Nora Lu

One year ago today, my sister Sheri called me and said, “Dude, I just gave birth.”

Now, one year later, she and my brother-in-law have the cutest little one-year-old daughter. Nora Lu is her parents’ pride and joy—and honestly, my pride and joy, too! You see, Sheri and I are only two years apart, and we shared a room together and spent tons of time together as kids…so when she had a baby, it was a huge deal to me. And I am just crazy about my little niecey Nora.

The few precious times I’ve gotten to spend some time with Nora Lu Lu, I have found her to be the sweetest, most darling little thing who smiles and laughs readily. She is just one happy baby. And it’s no wonder why—she has two wonderful parents who give her tons of love and attention.

And I may be a bit biased, but I really do think that she is the cutest baby ever! Here, look at her picture—don’t you agree?



And now, my sister tells me, Nora is starting to walk and talk. Wow, they grow up so fast! I can’t wait to see her again and listen to her say her favorite words: “moo,” “cheep cheep,” and “baby.”

I just can’t believe she’s already one year old. Wow. One year old. Who the heck remembers being one??

Nora Lu, I know you can’t read yet—but I hope you know that your Auntie Carly loves you very much.

Happy First Birthday, Nora Lu!

Chi-town Happenings

Today, a homeless woman said to me, “I like your outfit,” and then asked me for some change. Now there’s a new one! Of course I had to give her some money. Hey, she gave me a compliment—how could I resist?

Note to homeless people: give me a compliment, and I’ll give you money. (Note: This does not apply to Mr. Skeevy homeless guy holding a 40 ouncer of Milwaukee’s Best, weaving down the street and yelling “Hey, Sexy Mama!”)

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Today, the unthinkable happened. They closed down all the Bennigan’s restaurants in our neighborhood. Apparently the company filed for bankruptcy. I am devastated. Thank GOD we still have TGI Friday’s, Chili’s, and Houlihan’s! Yes, before you ask—I do realize that I live in the city. But I have a special fondness for cheesey appetizers that only those silly chain restaurants can fulfill.

But I also love my neighborhood Thai, Indian, Cajun, Mexican, and English Pub restaurants. I remember there also used to be a wonderful, fantabulous Chinese restaurant in our neighborhood with the best spicy lunch buffet. It was called Szechuan East. Iwanski and I had a standing date with that place. On many a Saturday, we would wake up, get ready, and head over to Szechaun East. They knew us and would immediately wave us over to our usual table. Then, one day, without warning, we arrived at the place and found it all boarded up and empty. Now that was a time that I was REALLY devastated. It really was the best restaurant ever.

I guess that that’s one of the hazards of living in the city. Things change, sometimes very quickly. Restaurants and stores come and go—and so I’ve learned the lesson of not getting too attached to your favorite place.

But if Walgreen’s ever shuts down, I don’t know what I’ll do. I don’t think I could handle it.

This Weekend's Equations

Great Friends + Buck’s yummy homemade Hungarian food + Watermelon Daiquiries + Karaoke = A Fabulous Friday Night.

Too much to drink + too little sleep = A Very Tired Miss Healthypants

Cheap, yummy Mr. Subs + Saturday shopping with my best girlfriend in Boys Town + a 2 ½ hour massage given by the best massage therapist in the world (Diane rocks!)= A very happy and relaxed Miss Healthypants.

BBQ Pork Chow Mein for Lunch + A Warm, Sunny Day at the Zoo + A Long Walk along Lake Michigan beaches + Honey Chicken Wings + Fresh Corn on the Cob + Spinach Salad with Strawberries, Sliced Almonds, and Homemade Strawberry Vinagrette = The Best Sunday I’ve Had in A Long Time.


As you can tell, this weekend totally rocked. I got to spend it with all of my best friends, and the weather couldn’t have been nicer. I loves me some hot weather!

And it was just so good to see my best girlfriend, Diane. She lives beyond the Cheddar Curtain in Wisconsin, so I don’t get to see her very often—even though we do talk on the phone almost every day! But when we do get a chance to get together, we always have a great time. I have not talked much here about Diane before, but she is the one of the most genuine, kind, generous people you can ever meet. And she’s really funny, too. Her sense of humor is partly derived from the fact that she is just so honest.

For example: On Friday night, I was harassed by the bouncer at the karaoke bar because my license had expired in May. (I had no idea that it had expired—I never drive anywhere.) We almost didn’t get into the bar because of that. Anyway, later when I was carded at the local 7-Eleven for buying more rum for our watermelon daiquiries, Diane, who was standing behind me, said to the store clerk in a loud voice, “You know, that’s an expired card. Her driver’s license is expired.” The clerk just looked at her and sold me the rum, anyway. I could’ve killed her! But it was hilarious.

There are so many moments like that with Diane. She is very bold and will go up to complete strangers and ask them about themselves. For example, this weekend on the train, we ended up talking to a college student from Austin, Texas who was studying to be a history teacher and was visiting his sister in Chicago. And all because Diane took one look at him and asked him, “You look like a reader. Do you read a lot?” (As it turns out, the guy did.) It was an interesting conversation, and all because Diane took a chance on asking a complete stranger about himself. How fun!

Oh, and also, Diane has almost graduated from massage school, and I’ve been her “massage guineau pig” now on a few different occasions. And let me tell you, I’ve had a few “professional” massages before, but Diane gives the best massages (all of her teachers tell her she’s a great massage therapist, too). Aren’t I just the lucky one?

I’ll tell you, life is fun when you have a loving, funny, creative husband and a caring, funny, friendly best girlfriend. Not to mention a generous, funny, world-class cook and friend named Buck who, I’ve just discovered, makes fabulous Hungarian food! Who knew?

Suffice it to say that Miss Healthypants is also Miss Happypants.

See? (Aren’t we cute?)

Too Tired to Come Up With A Good Title

Miss Healthypants is one tired puppy.

I have worked lots of overtime this week, and I needs me some sleep.

Happily, after a good night's sleep tonight, there will be fun festivities tomorrow night, as Buck treats my friends Diane and Carissa, and myself (and maybe Iwanski) to Hungarian food! Yes, he offered to cook for all of us. What a guy! Why Hungarian food, you ask? Two reasons: 1) Diane really wanted to try Hungarian food, and 2) Buck is apparently a very good Hungarian cook. Who knew?

Also, Buck has promised to make us some of his famous watermelon daiquiries (mmm....watermelon daiquiries...). I am SO going to enjoy that!

And then it's off to a local pub for some more drinks and some karaoke craziness. (What can I say? I'm a sucker for hearing "Born To Be Wild" sung badly 5 times in the same night. Whoo-hoo!)

I can't wait!

Meditating on Meditation

I believe that in everyone’s life, there are always peaks and valleys. Hopefully we spend most of our daily lives high on that mountain peak—but sometimes we’re just stuck in a valley.

But right now, I’m sittin’ high on top of that mountain!

In a lotus position.

Yep, I’m beginning to like this whole meditation thing. I’ve started meditating probably about 10 times before, and every time, I eventually quit. I think I just forgot what it was like when I wasn’t meditating. Because here’s what happens:

Step 1: I start meditating and feel calmer and more peaceful in my daily life. I think to myself, “Why did I ever stop meditating, when it makes me feel so good?”

Step 2: I have a really bad day/week where I feel like I’m too busy to meditate, so I get out of the habit.

Step 3: I get into the habit of watching tv instead of meditating, and I convince myself that meditation never really helped me, anyway.

But alas, my friends, this is the ego at work. That damn, nasty ego that I need to squash!

So I will continue to sit and meditate. Luckily, it’s only for 8 minutes a day. I’m reading this book called “8 Minute Meditation,” and it’s exactly what it sounds like. It teaches you different techniques for meditating for 8 minutes a day. And if I’m really honest with myself, I know that I can spare 8 minutes a day. Hell, I can probably skip watching Family Guy re-runs and save 30 minutes a day—but why on earth would I do that?

Whoo Hoo! Toledo!

I’m back from Toledo. It was freakin’ awesome!

Okay, not really. But I actually did have a good time during part of the trip.

Here are some things I learned from my trip to Toledo:

1. Perrysburg, Ohio (a suburb of Toledo) is a cute little town with great little pubs lining the sidewalks.

2. The La Quinta Inn there isn’t bad, either. There’s a gas station less than a block away with a very friendly, funny cashier who will gladly sell you the liquor of your choice.

3. When your coworkers get drunk, it can be quite interesting to find out what they reveal about themselves.

4. The Dog Whisperer is a good show.

Why the Dog Whisperer, you ask? Well, a couple of my coworkers mentioned how much they like the show, so I thought I’d Tivo it. I have already watched three episodes and am enthralled by it. I especially like how the dog trainer (Cesar Millan) talks about how it’s important to keep calm energy around dogs. In other words:

Calm = Power.

I feel like I can totally use that advice in my daily life. I mean, I can get all excited and bubbly (as I am wont to do), but beneath that excitement, I want to maintain a steady calm energy.

So I’ve decided to try to meditate every day.

It can’t hurt, can it?

Just think--I could meditate every day and become enlightened.

And all because of a trip to Toledo.

Toledo, Talahdo, Tomato, Tomado

On Wednesday, I have to go to Toledo. Yes, Toledo. The most exciting place on earth.

The saddest part is, this is the only city I’ve ever visited in Ohio. About a year ago, I also had to travel to Toledo.

None of this is by choice.

My company is sending me and several others to a branch location there, and I couldn’t be more excited about it. Can’t you tell?

So when I return, I will be sure to regal you with stories of good ole’ Toledo. I know it will be amazing.