Basketball on Ice
I made a last minute trip to Chicago this weekend. Friday I worked late closing the residence halls cause the students are GONE! Yeah... good times.

Saturday I came to Chicago. Just spent the day hanging out in their apartment. At one point Novi showed me out the window the United Center and how she went there to see Finding Nemo on Ice. I told her that was cool, and asked her if she knew that the Bulls play basketball there, her reply, "No, really? They can't play basketball on ice!" I was laughing too hard to try to explain to her how they cover the ice for other events.

We had a fun weekend. Sunday morning it was a short cooking lesson. Yes folks... I know how to cook, I rarely do it, but I do know how. Novali likes french toast and I told her sometime I would show her how to cook them. So we got up and prepped the kitchen. She also wanted a hard boiled egg like her abuela makes. Tamara helped by looking up directions and then we got to cooking. Novali and I make a good team. We made some french toast and hard boiled eggs, not the most common combo but she ate it all and was happy.

Sunday afternoon after lounging around the house we went shopping. Got some gifts for people at Target (Novi's favorite store) and then got some Puerto Rican food. After a feast of tostones, polo frito and arroz con gandules we went to Pets Smart. All her fish died this fall, so I wanted to score her some more fish, we start with just one. He is named after her past fish called Sky, so he of course is Sky 2.

Sunday night we chilled at the house, I watched a little football, made some dinner and got her ready for bed.

Monday I took her to school. I like getting to drop her off. I took the day off so I could take her to school, then drive to Michigan for my afternoon doctors appointment so not totally a vacation day but a break none-the-less.

The Doctor... well I have held off on posting it publicly for too many people but now I have to let everyone know. Tomorrow (Friday December 14th) I am having surgery on my back. I don't care to get into all of the details (its in the tailbone area) for my few faithful readers but it will knock me out for a few days. Anything on the back is hard and I am not looking forward to it, but I am looking forward to less back pain in the long run. So wish me luck in a speedy recovery, more so wish Heather luck as she will have to take care of me.

I apologize this week for not getting back with everyone. Preparing for surgery, wrapping up work projects, fraternity projects and everything else to be out of it for a while was hard work. I tried to cram in gift shopping, never even got cards sent and now its the night before... I guess my attempt to break my no-card steak failed. Argh... hopefully I will heal quickly so I can get on with some shopping.