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 So, I am a week beyond the surgery that--at one time--felt a million years away. I have amazing friends and family who are all eager to ask me how I'm feeling whenever we talk. My answer does not come easily. It doesn't come easily because I can't put into words the overwhelming gratitude and awe that are the result of my experiences over the past week. To begin, I have to say that--should you need a hospital for any reason--I would highly recommend Northwestern Hospital here in Chicago, and in particular, The Prentice Women's Hospital. The staff that took care of me were incredible. They were pleasant and patient, yet they pushed me to do things they knew would be less than enjoyable. They made it easy for me to be in good spirits almost the entire time I was with them. I can't imagine the stamina and spirit it takes to do the job they do everyday, but they never once made me feel as though I were just another patient. I'm almost positive I would not be feel

I came across the following quote early in February and took the time to jot it down in my journal. Looking for inspiration for this entry today, I stumbled upon it again. It comes from Alice Walker, author of The Color Purple and a major activist for both the civil rights and feminist movements: "Helped are those who create anything at all, for they shall relive the thrill of their own conception and realize a partnership in the creation of the Universe that keeps them responsible and cheerful." The day I saw this quote, it resonated with me because I'd been going through old writing notebooks. I was searching for one that had enough blank paper in it to be used as a school notebook, but most of them were entirely filled with writing projects. They were from my time with Camerashrapnel, a comedy group I was a part of in LA. Some were also filled during the moments I was working as an extra, which mostly involved a lot of "sit around and wait until they put you so

I am not writing this entry on the swiftly approaching tradition of Fat Tuesday Fasnachts. There is, however, a foodie blog entry on that topic if you're inspired to make donuts after reading about them in this one. This blog is dedicated to a book I just started reading called Parables of a Country Parson: Heartwarming Stories of Christian Faith and Life . Yeah, there's going to be a little faith talk on this one. But I'm not going to go nuts, so stick with me. Anyway, I snagged this book from my dad's study a few months back. At that time, I was working on a writing idea that involved interviewing my father and grandfather about their lives in the ministry. I thought that reading short stories about someone else's experiences in the field may help me focus some of the information I got from my family. Other books got in the way, though, and I only remembered this one the other night. The fervor of my former project has worn down a bit, but I'd read all the o

My 31st birthday was a little under two weeks ago. One of the gifts I got was a last-minute inspiration from my mom and sister. They were browsing the gift shop of the history museum where my mom works and came across a little book called The Official Nancy Drew Handbook: Skills, Tips & Life Lessons from Everyone's Favorite Girl Detective . I loved Nancy Drew when I was growing up. My mom had been collecting the yellow hardback series and that was how my interest began. I continued the collection, having to occasionally settle for a newer version of some books. But I think the collection is only short one or two books at this point. Then I discovered the blue editions. The blue editions are even older than the yellow ones. These are the ones that pull me into every used bookstore or book sale I pass. They're usually around $12 each, but it seems a bargain for such an artifact. I have yet to research whether these books are worth any money. It's not important. Plus, I on

New Year's Eve is a notorious day in my family. Over the years, I've encountered breakups, bad health news, stomach flu, and various family dramas. I've also had some years where the comedy of the situation outweighed the disappointment at not having the exciting night I'd planned. Anyway, the day after one of the hardest New Year's Eves, I purchased a book called The Awe-manac . It's this crazy book of journal prompts, wacky holidays, and inspirations. I might have mentioned it in a previous entry, I can't remember. But each month has an "Entryway" section, which lists general interesting facts about the month. For January, the book mentions that the month is named for the Roman god, Janus. He was the protector of gates and doorways. And I thought he'd be a perfect topic for this first entry of 2013. Janus is depicted with two faces: one looks back to the past and one looks into the future. What a great way to enter into a new year. Now, I