moving

We're moving! Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, here we come! It'll be a big difference from Chicago. I'm going to miss the big city. The beautiful downtown and lakefront. Just as I was starting to get to know the city on my own. Taking art classes at Gallery 37. Learning the art of taking the Blue
Line to Clark and Lake and the Brown Line to Merchandise Mart and then the Purple Line back during rush hour. We finally have a Target at Roosevelt and Clark that's easy to park in and nice to shop in. A Kohl's just opened that we'll never get to try out. Good-bye Marshall Field's where we bought our furniture in the gently used furniture area and where we bought our rugs after having a nice Indian man bring down rug after rug for us to figure out if it'll go with our flowered futon cover. No, Chicago isn't all about shopping. I'll miss the restaurants on Taylor St. The ethnic restaurants in China Town and Korea Town. I wonder if I can have someone send me some good kimchee. :)

What I won't miss is the traffic, the cost, the projects. Our "ghetto" Jewel. Feeling unsafe when I stop by Jim's to get a good hot dog along I-90. But I will miss the coolness of having something like Maxwell Street market. Bringing Zach to the Sherwood Music Conservatory for his drum
lesson and then afterwards, going to Jamba Juice for a chocolate milk shake and then going to Barbara's Bookstore to look at kids books. I know with our move that we'll make new memories and have our new adventures. The tough thing is something John mentioned the other day, "Asia will grow up with hardly any recollection of Chicago." Our kids will really miss out in the
chance to grow up in Chicago. All the opportunities. But I may not have to worry about trying to get Zach and Asia into a really good elementary school, jr. high, and high school. There's not that much choice where we're going, and luckily, the choices are good schools. I was wondering how we were going to have to prep Zach for testing into a good kindergarten. I mean, come on! Now I don't have to worry about that as much. So there we have it. As of tomorrow, good bye Chicago! Hello Pittsburgh!

big hugs

Zach and Asia are in that age where they can be so loving and a few minutes later, be hitting each other and fighting. Zach likes to tease Asia. He knows exactly how to push her buttons! All he has to do is say a few words to her and get her upset. Like he'll say, "Green Bear." That's
it! And Asia will cry, "No, MY GREEN BEAR!!" Of course, Green Bear has to be in the room. Then Zach will see Asia put down something that was in her hands. He'll quickly pick it up and either say, "Asia, look what I have." Or he'll say, "Where did ____ go?" That gets Asia upset too.

On the other hand, both kids will play so well with each other. There latest is going into the pantry and grabbing whatever they can reach. Then they'll bring it outside in the balcony and set up a grocery store or a tower. I have to remember at the end of the day to check the balcony for perishables or electronics in case it rains.

Another thing that the kids do is they'll come up to me and hug me and say, "You're my best friend." So sweet.