This has been a busy year. So busy that my blogs have been few… and honestly, that’s the entire sentence. Few. That’s it. That’s the update.
But, as is tradition, I recap everything at the end of the year—so buckle up, grab a beverage, and let’s relive the adventure.
January
It’s hard to believe it’s almost been a year since we said goodbye to our sweet Stella. This was the one. The loss that absolutely wrecked me. Stella was the dog who wandered into our yard and just… never left. She outlived Buster and Wilbur (both taken far too soon), tolerated Louie with saint-like patience, traveled with us, glued herself to our sides, and somehow became the heartbeat of our home.
I’ve told her story a million times, and I’ll tell it a million more. I cannot hear “You’ll Be In My Heart” by Phil Collins without collapsing into a sobbing puddle. I can’t look at her photos without tears. I’ve built an actual shrine to her in our house and carry some of her fur in my wallet like a Victorian widow. I didn’t think I’d ever be right again. There will never be another Stella. She was the most special of them all.
On a slightly less devastating note, I started yoga. Yes, yoga. And no, don’t ask how long it’s been since I last went—remember, busy year. Shockingly, it helped. Not so much my joints, but my mind. Holding poses and focusing on breathing for an hour unlocked something emotionally feral inside me. The first few classes ended with me crying on the mat during savasana, which was alarming but also oddly incredible. Emotional detox via stretchy pants. I’ll absolutely be going back in the new year.
February
We saw Uncle Acid & The Deadbeats at Thalia Hall, and let me just say—what a venue. Cozy, intimate, perfect for doom-laced psychedelic rock. Uncle Acid is an English band I’d never listened to before, but my husband is a fan and I was instantly on board. The opener, Jonathan Hultén, was equally impressive with his ethereal forest-creature energy.
And then February ended. Just like that. Blink and you miss it. A recurring theme this year, honestly.
March
Early March brought a road trip to Detroit for a conference. Long drive, solid conference, and a firm realization that long drives are no longer my personality.
Then we headed to Vegas for the first time this year. Half the trip was for a workplace awards summit—which was fantastic. Panels, networking, Blue Man Group, and an awards ceremony at Zouk in Resorts World, which felt extremely cool. The hotel itself? Very nice. Almost posh.
Midweek, we switched to the Linq and… wow. Culture shock. We upgraded to a suite overlooking the pool, which meant nonstop bass and a DJ screaming encouragement into a microphone from sunrise to sunset. We laughed constantly at how absurd it was and how ancient it made us feel. Thankfully, we spent most of our time elsewhere—Dead & Co at the Sphere, the Neon Graveyard, and an amazing dinner at Circa on Fremont Street.
Fun fact: in 25 years of going to Vegas, we’ve never stayed at the same hotel twice. I’m thrilled to say the Linq is now permanently crossed off the list.
While we were gone, construction began on our primary suite. The bathroom was taken down to the studs—full gut job. Over the next several months, plumbing was rerouted, a massive shower replaced the old jacuzzi tub, a stand-alone tub appeared, and suddenly our bathroom looked like a boutique hotel. My favorite feature? The heated toilet seat. Honestly, we could’ve saved thousands if we’d just installed that and called it a day.
The bedroom upgrades—accent wall, fireplace, TV cutout—are spectacular. Living out of the guest room wasn’t too bad, and Louie didn’t seem to mind at all.
We wrapped up March seeing Kraftwerk at the Auditorium. One of my dad’s favorite bands, and seeing them felt like honoring him. Outstanding show.
April
Turned 55, which feels fake. Time feels louder now. Faster. I’m very aware the clock is ticking and it makes me want to pack life with experiences.
One guaranteed experience: OK Go at the Riviera. Always a blast. Confetti cannons, joy, chaos. Fun fact: the drummer and I went to the same high school. No big deal.
May
In May, I made a life decision.
I sold my Miata.
While driving my two-seater go-kart of joy to work one day, I realized “looking cool” was no longer worth the anxiety. I got almost what I paid for it two years earlier, so financially it felt like a win. Emotionally? I still miss it. It was thrilling, ridiculous, and impractical—especially during cicada summer—but suddenly I felt less safe driving it. Bank account and survival > zooming around. Still miss that little car, though.
Ministry played the Riviera touring The Squirrely Years—synth-pop throwbacks galore. Nitzer Ebb opened, which transported me straight back to college radio days. The energy was fantastic. Al Jourgensen… maybe less so. But still, a great night.
June
Biggest concert disappointment of the year: Lords of Acid at Bottom Lounge. Second time we’ve walked out. Even with earplugs, it was painfully loud. We weren’t alone—ran into another couple outside who felt the same. Love the band, but oof.
July
July was travel-heavy. We road-tripped to Ohio, starting in Cincinnati to meet up with a former Chicago Tribune coworker and catch Father John Misty at the Brady Center (swoon). Incredible venue.
Midweek, we headed to Cleveland, stopping at the National Air Force Museum—massive, fascinating, and very cool. We hit the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and ended the week seeing Ghost, and it was the first show we’ve attended where phones were locked away. Honestly? Loved it.
The following weekend, we flew to London—a bucket-list trip. Museums, neighborhoods, endless walking, and daily train rides. We saw Oasis at Wembley (we both cried, and we’re not even die-hard fans—just the magnitude of it). We also saw Cabaret at a small theater near our hotel. London? I’d go back in a heartbeat.
August
I had a table at the Elmhurst Public Library Author Fair, which reignited my writing spark—briefly—before life got busy again. Still planning to finish my novel… after the holidays… and after I get a new laptop.
We saw what might be the best Nine Inch Nails show I’ve ever seen at the United Center.
We returned to Vegas at the end of the month, finally staying at the Bellagio with a fountain-view room. I could’ve watched those water shows forever. The trip included Universal Unleashed (a year-round haunted house at Area 15), my first zip line, andThe Wizard of Oz at the Sphere.
Also: if Metallica plays the Sphere, I will be there.
September
Family trip to Orlando kicked off September. My sister found the perfect house—private pool, themed bedrooms (Mario, Jurassic Park, Disney Princesses), and… gators. Actual gators. They swam by daily, staring at us like we were snacks.
We hit Universal and Halloween Horror Nights hard. Walked endlessly. Rode everything. The new Universal park and the Harry Potter ride? Best ride I’ve ever been on.
October
We attended our second annual Chronic Con, hosted by Kevin Smith—aka the most genuine human on the planet. Live podcast, photos, swag, and just pure joy being in his orbit.
By mid-October, we finally moved back into our bedroom. Construction complete. Naturally, I immediately started thinking about what else we could upgrade, despite being very broke.
Then came something big in a tiny package.
After ten months of Louie reigning solo, we welcomed Fig. I’d been looking for a while but wasn’t sure my heart was ready after Stella. Then I saw Fig on the Angel Dog Alliance Facebook page and that was it. Three pounds of pure sweetness. He bonded instantly with Louie (to Louie’s mild horror), and they’re now inseparable.
Crate training? Failed. Potty training? Almost there. Sleeping arrangements? After two months of couch rotation, Fig now sleeps in bed with us and Louie. Best sleep I’ve had in weeks.
November
First date night since Fig arrived: we got a babysitter (my sister) and saw the Pivot podcast live at the Chicago Theatre. Kara Swisher is a national treasure. Scott Galloway is one of my new favorite humans. Love the show.
December
Last trip of the year was a solo one to Arizona. Coworkers, the Die Hard puppet show (still hysterical), lunches with former colleagues, hosting a dinner, and then an airport saga when my flight was canceled. Somehow, everything worked out and I made it home—straight into a foot of snow and Chicago winter misery.
The Wagner Center next door was demolished, making way for a new facility that will hopefully send our home value through the roof, since we won’t be here forever.
And that’s the year.
It flew faster than any before. Emotional, joyful, exhilarating—and full of moments that mattered. I’m already excited for 2026.
And yes. There’s a Vegas trip on the calendar. Of course there is. 🎲✨
BONUS CONTENT
Books I Read This Year with ⭐ Ratings (not a bad one in the bunch!)
Powerless - Lauren Roberts ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Way I Heard It - Mike Rowe ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
First Lie Wins - Ashley Elston ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Every Vow You Break - Peter Swanson ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Reckless - Lauren Roberts ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Every Last Secret - A.R. Torre ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Tailspin - Sandra Brown ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Onyx Storm - Rebecca Yarros ⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Blonde Dies First - Joelle Wellington ⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Storyteller: Tales of Life & Music - Dave Grohl ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Astrophysics for People in a Hurry - Neil deGrasse Tyson ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Throne of Glass - Sarah J. Maas ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Abundance - Ezra Klein ⭐⭐⭐
Crown of Midnight - Sarah J. Maas ⭐⭐⭐⭐
One by One - Ruth Ware ⭐⭐⭐
Origin - Dan Brown ⭐⭐⭐
Who Knew - Barry Diller ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Burn Book: A Tech Love Story - Kara Swisher ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Letter Slot - Owen King ⭐⭐⭐
Jackknife - Joe Hill ⭐⭐⭐
The Indigo Room - Stephen Graham Jones ⭐⭐⭐
Night and Day in Misery - Catriona Ward ⭐⭐⭐
The Blanks - Grady Hendrix ⭐⭐⭐⭐
My Next Breath - Jeremy Renner ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Getaway - Lamar Giles ⭐⭐⭐⭐
A Deal with the Devil - Elizabeth O’Roark ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Fearless - Lauren Roberts ⭐⭐⭐⭐
107 Days - Kamala Harris ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Legends & Lattes - Travis Baldree ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐