I've poured my last pint :(

Sunday night I worked my last shift at Ginger's Ale House. I laughed, I cried, I danced on the bar one last time... I'll miss it there a lot!

MMmmm...Steak!

On Wednesday night Auntie Ronni, Uncle Lee, Linny, Jason, Dana and I had a delicious dinner at the Chop House. MMmmm... I had the prime rib and it was very very good. It was a graduation/bon voyage dinner for me and I was very lucky to receive happy graduation, bon voyage, happy birthday AND merry christmas cards all at once! Also, Auntie Ronni and Uncle Lee gave me a Sony Handycam so I can record all the amazing places I'm about to see! Cool! I think there's a way to post videos on this thing...I'm going to figure it out. I shouldn't even be online right now, because I have 45 pages of papers to write before Friday, but it's okay, it will all get, done, right?? I'm really tired, worked last night and got up early today and have to work again tonight so I think Toe and I will take a nap. Love everyone.

Ame

Cubs Game + Steph = FUN...and other news...

Hi People,

The past two weeks have been kinda busy for me. Last Wednesday I, along with my fellow McCormick Tribune people (the group of us in the scholarship program at school) put on a symposium (conference thing) on community revitalization and gentrification in Chicago. It was actually a big success and over 110 people showed up for it. I was facilitating a group on how community groups can be involved and it was a good conversation that I wish we had more time to finish. My biggest complaint is that we didn't get to really synthesize things because by the time we got done talking about the issues we only had a few minutes to think about solutions. Overall it was a good night and I think it at least got people talking. I also got my mid-terms back and got A's on them. It's not all me me me though...Linny is working really hard at school right now and has been writing papers and taking tests left and right. She has a straight A average and plans to keep it up. Ms. Smarty-Pants. She will be finishing up in October if all goes according to plan. Finally, Mothers Day was mom's three year sober anniversary and we are all really proud of her. We went to Arlington Park for a few hours, but it was cold and we were all tired (for varying reasons) so we made it an early day. My dad won some big bucks on the last race thought! Woo Hoo! Last night I went to the Cubs game with Steph, my friend from Gingers. It was a lot of fun and the Cubs kicked butt! We had hot dogs, bud lights, and of course, cotton candy. Whoever figured out that spinning sugar at high heat would make that deliciousness was a genius! We left after the eighth inning because is was FREEZING and met Linny for some hot chocolate and baileys at Gingers. A good time had by all. That's about all I can think of for now. Tomorrow is my last day at my internship, so I'll have extra time in the next two weeks to get my finals written, then it's just packing and moving time. They took me out for a nice lunch at the Cheesecake Factory and said nice things about me and gave me presents! It was nice to see all the kids even though it was just for a little bit on Sunday. Let's try to find a night to go to Brunetti's before I leave..

Love you guys,

Ame

Toulouse got a makeover!

Check out the before and after shots of Toe! She went from scraggly to sleek in just 6 hours at the groomer!