Chicago

Last week I was able to go to the annual ACHE (American College of Healthcare Executives) Congress in Chicago for a few days. My friends and I decided to go a day early so we could see some of the the city, get settled into our hotel, and hunt down some good, Chicago food. Anyone who knows me can tell you how excited I get over eating really good, authentic, ethnic cuisine. Greek, Indian, German, Italian - it doesn't matter; if it's authentic...I'm happy. Regardless of what some might say, I am not a food snob, nor am I an elitist, I just appreciate good food. Let's leave it at that.

Fortunately, Omar, my good friend and fellow ethnic food aficionado, was accompanying me on this trip. Fortunate because Omar knows, as he always does, just where to take us to find the best Pakistani food. This guy knows every Kabob house and Pakistani restaurant from Washington D.C. to San Francisco. So, after a 30-minute subway ride and a short bus trip, we arrived at "Little Pakistan" in north Chicago. What followed was one of the best meals I have ever had the pleasure of eating! I know when I return to Chicago next year I'll be making another trip to north Chicago to one of my new favorite restaurants - "Sabri Nehari".

Anyway, the rest of the trip was a lot of fun and very productive. I was able to meet A LOT of HCA (the company I'll start with in June) people and have lunch with my future boss. It's always exciting and fun to be around other healthcare nerds and talk about the "business".

Chicago is a cool city and has a lot to offer. I hope that next year Rachel can join me for a couple of days.

Freezing at the Navy Pier

(From left to right) A.J., Jason, and Omar at Sabri Nehari

Happy St. Patrick's Day

St. Patrick's Day

Oh, my mother isn't Irish

And my father isn't too,

But today I feel as Irish

As the really Irish do.

For today I wear a shamrock

That is green in every way

And though I am American,

I am Irish -- for today!

In case you wanted to know about St. Patrick:

St Patrick - the storySt Patrick was born a Briton under Roman rule - the exact location of his birthplace isn't known but it was either the north of England or southern Scotland.In his teens he was kidnapped and brought to Ireland as a slave by Niall of the Nine Hostages, a famous king of

Ireland whose son Laoghaire was later to play a large part in Patrick's mission to convert Ireland to Christianity.Patrick was taken to Antrim where he was sold to a local landowner, Meliuc, who put him to work as a shepherd.For six long years Patrick lived upon the Slemish mountain with only his sheep for company. The land was bleak and the conditions harsh but Patrick found solace in the faith that his people had abandoned under Roman rule.

He prayed day and night to the Christian God who brought him comfort during this time.One night he heard a voice calling to him, telling him that the time had come to escape. It told him, "See, your ship is ready." Patrick knew that he had to travel south to seek the ship God had told him of. He travelled for 200 miles until he came to Wexford where, sure enough, a boat heading for Britain was waiting.Patrick approached the captain, who at first denied him passage. He turned away, praying for God's guidance. Before he finished the prayer he heard a member of the crew calling

to him to come with them - they had changed their mind and could provide him with safe passage home.Patrick did not seem destined to have an easy life - when travelling

home through Britain he was captured by a band of brigands, who returned him to slavery. Desperate, Patrick heard God's voice reassuring him that, "Two months will you be with

them."Sure enough, after sixty days in their company, God delivered him from their hands. Patrick then spent seven years travelling throughout Europe

trying to determine what his purpose on earth was. Eventually he came to the conclusion that he should study to become a true servant of God, taking his message

throughout the world.He first

studied at the Lerin Monastery, situated on an island off the Cote d' Azur. On completing his studies he returned to Britain as a priest. He remained in Britain until a voice came to him in a dream. He recognised it as the voice of the Irish, which begged him, "We beseech thee, holy youth, to come and walk once more amongst us." At this point, Patrick's purpose in life was revealed to him -

he would convert the Irish to Christianity.

(The cute door hanging is actually Rebecca's, it was the only step that Anna would sit on for me and it happened to be the most festive!)

Rainy Days

I think this is one of my all time favorite pictures of Anna. I took it sometime in February, but never got around to posting it. It was right after a big storm and we went out looking for puddles. The best puddle was actually more of a mud bog, but soooo much fun. I love the expression on Anna's face, so bright.

Here's some more moments from our splashing session:

Readers

I was downstairs working on some things and all of a sudden I realized the house was unusually quiet. Not usually a good sign, I headed upstairs to find out what inevitable mischief Anna had fallen into. Much to my surprise, this is what I found. Daddy and daughter were having a little read-a-thon together. I don't know that I could have had stronger feeling of love and gratitude for my family than I did walking in on this scene.