tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-102477912024-03-07T11:50:41.201-06:00Vinny's HAD CancerFrank's Story of Testicular Cancer. Sometimes raw, but real. Read knowing there may be COLORFUL language and frank (and Frank) talk. He's done with treatment now (hence the HAD Cancer title—although we keep the blog address the same) and we are now in surveillance mode.Rev. Sarah C. Evanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13003843174993594628noreply@blogger.comBlogger286125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10247791.post-72329287122293954862009-07-05T20:42:00.011-05:002009-07-11T18:09:38.073-05:00Forum Family Fix 2009 and its aftermath<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg3NM8Xj2yBdzsN4rrsYK-DA3uBp4ppFFYdzfxdsSxsYWyM5z4LjuhmTOrrtqUglWq6Q4OhmWBVoA19LLWCshwvbl2H9uFZRVaZ9lTopwuy5BuKz74rDDbMFG8zxDU4Lm5GCa-/s1600-h/IMG_1002_2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg3NM8Xj2yBdzsN4rrsYK-DA3uBp4ppFFYdzfxdsSxsYWyM5z4LjuhmTOrrtqUglWq6Q4OhmWBVoA19LLWCshwvbl2H9uFZRVaZ9lTopwuy5BuKz74rDDbMFG8zxDU4Lm5GCa-/s400/IMG_1002_2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357340592034865330" /></a><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">The </span><a href="http://tc-cancer.com/forum"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">TC-Cancer online support forum</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"> had its annual get together on July 4th in New Jersey. I hadn't been to one before, but since we had extra mandatory vacation days tacked onto the holiday weekend, I decided to make the trek (just me this time, next time it will be a family affair).<br /><br />What a blast! Probably about 30 survivors, supporters and kids came and we partied until the wee hours of the morning. New friends were made and old friendships were renewed. It's a group of folks who, were it not for the connection through testicular cancer, probably would have no reason to meet and talk. As one of the participants shared:</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(51, 51, 51); -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family:arial, verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:13px;"><blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">I can't help feeling like everyone here is very much an extended family to me. I'll never be happy that cancer entered my life. But I can't help feeling very fortunate indeed for having found so many beautiful people, each so unique and special, because of it.</span></span></blockquote></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">For me at least, there wasn't a lot of emotion connected with our gathering at the time, just folks having a good time. Then there was the next day.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">I was in New York Sunday morning to kill time before my flight. I was dropped off in Midtown (about 56th and 6th Ave) with another couple from the group who was staying in the city for a couple of extra days. So I was walking down 5th Ave and passed a </span><a href="http://www.fapc.org/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Presbyterian church</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">. I found myself wondering, "maybe there's a Methodist church nearby..." so I whipped out the phone and did a search. Boom, there's </span><a href="http://www.christchurchnyc.org/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Christ Church UMC</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"> at 60th and Park Ave, about 8 blocks from where I was. And, as it turned out, they had a service starting at 11 (it was about 5 past at the time). I hauled a$$ over to the church and took a seat near the back, about 10 minutes into the service. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">The Scripture readings for the day and the </span><a href="http://www.christchurchnyc.org/ser/a/grace_sufficient.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">sermon</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"> were all about being strong in our broken places. The preacher also quoted from Maya Angelou's poem read at President Clinton's first inauguration: “History, despite its wrenching pain, cannot be unlived but, if faced with courage, need not be lived again." It dovetailed so well with the sentiment expressed at our gathering of those touched by testicular cancer that I found myself overcome with emotion. Joining in the celebration of communion just took the emotion to the next level.</span></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">After the service, I basked for a while in the beautiful weather in Central Park with a sense of grace, peace, and serenity, thankful that I have been blessed to join a group who have been able to help me (and many others) find strength in a time of weakness. Can't wait for the next one!</span></div></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUTIAu4em38siaIi_02YukhYpX9vttYd5bc9XxyY33xcIYjoijkfLMTbyNAPqSd0Mrw11moF3qr0Mnsid2NWQ7QZas76VLgSUK9FT6-qIW6kknxRZKuPVfWjs0laWbQjnKfRuE/s1600-h/IMG_1006.jpg"><img style="text-align: center;float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUTIAu4em38siaIi_02YukhYpX9vttYd5bc9XxyY33xcIYjoijkfLMTbyNAPqSd0Mrw11moF3qr0Mnsid2NWQ7QZas76VLgSUK9FT6-qIW6kknxRZKuPVfWjs0laWbQjnKfRuE/s320/IMG_1006.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357340233023627010" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Flipping cancer the bird</span></i></div>Vinnyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18264970768938109717noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10247791.post-83795348247097581092009-04-22T13:13:00.001-05:002009-04-22T13:19:10.261-05:00And another...Say hello to <a href="http://betterhandsnow.blogspot.com/">Reese and Cara</a>. Reese was on surveillance but recently started 3xBEP after a CT showed activity in his retroperitoneal lymph nodes.Vinnyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18264970768938109717noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10247791.post-72009133610397226662009-04-17T13:46:00.003-05:002009-04-17T13:49:20.686-05:00And another blogger...Meet <a href="http://diecancer.blogspot.com/">Ted</a>, who had his orchiectomy in February 2008 and has just started chemo for a mass found on a CT.<br /><br />Good luck Ted!Vinnyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18264970768938109717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10247791.post-30364963433781646712009-04-11T22:17:00.001-05:002009-04-11T22:18:54.456-05:00Another member of the club!Please welcome <a href="http://davidscancerblog.blogspot.com/">David</a>, from Atlanta, to the TC family! He starts 4xBEP on Monday.Vinnyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18264970768938109717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10247791.post-79720056347526832952009-02-06T18:59:00.003-06:002009-02-06T19:06:25.450-06:00Jan 09pics taken in early Jan. He's been a bit on the move of late and I've not been able to grab a camera as often. . .<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPNQkIozN_fgbOIw0J-wsQd3cB1vPx05KzMoRNM58BfKAbJfDlyLXBEQ9qRbw3e1f3tW0u9hmw_S-gCFErCxIVYa5zfoOgNhlo6DF2Ktg0MmPUvBCwoKveJo7iwrH0NTZZr77Eqg/s1600-h/IMG_4535.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPNQkIozN_fgbOIw0J-wsQd3cB1vPx05KzMoRNM58BfKAbJfDlyLXBEQ9qRbw3e1f3tW0u9hmw_S-gCFErCxIVYa5zfoOgNhlo6DF2Ktg0MmPUvBCwoKveJo7iwrH0NTZZr77Eqg/s400/IMG_4535.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299854909006985314" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_mWPCjvRNYJyxR1L7PSlapg5Sc03VyM4tE_xIHnDrb3GOBSFokFCavy_w_LGxScsv2H_tScVOWnS9L65a4rfm1g7XHDWhvNYCOEyLbVLeZzKSd9syW5xZ-cbyrQEn824kgo-DOw/s1600-h/IMG_4553.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_mWPCjvRNYJyxR1L7PSlapg5Sc03VyM4tE_xIHnDrb3GOBSFokFCavy_w_LGxScsv2H_tScVOWnS9L65a4rfm1g7XHDWhvNYCOEyLbVLeZzKSd9syW5xZ-cbyrQEn824kgo-DOw/s400/IMG_4553.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299854899842501074" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGRrQaP7sw-SNGRGysduOw1ByMLAQkJ-8Px5H7tttWaaZQcx2rMXrGDsXtMGXnFwTGi7pV3SkoaZwg7vP6FzMZ8kOnI-d3q1j4wLeGFel81LgC-y7HOGep-C8G3Bvb4oSbowx3Dw/s1600-h/IMG_4558.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGRrQaP7sw-SNGRGysduOw1ByMLAQkJ-8Px5H7tttWaaZQcx2rMXrGDsXtMGXnFwTGi7pV3SkoaZwg7vP6FzMZ8kOnI-d3q1j4wLeGFel81LgC-y7HOGep-C8G3Bvb4oSbowx3Dw/s400/IMG_4558.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299854892964741762" border="0" /></a>Rev. Sarah C. Evanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13003843174993594628noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10247791.post-35429264536251494232008-12-23T20:28:00.002-06:002008-12-23T20:35:10.618-06:00Here's Hoping...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqoxtV8Mah0FREh48zfahv6GRAbeHaBW9jvEpXT4KpCKWNRe7EDnOvymPJiGJGLBvtpO5demAcV_ttr2WPfbtf_yMGWdYUfNBf_rN0O37jlcqDxh_Z5OZR6KPAsE9WcJKU2W7E1A/s1600-h/IMG_4181.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqoxtV8Mah0FREh48zfahv6GRAbeHaBW9jvEpXT4KpCKWNRe7EDnOvymPJiGJGLBvtpO5demAcV_ttr2WPfbtf_yMGWdYUfNBf_rN0O37jlcqDxh_Z5OZR6KPAsE9WcJKU2W7E1A/s400/IMG_4181.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5283178956530039282" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: verdana;font-size:180%;" >That you get to open some really amazing gifts this Christmas time!<br /><br />Merry Christmas from me and my parents!<br /><br />Love,<br />Z</span>Rev. Sarah C. Evanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13003843174993594628noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10247791.post-13012882746244919122008-11-12T08:39:00.005-06:002008-11-12T09:14:34.414-06:00First Hair CutIt was bound to happen.<br />It needed to happen.<br />I didn't want to do it.<br />We went to the $10 hair cut place that Frank's been going to since we moved. A nice middle eastern man name Ali (yes Ali the barber), cut Zane's angel hair locks.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmA3orciky6xaog6i4bj9OsUTk9ufUZYz5MXPZcdCRz7r3xfHVzBVGwln-RSvShUSgxiIjK9eXBrbdKGcCZZ0PyAlflP6nLgrpuXfuEUdYdS2tXjfNiinUyX7B5cqJTF_5YvAFdw/s1600-h/IMG_3703.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmA3orciky6xaog6i4bj9OsUTk9ufUZYz5MXPZcdCRz7r3xfHVzBVGwln-RSvShUSgxiIjK9eXBrbdKGcCZZ0PyAlflP6nLgrpuXfuEUdYdS2tXjfNiinUyX7B5cqJTF_5YvAFdw/s400/IMG_3703.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267783789072337154" border="0" /></a><br /><br />It was a full on trip to the barber, wet down, cut, blow dry, even trimmers around his ears and nape of the neck. From the time stamps on my pictures it took about 20 minutes! And he was great about it!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">The wet down.<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio6I2RsdneEOX1mOLZjEIBQMw3QUU4PU3ACZ48u6ZTqG5lrypCbrLyl39ziz9JWA3uMuKEoie_G0WAXC_v5qTil48OFwgt-tQLKPXPqPq5Ueh2AitBBVh9od9kTsTc2zrzcanAJg/s1600-h/IMG_3733.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio6I2RsdneEOX1mOLZjEIBQMw3QUU4PU3ACZ48u6ZTqG5lrypCbrLyl39ziz9JWA3uMuKEoie_G0WAXC_v5qTil48OFwgt-tQLKPXPqPq5Ueh2AitBBVh9od9kTsTc2zrzcanAJg/s400/IMG_3733.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267783799183300290" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Taking a little off the sides.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTAc2ErPO_N4NHWzYVJE_nETHKYF4rrzl0622NfHE33LgGV-1FRBGByTVYnHndRmMZ1A_f8K1kT6ibZvzxakbjvVQNlxEgeJVW5Upxzi9jklyWo_BiqU3YNsfiBq9ROkS7Da8ZRQ/s1600-h/IMG_3750.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTAc2ErPO_N4NHWzYVJE_nETHKYF4rrzl0622NfHE33LgGV-1FRBGByTVYnHndRmMZ1A_f8K1kT6ibZvzxakbjvVQNlxEgeJVW5Upxzi9jklyWo_BiqU3YNsfiBq9ROkS7Da8ZRQ/s400/IMG_3750.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267783805547727602" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">And some more.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghVwVDXWtPZnIXot7ffp00RefUNvZDy_doxErBVfA2i3wXUcUVluH_Ux45Rnz3J14IbpbTebDi9XTZhyOgv5FN9syEG-ZY1TOOjOjbnImC95Mf_BdAkpIzO5Akx8PNMarLH-Fz0g/s1600-h/IMG_3769.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghVwVDXWtPZnIXot7ffp00RefUNvZDy_doxErBVfA2i3wXUcUVluH_Ux45Rnz3J14IbpbTebDi9XTZhyOgv5FN9syEG-ZY1TOOjOjbnImC95Mf_BdAkpIzO5Akx8PNMarLH-Fz0g/s400/IMG_3769.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267783825822031058" border="0" /></a>Looking down for the bangs to be cut.<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJgtBqrz2jlMr8Hrrw1_ecDDyxoQhe9t4LZ5aPsMM0DgyeYZV-B6njZZUO5LIA6wI6EK_SQdynhQyQpKTSkTVVnX7GEbjIgdGWkWmyXYCCHfxv4UP04fRMITcQ20im-zajMgpbhA/s1600-h/IMG_3764.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJgtBqrz2jlMr8Hrrw1_ecDDyxoQhe9t4LZ5aPsMM0DgyeYZV-B6njZZUO5LIA6wI6EK_SQdynhQyQpKTSkTVVnX7GEbjIgdGWkWmyXYCCHfxv4UP04fRMITcQ20im-zajMgpbhA/s400/IMG_3764.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267783814814464034" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">With Daddy, right after he got out of the chair. <br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHNaikr6fQjRDSO82ODj6rLdDlyVZ1IXGz2okx9zjzkI_Bu3zhErAnvSficpTN65XUDyb_huiGOvP5mnFM2496v53QqBXys3pjym5GkTO6HSN4DAnyaVYdTCOH4cuOClqlUrFKcw/s1600-h/IMG_3806.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHNaikr6fQjRDSO82ODj6rLdDlyVZ1IXGz2okx9zjzkI_Bu3zhErAnvSficpTN65XUDyb_huiGOvP5mnFM2496v53QqBXys3pjym5GkTO6HSN4DAnyaVYdTCOH4cuOClqlUrFKcw/s400/IMG_3806.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267786405370896770" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">The back after it was done.<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxR0HZ0aos4oJ3YMM5PvXVYmOfgXszd0m0Q4Zh3wHih2LjdptBucTV-7x7c_WkYPuVWyX89YBHQN9m0FJP_rM-OQMgRlauFQrrO14JOvHxoMWc7xpbSXEjPZl33OJnNKmPMJEjEQ/s1600-h/IMG_3810.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxR0HZ0aos4oJ3YMM5PvXVYmOfgXszd0m0Q4Zh3wHih2LjdptBucTV-7x7c_WkYPuVWyX89YBHQN9m0FJP_rM-OQMgRlauFQrrO14JOvHxoMWc7xpbSXEjPZl33OJnNKmPMJEjEQ/s400/IMG_3810.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267786414276350994" border="0" /></a><br />I'm not into crew cuts for my little boy. Frank sports one nowadays because chemo left his hair a different texture. I just think Z looks better with some hair, and there's a chance that his curls wouldn't all go away, which, it appears they have not! <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhKnSTkyL91mSttRz0OkBaSDLGSsDIbyEMTKfm6lfZQzA5SVYAitW6fDdaYVZxb1JxVS7A-G7y-gVrF1PRTAZ1dAu1agSl-3LpA6k1n7BuCg3A2Sti6Xp_sfObX8iCk7qjeQBARA/s1600-h/IMG_3922.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhKnSTkyL91mSttRz0OkBaSDLGSsDIbyEMTKfm6lfZQzA5SVYAitW6fDdaYVZxb1JxVS7A-G7y-gVrF1PRTAZ1dAu1agSl-3LpA6k1n7BuCg3A2Sti6Xp_sfObX8iCk7qjeQBARA/s400/IMG_3922.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267786431505986370" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibtsFGgZClo2WAN08OweMVMYrBPUNQa1hmIrla4Cilt3KUJNXE1VZd729j-o0lSESFxw9d7Gfc1Sl1dJBvQM_HuFQKBTmLf88tFSk67yduuboKJOfEG_suzx7KBQ_V9YA1vsdVDQ/s1600-h/IMG_3918.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 284px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibtsFGgZClo2WAN08OweMVMYrBPUNQa1hmIrla4Cilt3KUJNXE1VZd729j-o0lSESFxw9d7Gfc1Sl1dJBvQM_HuFQKBTmLf88tFSk67yduuboKJOfEG_suzx7KBQ_V9YA1vsdVDQ/s400/IMG_3918.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267786425085523698" border="0" /></a>Rev. Sarah C. Evanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13003843174993594628noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10247791.post-13486082522604988082008-11-03T13:41:00.006-06:002008-11-03T14:10:06.518-06:00Halloween 2008Taking the initiative to put together his own costume....Z, trying on mommy's shoes:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-LTwbwN4G39ERzBhY_mvp-nQSYTnxvcirp3M6B5gkRnKYsDJrj7M9AebKnjpaFCab9vRWCkToOkScaYo_ZTX65gomlARjKfOeollidIJvtSuRvZTyZ6qBfUjJJimjpuZrZutCEg/s1600-h/IMG_3570.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-LTwbwN4G39ERzBhY_mvp-nQSYTnxvcirp3M6B5gkRnKYsDJrj7M9AebKnjpaFCab9vRWCkToOkScaYo_ZTX65gomlARjKfOeollidIJvtSuRvZTyZ6qBfUjJJimjpuZrZutCEg/s400/IMG_3570.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264523328795719602" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZMsiFpTfPwDDBD3tGtJtGZ_teTe0w8lScx67SqIBH4rnTtEPwa1HDEg77PyQ3rHCYqyb8Tzzcx677paJRC8XNZCHwxFOjZQ4mIXn8GCG2Gk-t_OWTQM0C5jezl2YcY5VkzfDiCA/s1600-h/IMG_3571.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZMsiFpTfPwDDBD3tGtJtGZ_teTe0w8lScx67SqIBH4rnTtEPwa1HDEg77PyQ3rHCYqyb8Tzzcx677paJRC8XNZCHwxFOjZQ4mIXn8GCG2Gk-t_OWTQM0C5jezl2YcY5VkzfDiCA/s400/IMG_3571.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264520328597642306" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Don't worry kid, Mommy, thanks to Nana*, has got you covered. <br /><br />Beware of lions lurking in tall grass...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEHLrQyzjmLKh1zUbJqWzD4nJrMsNCLfny3WFDLqPju4rujWDsqY2Yw3f-eXZfXEBLYFJDZz_ED8m1oZxFL36DvLRmM3a6NxuL6XodkHgG29ZXWM_66Lt3UvK4PFDVO4IYgW0Rmg/s1600-h/IMG_3664.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEHLrQyzjmLKh1zUbJqWzD4nJrMsNCLfny3WFDLqPju4rujWDsqY2Yw3f-eXZfXEBLYFJDZz_ED8m1oZxFL36DvLRmM3a6NxuL6XodkHgG29ZXWM_66Lt3UvK4PFDVO4IYgW0Rmg/s400/IMG_3664.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264520302581202514" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Or crawling through their dens. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvcKpy5Q7SHeQK8P1NIVMpMvjl0LQiwcdMbsNJWt5NOWbopwf03AbTm6RnG4l54I64l2-UtyF3YS4fE_a3Kkk4g75ryLnpjFamhILpcfzyL8oavXZDTgZvbhu-yi2eLsLYYQLAYQ/s1600-h/IMG_3588.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvcKpy5Q7SHeQK8P1NIVMpMvjl0LQiwcdMbsNJWt5NOWbopwf03AbTm6RnG4l54I64l2-UtyF3YS4fE_a3Kkk4g75ryLnpjFamhILpcfzyL8oavXZDTgZvbhu-yi2eLsLYYQLAYQ/s400/IMG_3588.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264523317881862290" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Or just sunning themselves...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrc4rrb1sjLoqk8djwyayuC29V6mFdSMW9AyKmyg5TMC0liEregKtff1xiT7eGek6424rTDWbzR3xIVYT_pYM7snmD2SeP9H-5wj6KNS6zUSTR-r_-6Fy0Rl_Fr5GdCvTLROe91g/s1600-h/IMG_3584.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrc4rrb1sjLoqk8djwyayuC29V6mFdSMW9AyKmyg5TMC0liEregKtff1xiT7eGek6424rTDWbzR3xIVYT_pYM7snmD2SeP9H-5wj6KNS6zUSTR-r_-6Fy0Rl_Fr5GdCvTLROe91g/s400/IMG_3584.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264520333706716802" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Did you hear, there's a new rule in the jungle, all lions must carry a ball of some kind around at all times. (His tail swished when he walked)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin_op8oNLpB5XuVDFgtc_SK2iFCRTJouBRyxdXZCLSdYQTk_QU5m7iKgHMF0DNAQOxNTlAgosxhUwXXRfRV4Dd5pGHqjkyEpRH9qYUQ1bFVPupHG1pTMDTt2IGHi1yJdYuvVW3cg/s1600-h/IMG_3648.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin_op8oNLpB5XuVDFgtc_SK2iFCRTJouBRyxdXZCLSdYQTk_QU5m7iKgHMF0DNAQOxNTlAgosxhUwXXRfRV4Dd5pGHqjkyEpRH9qYUQ1bFVPupHG1pTMDTt2IGHi1yJdYuvVW3cg/s400/IMG_3648.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264520312880652402" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Lions also have good friends in the three eyed monster and yoda categories. <br />Here they are all looking in the same direction! (there was a puppy dog on the loose)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwLtacvAwFNobTawRIc7wKZ2oKN4WMH8RZwLCo5s1dlxMDP238bcfQBRVXbieZj0OFFuOTwM3y8oCLY2RP0VZu5yxSbYno81N_uUIAYmpEx5D0xg9Cd3dFtvLePDVKWilkjKc-5w/s1600-h/IMG_3624_2.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 271px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwLtacvAwFNobTawRIc7wKZ2oKN4WMH8RZwLCo5s1dlxMDP238bcfQBRVXbieZj0OFFuOTwM3y8oCLY2RP0VZu5yxSbYno81N_uUIAYmpEx5D0xg9Cd3dFtvLePDVKWilkjKc-5w/s400/IMG_3624_2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264520314397304450" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Hope you had a happy Halloween.Rev. Sarah C. Evanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13003843174993594628noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10247791.post-89536672842797204642008-10-28T17:54:00.001-05:002008-10-28T17:56:00.716-05:00Why we go to church at BerryThis was read last Sunday, by the author, in our church here in Chicago. He’s a twenty something musician. It’s his response to why he’s part of Berry UMC. I asked him if I could share it b/c it touched me so as a profound reminder of how important the small church is in the world. <br /><br />Here’s some background about his references to help make sense of the whole:<br />• Sherrie is the pastor. <br />• Ben is a 5 year old rambunctious boy, most often found almost tripping any number of people as he runs in and around our legs, during fellowship time. He's often chasing his twin sister or younger sister. <br />• Temma is the pastor’s daughter who has the capacity of about a 3 month old. She comes to church every Sunday, is wheelchair bound and 23 years old. Our sanctuary is on the 2nd floor and there is no elevator. It takes at least three strong people to carry her up and down those stairs. <br /><br />Why I Go to Berry<br />by Matt<br /><br />The first Sunday that I attended Berry around 5 years ago, the benediction was in the form of Wendell Berry’s “The Mad Farmer Liberation Front.” <br /><br />I remember Sherrie’s reiteration of the final lines. “Go now… be like the fox, making more tracks then necessary, some in the wrong direction. Practice resurrection.”<br /><br />At the time, I was visiting Chicago on tour, while still living in Michigan. In the interest of time, lets say that I was a hardened and withering Fundamentalist attending a 1,400 member congregation with 2 jumbo-tron screens, a neon backlit white plastic cross, and a sense that nothing could happen unless it was MASSIVELY visceral and overwhelming. <br /><br />I say this, not to condemn that church or way of experiencing God, but to acknowledge the immaturity of my own perceptions and lack of engagement in that community. My judgments kept me from seeing anything through the thick “God presence” fog emanating from a hissing machine behind the plastic plants on stage. I always missed the message because I was so busy noting the production, which was so completely incredible that I was sure – through a well-timed fan letter – it would be featured on This American Life with the suggested title, “Weekly Circus: Super-sizing Sunday Service in Middle America.”<br /><br />I had disengaged and to curb my frustrations, I was assuming the role of an anthropological scientist. “Just here to watch.” <br /><br />It’s no surprise that the first visit to Berry was slightly alarming. Everything was completely other to me. It was small. There wasn’t a safe 400th row to bob and weave my way through toward the door. Sherrie took long, considerate breathes between thoughts, which was a revelation in itself. “She’s actually thinking as she talks.” I was in love with the unrehearsed, unpolished, and sometimes down-right raw way that things occurred. Children showing me Jesus by freely running amuck. People shared defaming prayers of joy and concern in the safety and trust of the community. <br /><br />“Who will serve communion?” How about you and you? And there was communion, without spiritual hierarchy or micro-management. It made sense to me. I could not remain anonymous because this wasn’t a drive-thru window. And though I maybe thought that was what I wanted, it wasn’t. This was a meal at a small table in a friend’s home. It was honest and loving, and that was about all that it needed to be. A community of engagement.<br /><br />I’ve been here ever since, and I’m a part of it simply because I love it. I see Christ in the minutia here and at times when I’m most uncertain of belief, that is exactly what I need. A still small voice. It could be Ben singing “Jesus Loves Me” or it could be a few of us and Temma making our way down the stairs.<br /><br />I want to end with a quote from Nelson Algren’s Chicago: City on the Make…<br /><br />Yet once you've come to be part of this particular patch, you'll never love another. Like loving a woman with a broken nose, you may well find lovelier lovelies. But never a lovely so real.<br /><br />Berry: Community on the MakeRev. Sarah C. Evanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13003843174993594628noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10247791.post-28283216024037620472008-10-15T22:17:00.006-05:002008-10-16T07:01:50.105-05:00fall funapple picking w/ mommy and my friends<br /><br />I picked these off the tree w/ mommy's help.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLorFxuZMMIn_1CBt4c1T-ugVGvIzdl_AaXKG6FIWvcGJIgc7vKiv4BghC0fJYoqhQO3z20SE8YfIDC89fAQlSPYcOLrxfCHKXzRxI1tCykGAmHcPiWPadH0TQkaOTDSdU2DZr2g/s1600-h/IMG_3385.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 496px; height: 371px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLorFxuZMMIn_1CBt4c1T-ugVGvIzdl_AaXKG6FIWvcGJIgc7vKiv4BghC0fJYoqhQO3z20SE8YfIDC89fAQlSPYcOLrxfCHKXzRxI1tCykGAmHcPiWPadH0TQkaOTDSdU2DZr2g/s400/IMG_3385.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5257587466882829410" border="0" /></a><br /><br />These are my buddies. We're eating apples our mom's helped us pick. Boy were they (our mom's) glad that the farm had a wagon they could rent that would hold all of us!<br />I'm all of 5 mo older than they are, but I do teach them all the "fun" things I know how to do and Mommy warns their mom's about the tricks I teach them. We have lots of fun together.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr9D6urSKP4PIF6K3jF3W0G6DG-T7Zfx6cZtKwIdqYhAgKb7jjtIYTNy-PxV5cTSqHILtAgAumg4dYKZuhHe2xilhKHIdyJsMmRakvt6fQNZOb2yKxbIwNXAQJqCbHtlhi1AnuhA/s1600-h/IMG_3391.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 491px; height: 368px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr9D6urSKP4PIF6K3jF3W0G6DG-T7Zfx6cZtKwIdqYhAgKb7jjtIYTNy-PxV5cTSqHILtAgAumg4dYKZuhHe2xilhKHIdyJsMmRakvt6fQNZOb2yKxbIwNXAQJqCbHtlhi1AnuhA/s400/IMG_3391.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5257589909241287474" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Yellow or red? I like them both!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCZRVumfs9n9F5t221XQLWv3ny1_SLaF-ViKaMuzTtoHRnl71K-wPMxus9kT4NWJWNoLv1sC8S4qQtWjVDQ4XA0vbtyDWoia0SSqRZy00q1yjyulat17r2QamOVUSHAmaFeYL2xA/s1600-h/IMG_3403.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 391px; height: 292px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCZRVumfs9n9F5t221XQLWv3ny1_SLaF-ViKaMuzTtoHRnl71K-wPMxus9kT4NWJWNoLv1sC8S4qQtWjVDQ4XA0vbtyDWoia0SSqRZy00q1yjyulat17r2QamOVUSHAmaFeYL2xA/s400/IMG_3403.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5257587475163265186" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />pumpkin patch farm w/ daddy and his cousins<br /><br />I'm looking at pigs with my 2nd cousins on my Dad's Mom's side.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCuOCm_HQdJy0lGwB2j7EA_dpx3aUi1lCshd-MshAbhBYgb27xpQcgp2ETFDli9lox7dO59mz1CMXi0Gm5HiROkvpqwZdFqTVZjfseAdZSlJvxdFlZiOyWQ3K1YMS1SkRX55KL-A/s1600-h/IMG_3439.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 554px; height: 414px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCuOCm_HQdJy0lGwB2j7EA_dpx3aUi1lCshd-MshAbhBYgb27xpQcgp2ETFDli9lox7dO59mz1CMXi0Gm5HiROkvpqwZdFqTVZjfseAdZSlJvxdFlZiOyWQ3K1YMS1SkRX55KL-A/s400/IMG_3439.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5257587449124581938" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Hey, these make really good balls! (at least he was rolling, not kicking or throwing, this one)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU1irpUioe66IH4lN2YtnuXK-m-_ImQ2b-a0ITrJwZjfE3Q0hsJfDsmnenz5x_uBqCpWnc2gHWcnYXhw06QrPEaxIBz4V5rRnyQjznP7aIEpF0gWaQZmxKIc4YmVnVN1gjlJmSpw/s1600-h/IMG_3475.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 603px; height: 451px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU1irpUioe66IH4lN2YtnuXK-m-_ImQ2b-a0ITrJwZjfE3Q0hsJfDsmnenz5x_uBqCpWnc2gHWcnYXhw06QrPEaxIBz4V5rRnyQjznP7aIEpF0gWaQZmxKIc4YmVnVN1gjlJmSpw/s400/IMG_3475.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5257587451728578274" border="0" /></a><br /><br />It's not as great as the bumble bee I was going to bring home to show mommy (who was out of town this weekend), but this pumpkin should do just fine. She was proud nonetheless.<br />It looks bigger in this picture than it really is (camera angles can be so distorting); I carry it around every time I get the chance. Mommy says she might just be crazy enough to let me help carve one of our bigger ones this year. She's insane. But I'm told that never stopped her before.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrXixgohyw-pSO15wnnKbARqf81MkdEx-56EXdj8nZepzAsjcpWYqElIIBHtzcbtYPz_qP2j_XONrJR-3owZ6hYosfMQPDdsSc0yRntqodRUOgrCoN1No7kmbBrh9pEhUzmRRhIw/s1600-h/IMG_3483.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 518px; height: 692px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrXixgohyw-pSO15wnnKbARqf81MkdEx-56EXdj8nZepzAsjcpWYqElIIBHtzcbtYPz_qP2j_XONrJR-3owZ6hYosfMQPDdsSc0yRntqodRUOgrCoN1No7kmbBrh9pEhUzmRRhIw/s400/IMG_3483.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5257587459968235202" border="0" /></a>Rev. Sarah C. Evanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13003843174993594628noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10247791.post-88268684885881292832008-09-21T23:15:00.005-05:002008-09-21T23:38:42.251-05:00Water, Frogs and SnakesThere were turtles too.<br />What seems like WEEKS ago, but was only 10 days ago, Zane and I went to a Toddlers and Tunes event at our local park . Here are some of the pictures from it, taken w/ my cell phone.<br /><br />Looking at frogs in a bucket.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpP9STS-E1JjmUoliwRCkxkYY9_0BL543ETcOWkNFFd-lq95mtVbU5OC8O9G8NkAOjsFUQBSiflgJSvNbFfWmervaYL7EnRihQnIlfzQs20rSzfb99Hfs7MdjwO_6mmc2x7cXiyg/s1600-h/DSC00052_2.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpP9STS-E1JjmUoliwRCkxkYY9_0BL543ETcOWkNFFd-lq95mtVbU5OC8O9G8NkAOjsFUQBSiflgJSvNbFfWmervaYL7EnRihQnIlfzQs20rSzfb99Hfs7MdjwO_6mmc2x7cXiyg/s400/DSC00052_2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5248695539907348866" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Finding a drum beside the buckets of turtles.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYnyVY7kYqQRw5s_AnllxjgEIUnk1SPZKFJ0JVTxM4jewoe3wQ_zJCVHAQxT5zjHw79a0ueZk9ITttRhHZLox5ElYXozp9utcjacaT_stLlQL2XWU_QZLTs5EXX9_QW2KGOmBpTw/s1600-h/DSC00054.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYnyVY7kYqQRw5s_AnllxjgEIUnk1SPZKFJ0JVTxM4jewoe3wQ_zJCVHAQxT5zjHw79a0ueZk9ITttRhHZLox5ElYXozp9utcjacaT_stLlQL2XWU_QZLTs5EXX9_QW2KGOmBpTw/s400/DSC00054.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5248695538062679858" border="0" /></a><br /><br />touching a snake. he really touched, it, but this picture turned out better.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfWu-Yso6Ayrldi5cq8HdIdLFd-gb7FlQ_Mqu51Wr7GHTlCkwBHKC3YC_rixqCxr0aZ20Q_BmO9O2atTB2q8RP9IvHzBngePlxa05mw-8GLXLSY05Panpa58iTH9z_oohStVWJLw/s1600-h/DSC00065.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfWu-Yso6Ayrldi5cq8HdIdLFd-gb7FlQ_Mqu51Wr7GHTlCkwBHKC3YC_rixqCxr0aZ20Q_BmO9O2atTB2q8RP9IvHzBngePlxa05mw-8GLXLSY05Panpa58iTH9z_oohStVWJLw/s400/DSC00065.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5248695541702711794" border="0" /></a><br /><br />And the impromptu drum circle w/ fellow beat-sters. Their hands really were flying.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJJY3np9iunhZ9ISsdqvtApY7Qm2U1puynYiWDtSHXuChyJmCxmAgKNYtVhV4CgHyjL93vYqXD5qHvY0qY-4qqBQA7LY5g2ieCZ_XZWHj1ITevR0XzZCQOfin5DmFRvYEzV8lDBw/s1600-h/DSC00066.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJJY3np9iunhZ9ISsdqvtApY7Qm2U1puynYiWDtSHXuChyJmCxmAgKNYtVhV4CgHyjL93vYqXD5qHvY0qY-4qqBQA7LY5g2ieCZ_XZWHj1ITevR0XzZCQOfin5DmFRvYEzV8lDBw/s400/DSC00066.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5248695545444532530" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Lastly, below, a pic of Z in front of the flood waters of the North Branch of the Chicago River last Sunday afternoon.<br /><br />Saturday around 5pm we got a reverse 911 call from the police saying that evacuation locations were at our local police precinct. Now it had rained a lot that day and we'd driver through some water earlier as we'd driven through Lincolnwood and Skokie, but really, evacuation?<br /><br />Then I started noticing a lot of tow trucks in the parking lot of the elementary school across the street from us. Being the curious cat that I am, coupled w/ Zane in the middle of a very uncharacteristic severe meltdown, we went out to take a walk in the neighborhood.<br /><br />Following the flashing lights, sirens and tow trucks about three blocks from our house we discovered our neighborhood was very flooded.<br /><br />We got to see a group of about 15 city workers trying to figure out how to fill sand bags with one shovel. They eventually got their acts together b/c the next day there were many sand bags about.<br /><br />We were in the restricted area for most of the week while police limited car traffic to allow the heavy equipment to not only put down the sand bags while the water was rising, but get this--front loaders were used and city workers help flooded folks haul the debris of their homes out of flooded basements (and 1st floors) into large trucks that hauled the stuff away.<br /><br />If only the folks in NOLA had that kind of help early on. Of course Katrina was a lot bigger area than the blocks around the North Branch of the Chicago River....<br /><br />Travel around town was quite a chore, but we gratefully did not get any flooding. Some of the faulty building of our condo did get some water, but really, when you get 10+ inches in less that 48 hours, 6.5+ of them in 24, a bit of water damage is not unexpected. (the remnants of Hurricane Ike were only the last 1 or 2 inches of water)<br /><br />Some homes along the river are still mucking out. aprox 350-400 homes were effected. The park we were at a few days earlier was also under water.<br /><br />This was probably the high point of the water.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMjHUoSdTCZjlC995aaPPvEZPNichfp3VWwsqQXhKADi2_XtYG2dmhcm4UQU44j1B28T8XHKx39iPw8KsmuZ37uxztZfDCuVf0ciUc7IXUxf62W82572g3m4zE77aUQZAY77Q8sw/s1600-h/IMG_3048.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMjHUoSdTCZjlC995aaPPvEZPNichfp3VWwsqQXhKADi2_XtYG2dmhcm4UQU44j1B28T8XHKx39iPw8KsmuZ37uxztZfDCuVf0ciUc7IXUxf62W82572g3m4zE77aUQZAY77Q8sw/s400/IMG_3048.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5248695549475096114" border="0" /></a><br />Stay dry and happy fall!Rev. Sarah C. Evanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13003843174993594628noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10247791.post-19838954163109409762008-08-25T22:09:00.003-05:002008-08-25T22:27:01.358-05:00Popping WheeliesSo now that Frank's an international man of of accounting and all, he has a leg up on the "competition" and can score bit in the "toys that no other kids on the block has" department.<br /><br />In our neighborhood that is pretty international to begin with, that can be quite a feat.<br /><br />(Although, I'll readily admit it's really not the 17mo in the house that cares about these things, but I digress!)<br /><br />Feast your eyes on the <a href="http://www.supermopi.com/joomla/">MOPI</a>. From Hungary via a friend of a friend of Frank's from work.<br /><br />Within ten minutes of getting on it, I decided Z needed to be wearing a helmet. Good thing too b/c he started popping wheelies up and down the hall.<br /><br />Needless to say, he loves it. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdIuVXjuokVYPbXysR2J1T175LZBATGo6nqj4vhEgvN1lGIwNxCcBBx4jF4YnNzs6pgcl4yPn24LFQV2M3CpQg1lZNt6CUmWPVPXtN7IYI56oI7VoC8v9RL956dcitSPIEnqJYRA/s1600-h/IMG_2915.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdIuVXjuokVYPbXysR2J1T175LZBATGo6nqj4vhEgvN1lGIwNxCcBBx4jF4YnNzs6pgcl4yPn24LFQV2M3CpQg1lZNt6CUmWPVPXtN7IYI56oI7VoC8v9RL956dcitSPIEnqJYRA/s400/IMG_2915.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238661076291402258" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvHB86lLpoubdwtiJxSWsLLfnpk-S5JHTp3PVbmactfy3_5MIqMpSNb0IlfF_RWdN0awH1sZ01ovSBuMTNRZx8EErU1o9E6H3xFTF_NuDZNwZwuT40etbQGaA81EIxj4o2mVc5Hg/s1600-h/IMG_2913.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvHB86lLpoubdwtiJxSWsLLfnpk-S5JHTp3PVbmactfy3_5MIqMpSNb0IlfF_RWdN0awH1sZ01ovSBuMTNRZx8EErU1o9E6H3xFTF_NuDZNwZwuT40etbQGaA81EIxj4o2mVc5Hg/s400/IMG_2913.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238661080936481442" border="0" /></a>He got the helmet so he could go bike ridding w/ Daddy. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgmcOFfTU9_UEZQdcf3gyaLgtlMbs-928A9IIjMlnc9VYzaGUlODstDnxxzg1b7wJi0TwPg6DrxzV3boo7nOG-2P62FvpQERkcvte6m9LHEzWC3w8xoaX_4w05mj7igpohAHUWJA/s1600-h/IMG_2984.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgmcOFfTU9_UEZQdcf3gyaLgtlMbs-928A9IIjMlnc9VYzaGUlODstDnxxzg1b7wJi0TwPg6DrxzV3boo7nOG-2P62FvpQERkcvte6m9LHEzWC3w8xoaX_4w05mj7igpohAHUWJA/s400/IMG_2984.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238661083731249554" border="0" /></a>And this is just a shot to show you how helpful and cute he is. He loves the vacuum cleaner, when it's off.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibhyZSYrWMf7NrORi339DRl8HgqOtqVBSgb27maKSI7mTNCDVlt4Ha02EfCsi6mqVcTMB2MqxxN2_coydEdgl70XR5Jr328wtlU2vMcknCmo3G4xOsE7IodXAckkyiL3OTQmQqXw/s1600-h/IMG_2954.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibhyZSYrWMf7NrORi339DRl8HgqOtqVBSgb27maKSI7mTNCDVlt4Ha02EfCsi6mqVcTMB2MqxxN2_coydEdgl70XR5Jr328wtlU2vMcknCmo3G4xOsE7IodXAckkyiL3OTQmQqXw/s400/IMG_2954.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238661091758124098" border="0" /></a>Have a great day. <br />The Rev.Rev. Sarah C. Evanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13003843174993594628noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10247791.post-7668602915931433852008-08-10T14:07:00.003-05:002008-08-10T14:42:47.498-05:00the dangers of watching the oylmpicsOk, so you knew it would happen--why didn't you all WARN me? <br /><br />Z is now able to climb into any chair--he's even attempting to scale into our super tall bar stools, he'll manage that by Wednesday. Someone this morning said that from the time they walk until they have some kind of self-preservation skills developed is called “baby prison” for the parents. <br /><br />No surface is out of his reach. He's been scooting furniture around for months. He's an amazing problem solver. I give him a week to figure out that he has the ability to get to every surface in our house. By pushing a chair up to it and climbing. <br /> A trip to the emergency room is just around the corner.<br /><br />Now, on to why it is not safe to watch the Olympics in our house.<br /><br />We caught a bit of the men's gymnastics last night and Frank joked, "We probably shouldn't let Zane see this, it will give him too many ideas." <br /><br />I agree. <br /><br />Example number one:<br /><br />This was the day after we watched the opening ceremonies. Like 38% of the households (some stat I saw in today's paper) in the US we were DVRing it at the same time. I mean really, if you can zoom through commercials, you do. Then if you see a cute one you can go back and watch it, like the <a href="http://www.metacafe.com/watch/1507885/coca_cola_birds_nest_olympic/">Coke one w/ the colorful birds</a>--watch it closely and see what the red one is standing in front of when he picks up his straw.<br /><br />Anyway.<br /><br />During one of the commercial breaks we went back to see the awesome drums.<br /><a href="http://www.miamiherald.com/photogalleries/gallery/633707.html?number=13">picture 1</a> <br /><a href="http://www.miamiherald.com/photogalleries/gallery/633707.html?number=12">picture 2 </a><br /><a href="http://www.miamiherald.com/photogalleries/gallery/633707.html?number=16">picture 3 </a><br /> Then in our own little living room our 16mo son crawled up on the couch turned his back to the TV and used the side table as his drum, mimicking the slow but deliberate moves of that he's previously seen.<br /><br />Smart little twerp. Seriously, it was pretty awesome so watch him, and a lesson in how he is soaking up EVERYTHING around him and more often than not giving it a whirl. <br /><br />He also LOVES the "wawa". He and I were at the lake for a while when we visited my parents. He's a beast in the pool, jumping in w/ abandon, never thinking that he might *NOT* be caught. Even when he'd go under the water he came up smiling. <br /><br />My sister suggested today that with is loves of all things "ball" and now "wawa" that perhaps we have a future water polo player in our midst.<br /><br />Now off to search for a toddler gym in our area that will teach him how to do all this stuff safely, so that I don't deplete the oxygen level of every room I’m in as I watch him tumble off his latest height.Rev. Sarah C. Evanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13003843174993594628noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10247791.post-18079596568225046842008-08-02T17:14:00.005-05:002008-08-02T19:52:23.660-05:00Flying solo - a day in the lifeThe Rev and Zane have gone on an extended trip to Missouri to visit friends and family, leaving yours truly to fend for myself (without a car). I started off the day by heading over to <a href="http://www.berryumc.org/">church</a> to pick up our weekly share from our <a href="http://www.scotchhillfarm.com/">CSA</a>. Drop-off is around 7:40 AM, and the buses don't run too frequently at that time of day on the weekends, so I had to leave the house around 6:45 to make it in time, even though it meant arriving 15 minutes early. Fortunately, a bus arrived a few minutes after I picked up the groceries, and I was able to make it back home fairly quickly.<br /><br />Next I decided that our <a href="http://www.fisherbikes.com">bicycle</a>, which has barely seen the light of day in the past 5 years, needed to be cleaned up and put to use. Unfortunately, the tires were flat and we didn't have a bicycle pump. I figured I could pick one up at Home Depot (which is probably the closest hardware store to us if you're using the <a href="http://transitchicago.com/">CTA</a>), so I decided on a plan. I would go to Agent Orange (because it makes your green disappear) and buy a pump, then head to the <a href="http://www.roscoevillage.org/">Roscoe Village</a> neighborhood where the annual <a href="http://www.roscoevillage.org/Default.aspx?pageId=51370">"Retro on Roscoe"</a> street festival was taking place, figuring I could have lunch and also find a bike shop (there aren't any in our neighborhood that I know of). Then I could head home, pump up the tires, and take the bike in to get tuned up and buy other necessities (helmet, lock, cable, spare tubes).<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/7/78/Jefferson_Park_Sign.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px;" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/7/78/Jefferson_Park_Sign.JPG" alt="" border="0" /></a>Well, it's always wise to have backup plans when public transport is involved, and when the southbound bus I wanted didn't show up for 10 minutes, I saw a bus heading westbound so I hopped on and went to<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jefferson_Park_%28Metra-CTA%29"> Jefferson Park</a>. As the bus was nearing the end of its route, I spied a bike shop on the left, so after I got off I walked over to check it out. It didn't open for another 30 minutes, so I walked to the library, checked e-mail and read for a while, then walked back to the shop.<br /><br />The guy behind the counter (I believe it's the owner) doesn't win any points for congeniality, but he did help me find a combination pump set (one for home - a floor pump - and a portable one to mount to the bike) as well as some tubes and I headed back home on the bus. I was able to pump up the tires and ride back to the shop without incident. I left the bike for a tune-up and was promised it would be done by the late afternoon, which meant I had about four hours to kill.<br /><br />So I decided to head to the Near West Side, which I've never been to before (that I remember). I knew that the original <a href="http://www.alscatering.com/">Al's #1 Italian Beef</a> was in the 1000 block of West Taylor Street, but that's about it. I took the train through downtown (avoiding the crowds heading to <a href="http://www.lollapalooza.com/">Lollapalooza</a>) and got off near <a href="http://www.chicagounionstation.com/">Union Station</a>, then walked south to Taylor Street and headed west.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://img.groundspeak.com/waymarking/f54bfbb5-e939-4911-b491-2d525d3cdc16.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 320px;" src="http://img.groundspeak.com/waymarking/f54bfbb5-e939-4911-b491-2d525d3cdc16.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>As I walked down Taylor I saw the street blocked off with lots of fire engines and other equipment. Turns out it was the Chicago Fire Department's <a href="http://egov.cityofchicago.org/city/webportal/portalContentItemAction.do?BV_SessionID=@@@@0226491232.1217721606@@@@&BV_EngineID=ccceadeekjjhkffcefecelldffhdfhk.0&contentOID=537002601&contenTypeName=COC_EDITORIAL&topChannelName=Dept&blockName=Fire%2FI+Want+To&context=dept&channelId=0&programId=0&entityName=Fire&deptMainCategoryOID=">150th anniversary celebration</a> at the Robert J. Quinn Fire Academy. I stopped in and got a "junior firefighter" hat for Zane, but didn't stay around, although there was free food and other cool stuff, which in retrospect could have kept me fed and entertained until I was ready to head back. Incidentally, I learned in my readings at the library that the Fire Academy was built in the 1950s on the site of the former home of Patrick and Catherine O'Leary, where the Great Chicago Fire of 1871 started in a barn behind the house. (The O'Learys' cow was probably NOT responsible for starting the fire, by the way.)<br /><br />I continued west through the campus of the <a href="http://www.uic.edu/index.html/">University of Illinois at Chicago</a>, had a Polish sausage at Al's, then headed north to catch the train back to Jefferson Park. I had more time to kill, so I went back to the library, then found a <a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz/i-coffee-chicago">local coffee shop</a> and got an iced coffee, then back to the bike shop, where I bought a lock and a helmet and biked home (but based on my experience and comments from others, I'll be looking for another bike shop next time). A good day of exercise. Maybe I'll hit Roscoe Village tomorrow - now I can bike there instead of navigate by train and bus.Vinnyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18264970768938109717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10247791.post-57538190618272986392008-07-26T19:23:00.001-05:002008-08-02T19:31:46.206-05:00dumpr.net<a href="http://www.dumpr.net/photo/3f8ec1c042c5266f/"><img src="http://www.dumpr.net/static/d3/3f8ec1c042c5266f_s.jpg" border="0" alt="Museum"></a><br /><a href="http://www.dumpr.net/museumr.php">Modern Art Museum</a> by <a href="http://www.dumpr.net">dumpr.net</a><br /><img style="visibility:hidden;width:0px;height:0px;" border=0 width=0 height=0 src="http://counters.gigya.com/wildfire/CIMP/bHQ9MTIxNzExODEyNjcyMCZwdD*xMjE3MTE4MTg4NjY4JnA9ODU2NTEmZD*mbj1ibG9nZ2VyJmc9MQ==.jpg" />Rev. Sarah C. Evanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13003843174993594628noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10247791.post-23757003833208050232008-07-25T10:36:00.004-05:002008-08-02T19:31:46.207-05:00lazy days of summerSo, you'd never know it's summer by the thermometer here in Chicago. Seriously I hope we don't pay for this with a bitterly cold winter.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAUt3F-dcq-Frl5anzviHRmr4u87Ki0n0JDTZZu-RSf5XnyPwEdfRPVgEo0YeqnJ9jsB5Irmq-qU42TImpIKNWjFIoT9Bxawg7Q-5CVY2v1znlB-ZRodYXT8MyBdd6ZiBfWSKWPw/s1600-h/172166169111_0_ALB.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAUt3F-dcq-Frl5anzviHRmr4u87Ki0n0JDTZZu-RSf5XnyPwEdfRPVgEo0YeqnJ9jsB5Irmq-qU42TImpIKNWjFIoT9Bxawg7Q-5CVY2v1znlB-ZRodYXT8MyBdd6ZiBfWSKWPw/s400/172166169111_0_ALB.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227034093648132242" border="0" /></a>We've been busy, going to the beach in Fl (which also was not unbearably hot) for the 4th of July, hosting family and friends back here at home.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />He loves to mow. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCPAovAyBjX_3MSmZwgXREbFdoc4EA9-9PiXdOK7DaLVaTViN4QRhmHs5Fa5gh2qJ5RKBI7h7t3eXI4ikoAGmTBti7N9GUzNiWIhXJMLgDZLJXwXVMYq4FVz0nkHisImtsWImdzg/s1600-h/IMG_2519.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCPAovAyBjX_3MSmZwgXREbFdoc4EA9-9PiXdOK7DaLVaTViN4QRhmHs5Fa5gh2qJ5RKBI7h7t3eXI4ikoAGmTBti7N9GUzNiWIhXJMLgDZLJXwXVMYq4FVz0nkHisImtsWImdzg/s400/IMG_2519.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227047878157855218" border="0" /></a>Outside and in.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvwD8O_jxxfTmhn8771y-H1lYZAv4b_fw0DawOvPBm_4zQG4kAV8LUAVRm8q39QbQZa8BArlAyFTeDipWvTfKyM04s3Ett2G95GOI0infPCPB5gl3YbwnSgzH2x66GBJtQF0A5PQ/s1600-h/IMG_2675_2.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvwD8O_jxxfTmhn8771y-H1lYZAv4b_fw0DawOvPBm_4zQG4kAV8LUAVRm8q39QbQZa8BArlAyFTeDipWvTfKyM04s3Ett2G95GOI0infPCPB5gl3YbwnSgzH2x66GBJtQF0A5PQ/s400/IMG_2675_2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227047878732193266" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Zane continues to be a learning machine. He babbles away. Words are still not completely understandable, except for "truckKKKKK", but the sign language I've taught him has come in handy as he UNDERSTANDS a lot more than he can talk about.For instance, he know to sit down when he wants to play his rythm sticks, or have his shoes put on. Plops right down in fact. He really enjoys both. <br /><br />He loves anything that has to do with water:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAP4Vyiz0FcsmPfe08rHmZDU9QSrkSF6PEbyfIUiOklWhZnfXMRC03-S39EvzaQDiVff-psffpbbV3EZ7lF2z4PpXpzaEpjJGVejW8Vewhee-uLkD5FzSw5IL-uLuY39C1SxSHMw/s1600-h/DSC00524.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAP4Vyiz0FcsmPfe08rHmZDU9QSrkSF6PEbyfIUiOklWhZnfXMRC03-S39EvzaQDiVff-psffpbbV3EZ7lF2z4PpXpzaEpjJGVejW8Vewhee-uLkD5FzSw5IL-uLuY39C1SxSHMw/s400/DSC00524.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227034090933055554" border="0" /></a><br />He loves to boogie, dancing to whatever music is at hand: a commercial on the TV, a song on the ipod, a passing car playing Latin salsa or rap music. He's got the music in him and it makes his daddy VERY happy. Me too, it's just plain fun to watch him spinning around to the music. <br /><br />Last night we got to take in one of Chicago's many free offerings: a Bossa Nova concert at Millennium Park. We put a blanket out on the lawn and Zane made everyone around us smile w/ his twirling/dancing/flirting.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiML-EWCH3Xt5thFjCjmIKuNSKH6TXSVVkYWEHFsDkes8faccHU1hje-6wqg9O-MRH893OJprbjdng9296r9JNk8DCROHco6_tbJXIiTMdKJYIsXuB0m_28daTIlY7Ne8Gwn_wpyQ/s1600-h/IMG_2678.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiML-EWCH3Xt5thFjCjmIKuNSKH6TXSVVkYWEHFsDkes8faccHU1hje-6wqg9O-MRH893OJprbjdng9296r9JNk8DCROHco6_tbJXIiTMdKJYIsXuB0m_28daTIlY7Ne8Gwn_wpyQ/s400/IMG_2678.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227047885693416530" border="0" /></a>Rev. Sarah C. Evanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13003843174993594628noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10247791.post-66292783509470152122008-07-01T20:48:00.004-05:002008-08-02T19:31:46.207-05:00I'm told......that I'm not updating enough. We're vacating this week, but have wifi in the condo. So for those who want to see a picture of a cute boy, here's what Zane did today.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSenr0jQI1QwIqv9eiQQX6raP9Boj-KovGP_fHrRZAIqqfgv39Q6PoVrycIfZ0i79xm-_BNnKmHDJqyjcFFgEC_L3MHzxdAmVz2AKWUQ2hP_zV1Ol3GShWnYDMBGggRExOLEwhRw/s1600-h/IMG_2352.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSenr0jQI1QwIqv9eiQQX6raP9Boj-KovGP_fHrRZAIqqfgv39Q6PoVrycIfZ0i79xm-_BNnKmHDJqyjcFFgEC_L3MHzxdAmVz2AKWUQ2hP_zV1Ol3GShWnYDMBGggRExOLEwhRw/s400/IMG_2352.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5218228104715333458" border="0" /></a><br />I don't like sand. <br />Zane LOVES sand. <br />I now tolerate sand because he loves sand. <br /><br />He also said "thank you" today. Prompted yes, but said it in context! It was the best birthday gift I could have ever gotten.Rev. Sarah C. Evanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13003843174993594628noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10247791.post-27019601887409956712008-06-24T12:58:00.005-05:002008-08-02T19:31:46.208-05:00in the future....When you see cuts and bruises (casts are only around the corner) on my child, please know that while I delight in him exploring his world, I do not encourage him to climb as high as he can nor do I gleefully watch him navigate a playground's many levels and decide to jump from on high.<br />Some of what I'm talking about: <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaT2kDsZZCygcJdtBPLaBUh7QChXTV6nzs-TDdmyuB-jU1LKByGCFbMW626TTtLRD3p_k-6gVgtw1RD4frjPjtKHtBsa8TTWhL1zXqTz-eHisjChvCvFw-Rat0wC784n0K3mb0bg/s1600-h/DSC00018.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaT2kDsZZCygcJdtBPLaBUh7QChXTV6nzs-TDdmyuB-jU1LKByGCFbMW626TTtLRD3p_k-6gVgtw1RD4frjPjtKHtBsa8TTWhL1zXqTz-eHisjChvCvFw-Rat0wC784n0K3mb0bg/s400/DSC00018.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5215510177786217122" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPg47umme3-aaz38iuAg5waj2hwauh2gLv5Tdl0pVfbxfFUrr5DvYDjRg1zFvxMvWJgxJMJKVqTm5Zk5VXIrG5t_hftKiYoD7cZGrua_F5u5JS9DY3AK_5dtszCjMN2oU3IRIJRA/s1600-h/DSC00016.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPg47umme3-aaz38iuAg5waj2hwauh2gLv5Tdl0pVfbxfFUrr5DvYDjRg1zFvxMvWJgxJMJKVqTm5Zk5VXIrG5t_hftKiYoD7cZGrua_F5u5JS9DY3AK_5dtszCjMN2oU3IRIJRA/s400/DSC00016.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5215510178634163394" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Because this is often the result:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWGiw7-ENKFjX6Sb4as7mLM4kdRWpq3Mn0UrbCKUdid47IPW3I7Uzx9WU6SlgqZLiZzK7R4yfALT0ZUfKEuYvgMVrhDxhRmeqlGe1SJEOlY_fHa5spcz94xpOQeBw2PizvsgVxLA/s1600-h/DSC00021.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWGiw7-ENKFjX6Sb4as7mLM4kdRWpq3Mn0UrbCKUdid47IPW3I7Uzx9WU6SlgqZLiZzK7R4yfALT0ZUfKEuYvgMVrhDxhRmeqlGe1SJEOlY_fHa5spcz94xpOQeBw2PizvsgVxLA/s400/DSC00021.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5215510180247759106" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />That's not a "bloody nose" but a cut under his nose(?!). He got it while falling off the ledge he was walking along. I was close by, I fear I made it worse by trying to keep him from falling....but I digress.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />As a mommy friend said to him this morning in the park after he fell and <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyD8Eo3yrQxKjJ89FSvGhPVA3IKzo_lJdFMv0rMEP97KQvK4eVcTAI5VQPfB34DJTzVxbTcGuGXLvEzEL3Z0tYIdmEEy6-SLxtN-OX_EzzhZd0wqDoCj0WYu82ts9dkVO2yMUI5Q/s1600-h/IMG_2245.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyD8Eo3yrQxKjJ89FSvGhPVA3IKzo_lJdFMv0rMEP97KQvK4eVcTAI5VQPfB34DJTzVxbTcGuGXLvEzEL3Z0tYIdmEEy6-SLxtN-OX_EzzhZd0wqDoCj0WYu82ts9dkVO2yMUI5Q/s400/IMG_2245.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5215512157581431298" border="0" /></a>got the cut under his nose, "Zane, at least your black eye has healed up!" Yes, he ran into a table at full speed about a week ago and gave himself a beautiful shiner.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Then there are the times when he's <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKIQ4j-rH_TyOgdIxZjxBi9RBA4MMMuQaaBx_rxbuQZjbHW-ySFlBxCr-_56jeHT0nuFlPyKW9e_TgQ6ul7cHISAdXSrtxlDVtMfCjHwW_bXRen91HXpCdwtuF9ZxstLxF4j5gKQ/s1600-h/IMG_2318.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKIQ4j-rH_TyOgdIxZjxBi9RBA4MMMuQaaBx_rxbuQZjbHW-ySFlBxCr-_56jeHT0nuFlPyKW9e_TgQ6ul7cHISAdXSrtxlDVtMfCjHwW_bXRen91HXpCdwtuF9ZxstLxF4j5gKQ/s400/IMG_2318.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5215512147470641842" border="0" /></a>all sweet and mostly helpful:<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Of course right now he's spreading Cheez-its all over the floor and stomping on them. <br />A day in the life!Rev. Sarah C. Evanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13003843174993594628noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10247791.post-59963973722889016382008-06-12T21:36:00.012-05:002008-08-02T19:31:46.209-05:00Life at the speed of Zane<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWDvpjULqqKCKj2OkNFTO7iJsqPdT4c6xINEUw1Olgqio8uFBMH0doEOBAOaPZBIiXNiuBlMZ-Q3Fx1UF63REiTQ-uDlr00glE5xMZNxZ4-JIXnJH0bn7S7gAiX6hliDgzMN2w0w/s1600-h/2008+05+29_Zane+MGB_6002.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWDvpjULqqKCKj2OkNFTO7iJsqPdT4c6xINEUw1Olgqio8uFBMH0doEOBAOaPZBIiXNiuBlMZ-Q3Fx1UF63REiTQ-uDlr00glE5xMZNxZ4-JIXnJH0bn7S7gAiX6hliDgzMN2w0w/s400/2008+05+29_Zane+MGB_6002.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5211193529589809314" border="0" /></a>Life at the speed of Zane is what I'm calling it. It is the new rhythm of my life and I like it. A lot. sometimes it's a wild ride, other times it's snuggling up and kicking back.<br /><br />It also keeps me from extended periods of thoughtful reflection on the blog.<br /><br />So, to recap:<br />I feel more like a Chicagoan. And not just because I know why they call it the Windy City. (btw: It has nothing to do with the often present breeze)<br /><br />The Walk n Roll for the ACS (a month ago?!? now) was amazing. First, it was a Sunday morning event outside the that I was able to participate in.<br />Second, Frank was able to raise quite a bit of cash for something we really believe in.<br />For me it was amazing to<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhws2OKDI4E8WK5x44IPoVYAul4iAEA5taeXDYSLbF8C3IXO_72HxnUjgevfjHnagU2gwhBM9_aqJo8lPyXpHTRfcOpKlTrLq_mNtuNseuyOUgAtAOfAtQcF5acWBQabc4DdnvF9g/s1600-h/IMG_1956.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhws2OKDI4E8WK5x44IPoVYAul4iAEA5taeXDYSLbF8C3IXO_72HxnUjgevfjHnagU2gwhBM9_aqJo8lPyXpHTRfcOpKlTrLq_mNtuNseuyOUgAtAOfAtQcF5acWBQabc4DdnvF9g/s400/IMG_1956.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5211197791882319634" border="0" /></a> walk through Grant Park, in front of the Field Museum, along the lake front and realize that I was going to be sleeping in my own bed that very evening because we LIVE in Chicago!<br /><br />(in the Chicago skyline picture the walkers are in the far right near the lake, the line stretched all the way up to the skyline)<br /><br />It wasn’t an easy walk. However, the hard part had NOTHING to do with the 17,000+ steps my pedometer told me I’d walked at the end of the day. It happened while I was walking w/ Frank and Zane. I'm "sight seeing" and amazed by the number of people participating. Groups of people laughing and having a good time, wearing T-shirts or carrying signs and banners in honor or memory of someone.<br /><br />And then it hit me; I almost burst into tears. I saw T-shirts memorizing a woman younger than us who passed away 2 months ago. A reminder that while it was a beautiful (but cold) day midst the laughter and fun of those walking, we were also all "touched". For a moment I felt the weight of grief felt by this mass of humanity. So many lives lost, so many people being missed--and YET HOPE b/c so many survivors <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHhKGRnoqLggBsx8yGjQeo42KyLGPmFoZzDdWj_75hzGIiTGCLxgP-dIlmErO65LDjO_dIO7_YLKIyDUlUHwaACHAXEEzfIolcGUmU_w-3MsgHtIuHBEP8SOG-EFkD8fN2plEiOw/s1600-h/IMG_2168.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHhKGRnoqLggBsx8yGjQeo42KyLGPmFoZzDdWj_75hzGIiTGCLxgP-dIlmErO65LDjO_dIO7_YLKIyDUlUHwaACHAXEEzfIolcGUmU_w-3MsgHtIuHBEP8SOG-EFkD8fN2plEiOw/s400/IMG_2168.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5211196512984068258" border="0" /></a>were also there too.<br /><br />In the days that followed the weight turned to words of thanks for the inquisitive minds of many smart doctors and researchers who have made it their life's work to find cures for the cancers among us.<br />The following Sunday, back at church, as I voiced that prayer of thanks, gulped down a few of my own tears that I was still sitting next to the man I love. And, while cancer is still a part of our lives we have lived so much since then and have such a beautiful future ahead of us. And such a cute boy to share it with!<br />I mean, come on, who's number one?<br /><br />A second big thing in the past month is that Z <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDhwHUMTGE2DvaFFtWPnL13hFP5kG-EnVrI6k5rAPZWl0QL_7Z3_z4q8uP80Zuv2kxOzSwOKYzYWYCpKll9dgRgJmMciLzXEsbFSTo6_qNwwZKziCFyEy_n9mCgPGX_h48kbaEFw/s1600-h/IMG_2091.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDhwHUMTGE2DvaFFtWPnL13hFP5kG-EnVrI6k5rAPZWl0QL_7Z3_z4q8uP80Zuv2kxOzSwOKYzYWYCpKll9dgRgJmMciLzXEsbFSTo6_qNwwZKziCFyEy_n9mCgPGX_h48kbaEFw/s400/IMG_2091.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5211204713182310674" border="0" /></a>and I managed a visit to my parents and then met up w/ Frank for a weekend trip back to where we moved from.<br /><br />We (Z and I) traveled alone for 6 hours in a car. He did great. He loved being at my parents (we went to the MO Botanical Gardens where the sheep picture was taken). He also got a kick out of this brass pot he's sitting in. He carried it around their house. At times he thought it was wonderful, at other times the pot made him very, very mad. His audience thought every moment was funny. It's a HEAVY brass pot, but he wouldn't let that stop him, no not my child! <br /><br />Back in MO we saw as many folks as we could and took the opportunity to visit the church I served. The current pastor gave his blessings for the visit. (translation: when I asked, he said it was ok for me to visit, I'd checked with him weeks before as it is very uncool for previous pastors to "show up" w/o telling the current pastor it smacks of meddling in the current pastor's work with the people).<br /><br />It was good to "go home" & see folks. I will always love that little church and the people who work to make it what it is. They walked with us through so many things! And I wanted them to see how big Z had grown in the short time we'd been gone. They, the church, are doing great, just as I knew they would.<br /><br />It seemed like ages since I'd been there (only 4 months), and other previous pastors might have felt awkward, acknowledging some of the changes that have already occurred, but not me. I am genuinely happy and received as a gift the opportunity to witness some of the seeds I'd planted beginning to find a life, growing under the amazing care of their new pastor.<br /><br />I am deeply proud of them.<br /><br />It was a deeper confirmation for me too that I am exactly where God wants me to be, on this side of the pulpit, living at the speed of Zane. I do miss certain aspects of the job, but I'm not climbing the walls as some might expect.<br /><br />I mean, I get to play with this little boy everyday! How lucky am I? Even in the middle of 3 molars and I think at least two other teeth cutting this week (he won't let me get my fingers in there to check) I'm more than pretty darn lucky! <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuPshprh7G_AADetbO5m_8GnnOOQCkTrbrarP_nS-R8rzMl73mmzaoYBGRwZv2wkgdCXM3Mcn-W7AjRtgGg0NRZ-LPZSB8wXJjvxIX6GuunPK-Degks1VIQvcWycPLanplJFj1Jw/s1600-h/IMG_2069.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuPshprh7G_AADetbO5m_8GnnOOQCkTrbrarP_nS-R8rzMl73mmzaoYBGRwZv2wkgdCXM3Mcn-W7AjRtgGg0NRZ-LPZSB8wXJjvxIX6GuunPK-Degks1VIQvcWycPLanplJFj1Jw/s400/IMG_2069.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5211211391003042082" border="0" /></a>Rev. Sarah C. Evanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13003843174993594628noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10247791.post-28976536090452370312008-05-08T14:54:00.007-05:002008-08-02T19:31:46.209-05:00Four Observed ThingsOne:<br />Did you know that dressing your kid in something with Elmo on it and then going to the play ground is the same as tying a piece of meat around a your neck so the dogs will play with you? All the 3 yos there came up and called him "Elmo". Z was oblivious, he didn't know that they weren't looking him in the eye. Me, I felt a bit of embarrassment (see comment re meat/dogs) and indignation: see my kid not his clothes!<br /><br />Two:<br />Did you know that cheerios are VERY absorbent? After dumping his bowl of cereal with milk on his head this week I was pleasantly surprised that there was no milk in his lap when I got him out of the high chair. The cheerios were very wet and I cleaned them up right away b/c I was dreading scraping the dried ones off every surface they stuck to.<br /><br />Before the bowl turn:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFEOPRUl5TyaMy49VYySau8_hUaa0H3lApd9Up8YDlOzfzVOC671u-S-8HjAfup5kTeQiERqjFf4v_KJt4ixrWV63JPzUvc8SOlUu6ifrHdnheJpjFPVoolrFd6HRFkdxeq6KoMA/s1600-h/IMG_1891.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFEOPRUl5TyaMy49VYySau8_hUaa0H3lApd9Up8YDlOzfzVOC671u-S-8HjAfup5kTeQiERqjFf4v_KJt4ixrWV63JPzUvc8SOlUu6ifrHdnheJpjFPVoolrFd6HRFkdxeq6KoMA/s400/IMG_1891.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5198102060644289586" border="0" /></a><br /><br />After the bowl turned:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikl1X_NRzYtfh28gnX3kb1VlUCxGmQXzWZic2AiOJXQbGUJePFH3AKHyhh6_fCmNYeQxbFtVAbR5aeWWyfxhXH8pR6cPtYF7YDhflf3IG3k4W4ZFTrjMsA1gNdYdXtwHcBVHYJLA/s1600-h/IMG_1892.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikl1X_NRzYtfh28gnX3kb1VlUCxGmQXzWZic2AiOJXQbGUJePFH3AKHyhh6_fCmNYeQxbFtVAbR5aeWWyfxhXH8pR6cPtYF7YDhflf3IG3k4W4ZFTrjMsA1gNdYdXtwHcBVHYJLA/s400/IMG_1892.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5198102064939256898" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Three:<br />Did you know that little boys and big boys like to do the same things?<br /><br />Observe:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWOqk12u0j-fkGIsdGFBv04pqgppSHB8yu9x7K5Isye3uuBrP8XGAS7L0ilgeQJngYH1ElrnzQwBLvum38XUZotscSUbuvMLSbnGdPnfxE6er6pvAeogQAM6a-GWjeF1yFgrGq1Q/s1600-h/IMG_1905.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWOqk12u0j-fkGIsdGFBv04pqgppSHB8yu9x7K5Isye3uuBrP8XGAS7L0ilgeQJngYH1ElrnzQwBLvum38XUZotscSUbuvMLSbnGdPnfxE6er6pvAeogQAM6a-GWjeF1yFgrGq1Q/s400/IMG_1905.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5198102069234224210" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Some days I think Zane wants to be a dentist. I love the smile in his eyes.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA810n1PHzCvtFsq410rI6PHbXLYv95Z8Vt7seVYxjxg01D_6K1T4fTYhLzrmOXrD8E3StcumHeIk70eKfW1Z1Ykq5_UooRszZmnRt_LLq7YnS1-nnqXNcvUfJt1YfWuHkDOibhA/s1600-h/IMG_1899.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA810n1PHzCvtFsq410rI6PHbXLYv95Z8Vt7seVYxjxg01D_6K1T4fTYhLzrmOXrD8E3StcumHeIk70eKfW1Z1Ykq5_UooRszZmnRt_LLq7YnS1-nnqXNcvUfJt1YfWuHkDOibhA/s400/IMG_1899.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5198102082119126114" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Four:<br />Lastly, did you know that where there is a will to climb, not even a Mommy can deny it?<br /><br />Yesterday, May 7, 2008 Z conquered the ottoman.<br />I'd call it the Ottoman Empire if it was one of the ottomans you can store stuff. (Thanks H's for the idea) Ours doesn't hold anything except toddlers who climb on top of it. So I'll call it the Ottoman Everest.<br /><br />He was very, very pleased with himself.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2g4YpL05fFfnla3I-D1DQQgd2C0RqIB_HDG0BNwY4DuTYlnCY63yyv3SabPfJn71KwpkDcOu7qYX5RTfPzB0kyr2AJStP70fzXi8N2A3s9_ufsIPJaxOojpykRfeGS-BBGijLOw/s1600-h/IMG_1934.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2g4YpL05fFfnla3I-D1DQQgd2C0RqIB_HDG0BNwY4DuTYlnCY63yyv3SabPfJn71KwpkDcOu7qYX5RTfPzB0kyr2AJStP70fzXi8N2A3s9_ufsIPJaxOojpykRfeGS-BBGijLOw/s400/IMG_1934.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5198102090709060722" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Hope you are able<br />to play with others w/o having to tie meat around your neck,<br />to eat and wear cheerios with abandon,<br />to be who you are, little or big,<br />AND<br />to climb all the mountains in your life!<br /><br />Peace,<br />SarahRev. Sarah C. Evanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13003843174993594628noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10247791.post-64405227864023468642008-04-29T12:43:00.008-05:002008-04-30T08:41:49.654-05:00Zane Update<span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3QEAsD8Dg-KqtPA-bgDQa-KVN2OzzGSxnH6z_yDHAQfge8j4aSMM1nPKMYOdLTgYB8egsQ05grHr-QTUoLrQb76-3bahIRIfHfXnGK1NXSCWG9VeC-7fqbEwNCEv6sWLBlxkdmQ/s1600-h/IMG_1779_2.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5194735416205394450" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; WIDTH: 297px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 465px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3QEAsD8Dg-KqtPA-bgDQa-KVN2OzzGSxnH6z_yDHAQfge8j4aSMM1nPKMYOdLTgYB8egsQ05grHr-QTUoLrQb76-3bahIRIfHfXnGK1NXSCWG9VeC-7fqbEwNCEv6sWLBlxkdmQ/s400/IMG_1779_2.JPG" border="0" /></a>Thirteen months old!<br />Am I superstitious? No.<br />Am I watching him like a hawk? Yes!<br /><br />Our wonderful little Mr. Mischief (thanks Auntie S for the t-shirt btw) is into EVERYTHING, most often has either a ball or a stick or both in his hands and loves to rearrange furniture so he can climb higher and higher.<br /><br />Good thing I'm watching him like a high flying bird, eh?<br /><br />And ooh, ick, he's found his eyelashes and LOVES to touch them. It looks like he's playing with is eyeball and that just plain grosses me out. No I don't and won't ever wear contacts...<br /><br />Yesterday he had his 12 (ok, 13) month check up.<br />He's 21 # and 10.5 oz<br />30.5 inches tall<br />and his head circumference is 46.5 cm<br /><br />All average. Good thing he's above average in being cute and climbing on things!<br /><br />He got a blood stick to his finger to check his lead level and hemoglobin, it took a while to start bleeding and then there was blood everywhere. (I get my propensity for exaggeration from my mother...) Quite wiggly and he'd rather not have a band aid on his finger, thank you very much, he pulled 4 off before we just decided he was almost done bleeding and that he was just bleeding on ME.<br /><br />He also had a TB test, it took three sticks to get it under the skin in the right place. Did I mention he's wiggly? I'll have to call back on Wed to report it the injection site has a bubble or not.<br /><br />Then there were his immunizations. Three more sticks in total. And three more band aids, but since these were on his chubby legs and I quickly covered them with his pants. And THANK GOD I found his immunization records -- only took me about 8 hours, staying up late last night and annoying Frank, but I finally found it about an hour before we had to leave this morning. I KNEW I'd put it in a safe place, but I didn't know HOW safe! I have now made multiple copies and will put them in various places around the house.<br /><br />The bright spot of the visit was when the Dr. came in and started talking baby gibberish (sounded like a Slavic language to me) with wild gestures. I said to Zane, "He's speaking your language! How cool is that!" Zane thought he was very, very funny. It made him so comfortable that when the Dr. approached w/ tongue depressor Zane just smiled, mouth tightly shut. Dr. said, "this is where you're supposed to cry and scream so I can see inside your mouth." I tickled him instead and it did the trick.<br /><br />Good news for me: this Pediatrician that we found (who is the Director of Peds dept.) is leaving Northwestern (read 45 minute drive to downtown) and moving to the hospital in our NEIGHBORHOOD (5-10 minutes away!) to be their Director of Pediatrics. As he puts it, It's a </span><span class="text" style="font-size:100%;"><b style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold"><span style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,153);font-family:Verdana;" ><span style="LINE-HEIGHT: 16px">"community hospital on the north side in an area that needs more pediatric programs and services. They are eager to develop top quality pediatric services, and they've hired me to help get it done." </span></span></b></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;">As as you know, I'm a sucker for a guy who wants to tackle a complex difficult task and also KNOWS he can do a good job. And one that can speak my kid's language! Well, we of course will be staying with him.<br /><br />Now I just need to work on figuring out and implementing a new food schedule / routine for he is now cleared to eat anything, but only really loves fruit. He also needs to be weaned from the bottle. I'm really going to miss feeding him his bottle!<br /><br />Yes, this is now what my days consist of and I'm really loving it!<br /><br />Now the eye candy:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvLZB9rOcHDk0zR_-bEhhIpRH_P3Mg39KktXkF4vSFJcChcQI2T33RNfcsocR7FHhGlM66a0CJq2LklFpDiDY8z2EiLoeHGqErWHF06BXnAeggSRYzJhjxwD1HAR4_2rgpzd9jhQ/s1600-h/IMG_1857_2.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5194735420500361762" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; CURSOR: pointer" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvLZB9rOcHDk0zR_-bEhhIpRH_P3Mg39KktXkF4vSFJcChcQI2T33RNfcsocR7FHhGlM66a0CJq2LklFpDiDY8z2EiLoeHGqErWHF06BXnAeggSRYzJhjxwD1HAR4_2rgpzd9jhQ/s400/IMG_1857_2.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Picture #1:<br />Chair surfing, it's all the rage. Hey kid, you missed a spot. I really need to have him work on his dusting technique.<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMksDwenysvrfZHxJqZO9yOq48bSEaT0qQmWCVLhV1o5EbjCkWfZ6gOONlXr2wCXFVlrmOnSYH85c4oGxYX3x1EiYjjqWRwC8nD32kTd0afriygVpROI7iWi-1gR7Ka_Q4HxvHTQ/s1600-h/IMG_1871.JPG"><span style="font-size:100%;"></span></a><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ26qcwhX5At49cIRxrtWMfB4FBDThlKOTJf2eGvVCOCnJkPnBFL7MvnChHSXNuvM3KDMv5IMfVgHtAzCs1WdX5fUAuT0ryZAaa-ZPwFX84bxghQMus-Q688aRJu94k_TekkMtyA/s1600-h/IMG_1862.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5194735424795329074" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; CURSOR: pointer" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ26qcwhX5At49cIRxrtWMfB4FBDThlKOTJf2eGvVCOCnJkPnBFL7MvnChHSXNuvM3KDMv5IMfVgHtAzCs1WdX5fUAuT0ryZAaa-ZPwFX84bxghQMus-Q688aRJu94k_TekkMtyA/s400/IMG_1862.JPG" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br />Picture #2<br />Mr. Cheese. Every time he sees a camera he not only squints up the eyes, but but flashes his 6 teeth!<br /><br />This is his 1st P,B & J sandwich. (I know, gasp! peanut butter. The APA just "unrecommended" their wait until 3 yo rule on nuts/fish/ect. His Dr. also told me yesterday that he never thought it was a wise ruling as there wasn't enough data to support the ban. I LOVE pnb and I'm glad I've got a quick, easy, portable meal I can give him!)<br /><br />He ate it from the center of the sandwich out. Who says my kid doesn't think outside the box?<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMksDwenysvrfZHxJqZO9yOq48bSEaT0qQmWCVLhV1o5EbjCkWfZ6gOONlXr2wCXFVlrmOnSYH85c4oGxYX3x1EiYjjqWRwC8nD32kTd0afriygVpROI7iWi-1gR7Ka_Q4HxvHTQ/s1600-h/IMG_1871.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5194735437680230978" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; CURSOR: pointer" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMksDwenysvrfZHxJqZO9yOq48bSEaT0qQmWCVLhV1o5EbjCkWfZ6gOONlXr2wCXFVlrmOnSYH85c4oGxYX3x1EiYjjqWRwC8nD32kTd0afriygVpROI7iWi-1gR7Ka_Q4HxvHTQ/s400/IMG_1871.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br /><br />Picture #3<br />And, if you thought he couldn't get cheesier.<br /><--Observe. Or peanuttier! You can't see what he put into his hair. Needless to say we went right to the bath tub after this meal. Both of us giggling. He's such a happy kid! Next time I'll give him pieces of the sandwich, not the whole thing....live and learn Mommy, live and learn! Have a good day every one!</span>Rev. Sarah C. Evanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13003843174993594628noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10247791.post-81251671069872736922008-04-18T11:11:00.002-05:002008-08-02T19:29:36.077-05:00Please Support me in the ACS Walk & RollHey all - I've signed up to take part in the American Cancer Society's <a href="http://www.walkroll.org/site/TR/Events/General?fr_id=1070&pg=entry">Walk and Roll</a> fundraiser in Chicago next month. I'm trying to raise $5,000 for cancer research, advocacy, and patient support. It's very easy - no gift is too small! You can donate online with a credit card by visiting <a href="http://www.walkroll.org/goto/vinny">my fundraising page</a> and clicking on the "Click Here to Sponsor Me" button above the thermometer. Or you can go straight to the donation page by simply <a href="https://secure3.convio.net/acsil/site/Donation?ACTION=SHOW_DONATION_OPTIONS&CAMPAIGN_ID=1181&PROXY_ID=1397773&PROXY_TYPE=20&FR_ID=1070&JServSessionIdr005=urlodojke2.app305b">clicking here</a>.<br /><br />Thanks for your support!Vinnyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18264970768938109717noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10247791.post-91988339471495820382008-04-07T13:30:00.003-05:002008-04-07T13:41:08.810-05:00Should this make me proud?So Z's down for a nap. (Reality check: he's in his crib settling in for a much needed nap and I'm ignoring his pleas for release from his prison cell, but I digress). <br /><br />I found this quiz via one of the <a href="http://howaboutorange.blogspot.com/">blogs</a> I enjoy reading: <a href="http://money.aol.com/special/company-logos-brand-awareness">Company Logos Brand Test.</a> I got 13 of 15 questions correct. <br />On one hand it means I'm observant of minutiae, things that others may miss or don't give a hoot about. <br />On the other hand it means I'm throughly immersed in our advertisement driven economy. <br />That is something I don't is all that great. <br />That being said however, the competitive part of me wants to know, how well did you do on it? <br />Enjoy!Rev. Sarah C. Evanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13003843174993594628noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10247791.post-48356998199193986032008-03-26T21:02:00.003-05:002008-03-26T21:27:25.143-05:00New PicturesAuntie Susan has been in town to visit. We took the Z man on his first adventure on the "L" downtown. We went to the American Girl Store (Susan, not Z wanted to go there, Frank was happy not to be there and would have muttered under his breath the whole time "I'm so glad we have a boy, I'm so glad we have a boy.") How interesting that some of the things you can buy for your American girl are MORE expensive than the stuff you might buy for your real live child! <br /><br />We also went to Frank's new office and had lunch with Daddy downtown, underground that it, we ate at a restaurant in the aforementioned Pedway. (we too got lost in said Pedway before finding Frank's office--the signage is not great and since it's underground you can't use the lake as a reference point)<br /><br />Here he is all bundled up on the brown line train:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjICcymAD0P7uBnNOdtA_aCAJr93OYHumkAZHiPjzLakvqqBYqVVn0jFF4l-mk2f7Polu5oOVNiKpDVV4wWoImKWPgrM-03UaC6Zcw3fiGiPnX50o29KztRdDwPlgre-JPLMg0kig/s1600-h/DSCN0039.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjICcymAD0P7uBnNOdtA_aCAJr93OYHumkAZHiPjzLakvqqBYqVVn0jFF4l-mk2f7Polu5oOVNiKpDVV4wWoImKWPgrM-03UaC6Zcw3fiGiPnX50o29KztRdDwPlgre-JPLMg0kig/s400/DSCN0039.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5182239630337040098" border="0" /></a><br /><br />And playing w/ Susan's sunglasses. (This was on the way back, notice the happier expression, we let him take his hat off!)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS3lD4xiNDgwHXVyrpa3w2fEr1XZZ50vf8Hb_5Fu3eG5kVoXJheOFnovmYIygdwdG1WqVG3gzKc8Y9cgq9ad-kkwuBjqAgVmexPCVEv7f3XqQZvcJyBFp5Y84T9_ZFdTpCPzHlHg/s1600-h/DSCN0044.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS3lD4xiNDgwHXVyrpa3w2fEr1XZZ50vf8Hb_5Fu3eG5kVoXJheOFnovmYIygdwdG1WqVG3gzKc8Y9cgq9ad-kkwuBjqAgVmexPCVEv7f3XqQZvcJyBFp5Y84T9_ZFdTpCPzHlHg/s400/DSCN0044.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5182239621747105490" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The next day, we took the Z man to have professional year one pictures made.<br />To do so we had to get in the car and drive to the northern burb's of "Chicagoland".<br /><br />Aside: "Chicagoland" is a term that I find intriguing and annoying at the same time--they don't call Atlanta "Atlantaland".<br /><br />Our destination was Portrait Innovations found in the land of planned communities that look a lot like the movie set of Pleasantville, were it to be filmed today. I've had great previous experiences with PI in Atlantaland (nope, it just doesn't work). Needless to say that while the photographer was a bit odd, he did get some good shots.<br /><br />Here's my boy, ok, OUR boy, at one year old:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnVayd_SNvJ4R12nInV9aIgVTEQM9bI-DaP0PUMXsD2x6WVT1fPf4oN8dSeeabFBfYt4M-reaGAKv1YaViXQCMjzGMtjXTN7AOcHTN4rvRsXOqGgZBbv8UH7sjtIJ0HfQnei_rjQ/s1600-h/0039_2.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnVayd_SNvJ4R12nInV9aIgVTEQM9bI-DaP0PUMXsD2x6WVT1fPf4oN8dSeeabFBfYt4M-reaGAKv1YaViXQCMjzGMtjXTN7AOcHTN4rvRsXOqGgZBbv8UH7sjtIJ0HfQnei_rjQ/s400/0039_2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5182239604567236290" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />Notice the toothy grin? Finally has a total of 6 teeth. Three of which have come in during the last two weeks. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibqRrgAj3aALOD5H_2QM_5lxm3vRQ4ziskIyF2uBwSBofroF9b0zc4BWeU8Mu1YJR-165a-ZcKkL6i7HdOJwKIv7rAbE404sD5jb4EFaOzDU7EqqoGndjY2Vo-VogiYL8czEyykg/s1600-h/0016.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibqRrgAj3aALOD5H_2QM_5lxm3vRQ4ziskIyF2uBwSBofroF9b0zc4BWeU8Mu1YJR-165a-ZcKkL6i7HdOJwKIv7rAbE404sD5jb4EFaOzDU7EqqoGndjY2Vo-VogiYL8czEyykg/s400/0016.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5182239630337040114" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Thanks for ooggling!Rev. Sarah C. Evanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13003843174993594628noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10247791.post-26347926412100786912008-03-11T20:46:00.004-05:002008-03-11T21:20:27.177-05:00The real point of no return<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ZP8ayCspoV8/R9c2qH9Hr7I/AAAAAAAAAL4/knSUC8RG7Vg/s1600-h/IMG_1455.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ZP8ayCspoV8/R9c2qH9Hr7I/AAAAAAAAAL4/knSUC8RG7Vg/s400/IMG_1455.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5176666394003484594" border="0" /></a>Here is proof positive that we must be serious about this city living thing: <br /><br />As of 1:30 PM today, we are officially a one-car family. <br /><br />After 5 years of great service, my other baby (Prizilla, the gentle green monster) is off to a new life in a far-off land and I am fully embracing life as a public transit consumer. (The Rev. will point out that I slept very poorly last night, mainly due to anxiety over selling "my" car.)<br /><br />It was yet another testament to the power of <a href="http://chicago.craigslist.org/">craigslist</a>. I placed my ad (at no cost) on two separate occasions -- classified postings are limited to 7 days in big metro areas -- and fielded a couple dozen inquiries. After enduring one extended test driver who never followed up to arrange an inspection, one no-show, one interested person who had to suddenly leave town to rescue his daughter (a likely story) and numerous virtual <a href="http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=tire+kicker">tire-kickers</a>, I received a terse email asking for the car's <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vehicle_identification_number">VIN</a> to run a check. I responded with the information and my phone number (I had received other similar requests) and figured that would be it.<br /><br />The next day I got a phone call from a pleasant young woman asking me to meet her and her twin sister (they are both grad students, one in town and the other at a school in another state) at a local Toyota dealership to have the car inspected. One inspection and some brief haggling later, I signed over the title, handed over the keys, and left with a bag containing miscellaneous personal belongings. We closed the deal at a local bank where she arranged (at my request) for the funds to be wired directly to my bank account. It all went off without a hitch, and both parties should hopefully live happily ever after. <br /><br />All hail the Internet. This young woman was on spring break, was planning to visit her sister in Chicago, and did an extended craigslist search looking for a new car (her previous vehicle was totaled in a winter driving accident) and found one that fit her needs. Even five years ago, this would never have happened. It's a great free market experiment.Vinnyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18264970768938109717noreply@blogger.com1