"Welcome Home!"

Why is it that things always seem like a GREAT idea when the call
comes in…then, when the day comes…You are saying, WHAT WAS I
THINKING???" We still have our condo in the city and now it sits
empty due to a change in the condo rules which do not allow for any
rentals. Charlie lived there for a time last year and we have it
functionally furnished (i.e. fine for young men to live in!!). I had
thought of making it adorable and bringing down all those FAB Japanese
antiques that I have in the attic-sort of like Antique Roadshow meets
Chi-Town apartment….but, then I think…do I want the boys using the
apartment with all my lovely things…..HMMMMM…best to keep it
FUNCTIONAL! But, I used to host the Tri-Delt Alumni Loop Group
meetings in the party room when I lived downtown…SO…When the call came
in asking if I would host a meeting, I thought POURQUOI PAS!! The
party room is on the top floor and has a nice view of the city. It is
clean and ready to go!! The meeting starts at 6 p.m. and so I had to
figure out how to pick up the food (keep it warm), and pack up the
beverages and paper goods. I started the a.m. loading up the car with
vino, brought two cases…it's the Tri-Delts after all. Several of my
interns have told MOI that the Tri-Delts were known to be quite the
party gals…so, wanted to make sure I was with the program. The Loop
Group tends to be the very young and well…The OLDER!! Found a
restaurant that was halfway between work and downtown and I could
drive up and pick it up! Did I mention that it was FREEZING out???!!
So after several trips in the a.m. lugging everything, I was packed
and ready to go. Of course, the day got away from MOI and the next
thing I knew…I had to be on the road NOW! Rushed to the restaurant,
picked everything up and they mentioned that they had included sterno
heaters…SO NICE..but, then I realized NO MATCHES to light the
sterno….OH Well! Maybe I can get some at the condo!

Arrived at 5:45 p.m. and jumped out of the car…The Doorman came out to
great MOI and said with a big smile, "Welcome Home!"
WELCOME HOME! I just had to laugh! SO FABULOUS! And then the MOST
AMAZING THING HAPPENED! He proceeded to help me unload the car…I
pulled it into the WARM parking garage and finished unloading. AND
THEN THE NEXT MOST AMAZING THING HAPPENED. Several of the young DDD's
were waiting in the lobby. The Doorman said that he knew they were
my friends, since I always have such "good looking" friends....IS THIS
FELLOW FOR REAL??! What ever we pay him…it should be DOUBLED!
Rushed upstairs with all my "good looking" Delta sisters…and then we
all whipped into action. NO instruction in setting up a party needed
with this crowd. AND here is ANOTHER amazing thing…I didn't know any
of these gals, but it was just like a well rehearsed Opera. They all
started taking things out of boxes, setting tables, opening VINO and
in 10 minutes we were ready to roll! We didn't even have a moment to
introduce each other! It turns out that this was the first meeting
for 6 of the young ladies. Had to make them feel welcome. The
meeting didn't really have a theme, so I thought we could start off
with Champagne and take it from there!! Opened several bottles and
then we moved to red and white varieties. Fairly soon all had
assembled and time for dinner!! The Nice Doorman managed to find
some matches for MOI, so the dinner was warming up! With so many new
attendees, we decided that everyone would tell a story about something
AMAZING that happened to them…or something like that! By now we were
into our second case of wine. Of course, I was the only one
DRIVING-these gals were taking taxis, so no worry about how much VINO
one would be consuming!! Plus, I guess they have to maintain our
current reputation as the Party Gals! It was so interesting to hear
the stories of these young gals! Fortunately, dear friend Linda
O'Bryant was there to balance out the age range! The two of us vs.
the youngsters!! Many of these young gals had been working for a year
or so, several had just been laid off…all seemed optimistic! One gave
a hilarious story about how she was a personal shopper for a Hotel
Client who needed a dress for New Years Eve. Now we are talking!! No
one seemed to have any angst that Men weren't taking them seriously in
the business world. IN FACT, we did talk about working in the old
days and guess what…it revolved around FASHION…The young ones wondered
how we could have worn those horrible TIES!! The Fashionista DDD
also revealed that she writes for the fashion blog, Glossed and
Found-see it at this link-
http://www.beautyoncall.com/gf/index.php
It's a great website and super ideas for fashion and LIFE! Who KNEW??!!

The evening wrapped up at 10:30 p.m. (did I mention this was WEDNESDAY
EVENING) with several of the DDD's going out clubbing! Ah YOUTH!!!
Of course, all helped to clean up (have to love these gals!). We
loaded up several grocery carts and took the elevator to the lobby. I
did notice that we went through 20 bottles of VINO for 26 gals…that
HAS to be a record! I arrived in the lobby and told the Doorman that
I was leaving the carts for a moment, since I wanted to check on the
condo. He smiled and said No PROBLEMO! Back down from the apartment
and I noticed the carts were gone…upon further inspection, I noticed
my car parked in front with the engine on and items all loaded inside!
I MISS THAT LIFE!

A busy week of seminars and grants!! I was having a moment of
despair-well perhaps MORE than a moment, more like a MELT-DOWN over
trying to get a grant written in two days. I had to wait for
information from the artist in order to finish the grant and time was
running out. I was also on deadline for getting out PR for our next
exhibition and oh…trying to get the invitation ready for our Spring
Benefit. Plus, I had to entertain the DDD'S, so I couldn't work late
to finish it! ONE HAS TO HAVE PRIORITIES!! SOOOOO….I needed that
grant to be finished and I needed it to be finished NOW! I had the
good fortune to have an intern who wanted to learn about grant
writing! She was completing her PHD in Molecular Biology or something
like that..I thought PERFECT for the Art Center!! She really raised
the bar on the internship program! She helped with writing several
grants in the fall and then went home for the holidays. Her Hubby is
at Kellogg and she is here for the year until he graduates. I didn't
hear from her early January, but as always…one has to be very thankful
for whatever help one can get! HIGH ROAD! I thought she probably had
found another job or had had enough of MOI! Then…when things always
look their darkest…an email arrives! Hi Paula, just back from
visiting family. I would love to help you with any future grants.
Truly…prayers were answered. She was in my office the next day and we
had that grant ready to go on time! INTERNS ROCK!

Had time to attend a seminar on "How to make money in a down economy."
No, this wasn't sponsored by Kellogg…they didn't seem to find it
necessary to address that problem. It was sponsored by the Arts and
Business Council. A great organization that has excellent seminars to
help Arts organization work more efficiently! Naturally, I never
really learn anything NEW at these, but it is always important to know
that one is on the right path! The keynote speaker made it clear that
in order to survive in this economy, the MFA's need to think like
MBA's! OMGosh! What a NOVEL idea! The most perfect of seminars.
Looking around the room, I felt it was safe to assume that I was the
only MBA in the crowd. I could see the MFA's struggling to wrap their
arms around this concept. Give up my artist esthetic??? Realizing
that budgets DO MATTER. The speaker recognized that it would be
difficult to be sure. I just smiled and tried to be reassuring…TRUST
MOI…You will survive this!!

Call it the Mom FACTOR! We had a rental at the Art Center on Saturday
evening. A nursery school wanted to hold their fundraiser at the Art
Center. I thought it would be fabulous-one has to find CREATIVE ways
to raise funds in this economy! We don't really do this kind of
thing, so I was in charge for the evening. We also hired one of the
maintenance fellows to be on call. So fun to watch the Moms and Dads
transform the Art Center with decorations and auction items. So fun
because it wasn't MY EVENT! They all seemed very excited and
enthusiastic! I watched as Dads moved tables and chairs around,
helped with any set up requested by their wives…AH YOUTH! Wait until
your kids get into Jr. High and you have decorated that gym COUNTLESS
times! Anyway, the party was fun or at least sounded like FUN! I
retired to my office and then made spot checks throughout the evening.
The maintenance fellow was busy taking out garbage and helping during
the event. All seemed to be going well! The event was to be over at
11 p.m….everyone was having SO MUCH FUN that they stayed until 11:30
p.m. and what a surprise..only one couple was on the clean-up detail.
HMMMM…..we had to move all those tables that the crew of nice Dads had
moved earlier in the evening back to where they were, clean up the
floors and rooms. We had classes the next day, so we needed to leave
it ready to go! We all pitched in, but I felt so sorry for that one
couple-where were the other parents???!! Could have used some
Tri-Delts!!! Of course, the next thing we knew it was 1:00 A.M. The
maintenance fellow seemed worried (he does not have a face for
poker!). He had told me that his friend was going to pick him up
after the event. I asked him what time his ride was going to arrive.
He said that his ride wasn't going to be able to pick him up. What's
a MOM to do??? I inquired where he lived. In Bucktown-an area that
would be about a 40 minute drive. I could offer to pay for a taxi-but
didn't really want to wait for the taxi to arrive. Plus, the POINT of
having a rental is to MAKE money, not to spend it on $50 taxi rides!
Let's go-I'll give you a ride home!

Stopped in at Payless and was thrilled to find the following FAB SHOES!
Dexter Mayflower Buckle Pump in Mushroom or Black! $29 Don't let
the name DEXTER scare you. These pumps have an adorable buckle and
stacked heel. The mushroom color is PERFECT for spring! Plus, they
are comfortable!

Abaeté for Payless Gabriel Gladiator, $38, in Black is FABULOUS!
You can wear it now with Black Opaque pantyhose and then with bare
legs once it warms up! They also have the Abaeté for Payless Wyatt
Gladiator Slingback, $38, in Tan. Both are so chic and SO NOW…and for
these prices you can buy them all! The Abate line also has a very
cute black ballet flat!

alice + olivia for Payless Terry Messenger $20 on sale (online).
This messenger bag features a structured canvas bag with bold patent
accents and a Hot Pink satin lining!! It is 12"x 12" and includes an
inside zipper. SO ADORABLE!!

And a trip to the Japanese grocery store for those MUST HAVE
ITEMS…revealed a new skin care facial wash. With a name like "Lift
Wash" how could you resist! It seems like a great cleanser-will keep
you posted on the LIFT progress!!
Have a great week!
Love, P