Chicago!

Soooo, I've been procrastinating on this post because I'm ashamed that I only managed to take about 10 pictures of my trip. Most of the photoging was done by the birthday girl and she has yet to share. Some of them may not be suitable for internet consumption. I'm just saying. Here's how it went down...

Flew out of the local airport...granted, its only about a 5 hour drive to Chicago but I felt like being a frivolous sack of poo. My friend, we shall call her Chipmunk*, can't drive because of an eye thing so flying seemed the way to go. Chipmunk and I made it there in one piece and after a harrowing taxi excursion made it to our other friend, we shall call her Noodles*, at her office. Noodles thought that it would be brilliant to bribe the receptionist to call security on us. She feigned knowledge of Noodles' existence and Chipmunk and I were borderline panicking. At the last minute Noodles appeared cackling. Receptionist gets 1 cool point for going along and not cracking a smile once.

After not getting snacks on the plane, Chipmunk and I ran across 6 lanes of traffic to get McDonald's. Icky man held open the door for Chipmunk and then offered to give her a ride to wherever she wanted to go. One can only imagine where icky people take Chipmunks.

We promptly packed up Noodles and went to an 80's music thingy clear across town. I was able to see how aggressive Noodles' driving has become as well as learn all about Chicago rush hour. We managed to miss the first two bands because of traffic. We did, however, get to see Joan Jett, REO Speedwagon, ZZ Top, and how much beer 60 bucks will get 3 grown women at a concert. Not much, surprisingly. It was the first utterance of the weekend motto "Oh fuck it, we're on vacation". Ended up leaving the concert a little early because amazingly, Chicago really is the windy city...the freezing, windy city.

Next day, the three of us decide to do some major damage at the mall. Decide to get lunch first to curb the "I feel so cute in this, I must buy it" factor. Ate at a hugenormous salad bar place called Sweet Tomatoes. We need one in Iowa. They're fabulous. I ate my own weight in pasta salad and kalamata olives. The remaining time at the mall was a blur of clothes, shoes, and pedicure. When we made it back to Noodles' place, her boyfriend had made us dinner and margaritas (I have thus accepted him into the family). Afterward was spent wandering around the Edison Park bars and meeting the natives. Most of them seem to be male. It was abnormal, but not necessarily in a bad way. Good time was had by all.

Next day, sleep till noon. "Sleep" being used loosely as neighbor has yappy dog with an early wakeup call. Get around and go to the beach. Noodles:tan. Chipmunk:tan. Em:Albino. I stuck out on the beach like a giant beacon of sparkly white light. Spent most of the day with my face covered taking a nap. I did remember to wear sunscreen...except I have funny little sunburn lines on my stomach and hips where the sunscreen didn't reach when I was applying it sitting up (stupid stupid stupid!). Lesson learned. Add it to my collection of utterly ridiculous tanlines. Noodles got scorched...all hail mighty sunscreen.

Postbeach, I felt like I was starting to get sick. Headache, sinuses, achy...unpleasant. We got all dolled up and made our way to Wrigleyville. Let the record show that we were running late for the train and ended up having to run to catch it...in 4 inch heels. I have the blisters to prove it (say it with me, stupid stupid stupid! but cute...). I felt like hell all night and had little motivation to buy 12 dollar drinks so we ended up calling it an earlyish night. Noodles and Chipmunk were mildly peeved but I think they're over it now.

Next day, sleep til noon. Had aspired to go to a cubs game but it started at 1 something and we were moving at a snails pace. Ended up going downtown and wandering around the Field Museum and Millenium Park (behold the shiny giant bean). Had a relaxing dinner and then realized that we were running late for the train. Again. This time we had to run about 2 blocks but I was smart enough to be wearing flip flops. Chipmunk made it back with about 5 minutes to pack and get to the airport before her flight left. I had a later flight so it wasn't nearly as bad.

My flight had about a half hour delay because apparently they decided to send the tarmac people home and there was no one to wheel us away from the walkway thinger 20 feet. It was chaos watching the little dudes in golf carts figure out who was sposed to be taking care of it. I wished I had a squirt gun so I could soak one of them until they just shut up and did it. Ended up getting in super late. Woke Chipmunk up where she was waiting at the airport and we made it home after a punchy drive.

Great trip, hardly any pictures to prove it, still tired, still have half my stuff in the suitcase, spent too much money, don't regret any of it.

*Chipmunk gets her name because on occasion she makes a goofy little chattery noise and acts hyper like said creature (I call her Chipmunk to her face, no worries). Noodles gets her name because at any point in time you will find her eating pasta. I think she ate spaghetti for breakfast at least twice while I was there, god bless her carb loving heart. I wonder what kind of name they would give me...if Sarcastic Bitch weren't so obvious...

Monday Scraps II

I've been kinda busy and stuff but I feel like I'm neglecting again...so here are some little niblets for your enjoyment.

-Contrary to some theories, the brain nibbling parasites have subsided and I'm getting more sleep. I still wake up around 4ish but at least I'm getting some sleep. Its a work in progress.

- I've been riding my roadbike alot. I find it ironical because my ex-husband would have given his right hand to get me to ride the damn thing more. I can hear him rolling his eyes when I call him to ask how to adjust my rear derailleur or recenter my pedal clips. Life is silly.

- I'm getting a vacation this week! A friend and I are going to Chicago to visit another friend. We were all pretty tight in high school and then lost touch and have kind of regained touch. It's amazing how much and how little people can change since high school. At any rate, we get to spend a few days in the Windy City (which I really like as far as breezy destinations go), hang out, see the museums, catch a cubs game (hopefully, pretty please) and just bum around in general. I'm really really really excited.

- I am getting ready, sorta, for the move. I have a couple weeks left and I'm making little baby steps toward getting packed. I've been throwing out all the miscellaneous crap that followed me from KC and I'm trying to thin out my closet a tad. In case you were unaware, I own more clothes than god. If god kept every single sweatshirt he ever had because ya never know when you'll need a super ratty but very comfortable crappy sweatshirt. It's a disease. I'm going to try and cure it within the next two weeks.

- Other than that, life is same. Still loving my new/old job. Still chillin' like a villian. Still plotting to take over the world, or at least the local coffee shop. I'll probably be back with pictures in tow following the Chicago Expedition 2007. Until then...

Holy Crap! I'm Tired!

The last four nights have been a royal pain in my ass. First night, I tossed and turned only half slept due to super weird dreams. The night after that, I just stayed awake pretty much all night, staring at the ceiling. The night before last I actually got about 5 hours and was thrilled beyond comprehension. But last night, I tossed and turned again, finally giving up at about 5.

Now, I'm not under any stress...I have been getting exercise to make myself tired...I stop drinking caffeine after noon...I'm not eating anything weird for dinner to keep me up. I don't know what the hell is going on but I'm tired of it. Pun intended. I'm getting to the point where I'm really punchy and a little wobbly and am getting absent minded. Not good. I feel like I'm back in classes already and its finals week...

Older

As some of you may have found out, yesterday was my birthday. I turned 26. I drank champagne all weekend and ate fabulous food and spent time with family and friends. I decided that I liked it so much, I'm continuing the festivities all week with the 4th and then the hoopla surrounding my brother's wedding this weekend. Now, I know that their wedding is their wedding but I'm going to convince myself that it's all part of my birthday. Because I rock.