Eclectic Lotus

Meet Brian and Michele. They look happy don't they? Here is a modern day love story. I never thought this stuff existed but then again, I am a realist. I married my husband in what I thought was practical but every one else seemed to think that we are also a modern love story (insert pic of me and husband here. . . ) Here is the story of Brian and Michele. Michele was with a guy named Brian for two years. (not her new husband- her ex boyfriend.) As she was comfortable with him there was something in her mind that let her know that she wanted more. She graduated from school with him by her side. . .  Two weeks after her graduation, she came to me and expressed how she was not ready to be engaged to this man.  Of course, like a good friend I asked her why. Her response was, "There are too many things about him that annoy me." He seemed to be a good man and I could not understand why she felt this way. So, she began to list them out and I can not remember al...

Well, the bouquets are made as well as the flowers for the men folk. Now, tomorrow I will have to tend to myself and "pluck" flowers for tomorrow. Oh yeah, I am now bartender. . . .let's hope I am not way in over my head. Embrace the fun of life!

Currently, taking a break from cleaning the floor laundry and straightening up. Hubby's suit is currently in the cleaners and also being repaired from manufacturing errors. Saturday, my sister-in-law and her husband will be "officially" married. They were married legally in November 10th of last year and never told anyone but then posted pictures on facebook. His family insisted that her and her marry in the church by a priest. If you do not understand, my sister-in-law is Mexican American and her new hubby is Mexican. In Mexico, it is standard to marry in the church by a priest for it to be recognized as an actual marriage. (basically, I would be living in sin with Vince.) She wanted this to be simple with a simple dress but her bride gene kicked in and I am not sure she knows how great it will be! Twelve centerpieces for the tables turned into 36. She now has a dress for the ceremony and one for the reception. I have been asked to make her bouquet but in my mind that ...

This week has been to say the least, busy and I have yet to be completed with everything! I am assisting with organizing a wedding on Saturday then I have to drive back to Rockford, IL for another wedding Sunday night. Here is some information on the bride and groom. . . She just recently graduated with her MBA. He was working at Chrysler. She began working there and they met in June. She immediately fell for him and broke it off with a boyfriend she was with at the time. He proposed in July. They will be married next week- Monday. Why the rush? She states that this man is all she ever asked for and can not wait to spend her life with him. I hear some stories about people who date for not long and marry and how they stayed together until death. I then hear about the people who grew up together and divorced after five years. What is good for us may not be good for others. We have embraced her new fiance as he is laid back and can keep up with this business-minded firecrac...

I have begun looking into it. At this point, I am not sure but I can tell you this. . . I felt great being in that delivery room coaching on the mom as she began to push and helping her in her breathing. Labor for her was fast and efficient. Oh, the possibilities!

Apple Cider, Pumpkin muffins, Soups, Squash, cool air. . . I can not say enough good things about Autumn. But then again, I love almost every season. Even though it is the middle of August I am already thinking about all the baking I will be doing and the delectable kiddie Halloween movies as well as even a visit to a pumpkin patch and some Jack O' Lantern decorating. ( I have been doing that every year since I have been married even with sicknesses and school.) In the spirit of things, I decided to go to my new internet friend- Pinterest. There are already people posting up creative ideas and clothes for this season. Although, I do not have any rider boots to go with my skinny jeans I think I can may be take a shot at creating something good right? May be. I found this recipe for Bisquick Chocolate Chip Cookies on pinterest and I thought since I still have some Bisquick mix to finish up this would be great! Here is the website:  http://www.plainchicken.com/2010/03/bisqu...

Today has looks very similar to yesterday- work out, eat when you can, read, clean, computer searches for jobs along with ideas and concepts. This morning I went for a run and it looked like rain so I shortened the run and went a little faster just because I did not want to be like the old guy in the tale "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" and get struck by lightning. Hubby somewhat shocked me today because he asked about the Air and Water Show. I asked why and he thought it would be good for both of us to go either this year or next year. I have always hated the Air and Water Show because when I lived two blocks from the lakefront I could never nap or focus because of the noise of the planes. One thing about living in the city I do not like and that is all the noise pollution. I have pretty sensitive hearing so at times my hearing goes out for a day once it went out for three days and when I say goes out I mean it feels and sounds like someone put cotton in both my ears...

I suppose it has not hit home yet especially with all that has went on in the past couple of days. This morning I woke up late (8:30 AM is late for me) and made myself some coffee which is rare but I don't have any more black tea to drink and began to think of calling someone. I called my Aunt Ruth, my father's sister to see how she was doing. "Did you know your Grandma Ethel died?" she asked me. I proceeded to tell her I did and told her the story of how I was intended to drive to Milwaukee and pick up my brother, have breakfast with him and then take him to the airport but it was intercepted by my Aunt Joyce (Ethel's daughter and my grandfather's step-daughter) calling me to tell me that Grandma passed away early that morning. I then thought about the obituary which may not be out right about now because funeral arrangements are in the process and I asked my Aunt Ruth how she knows and she stated, "Your sister told me. I guess her mama knows someone t...

I am running on four hours of sleep. I seriously need time to process the past couple of days and write a detailed entry about what has been happening in my world. The 11th was my lovely friend's baby shower which was complete with babies, cotton candy, treats, and men sucking on kool-aid through baby bottles. I checked up on my friend Amy to see how the whole pregnancy process was going before heading back to Chicago to get in my apartment. (again, long story) The 12th was bittersweet. . . more to come! The 13th landed me in the hospital. Today is more birthdays and sleep. Will come back with updates! Life is beautiful!

This weekend is going to be hectic for me with Veggie Fest in the Western Suburbs, a baby shower and gathering in Racine, WI for my best friend's birthday is a lot on me. Hope I have lots of gas money! I have the laundry done and ready to get cleaning on the house today as well as get things together for the many events that I have this weekend. I still have not fully decided on the right birthday gift for my best friend. What do you get a gal with style, class, and beautiful humanitarian skills? She has requested that all her friends give money to a charity event. I guess so. But, being that this is my last month as a housewife I am not so sure that I want to do just that. I purchased her a card yesterday but I have to go back to the stores and buy more cards because I simply forgot that my sister-in-law's birthday is Monday and she will be without my brother. (From L to R- Sean, Mischell, Eric, Me and Hubby) Meet 1/2 of my siblings- My mother was married at 18 and six...

Listen to this song! Very trendy 60's music I know. This artist was a hit in the UK and recently re-hashed back on You Tube. This woman singing is my great- aunt Joan! My great -grandmother had seven kids- Minnie, Hattie Mae, Luverta, Joseph, Joan, Leonard and Jonnie. My grandmother is Luverta. Luverta became a teaching assistant while Joan became a singer for a short period of time. We never knew too much about her career all to say it did not last that long and that she came back to Milwaukee, WI- raised her children and her grandchildren and devoted to family. She created a child family choir and we performed in random places in the city of Milwaukee. She arranged our family reunions and family birthday parties. She was also quite prominent in her church. She died in a diabetic coma in 1998. Her obituary never read that she had hit music in the 60's in the UK. Fast forward to now and there are threads on this song you hear as well as her other songs. Someone posted thi...

August is a month that has no official holiday. That does not mean it is a busy month because most people I know have birthdays in August. Father in law in front (far right) My late father-in-law passed away August 11th, 1985. This is an old picture with him and his brothers but not all of them. Apparently, his mother gave birth to 22 kids. I am not sure how she did that one! Today is officially my father's birthday. He would have been 67 years old. I can still hear him speak and tell me about how I am chubby or how my mom is sexy. I can still see him laying in bed watching the fishing shows as I headed for church and him telling me, "Nah, I am not going to church this time but pray for me." Which I did frequently. He was a character. His dream was for me and him to go to Niagara Falls as I became his road buddy and confidante two and three years before he passed away. My mother's orders since I had such a strong relationship with her she wanted me to ha...

(Anniversary Photo- 2011) Reverse time to 2006. . .I am living in the Uptown Neighborhood in Chicago, IL. I am with some friends and telling them about Vince and how he is. "You guys wanna meet him?" The gay men nod their head. At that time, Vince calls me and tells me that he is in the building thinking I am at the Tea Lounge below. He comes up and there the gay boys are shocked. Vince is attractive, tall and. . . MEXICAN AMERICAN? After he left they said to me, "I thought he was a big burly black guy the way you spoke about him." When we began dating, he told me how he noticed people looking at us and not in a good way. I never noticed. But, as time went on and we got closer and closer it became clear to me that he was such an amazing man. I called my mother in the middle of it all and told her how it was interesting that this man had my heart and treated me like a queen. . . and he was not black. My mother said a simple, "SO?" History about...