Back from Chicago.......

and I had a blast!!! What a great treat to get to see all my friends from my "former" life at Arthur Andersen. It was so surreal to walk the halls of the great "St. Charles" (that was the training center for Arthur Andersen).....when I checked in - I felt weird......I felt elated - I felt out of place.........I felt at peace........

I flew to Chicago with my friend Kathryn - she lives in the woodlands - but we don't see each other very often. She had rented a car - so I rode with her to the center.......we had a great time.....she got me hooked on a new Starbucks drink!!! The good thing is - it's cheaper than what I normally get! Grande Americano - that's my new drink...basically 3 shots of espresso with hot water....then I add cream and splenda - very yummy!! it's like 2dollars and some change...I'm use to getting the grande soy no foam latte - $4.00 later - I'm sipping my drink!!!

My husband was making me laugh because he told me he couldn't believe I was spending all that money to fly to Chicago and hang out with my friend who lives in the woodlands.....didn't we think that we could get together at the spa or the mall instead of Chicago!!!! We cracked up......of course, we did hang out mostly together....but, he doesn't have to know that!! LOL

Ok - back to the "reunion".......It was VERY strange to walk the halls of the great "Q" center as it is now called.......I know it's hard to grasp, but, for me - it's been kind of hard to let go. It's been hard to realize that Arthur Andersen doesn't exist anymore......it was such a part of my life for so long - ok - put another way - it WAS my life for so long. You figure that Andersen will always be around and even if you don't work there - you figure that you could always go back and see everyone and then - wham - it's gone for good - a company that has been grounded for 80 something years and in one years time - it's gone bye bye.......I'm speaking from a personal experience - I'm not even going into the legal stuff that caused the collapse - that's a whole 'nother ball game!!!! :) The hardest thing was the connection that the Andersen employees had with one another - - it can't be replaced......it can't be taken away either.....I found that out this weekend. Even though 7 years has passed us by - it was like we had seen each other yesterday....

So many of my friends were there......Suzanne Alexander, James Chvatal, Richard Pollock, Phil Davis.....just to name a few...........we had a blast!!!! I laughed, I cried, I was inspired, I danced, I sang.....it was so much fun.

It wasn't just a reunion - there was a business side of it too for those that work.... there were meetings and break out sessions on different business aspects..........none of that really applied to me as I just went back to work part-time in August - BUT, I didn't go for that part......hehehe ......I went for social hour...LOL.......they also had various motivational speakers that were great and did actually apply to me!

One of our speakers was a former Andersenite.......John Blumberg. He is the one that puts the weekend together (with a team of his). He is contagious with his personality - he makes the room light up with is smile. Some people think that we go sit around and mope because Andersen is no longer around and that is so far from the truth!!! Check out his website at http://www.keynoteconcepts.com/. He is also a great writer -his book "silent Alarm" is a great read......and he has another book coming out soon.

There were a couple other speakers there - but one lady took the cake! Her name was Jackie Pflug......she was on an airplane in 1985 flying to Cairo,Egypt from Athens, Greece and her plane was hijacked!!!!! She was shot in the head and survived.........her story was AMAZING!!!!!! It makes you realize what is really important in this world and that you can survive anything that you are faced with. Check out her website and read her story - you will be amazed for sure!!! http://www.jackiepflug.com

Jake got to spend most of the weekend with his Nana as his father had to work on Saturday - but I understand that the "boys" had a great weekend........daddy took Jake out to eat (ok - it was just whataburger - but hey - it was not at home :) and they even went to church without me!!! LOL....that is a huge thing for my husband - to get up and get Jake dressed without me.......it was good for both of them. They both met me at the door on Sunday night when I got home..I'm not sure which one was more relieved to see me....LOL........Jake kept hugging me and telling me that he loved me and he couldn't believe I was home!!! too funny.....

Overall - the weekend was a great success and I'm looking forward to the next one! Now back to normal daily routines.......getting ready for Jake's valentine party on Friday at school - I have to stuff 22 valentine bags full of candy......such fun memories.........now, if only I could keep Jake out of the candy.........

love to all