A New Leaf?

Hello, again! So, yesterday attended a volunteer/tutor training and orientation at the American Indian Center here in Chicago. I have been thinking about volunteering as a tutor for sometime now and just recently learned about the Center. I will be mentoring youth from 5 years of age to 17! It should be a ton of fun and I hope it works out...more to come, I'm sure.

Also, two weekends ago, my brother, David, was in Chicago for a couple of days attending a conference for physcial therapy. We got a chance to hang out and even went to a White Sox game. Here are some pics from the visit! (note to self: add pictures!)

Happy New Years 2008!!!

After a very wonderful vacation back home in New Mexico for Christmas, William and I spent New Year's Eve @ our friends Janneke's and Jeff's house in Riverside, Illinois. Ken P., Nate, Stephen, and Janneke's friend from Holland (Peter) were also there. Here a few pics...

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!

Last night Chicago had its first real snow storm and we got ~4-6 inches of snow! Here are a few pics from outside our apartment.

Wow! CGMC sings @ Wrigley Field!!!!!

Yes...this is a very delayed posting as will the next 10 or so entries! Oh well!
Anyway, back on September 22nd, the Chicago Gay Men's Chorus (CGMC), of which both William and I are a part of, sang the National Anthem for the Chicago Cubs game in front of ~30,000 people! It was quite an amazing experience (this was the chorus' 4th time singing @ Wrigley Field and my 3rd year participating). The crowd went wild at the amazing sound that we made (~125 of us) and right at the end of our singing there was a fighter jet fly over...timed perfectly! Here are some pics of us getting ready to sing and then enjoying the game afterwards.

Jeff, Janneke, Will, & Carla

Me & Nate!

Family and great Italian food...

Last night I met up with Will and his relatives for dinner at Anna Maria's Pasteria on Montrose and Clark St. Will's g-ma Nancy (his mom's mother) and her sister Shirley are in town until Saturday visiting Chicago. It also, just so happened, that Will's cousin, Brian, is in Chicago for training for his job. It was great to see Will's grandmother again... she is awesome. We have visited her a few times back in Vermont and have always had a great time.

The food was delicious, as always at Anna Maria's:
Chocolate Martini
Bruscetta
Fried Calamari
Pollo Picatta (lemon chicken)
Lemoncello

After dinner we took them back to our apartment to visit for a little bit before driving them back to their hotel downtown... a very pleasant evening overall!

Rosh Hashanah!

Last night we had the pleasure of celebrating Rosh Hashanah with Will's relatives in Northbrook, Illinois. Anita is Will's step-mother's close cousin. Her and her husband, Don, have a beautiful family: Rachel, Malia, and David. Anita's mother Char was there along with Anita's nephew Matan.
I always love visiting their family as they are so incredibly welcoming, fun, and just full of joy and love for their family and friends. I hope we can have them to dinner soon! Here are a few pics...