December 31, 2000: New Years Eve

Jo, Skip, and Skip's parents came over to George and Marianne's  house to ring in the New Year.  We watched the ball drop.   We all kissed and hugged each other after the countdown.     Everyone brought over some appetizers which were delicious.   It was a nice relaxing New Year.      

December 30, 2000: Heather Klee's Wedding

George, Marianne, Wendy, Joy, and I went to the Great Harvest Bread Co. and had a bunch of free samples.    Then, we went shopping at Briarwood.  Rode with Wendy to Heather's reception at the Henry Ford Estate in Dearborn.    Heather looked so pretty in her wedding dress.   The estate was beautiful inside, especially with the Christmas decorations.  It was sad to see Jase with his girlfriend, Brenda, as I used to like him.   

There was assigned seating at the reception. Adam and I sat at the table with Heather's cousins.    He said he was thinking of attending Western Michigan University.    Joy, Kim, and I danced alot.    I enjoyed seeing everyone at the reception.  Heather had the appetizers in one room and the dinner was in the room that used to be the pool.     She had a video of her wedding in Paris which was pretty neat to see.   They had to have a French ceremony and American ceremony at the cathedral in Paris.      

December 29, 2000: Gonyos

We went to the mall to do some shopping. We went to a bookstore and I got the Hunter Tylo book that I had wanted to read.     Wendy came and stayed the night.  Todd was up at their cabin.    Wendy was a month pregnant and due in August.   

December 28, 2000: Train Ride to Ann Arbor

The train out of Chicago was 2 hours behind schedule, due to the cold weather.    We finally left Chicago around 8 p.m.     I called Marianne to let her know it was going to be late.    We were supposed to get to Ann Arbor at 11:30, but didn't get there until 3 a.m.     They picked me up at the train station.   Marianne had the electric blanket on in my bed, which felt so good.   

December 25, 2000: Christmas

Mom and I went to Christmas mass at St. Clements Catholic Church on Orchard and Deming Streets.    My eyesight was driving me crazy.  I guess I expected to have perfect vision right away.   Then, we went to Union Station, so my mom could ride back to Holland.    I had a wonderful time with my mother this week.    I hated to see her go.

December 24, 2000: Christmas Eve

Mom and I had dinner at the Bagel Restaurant on Broadway Street.    Then, we came home and watched the movie, "A Christmas Story" and made brownies in a jar that my mom had given me for Christmas.   They were delicious.  

December 23, 2000: Fred & Janice Soop

Mom and I took the Northwest Metra train out to Cary, IL to visit Fred and Janice Soop.  They bought a house here, so we wanted to see it.    Janice made delicious lasagna, salad, and dessert.   Then, we took the 8 p.m. train back to downtown Chicago.  I really missed taking Metra to work each day, as I used to do when I lived in Downers Grove.

December 22, 2000: Walnut Room

Mom and I walked to the Historical Society museum at North Ave and Clark.   We got to go inside for free.    I was complaining of my eyes, as they seemed so hazy and dry.   Then, we went to the Marshall Fields on State St. and put our name on a waiting list to have dinner at the Walnut Room.    We got a nice table right next to the big Christmas tree.  The food was fabulous.   It looked like many families made this a family tradition each year. 

December 21, 2000: Post Operative Appt/University of Illinois

Mom and I took the bus to my post operative appointment at the TLC office at the Water Tower Place. Dr. Close checked my vision and it was 20/20.  I was told it would take about 4 weeks for the haziness to clear up.    

Mom and I walked down Michigan Ave. and did some shopping.   Then, we walked to the Thai restaurant on the corner of Delaware and State St.    We had our pad thai that we loved.    Then, we took a cab to the Hull House at the University of Illinois.    We went on a tour of the Hull house.   

I talked to Carol and Eddy Wong on the phone about the surgery, as Eddy had the surgery.  He said it took about 4 weeks for his eyes to heal.  

December 20, 2000: Laser Eye Surgery

Mom and I took the bus to the Blue Line and then took the 'El' out to the O'hare airport.    We rented a car from the airport and drove to the Laser Eye Center in Westchester.     I had to take this test which tested the thickness of your corneal flap.    My eyes had to be numbed before the test.    The 2nd test was to measure your eye, so when the procedure was done, it was done with accuracy.  Then, you went to a room and get a Valium pill to help you relax.   They also dilated and numbed your eyes with eye drops.     Then, you were moved to the room where the laser procedure was done.    I was so scared to go in there.    Dr. Probst was so handsome looking.    He looked like he was in his 30s.   When I got on the table, he asked me how I got my lipstick to match my sweater.    I got more numbing drops in my eye and then they put this wire thing over your eye to hold down your eyelids.   You stared at this blinking red light.  You could see when the corneal flap was being created and when it was lifted up, your eye went grey for a few seconds.  He asked if I saw the red light which I did see.   The corneal flap was lifted and then the laser light came down at my eye and the computer automatically counted down from 59 to 0.   I could smell the fumes.    Then, the computer said complete.     Then, the same procedure was done on the other eye.    The procedure took less than 15 minutes for both eyes.    Then, the doctor put the corneal flap back on the eye and you start to see immediate results.  I got more drops in my eye and then was escorted to the recovery room.   My mom was able to see the procedure done on the TV. She said it was scary to watch it.    After recovery, I went to a different room and got eye drops and the eyeglass shields I had to wear.     

As we walked out to the car, I couldn't see much, as it was hazy.     We dropped off the car at the rental place and took a cab home, as I didn't feel like dealing with public transportation.   I got back to my apartment and slept for 5 hours, as instructed.    

When I woke up, I had to put more eye drops in my eyes.   It was amazing how I could actually see without glasses.    My eyesight before the surgery was 20/675, but after the procedure, it was about 20/30.       Mom ordered us pizza from Pizza Hut.   

Brandie Darr stopped over to see how I was doing.  Kelsey and Grandpa called to see how I was doing. 

December 19, 2000: Mom's Visit

Mom's train from Holland was canceled due to a terrible snowstorm.    Luckily, a guy going to Chicago offered to take the passengers in his van to Chicago.  My mom needed to come this day, as we were going to the suburbs the next day for my laser eye surgery.   Their van got caught in traffic near Chicago.   There had been an accident, so they had a long wait.  One of the ladies in the van was pregnant, which was not fun for her.   I picked up my mom at the train station, where he dropped them off.   She came to my work and got to meet my co-workers.    They were so amazed how she looked so much like me.   I showed my mom how to get to Marshall Fields Department store, so she walked down there.  After work, I met her at Marshall Fields.   We went for dinner at the Golden Nugget.   She loved their potato pancakes.   I was so nervous about the surgery tomorrow, so I didn't eat too much.

December 15, 2000: IRI Christmas Party

I tried to get a hold of Ceylon all day about meeting me at the Christmas party at Navy Pier.    I ended up taking a cab to Navy Pier by myself hoping to meet up with her at the company Christmas party.     She didn't come to the party, which disappointed me.   I saw Wayne, his roommate, Glenn Brien, John McGee,  and Jeanette there.  I felt awkward at this party, as it was mainly couples.   At one point, I wanted to cry and just go home.   Then, I ran into Tony Dragel, who said the party sucked.    Other years, the parties were alot of fun.  Yolanda, Chris Blackwell, Wayne, etc. used to come, but didn't come this year.       Wayne said he was getting the laser eye surgery a week after me.  I stayed until the end of the party, as John McGee offered to give me a ride home.    What a blessing!      I was glad when I finally got home.       I went to the party, as I knew this was going to be my last Christmas party at IRI.

December 13, 2000: Pay Raise at Work

It was a surprise today for me at work. Bev called each of us individually into her office to tell us about our pay raises.   The base pay in our department was $31,000.   So, now I made $34,500/yr.  Lilly wasn't too pleased with the raises, as she had passed her 2nd competency.    I told her my secret that I was planning to leave the department in the spring and move back to Michigan.    She was quite surprised.

December 2, 2000: Funky Buddha Lounge

Tamara Ohs Ryan was in town for a wedding, so she invited me to the reception.  It was at this Italian restaurant on Lake St.      Quynh Lee was at the reception, too.   We all went dancing at the Funky Buddha Lounge which was near Milwaukee and Halsted streets.   There were alot of Latin men there. They were all so cute.    The DJs played dance, hip hop music, which was what I liked.  I had this Jamaican guy hit on me.  He kept grabbing my butt.    I took a cab home with some of Tamara's friends.   First, we had breakfast at Mel's Diner which was near my apartment.   It was scary walking home at 3 a.m.  I was so glad to get home safely and into my cozy bed.   I must be getting older, as the bar scene wasn't as exciting. I prefered to travel, dine at nice restaurants, and go to the movies.