Life is happening

It’s been a few weeks since my last post. Life has been pretty insane between two jobs and graduate school.  I felt myself starting to get sick three nights ago, but a cup of Nyquil seemed to take care of that. Of course, I was completely drowsy for the first four hours at work…

1) Speaking of which, we’re up to the beginning of Week 4 at COD. Not a whole lot of major updates. I can say I’m yet to receive my first paycheck. But the staff is tremendous, very friendly and accommodating. Everyone seems to get along really well with each other. Kathy is bringing me along kind of slow, showing me a little bit of new information each day. I’m still yet to answer a phone, or meet with a student at the front counter. But I have a good feel for certain concepts like C-codes, verification, and running certain reports. There’s still a long way to go though. But my confidence is there that I will handle this fine. I can only pray that a year from now, I’m doing this full time.

2) Well, the Rangers have clinched the Metropolitan Division and the President’s Trophy, meaning they have home ice throughout the Stanley Cup  playoffs. They will open the playoffs Thursday night against Pittsburgh, who have played miserable hockey over the last three months, as they had to beat the lowly Sabres on the last day of the season to even qualify. Their top defenseman, Kris Letang, is out for the season with a concussion. Christian Erhoff, their second best offensive defenseman, is not expected to play. They do have Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, two of the best players in the world, but the Rangers should be able to exploit Pittsburgh’s weaknesses in goal and on defense. I pick the Rangers to win in 6 games. And then they will have the opportunity to play either the Washington Capitals or the New York Brooklynders…or Islanders.

 3) I’m doing a cooking class on the west side of Chicago with my mother that I’m pretty excited about. This restaurant, A Tavola, was featured on the Travel Channel, so I have every confidence that it will be great. Their chef is known as the king of gnocchi in Chicago. Now I have no idea if we’re going to be making it tonight; it’s a very time-consuming process to make. Gnocchi requires a lot of dexterity and patience. But I’ve never really had good gnocchi, so I hope we get a chance to prepare it.

4) Upcoming events: Yelp event at Pie Five pizza in Naperville on Thursday, Don Williams concert next Tuesday at the Arcada Theater in St. Charles.

5) I went to Parkview Church in Orland Park on Sunday, which was an hour from my house. It was good to hear Lee Strobel guest speak live on his new book, “The Case for Grace.” From what I gather, it’s a collection of stories that illustrate s second chance and grace, or the concept of getting what you don’t deserve. To be frank, I think it’s a book that I’d rent from the library, but I’m not sure I’d spend the money to actually buy it.

6) Are there any movies out that are worth seeing? All the good stuff was out in February!

7) I’m so ready to travel again! I’m planning two weekend trips to New York City, one in May on my final break from school, and then another in mid-July. I haven’t been to New York in 15 months and it’s been too long!

8) It still frustrates me that I have such trouble setting aside time lately to work out. It used to be the easiest thing for me. Now, I’m barely doing yoga twice a week. And when I don’t do it, I definitely feel worse. I do plan on joining the COD gym, as it’s around $250 for the year. But I really think I’m going to start after I graduate since it’s just really difficult to make the time to do it 3-4 times a week. Of course, I could get up at 5 am and go early. I’m not that crazy though!

 
9) I really have little toleration for people who are habitually late. It just shows a lack of respect for other people when you make them wait too long.

 10) Another thing is frustrating me. I’m not doing the Willow Creek 5k for the Celebration of Hope this year, but I just can’t walk it. I have not been able to train for it since I’m not going to the gym and I injured my legs last May. I’ve run that race for three years and if I can’t do it the way that I want, I just don’t want to do it. I know it’s for the charities and for the people who are less fortunate, but I’d rather work at Gino’s East in the morning and donate some of what I make to the Celebration of Hope.  

Song pick: “Good As New” Gary Allan