Sorry for the delay...

I'm back!! I realized how long it's been since I've blogged. Oh my goodness, what was I thinking. I kept saying to myself..."I really need to blog, I'll get to it later tonight." and then I never get to it. So, whats new with me?

Dan made the journey from Momence to McHenry a couple weeks ago to meet the family. I forwarned him that I was having a purse party that evening and it might be a little crazy. He was more than welcome to come, but I surely wasn't going to cancel my party. He ventured up here via Metra. Yep, two trains and almost three hours later, I picked him up at the train station. My dad said he must really like me if he's willing to ride the train that long to come see me. I said I was pretty sure he did. So anyways....Dan met the family, and some of the extended family. He got to meet a small group of the Ryans, including..the Hagerty's, Larry Ryan family, Uncle Dan, Gary and Patrick. You see, all the men went to Gary's while the women were here. It was a successful weekend. I'm pretty sure everyone liked him. And those of us present at the Polodori's got to witness Dan's wonderful Kareoke ability, which is better then the rest of us. :) The rest of you can meet him at the picnic and Mary's wedding. I plan to keep this one for a while!!!

I signed myself up for a 5K run on June 2nd. Then I got lazy!!!! I completely stopped training!!!! What was I thinking? I was smoking again, on pretty regular basis and not doing anything physical. So, I kicked the smokes completely about a week ago and did my first run today. It was horrible!!!!! I wasn't too worried about breaking any records, but I really need to get myself back into shape. So, I went back to the old standby and did run 5, walk 5. Thats minutes of course. But I did run 5, walk 5, run 7, walk 3, run 3, walk 4, run 8. Then I was done!!!!! Too tired to continue any further. But I felt pretty good. I just have to do it again tomorrow. I'll be fine for the 5K in June right??? Nice and easy thats the way to get back in.

Also, Dad went back into the hospital today. He started his ATG treatment again today and it's really kind of awful to watch! Last time he got this horrible reaction including muscle tremors that shook his whole body like a seizure. He of course could make light of the situation and called himself the human milkshake! Well, when I got there today, the tremors were just starting. I asked..."oh no dad...are you playing human milkshake again??" I hate this part, but suppossedly I know what to expect while watching this treatment. On the plus side, Dad is healthier going in this time then he was the last time he went through this so, he should take it easier and have better reactions right? That's of course the theory. I personally think he looked worse today then he did the first day of this treatment last July. For those of you who know my dad, you know he's a big, strong, giant of a man, with a heart so big. Imagine this man lying in a hospital bed, shaking from the muscle tremors, looking swollen from all the prednisone, receiving benadryl every hour to avoid allergic reaction, curled up on his side attempting to get comfortable because the medicine makes his back hurt so bad. It's so hard to see my daddy so weak. So, I'm basically a wreck tonight.

A special thanks to those of you who donate blood and platelets. It's people like you who have saved my fathers life last year when he was so ill. I am eternally grateful! Keep up the good work!!!!!

Ok....thats all folks.

Call Me Focker

Yes that's right, I got to MEET THE PARENTS this weekend. Last week, Dan had invited me to go see his band play in Blue Island on 3/31. Then, he asked me to stick around and come over to his parents home on Sunday to meet everyone. So, of course I agreed, but I was fretting over it all weekend. You see, Dan is an only child, and lives with mom, dad and grandma. So, I was a smidge nervous. I was asked to be there around noon on Sunday. Throughout the week I had asked several different opinions on what to bring. I showed up with mutual friends of ours at Dan's parents house on Sunday afternoon, armed with a box of Fannie Mae chocolates and a nice bottle of Pinot Noir. Immediately his mom gave me a hug and said "oh Amy, it's so nice to finally meet you!" In the back of my head I was thinking...."finally, we've only been dating a little while?" but I rolled with it. Dad was cooking, so he was unable to give me a hug, but informed me to sit down and eat, and handed me a hot cup of coffee. Grandma walked straight up to me, gave me a hug and a kiss on the cheek and welcomed me. So, my fears were quickly put to rest because everyone was so welcoming. We had a wonderful brunch of "skinnies" known to the rest of us as crepes or Swedish pancakes. Then, we all settled in and just relaxed, watched a couple movies and lounged around. We opened the bottle of wine I brought, it was pretty tasty. The night went very well, and due to the late hour, and the couple glasses of wine, I was asked/encouraged to stay the night. So, I did. I stayed in the guest "loft" and got up bright and early this morning, Dan went off to work and I headed home.

All in all, it was a great day. My favorite kind of Sunday, where you just relax, and chill out all day. Sit back and watch movies not have to rush around anywhere or do anything. When I got home this morning, mom and I sat and had a cup of coffee and she asked if she'd get to meet Dan at the family picnic. I informed her that I hope she gets to meet him sooner than that! :) He's a good egg and I really like him.