IT IS FINISHED...

Today is Good Friday.  Despite the worldwide headlines about the Brussels attacks, it's important to be close to our friends and family this holiday weekend.  It's times like these that we should find ways to spread love to one another.  My mom mentioned to me the other night to pray.  "Evil cannot be in the presence of God', she said.  And she's right.  Although I don't mention my religious faith very often, I was raised in a Catholic household until I was about 8-10 years old.  It was then that my mom stopped taking us to church altogether.  During those years, she went through a divorce, which might explain her losing faith altogether.  I didn't put much thought into until I moved out of my mom's house when I was 20 years old.  My first live-in boyfriend was very spiritual, and it was from him that I started to have my religious awakening.
At first, it branched out of astrology, and then literature when I was in college.  Reading up on Socrates and Plato made me look beyond the box of a higher power.  As the years went on, my mom got married again to her 2nd husband, who become involved in a Christian church.  They both attended heavily and although I was skeptical at first, I noticed my mom's demeanor had changed dramatically.  We never had a great relationship in general, but things with her became easier to deal with now that she became a Christian.  Things were looking up.
After my last breakup, I became depressed.  Someone suggested going to church to let God hear me.   I figured why not.  I ran out of options.  I tried therapy and didn't enjoy the sessions.  I knew I had to heal on my own, but it was hard.  I felt completely lost.
Now that I try to have a better connection with God, I see things differently than before.  I am extremely grateful for the things I've discovered about myself and about HIM as well.  Despite someone's beliefs, I feel everyone has the same message for one another.  To Love.  To be kind.  And to make the most of our time here on this earth.
Last Friday, I had dinner again at Union Sushi.  Since I was still observing Lent, we figured sushi was the way to go!  I love that place!  We had a great time, and even got a limo ride that night.  lol.  It was pretty cold so it was nice to cruise in style.  Too bad I couldn't join in on the festivities.  Everyone was going out afterwards, but I headed on home.  I can't wait to see how much money I've saved by the end of this month.  I think I did pretty good!

LOVE the skinny geisha cocktail!  Definitely one of my favs...

Selfie time!

King crab!

The only place I eat oysters...

sashimi

Of course, rolls were involved...

Tried the alligator rib, but I think I broke the Lent rule.  YIKES!

Traveling in style.  Had fun while it lasted before I headed home for curfew.  I'm proud of myself...

A sad time indeed...

I've been MIA these past few weeks due to illness.  Nothing serious, I swear.  Just didn't do much because of it.  I've been suffering silently on my own. 
Obviously the attack in Brussels has brought me down.  What a sad time indeed.  Terrorist attacks are more frequent and horrifying.  What is impossible to imagine becomes possible.  Our fellow man has troubled thoughts and wants people to suffer.  No one wins ever.
Throughout time, we've seen acts of evil over and over again.  As we approach this holiday weekend, I am reminded that evil has existed as far back before biblical times.  Our world has been troubled before, and like all things, we do our best to move forward.  Is it hard to imagine living in a peaceful world?
I believe it CAN be possible.  But then something like this happens again, and my heart breaks.  Yet despite the tragedies, the world does suffer as a whole.  It affects everyone.  I know we can do better.  I know we can love one another.  It's hard especially with the elections taking place here in the U.S.  The ugly truths, the misleading lies.  I have a hard time believing anyone nowadays.   


To recap events leading up to the past few days:
About two weeks ago Chicago celebrated St. Patty's Day with an all weekend celebration.  The annual dying of the Chicago river brings out thousands of people to the downtown area.  Thus, every bar in town had some sort of St. Patrick's Day theme going on.  Regardless, I missed out in the fun.  Prior to that, I've been feeling under the weather.  That day in particular, my head was pounding with yet another migraine.  It could be allergies.  It could be my body is going through some changes.  All I know is that I've been miserable and I hate it.
People around me have been getting sick as well.  It's this crazy weather and it makes everyone vulnerable to colds and viruses.  Not to mention, when you're sick it drains you.  I've had no energy to do anything whatsoever.
I'm doing good with my financial diet!  I can't believe Easter is almost here and Lent will be over soon.  I'm proud to say that my credit cards look better than they did early in the year.  I feel pretty confident with my financial goals. 

I tried my best to smile but I had a migraine while I took this picture.  I never got a chance to celebrate.