Stress Scale

The past week I've been feeling a lot more stressed than usual. I've never been particularly great at change, regardless of how fantastic the changes might be. Some might remember that I cried every single day for the first three months of college, even though I was having the time of my life. 

 Over the years I've learned to handle life altering moments more smoothly, which will come in handy over the next few months. My lifelong friend and I were discussing how even wonderful life events can take a toll on our well-being.  I remembered this stress scale from medical school.  The scale is used to identify people at risk for physical illness due to increased stress levels.  It's been validated and used regularly since the 1970s.  

A score of greater than 150 puts you at moderate risk for illness and greater than 300 at high risk for illness.  

So.  Where do you fall?  With selling my condo, moving in with Jason, graduating fellowship, moving to Milwaukee, starting my first job and getting married in the next year, I've got a lot on my plate. Luckily I didn't make the > 300 category, but still know I need to put a little more effort into taking care of myself.  

Jason's Birthday celebration

 We celebrated Jason's bday on Friday night with drinks at The Aviary.  Grant Achatz and Nick Kokonas are the masterminds behind this one-of-a-kind experience.  Requiring same-day reservations for a seating of either 6:00pm, 8pm or 10 pm; I was excited to score one for Friday at 6p.  We were guided to our seats were our watress greeted us with an amuse bouche, which was a drink.  Orders were taken on an iphone.

For those of you unfarmiliar with Aviary, it is a mixologist heaven where you can order a Prix Fixe menu of 3 course or 7 course.  You could order just one cocktail instead, as this was a celebration

we went with the 3 course.  The courses are meant to simulate appetizer, entree and desert. 
Not only were the drinks intricate, but each had a unique presentation.  I went with Berry, Bourbon and Popcorn.  Berry was served in a french press, bourbon is shown below in a glass that had trapped smokey barrell, and popcorn which was literally a hot drink with liquid popcorn.

 The birthday boy, who hates this picture, ordered Orange, Sazerac and Cream Soda.  All were complex and delicious.  The cream soda tasted exactly like cream soda. 

 The table next to us ordered a drink called "In the rocks" which was so cool, it was an egg shaped ball of ice with the drink in the middle.  The customer breaks the egg with a slingshot and the inner contents of drink spills into the glass.

  At another table a girl ordred a pina colada which had a puff of cotton candy on top which disintegrated after pooring a pinapple liquid on top.

After all this we headed to a new latin restaurant in Logan Square called Masa Azul.  As far as upscale mexican, this might be the best I've been to (sorry Frontera grill).  I highly recommend!

Happy bday to Jay!

Doughty

Since we started dating, Jason has introduced me to many musicians I’d never heard of before- some I like, some I can’t stand and a few I love.   I LOVE MIKE DOUGHTY.  Anytime we are on a road trip, this is my music request.  Any time he is near Chicago, we buy tickets.

This week Thursday was a particularly amazing show at Space in Evanston.  The venue is a very small, candle lit, classy venue with tables/chairs and waitresses.  The show was part music, part book reading from his new book  “The Book of Drugs.”

Mike Doughty was once the lead singer of Soul Coughing, a fact I did not know when I started listing to his music.  This was a time in his life which he reflects poorly upon as an emotionally abusive relationship and a time of addiction.  He left the group in 2000 and quickly became sober.  Between his readings and music, he opened the floor for questions.  Someone asked “Do you think Soul Coughing screwing you out of your music rights saved your life?”  And he then followed with “We are glad you’re alive man.”  This was particularly moving to me.  Here he is night after night in bars and street festivals with rowdy, drunk fans and he is true to his sobriety.  And his music is amazing.  I love him even more.

After the show, Jay and I went to an Ethiopian restaurant in Evanston I’ve been dying to try, Addis Abeba  It was a delicious, hands-in-our-food perfect end to a great Thursday night.

Thirty-eight

Happy 38th bday to the guy who keeps me laughing every day.  

I have no doubt that our years will be full of adventure and we will always stay young at heart.

Hope you loved your ninja cookies.

I love you!

CS Evening of Bridal Luxury

Last night Natalie accompanied me to The Chicago Scene Bridal event at Trump tower.  Carrie and one of her bridesmaids were there too!!  The four of us had fun catching up over cocktails and hor deavors with an amazing view.

Carrie saved us amazing seats for the Vera Wang fashion show.  I couldn't have been luckier than to have a fashionista like Tal by my side for my first runway show.

We all agreed this black dress was best in show, but of course in ivory or white.

After the show we sampled cakes and then Natalie and I headed to RPM, a new resturant by Bill and Giuliana Rancic.  Then I headed home to sort through my bag of amazing shwag including smashbox makeup, vera wang perfume, endless supply of chocolate and prosecco. 

Not bad for a Sunday night!

Chi Town St. Patty's Day

 After a short morning at work, Jason and I enjoyed this unseasonable weather (81, sunny, yes please) by walking downtown to meet Amanda, Aaron and Josie at the St. Patrick's Day Parade.  We then walked to see the river dying and the Daley Plaza fountain.  We sat outside for a nice lunch. 

This might be the first St. Patrick's Day in my adult life without green beer, but I really enjoyed the new vesion of celebration.  We met up with some friends in the late afternoon for outdoor patio margarita and basketball viewing, so a full day of sunning helped shed the winter blahs.

 This morning I finished up the St Patrick's Celebration by running in the "Get Lucky" 7k.  It was a beautiful sunny morning on the lake front.  The longest run I've been on this year.  We didn't wear watches, but I think we kept up with a 10 minute pace.  And scored a great green hoodie and cool medal.

Hope you all had wonderful weekends as well.  I know this girl is, as she is currently kicking ass in the L.A. Marathon- her first marathon ever.

Matron of Honor

I wanted to announce my bridal party one by one over the next few weeks, starting of course with my sister, my trailblazer, my biggest advocate, my matron of honor.

Many people think my sister and I are far from alike.  She is filled with Grace.  A calm and compassionate soul who has always had wisdom surpassing her years.  She puts her strengths to perfect use as a palliative care social worker, helping ease some of life's most difficult situations; not to mention she is a certified Yoga instructor.  She has more Zen, or whatever hippie people call it, than I ever will.  She is brilliant and inspiring, following her heart and being true to herself confidently. 

The truth is, my sister and I aren't so different.  We may have different interests and style, but we have the same core.  We are the only people in on this planet who truly understand why we are who we are.  We bring out a side in each other that no one else can.  We laugh until it hurts and will forever drop anything for the other to help through life's not so great moments.    

I can't put into words how important she is to me, which is why I am blessed to have her as my Matron of Honor.

My first day of school at Lakeside Elementary.

Summer cottage on Lake Michigan.

Engaged!

This weekend Jason and I had our engagement party.  We (ie. Jason) prepared all the food ourselves.  We were so lucky to have his parents, my parents and both our sisters in town for the celebration.  Amanda rented out the top floor of her condo building in the south loop, complete with a fireplace and lakefront view. 

So many of our closest friends spent their Saturday evening with us.  It made me so happy to see how my friends have become friends with each other over the years.  I know how to pick them!

My only regret- I don't have any photos of my family or Jay's family. 

All-in-all a fantastic night with so many people who mean so much to me.

Side Effects

A patient of mine agreed today for me to take a picture of his rash.  Poor guy survived waiting the long wait for his liver transplant and the transplant itself.  He has the Mercedes scar to prove it.  Now, a few months later, he is suffering from a horrible drug reaction from a commonly used antibiotic.
Just one example of why you shouldn't take antibiotics if your are not positive you have a bacterial infection.  Word.