Ok, I promise that from now on, I will be better about posting. Again, I have a very good excuse for my lack- I had a meeting in Chicago for the last week and didn't have access to the Internet. Not that I would have told you much, anyway; mostly complaints about the noise, the amount of people and the city's obsession with revolving doors. It wouldn't have been all complaints, though. I stayed in the suburbs with my friends, Emily and Joey, and took the train in every morning. Before you gasp in horror, let me assure you that it's a commuter train, not the 'L' train (the elevated train that goes around the city of Chicago). I was surrounded by business people, students, and tourists- no homeless people, thugs, or gang members in sight. The shopping was great, too, and spent an afternoon shopping with my Jersey girl and came home with (another) new pair of shoes. Do you really expect me to travel to a big city and not come home with a new pair of shoes?

One very exciting thing that happened was that I received my BADO from the ASO (American Society of Ocularists). It stands for "Board Approved Diplomate Ocularist", and it basically means I have completed all of my educational requirements (tests, experience hours, and presentations) and am no longer an apprentice. I am now considered and associate, until next fall when I sit for my boards. I don't like to talk about that because it makes me throw up a little everytime I think about them. I had no idea I would recieve my certificate, as I was still waiting for my final exam to be scored. They present the certificate to you at the big banquet on the last evening of the meetings and, let me tell you, they should tell you ahead of time that you will be recieving something so that you are able to prepare and compose yourself. When they called my name I, quite loudly, said "Holy sh*t!" because I had no idea this was going to happen. I then stood up and discovered that my sweater, which was hanging on the back of my chair, was stuck on my zipper. The weight of the sweater began pulling the zipper down and my friend was frantically trying to disintangle it while also trying to keep my dress on. Keep in mind that everyone is watching me. As soon as I was free, I began my walk to the front and knocked into a table laden with serving trays. Thank goodness I didn't knock them over! It wasn't the most graceful award strut, but it certainly was memorable.

I came home Tuesday afternoon and, because of all the early mornings and late nights (mostly due to catching up with Joey and Emily) took a nap. Art took care of Ringer (my parents' dog as they were in Chicago attending meetings as well) and he and Buddy must have missed me terribly because they decided to take a nap with me- to Art's chagrin as they both shed all over the bed. Art actually vaccumed the bed later.