Well, I guess I can share with you all what's been up with me lately. Several years ago, my mother was diagnosed with breast cancer. After operations, chemotherapy, drugs and a lot of inner strength, she made it through. Of course, it was a difficult time for her, and our whole family. But she persevered. Over the past couple months, my mother had a very bad cold, which produced this AWFUL cough. After going to the doctor a couple times, going in for tests and such, earlier this week it was revealed that the cancer had moved to her lungs. Luckily, it's in the early stages. The doctors are very optimistic. But it's still hard, you know? She already went through all that crap, and she's got to go through it again? So it's been a little hard on the family, and we're each dealing with it in different ways. When things like this happen, your mind gets full of 'what if?s' and about how unfair life seems to be. And all the miniscule things that you had worried about in the last couple months seem completely insignificant, and when you hear other people complaining about their problems, you almost want to yell in their faces how lucky they actually have it. I was on such an emotional roller coaster over the past couple days. On Thursday I had gone to lunch a couple of the guys and I burst out crying in the middle of the food court. Poor things didn't know what hit 'em. I try to keep myself busy, so I can't stop and dwell on it. I've been teetering between being in an awful, bitchy mood and really quiet and introspective. But I think my mom's attitude has really helped us all. She's being really strong, and really positive about everything. I really admire her for it. So the best I can do right now is help out as much as I can around the house, and give her a lot of hugs and 'I love you's. It helped a lot the last time. And so today, I'm just hanging at home with my mom. Tried to keep myself busy by rearranging and sorting out my comic book collection and watching 'American Pie 2'. Which was really funny because my mom came by and started watching it with me, and it's really hard to explain the humor of the movie to her. Note: Never watch a man pee on another man's head when your mom is in the room. She just won't get it. And we've had people coming all day visiting and seeing how my mom is doing. It's really nice, but I know that she could probably use the rest, too. But it's really heart warming to see her best friends come by and sit around her and talk. Well, I guess that's it in a nutshell...Thanks for everyone's support. Right now, I'm going to finish sorting my comics out. And I'm patiently waiting for Marian and Derrick to bring me my White Castle. Diet be damned. I need comfort food. I'll just hold my breath in that bridesmaid dress! - Yano, 6:22 PM |

Friday, August 23 Friday, August 23

All right. I'm debating on whether to color my hair back to basic black (or dark brown). It's been quite a chore maintaining my blond highlights, and I'm trying to save money, too. But I don't know if I want to go back. I'm wavering. What do you guys think? Stay with the blond, or go au naturel? <--Blond Streaks Basic Black--> The meeting was as non-eventful as I thought it was going to be. I caught myself napping 7 times in the two hours. I then resorted to pretending to take notes, even though no one else in the room was taking notes. I've got some really pretty drawings on my notepad. Today, I'm just going to stay at home. I'm really tired, and it's Fatima's last day at home and we're going to watch 'Serendipity'. I've seen it already, so I'm going to sort out my comics while we're watching. Multitasking, that's me... I also drove to work today. I've been late for the past couple days, and I didn't want to be late again. Luckily, my car is back from the shop. A person, who shall go unnamed here, got my car into a little fender bender while I was in Atlanta last week. Grr...I couldn't bear to look at the damage because I don't want to get angry at this unnamed person, thought it was really nice torturing this person with guilt over busting up my baby. CD for the Commute to Work: Mama Mia! Original Cast Recording - Yeah, I'm an ABBA fan. I admit it! And this was a great show. I'd advise you all to go out and watch it! It's a blast! However, I actually got out of work early enough to catch the B96 Traffic Jam, which had a lot of tasty treats, like the mysterious and sexy (ha!) Emininem, Brandy, Nelly, and P. Diddy. Damn, I hate his new name. But it was a great mix. - Yano, 6:55 PM |

OK, so I had a Spanish Omelette bagel from McDonalds. Uh...the diet will start tomorrow. Yeah...right. So I saw the first guy I dated on the train the other day. I didn't say hello, because I was so weirded out. And DAMN...he's really good looking now! Well, he was kinda cute then, but right now he's got this Brad Pitt/Matt Damon thing going on. Have mercy. I know I shoulda said hello or something, but I looked absolutely awful. I had my hair up in a ponytail, no makeup or anything, and this big zit on my upper lip. I wasn't going to start conversation with anyone that day. Does anyone watch American Idol? It's my guilty little pleasure to watch. Anyway, I don't know what America was thinking voting off Tamyra! My theory is that everyone thought that Tamyra was a sure thing, so they voted for their favorites to keep them in the game, thinking that everyone ELSE was going to vote for Tamyra. So everyone was so busy voting for their favorite underdog that no one voted for poor Tamyra. Shocking. Definitely shocking. But that's ok. She's going to get a kick ass record deal out of this, and she'll go farther than the winner. But for now, I'm all for Kelly to win it all. I love white girls that can sing the blues. We've got a two hour company meeting today. Wish me luck on staying awake. I'll keep a tally of how many times I nod off, and I'll report later. I'm not looking forward to this! - Yano, 12:33 PM |

Thursday, August 22 Thursday, August 22

Wow. I didn't think that so many people would respond to yesterday's blog. Well, the situation hasn't changed, but after some sleep and some thinking, I'm in a better mood. When I can tell you guys what's REALLY going on, I promise you I will. But I want to thank everyone for their words of encouragement. Y'all are great. So I'm really sore today from Tuesday's workout with Dan. He was actually quite surprised that I didn't complain, and that I was actually stronger than he thought I was. I'm no girlie-girl! I'm TOUGH! Anyway, working out wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. I'll probably go again. After this soreness is gone. Yesterday I got the bridesmaid dress for this wedding that I'm going to be in next week. I was afraid that it wouldn't come in on time. I tried it on, and it's gorgeous, but a little snug. Looks like I'll have to drop a pound or two before next week. Then again, I've been saying that for the past couple months. We'll see. Dan and Sammy have just persuaded me to go to Taco Bell with them. I can never say no to that place. I'll start my mini-diet tomorrow. - Yano, 3:02 PM |

Wednesday, August 21 Wednesday, August 21

Today is a horrible day. It started out horrible, and it's getting worse and worse. Seriously, on a scale from 1-10, it started out a 2.5 and has been downgraded to a 2. You know what sucks about having a blog that you know other people read? When you want to really pour your heart out about something, but you can't, because you know that people who read you words may tell other people, and it's not something that everyone needs to know right now. Sorry for being mysterious and everything, but there are some hard times coming ahead, and it breaks my heart to think of it. Eventually I'll put it down here, but right now I can't, for two reasons - 1) It's too early for me to broadcast it to the world, and 2) I'll start crying if I talk about it. Don't worry, it has nothing to do with me, Dave or the wedding. And when you're having a bad day, little things just make it worse and worse. You try to keep yourself busy, but you end up in a meeting where you zone out and just start dwelling on things. Damn meetings that I don't really need to attend. And work doesn't help my mood much. But then again, little moments of laughter that people give you let you know that there's a light at the end of this dark tunnel. I love working with some of these guys. On a lighter note, HAPPY BIRTHDAY CLAUDINE! Poor thing has an exam on her birthday. Aww. Well, I wish my wonderful sisterfriend a great birthday and many happy ones to come. - Yano, 4:50 PM |

Tuesday, August 20 Tuesday, August 20

Today I'm going to work out with Dan. This will be first time I'll be working out in a health club since 1998. I'm a little apprehensive about all this! I'm so dead. I get worn out walking up the stairs to the second floor of the Gap. - Yano, 5:05 PM |

Monday, August 19 Monday, August 19

what an absolutely gloomy and rainy day in Chicago! Well, it's a nice change of pace for me. I haven't had a rainy day in Chicago for a while. It seems that every time it rains here I'm out of town. And who doesn't need rain? I know we need it! It was also nice to hear the thunder in the middle of the night last night. I love thunder. But I love lightning more! I'm absolutely sluggish here at work today. Working on consultant and expense reports, and paying bills while I'm at it, too. I really need to change my spending habits if I'm going to save my money. The sad thing is that I don't even know what I've been spending my money on! I'll be back again later. - Yano, 12:13 PM |

So me and Dave went on our second stop in the 'Dave and Christine's Lookin for a Church Tour 2002'. And let me tell you, I've fallen in love!!! This church, actually a basilica, was absolutely gorgeous and dreamy. It's by my house, and I pass it all the time, but I've never gone inside. Anyway, it has this beautiful front lawn, and the inside has this long isle and a beautiful painting right above the altar. And it's HUGE! (not like we're going to have tons of people attending the wedding anyway) It's so big there was a time delay with the music when we were sitting in the back. I loved it! Afterwards, me and Fatima did some surveillance with my camera. The first pic turned out ok. But I sent Fatima in for a quick pic inside, and she got nervous because there was a baptism going on inside, so the picture isn't too focused. But you can get a glimpse of how massive it is inside. Ahh...the visions going on inside my head. Now the main question is if we can get a date there. I'm crossing my fingers! And I finally got a new phone today. I've been putting it off for months. But yesterday I pulled a sticker off my faceplate, andt he whole thing came off. I was able to put it back on, but it was a sign. So I gave Fatima my phone, and she's now part of the cell phone community. Now we'll be able to find Fatima. We'd always call her at school and she was NEVER home! Now we've got a tracking device. But let's not tell her that. She still thinks that having a cell phone is a good thing. - Yano, 3:13 AM |

Sunday, August 18 Sunday, August 18

Ohh...I forgot to add this one to my previous post. I had my first 'Car Bomb' yesterday. It's a half pint of Guiness, with a shot of Jameson and Bailey's. What you do is drop the shot of Jameson that's topped off with Bailey's into the pint of Guiness and chug the whole thing. I've been putting it off for a while because it looks pretty intense, but DAMN. It's tasty. Really good. Yum yum. Like chocolate milk. - Yano, 2:28 AM |