After a rough end to 2008, 2009 is set to be a turbulent year full of highs, lows and will require a lot of patience and an open mind to innovative ideas.
The new year dawned with everyone across Chicagoland and the United States hanging on to their job, their house and their stocks for dear life. The economy was not looking good and everyone was turning to our incumbent president Barack Obama for a quick-fix solution. Despite Obama’s quick and careful cabinet selection and pending legislation, it will be months or even years before our economy really sees a turnaround.
Speaking of Barack Obama, the United States is looking forward to changing history tomorrow by inaugurating our first black President who is already hard at work to try to change the country for the better. Tuesday, Feb. 20 will be a day not soon forgotten and one that has been a long time coming for the United States and the State of Illinois.
Speaking of the State of Illinois, Rod Blagovich, our current governor, is treading on thin ice as his impeachment trial gets underway. After several weeks of completely ignoring the nationally-released audio tapes that implicated him of multiple accounts of corruption and going on with his normal every day life, he shocked the nation as he appointed Roland Burris to take over Barack Obama’s Senate seat at the close of 2008. He has continued his antics by refusing to step down and swearing in the same government officials that will work on his impeachment over the next several months.
Burris, refusing to step down from the appointment, has caused a stir in Washington in regards to whether he should be seated after Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White’s initial refusal to sign Burris’ nominating document. Probably to save face for any possible shred of decency left in Illinois’ government sector, White finally signed the document last week that allowed Burris to be seated in the U.S. Senate.
If the economy and government were enough for Illinois to handle, Chicago is in the midst of one of the snowiest winters in 30 years and the coldest in 15 years. Seriously the news reported our neighboring town of Aurora at -30 degrees ACTUAL temperature and -50 degrees WINDCHILL last Friday (1/16) morning. So needless to say, I’m second-guessing my choice to move back to Chicago this past year…
The weather has brought more than just miserably cold mornings and required at least 3 layers of clothing on every part of my body; it’s brought a lot of ice and car accidents. Unfortunately, a close co-worker was involved in a very severe accident last Thursday. Luckily, another co-worker saw his car at the accident scene on her way to work and when he didn’t show up 40 minutes later, called the hospital to discover he was in fact brought in. After heading over to the hospital, two co-workers were able to get in touch with his parents and fiancé who immediately rushed to meet him. We all prayed as the news seemed getting worse – a removed spleen, kidney, shattered pelvis and broken ribs. The following day brought much more positive news – the surgeries went well, he was being closed up and the doctors’ were impressed with how well he seemed. He continues to improve but his condition is still serious. He is a great guy with a very promising future, so please keep him and his family in your prayers over the next couple of weeks.
In a much less serious and traumatizing ice-related incident - I was on my way to the train station at 7:15am for my Saturday class in the Loop and despite my rush, was driving fairly slow down the neighborhood streets since the snowplows and salt trucks often forget us in unincorporated Naperville. The road curved and I turned my steering wheel, but my wheels kept going straight taking me right into the ditch. The good news - no damage to my car, myself or anyone else save a dusting of needles that I dragged off the nearby pine tree. The bad news – I needed a tow truck to get me out. After my mom came in her car to wait with me for the tow, I noticed movement in the house who’s side yard I was in. Being a nice person, I walked up to the door to explain the situation, let the homeowner know that a tow truck was coming and give her my business card just in case she found damage to her lawn. I felt a little better learning I was the second person this week to end up in her ditch, until she called the cops. Long story short, I made it to my class an hour late with a safely towed & working car returned to my driveway and a police report waiting for me at home. BUT I am very thankful that it wasn’t much worse.
In the upcoming week, my mom is undergoing some surgery so please pray for positive results and a speedy recovery!
So far 2009 has proven to be chaotic, unbelievable and an emotional rollercoaster, but I still have high hopes for the coming months for the country, the economy, the State (and state) of Illinois, my co-worker, my family and myself.
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