Trials and tribulations of someone new to Chicago

Intelligence in America

2008-08-13T10:48:00.004-05:00

"Did you hear that Georgia is being attacked?"
"Georgia Georgia? The state of Georgia?"
"Yes, Georgia Georgia! Can you believe the government is letting that happen?"
"Well President Bush is at the Olympics!"

Yes, these individuals are right! Georgia is being attacked because President Bush just watched Phelps win another gold medal! Surely if some one wanted to attack the US the ONLY thing stopping them would be that President Bush was in the country. Also, they clearly would start with Georgia....I am sure it all started while listening to a little Ray Charles that put Georgia on their mind! Oh wait! Isn't there a country named Georgia??????

Chicago Must Sees

2008-03-09T19:39:00.002-05:00

Even though it has been a long time (a month and a half to be exact!) since I last posted, don't think for a minute that I did not do a new "Chicago" thing in February. When I first heard of the place I enoyed in February I was slightly hesitant about going. I have been to similar places, or so I thought, and wasn't sure it was the type of place that I wanted to go that night. However, the night turned out to be one of the more fun nights I have had in a while.

Upon first being described to me, I thought that this was going to be a lot like the Kit Kat. Sure, there were "female impersonators" just like at the Kit Kat; however, it was MUCH different. After you have your tickets your group is placed at a table where each person has a two drink minimum. All of the individuals working there were a much older crowd then you tend to see working at a lounge bar in the city. I was told that the "show" would last a little over an hour and that it should start shortly. After we recieved our first round of drinks the lights dimmed and the music from the Broadway Chicago came blaring through out the lounge and out came 6 "women" lip singing. Each woman had there own unique personality that showed through out the show with each song they did, whether it was a song alone or a group song.

The bar is one that has been in Chicago for many years and you can tell that from everything inside. From the tables you sit at, from the carpet you walk on, and even to the stale bowling ally smell you are over come with with you walk in, it is exactly as it was when it first opened. It is all part of the charm. I would recommend any one to go to The Baton at least once in their lifetime.

After you have enjoyed the show, you can walk around the corner and enjoy one of my favorite bars in Chicago. Swirl is the perfect place for any group of people to hang out. It has many comfortable chairs and couches to hang out with a larger group or a few round top tables where smaller groups can sit. No matter where you sit you will always be able to hear the people you are conversing with and have a great time.

Who are you!??!

2008-01-20T19:23:00.000-06:00

It might be shocking to some of you, but over the years I have been named a picky eater. Yes, it is true. People could walk into any restaurant and say what I was going to order because it is usually the same thing. Lately, however, some of you might be a little surprised. It might be safe to say that you might not know who I am any more as far as my food tastes go. Here are some of my latest loves that I never would have touched:

1) Salmon. I love myself some salmon salad and smoked salmon!
2) Sushi. This is still in baby step forms but I did not hesitate to try anything Friday night.
3) Wings. I normally would have never touched chicken wings on the bone...now, though, I am not even phased. I even dip into the spicy side of sauses!
4) Steak with pinkness. A few years ago I would rather have starved then eaten red meat that had any part slightly pink. Now, not so much.
5) Guacamole. This isn't a new development just newer. I could eat this every day if it was around the apartment!

Tastes that have not changed:
1) My love for juicy juice
2) Hate for mayo and things with mayo as an ingredient
3) Bar food. Love it all (especially now that I like wings)
4) Disgust of soups with seafood in it
5) Caesar Salads....Could eat this every day. Now I just add salmon sometimes.

Trip around the world.....

2008-01-15T08:14:00.000-06:00

Last weekend I went to Ancient Egypt, followed maps that took me around the world, went back in time and found 14 W. Elm in the early 1900's and so much more. Not only was I exhausted from being so productive but I also am one month closer to completing a resolution. Okay. Fine. I have just done "experience Chicago" for one month now but it is one month longer then I usually do my resolutions.

I went to the Chicago Field Museum. It is probably not my favorite museum here, but I am glad that I can check it off my list. They usually have a featured exhibit and it was Maps the day that I was there. Since the only class I ever failed was a class about maps in middle school, a lot of that exhibit was probably lost on me. With that said, however, it was interesting to see the detail that went into making a map with out the technology that we have now. They also were featuring a T-Rex that they have given the ferocious name of Sue. I think there are only 4 or 5 actual "Sue" bones to her. The rest are man-made. Can you actually feature a man made T-Rex?!?! If so, shouldn't their maps exhibit just be ones from Google Maps?

As usual, though, the museum did not let me down as far as people watching and listening was concerned. I saw interesting people and heard some funny things. I will leave you with the best comment heard all day. I might go as far as saying the best comment of January (Yes. A bold statement for Jan 14th but try and top it!)

"David! Come back to Ancient Egypt!"
---Father chasing after 'David'

2008 Goal

2008-01-14T22:47:00.000-06:00

As I have stated before, I tend to not make resolutions for the new years since I never keep them. This year, however, I dared to be different. I thought I would take baby steps to learning to keep resolutions and only make one for 2008. This year my resolution is (drum roll please!) to take one weekend out of every month to do something in Chicago that I have not yet done. This could be eat at a new place, shopping in an area that I haven't, or simply walk around a park that I have never been to before. One new Chicago thing a month is something I think I can actually do. Wish me luck and send me your recommendations!

Best wishes in 2008 to all :)

Random thoughts while on a crowded bus...

2007-12-08T16:51:00.000-06:00

"There are many open seats...do you HAVE to sit by me?"
"Can you not read the sign or hear the announcer? Keep all bags off of the seats to make room for all of those people standing."
"The Moody Church!?! Even if I DID go to church I am not sure I would choose to go to one called The Moody Church!"
"How could you sleep on a loud and bumby bus?"
"I can't believe I forgot to charge Unya (ipod) before I went Christmas shopping"
"Is it rude to get up and move to the open bench at the next stop? For real, why did they have to sit RIGHT by me?"
"What else do I need to get for Christmas? I think everyone is done...well, except for buying for myself!"
"Oh great! 2 screaming kids! How many more stops do I have? Curses to you Unya"
"Did that girl just get on the bus to ride it one block and then get back off? I thought I was lazy!"
"There is no way that guy is really sleeping!"
"My stop. Thank God!"

Well read?

2007-12-02T10:45:00.000-06:00

I tend to think of myself as a some one who is well read. With that being said, I know there are books and authors that I shy away from. I have heard more times then I can count that there are certain books I should read. I am not sure why I don't read those books; actually, I am sure that I would enjoy them if I just sat down long enough to give them a chance. Am I intimidated by them? I don't think so, but it could be a possibility. I just need something to motivate me to read them.....

Then motivation strikes in the form of a reading challenge. I never say no to a challenge. Hopefully, this challenge will help me get through at least twelve of the books I have been meaning to read. Kristen is also doing this challenge and we both encourage others to join in. If not for the whole year, at least challenge yourself to read a book or two that you have been putting off.

Here is my tentative list. It is not set in stone so if others have books that you think should be added please let me know what they are and why they should be.

January: I Know This Much to be True: Wally Lamb
February: A Tale of Two Cities:
March: Cat's Eye: Margaret Atwood*
April: Love: Toni Morrison
May: Other Voices, Other Rooms: Truman Capote*
June: Gone With the Wind: Margaret Mitchell
July: The Heart is a Lonely Hunter: Carson McCullers
August: Pride and Prejudice: Jane Austin
September: For Whom the Bell Tolls: Ernest Hemingway
October: The Human Stain: Phillip Roth*
November: Jane Eyre: Charlotte Bronte
December: The Grapes of Wrath: John Steinbeck *

Hollister....BOOOOO

2007-11-11T11:02:00.000-06:00

I have always had a bad taste in my mouth when I speak of the store Hollister and Abercrombie and Fitch. I do not like going into stores that have half naked people on the walls or even working in them. I also have a hard time with the fact that average sized people are not able to wear their clothes. They are made extremely small and they do not make many large or extra-larges because that isn't the body type they want to be wearing their clothing. Sure, they make some cute clothing and I have a lot of friends who wear their products and wear them well, but I still get a bad taste in my mouth.

Last weekend did not help my bad taste. I asked my younger sister what she wanted for her birthday. Her reply was that she wanted gift cards to her two favorite stores for a shopping trip she was going on. What are those stores? Areopostal and Hollister. Kristen and I decided to divide and conqure. She took Areo and I took Hollister.

I walk in and see instantly half naked people both working and on the walls. I walk right for the check out counter to get the gift card. I tell the person behind the counter I want a gift card for X amount. He tells me to go a head and pick the gift card I want to give and points to a box in front of me. What are my options? A half naked man or a half naked woman on top of a half naked man. What message does that send my 13 year old sister?

Lessons in banking

2007-10-23T17:00:00.000-05:00

Since I no longer work for my former employer (story for another blog....in a month!) I am finally able to share the lessons I have learned in banking. Because I no longer work there I can be open and honest about what NOT to do in a bank with out the risk of being fired for talking about my clients. It is your civic duty to pass these on to any one and every one who might do these things. Read and learn:

1) When there is a line at the bank and you have to wait it is annoying. However, try to not go during lunch or closing time if you don't want to wait in those lines.

2) When you have to wait in line please resist the urge to complain LONGER then it takes us to do your transactions. You are now holding up everyone behind you. Ironic, right? I get it. You had to wait in line. Your time is valuable. No one but you has had to wait in this line.

3) When we tell you that your money has not been released from the bank the check is drawn on it has not been released. I can not call them and ask them to put the money in your account. Nor is it our fault they have not allowed you to have it yet.

4) Sure you have thousands of dollars in your account, but that does not mean service fees do not apply to you. If you transfer funds more then 3 times and your account only allows you to transfer it 3 times you will be given a fee. You can threaten to take all of your money out of your account, but you will be making a withdrawal of your money after we take your fee out. I worked for one of the largest companies in America.....they will not miss you or your money.

5) You may gladly threaten to bomb the bank and tell me it is my fault. You still won't get your money any faster and that is, in fact, a federal offense. Your account will be flagged for this threat permanetly and I will have to call the cops. I have all of your info on my screen, they WILL be able to find you.

6) The bank is not a place for you to find your Friday night date. Do not call work lines in hopes to ask some one out that was just doing their job in assisting you that day. You saw the line when you were there. People do not have time to talk on the phone and make plans with you for this weekend.

7) If the window or desk is closed, even if some one is in there working on something else, it is closed. You will be called upon if people are free to take you. You are not the only person that has banking to do on a given day. Sometimes we need a few moments to get caught up. The more rude you are, the longer you will wait. Trust me!

8) Although I am truely sorry for the loss of your perent the weekend prior, it is awkward for you to come up while I am with some one else and tell me about it. Awkward for me and for the person I am actually working with. I might cut you some slack the first time you do it; however, when you do it two weeks later telling me you lost your other parent it is still awkward. I am deeply sorry for you and your loss, but I am not waiting on you and I do not know what to say. Thank-you for showing me pictures they were both beautiful people but the bank on a friday payday is not the time for such conversations.

My Obsessions

2007-09-24T19:59:00.000-05:00

* Table 52
* Shout Wipes: They really work!!!
* The Paper Source
* Scarves: This is nothing new!
* Bright Eyes: This is the first day of my life.....
* Cute Turtlenecks: Not ugly ones....they are just ugly!
* Blockbuster Online
* Coats: Also not new
* Being organized
* Mixed CD's: Every song is like Christmas....what song is it going to be?!?!
* Tank Tops
* Used book stores
* Hungry Howies
* The movie and soundtrack Once
* Season Premires
* Being the first person to open a book: I always grab from the bottom of the pile!
* Fall
* Doodles
* Magnolia Street: I will live there one day
* Goodreads
* Mini Coopers
* Wiiiiiiiiiiiiii: Only if said the proper way!
* Potbelly

Rules to online communication.....

2007-09-23T19:20:00.000-05:00

In the 40's, 50's and 60's our parents and grandparents had etiquette classes that showed the women how to be "proper ladies" and the men how to the "gentlemen". Those classes went out of style along with Poodle Skirts and Saddle Shoes. Should they have, though? With the new forms of communication channels maybe we need a new wave of etiquette classes. I think it is time to teach people the Do's and Do Not's of communicating in 2007. Facebook and Myspace have become everywhere you want to be and seems to be the easiest and best way to keep in touch with the largest amount of people. However, it is not safe for everyone. If there was a "how to" manuel for these sites I would send it to many people. Since there isn't, I will make it my personal goal to teach people the ettiquate that is so needed to be taught. I will have business cards soon so be looking for them. Until my classes are off the ground, here are a few of the more important rules that should never be broken. Please pass them along to those who break them!

1) Don't over share: There is no need to put that you have been unable to get pregnant, had a miscarriage or any other information that is not to be discussed with any one other then close family and friends. It would be awkward if I ran into you on the street and asked how you were and you responded with one of those things. It is just as awkward to have it in your about me or as a message on some one's wall. It is a private and sad matter and should stay private.

2) Don't add people you don't like: You know who you don't like. You know who doesn't like you. Why add them? Just because you feel as though you don't have enough friends on the internet does not mean you start to add people you talk badly about or it is obvious you don't like each other. It is just weird and not necessary. You don't pretend to like each other in public so why on the internet?

3) Don't demand to be #1: You might be joking about wanting to be some one's number one friend but it will never appear that way. If it is truly and inside joke then send a private message to that person....inside jokes are meant to be private. When you demand to be a top friend or make a comment about being moved out of someones top 8 you seem paranoid and insecure. Rating your friends is a superficial part of these sites any way. And not completely accurate since every single friend you have is not on said sites. Just because I make you my number one friends or me yours doesn't necessarily mean that you are my favorite friend or even that there is a favorite....there are many things to take into consideration so just relax!

There are many more rules that should be followed. For those, you will have to wait for my classes to start and you will have to pay for them. A girl has to eat....or buy clothes!

Birthday Color

2007-09-23T13:10:00.000-05:00

October 29

Color: Beaujolais
Traits: Devoted, Perceptive, Persuasive

YOU are often perceptive and funny, and usually get what you want due to your interesting personality. The ability to disarm people with your wit and intelligence is remarkable. Try not to cover any fear or internal insecurities that you may experience with arrogance or a sharp tongue. Wearing, meditating or surrounding yourself with the color Beaujolais reminds you to combine ease with strategy and intention.

This seems like me....right? Perceptive? Check! Funny? Double Check. Wit, intelligence, interesting personality? It is all there :) What is your birthday color?

It's A New Year, A New Day.....

2007-09-07T09:04:00.000-05:00

Since I do not really believe in New Year resolutions, I think that you can have "goals" at any point of the year. As I have been living in Chicago for a little over a year now, (can you believe it?!?!) I thought what better time then any to create New Year Goals. I will keep you posted on how these new goals work out for me, I am sure you will be anxiously awaiting my updates!

1) Update more (Hence me keeping you updated on how my goals are working out): I have been feeling very uninspired as of late on blog writing. I have some thoughts running around in my head, however, so hopefully that is just what I need to get me back into the blog world!

2) Stay in better touch: I have started this pattern of not calling people or returning phone calls for weeks. This then causes me one or two nights a month where I do nothing but talk on the phone! It becomes a vicious cycle where the longer you don't talk, the longer the phone convo will be making me want to push it off further. I have come to the conclusion that if I talk to people on a regular basis then the convos might not need to be that long!

3) Stop wasting so much time: I have the great ability to waste more time then any one I have ever known. I have a day off. I write my list (you know how I like my lists!) of what I want to do that day. By the end of the day I have to add the things that I actually did so that I can cross things off and look productive. Those additions are things like take a nap, watch bad tv and chat on line to people at work or in class being productive (well, they aren't being THAT productive since they are online with me!)

4) Read more: Since I waste so much time (see above) I find myself only reading on my lunch break at work. This causes me to take a long time to finish a book that I should finish in only a couple of days. When books take a long time to finish I start to not like it as much. I am not being fair to those books! I am not able to recommend these books in good faith because I am not sure how much I would or would not like it had I read it at a normal pace!

5) Stop wearing my wish bone where my back bone should be: I need to start living in the moment. Stop looking forward. Take life a day at a time. Enjoy today. I am going to wake up 30 years from now and realize that I lost so much of my youth by always looking to the future. (Yes, I am using youth loosely as I am almost 25!)

6) Do more Chicago things: I live in an amazing city and I do not feel that I have even done a tenth of what there is to do here. Maybe if I stop being so lazy I can do more Chicago things! My life is one big vicious cycle!!!!

If I played baseball....

2007-07-30T21:01:00.000-05:00

A week ago I went to a baseball game with my mom. While watching I came to the following conclusion. If I played baseball my favorite part would be picking what song played as I stepped up to bat. Here are some of the songs I came up with:

1) I've got the Magic Stick: This song would be especially great if I was really talented. Yes..I said IF.

2) Don't Stop Believin: This would be if was really bad! Yes, IF!

3) Ready to Run by the Dixie Chicks: It would be for all of those country lovers in the stand....

4) These Boots Are Made for Walking: This would be because I would be SO GOOD that pitchers would just want to walk me to avoid me having hit my 200th home run off of them!

5) Lit up: This is the ultimate pump you up song.

What's yours?

4th of July adventures.....

2007-07-04T22:22:00.000-05:00

My first 4th of July in the "big city" I wanted to be low key. Sleep in, lay around, go to the beach, have some people over here for a bbq in the evening. Our first concern with having a bbq on the 4th was that there would be many up on my roof with the same idea as ours. To offset this worry, we thought we would have ours in the evening right before the fireworks. As luck would have it, however, we did not need to worry about many people BBQing with us. The door was, infact, locked. At first I thought it was a mistake. I tried the door a second time. Nope. Locked. What to do what to do.....

Surely, there had to be a way to break in. We tried. No such luck. Wait! There is a fire escape! We had the great idea that we could just go up the fire escape grill and bring the food back down to the apart. The only hitch was that the door locked from the outside. No problem. We had cell phones we could call down to the apartment and have some one let us in. Or did we? I take that back. We had no phones to call down to say we were locked up on the roof. That is okay. They will realize it is taking us a long time to cook and come and get us. Or would they?

We turned the grills on, threw the burgers on the grill and then walked over to enjoy the view while they cooked. We should check on them now. HOLY SHIT! SMOKE IS POURING OUT OF THE GRILL. NOTHING BUT FLAMES!! We all remember how well I deal with the pressure of fire . Turn the gas off. FLAMES! We try to get all the burgers off of the grill in hopes the flames will go away. NOPE! OH MY GOD I WILL BURN MY WHOLE BUILDING DOWN!!!!! Not only that, but I am locked up here on the roof with the fire!

After a few moments the fire was under control. Crisis number one, however, still a problem. They have not come to check on us. I try to knock on the windows of the 2 apartments by the door. No one comes to see who is knocking on their window on the 18th floor! Walk around the roof in hopes to see people outside. Maybe they will call for us to tell them to let us in. No one. Wait! There are people coming out onto the balcony across the street. Can we yell to them? Will they hear us? We have to try. Either that, or we will need to walk down 18th flights of the fire escape to get into the apartment.

"HEY!!! GUYS!!! DO YOU HAVE A PHONE???"

They just stare at us. Do they have a phone or not?

"HEY!!!! GUYS!!!! DO YOU HAVE A PHONE? WE ARE STUCK UP HERE!!!"

Rest assure. If you are ever stuck on a roof you can yell loud enough to get your number heard across the street 18 flights up! They called my apartment for us and got them to let us in!

I never want to go to my roof again and I am never allowed to bbq!

Happy 4th :)

Thoughts about feminism

2007-06-03T08:54:00.000-05:00

Yes, you are at my blog. I am sure you read the word feminism and thought you were actually here. Or here. I am not the most qualified person to be writing what I am about to write but it has been on my mind for quite some time now. It is something that I have talked about with Lili often and have had the intention to write this blog for some time now. Having dinner with some friends this week made me remember this post that has been floating around my head. I can't remember the context in which this sentence was said, but it was said none the less. I asked a question to which the reply was, "No! I am not a feminist!" Then she said, "Well I am not against feminism I am just not one."

A feminist is a woman who does not allow anyone to think in her place.

In politics there are different levels of being conservative or liberal. Feminism is no different. So many people, women and men, have the same view points that are encompassed in feminism but think the word feminist is dirty. When did that word become dirty? Why is it so dirty? If you agree with feminism why can't you label yourself a feminist?

I myself have never been able to find out precisely what feminism is: I only know that people call me a feminist whenever I express sentiments that differentiate me from a doormat, or a prostitute.
-- Rebecca West

I find the quotation that says "This is what a feminist looks like" so perfect. It shows that feminism is in all shapes and sizes. Just because I agree with some of the ideologies that encompasses feminism does not make me an extremist; nor would it make you such. Just because you agree that women should have equal opportunities but like to wear make up or wear heels does not mean that you aren't a feminist. Feminism doesn't have to be an either/or thing.

It's important to remember that feminism is no longer a group of organizations or leaders. It's the expectations that parents have for their daughters, and their sons, too. It's the way we talk about and treat one another. It's who makes the money and who makes the compromises and who makes the dinner. It's a state of mind. It's the way we live now.
-- Anna Quindlen

I am happy and proud to call myself a feminist.

Not everyone should reproduce.....

2007-05-09T10:12:00.000-05:00

I have always had this thought, that not everyone should be allowed to reproduce; however, today, the reason for said thought was reaffirmed. I was on the bus this morning and so was a "mom" with her baby who looked to be about six months old. At first, I was just annoyed by the two b/c the mom was loudly yelling at her telling her to sit down. "Baby baby! Sit down!" Read above where the baby is only about 6 months old. There is no way that she is strong enough to stand on her own. Why is the mom not sitting the baby down then? Again, the mom yells, "Bad baby! (smack) Bad! Sit down baby! (Smack) Bad!)

A few things came to mind then. The first being that the baby must have the world's strongest legs because this mom is unable to help her sit down, or put her in the stroller that is in the middle of the aisle and not up in the front where there is a special place for strollers. The second being that the baby's name must actually be Baby because that is all she is called. Some one has a special love for the original Dirty Dancing. The last is the most important thought. Did she just smack her baby? A few times? I look around to see if the now crowded bus is noticing what is going on. Yes. Everyone seems to notice and is watching as thought it is a bad accident that you can't take your eyes off.

I wish I could say that interaction was the most shocking thing that the mother did but, alas, it was not. I am about to exit the bus, as are half of the people on the bus, including the mom and baby. My first thought, when I saw her stand up, was how annoying it was that she was going to make all the people standing move so she could get out in the front of the bus. Yes, annoying that they would have to move, but it made sense she would exit there as the bus has a floor that lowers to the ground for her baby inside the stroller to get out. Why didn't she just sit up there in the first place? This mother had other ideas. She wasn't, in fact, going to the front. Rather, she was going to exit right here in the back. How was she going to do this since you have to physically push the door open and hold it open as you exit and there are 3 stairs for her to get down.

As she tried to move to the stairs she was hitting everyone that she walked past. Was there a sorry uttered for rolling over the toes of many? No. Was there a thank-you said to the person who held the door open for her as she attempted to exit? Of course not. Was there even a smile or nod when a girl told her that the belt, that should have been around her baby strapping her in, was dragging on the ground? Nope! Surely there was a thank-you to the guy that lifted the bottom of stroller to help her down the stairs as we all realized that she was going down backwards and going to just pull the stroller. (Did you all catch that? She was walking down the stairs as though it was a ramp and pulling the stroller down each stair. Backwards. With a baby in it. Not strapped in.) But no. There was no thank-you. Yikes!

Summer is almost here.....

2007-04-29T08:59:00.000-05:00

Finally, after a long and cold winter, summer is almost here! Things I love and am excited about summer:

* BBQing
* Being tan
* LOLLAPOLOOZA
* Farmers market around the corner
* Fresh fruit
* Going to the beach
* People coming to visit
* Wearing dresses and skirts
* Linen pants
* Eating (and drinking) outside or by open walls
* Flip flops
* Baseball
* Going to college roommate's weddings
* Freckles
* Cold beer on a warm day

Let the fun begin :)

Silly Northerners

2007-04-14T11:44:00.000-05:00

"That is the great thing about your Northerners. You think it is a great day just because the sun comes out. Sure, it is only 35 degrees, but the sun is out, it must be a great day!"

Yup! It is the little things in life that keep us going up here in the artic!

How long.......

2007-04-12T20:53:00.000-05:00

* Do I have to work some where until I stop pausing when I answer the phone to remind myself that I no longer work at Kodiaks. I should not answer it, "Thanks for calling Kodiaks, how may I help you?"

* Until I no longer think "Who do we appreciate" when I count the numbers 2, 4, 6, 8?

* Will it be until I hear a song and not think of the first time I heard it?

* Until old episodes of Greys Anatomy (or even the recap of old shows) will no longer make me cry?

* Until I feel like a grown up and not that I am just playing?

* Do I have to live here and look out my window and feel excited and yet overwhelmed that THIS is where I live?

* Will it be until I play Euchre again?

It is official....

2007-04-11T16:38:00.000-05:00

Since I filled out my final paper work today, I thought it was time to document my experience. Many of you know, but some of you do not, that I have a new job. I am not putting in here what company it is with as I do not want to be googled so if you are curious I would love to tell you :) Here is how it happened:

End of January I am at work and I get a phone call. I assume it is another annoying client because they are the only ones who remember my name. She was a recruiter from a different company and they were hiring. She had written down my name in her files after I had waited on her one afternoon. She wanted to know if I was interested in switching jobs? I replied no, I was happy begging for hours in a part time retail job. She just would not take no for an answer :) So began a many month long process of interviews in attempt to find the right fit.

The first interview I had was in a building called the Citadel. It is right down town in the loop. A place I had never been. When I walked in I had to be checked in and go to the middle set of elevators after I was given a special pass. I think this pass was to prove that I was not a psycho and should be let passed the security guard. I think they need to increase their security! Either way, it was very over whelming and I felt very out of place. It did, however, lead to more interviews.

Over the last couple of months I have had about 5 interviews in various buildings with different levels of management and also a few phone interviews. It has provided me with great experience in the interview process as well as forced me to go to places in the city that I had never been because I always felt as though I would be out of place.

Finally, I was offered a job and accepted! I start in a little over a week. I am obviously a little nervous to be trained and meet new people, but I am very excited :) It was all in all a fun experience. Probably more fun because it ended well, but it is fun for me to say that I have been inside a few of the most important buildings in the city :)

The Infamous Proust Questionnaire

2007-03-30T11:49:00.000-05:00

1. What is your idea of perfect happiness? Sleeping in, laying around in the best bed in the softest sheets.
2. What is your greatest fear? Failing/people being disappointed in me
3. Which historical figure do you most identify with? I would hope it would be E. Roosevelt or Jackie O.....
4. Which living person do you most admire? My mom
5. What is the trait you most deplore in yourself? My lack of emotion....and then too much emotion at other times...
6. What is the trait you most deplore in others? Lack of acceptance
7. What is your greatest extravagance? Shopping and eating out...I shouldn't!
8. What is your favorite journey? Don't Stop Believing...I mean....(Haha Kristen is funny!) I would say the one I am on now
9. What do you consider the most overrated virtue? All of the ones I don't have :) (Patience, selflessness...you get the idea!)
10. On what occasion do you lie? When I tell people at work something looks great...it doesn't :)
11. What do you dislike most about your appearance? My curves and being pale!!!!
12. Which living person do you most despise? George W. Bush HERE HERE!!!!!!!
13. Which words or phrases do you most overuse? Right? No no! At work I say Perfect a lot...
14. What is your greatest regret? Regrets mean you have not let go....I don't believe in regrets
15. What or who is the greatest love of your life? Cherry Coke and Chocolate....
16. Which talent would you most like to have? Ability to write and sing. I would love to be able to write lyrics
17. What is your current state of mind? Annoyed at the jack hammer outside
18. If you could change one thing about your family, what would it be? I could see them more
19. What do you consider your greatest achievement? Being "on my own" in a city!
20. If you were to die and come back as a person or thing, what do you think it would be? Probably some one that has characteristics that are opposite of me now......
21. If you could choose what to come back as, what would it be? Wild Flowers
22. What is your most treasured possession? Certain things people have given me over the years......One day I shall tell you all what those possessions are.
23. What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery? Being alone and closed minded
24. Where would you like to live? Chicago :) (London if my family was coming with me....)
25. What is your favorite occupation? Creating social programs for juveniles or inmates....Any one know of any?
26. What is your most marked characteristic? Being nice?
27. What is the quality you most like in a man? Intelligence and humor Ditto
28. What is the quality you most like in a woman? Intelligence and humor Ditto
29. What do you most value in your friends? Intelligence and humor Ditto
30. Who are your favorite writers? Nick Hornby, Steinbeck, J. Weiner...and many more
31. Who is your favorite hero of fiction? Great question.....Jo March maybe? I am not sure
32. Who are your heroes in real life? My Parents
33. What are your favorite names? (I like how Kristen has names picked out but wants no children ;) Kourtney LeeAnn is my fav name :)
34. What is it that you most dislike? Mayo!
35. How would you like to die? Quick and easy
36. What is your motto?[I'm adding two from the original questionnaire here} In the end it is not the years in your life but the life in your years that matter!
37. Who is your favorite painter? How about photographer.....Alison Shermeta and Ansel Adams
38. Who is your favorite musician?[and one of my own} The Beatles (I guess John Lennon is my fav of them...)
39. What is your favorite song? Yesterday, Let it Be, Sweetness in Starlight

Do blonds have more fun?

2007-03-28T18:53:00.000-05:00

I get board easily. Especially with my hair styles. I think I am addicted to cutting my hair, dying my hair or whatever else you can do to hair. Since moving to the city that addiction has been put to a stop. But, I have been getting restless. I was sick of my boring brown hair, styling it the same boring way and was annoyed at my split ends. Last night I made the decision! I was going to slowly become blond again! Or should I go darker? Okay, so the decision of color was not made last night. What was made was the decision to find a hair place to go and get a trim and color today. Problem was every place I was finding was way over my budget. That is, until I found THIS one! A hair institute is a perfect place to get your hair done. I need cheap and they need practice. Win win!

Cut to this morning when I called to make an appointment and was told they could get me in. They could get me in April 27th! No, no....that was not going to work. I shall go up there today and attempt to be a walk in. When I showed up there were people on the list before me. I texted Lili that things were not looking good. 1:15 comes and I am about to leave (Appointments were for 1:00) when I hear a soft Kourtney called. Did they just call me name??? Don't get excited Kourt. It is probably to tell you there are no appointments. What is that in his hands? A clip board? YESSSSS I GOT IN :)

As I was filling out my paper work and signing the release form, the form that said I knew they were students and I would not hold Aveda personally responsible for any damage that could happen, (Um damage?) In walked a woman there for her 1:00 appointment. The guy behind the desk said that it was given away. She said why, it was only 1:17. He said yes, and we give them away at 1:15. She could make another one for April 27th if she would like. I took a couple steps back in hopes she would not notice that I was the one taking her appointment. Her loss is my gain. Yes, karma is a bitch so I was worried that "damage" would happen to my hair since I was taking some one's appointment....a risk I was willing to take.

One down fall to having students cut and color your hair is that it does take a long time. Time that I am willing to spend when I can get a cut and two colors in my hair for the prices of a cut at other places. I also learned another lesson today. You can not fight with gay stylists about hair styles. The instructor that was in charge of the students took a liking to my colors and hair style. When he came over to "check the cut" he told me he was going to cut bangs.

"This color looks great. I am going to add some bangs to the cut."
"Well, I am not a huge bang person normally. I tend to not like it in my face."
"It is okay. I will cut bangs and it will add some style"
"Um, well, okay. If that is what you think."

** Pictures will be up when I do something picture worthy

Lessons in walking.......

2007-03-27T20:31:00.000-05:00

Sure, many people think that walking is the easiest thing to do in the human race. However, every day people in the city prove that this is not, in fact, true. For some reason people find this to be particularly difficult. I hope that this blog can be a learning tool for those said people.

Lesson one: Walking is a lot like driving. If you are walking slower stay closer to the right so that I can pass you.

Lesson two: Just like motorcyclists can't ride side by side when there is a group of 10 of them, you can not fan out and take the whole side walk. You are not actually the only group trying to shop on Michigan Avenue.

Lesson three: When you are getting off of an escalator but are still unsure about what floor you want to go to next please do not decide to figure that out right at the top or bottom of the escalator. Kindly step aside until you know where you would like to go. Again, you are not the only people trying to get up or down in a mall.

Lesson four: Just like in lesson three, if you exit a restaurant or store into the street and do not know which direction you need to go do not stand in the middle of the sidewalk or right by the revolving door. Other people need to get through.

Lesson five: Yes, you are in a city. Yes, there are tall buildings. Yes, it is amazing. You will have the same view if you look up when you are not in the middle of the sidewalk. Just because you back up to be out of the way does not mean you will not be able to see the buildings. As mentioned already, they are tall, you can see them!

Lesson six: Sure, we learned that the buildings are tall and that you are in a city. I know you want to capture that moment on film. It is not, in fact, a good time to capture said moment in the middle of the sidewalk of Michigan Avenue on a weekend. If you feel as though you have to you must be prepared and not take too long. Stand, smile, click and walk.....try practicing that before you come to the city. You will make many more friends this way and it will be a smoother transition.

Lesson seven: If you are waiting to cross the street and insist upon being right in front (by insist upon I mean shove your way to the front) then please pay attention to when the light is about to change so you can walk. You only have a limited time to cross. Unlike in your home town, there are cars that come down these streets on a regular basis and the light will be red again soon. Look alive people!

Blog against sexism....

2007-03-25T10:09:00.000-05:00

I was told that it was blog against sexism day. Okay fine, I was told that it was that day about twenty days ago. Better late then never, right? Sexism is every where and I am sure every one is experienced it at one point in their lives. Working in retail I see it often. I work in a woman's clothing shop but we have a few males that work there as well. There are many people that come in and refuse to speak with our male associates. Many women think that because they are male they would not be able to tell them what would be appropriate to go together, if it fits right, if it matches or any of their other clothing needs. Some of them do not even look at the males of there is a female with in close proximities. What makes me qualified to assist some one with their clothing needs? Just because I am female? Any one who has shopped with me, lived with me or just been with me as I was getting ready for some event knows that I need second opinions on most of my out fits. A few of the guys that I work with have more fashion sense then I could dream of having and I would love it if they told me what to wear every day! When I am that rich social worker they will be on my style team ;)

What's worse?

2007-03-23T11:03:00.000-05:00

" New wounds that are painful, or old ones that never heal? Maybe our old wounds teach us something. They remind us where we have been and what we have over come. They teach us lessons about what to avoid in the future, or so we would think...... but that isn't the way it is....is it?"

What makes some lessons harder to learn? Why is it that we know the out come of situations based on things we have "over come" yet we still go into that situation? How many times do we actually have to learn?

I just have a lot of questions....not a lot of answers. I have a lot of thoughts going through my mind and have had a lack of ability to articulate said thoughts.

What is worse?

That sums you up....

2007-02-28T19:45:00.000-06:00

More then anything else in this world. That is what Lili told me tonight as I was making dinner. "You are putting fried potatoes (potato chips) on top of cheesy fried potatoes (cheesy hashbrowns I made earlier). Yes, yes it does. I love starch and junk food. Add the two together and I am a happy girl. Other things that make me a happy girl:

* Juicy Juice: It is 100% juice and tasty...how can you go wrong?
* Kit Kats: Break me off a piece....
* Rain Boots: This one is going to make me eat my words since I made fun of Kristen. However, they are adorable! (In red!)
* The sloski commercials: They make me giggle...I can't help it!
* Comfort foods: Almost any comfort food is yummy!
* Ella: My kitten that I do not have but I love so much....she enjoys exploring new things, playing with the lights on the wall and cuddling.
* Breast Cancer 3-day walk commercials: There is one that I find especially sweet and makes me tear up a little each time.
* Chicken salads: It has been all I have been eating as of late. Well those and my cheesy potatoes.
* Janet Evanovich: My guilty pleasure when it comes to reading.
* Joshua Radin: I always go in spurts with my music and who I can't get enough of. He is it right now.

Communication snob strikes again!

2007-02-20T07:20:00.000-06:00

Many of you know, that although I am not always the best communicator, I tend to be a communication snob! When some one is speaking in front of me I tend to be, what is the word....critical! Last night was no different. I was asked to attend a focus group to provide information on my knowledge of certain health issues. Before you compliment me on how selfless and nice that I am, which I am, I should note I also got paid! I could not turn off communication bitch mode, however. Here are just a couple of the times that I had to stop myself from rolling my eyes or commenting.

The conductor of the group: Every time she was about to ask a question that wasn't on her sheet, or was on her sheet but needed to be restructured, she would clear her throat. Then say um. Start to ask something. Stop. Say um. Clear her throat. Say, "How do I want to phrase this?" Say um one last time. Ask a question. Say um and then ask a completely different question. Repeat steps about 20 times.

The personal stories: People in this group thought they were there because they had a vast knowledge on the topic; opposite day! One person in the group thought if she had a personal story for everything that was discussed it would make her appear to know more. She also tended to close her eyes when she talked. Oh, I should mention, she doesn't use the microwave because it causes cancer. One story she told was about her "best friend" whose mom found out late she had cancer. (Not making a joke there....that is sad and would not wish that upon any one) The joke comes later when she tries to go into detail and realizes she can't because, well, she doesn't know any. She ends it in saying again that it was her best friends mom, but then, that she hadn't talked to her in months. She knows the cancer was fatal. What?? Your best friend's mom has fatal cancer and you have not talked to her in months???

The reliable source: One gal tried to tell everyone that she had heard the latest and most up to date research and information on the topic. Shockingly, she hadn't. She did, however, hear everything from a reliable source. One of her "sources" that she enlightened us with was too good to pass up. She heard a fact about something. She couldn't remember where she heard it from. Pauses for good measure. Says that she remembers now. It was from a friend of hers. She isn't sure where her "friend" heard it from. Another good measure pause. Oh yes, her friend heard it from a....wait for it....a reliable source.

I could go on but that just makes me seem mean!

We would be best friends!

2007-02-17T10:03:00.000-06:00

Many people who read this have heard me say on many of occasions, "I think we would be best friends!" The "we" that I am referring to would be a a star that I happen to be watching in a movie, listening to their music, watching their tv show, or anything in between. My list of "friends" are Reese Witherspoon, Mandy Moore, Rachel McAdams, Damien Rice, Camaron Diaz and that is just the short list! Sure, some of what the friend attraction is that I have enjoyed their work, but that is not the only aspect of our "friendship" For some of them I agree with and love how they speak out on things like feminism, pollution and violence. For some of them I enjoy how they act in interviews and think they are just fun people. Other "friends" that I have I feel that they do interesting things and it would be fun to tag along some times. I have made a new friend recently. This isn't a new obsession, exactly, but just an increased realization that we would be great friends....maybe even more ;) Zach Braff. His sense of humor, taste in music, books that he reads and things he speaks out on make us very compatible friends. I think we might be compatible fore more then friends too. After all, he did date my best friend Mandy :) Some might say I obsess too much but I just say other wise. So Zach, if you read this, call me :)

Lessons in Laundry

2007-02-05T17:45:00.000-06:00

You just moved in to the dorms. You are still getting to know your roommates and where your classes are located when you need to do laundry for the first time. You are slightly nervous about putting your clothes in the slightly shady washer and dryer. You aren't going home soon enough so you suck it up and put your clothes in the washer and look at the clock. You notice in 25 minutes you need to go and switch it into the dryer. Don't be late, you say, you don't want some one touching your clothes. you go back to your room to read some homework. Who am I kidding? You go back to your room to watch some tv. How much can you get done in that short amount of time any way! CRAP! It has been 27 minutes. You go running down the hall to find that your clean clothes are sitting on top of the dirty dryer!! WHO DOES THAT?!?! Sure, you were late, but only by a few minutes. Are people that impatient? They grow out of that....right?

Flash forward 5 years. You move into your new apartment in Chicago. A little nervous about leaving your clothes down in the basement while being washed. Suck it up, telling yourself that people that live here are adults. It will not be like doing laundry in the dorms. Roommate laundry night come, where we wash all of our rugs and towels and anything else. Watch time very closely...just in case. Make it down stairs ONE MINUTE after the timer had gone off. How do you know it was just a minute? Because your other washer is still finishing up. Find your clothes on top of the dirty counter and a girl putting her clothes into your washer.

"Oh are those your clothes?" (you nod) "I am so sorry, I am just running late" (Think: That minute really would slow you down, I am sure) "I am sorry again. So sorry" (Okay, we get it!) Think it is fine because the heat from the dryer will kill any gross germ that might be on your now, not so clean, clothes.

Put clothes into the dryer. You and the roommate decide to go down a couple of minutes earlier then you think. Just to be sure Miss Patient should strike again. She wouldn't though, right? Go around the corner and stop. Why is the timer still going on my dryer? I must be early. Wait! It says that it has 46 minutes left. That can't be right! Turn around and find my clothes on the dirty counter AGAIN! Stop, take a deep breath. Surely it isn't the tiny girl who did it the first time, right? Open the door to be sure that isn't her. IT IS HER! IT IS THE SAME CLOTHES THAT WERE GOING INTO MY WASHER! When will she learn that is rude?

Shut her washer. Don't press start. Hopefully when she comes down stairs to find her clothes still wet she isn't put much behind her already "very busy night"! I hope she will think twice before messing with the ladies of 1003 :)

Against abortion? Don't have one......

2007-01-22T13:14:00.000-06:00

Since it is National Blog For Choice day I thought that I would follow the suit of my fellow bloggers Kristen and Lili and blog as well. Hopefully, even if you have not blogged, you have taken today to read a new article on the topic or reflect on your thoughts and belief on the situation.

First and foremost, I am pro choice. With that being said, I could never see myself having one. I do not think less of a couple, or person, who were to decide that an abortion is what is best for both them, and their unborn child. I actually think the opposite. I find that would be much harder of a choice to make then the one that I made for myself. No one WANTS to have an abortion. They simply do not wish to have a child or pregnancy. The argument behind abortion and the movements isn't if it is right or not. It isn't if it is justified or not. What isn't justified, however, is bring a child into today's already horrible society unloved and wanted. When we force a person to have a child of whom they do not want we see the effects of that. We see abuse, neglect and a lifetime of suffering. Making abortion illegal is not the way to stop it. We see from the 60's and other times that it only lead to horrifically performed abortions resulting in inability to become pregnant again, not actually aborting the fetus, but leaving them permanently scared, or worse.

Edward Abbey once stated, " Abolition of a woman's right to abortion, when and if she wants it, amounts to compulsory maternity: a form of rape by the State."

Who gets to decide what is right for me, my body or other women and their body? Rather then demanding more children get brought into our suffering society couldn't we spend a fraction of that time into ensure a quality life for those who are already here? Improving the life of people born into poverty, abuse and neglect? Rather then abolishing programs designed to help those individuals.

Me telling my readers or friends that they should or shouldn't be pro-choice makes me no better then our current government. However, what will say is this. Think about society as a whole rather then what you deem is right or wrong.

Lastly, I leave you with the words of Justice Harry A. Blackmun During Roe V Wade of 1973: "The states are not free, under the guise of protecting maternal health or potential life, to intimidate women into continuing pregnancies."

You have been cut out...

2007-01-21T22:13:00.000-06:00

There are many people who come in and out of our lives. Everyone plays a role of some sort on our lives when they are in and leave something behind when they are out. The role, or what is left behind, might have extreme influence on us or be nothing more then something we think about from time to time. Sometimes there comes a time when you need to cut people out of your life. This isn't a vindicive cut out just a time that you no longer have a need to be in their life or them in yours. This "cut out" involves steps. You start by taking them off of your aim. Not blocking them, just taking the name off so you can't see them. You want to keep the option there for awhile so that if THEY should want to contact YOU they can. When they don't contact you in whatever time line you have set then the phone is next. There is no need to have a number in your phone of some one you do not talk to. When was the last time you talked to them? The drunk message you left on their phone two months prior does not count so today is the day.....hit the delete button. You still have their facebook friendship so you are able to see things are going well for them. You check out the pictures from time to time when there has been an update but that is about it. You know it is time to make this final step of making them be just a memory. You just need a couple more days. This is final. The last form of communication you would have a chance at is this and it is a big step to eliminate that step. Then you realize that they took that step first. They no longer have their facebook account. Even though you knew it was time you wanted to be the one to hit the button "remove friend" What if it was too soon? What if I think of something tomorrow I want to tell them? A story I remember? The kicker is, that I will not come up with that said story or memory. I just wanted to be the one to make that final step. Now it is as though they cut me out....I don't like to be cut out.....even if I was going to cut them out any way.

Golden Globes

2007-01-15T20:55:00.000-06:00

As I sit here watching the Golden Globes I find myself wondering if there should be more of a criteria for nomination. What makes some movies "Globe" worthy and others not? I used to feel that there was such a high standard of merit and worth that needed to be met before a movie, show or actor to be nominated. Tonight, that high standard was thrown out of the window when Ugly Betty won 2 awards (thus far) as well as Devil Wears Prada also won some. Please don't get me wrong, I enjoy watching both of those things; however, I would never have put it in the same category as Blood Diamonds or Little Miss Sunshine. Is there a check list that something has to meet a certain number of in order to be nominated? I always felt that things nominated for this award would be different then the things that are nominated for The People's Choice awards. GG's are awards that go to movies not shown in Northern Michigan and to movies and shows that most of America doesn't watch because they actually talk about meaningful things and have real messages. How did these two things slip in this year? Is it because there weren't a lot of good movies this year? I actually thought the opposite was true; although, I am not often told that I have good movie tastes! Shouldn't there be higher standards?

Goals....not resolutions

2007-01-07T13:48:00.000-06:00

I haven't made a New Year's resolution since I was in middle school and had to write an essay about what my resolution was and why. Even then, I am not sure I actually made it "my" resolution or just created one that everyone claims to be their resolution just to finish the essay/journal assignment. This year is no different. I am, however, going to try to make goals for myself. Things that I actually hope to accomplish....we will see how much I do.

1) Read 60 books. Yes, 60, I know it seems like an odd number, but there is method to my madness. I have a list of most of the books I hope to read (leaving numbers free for some books that are coming out this year at some point) and they include some of Stienbeck, Jane Austin, Tim Robbins, and more. If you have one that you think I should read, feel free to let me know.

2) Take a spinning class. Erika also has this on her goals so I am hoping together we can help each other make this happy. This entails going to more then one class even though my body will want to die after one.

3) Take a dance class. This is something I always said I would do when I moved here and I am yet to even look into it. Oops!

4) Shop less/budget money better. I pay my bills but I am a HORRIBLE saver...this is something that I should have gotten better at by now. Guess the saying is true, there is no time like the present!

5) Become more adventerous in foods. I have been getting better but there is always room for improvement.

6) Keep in touch with friends better. I do really well for a week or two and then go a mo (or two) with out having any form of contact.

7) This one I am saving for a later day....I don't need to just make goals because of the new year :)

Year End Review

2007-01-03T01:10:00.000-06:00

HAPPY 2007 EVERYONE :) Looking back, I realize that 2006 was actually a very interesting year. As every year there are ups and downs. Things I wish I could do over and things I wish I would have never done. Here are some of those moments. Feel free to add your own (even if they don't involve me but I would love it if they were about me. After all, it is all about me :)

Jan:
MG turns 21 :) (It is about time!!!!!)
Trip to a debate tourney helps me realize how important old friends are
Moved in with a boy :)

Feb:
Kristen's Bacholorette Weekend. How could I forget Willie???
Theresa's Bacholorette Weekend

March:
See my first Jazz concert
Watch Miss Saigon with Kath Kath

April:
NFA 2006 (how could I forget?)
Travel to Boston to see one of my SILS!
Pulled off the greatest prank EVER :) (Sorry Kristen!)

May:
Finish college (about time!)
Be in my first wedding

June:
Get a brother
Being part of SILS becomes official
WEDDING WEEK :)
Name gets painted on a bar for assisting in beer list (Lili did most of the drinking!)

July:
Celebrate the 4th in Bay Harbor
Sign my lease to the cutest apartment ever
Sell Jane :(
First time having a beer bottle thrown at my head

Aug:
MOVE TO CHICAGO!!!!!!
Lallapolooza

Sept:
Found a job to pay my rent
MG and Kelly visit for his Bday (cooper misses you!)

Oct:
See Jenny Lewis with Deb
First trip to Target alone and not getting lost
Get back to Mich for an overdue visit

Nov:
First time with no roommate for a weekend
First Turkey Day with out Kristen

Dec:
First "grown up" party
Took a tumble....out of my bed (oops!)
Tried to burn down my apartment
New baby Cousin, Hunter

How to make new friends

2006-12-12T21:40:00.000-06:00

When most people move into a new apartment they knock on their neighbors' doors to introduce themselves. Some people might even bring baked goods. Lili and I did not ever do that. We have slowly started to recognize faces of some the individuals that live on our floor and building, but we are no where close to being friends with them. I have found a new way to break the barriers of friendship. Try to burn the building down!

Yesterday afternoon I tried some soup that I had purchased from the grocery and didn't really like it. That meant that I was still hungry but did not feel like cooking. I decided to throw some fries into the oven while I changed out of my work clothes and chat with Kristen about wanting to come back to Michigan earlier.

My smoke alarm started going off. I rolled my eyes and went to go turn on the fan of my stove. The alarm seems to go off every time we use the oven, and no, I do not burn the food every time I use the oven causing it to go off. This time it wasn't stopping and I noticed the smell of the oven to be much stronger then usual. I open the oven door to begin the panic. There were flames engulfing the lower portion of my oven.

My mind started racing....what to do...who to call....what to do. Open the oven again and yes...there are still flames. SHIT! Is it gas or grease you can't pour water on? THINK KOURTNEY THINK! Alarm is still going off...run into the hall way and yell help. Some one will know what to do.

"HELP! Can some one help me? I need help!"

NO one....surely they hear that my alarm is STILL going off....right? Go back out and yell again.

"HELP!"

Finally, the people living next to us come in and help me. I hear my self saying "I have never had a gas stove I didn't know if I could pour water or if that would make it worse. Do you have an estinguisher?"

They pour water on the fire and it is put out very easily. They then inform me, "The lower part of the oven is not a place to put pans, as in an electric stove. It is a boiler so you need to keep it empty."

Empty? What were they talking about? I look...see the burned cardboard box and bread pan and remember. I cleaned yesterday and put my stone from Papmered Chef and bread pan in there so I could clean. OOPS! Who knew that was not a drawer for the purpose of holding the things I didn't have room for in my cupboards.

Good news...no one was hurt and I met 3 neighbors. Neighbors I hope to never see again! Although I am joking about it now, I was not for a while. I was still in tears when Lili got home an hour later. Amidst the tears and vomit from my nerves I managed to text her "Your roommate is a dumb ass...I thought you should know. Hope the exam went well!" She joked with Alison on her walk home "HAHA I hope she didn't burn the place down!" (True story) Isn't it ironic? It is becoming more funny, but please tred lightly with your jokes, just thought the story was one that needed to be shared.

Table For One

2006-12-10T11:25:00.000-06:00

Before I moved to Chicago I hardly ever had to do things by myself. When I was at CMU I had plenty of people to go get a cup of coffee with me, go out for a meal, go see a movie, or whatever else I wanted to do. People were always around. At home, I had the people I worked with, a few friends from high school and, of course, Kath Kath to come with me, or me with them. It wasn't ONLY that I didn't like doing things by myself, it was just that I never had to. In Chicago I have been finding myself doing more things on my own more then I ever thought of myself as being able to do. I get lunch breaks at work and even when I bring my lunch, I usually go some where other then our break room to eat it. I go to the food court and sit for my hour to read and eat. A conversation with a client a while back has made me wonder, do people sitting alone draw more attention then people sitting in groups? She was looking for a place to eat that would be good food but also faster then a nice sit down establishment, but not fast food. She didn't want to sit for a long time alone because people stare, she felt, and it made her uncomfortable. I thought to myself that this was probably all in her head; or was it? Do people tend to stare at you, or at least do double takes in shock, when you are some where alone? When you are at a sit down restaurant? What if you are at a coffee shop alone? The movies? The bar? Where are lines to be drawn, or do they even have to be drawn? Why is our society a society that deems it "odd" to do some things by yourself and not other things?

The What If Game.....

2006-12-07T21:40:00.000-06:00

This is a game that I always would play with my roommate Emily. I would play out a situation to her (or her to me) and we would come up with every possible ending we could by finishing the sentence "What if (fill in blank) happened" I have found myself playing that game in my head lately. Many feelings of nostalgia have been surfacing in my head causing me to question many steps I took and turns I made. It makes me wonder how different my life could, or would, be right now had I played those five minutes a little differently. Or if I had gone to that party instead of being too nervous to hang out with a huge group of people when only knowing one person. What if I had quit debate when I wanted to. What would have changed in my life? Looking at all of the CMU tailgating pictures of the game goers this season made me sad that I missed out on so much of my college life by being so active in other activities. Who would I have met or hung out with had I been able to tailgate more often? Or actually have a weekend to enjoy college life more then once a semester. I am so thankful to all of the people I met in college and for most of my choices throughout my college career; however, sometimes the what if game creeps in. I don't want changing my choices or actions to mean that I wouldn't have met some one that is now in my life. I just sometimes wonder who ELSE I might have met. What other experiences could I now be telling my new friends about in order to help them know what made me the me that they are meeting. I guess it is true what they (who ever they are) "By the time you realize you miss something, it is already too late" I can't change what I may or may not have missed out on, but I can think about what my future could be. It is truely time to make new memories and never wonder if I missed out on anything again.

American Wages

2006-12-05T20:33:00.000-06:00

Rarely will you hear me claim one job in society to be more important than another job in society. Infact, I am not sure the level of importance has ever been compared by me. How would one decide what is to be considered important or not important. The same question comes to mind when you deal with salaries or wages. How did society decide that it was acceptable to pay educators so little while athletes get paid so much. Sure, some might say that athletic jobs bring in money, and that is true; however, does that mean that educators should then start paying 10 dollars a day for a student to sit in their classroom? Clearly that would never be able to work. So when did society decide that job A should be paid X and job B should be paid Z? What were the guidelines for such decisions? I want answers!!!!

Take Five, and I don't mean the candy bar!

2006-12-04T19:06:00.000-06:00

After reading Delightfully Dawgmatic, it made me want to try this. I think for some categories it will be hard to narrow down to just five songs. Okay, all of the categories will be hard, but I am up for a challenge :) Enjoy and feel free to do your own list on your blog or in a comment....or both :)

Five Songs From Childhood:
1) Shake Your Love: Debbie Gibson
2) Mony Mony: Billy Idol
3) You've Got The Right Stuff (Baby): New Kids On The Block
4) I Wanna Dance With Somebody: Whitney Houston
5) I've Had The Time Of My Life: Dirty Dancing

Five Songs From High School:
1) Rosa Parks: OutKast
2) Drive: Incubus
3) In The End: Linkin Park
4) If I Bought You A Rose: Kenny Rogers
5) Are You That Somebody: Aaliyah and Timbaland

Five Songs From College:
1) Central Girls: DJ Greenup
2) Put It In My Mouth: Anikyele
3) Always: Saliva
4) Good Morning Beautiful: Steve Holy
5) Like A Prayer: Modonna

Five Songs From Now:
1) Chasing Cars: Snow Patrol
2) See The World: Gomez
3) It Don't Matter To The Sun: Rosie Thomas
4) Sad Eyes: Josh Rouse
5) 9 Crimes: Damien Rice

Five Songs Every Girl Has Loved:
1) Like A Prayer: Modonna
2) Girls Just Wanna Have Fun: Cyndi Lauper
3) Strong Enough: Sheryl Crow
4) Don't Stop Believing: Journey
5) I Will Survive: Gloria Gaylor

Five Songs That If I Found Out You Knew All The Words To I Would Love You:
I do not have any in mind. Songs that I love are not hard to learn all of the words to like Come On Eileen. I am more excited if you listen to things that aren't played on the radio!

Five Songs I Would Slow Dance With A Stranger:
1) Luckiest: Ben Folds
2) I Only Have Eyes For You: Jamie Collum
3) She's Got A Way: Billy Joel
4) Sweetness In Starlight: Matt Wertz
5) Can't Help Falling In Love: Elvis

Five Songs That Summarize My Short Commings Well:
1) Favorite Mistake: Sheryl Crow
There are more but must come back to it..........

Five Songs I love And I Don't Care:
1) Don't Stop Believing: Journey
2) Wilson Phillips (All 4 of their songs :)
3) Fantasy: Ludacris
4) Justin Timberlake
5) Gimme Dat Nut: Eazy E

OH NO! (Said in odd voice/accent)

2006-12-03T21:18:00.000-06:00

Me: Did I fall last night?
Lili: No, I don't think so.....
Me: Well because my back really hurts as though I have a bruise.
(Moment for a pause while Lili thinks back to last night)
Lili: NO WAIT!!! YOU DID FALL! YOU FELL OUT OF YOUR BED LAST NIGHT!

Reason number 127........

2006-11-30T21:55:00.000-06:00

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!

Please Christmas Don't Be Late!

2006-11-13T15:55:00.001-06:00

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!)

Top 100

2006-11-07T20:57:00.000-06:00

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

2006-11-07T15:42:00.000-06:00

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?

Group work.....Blah!

2006-11-06T21:58:00.000-06:00

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!

How funny are we?!?!

2006-11-01T22:17:00.000-06:00

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

2006-11-01T19:05:00.000-06:00

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 :)

It is like Christmas

2006-10-25T09:20:00.000-05:00

Last week I created an Amazon Wish List. On it, it has three pages of books that I think look good. Every time I go on to look at my list, I end up adding more books. It is a quest I have to read almost every book out there. I say almost, because I have no interest in reading anything in the Science Fiction field and I am selective about the history type books I read. Other then that, however, I want to read as many books as phiscally possible. To start this "quest" of mine, I decided I would order 7 books last week. Now, you might be thinking, "You can not afford those books" as I thought to myself. However, I did not purchase any of the books for more then $0.43. Yes you read me correctly. That is not a typo! With shipping, I spent just under $25 on my 7 books. To me, that is money well spent! Here are the books I am waiting for:

A Lesson Before Dying
She's Come Undone
East of Eden
I Know This Much to be True
The Heart is a Lonely Hunter
The Corrections
What Looks Like Crazy on an Ordinary Day

I am most excited to read the last 3, however, they are not here yet so I am going to start with She's Come Undone.

Just isn't the same.....

2006-10-25T08:39:00.000-05:00

Over the years, I have been known the change my hair....A LOT! I tend to get board with the cut I have or the color that it is, so I just change it. To me, my hair is the one thing that I can change often and it doesn't matter. It grows back, you can cut it some more, you can dye it back or you can add highlights. Since I have been here, I have not cut or changed the color of my hair. Even though, I had the dye to use on my hair because I bought it before I left. Last night I decided that it was time for a change. We colored my hair. When I say we, I really mean Lesley did the coloring and sat there and ate some chicken fried rice.

Even though I change my hair all the time, I still have those nervous feelings of how it will turn out as I am having it done. Will it look all right? What if the color looks bad or does not turn out. What if my hair is orange? Did my scalp tingle like this the last time I had dye on it? I can't remember. None of these feelings are justified, however, because, since I have been deciding how I want my hair to be cut or colored, I have never had something that I did not like. Those feelings come, just the same.

Last night, as I was washing the dye out of my own hair, I realized that it might be cheaper to do it at home, but it just isn't the same. The best part of having your hair cut or colored is that some one washes it for you and then styles it. Mostly, it is just that some one else washes it. I think everyone can agree, that having your hair washed and your head massaged by some one else is the best part to getting your hair done.

Feelings

2006-10-16T19:59:00.000-05:00

Quotation of the night: (from the show The Class. This was the ONLY funny/decent part of the show)

"We all have feelings. When we all get those feelings, we all push them down and supress them like the normal people we are!"

Meet George Jetson

2006-10-16T11:49:00.000-05:00

I was never a big fan of cartoons, and The Jetsons was no different. However, I do remember a few things from that show that I wish I had access too. First, I would love to have those motorized vehicals that they drive around. How quickly could you get from place A to place B? A lot faster then public transportation.

I would also love to have the button machine. I am sure this is not the proper name for said machine, so let me explain what I mean. The machine that Jude or Elroy could push a button with a picture next to it and after a few seconds that would appear for them to eat. I would have one of the most recent created that had different departments. There would be a drink department, a breakfast department, sandwich department and many more. Here are some of the buttons I would be able to press:

Bagel with Veggie Cream Cheese
Scrambled eggs with cheese
O.J. (with or without vodka)
Coffee (with many flavor options)
Caramel Mocha with Wip Cream
Chicken Fried Rice (With a fortune cookie. This seems like an obvious addition but mine has been coming with out fortune cookies quite often lately, but that is a different blog post!)
Mashed potatoes with homemade beef gravy
Movie Theater Popcorn (I like it with butter but to be sure all guests are happy you could get it w/o)
Jimmy Johns number 11 Country Club
Potbelly Turkey and Swiss
Kodiaks (their soup, ceasar salad, and a few of their sandwiches)
Kath Kath's chex mix

Happy Coming Out Day!

2006-10-11T07:55:00.000-05:00

It seems like every day is a different National Day of (fill in blank). These days range from National Day to Eat Chocolate, which is coming up soon, to National Day To Prenvent Teen Pregnancy; because, we should not attempt to prevent it on any day other than that day! No need to be an over achiever! However, today is a National day that I will support. That is because today is National Coming Out Day!

Dear Elisabeth

2006-10-04T10:42:00.000-05:00

As all of my readers are aware, I tend to disagree with Elisabeth from the View. Today is no different; however, I decided to do something about it. I wrote her an e-mail. Correction, I wrote her PR person an e-mail, but I feel better!

Dear Elisabeth:

First, let me start by saying that I enjoy the show and watch it almost every day. Today, October 4, 2006 was no different. On the show today you were discussing the Foley Fallout. There are some issues that I think need to be cleared up and better explained in a future show. It was said that he has just come out to be gay and a comment was uttered that it would make sense that he was gay. Why? Why would that make sense? FBI studies show that over 90% of all pediphiles are actually NOT gay. Also, does him doing wrong things become justified since he is gay? All things that happen in todays society must be done by people of a homosexual orientation, as they are horrible people themselves. I have no problem with individuals expressing their views and opinions; however, please have the facts to back them up.

With that being said, I feel that it must be expressed that you are shutting out part of your viewers. The point of the show is to have the ladies on the show expressing the potential view point of the generation they represent. You represent my generation and you are skipping a large portion of your generation. I am very happy for you and the family that you have. I am glad you are happy in your marriage and as a mother. Those are great roles to be living. However, you do many stories on being a young mother and then also as being a college student. Where are the stories or view point of some one in between those roles? There are millions of individuals in the same place as I am in life and our voice is being ignored. This is just something to think about as you fill the empty chair on your show.

Thank-you for your time. Have a great day!

** Note: I typed my original letter in Word so I looked for grammar and spelling problems. I did not do that in this and I did not save the letter in word. I just thought I would put the letter in here (the best I could recreate it) after I told my roommate what I had done!

Why???

2006-10-04T09:46:00.000-05:00

Have you ever noticed that people feel the need to try things for themselves? Sure, if some one tells you that the soup is good, you should take a bite. That makes sense. It also makes sense to go to a store having great sales after some one told you, "Store Y is having great sales!" There is a time and a place for you to try things for yourself. The situations below are not those times!

** Pulling on a locked door after you walk up to a group of people waiting outside of said door and they tell you that it is, in fact, locked. I am not standing outside this door (in the rain) to get my daily shower. I took that at home!

** Knocking on a locked store door after you pull on it, to see that it is locked and not open, and also read the store hours that are posted ON the door. Yup, you are right, we are closed! But since you knocked, I guess I will let you in!

** Pushing the up button (or down for that matter) when people are waiting by the elevator doors already. Also, the funny thing about elevators is that when the button has been pushed, IT LIGHTS UP. If you see that it is lit up, there is no need to push it again. If you aren't a three year old child, it isn't cute to push it multiple times.

** Look at the clock after you ask me what the time is and I tell you. If you thought I either couldn't tell time or that I would trick you and tell you the wrong time, why did you ask me???

Here's your sign

2006-09-26T20:25:00.000-05:00

When moving to the windy city, I stupidly assumed that I would encounter people with more common sense. Turns out, no! There are people everywhere that need to be given a sign stating their stupidity. The stories below are, in fact, true and are not actors. Please do not try this in your city or shopping experiences. (Side note: In a shocking turn of events, this was written at work. Along with my to do list for tonight!)

1) When you look around and see petite signs in the windows and walls, you are, indeed, on the petites floor. We are not trying to trick you!

2) If you hold up a small and do not like the shirt, you do not need to dig through the pile and find a large. It looks the same as the small, only a little bigger. You still will not like it!

3) If you hate the colors ivory, brown, gold or any thing in between then please do not buy a skirt only matching those colors. You will not like what I show you!

4) Do not tell me you are only looking for a certain color but do not care what the style is like. When I show you 4 or 5 different styles and you hate all of them, you clearly care! Tell me what you want to speed the process up. I am sure you have other retail stores to annoy!

5) Please do not get mad at me when a design isn't as long or short as you would have liked. I sell not design. But next time I have lunch with the designers I will be sure to let them know your feelings. I am sure they care.

6) When you try on a basic dress keep in mind that it will look basic. Sure you can add accessories to "jazz it up a bit," but it will still be basic. Please do not complain to me that what you are trying on is boring. What do you expect from something that is basic?

7) When shopping on Michigan Avenue on a Saturday or Sunday you must realize that it will busy. You are not the only person looking for a size 2. Please don't expect me to have your size on the rack all the time or be annoyed when it takes me a few minutes to track your skirt down that you don't even end up buying. If you want your size waiting for you when you feel like looking for it then shop on line!

8) You might be on Mich Ave but it isn't Rodeo Drive. I don't serve you water or wine. Please do not ask me what I do when I am thirsty. I do what every one does when they want something to drink. I go upstairs to the food court and get myself a pop. No! I am not going up to get you a pop.

It is just TOO much!

2006-09-22T09:28:00.000-05:00

Why is it that Jiffy commercials put SO MUCH peanut butter on the bread? We all know what peanut butter looks like so that isn't the reason. How is it even possible to put that much on the bread? I tried this morning with my toast and it just doesn't work. The more you add, the more that comes right back off with your knife. Is the grandfather playing a trick on the grand-daughter? "Haha little girl...try eating this bread with no milk!" It just isn't natural to have that much on a single piece! I want answers....ANSWERS I say!

Everyone is a little odd...some are just a lot odd!

2006-09-19T10:32:00.000-05:00

Almost everyone thinks that they are a great roommate. I, also, have fallen victim to thinking that I am the worlds best roommate (okay...I really am!) but when you live with new people you tend to start noticing little things you do that others don't. You notice things that just aren't normal! I have decided to post some of the things that I tend to do that apparently, others don't!

* I can't stand the shower curtain to be open! I don't like to see in the shower unless I am IN the shower.

* I can't stand my feet to be dirty. I mean, I don't like to feel things on the bottom of my feet (Crumbs on the floor, dust from the city or anything else you might walk on.) I swiffer or vacuum our floors...A LOT! This has been a challenge since I live in a city and cities are dirty!

* I can't stand silence. I must have music or the tv on at all times. This, I am sure, is really annoying as my roommate is attempting to read a law case that makes no sense!

* My closet has to be color coded. I am not an anal person when it comes to being organized, and never have been, but this is something that I have always done. Even in high school when you couldn't see the floor of my room....my closet was color coded!

* I like to cook. The odd part comes in that I ALWAYS cook enough food for double the amount eating. The sad part is that I tend to hate left overs!

* I am addicted to junk food. I also get a lot of food cravings and when I am hungry for something I want it ASAP! This means many trips to the CVS or the grocery store on our blocks. I am sure that will stop in a month when there is snow on the ground!

Maybe Janet Jackson will be on....

2006-09-15T10:47:00.000-05:00

The other day at work, I had some one come in looking for a bright outfit to wear on Oprah. When I say bright I really only mean a blue or yellow so please do not picture a hot pink number. We have none of those. I made a comment that it would be great if the show she was going to happened to be one of O's favorite things. Her reply to me was that she would be just as happy if there was some one "very cool" on. Some one like Jon Bon Jovi or Janet Jackson. Yes, cool and Janet was used in the same sentence. Sure, she has done some really great things in her time. She had that great song, Again, and then there her performance in The Nutty Professor 2. And how could we forget her amazing performance, or wardrobe malfunction, during the 2004 Super Bowl! But of all the people you could think of to hope were on the Oprah show the day you were attending, is that really the person you pick? Let's aim a little higher, shall we?

Twiddling my thumbs

2006-09-14T00:03:00.000-05:00

Just like with all new jobs, it takes awhile to figure out how to occupy your time when you are slow. When I was working at the coffee shop, there was plenty to do when we were slow. First off, there was wireless allowing plenty of blog time! But there were also plenty of tables to be able to actually sit down! At this job, I am left to find new things to occupy my time. Here are my top ten things to do while slow at work:

1) Make my to do lists (told you I LOVE to make lists!)
2) Twirl my pen...and there are a lot of pens!
3) Eat Juju be's. I even resort to eating the green and yellow ones!
4) Walk around creating "shopping lists" of what I would buy if I could afford to.
5) Check the time every five minutes. Sigh because it really has only been five minutes and yet it felt as it had been at least an hour!
6) Create blog ides. Yes, this was the best I could come up with yesterday. It seems when it is slow at work my brain shuts down. (Okay fine, I am sure it shuts down when we are busy as well)
7) Try to figure out what day it is and if it is an Law and Order SVU night.
8) Call my roommate...I mean "client" to see if she had received my wardrobe coupon. Then remember that I did not actually send her one!
9) Reach for my cherry coke. Then realize it isn't there. That was at my last job!
10) Count the number of minutes that are left before I can go home. It is better than counting the hours, as this goes down faster than hours!

What do you do?

A taste of Global Warming

2006-09-10T19:54:00.000-05:00

When we moved into our apartment in August, we needed to defrost our freezer. It was over come with ice on all four sides of the freezer. As usual, I put off defrosting it and just purchased frozen goods and had them add to the artic that is better known as our freezer. I finally had it this weekend, with our freezer, when I pulled our bag of ice out for some water and it had freezer burn on it, like everything else. Ice was taking over the freezer. I thought to myself, "Self, you can defrost this. How hard can it be? It will take 20 minutes."

Minutes 0-5: Empty freezer and put into cooler. Fill cake pan of hot water and placed in freezer. Take sharp knife and start chipping away at the ice at the top if the freezer. Hm....nothing is happening.

Minutes 5-10: Empty water and refill with more hot water. Change in sharp knife for butter knife. Worried I would hurt myself with a sharp knife. New thought comes into my head "what if ice chunks break off and hit me in the eye? Should I be wearing glasses?" See no change and I should be half way done.

Minutes 10-15: Water started to freeze in cake pan. What is going on? This can not be right. See some change in the ice. I think it is starting to separate from the walls. This must be right after all. Still not wearing glasses. I am living on the edge.

Minutes 15-20: Water was frozen again. This can not be right. Only a small chunk of ice has come off. I was right though; it bounced down onto the freezer and broke off into smaller pieces that flew every where. Don't worry eyes in tact.

Minutes 20: Call Kath Kath. Explain the urgent situation. Hear nothing but laughter. "I did not tell you hot water in a cake pan, I told you BOILING water in a POT! Just the door after you put the water in so the steam loosens the ice. Another thing, put the knife down and get a rubber spatula. You are going to hurt yourself."

Minute 21-25: Correct the problems. Realize this is now going to set me back. Lesson learned.

Minutes 25-30: Kath Kath asks me if our freezer was a self cleaning one. Is she kidding? It is from the 70s. Did they have self cleaning freezers then? "Did you check to make sure water is not dripping down into your fridge?"

Minutes 30-35: We have a problem. Water is now in my fridge. Bread...wet, egs....wet, water dripping onto the floor. What a mess. Am starting to see a difference in the ice. It should be over soon. Right?

Minutes 35-40: Ice cubes are starting melt all over my counter. Cake pan is starting to fill up in the fridge. Thank heavens that was not all over my food!!! Getting more impatient then normal. This is the job of some one who has patience.

Minutes 40-45: Manage to get chunk of ice down. No fear, it stayed in large chunk, danger avoided. This is it?!?! This is all the ice that was at the top of my freezer? Where did the rest go? Remove pot and get rag to clean freezer. Found the water. It is sitting at the bottom.

Minutes 45-50: Get piece of paper towel to wipe up extra water. This is going to take a lot of paper towels. Should have listened to my grandma and kept some rags around. Now I understand what i would need them for. Find washcloth to use, water is starting to disappear from the bottom.

Minutes 50-55: Wash pots used for boiling water and put frozen goods away. Make more ice. Go to grab cake pan out of fridge. Uh-oh, we had an over flow! Where is all of this water coming from? Take care of over flow and wash cake pan.

Minute 55: Call Kath Kath. Tell her apartment was in tack. We did not float away. "Think that was a lot of water? Imagine if the ice around the world starts melting!" Thanks mom!

So I bought you a rose, on my way home from work

2006-09-07T21:31:00.000-05:00

I have always been a "just because" type of person. I never celebrated Valentines Day and still don't. Not because I never had or don't have a significant other to celebrate with on this day. But rather, because, I don't think people that love me should need a day to tell me that they care for me? What is wrong with Feb 13th. or March 20th? Why THAT day did they need to tell me they care. If you want to express your love to others on that day, so be it, just don't do it ONLY on days set aside to express your love. My mom has always been good at sending me things "just because" to remind me that she cares for me. Because of this, I have become a person that then tells others that I care about them on days that are not their birthdays or a holiday. Today, a little boy came into where I work and reminded me how meaningful it is to do little things, all the time, for the people you care about. The conversation that follows is a reminder that the little things make the difference!

K (that is me!): Hello, how are you today?
Mom: I am fine, thank-you.
K: And how are you today? (to the little boy about 5 years old who walked in with his mother)
M: Excuse him; he is a little grumpy today.
K: (to the boy) I understand...I am too.
He smiled...the cutest smile ever!
K: What do you have in that bag? (He was holding a Dunken Donut bag)
LB: (huge smile) My favorite donuts are in here. My mom bought them for me because I had a bad day. She was trying to make me feel better.
K: Did it work? My mom does nice things like that as well. Parent's have a way of knowing how to cheer kids up.
LB: Your mom buys you donuts too?
K: Sometimes, yes. Other times she will buy me a candy bar. Little things make me feel better. I hope that donut made your bad day go away.
LB: Did you already get your candy bar?
K: Oh no. My mom lives far away (Okay so not THAT far) so I will just call her when I get home.
LB: You can have some of mine......

Why to people share?

2006-09-06T14:05:00.000-05:00

There are not many people who work with me, but some how I have managed to never work with on particular person. He gave me my application and I have seen him 2 other times since I have been working there. Yesterday was the third time of seeing him, and it was for a total of five minutes. In that time I had one of the most pointless co-worker conversations; and I have had a lot of pointless conversations at my jobs over the years. He came down to where I was working so that I could go to a different department. While I was finishing up what I was doing, the following conversation took place:

"I know that we haven't known each other very long, (do we know each other now?) but I wanted to let you know that my birthday was on Friday."
(I assumed this was where he would say 'and I am having a gathering if you want to come') Silence......what was it that he was looking for me to say?
I replied, "Oh really? How old will you be?"
End conversation.

What was the point of that conversation? Had we been talking about weekend plans then sure, it is appropriate to say 'it is my bday!' We hadn't even exchanged the typical "how are you/how was your day" yet. What motivated him to tell me it was his birthday? Since we 'don't know each other very well' then what is the reason I needed to know it was his birthday? Maybe it is because I don't tell people random things about me that people I work with always think I am quiet at first......

Changing

2006-09-05T09:23:00.000-05:00

What makes people change? I have had two gripes with myself and personality. Yes, only two. Other than that, I am pretty much perfect (and modest). My gripes fall with my lack of confrontation and the fact that I care too much what people think. Both of these "set backs" have different levels, and I have been attempting to work on them for a long time. I have written many posts in the past about wanting to change and to stop caring what people think. What really prompts said change? I thought that I was making progress when I was slightly more confrontational this summer, and at times that typically, I would have no said a word. Also, thought I was making head way when Sunday night I could dance, while sober, and not care what people thought. Just cared about having fun with my friends. After these "head ways" have happened, I wake up the next day still caring what people think and still biting my tongue when I have things to say. Maybe my problem with the change has been that I expect to wake up one day and no longer care what people think or be able to say whatever is on my mind to whomever is around. I guess that just isn't realistic, is it? I have thought about this a lot since moving to Chicago. This move was going to be what finally made me "change" into who I thought I wanted to be. I have come to the conclusion that I have already changed into who I wanted to be. Maybe there will be times where growth is important, but not really changing.

I like it, I love it, I want some more of it!

2006-08-27T23:03:00.000-05:00

After reading this and then this more recently, I have been thinking about what I love more than most people. This is the list that I have come up with:

1) Making lists (Hence wanting to do this post. I also never complete lists. I just make another one and add what I didn't finish from the previous one I also tend to lose said list.)
2) Coats and Blazers
3) Soup (Maybe not ALL soup but the soups I love, I love more than most!)
4) Tote bags
5) Freshly washed sheets and sleeping in the bed right after it was made
6) Mashed Potatoes with Beef Gravy
7) Gerber Daisies
8)Fountain Cherry Coke
9) Rain
10) Body Butter and Scrubs
11) Apple vs PC Commercials
12) Law and Order SVU
13) Sending Mail
14) Sunflower Seeds
15) Naps

When is it too soon?

2006-08-27T22:47:00.000-05:00

Any one who knows me knows that there are a few things that really "get my goat" when I see or hear them. In my hopes to change Cadillac, I vocalized these things as often as I could. In fact, some might say that I am opinionated. As I walked home from my third day on a new job, I wondered; when is too soon to share these opinions with my fellow employees and boss? When have I gathered enough job security to yell, "Don't throw that pop can away! RECYCLE?" Or when am I sure that people will not be offended when I tell them that it is 2006, almost 2007 (again, almost is used loosely) so please stop using words such as gay and others that I don't even repeat? Lastly, when is it too soon to go into my rant dealing with the word retarded? It is just as bad as gay and has the same type of negative meaning, why do people insist upon using this word as a descriptive word? In the words of Kath-Kath, "Do you ever call anything GOOD retarded?" How many more days should I work before I get labeled the word snob at THIS job?

Elisabeth strikes again!

2006-08-23T10:14:00.000-05:00

With this "lack of job" I have going on, I watch The View every morning, as I usually do when I am home at that time. Since the move to the Windy City, I have been attempting to give Elisabeth a chance. I forgot that i was 'giving her a chance' one day when I texted my roommate the following texts: "SILS, did you know that Elisabeth from The View graduated from BC? She is bringing your school down!"

Since then, I have been doing a relatively decent job of being nice to her and not making fun of the ridiculous things that she says or wears. Until today. At first glance, I thought she was wearing a teal dress, so her only problem was the oversized bandana that was too big for her head and made her look like a sloppy college kid, not some one that I should be taking seriously because she is supposed to be a professional on National TV! But then, she stood up. This was not, in fact, a dress, but an ADULT ONESIE!!!! Do I need to even comment about what is wrong with that? Barbara made her stand up to "show us what she was wearing" and her justification for this outfit speaks for itself. "My daughter is now too big/old to wear onesie's so I was feeling sad about that and thought I would WEAR ONE MYSELF!" Um..What?? That makes no sense Elisabeth!

To top the show off, she asked one of the questions that makes me the maddest in this world. They had a female co-host on the show that is dating some one that is 19 years older than her. Elisabeth asked her, "How does your dad feel about that?" Does her mom not get to have feelings on this Elisabeth? It is about to be 2007 ('about' is being used loosely) isn't it time to start saying things incorporating both parents? Wake up Elisabeth!

To the producers of The View: Since you are making such a huge change of hosts and also changing your set in September, please make one more change and get rid of her. Thanks in advance!

Wanted: Guy with and edge

2006-08-23T09:22:00.000-05:00

Went to 'movie in the park night' last night with Deb and Les to watch On The Water Front. I thought that the movie was decent. It was better then I was expecting but also glad it was not a movie I had paid to go see. However, at the end, Deb and I made a comment about Marlon Brando. This comment was referring to the slight attraction there was towards him. We were asked if we thought he was physically attractive; no, not really. But he has an edge. What is it about an edge that tends to draw women to different guys? I was unable to explain the attraction to the 'edge', especially when I answered no to the fact that the edge is not what you would want a serious relationship with. I do not think that we are the only females that are attracted, for a second, to a guy with an edge, though. I also do not think that it is exclusive to girls. I replied to Les that this was no different then a guy meeting a girl some where and saying, "Now that is a girl you take home for the night but not one you take home to meet the parents." That is how women feel about guys with an edge!

Excuses

2006-08-16T22:30:00.000-05:00

In a matter of minutes, everything changed. The hallway she knew so well, turned into empty space being looked at for the first time. At that moment, she knew that nothing would be the same. Well it is more than a shame that we lost to this game. All my walking, talking, breathing- nothing will be the same. The green locker and silver handle will always hold the memories of those minutes. With every lift of the handle, those minutes came crashing back, along with the pain, where everything changed. It happened so quickly, yet in slow motion. The five minutes that proved the world to be right. They were too young. He was trouble. She would get hurt. Why did they seem to be right when she tried so hard to prove them wrong?

If only time went in reverse and she could take back those words; words that caused the memory. Or if she had been smart enough to take a step back, be out of reach before she said it. How did she not see this coming? All the things I thought were so easy got harder and harder each day. Naivety would never happen again; he made sure of that, didn't he? After all, he always had the control; before, and long after.

The shirt she wore that day hidden in the back of her dresser with attemtp to be forgotten; it was never forgotten. It has been years since she looked at that shirt, although, it could still be remembered vividly, down to every last fade of color. The evidence of those moments were still on the shirt when she threw it away, ensuring it could never been seen by anyone else; although, when she closed her eyes, there it was.

She never asked if the evidence was still on her back. the answer was too scary to hear. If it was yes, then he was always with her, reminding her of what was. And if the answer was no? Well then she had no excuse. That excuse is all that she has. These excuses, how they served me so well. They've kept me safe, they've kept me stuck. They've kept me locked in my own cell.

Chicago To Do List.....Feel free to add your ideas!

2006-08-13T17:59:00.000-05:00

1) FIND A JOB (clearly that is a given but thought it better make the list so no one commented "Um don't you think you should find a job?)

2) Learn to sail (Maybe this should be 'Find someone to teach me how to sail)

3) Find the closest Public Library (Check)

4) Learn the coordinate system...also learn the point

5) Swim on this side of the Great Lakes

6) Take a spin class

7) Go to Howl at the Moon

Sample Day

2006-08-10T17:25:00.000-05:00

When I was younger, I didn't always like going grocery shopping with my mom. Mostly, because it took a long time and I felt that there was something better to do with my time. "Better to do with my time" usually meant watching TV or sleeping. Another reason to hate grocery shopping was because usually, that was not the only thing we had to do and the other running around that we had to do was even worse then grocery shopping. I was mainly in for shopping because it sometimes lead to eating out, which I loved then and still love to do.

Now I love to go grocery shopping; although, I am not as anal as some people are about the way groceries go in the cart, on the belt, or in the bags. However, even with this new love of grocery shopping, I do not want to go every day. I like to get what I need for a couple of weeks and then be done with it. I think this saves time and is less annoying when you go to grab for something that you don't actually have because you were going to get it on 'your next trip to the store'!

Today, though, I saw something that would make we want to go grocery shopping every day. It was sample day at our grocery store. So, you might be thinking that many stores have sample day...get over it. I love samples as much as the next person and it was the only save grace to the grocery store when I was younger. But this was not your ordinary sample day...I had never seen these "samples" before.

They were serving samples of.......VODKA!

Yes, Intelligent!

2006-08-09T22:40:00.000-05:00

Horiscope in today's paper:

"Up comes that topic you're not supposed to bring up in polite conversation. You have several opinions, not all of which fit nicely together. Being able to hold two conflicting opinions on the same issue is a sign of intelligence."

I don't often read my horiscope, but today I was job searching and this was right next to the want adds. Out of curiousity, I read it in hopes it would say "will find a job tomorrow!" I thought this was interesting today. I am not sure what "in polite conversation means" but I am hoping that said something isn't 'up coming' as I don't like confrontation and this seems like something I would not ordinarily want to talk about and is better left unsaid.

I am, however, agreeing with the very last sentence. I often have many internal conflicts on many issues that are important to me. Most of these come with what I believe for me and what I believe should be the law. There are many things I think the government should stay out of but I personally would not do or be involved in.

These "conflicts" clearly now show that I am INTELLIGENT. My horiscope told me that today. Can that go on my resume?

Enjoy the Ride

2006-08-08T10:35:00.000-05:00

Life, it's ever so strange
It's so full of change
Think that you've worked it out
then BANG
Right out of the blue
Something happens to you
To throw you off course
and then you

Breakdown
Yeah you breakdown
Well don't you breakdown
Listen to me
Because

It's just a ride, it's just a ride
no need to run, no need to hide
It'll take you round and round
Sometimes you're up
sometimes you're down
It's just a ride, it's just a ride
don't be scared
don't hide your eyes
It may feel so real inside
but don't forget it's just a ride

Truth, we don't wanna hear
It's too much to take
Don't like to feel out of control
So we make our plans
Ten times a day
And when they don't go
our way we

Breakdown
Yeah we breakdown
Well don't you breakdown
Listen to me
Because

It's just a ride, it's just a ride
no need to run, no need to hide
It'll take you round and round
Sometimes you're up
sometimes you're down
It's just a ride, it's just a ride
don't be scared
don't hide your eyes
It may feel so real inside
but don't forget it's just a ride

Slowly, oh so very slowly
except that
there's no getting off
So live it, just gotta go with it
coz this ride's, never gonna stop

Breakdown
Don't you breakdown
No need to breakdown
No need at all
Because

It's just a ride, it's just a ride
no need to run, no need to hide
It'll take you all around
Sometimes you're up
sometimes you're down
It's just a ride, it's just a ride
don't be scared now
dry your eyes
It may feel so real inside
but don't forget enjoy the ride

Book Meme

2006-08-07T11:27:00.000-05:00

I was tagged by Kristen so I thought that I would make it my first post.

1) One book that changed your life: I feel that a lot of books I have read have influenced me in some way. However, if I am picking one then I pick A Child Called It. After I read this I knew what I wanted to do when I grew up. Now I just need to grow up!

2)One book you have read more than once: I had to read Rich get Richer and Poor get Prison for more than one class, only read it for one though. I try to not read a book more than once since I have so many on my list

3) One book you would want with you on a Desert Island: My first thought was to bring something I had not read but that is a lot and what if it wasn't good and I am stuck with a bad book on my island? So then I thought to bring a fav but even that I am having trouble with. I will have to get back to you.

4) One book that made you laugh: I agree with Kristen that Running with Scissors made me laugh out loud a lot. But the Stephanie Plum Series also makes me laugh :)

5) One book you wish you had written: I just wish I could write. I would love to write about my experiences with my jobs in the future.

6) One book you wish had never been written: I think all books have a right to be written. Even if I don't agree with what was written.

7) One book that made you cry: I read many books that make me cry as I read a lot of books about abused children.

8) One book you are currently reading: A Safe Place

9) One book you have been meaning to read: I have been meaning to read A LOT of books. I have a long list. I am open for ideas of what I should read next.

10) One book you wish everyone would read: I agree with Kriten again with Rich get Richer. I would also add Nickle and Dimed.

People I want to do this:

Lesley
Deb
Erika