get a group of Oprah fanatics like me together and we had a WONDERFUL time. We had tickets to the first show, which means we had to check in at the show at 7:00am. I have never been so excited to get up at 5am in my life. I was sad that i couldn't get pictures because they do not even allow you to bring a camera or cell phone into the building.

The show was all about women's rights and had Maria Shriver, Gloria Steinem and Billy Jean King featured. It was truly empowering, and i had a reah "ah hah!" moment. Since i have been married, i have struggled with finding my footing with the balance of work and home. My husband was raised in a household (much like mine) where women worked full time, came home, cooked for the family, cleaned the house, balanced the books and raised the children. I know you ladies hear me when i say, yes we love our husbands, but did you ever know men were so helpless? I feel like i have to organize and execute nearly EVERYTHING sometimes! Yes, it is probably because i feel that my way is the best way, the most convenient way, the most logical way....(because it IS!). To be fair, Ken does help around the house A LOT.....much more than any of the men in my family, so in that regard, i am very lucky. My mother teases that he does so much around the house because "his wife" doesn't do it. So i struggle with the question of if i should feel guilty about that. Should i feel personally responsible when there are dishes dirty, laundry piling up, groceries are running low, or the baseboards need to be cleaned even though i work as hard as my husband at my job? Should i feel guilty that all i want to do when i get home, is the SAME thing he wants to do when he gets home.....sit on my rear end and watch TV? Well Gloria Steinem gave me my answer to that.... a big fat NO! She stressed that the women's movement for equality in the workplace was not to put more pressure on women to "do it all" but to put more emphasis on equality for men AND women in both the workplace AND at home.

Don't worry, i won't stop wearing a bra and shaving my arm pits. But i will not however spend a moments worry when that load of laundry takes an extra day to get folded and put away. I am woman, hear me ROAR!

P.S. Gloria Steinem is 74 and looks FABULOUS! Good grief!

My Night in the ER

I have the best and worst luck of all time. I'm that person who wins a new car, then gets hit while sitting at a stop sign....that's me...full of drama. My friends Sebastian and Jon came to Chicago to visit and I of course wanted to show them around the city, and not just all the touristy spots, but the places that REAL people who live in Chicago go to.

We had a whole day of different restaurants, hopping in cabs and buses to see different parts of the city. Do you ever have that one thing that you love to do, but can't ever find anyone to do it with? Well that thing for me, was live band karaoke at this lovely southern inspired restaurant in my old neighborhood Lincoln Park called Stanley's. They have an awesome brunch on Sunday mornings, and on Sunday nights only, they have live band karaoke and the fellas were TOTALLY on board. So after dinner, we set out for a night of fun....

So make our way to the front, put our song requests on the list and then.......

A glass got knocked off the ledge, shattered, and as i attempted to move away, my foot was sliced open by a shard of glass......

The guy holding my foot is the random drunk doctor that was in Stanley's that night...and holding the flashlight...THE PARAMEDICS!

Here they are trying to get me to stand up so that they can put me in the AMBULANCE!

Why, why, why is it always ME!? Which is exactly what my husband said as i gave him that dreaded 1am phone call, " Hunny.... I am in the emergency room...can you come pick me up?" Good thing, he is a sweetheart, and knew exactly what he was getting himself into when he married me. But i was okay...my friends stayed with me the whole time...and after i received EIGHT STITCHES IN MY FOOT... i could actually laugh about the situation.

And of course the silver lining....thank goodness i got a pedicure a few days before... i couldn't wear closed toed shoes for 3 weeks!

I have officially accepted, that my crazy mishaps...are truly the charm of me. Although they seem completely inconvenient at the time... the best part about it is.....things always turn out okay....P.S. As we all participate in our civic duties on November 4th, please look into your candidate's plan for health care before casting your vote. Right now, having paramedics in an ambulance take you 6 blocks to a hospital to receive 8 stitches and a tetanus shot will cost you $3,500!!

Seriously........Rock the Vote!

FlugTag 2008

Flugtag is a marketing event from RedBull. Basically, they get people to submit drawings for a contraption that they will "fly" off of a ramp, into water. Each flying device has a theme... and before the individuals launch it, they do a silly dance to themed music. So in reality, crazy people dressed up in costumes, and jump into Lake Michigan...because NOBODY got their invention to fly..... It was a lot of fun though, very entertaining, and because my hotel was a sponsor and we had exclusive access, we got to hang out at Castaways, eating lots of great food and drinking red bull till we were so full and so hyped up on caffeine that we had to leave. Final count of everyone who came out to watch this event?...75,000 people!

We also got to meet an Olympic medalist while we were there...she let me wear it! We ended our afternoon with a walk by Lake Michigan. Summers in Chicago are definitely the BEST!

Glamorama 2008

Glamorama is a fashion show/concert/fundraiser for the Chicago Art Institute that takes place every year at the Chicago Theater. Our hotel has been the host hotel for this event for the past 2 years. When i heard that this year was an 80's theme and would feature performances from Cindy Lauper and MC Hammer, it was a complete no brainer! I love the 80s, i love fashion, and i love getting all dolled up so this had my name written all over it!

First off, MC Hammer looked GREAT! He still has his moves, and yes i was sreaming the words to 2 Legit, and Can't Touch This to the top of my lungs... Cindy Lauper was great as well, and totally made my night when she sang, " Girls just wanna have fun."

The best part about Glamorama, is actually the after party. They clear out the 7th floor of Macys and set up food stations and all kinds of entertainment. They had a DJ playing 80s music all night, break dancers, video games, 25 bars and 25 food stations. Adam, Holly, Camille, Duke, Juan and I had a fabulous time.

Playing a little guitar hero......

Bean Bag seating section.......

Glowing headbands......

Yummy food station.....

Big laughs with good friends....

Pause for the cause....

On Tuesday, i attended a charity event at my hotel for NBA player, Antoine Walker's 8 Foundation. 8 Foundation focuses on helping inner city children in Chicago, mainly those of single parent households. The event was sponsored by one of my clients, so of course i was in attendance. I haven't had the best experience with professional athletes, i find them to be arrogant and annoying....probably because i have never been a groupie and i just don't think that the fact that you can play a sport really well gives you the right to be an asshole....but Antoine was very kind, down to earth and pleasant. It was a great night, and a fun way to come together for a great cause...