Just in time for the reunion......

I went to law school to be a lobbyist, because I inherently like to study power and pack mentality and politics seemed like the right place to find a good subject. And find it I did, fighting along battles with a soft drink company during the obesity debate and with an alcohol company during some of the worst fiscal years in state government seen in decades. I have had a year at home away from politics and corporate America and while I miss some of the perks, I really don't miss it. I like being with my kiddos. Needless to say, as I began thinking about needing to go back to work, I could not fathom starting to travel again. Stationed in a non-state capitol as we are, a lot of my job was traveling to lesser known midwestern capitols to train contract lobbyists on the subjects that the company of the day cared about. It was fun, don't get me wrong. I spent time at the Laguna Miguel Ritz Carleton, Reynolds Plantation, Phoniecian, Ritz in Naples, Sea Island, The Broadmoor......and places like the Radisson in Fort Worth, TX, which is a bad town and chain regardless of where one stays. Every time I was in one of those places, though, at the end of the day, alone in a hotel room, I was lonely. It was, though somewhat glamourous, a lonely job. I want to make sure that I record these reflections because I may remember too fondly one day. To make a long story longer, I realize that I really am a homebody, married to a homebody, who has given birth to three homebodys. And so, I need to stay in town and work. And being at home, with the kiddos, giving them dinner and putting them to bed each night does not compare to going to a presidential Inaugeration or a suite at the Rolling Stones concert. I would much, much rather be at home.
I have been thinking about all the in-town, low travel jobs I could have over the last year. I thought seriously about not-for-profit leadership, as they are advocacy groups needing a visionary, but for some reason, cannot seem to make the leap from corporate to not-for-profit, despite my best intentions. I thought about a public relations agency, because I love campaigns, but also requires a lot of travel. I thought about marketing and community relations, but I am overqualified. And in the back of my mind screamed, TAKE THE BAR EXAM. I went to law school to be a lobbyist, but always thought I would eventually be a small town lawyer, have my own clients and hang out at the local courthouse. So, the day after Christmas in 2009, I began again. With J's assistance and a dedication of 5 hours a night and 8 hours a day on the weekends, I am thrilled to report that just in time for the 10 year reunion, I will be officially a member of the Illinois bar on May 6. And now we begin to worry about finding a job. But hey, at least we have the potential of having a job in the county seat here with great potential for growth.
In the pictures, Brookie and her first pigtails, Jack and Aunt Emmy, Jack and the Easter Bunny, Grandma and the crew at the neighborhood easter egg hunt.