I posted this entry on my profile at the www.29gifts.org website. If you wanna friend me or join me on what will prove to be an incredible journey, please check it out at: www.29gifts.org/profile/davidkav ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ VERY early start to my day today. I rose out of the futon after about one hour of sleep or so. I never fare well when I have to work a 1st shift. Not since the one time last June when I didn't read my schedule closely and thought that I worked a 2nd shift when, indeed, I was scheduled to work a 1st shift that day. Of course, I got a voice message along with a message on Facebook asking as to where I was. THAT was the latest I had ever been to work. I was 3.5 hours late for my shift that day. From that moment on, with my iPhone, write-up, my O.C.D, I made sure that that was the first and the last time it happened. Moving on... I snoozed (per usual) and didn't rise out of bed until 5:25AM. We have an automatic coffee maker (for which I am completely grateful for. I already knew that I would be a mess and would need all of the help that I can get.) I had my book for Morning Pages already out on my desk in the living room by the window. I pre-dated it the night before. All I had to do was head to the desk and to start writing. So, I rolled out of the futon since Beth Ann was stirring in her sleep again and I didn't want to wake her up. I got up in the pitch-black living room sans the spill from the streetlights and the skyline outside. I poured myself a cup of coffee. I started immediately on my meditation known as Morning Pages. Once finished, I got dressed, slammed a quick bowl of Raisin Bran, a yogurt, more coffee, a vitamin and headed out the door. After my ritualistic stop to 7-Eleven for the Super Big Gulp (was gonna need it today,) 2 bananas and the 1.5Liter of water (the drinking of the water the night before helped tremendously and, once again, I had learned my lesson,) I did grab a cab to work. What's one more day, right? Got to work at 6:40AM. Enough time to stumble into my suit and muster up all of the energy that I could for the day. The night before, I had talked to Beth Ann about going to the museum after my shift since Thursday was a bust. Lucky for her, she had another day off and was able to sleep in. So, she asked me if I could call her on her break today in order to a) wake her up and b) let me know if I was still up for going to the museum since she knew that I would be tired today. So, in mustering up energy, I had to pace myself since I really didn't want to come home and just shut down for the day. I actually had some time this evening to recoup from yesterday and didn't have to be at work the next day until 3pm. Somehow or other, I managed to get through the morning hours. I had checked emails, Facebook, this website, responded where I could, took care of reservations, phone calls, guests, etc. So, once 12:15pm hit, I took my lunch break and bolted out to an Irish Pub around the corner that does a really great Breakfast Buffet from 9AM to 1PM on the weekends. Since I don't work this shift very often (and I can go for breakfast food at ANY time,) I didn't have to think twice about today's lunch choice. I walk briskly outside with only my suit to wear (again, I reiterate what I have said from my previous blogs: It is ABNORMALLY warm this winter.) As opposed to "waiting for the perfect time," I instinctively call Beth Ann before I lose nerve and energy. "Hello." "Good morning, sunshine." "Good morning." "Good afternoon," I muse. "Good afternoon." "Are you just getting up?" "Umm, I'm still in bed but I woke up about 15 minutes ago." "Ok, then. Hey, I'm on my way to lunch. [I] wanted to let you know that I'm going to grab an energy drink just before heading back from my break. So, if you're still up for going to the museum, so am I." "Ok. Umm, if, for whatever reason, you change your mind, text me and let me know, ok?" "Ok. I'll talk soon. Love you." "Love you, too." I had just enough time to swallow down my glorious breakfast. I felt bad that I had no cash to tip either the guy making the omelette (they have a "Build-Your-Own-Omelette" station with a chef at the waiting,) Nor my waiter. I apologized to the latter, Miguel. I told him I'd have to get him next time. I can see his look of disdain on his face. It bothers me a little. However, I Have to forgive myself and just go. So, I did...and I do. There's my gift to myself today (or, one of them, in the Self-Love department. Also, working on my Gratitude List some more would help since I only came up with 10 items the last time. Joanna, if you're reading this, I lost the initial list. However, I KNOW that you would tell me, "no big deal. Maybe it's better because you can start another one." Message received.) :) I quickly head to 7-Eleven to grab a Monster Lo-Carb. Get to work. I battle through the next 2 hours. Success. I am wired, overtired, but I made it. Beth Ann calls me a few minutes after 3pm to tell me that she's at the museum. I call her back and tell her that I am getting out of my suit and I will meet her there. "So, why don't you call me and I'll look at a few things...." "What?" "Why...Don't....You....Call....Me...I'll LOOK .... at a FEW...things..." "You don't have to talk to me like I'm daft." "I'm sorry. No. I'm just severely stuffed up." "Aww. I'm sorry, dear. Well, I hurry as fast as I can." I head out to the Art Institute. We decided to go there not only because Thursday was a bust. We decided to meet there because the Art Institute is just 3 to 4 city blocks from my work. How convenient! I call her when I'm outside. "Hello. I'm at the Green Lion." "The what?" "The Green Lion." (For those who have seen the Art Institute and have visited it in the past, you can see the huge staircase in the front. You also know that it has 2 Green Lion in bookend fashion on either side of the staircase.) "Well, come in." I turn to my left and see her standing inside on the other side of the front door. She stands there in her cute purple plaid dress with her big black belt. Her hair is braided and she is wearing her glasses. She does her cute wave. I wave back. She does her cute wave again. I wave back. "You are SO CUTE!" I give her the biggest hug. From under my arms, I hear a sound from her that is likened to a steamer. I look down. She is laboriously breathing out of her nose. "Aww... You really are stuffed up." She nods. "This just happened right before I left." "You didn't feel this way during the night, did you?" "No. Just before I left." "I'm sorry, baby." "Wanna check in your jacket and bag?" "Yes." I go to coat check. Beth Ann checks both my belongings and myself in since she is a Member of the Art Institute and I am along for the day as her guest. Upon clearing the front gate, I say, "ok. So, what do you wanna see?" "Well, let's go to the touchscreen and see what there is." "Ok." In a matter of moments, Beth Ann points to the screen and says, "I wanna see that." We were both mesmerized by the view of Chagall's America Windows exhibit. In a matter of seconds, we were off. We had to go to the other side of the museum. As we walk, I hear Beth Ann's labored breathing. I'm feeling worse as we go but determined to make the best of this. We get to the exhibit. Beth Ann finds a seat and we sit down. I sneak in a picture of the glorious windows. After 20 seconds, Beth Ann breathes hard and says, "I need to get more Kleenex." She's not doing well at this point. She goes to a trash to take care of herself. She has to go to the bathroom. Just downstairs, by the restrooms, there lies the Member's Lounge. "Maybe if I get a cup of water..." "Ok. That's fine." Upon walking to the front door, she asks, "you've never been to the Member's Lounge, have you?" "Nope." (The Member's Lounge was built after My membership expired. Only got it once back in 2009 and haven't renewed it since I got it on a discounted price from Groupon a while back. With the few times that I have visited, I felt it wasn't worth it to renew.) Nonetheless, Beth Ann shows her ID and we're inside. I'm telling ya: The best accidents make for some great discoveries. The Member's Lounge is cool! Cushioned chairs in the center, couches in the middle, a bar at the other end of the room with Free Coffee, Free Tea, HUGE windows looking out into the outdoor patio (which was closed for the season.) I didn't mind this pit stop at all. "I was thinking about grabbing a coffee." "Ok. I should get something." They were out of coffee. Beth Ann couldn't find any hot chocolate. So, she grabbed a hot tea to make the most of it. "Maybe if I can breathe in the steam and the scent of the tea..." We grab two seats by the bar and sit down. I really didn't mind to sit since I've literally been on my feet the whole day. She was, again, struggling with her breathing. "You know, I'm thinking that you should probably put a very hot wash cloth or rag on your face to loosen up the sinuses." She nods in agreement. "Do you wanna go home?" She nods. "I'm sorry I'm so difficult." "What? You're not difficult. You're sick. No worries." "Well, give me a couple of minutes. If I feel a bit better, there's the other exhibit that we passed that I'd like to see before we head home." (She was talking about the Contemporary Drawings from the Irving Stenn Jr. Collection.) "Ok. Whatever you want. I'm going to take a few more sips of my tea and we'll go. It's a few minutes after 4pm now. Hey, we made it here today. We did see some exhibits, right?" She nods. "See?" She nods again. I take a few more sips of my tea and we leave. So, she did feel up to the Irving Stenn Jr. Collection. We both found some fascinating drawings. At 4:45 (15 minutes before closing,) we felt that it was time. We got our belongings, headed for the train station and we headed for home. En route to our place, I already knew that playing Nurse to Beth Ann was part of the giving today. However, it wasn't Today's Gift. "Hey, when we get home, we can watch whatever movie you want to watch." Her eyes and demeanor lit up. We don't agree in movies much - at all. "Really?" "Yep. Whatever you want. I'm taking care of you tonight." We get home. She changes into her PJs for the day (as do I since we both conceded that neither one of us is in ANY shape to go anywhere else today.) I turn on the tap to the hottest water that I can touch. I run a wash cloth underneath it. Beth Ann props herself onto the bed in our bedroom. I give her the washcloth, put her leftover pizza from Lou Malnati's in the oven, and prepare our movie. "Can we watch 'Secretariat?'" I cringed on the inside as my first reaction. Beth Ann has wanted to watch this for the past week now. I have been skirting around it since I didn't want to watch "another horse movie." However, THIS was the gift for today. "Sure." "REALLY?" "Yep. That's fine." We got her dinner ready. I got hummus, pita chips and my snack (still full from the big lunch from earlier,) got the movie ready and proceeded to watch. So, umm, for those of you who are participating in the 29-Day Giving Challenge (and even for those of you who aren't,) you know what has been said when it comes to receiving is inherently part of the giving process. I had no idea what I was in store for when I agreed to see this movie. A great cast to include Diane Lane, John Malkovich, Dylan Walsh and others is a great start to the surprises. Before seeing this movie, I really knew nothing of the true story that the movie was derived from. However, not only was it a gift to Beth Ann for us to watch this particular movie this evening. It was a gift to me as well for many reasons: The story line resonates with me Even If the main character was the horse, Secretariat. The horse was looked down upon as novice. The odds were stacked against him. Even the husband of the housewife who takes it upon herself to look after her dying father's farm, his horses and, ultimately, Secretariat (or "Big Red" as he's nicknamed throughout the film) was not supportive of her firm faith and belief in Secretariat at first. However, with Faith, Drive and all of the odds against them, Secretariat, won the Belmont and the Triple Crown - which was stated hasn't been done in years. The end of the movie is what floored me. Seriously, folks. My taste in films is very jaded and tainted. I am VERY CRITICAL when it comes to films. In short, it was Totally predictable and I KNEW that Secretariat would win the Triple Crown (that's akin to saying we KNOW that Jesus is going to be crucified when reading the Bible. It's a "given.") However, at the Kentucky Derby, after the great setup to get your blood flowing, the feel of the horses with the excellent camera angles, the look in the eyes of Big Red and his opponents, the race is off. I mean - you KNEW that Big Red would win. However, I did NOT expect him to win like we did. He didn't just win. He SMOKED the competition. No comparison. This is a horse that would ALWAYS start out of the gates last in other races. The Kentucky Derby is the farthest that Big Red had ever raced. He went against all odds and he won the race - not for anyone else...but himself. As foolish as this may sound for some, it completely resonated with me. Therefore, it wasn't just a gift to Beth Ann that we saw her choice of movie tonight. I received many gifts in return: The wonderful smiles on her face throughout the film, pinching her cheeks and cheering on Secretariat with her head in my lap during the film. Most importantly, the message from The Universe stating, "see, David? If you KEEP going, get past your obstacles and believe in yourself and surround yourself with loved ones, your success is waiting for you - better that you have EVER dreamed. It's there. Now - go get it!!!"