A day in the life of

ME! or at least 36 hours or so. In bulleted form:

• Saturday night while having a few drinks B and I thought that instead of braving the cold and snow to hit up a bar we would fire up my little fireplace. I've been putting off trying it out because I was very afraid of smoking up the apartment and I thought with a guy around that if something were to happen I'd have a little more help than just me and Chloe. So we went for it and it worked!!! Ended up having a fantastic fire and hanging out!!! And nothing burned down!
• On sunday B and I decided to check out the Musuem of Science and Industry. I've heard really great reviews about it and have wanted to go there for awhile but it's a good size trek out to where it is. So of course we chose to go on a day where the temps were below freezing with the wind, but hey! We like a challenge. While there we also took in an OmniMax, The Wild Ocean. It had been awhile since I had been to an Imax or anything so I was very excited. It was pretty good except for the fact of being rather unclear in the message it wanted to send. It kept switching from telling a story about sardines and their paths to talking about an area in Africa called the Wild Coast to trying to promote the environment and how to be greener. So needless to say, cool to watch but I sort of feel like whoever put it together was on acid.
• After the MOSI we went out for drinks because we love our drinks! Haha ended up choosing a random spot in the Loop and proceeded to get DRUNK! You know that feeling when you're sitting for awhile and drinking, eating, talking so you're not really thinking about how much booze you're consuming and then when you head home you are waaayyy more drunk than you ever thought?? Yea well that happened to me last night! haha After making it home (didn't feel the cold at all!) I had just gotten in the front door and my downstairs neighbour told me that pipes had burst in the basement and could I bring the technician guy down there because she was having trouble locating her keys. Now let me tell you. I had never seen what happens when a pipe bursts, obviously it's pretty easy to imagine, but the basement was a complete puddle!!! And my poor bike that was in our storage locker had had water sprayed on it and they were all little ice drops!!! So sad. But I digress. After wading my way through 3 or 4 inches of water the man told me that we had 5 pipes that had burst! yes 5. We have no idea why or but assume that someone accidently left the door open.
• Finally in my tipsy/drunken state I made Chloe come with me to let the guys across the hall from us know why they didn't have water and we finally met our neighbours!!! We have lived in this apt for close to 6 months now and still had yet to say hello to them. Whats even weirder is that we have only seen one of the guys in passing and he is incredibly awkward and then another guy came to the door who I have NEVER seen before, and we didn't see the other guy who I've seen like twice. So now we are officially confused who lives there. But we did find out that the incredibly awkward guy is Bulgarian which was one of his reasons for being weird I guess. Random!
• Needless to say it was a very interesting weekend, interesting and awesome! But now I have to figure out where to shower!!! haven't since sat. yea my hair looks awesome. And do a million things before I leave on wed, but of course I also am working long hours to make up for taking vacation off between xmas and new years. So gonna be a busy next couple of days. Totally worth it though!
• Lastly, I am finally in the Christmas spririt! Lets bring it on baby!

I think I like writing...

I started this blog for a number of reasons, most that I don't even care to state because they are complicated and numerous and it would be too frustrating to put down into words. But I also began it because I find myself wanting to write when I feel like I have too many emotions or feelings in me and have an urgent need to get them out. There are a number of ways I have found to do this but as I have stopped swimming and can tend to get sick of crying I thought maybe by routinely expressing my feelings I could keep it from being such a build up to a huge explosion. And on the plus side of that I could potentially better my writing skills and become more comfortable with sharing my writing with others. 

I have taken a week or so off because I ran out of things to say and I also stopped just writing without thinking so I started thinking what people might think of what I am saying. And I dislike wondering because I am quick to assume the worst. This is both in a storytelling sort of way and a grammatical way. I make up words and I like it! But practice makes perfect and the fact is, this is my blog so if someone doesn't like it or doesn't like what I write then they will hopefully not be back and I can just delete all negativeness! I think!!! just to make that the most prominent word in this paragraph. 

Ironically enough as well I talked to my grandmother today about what she would like for christmas. We are both alike in that if we want something we buy it so I knew I could go out and get her a scarf or something and it would be fine, but it wouldn't really mean much to either of us. So I thought why not ask her. And what she said would be nice would be something I had written. Well lo and behold!!! Yes I have just started a blog, I can print those off and show them to you* and I can write something slightly personal to you as well. I am not being that lazy in her present! (Mom and Tomasen do not show her! I know you are having fun in NYC starting tomorrow but don't!) haha. 

So to pull all this rambling together after talking to her I got motivated to write a couple posts as well as I had just decided that I needed to stop worrying what people think about my writing. I'm not perfect, I don't write perfect, and I will get better. I may just have to suck at first to get there! 

*I say print them off because there is no way she would get online and read my blog there! haha

Thursday Night Revelations

On Thursday night the roomie and I went to The Funky Buddha. It was a unique and HUGE place with fun decorations and colors all over the place. The night was supposed to be a show of live performance art so there were a couple different rap/hip hop groups who were performing, an artist painting live, and something I didn't know about at the beginning...a breakdancing group! 

Growing up in Nh and attending an engineering school in Mass meant that I have never before seen breakdancing live. Of course I've watched movies with it and music videos, but after watching it last night I realized that I legitimately had never seen it live. Needless to say it was so fun to watch these guys. The moves and speed with which the dance is done blows me away. I always find when I work out that my problem is that my body physi

cally can't move at an extremely accelerated pace. I attend this one class where the instructor makes us do exercises in double time and it is impossible for me to keep up! Then you add in weights....it's not a pretty sight. It's so exhausting to me and I know that if I tried and worked up to it I would probably be able to do it, but I just don't think its me. Haha I truly think my body make up does not allow for rapid quick movements. 

Watching these guys dance made me wonder where breakdancing came from and how the heck people learn how to do this without hurting themselves. I mean they spin on their heads!!! So now the history is; James Brown created a dance called the Good Foot which consisted of a lot of fancy and quick footwork. It was popular amon

g young athletic men and slowly morphed into B-Boy dancing and than break dancing. Presently it is called old-school break dancing because it does not contain any of the crazy moves like head or back spins, windmills, hand glides, etc. After this dancing became popular it was commonly used by gangs in new york city where they would have dance-offs instead of fighting. Kind of cool that a dance would be able to replace what is needless fighting in my eyes. Of course these dance-offs did not always stop fights and in turn could lead to an even more intense battle between the groups. But you can't win em all.

Old-school breaking was popular until the Freak took over. It then made a comeback a few years after that, but with a more acrobatic and unique twist. This meant that included into the fancy footwork that breaking was so well known for were flips and twists and the use of the whole body. This became what most people picture when you think of breakdancing. 

I've always loved to watch people dance. All different types have their own characteristics and qualities that make them different and special. When a person is a really good dancer they have a fluidity and grace that makes me very jealous of their abilities. And even in something as jerky as breakdancing they make it look so effortless. 

So I'm now on a mission to find out where more breakdancing groups perform and the roomie and I are going!!! So excited!

Not a fan...

Watching tv tonight there was this commercial where there are two turtles sitting in a movie theater and there is a guy sitting right next to one of them who is getting annoyed because this turtle is just chatting away about the previews. 

Now I could not tell you what the hell this commercial was about because I just started cracking up. Roomie was looking at me like I was crazy, but it was so ridiculous to me that we have gotten so desperate in our commercials that we need to have talking turtles to convince the public to buy our products.

Like seriously, when people see that if they don't start dying laughing what are they thinking? Oh my god, I've always wanted a pet talking turtle. maybe if I get this (I really have no inkling of what they were selling) than a fun cool turtle will amble into my life and I'll have my lifelong friend. FINALLY! I mean commercials piss me off but I tolerate them because I understand that they are a big part of the tv industry I get sad when I think about how we have degraded to such a low level of talking animals to entice people to buy things. It's an insult to us, in my eyes.

 

And now after that, I need to convince myself to splurge for Tivo or DVR and relieve myself of having to view ANY commercials. Yet, that will not happen...tough life I live. 

Trials of Christmas

I always find Christmas shopping very hard. I can never think of the right present and then there are so many people I want to get presents. Because I love giving presents, I get such a great feeling when I give someone something that I know they are really going to like. But on the flip side I absolutely hate getting gifts that are useless and are just being bought becuase it's christmas or their birthday or some other reason.

To get around this fact I try to look for presents whenever I'm out shopping or in an interesting city, town, place so that I can keep those and have them for when the holidays come. And then everyone wins becuase I'm not the horrid bitch who isn't giving presents and I'm giving something that I am sure the recipient will enjoy. This year I didn't have anything like this because as much as that is my goal, I am actually very bad at thinking of christmas when it's july out. lol And the one gift I had this year was for someone who I am not giving a present anymore.

Regardless I have finally started looking into gifts and other than things for the kids in my family always find things I want and not gifts for others. So I spent all day yesterday shopping and I probably bought myself more things than I did others. AND I sent it to my home home because I don't want to have to pack it in my luggage when I fly home. So overall I have failed in the christmas shopping area and I still have loads to do. At least I can't mess up my girlfriends gifts as they are semi homemade. And thats all I"m saying.

yes I just wrote a post about buying myself things and not others, I am bad and it wasn't very interesting to read i'm sure, but it's all I got right now.

On other notes, insurance companies suck! Other than Geico who seem to be pretty good.

Happy Friday, 50 minutes left of work!

Simple Things I Heart about Chicago

My apt is on the corner of two quiet streets and every morning when I leave for work I walk out onto a gorgeous tree lined pleasant sidewalk. Whether it is good weather and the trees are in bloom or winter when snow is blanketing everything from the trees, cars, buildings, and sidewalks* I walk down the block towards the El and feel peaceful. Very rarely are there many more than 5 other people on my street at a time and mostly they are walking their dogs. So all in all it's a very homey comforting feeling.

But then I walk the one block down and around the corner is the city! Armitage street always has tons of things going on, buses and cars and numerous people walking to the El. You are instantly filled with the urgency and energy that cities have. "I must be going somewhere," "have to pay attention there are people all over the sidewalk." And recently, "don't walk to close to the edge of the sidewalk or the cars might splash puddles on you!" Lol.

I love the contradiction that exists within one block of my apt. Feels like I get the best of both worlds. And even though I was woken up last night by sirens screaming down my street that very rarely happens and I sleep soundly through the night. Love the city!

*For having snow most of the winter and being used to ice and rain Chicago does not take care of it's sidewalks very well. I have almost slipped and fallen numerous times and we've only been dealing with it for ~ two weeks!

Have you Ever?

I stole this from a new blog that I've just found From Sparkly to Single and got excited about it. The meme things I've seen don't always catch my eyes, but I'm excited about this one. So here goes.

Have you ever…

1. gone on a blind date? I have not. Not a lot of dating has occured in my life just one serious relationship.

2. skipped school? My highschool was private and if you were on the Head's List (similar to dean's list) you were not required to go to all your classes. So I would routinely skip probably one every other day. In college, of course but I was then left with a huge guilt trip because most of my classes in college were fairly difficult.

3. watched someone die? No. And I hope it stays that way.

4. been on a plane? Oh yes. I love love love traveling and am willing to go anywhere anytime. In fact I have never been on more planes in one year than I have this past 6 months and I'm not seeing that end.

5. been on the opposite side of your country? The farthest west I have been is New Mexico which is pretty far so we're gonna go with a yes.

6. swam in the ocean? For sure, but I much prefer freshwater. Unless of course I'm in the mood for body surfing. But truthfully I can't touch the bottom of the ocean becuase it freaks me out so much what could be down there.

7. had your booze taken away by the cops? I was walking home one night with a red solo cup and a cop stopped me, asked my age (I wasn't 21 yet), and made me pour the cup out. I then started bawling and sayign that my apt was right there (it was like 2 houses down) and he should just let me go home. Gotta say he def got more than he bargained for and was horrified once I started crying!

Side note: I had been having a very bad night and was just heading home to go to bed and forget it all. 

8. lettered in high school sport? Field Hockey baby! I actually hate running but my highschool didn't have a swim team and I was forced to play a sport.

9. cried yourself to sleep? Numerous times, crying for me is a release.

10. played cops and robbers? On bikes! But come to think of it I don't really remember the robbers being caught so I think we just chased each other around. We def called it cops and robbers though.

11. sung karaoke? Not ever at a karaoke club, that is a goal of mine but def other times, couldn't list them now for some reason.

12. paid for a meal with coins only? Ummm can't say I have. Coffees, bagels, things like that that cost under $5.

13. done something you told yourself you wouldn’t? Ummm I feel like everything I've done in life has been something I wouldn't think I would do. Go backpacking and dogsledding junior year of highschool, going to an engineering college, moving to Chicago and leaving my friends.

14. cheated on an exam? Yes but I wouldn't consider it cheating as it was always just working with the person next to me. I only ever needed to get help on math and engineering tests where you are just bouncing ideas off one another. So in my mind it's not cheating but I guess technically it is.

15. made prank phone calls? Nope, never understood those.

16. laughed until some sort of beverage came out of your nose? Never had the nose situation, but I've definetely laughed so hard I had to spit out whatever was in my mouth.

17. caught a snowflake on your tongue? One of the best things about snowstorms!

18. watched the sunrise with someone you care about? Oh yes, but to be truthful it was always when I had not gone to bed yet. Mornings are not my friend.

19. been kissed under the misteltoe? Nope. I have never actually had anything to do with mistletoe.

20. ever been arrested? No, and knock on wood, cross my fingers, I never will.

21. gone ice skating? Yes, but not in a very long time.

22. been skinny dipping outdoors? Is that more risky than indoors?? And yes I have.

23. had a nickname? I definetly have had my number but I've never been a huge fan of them. Off of Hallie you get Hal, Hal-bop, i'm out.

24. been on TV? I do not believe so, unless for a silly school function or something like that.

Hope you enjoyed, I certainly had fun doing it and it killed a good chunk of time at work.

Jemima J

I just finished reading a book called Jemima J and it's described as "a novel about ugly ducklings and swans."

The book starts out with a big woman who works at a semi dead end job and is in love with a gorgeous colleague (Ben). Typical fashion she has had few to none amorous excursions, has very little self esteem, and absolutely no social life. Also in her office is another gorgeous female colleague (G) who likes to find rich men and date them becuase of the things she gets, but she is essentially a nice person as long as you can deal with the self obsessiveness that these types of people have. A couple chapters into the book after you have gathered the depths of this woman's sadness she starts to befriend G and Ben and they actually form solid friendships. During this time Jemima has also discovered the internet and online dating and has been chatting with a man (B) from LA, she's in London. Then, Ben ends up getting a better job and leaving the office. Around this same time Jemima has realized that she's sent a model like picture to B and she is no way lives up to that. So she joins a gym and over a number of months stops eating and works out 3 hours a day. Thus she becomes a 120 pound woman on a 5' 7" frame. Tiny! I mean I get excited when I hit 120 on my 5' 3" frame, which come to think of it I don't think I ever have because as a swimmer I have these lovely man muscles that weigh stuff! lol

After remaking herself she flys out to LA to see B and decides she falls in love. She takes off 3 months of work and blah blah blah she's this gorgeous thin girl who's in love with this fabulous LA hunk who's rich and gives her everything she wants and yet she's not happy. She also hasn't talked to Ben since he left her office and she realizes she misses him. Ben is also realizing he is missing Jemima but he has become a famous reporter and therefore has all these woman throwing themselves at him so it doesnt matter. THen he gets an interview in LA. At the same time Jemima has realized something huge about B and learns why she wasn't happy. Par for the course Ben and Jemima find each other in LA after loads of JUST missing each other and have one wonderful night before Ben has to fly back to LA. ANyway you can probably assume how the book ends because it is the epitomy of the feel good, romance, life is never greener on the other side, love yourself no matter what lessons.

Beyond being horrible in the story itself because of the total predictability the point of view switches from Jemima to Ben to third person, to narrator and back sometimes by paragraphs, sometimes by lines, sometimes by chapters.

I enjoy a good typical book. I also love romance and everyone ending up happy. But the fact is we all know that what your body looks like doesn't make you happy and that having everything isn't needed to be happy. I understand that sometimes you need a reminder but this book just seemed like a waste and made me angry because of what this girl went through to learn this. Definetly go to the gym if you don't like your body, but don't starve yourself and make yourself unhappy to achieve a good body. Do what makes you feel good. Go after the gorgeous guys but make sure you are going after someone you really like, unless you're looking for something else.

I understand this is easier to say than do. Trust me I'm still trying to figure it all out as well. And I go to the gym to find the better body!! But let go and enjoy life! Cause it's too short to be unhappy.

The one thing this book did give me and I liked was Jemima said at the end that even though it was an interesting route she was excited she made the decision to change becuase if you don't then you won't. And that might be the real truth of the book. We've all heard that quote about if you don't decide to change your destination, then you will end up in the path that you're already going. Or something like that....

Chilly Day in Chicago

It is very cold out today. COLD COLD COLD! I dislike the cold, seriously. I am like a cat where I curl up in the sun and can read and hang out there all day. I love the feeling that comes from a day in the sun and strive to achieve that every day. Unfortunately here in Chicago the sun does not shine that often in these bleak winter months. And to top that all off I am inside my office all day every day, in a middle room with no windows. Suffice it to say I am having huge nature withdrawals this year. But that's not what this post is about.

It's chilly here and yet for some reason I have never taken it upon myself to consider living in a warmer climate. And I've had some options. For college I could have gone somewhere, but no I decided to go two states away to Mass where the weather is not quite as cold, but really still the same. And then with my internship I had the possibility of going somewhere like California. Did I take it? Of course not because there is something in me that even though I hate the cold and would do anything to get out of it I still crave it.

Walking home from work and to the gym last night it was snowing and it was so fun to walk through the city having the flakes catch on my jacket. I felt like skipping and twirling around. Or throwing a snowball at someone. Of course all three of these things were foiled as I probably would have slipped and fallen if I had tried skipping, the twirling would have looked ridiculous, and I'm sure whatever unsuspecting stranger I chucked the snowball at would have something to say to me that would not be along the nice lines. So... none of that happenned and I made my way quite happily to my gym.

Now why do I crave the cold and snow?? I truly have no idea because I am one of those people who should have that crazy sun lamp thing sitting on her desk to help keep up her mood. I think it's because as amazing and wonderful as the summer is (anywhere!) the cold allows me to respect that beautiful time and relish it. And of course I love spring and fall with their growth and beauty. So I shall continue to enjoy these gray months of winter and hope that the weekends can provide me with the required sunlight.

Or maybe I'll consider moving to Cali come the end of this year....

Moon Boots

Chicago had it's first bountiful snowstorm yesterday and I needed something to wear to work that would keep me warm. Obviously. Back in the summer I had been visiting the fam and my mom & sister had bought these boots known as "moon boots." They were hideous and chunky and made their feet look HUGE! Now I know I'm weird here...but I have a weird obsession with how big feet look when in shoes. I don't know what it is and I've only ever met one other person who cared about this as well (and I know she doesn't care which is why I'm telling you all)! 

Anyway these boots were just exactly what astronauts wear in movies. And then my sister's were this glittery, shiny, bright blue with other bright colors over it. BAD! And then mom's were better, but still not great. So sometime after this we were driving by where they had previously boughten the boots so me as always wanted to stop and see what the place had, Thanks Dad! And then just because I am that person I saw this pair of moon boots that were perfect for me! Yes, they were black and laced up the back with this speckly gray. They were ridiculous of course because of their size, but they had this classicness (sp?) to them that I find myself always trying to achieve. So we bought them. And I know have a wonderful pair of moon boots. 

The point, trying to stay out of the snow yesterday I thought of them and went for it. I pulled them out of the winter closet and pulled them over my work pants, stuffing the end of the pants in. And off I went slightly uneasy as they did certainly look big and ungainly and they were squishy on the bottom so when you walk you sort of feel like you are walking on a bog or similar. A water bed consistency was what came to me first. There's that water for you... To work and back they brought me and I finished the day with completely dry and warm feet and was happy with my moon boots. So to test myself I decided I need to wear them again. If I wasn't comfortable wearing them when they were slightly unneeded I would not be able to do it. 

And I ROCKED them! I mean I went to my friends afters work so had to sport the boots all out to the burbs and back. I loved them! Loved the walking, loved the warmth, loved the no sweating in big puffy boots! Therefore, I have concluded that moon boots are the way to go. 

Now I know you're probably thinking this girl is a nut. And I am, but I do this with every new big article of clothing. If I don't feel it then I won't wear it.