Trials and tribulations of someone new to Chicago

There is great big city, on a great big lake, called Chicago. When the sun goes down, it is wide awake!

Thursday, November 30, 2006

Reason number 127........

That my roommate and I have the best connection ever. On the way back from getting the mail today we both pushed the up button for a different elevator. When both doors open at the same time we both looked at each other and knew that IT WAS ON! We both jump into our respective elevator and push the number ten. I can hear us both laughing a little bit. I briefly think back to the last time I had an elevator race (in the third grade!) and fully intend on spending my trip up 10 floors remembering simpler days until, suddenly, just as my door was about to close a girl jumps in MY elevator and says I am coming up. She then pushes the 8th floor, she does not even have the decency to realize there is an important elevator race going on. Because of my slight pit stop I find myself on the 10th floor moments after Lesley's elevator has dropped her off and gone to the next destination. I then walk the walk of shameful loss to my door, only to find, that IT WAS LOCKED!

Monday, November 13, 2006

Please Christmas Don't Be Late!





















Dear Blog Readers,

You may have noticed by the pictures above that Christmas has already arrived at apartment 1003. It is nice to know that not only one Christmas lover lives here, but two; although, we may have gone a little over board. No, you are right, that is not possible when dealing with the best holiday there is! Rest assure, there were Christmas Carols playing while we decorated our tree. Okay, the tree came already decorated but while we decorated our ladder, and wrapped our gifts. (Alright fine, they aren't REALLY gifts so if you want to come over to play cards in the next month you are going to have to pick a deck to unwrap and see what ones we are playing with!) We each do, however, have an advent calender to open on December 1st so that the real count down can begin. That is also when ABC family starts playing one Christmas movie a night. They think November 13th is too soon to start the Christmas movies. Odd!


Even with all of the decorations already in place, we are still not finished. We will be adding mistletoe, stockings, holiday mugs and plates and much much more. There is something that you can also do! We have the perfect place for Christmas cards and are in need for some to be sent to us! Thank-you for your help and cooperation during this very exciting time. If you feel that a card is not enough to send us to show your appreciation for our immaculate decorating sense and Christmas cheer, then gifts are always welcome as well. We still have room under the tree.

Happy Holidays from our home to yours!

--The cutest roommates who live in the best apartment in Chicago.
(Oh who am I kidding? The best apartment ever!)

Tuesday, November 07, 2006

Top 100

As a challenge to myself, I attempted to come up with 100 things that I love. This was not to be a list of only food (although that list would exceed 100) or a list of family and friends. Just a list of 100 random but specific things that I love. Here goes nothing:

1) My Family
2) Fresh flowers
3) Lit candles
4) New books
5) Hanging out with friends
6) First stretch in the morning
7) Listening to the rain
8) Hugs
9) Magazines
10) E-Mails
11) Sleeping in
12) Opening a new jar of Peanut Butter
13) Surprises
14) Taking walks
15) Drinking games
16) Wrapping presents
17) Holding hands
18) Blankets
19) On line window shopping
20) Music
21) Coffee shops
22) Scary movies
23) The color pink
24) Meeting new people
25) Freshly washed sheets
26) Book stores
27) Sending mail
28) Going out to eat
29) Sister time
30) Playing in raked leaves
31) Inside jokes
32) Cooking
33) Just cleaned apartment
34) Caramel mocha with wip cream
35) Making lists
36) Watching old classic movies
37) Lazy days
38) Chocolate
39) Playing cards
40) The Sloski commercials
41) Singing
42) Musicals
43) Being tan
44) Taking walks down memory lane
45) Body scrub and butter
46) Confetti frosting
47) Random acts of kindness
48) Feeling of being accomplished
49) Hooded sweatshirts
50) Nintendo
51) Being the little spoon
52) Pens
53) Christmas carols
54) Girl talk
55) Libraries
56) Swinging
57) First potato chip from a new bag
58) Cities
59) Recieving mail
60) Thunderstorms
61) Kissing
62) Watching childhood movies
63) Bread
64) "Where are they now" shows
65) Seeing friends for the first time in a long time
66) Using licorice as a straw in sprite
67) Watching the sun set and rise
68) Going to the theater
69) The Paper Source
70) Getting dressed up
71) Tailgating before games
72) Bubble baths
73) Blogs
75) Drawings from my sisters
76) Black and white photos
77) Coffee mugs
78) Going to baseball games
79) Roller coasters
80) Taking naps
81) Pickles
82) The season of Fall
83) Laughing
84) Coats and blazers
85) Fresh snow fall
86) Cookbooks
87) Blog comments
88) Sky full of stars
89) Cuddling
90) Cherry Coke
91) Baseball hats
92) Museums
93) Movie and wine nights
94) Sled ridding
95) Chocolate
96) Soup and sandwich shops

97) Jager Bombs
98) Traveling
99) Mini notebooks
100) Popcorn

Little Things In Life

Sometimes it is the little things in life that can make or break your day. Today it made my day. I was able to take a hot shower WITH water pressure to match in my apartment for the first time. I am also typing this in a cute and tasty coffee shop (FINE! It is a tea shop.....but that won't get me down today!) where I will start a new book. Can life get any better?

Monday, November 06, 2006

Group work.....Blah!

Maybe I missed the "working together" day in Kindergarten, along with the day we learned to share, but I have never been good at group work. This is not only because I have control issues and would much rather do it myself, but also because I find other people to be irritating when they are all fighting to be heard and being over bearing in attempts to have the best idea ever to be chosen. Why must we always do group work? (Let me take a moment to answer my own question) In high school you worked in groups to prepare for college. In college it was to prepare for the work force; that, or teachers are inherently lazy! (Says the girl that has a family full of teachers/professors for jobs :)

Since we have all had so much practice working in groups, why are people so bad at it and why are they always in my group? As much as I hate working in groups, I feel that I am a very good group member. (Pause to pat my own back!) I tend to listen to every one's ideas, no matter how much they don't make sense. I make it a point to get even the quiet people involved because shy people matter too! I also, more often then not, do more work then most in a group because of the control issues above. So why am I always punished with people that are unable to function in a group. You do not, contrary to popular belief, need to YELL for your idea to be heard. We are not hard of hearing. You also do not need to repeat your idea over and over. It was bad, we ignored it in attempts to spare your feelings, but if you say it one more time I make no promises for the comments that will follow. And lastly, if you are new to a job, company, or group do not pretend to know more then every one else. You don't and you sound foolish. Sit back, offer a few points now and then and get to know every one's personalities so you know how to better interact with them all.

Better yet, can we please just stop group work? Thanks in advance to any one who might be reading this that might make me be involved in group work!

Wednesday, November 01, 2006

How funny are we?!?!

Typical conversation in apartment 1003:

Me: Why do you think W ran for President? Why not his brother? I mean they are the same person. I can see them drawing straws at Christmas and him getting the long one? Or did he get the short one?

Lili: Texas is a bigger state so they probably just thought he would have more support. Besides, he has the same name as the last Bush in office.

Me: (In my best Jeb voice) Gosh. George gets to do EVERYTHING!

Lili: Marcia Marcia Marcia

8th World Wonders

I tend to use the phrase "I think that is the 8th world wonder" when I don't know how to explain something. However, contrary to Kimberly Locke, I do not, infact, think any person is the 8th world wonder. They could possibly be the 9th! Here are just a few of my wonders:

1) Where do the Go Fug Yourself girls find their pictures?
2) How do taxi drivers learn where every single little street is in a city? How long does that take?
3) How do the Postsecret peeps decide what "secret" should be shown? (Side note: The first one this week is not actually a secret! It is more of a statement. How did that make the cut?)
4) Why is it easier to remember song lyrics then what I learned in class? Teachers should put lectures in song form!
5) How is the chocolate so thick on my caramel apple? Why doesn't it slide off? Thoughts Alison?
6) Who first thought to "carve" a pumpkin? Why does not signify Halloween? (I am sure this is explained on the internet, but I am lazy!)
7) The Mystery Spot :)