Category Archives: Family

A New Year’s Resolution – quite literally

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I was very excited for New Year’s eve this year. Last year, we spent it with Jock’s brother and girlfriend and had an amazing time. See examples below:

So, this year was MY sister’s turn! For Amanda, it had been her first time out on New Year’s for nearly 5 years – being a single mom, and then pregnant last year will do that to you. We also had a fabulous time. See examples below:

During all of this merriment, however, my purse was stolen. Those f&*%ing bastards!!!

Despite the club being a private club where Guillermo (my sister’s fiancé) knew 60% of the people inside, and despite the fact that we had a private table, someone yanked my purse from underneath my coat, and ran off with it. It gets worse – not only was my wallet, new Windows Phone and makeup in there, but Jock’s $200 Hugo Boss wallet with all of his cash and credit cards was in there as well. He never gives me his wallet to put in my purse when we go out out – so this stank even more.

We searched the club up and down for about an hour before we gave up, and decided it was a lost cause. I tried to rationalize – perhaps someone took the purse by accident, thinking it was their own. There was only one problem with that thought – my purse was BRIGHT orange. Jock’s brother had bought it for me for Christmas from Top Shop in London, and I highly doubt there was another purse in that club even remotely similar to it.

So, at 2AM, we went home, and suffice it to say – all that fun we had earlier in the night was sucked out by the fact that neither Jock nor I had a wallet, any money or any credit cards. You start thinking about the little things that you lost in that wallet when you’ve been violated like that – such as the lucky $2 bill that my best friend Courtney gave to Jock, or my USC student ID that never expires, and allows me to get discounts all over Europe, or the one pound coin that we found in our backyard in Bristol that dates back to 1882. The credit cards and ID’s can be replaced, but that kind of stuff can’t.

We called the cops, and I met with them the next day in Baltimore City. At first, they acted as if I were the suspect – asking me questions like, “Well, why didn’t you call us as soon as it happened?” Quenching the urge to cry and yell, “I didn’t steal my own purse, damn it!!”, I simply told them that Guillermo knew the owners of the club, and we decided to wait until the next day to see if it turned up because we didn’t want to waste the police officer’s time.

They liked that answer. We filed the report, they left for ten minutes to “search” for my purse, and came back with no answer.

THANK GOD Jock and I had just been abroad and had our passports in our suitcases, or else there is no way we would have been able to get on that plane the next day back to Chicago. And, as much fun as we’ve had over the last months, we were really ready to get back.

We got back home to Chicago, slightly depressed and really annoyed at what happened. I kept going over and over in my mind how it could have happened – there was always someone by the table, and my sister’s purse was right next to mine, but they didn’t take hers. Then, I decided I would be grateful for what I did still have, and tried to make myself feel better by realizing that it was just a material object.

I kept checking our credit cards, and nothing had been charged. Jock urged me to cancel the cards, but I just had a feeling something might happen. I decided to just carefully monitor them.

Two days later, at 10:15am, I see a call coming in from a number I don’t recognize in Baltimore. My stomach lurches, and I have this feeling…..

MY FEELING IS RIGHT!!! A kind woman and manager of the Professional Arts Building three blocks away from the club (named Charmaine) has found my purse. I should say that the janitor found my purse in the trash chute, and handed it in to her. My business cards were in the purse, and she called me.

I couldn’t believe it!!! She said everything seemed to be in tact, and my ID and credit cards were all in there, as well as Jock’s credit cards. There was even cash in an envelope that my Grandmother had given to Jock as a Christmas present. When we received it two days later (thanks to my incredible sister and mom for picking it up), we saw that everything had been shuffled around, and actually, there was no cash nor any sign of  Windows Phone.

So, clearly, someone had stolen the purse after all. I just can’t believe the janitor found it in the trash! The likelihood of it being buried under something, and never being found is quite high. I feel so lucky. You can laugh all you want, but I truly believe I have a guardian angel watching over me.

My thoughts before the purse being sent back: 2012 is going to be a really shit year.

My thoughts after receiving purse in the mail: 2012 is going to be the best freaking year of all time – I’ll get a book deal, a movie deal, and SocialKaty will become the best social media marketing company in the country! I’ll get engaged, grow my hair really long, and get in kick-ass shape. Hell yeah – bring on 2012!!!

Clearly, I was very excited. I know it seems crazy, but this has made me truly remember how good people can be (and how bad), but mostly how good they are. What a whirlwind of a week.

What are your goals for 2012? And do you have any crazy stories from the holidays??

Wedding Highlights, Part 2

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It started with a country road.

And ended with a roast dinner at “The Snooty Fox Inn.”

Somewhere in the middle, we slept in a loft on Knowles farm, got lost for over an hour and a half on other country roads in Wales, watched as the most lovely couple in the world walked down the aisle to exchange vows, toasted champagne, listened to a doting father boast about his beautiful daughter on her wedding day, ate the best paté in the world, danced in heels til our feet got swollen and took some pictures in a fancy dress photo booth (images below to prove it).

And no, we won’t talk about another bouquet landing at my feet – because, my God, that would just be RIDICULOUS!

One bouquet at a wedding thrown in my direction. Fine. Second bouquet at a second wedding, I’ll admit, I may have dove for it.

But a third bouquet??

I stared at it as it sailed past all the hopeful bridesmaids, the bitter friends and the gleeful wives (yes, there were some wives mixed in – hoping for another marriage?) towards my head on the far right side of the hill. I summoned all my telekinesis power to inch it in another direction so as not to look the desperate fool that I apparently am becoming at weddings. But alas, I stepped an inch away, and the darn bouquet landed at my feet…AGAIN.

Jeers and bewilderment from the crowd as they didn’t understand my torture and embarrassment. What woman could dare step away from a bouquet coming towards her head, they all thought to themselves (some said out loud). Surely, had they known, they would have pushed me out of the way themselves – thinking Selfish Cow, how many bouquets do you want to steal from other women??

As the bouquet smashed to my feet, I unwillingly picked it back up, and tossed it back to the bride. “I’ll have another go,” she yelled back, catching it, and smiling in understanding. I nodded modestly, and picked up a loose rose, tucked it in my ear and watched as she expertly tossed it to her willing sister in the front row.

The rest of the night I fielded many questions as to why I let the bouquet go astray, and I understand! What single gal wouldn’t want to catch it? Well, I have my pride! And as a three-time bouquet catcher, I will not be marred as the “one who hogs the wedding bouquet spotlight.” No, it’s time to let the other women shine, and let them hope that they might be the next to get that ring on their finger. I’ve had my time.

Time to sip some more Jameson.

The rest of the wedding couldn’t have been more perfect. Her lacey dress was glamorous, sophisticated, modern-yet-vintage and they both were glowing.

The ceremony was in a church that only holds one wedding per year (hence why Gini from our bed and breakfast referred to it as “The Wedding”), and the sun shone the entire day. Everyone was in great spirits, dancing the night away to a live band crooning out oldies to the tones of Marvin Gaye and James Brown, and mixing cider with beer with champagne and shots. Gemma thought of everything – her attention to detail was impeccable.

Besides the cab getting lost on the way back to our farm house, and taking nearly an hour to find it – it was an incredible time. I’m so so happy for Gemma and Liam.

These type of weddings make me believe that true love is possible, and will last.

Plus, it was so great to be able to catch up with Jock’s family. I do miss them all, as I know he does as well. Little Olivia (Jock’s third niece) has grown up so much in a year! She’s walking and babbling, and I swear she said “Meagan” once! Ok, maybe it was more like “Magum.”

We picked up his other nieces from school a couple of times, and I love seeing them growing up to become wonderful little girls. At one point, the middle child, Grace, said to me – “Can you hear yourself speak? Do you know you are speaking like an American?”

Perspective

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The weather is still cold. But I have a new perspective since my last entry – I think it’s the buds that are newly, well, budding on the trees. Last week that wasn’t the case.

Flooding in Ireland 2010

 

And maybe it was seeing my girl Angel from high school on Monday. She’s shooting a pilot for a new MTV show, as a recurring role – and producing and finishing a script she has been working on for a couple of years.

And maybe it’s this guy from college who I know named Nathan who is crashing on our couch tomorrow night. He left his job and is now traveling the country by bus or by coach, by hook or by crook, by couch and I’ll vouch – because he wants to.

And maybe it’s the fact that my coworker is now back in the office after a month of being absent, keeping a strong face and a smile in her eyes, diving headfirst into her work – despite the fact that her mom just passed away a few weeks ago.

And maybe it’s my grandmother who is forced out of her condo because of the housing crisis, and at 79 years old, she is shrugging and says that she’s gotten over worse things than this in her life. She’ll pack up and go if she has to.

Or my other grandmother who is wheelchair bound for the rest of her life, but is learning how to use Skype, write newsletters for her community and is battling against her body’s desire to lean to the right.

Maybe it’s my boyfriend who may never be able to play soccer again or run another marathon – his two passions in life – because of an injury last fall, but who exercises and does physiotherapy everyday in order to make it stronger, and has never once complained…because he will run again despite what the doctor’s may say.

Or my Godfather who battled cancer and won.

My father who was unemployed for two years, but somehow survived going from extreme highs to extreme lows, and now has landed an incredible job.

My mother who was unemployed for two years, but somehow survived, landed a job and is fighting everyday to make herself better, and who picked up drumming in middle age.

You get it.  We all have stories like this.

And it is the people around me who inspire me, remind me to shut the hell up and stop complaining about the weather because – damn – I am one lucky gal. And they are all fulfilling their life goals…and that’s incredible.

I am awake in May…despite the 40 degree temperature outside, and realize that maybe I could be inspiring too…if I remember to be.

P.S. remember that little series I did called “Interview with Fam” Series? Well, one of my readers (and now a friend), did one of her own! Claire Morris is “Ooh La La English Demoiselle” and here is her interview with her uncle. Thank you so much Claire for taking my proposal seriously.

My favorite part of the interview:

2. What is your most fondest memory?
My father is still alive but suffers from vascular senile dementia. At 92 years old he lives in the dementia wing of a residential home. My fondest memory is from taking him on his last visit to his home town in Germany a few years ago and having him show me the house where he was born.

Christmas in Baltimore

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The last two years I have been in England for Christmas. This year, I got blessed in so many ways – one, my sister gave birth to 9 lb. 10 oz baby the day before I returned home. Little Xavi (pronounced Zavi) Andres was born on December 22nd, 2010. (Can you imagine being born in the year 2010?)

Plus, I acquired a new family. Xavi’s father’s family joined us for Christmas Eve and Christmas dinner. Our families just melded in a way that seemed natural. It helps that we know most of the same people, we grew up in the same area and we’re all around the same age (our parents, his sister, him and my boyfriend). As hard as it is for Jock and I to have to flip flop Christmas between Portsmouth, England and Baltimore, Maryland, we’re lucky because both of our families make Christmas so special. I missed the McEwan’s of course, but it was so incredible to be with my family.

Oh, and this was probably my second white Christmas ever. Everything just felt special.

Brayden (my 6-year old nephew) and I saw Santa Claus and his sleigh flying toward the house before his bedtime. Santa even left him a special bell under his bed.

And, I can’t even say how great it was to see his excitement at getting a Wii.

Now, we’re back in Chicago waiting for Jock’s brother to come visit from New York. He was supposed to be here yesterday, but his flight got canceled due to snow (just like our first flight got canceled due to wind). Let’s hope the weather cooperates tomorrow morning.

Interview with Your Fam – A Proposal

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I’d like to make a proposal.

Seeing as it’s the holiday season and the focus is about family, I’d like to stretch out to other bloggers and the world in general, and entice people to connect with one family member. This one family member is someone you’re curious about; someone whose story needs to be told. Someone you love and perhaps know a little bit about, but don’t know everything that you’d like to.

For readers of my blog, you may know that last year I did a series called “Interview with the Fam.” Somehow it didn’t occur to me that others would want to use this idea, until my friend Jessica Asch mentioned that that series had inspired her to begin interviewing her grandparents before they died, to get to the bottom of their love story and, in turn, find out more about where she comes from.

So, she (and Charlie O’Shea who wishes to help others tell their story once he retires) are my inspirations for putting this out to the world.

There are no requirements, but here are a few ideas:

1. Write down 5-10 questions that are pertinent to their life, that you have always wanted to ask, but didn’t know how and/or ask them to tell a story about their childhood.

2. Make the questions open ended. You don’t want them to be able to answer it in one or two words.

3. Dig deep. Make this important to you and it will make it important to them.

4. Record it on a voice recorder or get them to respond via email or letter so you have it. 

5. Post it! Share their stories with the world (unless you want to keep it private, then by all means)

Then, please post a link here once you’ve finished (whether it’s private or not). It will be so great to hear what your family members come up. Who knows, there may be a book out of it.