No whining.

I've been putting off blogging for about a week and a half because my mind is full whiny stuff, and I don't want to read it, so why should anyone else? So here goes ... a no whining post.

I spent the last weekend in April in Chicago at the Vermont Oxford Collaborative. There were several things that happened during the weekend that are worth talking about. First was my chance to visit with my friend Judy.

Judy lived in Baton Rouge about 25 years ago, and we were volunteers together at The Phone. We became good friends while she was here, and kept our friendship going when she moved to New Orleans. Once she went back to Chicago and we both got married and had kids, it turned into an occasional email friendship ... we tried to keep each other updated, but time sometimes slipped by without contact. Last summer Judy emailed to tell me and her daughter, Jordyn, were traveling to Baton Rouge for a wedding. We ended up reconnecting (and introducing our daughters to each other) and had a terrific time. She also got to meet Jeaux. I had forgotten how much I loved her quirky sense of humor, and the fact that it's pretty hard to say anything that she'll take the wrong way.

So when I found out I was going to be in Chicago I emailed her and we got to spend some time together. She took a day or two of vacation, and we spent the time drinking wine on her porch and talking about life, the universe, and everything. I got to meet her husband, Jeff, and visit with Jordyn some more. They're hoping to make a trip to New Orleans next summer, and I can't wait to have the chance to visit with them again.

When Judy dropped me off at my hotel I started calling to hook up with my team from Woman's Hospital. When we finally connected, one of the team members told me she had gotten tickets to see Wicked at the Oriental Theater. And not just "tickets" but front row center tickets!

What an experience! I read and enjoyed Gregory Maguire's book, but the stage production was more than I imagined. And when Galinda (played by Kate Fahrner) descended on her bubble, with four bubble machines going at full tilt, there were bubbles popping in our laps. That's how close we were.

There. No whining. And I even feel a little better after writing it.