My name is Diane and my partner, Melinda, and I recently had a baby boy in September 2005 – Jackson Michael. We live in the awesome city of Chicago with our two dogs, Chelsea (older, high maintenance, pure bred, beagle) and Gracie (younger, low maintenance, stray, lab mix). We also have a house in Michigan that gets us out of the city fairly often. Jack is a lucky boy – two Mommies, two dogs and two houses.
I would like to say I had a unique upbringing but that would be someone else’s blog. I was born and raised a Catholic Democrat in Chicago. How exceptional! I love Chicago. Never have left and probably never will leave. I remain a Catholic although the institution of the Catholic Church continues to challenge me every day. I wish the church was as open, loving and empathetic as some Catholics I know. I also remain fairly liberal. I tend to like the guys in the jackass party – er, I mean the donkey party.
I am a stay at home mom (SAHM). I love staying home with the little man but hate referring to myself as a SAHM because it seems to still have negative connotations with some people. In a previous life, I was in commercial real estate and mortgages. It was an exciting, fun time - travel, meetings, investment bankers, dinners with clients, blah, blah, blah. I rarely miss it. However, I sometimes get the impression from others that my prior work had more worth than what I am doing now. I obviously don’t agree.
Ten years ago, I would have never dreamt that I would be leading a fairly open life with my partner and having a baby surrounded by family and friends. Society has changed dramatically and I’ve changed even more. Having a baby in a same sex relationship was the most difficult decision I had ever made and of course, the best. What was all the angst about anyway?
I love music and am addicted to my iPod and iTunes. I travel as much as I can. I love dogs, movies, gardening, TiVo, peanut butter, coffee, photography – not necessarily in that order.
dit•ty ('di-tE) noun - Latin dictare to dictate, compose; an especially simple and unaffected song
This website is about Jack and Diane. The simple, unaffected song of our lives.
