Happy 6 month anniversary to Chicago and I!

SIX MONTHS!

Well, technically, it’s been six months and two days since I moved to Chicago. I finally know my way around the city pretty well, I don’t run on and off the train in fear of being crushed by the doors, I have a few bars I frequent, I keep my apartment clean and I have a job. Yup, feels like the Big Kid World to me!

Things here are going very well. I think I’ve hit a pretty good stride, and I’m really looking forward to the next few months.

As I walked home from the el last night, I thought back to when I moved here. Everything was new and exciting, and of course I was scared shitless. But the city doesn’t seem scary anymore. My breath still catches when I see the skyline glittering late at night, though, and I can’t get enough of wandering up and down the streets in Lakeview.

I’m looking forward to getting downtown soon to see the lights, then celebrate St. Patrick’s Day by watching them dye the river green. There is so much still for me to do and experience...luckily for me, my lease isn’t up for 9 more months!

I’ve been contacted by a couple of papers for reporting jobs…isn’t that always how it goes? I was frantically searching for months, and once I got a job, I get contacted for more! Go figure. Lake Placid was more alluring than this one…a daily in rural Northern Idaho. No thanks on the potato front. However, if any of my writing friends are interested, I’ll gladly send you the editor’s name!

As I mentioned in my last post, my new job keeps me insanely busy. However, if you want to plan a trip to the Windy City, there is always a place for you to stay!

The Big-Girl Job falls into place.

To say my life has been busy as of late would be an understatement. But I have a few minutes of downtime at work, so I thought I would post a quick update about life here in the Windy City.

For those of you who read the first paragraph carefully, you probably realize that I am employed! Finally! The hours are brutal, but nothing worse than I endured working for the baseball team, and I don’t have to wear a chicken costume.

Actually, I am working 7 days a week now, about 12-15 hours each day. But there is hardly any down time, so I’m constantly on an adrenaline high. Already, I’ve learned so much and gotten to take on some cool projects, so I’m a pretty happy camper.

Of course, 2 days after getting this job, I got a call from a paper out in Lake Placid, New York interested in interviewing me for an adventure-writing job. It sounds like it’d be right up my alley, but I have to say I’m content with where I’m at.

I’m also getting to write quite a bit, which makes me very happy.

Chicago still is treating me well. This is not where I’d like to stay forever, though. It’s become clear that I prefer being a big fish in a small pond, or a big fish in a big pond (haha), rather than kind of lost in the stream. It’s strange to walk down the street and pass 100 people who don’t make eye contact, smile, nod or say ‘hello.’ For anyone who used to chat with me on the phone while I trotted across CMU’s campus, greeting every person I came across, you know that this is odd for me.

For now, though, I still enjoy taking the train and watching the skyline flicker at night. There is something really beautiful about Chicago, and I am thrilled to make this my first home in the Big Kid World.

I’ve been doing some dating here and there, of course. I met a dude on a train…who’s shocked? Haha…didn’t work out. I went out with another guy who proceeded to be nothing but be rude to our cab driver. It was totally awkward, and I’m not quite sure what he was trying to prove…hm. That didn’t go anywhere either, clearly. There’s no need to be mean to cabbies!

I also learned a valuable lesson along the lines of not shitting where I eat. That’s another story that’s not suitable for the blogosphere, though, because I’m not the asshole in the situation. Too much? Oh well, recent events make me think I’m justified.

I’m really looking forward to Thanksgiving, although my vacation home will be cut short because of work. It will be nice to have a little break, and get my car back! Jerry the Jeep and I reunited once again! My office is in the suburbs, and it’s nearly impossible to get to by public transit. So the lady in the purple Jeep cruising around Illinois…yup, that’s me. Well, will be in 2 weeks.

I think that’s about it for now! Of course, I’m probably leaving things out, but I need to get back to work. Gosh, I’m so official.

And reality sets in...

The novelty of being in a new place is wearing off. I’m not a tourist anymore, but I still haven’t found my niche yet. It’s been a frustrating couple of weeks, and I need to make some changes.

The transition to Chicago was shockingly easy. I think it was a combination of excitement and anticipation. But after being here for three months, the frustration of starting life in a new place is sinking in.

I’m lucky that I have a few good friends from home here, but making new friends is harder than I thought it would be. It doesn’t help that my job is hanging out with a baby, not working with people my age. I think work makes meeting people easy…and I don’t have that luxury right now.

The nannying is still going well, but the baby is teething, so she’s not happy most of the time. I feel badly for her because I know she’s in pain, I just miss the days when she would nap and I could get things done! It’s selfish to say it, I know, but at this point it’s just adding to my frustration.

The most frustrating part is my inability to job search. Her parents told me to feel free to look for something permanent, which is really generous, but I can’t do at the expense of Emily. So when she’s awake, I’m not looking. Which means I’m hardly looking right now. I’m totally hustling on the job front, trying to sift through the thousands of bullshit postings on Web sites and find legitimate offers. I’m looking at almost all entry-level positions…but it turns out, entry level really means with 5 years of experience. Hm…interesting. And annoying.

I keep signing myself up for events and workshops, but this weekend will be the first time I can make one. It’s a weekend-long workshop on political campaigning. It looks like they have some sessions on social media and political marketing/communications, so I think it will be really interesting. At least, I hope it will be!

I also joined a new choir at St. Clement Church. It’s finally getting me back to sacred/Latin/classical music, and I couldn’t be happier about it. Rehearsals are on Wednesday nights, then we perform at the late Sunday morning mass. I’m really looking forward to this and think it will be a good outlet for me.

So, that’s it. Maybe my work schedule will level out a bit so I can make some of the other things I’ve signed up for. I guess we’ll have to see. Either way, I’ll keep you posted!

Tossing 'Hail Marys'

I never thought I would join the workforce ranks as a nanny, but it is the situation I currently find myself in.

Luckily for me, the family I work for is incredible. Both parents are really great, and the baby, 6-month-old Emily, is adorable. She’s so cute I can hardly stand it, and I’ve become mildly obsessed with her.

Don’t worry, this is not a permanent job by any means. For now, though, it’s allowing me to stay in Chicago while I job search, as well as maintain a social life and even save some money.

What’s been interesting about this job are the people I have met. It seems like most affluent families in Chicago have full-time nannies, and believe it or not, I am in the minority of that group. I’m white, I’ve gone to college and I’m an American citizen. Weird, right?

I’ve met nannies from all over the world…Mexico, Barbados, Ireland and Poland. Actually, I have met at least a dozen nannies from Poland. Most are older than my parents and have been in the United States for about 20 years.

I got to chatting with one the other day about how we both ended up nannying in the city. It was an interesting conversation, and we covered a lot of ground. I mentioned that I used to sing classical music. The Polish nanny put her hand to her chest and asked if I knew Schubert’s Ave Maria. Of course, I do. Then she asked if I knew the legend of what inspired the Austrian composer to write one of the most beautiful and enduring pieces of religious music.

I must have sung the Ave Maria a million times, but I didn’t know the story, so she told me.

Franz Schubert was traveling through the Austrian Alps during a very cold winter. On a very dark and frigid night, he wandered from the path and got lost on the mountain, disoriented and freezing, his energy was depleting and he desperately sought cover from the harsh conditions. Unable to find shelter, death seemed imminent, so Schubert started praying for relief. Suddenly, an angel appeared. She reached down and enveloped him in her warmth before carrying him to shelter. As he drifted with the angel, she sung to him a sweet melody…which he later transcribed into the Ave Maria.

I don’t know if the legend the old Polish lady told me is true or not, but I like the story.

There’s more to this job than I realized, and some of those unexpected aspects are very pleasant surprises.

This story won't surprise anyone who knows me.

Some people have talents or aptitudes that make them better than others at certain things. I have a couple of those, but more honed, is my knack of attracting weird and sketchy men.

I don’t know what it is about me that says: home wrecker, voyeur, counselor, etc., but it must be a vibe I emit. I just can’t come up with any other logical explanation as to why I attract the real winners.

I thought perhaps spending the last five years going to college on an Indian reservation in the middle of nowhere had something to do with my luck, and that once I made my big move to the big city, the tides would turn.

I’ve been proved wrong a few times already, but an instance on the Addison bus not too long ago really solidifies that I need a new vibe.

As I stood under the Red Line waiting for my bus, I watched people stream out of the train stop as I sipped an espresso and paged through my Red Eye. I wear massive, black sunglasses, ideal for people watching without getting caught. What I did catch, though, was a very good looking man emerging from the station and waiting not far from where I stood.

No matter where I am, I always check ring fingers. It’s the second thing I notice about a man, after his ass…ets. Well, this handsome man was wearing more than a crisp, blue shirt to show off his tan, a platinum ring glistened in the sun, projecting the word “UNAVAILABLE.”

I did an about face and turned toward the street to wait for the bus, when out of nowhere, I felt someone standing a little too close to me. Out of the corner of my eye, I see it’s married man. Luckily the bus pulled up and the line to get on formed. Married guy waited coolly, letting people go in front of him, including myself, before cutting off the rest of the line to stand behind me.

I board quickly and swipe my card. The bus is mostly empty, so I find a spot toward the middle and put my bag on the seat between me and the aisle. Married man settles onto the aisle seat directly across from me.

He has positioned himself awkwardly, sitting sideways in the seat with his legs in the aisle and his left hand dangling over the seat in front of him. He clears his throat in that “I want your attention” kind of way, so I turn and look at him and notice something odd.

There is no ring on his finger.

I raise an eyebrow…which is imperceptible under my shades, and then an interesting conversation takes place:

"Hi, I'm (insert generic, cheater-guy name here)."

"Hi, I'm Candi," I reply, of course, tossing out the fake name I keep on hand.

"Cool. Well, it's turning out to be a pretty nice day,"

"Yeah, finally nice weather."

"Do you have any plans this weekend?" Ah...here it is!

"Uh, not really," Now, as annoying as this guy has become, it's quickly apparent that he is leaving himself open to be called out. "Do you?"

"Ha, no. I was kind of hoping that maybe you and I could do something, though," he looked at me with a smile.

I removed my sunglasses and smiled back. "Oh yeah? Do you think the woman whose ring you were wearing would appreciate us hanging out?"

SILENCE. Then..."Uhh...huh?"

"Am I mistaken or did I not see you get off the L with a ring on your finger?"

I got a cough in response before he tugged the cord signaling it was his stop. As soon as the bus had slowed he was at the door, pushing them open and scurrying the opposite way down Addison.

Oh...my life.

Well, folks...looks like I'm here to stay!

What a crazy few days it’s been!

The most exciting part is FINALLY being in my new apartment! It’s shaping up really well, and I love getting everything settled and where I want it to be. The move-in process, though, was not so easy. Apparently the unmarked apartment I signed a lease for was apartment 31. Too bad I thought apartment 31 is actually apartment 29. It wouldn’t have been such a big deal…except apartment 31 is in the basement, a place I will not go. Anyways, it took three hours and a dozen phone calls to resolve. If you want the whole story, call me…otherwise I think I’ll lose most of my readers in the 3000 words it would take to recount it.

Still, it all worked out, and I love my place! I’m always open to guests, so let me know if you’ll ever be in the area.

I started nannying Monday, and so far—so good! Emily is adorable and I’m totally into her. Not to mention I dress her head-to-toe in Ralph Lauren and make her wear sunglasses. It’s too cute!

What I’m really looking forward to is tonight (should the weather clear up)…Cubs game! I’m finally going to Wrigley for a game, and I cannot wait. Thank you, Kraft, for the fabulous seats…Kait, Jay, Ryan and I are going to have a blast. I’ll make sure to update you on what it’s actually like inside the ivy walls.

So that's about all that's new here. I'll post photos of my new place as soon as I get my camera back from Kaitlyn (on that note, pics from my weekend with AJ will have to be posted, too!), and remember, I'll be here until August 31, 2010. So, let me know if you're up for a visit!

I got lost yesterday...again.

As I mentioned, I am joining a gym that is a mere block away from my new apartment. I went there yesterday to check the place out and get a feel for it. I was running really behind schedule because I spent the morning with the family I will be nannying for. I ran home after I left their place and grabbed all my workout gear, then headed down Addison to Fitness Formula Club.

Thus begins my afternoon of ridiculous events that would only happen to me.

I hopped off the bus at Addison and Halsted, two hours late for my appointment with the membership coordinator, and headed south on Halsted. With my huge Vera Bradley bad in tow, I walked as fast as my freakishly short legs could carry me. I made it about 5 blocks before it hit me…I should have been there by now.

Now, let me give you some perspective. I live on Waveland Ave., about a mile and a half from my new apartment and gym…which both also are on Waveland. Waveland is north of Addison. I know this because I walk south to get to the Addison bus or L every day. So why, then, did I walk south on Addison to get to Waveland? I have no idea.

So, I turned around booked it the 7 blocks back up to Waveland. Not thinking, I took a left…again the wrong way. Good thing, I only made it one block this time before turning around.

By the time I made it to the gym, I was already sweating like a crazy person…and I was two-and-a-half hours late.

The guy I met with, Greg, was a good sport about it and showed me around the facility. As part of my trial, I got a free day at the club to test things out and see how everything felt. So, I left Greg and headed up to the locker room to get changed.

I made it into my sweats, t-shirt and socks before realizing…oops! I forgot my running shoes. My flip-flops were just not going to cut it, although now that I think about it, I ran about a mile in those puppies getting to the gym, so maybe I underestimated them.

Good thing I brought my swimsuit. Swimming happens to be one of my favorite activities anyway, so I wasn’t too upset to move it up in the itinerary. I got changed again, this time ready to hit the pool for some laps.

Well, laps are a lot easier with goggles. Which…shocker…I forgot.

I was already in my suit, so I headed to the pool any way. Luckily for me, no one was in there. I paddled around for about 30 minutes, looking like a total fool to whoever was watching the cameras aimed over the pool. I’m sure it was entertaining if nothing else. Then I spent a few minutes in the hot tub, thinking about how lame I can be when I forget things.

I was really hoping that after only 40 minutes of ‘working out,’ Greg wouldn’t be at the desk when I got down there. Then I would be the girl who was not only really late, but the girl who was given a whole free day to try things out and only used a kick board in the pool.

Well, he was down there. He looked a little surprised to see me so soon, but I just brushed it off and thanked him for his help.

As I headed out of the gym, I plugged my earbuds in and headed down Waveland toward home. The Cubs were playing, so the path took me through some crowds at the back of the stadium. About the time I hit Wrigley, my iPod died.

I rolled my eyes because it was kind of the perfect way to end my afternoon fiasco. In reality, though, it turned out to offer something a little better than a musical walk home.

Waveland is tree-lined from one end to the other, and yesterday happened to have a perfect summer evening. The sky was blue and twilight was just setting in. A light breeze, the baby brother of Chicago’s famous wind, rustled the leaves and set a pitch for the birds.

As the shouts from the stadium disappeared behind me, a different pair of hawkers offered lemonade for 25 cents a cup. My dad taught me always to carry extra quarters for situations like this, probably because he witnessed many successes and failures on his own street corner when my sister and I tried to pass our concoctions off on neighbors, as well.

I bought two cups…probably erasing all the paddling I’d done in the pool, but I figured it was only right since there were two kids. They poured my lemonade and sent me on my way, a cup in each hand.

I continued on my walk and sipped my lemonade, and again thought about how lucky I am to be in Chicago, making my next move. Making my own life. Isn’t that a great thing? I don’t mean just for me…but in general?

The baseball, the lemonade, a perfect summer night and starting a whole new life in one of the worlds’ greatest cities…pretty All American. And really, really great.

Just like the Girl Scouts taught me...

It’s official…I am a full-time nanny! If you had asked me a year ago about this situation, I may not have been as excited. However, with recent economic issues (ah-hem) and the desire to stay in Chicago for a little while longer, this is the perfect solution. Not to mention, I’ve found a great family and the cutest little baby on the planet to hang out with, so it’s not such a bad deal. Also, I’ve made some great connections here who will hopefully lead me to some freelancing opportunities. So, I guess we’ll see!

I’ve been thinking a lot about my new apartment and my new life, and I honestly couldn’t be more excited about everything that’s coming up! Luckily for me, everything seems to be falling into place (knock on wood, of course). However, there are a few more things I want to do while I’m here.

First off, I really had not anticipated how difficult it would be to make friends in a new place. I’m under the assumption that most of you reading this know me, at least a little. If I am correct, then you know as well as anyone that making friends happens to be a forte of mine. But there is a common factor of all my previous friend-meeting grounds…wherever I went, the place was chock-full of people with the same common goal as me. High school: graduate high school. College: graduate college, maybe throw some (or a lot) of partying in along the way. In Chicago, I don’t have that luxury. I have moved to a place where people are established with jobs, friends, routines and hangouts. Breaking in isn’t easy. Not to mention, the other interns at WGN are not too social, and babysitting is not the best job for meeting people.

Luckily for me, I have a great base here. Kait, Erin, Alan, Ryan, Allie and Paul (until they left me) were lifesavers in my first few months here. Also, visits from some of my favorite people spiced things up and kept me excited.

But I have decided to take some steps in building my own little world here. Let me clarify that this decision is not to split from my friends here…but for me to get to know more people and have some things to occupy my time in the evenings after work and when Kait and Erin might not feel like reliving college with me by drinking a bottle of wine on a Tuesday night. Haha

Hot Commodity is a good start. I’ve gotten to know some really cool people, and I get to keep singing. But…I still feel like I could be doing a little more…

So, I’ve decided to join a book club. I like to read, and the time commitment is relatively small. I think I’ll be able to meet a pretty wide array of people, as well. Besides, watching a baby for 10 hours each day is bound to provide some down time.

Also, I’ve registered for details about Meet Ups around the city. There’s a group that meets for different theatrical events once a month. And another that meets at different museums throughout the city. Actually, there are a few thousand Meet Up groups in Chicago, with one fore about every hobby, interest or specialty. Anyway, I imagine these are pretty flexible, and will give me more insight about events and happenings around town. I can pick and choose what I want to attend, and I’ll get to meet a concentrated group of people with similar interests.

Finally…I’ve joined a gym. Every one in my life seems rather surprised by this, and I am, too. Not that I am opposed to fitness, I just really hate gyms. I played sports through middle and high schools, and rollerbladed down trails near my house, so I just never got into the habit of running in place on a treadmill.

Well, I found a place a block from my house that is really nice. I’ll spare you all the details of the layout, although, if you want them, feel free to check out the Fitness Formula Club’s Web site at www.ffc.com.

I’m hoping that this will also be a place for me to meet some new people…not to mention, they have a beach yoga class on Sundays that I am dying to try.

So, here’s to making new friends but keeping the old…and maybe getting in shape along the way.

The East Coast's Finest Makes a Visit!

Well, aside from catching the plague this weekend, I managed to shimmy around Chicago a little bit with my favorite Capitol Hill lady, AJ Parker!

We kicked off our weekend of shenanigans in full 80s-glam style, all too pay tribute to Mr. Michael Jackson. Tributosaurus played three MJ tribute shows around the Chicagoland area, and we were lucky enough to catch the outdoor show at Fitzgerald’s. The bar was really far out of town, but totally worth the hike (thanks Lisa and Pete for the ride!). A few hundred people turned out for the show, packed with Chicago’s finest musical talents, great bar food and $12 Stoli pitchers. I was blown away by the music, and I think the crowd was blown away by our outfits.

Here is Tributosaurus’ Web site, http://www.tributosaurus.com/, definitely check it out. They were amazing and I will be taking in more of their shows in the future.

After Tributosaurus we met up with some friends at McGee’s near DePaul. Beers were only $1, so it doesn’t get much better…but it had to be the yuppiest of all yuppy bars. And this comes from a preppy sorority girl. In all reality, our MJ ensembles didn’t help us fit in, but I wouldn’t say it’s worth another trip back.

Friday morning I had to be to WGN by 4:30 for the 8^th-annual Kids Fair! The event went really well, but it’s just another indicator that my time at Channel 9 is winding down. I’ve been working on Kids Fair stuff since my first week, crazy that it all culminated a few days ago.

After the Kids Fair, AJ met me to head way off the blue line to the Donald E. Stevenson Convention Center for COMIC CON! That’s right…it’s a comic book convention. AJ donned her Wonder Woman t-shirt to make sure she fit in with the demographic, but I remained in my WGN Kids Fair swag…complete with Harry & David’s chocolate spilled down the front. Classy.

Anyways, I was there representing the station and holding raffles for sweet WGN prizes (plug!), but AJ had a few other ideas about a day at Comic Con. Between drawings, she and I checked out booths, snapped pics with some Star Troopers and met reality royalty Adrienne Curry and Christopher Knight. Adrienne was way prettier in person that she appears on television…but with a price tag of $20 for a photo with she and her husband, AJ and I passed. We did, however, get a not-so realistic caricature drawn of us. By the end of our Comic Con adventure, we were beat. So we hopped back on the blue and made our way to good ol’ Lakeview.

After napping off the night before and two conventions, we dolled ourselves up for a sushi and bar night with Kaitlyn and Sherri. After some research on BYOB sushi places, we decided on Toro sushi on Clark, just south of Diversey. We arrived at about 8:30, three bottles of wine in tow, only to find out that the wait would be too long for us to enjoy dinner. I was disappointed, especially after seeing incredible, massive rolls delivered to the lucky patrons who showed up early.

Kait, AJ and I still had a yen for sushi, so we heeled it down Clark, hoping to find an alternative. Kabuki saved the day. Most of the tables were empty, which made me nervous at first, until Kait made an excellent point: all the people eating at Kabuki were Asian. We figured that was a good sign, and we were correct! We started with edemame for the table, each ordered two rolls. I would say kabuki was 7-for-7. The sushi was fresh and the veggies were perfectly ripe and crispy. Not to mention, we sat right next to a table with a photo of Frank Sinatra, because apparently that’s where he used to sit during his visits to Kabuki.

Full of fish and wine, we trekked way downtown to LaSalle Power Company. My sinus issues were really kicking in at this point, which was a huge bummer because this place was amazing. It had a great atmosphere and tons of personality. With gilded bronze ceilings, huge paper ball lanterns and a DJ accompanied by a guitarist and drummer, this was unlike any place I have ever been to. The drinks were good, and even with a packed floor, we got great service. I checked out at about 1 a.m., but will definitely go back again.

Unfortunately, the trip to the Power Company was my last appearance for the weekend. AJ did manage to have some fun without me…good thing! I felt terrible that our much anticipated weekend of shenanigans was lightened by the plague, but I think we made some headway on a few more trips coming up this fall!

Thanks for coming, AJ, it was so great to see you!

P.S. I have photos from the weekend…but since my camera is MIA for a hot sec (AJ!), they’ll be up soon!

I'm still here!

It’s been a while since I’ve updated! What can I say? It’s been a really, really busy few weeks.

The internship is going fabulously! I can’t believe I’m less than three weeks from the finish line. I’ve learned a lot, networked with some great contacts and even played a little softball with the WGN Bozos! We didn’t win the championship, but we did make it to playoffs…so I think it was a pretty successful season.

You may or may not know that I’ve been singing with an a cappella group here in the Second City. Hot Commodity is an eclectic group of singers, all of whom have significantly more musical experience than myself! Still, they put up with me and have given me a foothold here in my new home. Our first gig was last week, and it went really well. Totally different from the Central Harmony concerts I have become so familiar with, we performed in a bar on a small stage, individually miked. It was nerve-racking! Erin and Alan came all the way up to The Spot to see the show, and it was so nice to have some familiar faces there.

It looks like my next career move will be…nannying! Who would’ve thought? I start at the end of August, watching a little 5-month-old baby. I’m looking forward to starting because it’s going to give me the opportunity to stay in the city and work toward finding a more permanent position this year.

Speaking of staying in the city…I found an apartment! Woo hoo! I finally feel like I’m starting my real life. So for anyone who wants to come visit, I have an extra room (it’s small, but you’re welcome to use i!) and a kitchen with a full-size stove ready to churn out all kinds of dago dishes. Not to mention, I’m a block from Wrigley and right on Halsted, better known as Boystown. Lots of great restaurants and bars, so it’s bound to be a crazy year!

That’s about it! It’s a quick update after a few long weeks, but I’ll be more diligent. After all, who knows what’s to come?

My backyard.

Finally! Mom and Dad bought me a new camera for my birthday. I am extra pleased because now I can really document my move to Chicago. I thought I would start with the backyard I've raved about since it's right here and I have to work in an hour. Enjoy!

Happy Birthday to Me!

This weekend was one of the best I have had in Chicago so far! First, it was my birthday, which you all know is my favorite day of the whole year. The celebrating started Thursday when my very first friend, Allie, and I got manicures and pedicures at CiCi’s on Lincoln.

CiCi’s is BYOB, so with a bottle of champagne in tow, we headed to the salon. The service was quick and friendly, and the calf and foot massage was worth the price. Allie opted for just a pedi, which is $27, I went with the combo for a mere $10 more. They don’t give you the fun little foam flip-flops there, but after getting all OPI’ed and a little buzzed up, it didn’t really matter.

After pampering ourselves, we headed to Frasca’s for dinner. I’ve been there before for their $10 bottomless mimosas at brunch, but hadn’t been for dinner. Allie and I split the Wrightwood salad and a margherita pizza, paired with their marinated asparagus and sangria.The food was great, and since the service was a little slow, the asparagus was comped by a manager.

We topped of the night with a few Oberons and a chocolate cupcake…it was the perfect start to a great weekend!

On Saturday, my parents came into town with the Crafts, and together we went to the river for the Chicago Architecture Foundation tour. The tour was 90 minutes long, with a great docent guiding us through the city skyline and describing in detail the histories of buildings, their designers and their styles. Obviously, I loved learning about Tribune Tower, but I think the art deco-styled buildings were my favorite. I also thought it was interesting when she described the different schools of thought subscribed to by architects. I guess I never realized how much thought and insight goes into the building, its surroundings and how it will impact the world around it.

We wandered around an art fair downtown after the tour, then hit the Miracle Mile for a little shopping. But the real highlight of the day was dinner at Mia Francesca. The little restaurant just off the Brown Line Belmont stop. The place was packed, but it looked and smelled like a little Tuscan restaurant when the whole town turns out for a party.

The meal started with wine for the table and loaves of bread smothered in oil, cheese and spices. The wait for our party of nine wasn’t bad when it came to getting dinner…and between the group, we sampled most of the menu. Typically, I prefer roma tomatoes for my caprese salad, but the massive tomatoes we were served were really sweet and mild. As far as I know, the Caesar salad also was good. The entrees, though, were incredible all the way around. I had rigatoni alla butera, and it goes down as the best pasta dish I have ever had. Slices of sausage, rigatoni, peas and a creamy tomato sauce were perfect for a warm summer night, and gave me exactly the meal I wanted on my birthday. I didn’t taste everyone’s entrees, but since Paul was seated right next to me, I swiped a bite of his gnocchi…which was absolutely amazing. It was stuffed with mushrooms and mascarpone cheese, then drizzled in a cream sauce. Both the sauce and the dumplings were the perfect texture and consistency.

Needless to say, I cannot wait to go back to Mia Francesca soon.

Sunday morning’s breakfast was far from Italian. Our group headed to Wishbone on Lincoln and School, a Southern comfort and Creole-influenced restaurant. The menu had breakfast staples, as well as new twists on those old classics. I chose the jambalaya omelet, paired with potatoes and cornbread. I was torn between that and the sweet red pepper benedict, which I definitely will choose the next time I visit Wishbone. The omelet was really good and offered a flavor combination I had never experienced before. The fresh-squeezed orange juice and strong coffee were nice compliments, and I enjoyed every sip and bite. I should also mention the super-creamy cheese grits that Mom ordered, and from which I swiped a few bites.

All in all, the weekend was a really great one filled with amazing bites of Chicago, phenomenal food and fabulous friends. I could not have asked for a better way to ring in my 23^rd year.Here’s hoping it just keeps getting better.

Planes. Trains. Automobiles.

I love public transportation.

And no, that was not a sarcastic comment. For a people watcher like me, the CTA, or any other public transit system for that matter, is the perfect place to get my fix and see a plethora of interesting and odd people.

On my first day in the city, I took the Red Line from Kait’s apartment up toward my neighborhood. As I waited underground for my train, a woman made her way to the middle of the platform. She was a big woman, and the clothes she wore billowed around her frame. She set down her bags and then, without even looking around, took a deep breath and started to sing. Totally unselfconsciously, with no cup for tips, she sang one gospel tune after another, swaying back and forth. She didn’t get on the train when I did, so I don’t know how long she stood there, but for a few minutes, it made the tagged underground space feel a little warmer.

Since the train doesn’t go out to WGN’s station, I typically take the bus to work in the morning. While the morning commuter crowd is usually pretty boring, the afternoon ride home, or a late night trip, always offers a few characters.

There was the man dressed head-to-toe in Cubs memorabilia…hat, jersey, watch, undershirt, socks…and tatted up arms. One of his tattoos revealed him as a Vietnam vet, the others just seemed like a hodgepodge of doodles he thought were cool at the time. But I didn’t ask, so I guess I’ll never really know the stories behind them.

I counseled a girl through a breakup on one train ride, and watched an intense game of dice during another. There’s almost always a panhandler, or a mother parading her kids around looking for change. Some times, when I get really lucky, there will be a whole car of empty seats and a weirdo will choose to sit next to me.

Friday, I get ready to head to my cottage for the holiday weekend. I get my train ticket, and am excited to find out that Erin is on my train, which means I’ll have someone I actually know to chat with on the ride home. Well, when we got on the train, all the double seats were already full with a t least one passenger. Everyone has to double up on these trips, so I’m hoping we might be able to sweet talk someone into switching so that we can sit together. No dice. So instead we sit across the aisle from one another. Well, we got lucky in terms of characters to sit near.

In the window seat next to Erin is an older lady in a very colorful jacket. She falls asleep about 10 minutes into the ride, and begins to quietly snore and her head jerks around with the moving train. Her nap doesn’t last too long, though, and when she wakes up, reaches into her bag and pulls out some kind of craft project. Erin and I glance out of the corners of eyes, trying to figure out what she is going to do with the thread and scissors. Then she takes out a purse, which I’m assuming she made, that is constructed of plastic grocery bags! Grocery bags! I don’t know how she did it, but it looked crocheted. After toiling with her for a while, she seemed satisfied at the end product, and put it away before pulling out her iPod and settling in for the rest of the trip.

Sitting across the aisle from each other wasn’t too terrible, unless you were the woman sitting next to me that is.

She had the seat next to her piled with her things, and when I asked her politely if I could sit next to her, slowly moved each piece one-by-one off the seat. I stood there waiting for her to complete the task, then sat down. Erin and I began chatting, at a reasonable volume for being on a train full of people. It didn’t take long after we pulled away from the station, though, for the lady next to me to start sighing and making comments under her breath about me talking to Erin. I didn’t pay much attention…until the conductor comes around to collect tickets. The girl behind her, who is sitting by herself, reaches over the seat and says “Mom, wake up, they need your ticket.” She responds with “I am awake. Can’t get no sleep on here with all this noise.”

WHAT?! She is traveling with her daughter, who has a set next to her open! Now I don’t feel the least bit bad for keeping her awake. Well, she spends the rest of the trip bumping into me with her elbows, hips and knees, all while sighing loudly and glaring at me. Literally glaring.

Finally, she manages to drone out my voice, rather Erin and I engaged in separate, quiet activities, and she fell asleep. Now we’re both content…until her gas kicks in. I wish I was joking about what I endured for the last 45-minute leg of my journey, but all I can say is it was pretty ripe. I guess she got me back. Damn karma.

PrideFest 2009

Because I love the gay bars in Boystown so much, I decided to celebrate gay culture and pride Sunday at Pride Parade! (Actually, I had to walk in the parade for work…but still).

Anyways, the parade was one of the coolest and most fun events I have ever been to. As I fought my way to the WGN-TV float, it looked like a massive rainbow had settled onto Lakeview. I looked like a square in my khaki shorts compared to the elaborate costumes, sparkles and stage makeup that every one else seemed to be sporting.

The parade weaved through Boystown and ended at the Lincoln Park Zoo…quite a long ways, but the weather could not have been better, and honestly, neither could the company

Not only is WGN a Chicago institution, its anchors are truly celebrities. I doubt any float got the reception that ours did as we blasted the Ting Tings, Michael Jackson and Beyonce…all while the news crew waved, wiggled and danced on the back of the float.

Parade-goers crowded the route and leaned over fences, tossing beads, offering high fives and lifting beers and Mikes Hard Lemonades in a toast as we cruised on by.

As I took photos for WGN, I was able to interact with the crowd and see aspects of its components that other people might not have. For instance, some of the costumes, people perched in third-floor windows, lots of nudity, and a more serious side of why all these people were gathered.

While there was only one small group of protestors, many supporters or gay rights held up signs or wore shirts with political and social messages scrawled across them. Gay marriage was an obvious one (Heteros get 3 to 4 weddings. Gays don’t even get 1). Another gay couple walked hand in hand through the parade route holding signs reading “Just Married.” They were greeted with cheers and congratulations the entire walk. Abolishing don’t ask don’t tell (Obama, let gays serve openly) was third hot-button issue addressed by more somber members of the gay community.

For the most part, though, Pride Parade was not an event pushing a social or political agenda, rather it was a celebration of a culture often misunderstood and ostracized by the mainstream.

If you ever get the opportunity to attend the PrideFest Parade…take it! Be ready for thousands upon thousands of eccentric, excited and colorful people—but more than that, be ready for a great time!

Boystown.

Top Five Reasons for a Lady to Hang Out in Gay Bars:

1. Air conditioning. I've found that thermostats in gay bars are set really low...meaning, no sweating and no hair frizz.

2. The guys are gorgeous. It's a little sad knowing that none of them want you, but that's kind of okay. Why? Read point #3.

3. No bad decisions. No matter how great looking the men at a gay bar are, you're not going home with any of them...well, except to maybe party more, but the fun ends there.

4. Great music. You can go to any gay bar in Boystown an dance. Loves it!

5. Gay men love to talk about how pretty women are. I've gotten more compliments in my last two nights out at the bar than in my entire life!

Basically, Boystown is a great time!

Palm trees in Illinois?!

FINALLY! I made it to the beach!

Kait and I took a quick trip to the Rogers Park beach on Saturday, and the highlight was the painted wall separating the beach from a grassy park. But like I said, the trip was short, and I didn’t really get to experience the west side of Lake Michigan.

But today, I got a little surprise from work—I didn’t have to go in! So I threw on my swimsuit, packed my purple blanket, and headed to the beach.

I should have taken the L and headed north, back to Rogers Park, but once I got on the bus toward Addison, there were a few other beach-goers, so I decided to just follow them…and south we went.

I ended up on a beach surrounded by the Chicago skyline, with the Sears Tower spires reaching high above my head. Even stranger than sunbathing on a city beach, though, were the palm trees planted along the shoreline. On Lake Michigan! It was a little weird, mostly because I have a hard time pretending I’m somewhere like the Caribbean when cars and trains scream just a few hundred feet from me.

Still, the beach was nice. Busy, but that's not a surprise, and it was really clean. The water was warmer than it is on my state’s shores, but still just as blue. One thing we don't have in Michigan, though (well, if we do, I've never seen them) are some hot male lifeguards in short shorts doing pushups while they wait for someone to drown. Trust me, reason enough to go back to that beach.

After getting some of my Florida tan back, I packed up my bag and walked north on the trail bordering the lake. Chicago’s beaches have it all. And I’m not referring to the palm trees.

I found a place on a cement structure next to a beautiful pavilion to make a stop. A dozen chess games were going on under the pavilion, overlooking a bay, sailboats and passersby sauntering under the sky, which was so blue, it drifted right into the lake at the horizon line.

Walking a little further led me past volleyball tournaments, fresh-squeezed juice stands, families playing hooky from responsibilities, and more incredible vistas from the other side of Michigan’s greatest lake.

I would have liked to spend a little more time wandering today, but it’s back to reality for me. By reality, I mean a work softball game…don’t laugh! But I’m hoping this week will take me back to the shore, in particular, to take a better look at the painted wall on Rogers Park beach. I’ll keep you posted.

The Crosstown Classic.

I spent today at Wrigley Field, trying to find 1,000 of Chicago’s hottest baseball fans. For my friends who are not familiar with interleague play here in the Windy City, I’ll elaborate. The Crosstown Classic is an annual event that pits the Cubs and the Sox against each other for 6 games. Three are played at Wrigley, while the other three are hosted at U.S. Cellular Field.

Since WGN broadcasts both Chicago teams’ games, it has been dubbed the Official Summer Baseball Station. Of course, this opened up opportunities to tailor some really cool promotions tied in with the Crosstown Classic.

Thus…the Northside/Southside Hottest Fan contest was born.

This afternoon, a few of my colleagues and I set out on a mission: Find the 500 hottest Cubs fans and the 500 hottest Sox fans. Get them to pose for a picture. Get the public to head to www.wgntv.com/contests (shameless plug) and vote for their favorites. The winners? One guy and one girl from each side will get to be in a promo for an upcoming game.

I won’t give you the play-by-play of the day…it wasn’t too interesting. Well, with the exception of a fight in front of the field and a homeless man holding up a sign reading: “Why lie? I need a beer.” Hey, I like his honesty.

What I did like, though, was being at Wrigley Field for a game. Sure, I spent last weekend in the area at bars with post-game fans. But today was different. Before the game, literally thousands of people descend on Wrigleyville, pouring out of the L stations and falling out of busses like clowns out of their cars. It’s not hard to identify team affiliations, since pride is black and white…or red and blue.

It felt like a homecoming football game. Everyone gathered for one reason, well, I guess a few. To watch a good game, hang out with good friends and have a good drink…or twelve. The booming bass from frat-flagged trucks is replaced with the hollow sound of plastic 10-gallon buckets. The beats resonate through the streets, bouncing between the stadium, the L and shops on the south side of Addison. Perhaps the most popular musician of the day was the 4-year-old boy who wasn’t much taller than the bucket he drummed on.

The pounding is accompanied by a chorus of hawkers, trying to pawn tickets and bags of peanuts or pistachios to the already buzzed up crowd.

I enjoy doing promotions, in particular ones that allow me to spend my day chatting and flirting with good-looking guys. But I think what made today such a great day, was really taking in the atmosphere of Chicago. North, South…whatever. This is a great city.

Time traveling.

Yesterday was my first day babysitting here in the city. The job went better than I had expected, which was a pleasant surprise. Better than that, though, was being introduced to the Lincoln Park Zoo.

The girls and I only took a quick trip, since they were really hoping for a carousel ride before lunchtime. The ride is set toward the back of the park, which took my little charges and I past pseudo-safaris, kangaroos, swinging monkeys and giant gorillas. But once we were there, it felt like the carousel was entirely separate from the zoo, the city and even our time.

I’m not sure how I feel about zoos, keeping animals contained in foreign environments kind of freaks me out, but I cannot wait to take another trip to the one in Lincoln Park. It was so picturesque. A man with a banjo and another with a guitar strummed blues and kids tunes, while workers sold refreshments and cotton candy from old-timey red and yellow caboose-like stands.

Like I said, it was a short trip. However, I’m going to head back there as soon as I get a chance. I may be in the Big Kid World, now, but there’s no reason I can’t slip back in time every once in a while, right?

The weekend I tested every bar in Central/Northern Chicago...

This weekend was one of the best I’ve had in a while. I felt like I was all over Chicago, meeting and hanging out with some really great people. So let me grab my bar receipts to make sure I don’t leave anything out or forget to give credit where credit is due.

I started by grabbing a late dinner and watching the conclusion of a disappointing Stanley Cup game at PJ Clarke’s on State St. in the Gold Coast. While the game was a bummer, the mini-cheeseburgers I had were great. Even more important, though, was the killer vodka martini…double olive, of course.

After dinner, Kait, Becky and I met up with Erin, Alan, Kyle and Rado at Bootleggers, just around the corner from the restaurant. The bar was crowded, but it was a pretty good group to get the night off to a good start.

After leaving Bootleggers, we made a quick trip to the Reagle Beagle to meet up with the rest of our crew (Elias, Mikey, Dana and Skillman). With a name like that, you can’t really be sure what you’re going to get. The bar was slow, which meant we got a good table, but it didn’t do much for me…or anyone else for that matter. The highlight of the night was getting a shot of terrible tequila from a stout Mexican man…who really should have known better when it came to picking a bottle.

It had started to drizzle by the time we left Beagle, making the walk to Social 25 a rough one. Luckily for me, I had Mama Kaitlyn pack me some flip flops in her purse, so my trek was easier then Elias,’ (are you out of practice walking in those pointers?!)

Social 25 was packed. It’s a huge bar that feels pretty trendy, but the music was good and the crowd was pretty friendly. The bartenders, though…not so much. I couldn’t get a drink for about ten minutes, which for anyone who has gone to the bar with me knows I don’t take well to. I moved down the bar to a different bartender and immediately got my drink and a round of shots for Bex, Kait and I. That bartender got a $10 tip. (Okay, a little excessive, but I really wanted to prove a point to the jerk who didn’t pay attention to me.)

The girls and I took over a little corner of the bar where I was able to flirt with a handsome (we think) guy in blue, while everyone else danced and apparently had a photo shoot of me macking on that guy…or rather, him macking on me. Either way, the pictures are funny, and I got his number. J

Saturday morning was a little rough, in particular because I crashed at Kaitlyn’s, meaning I had to wear my scandalous bar dress on the train into Wrigleyville. Did I mention the Cubs had an afternoon game? Poor Bex had to walk with me, in what looked like a terrible walk-o-shame. However, it was nothing a good bloody mary at Salt & Pepper Diner couldn’t fix! The service was terrible, but from what I could tell, it was just our waitress doing a poor job. I’ll definitely head there again, in particular because their banana nut pancakes are amazing.

Becky and I made plans to meet up with Kyle and Alan after their trip to the game, which meant an afternoon in post-game Wrigleyville. It was a new experience, and definitely the best part of the weekend. We donned our new Cubs gear (gotta look legit!) and headed to John Barleycorn. I’ve heard mixed reviews about this bar, but I had a great time there. Becky and I wanted to make 500 new friends, and we just about accomplished it at that bar alone. The people were great, the service was quick and the whole front of the bar opened up, letting a nice breeze in for the whole time we were there. Becky and befriended Burt the bouncer, as well as a couple of Chicago’s finest, and that was quite possibly the high point of our day.

We didn’t have any food at Barleycorn, mostly because Pauly’s Pizza across the street claimed to have famous thin-crust pizza. It was recommended by Burt, and we made two pit stops there during our 6-hour stint at that first bar.

We left John Barleycorn at close to 10 o’clock and headed to Rebel. How did we get there, you may ask? A rickshaw. That’s right. A rickshaw. Alan’s friend Mike owns his own cart, which he attaches to his bike and uses to cart bar go-ers all over the city. Luckily for us, he was willing to give us a lift, which was not only fast and convenient…but something I’ve wanted to do since I got here.

Rebel was alright. The crowd was so-so, so we didn’t stay there for too long. I’m not sure…but my desire to hit up a karaoke bar also may have had something to do with the move.

I never go to sing karaoke, which was a bummer, but the place was packed and a menopausal woman has taken over the stage, leaving no time for me to serenade the crowd. In reality, it was probably in the best interest of everyone involved that I avoid the stage anyway.

A nice waiter bought me a couple of drinks, but then Bex and I decided to call it quits. We hit the 12-hour partying mark at 2 a.m., which seemed like the perfect time to end the evening. Mike the nice rickshaw driver took us back to my place, narrowly avoiding 3 traffic accidents and doing minor damage to only one car in the process. Nice work, Mike!

All in all, I couldn’t have asked for a better weekend. Not only did I get to experience some parts of Chicago that I had not seen yet, I was able to see some good friends and relive some of our crazy CMU days for a weekend.

It really doesn’t get much better than that.

LitFest...Who needs Kindle?

My roommate, Rebecca, told me about all the great summer festivals that take place in Chicago.  Today, I had my first experience at a downtown event, and I have to say, it was better than I’d expected.

LitFest is a tradition for the first week of June here.  A few city blocks are barricaded off, leaving plenty of room for major bookstores, presses and independent sellers to peddle pages and pages of classic and obscure titles.  While people may say the written word is dead, the few thousand people who turned out today would disagree. 

I was there for work, which gave me the opportunity to talk with a ton of people.  One couple I met had road tripped it from Iowa with family.  This was an annual tradition for them, not unlike the couple that exchanged vows at the festival today, commemorating the place and weekend they met a few years ago. 

Each booth offered a different selection of work, from comics and Shakespeare, to literary classics and Sex & the City.  I spent some time at the booth dedicated entirely to books about Ireland, and while there were some great options, it was not nearly as cool as the booth of old TIME magazines and postcards.  Yup, postcards.  There were thousands, even an entire section boasting pictures of insane asylums.  The man running the booth said his father had spent years collecting them, pair that collection with others bought from estate sales and random shops…and you, too, could have a postcard booth at LitFest. 

Far from a typical library, LitFest offered food booths, wine tasting, beer, music and poetry readings.  The festival continues tomorrow, so I encourage you to head down to Dearborn Street to check it out!

Cheers!

Taking a 'bite' out of Chicago

Today was the first day I got off the bus without a hitch!  It’s my fourth day of being a bus rider, and I think I have the hang of it.  Erin was right when she told me riding the bus would make my life incredibly easy. 

Aside from experiencing public transportation from the inside, I’ve tried a couple good food places that should get some credit. 

If there’s one thing I’ve learned (well, besides how to ride the bus), it’s that no matter where you go in Chicago, there is good food to be had.  A couple of days ago I was craving deep-dish pizza like it was no one’s business.  I decided to kill two birds with one stone and wander around the neighborhood while I looked for somewhere to grab a slice.  To my luck, I came across Chicago’s Pizza and Pasta (clever name, right?).  Anyways, I could have chosen either deep-dish or thin crust, but since we all know what I went for, I’ll let you guess what I ordered.  The crust as at least an inch thick, filled up with cheese, pepperoni and sweet tomato sauce.  Top it off with an icy Diet Coke and a floor to ceiling view of Lincoln Avenue…definitely worth the $4 and 20-minute walk. 

Last night may have been a disappointment for Wings fans, well, unless you were with me at The Birds Nest.  The score was secondary to their combination of strong cocktails and really tasty wings (I highly recommend the hot or hot BBQ).  Not to mention, it was 35-cent wing night.  The atmosphere was comfortable, too.  A good mix of people and a pretty cool wait staff. 

Every morning on my way to work, I check out the streets my bus takes.  I’m still getting used to the city, and keep a little file in my head of places I want to try.  The Famous Taco Burrito has been on that list from day one.  Most people know I’m into Mexican food…especially the deliciously bad kind.  I read some mixed reviews about Taco Burrito online, and even though one compared it to a bad sexual experience (big, greasy, quick and sometimes a little smelly) the name alone made it worth ordering from.  To be honest, the bad sex review was a little harsh.  The burrito was HUGE, and I ordered a small one. The guacamole and green sauce slathered on my burrito made the meal, and the tortilla was perfectly browned.  For the price (CHEAP) is was a decent lunch.  I also ordered some of their tortilla chips, which were some of the best I’ve had, but I could do without their salsa. 

Basically, I’ve spent the past few days working and interviewing for part-time jobs, meaning my exploring is limited to places in between my house and the T.V station.  But it’s still been a pretty great week, and I really feel like I’m getting comfortable finding my way around and making my own little niche here in the city.  Not to mention, I’ve found some pretty great food along the way.  It feels good knowing that when I get visitors (hint, hint, friends!), I’ll have recommendations like a real local! 

As always, thanks for reading…cheers! 

I get by with a little help from my friends.

I’m all settled in! 

Thanks to my good friend Kaitlyn, I had a place to crash for a few days while I commenced job searching and getting acquainted with the city.  Since Friday, though, I have been in my apartment getting unpacked and figuring out the lay of the land. 

Things are going well so far…with the exception of still being jobless.  However, I start my internship at WGN-TV tomorrow, and I could not be more excited. 

Allie, Paul and their dog, Obie, have been a huge help, too.  It’s nice to have old friends so close, not to mention experts on my neighborhood showing me around. 

Last night I went out in the Gold Coast with Erin, Alan and Rado.  I would say it was a pretty warm welcome to Chicago and a great start to what is sure to be an amazing summer.  We spent most of the night at Finn McCool’s on Division, which ahs this amazing wall of windows that open up to the street.  It’s a pretty ideal situation for people watching, but not so great for the fickle Midwest weather since temps got pretty cool last night.  Still, we saw about a dozen bachelorette parties and some other interesting characters…meaning the night was definitely entertaining. 

I still need to figure out the intricacies of the L, in particular late at night.  Apparently part of the Brown Line was closed last night, meaning I had to transfer trains a few times to get home.  I’ll admit, I was a little freaked out, but I met a new friend waiting for the train and she helped me figure out where to go.  I had to counsel her on her relationship issues in exchange, but that’s typical of my life anyways, right? 

I’m a little bummed I couldn’t make it to any Cubs games this weekend, in particular because they were playing the Dodgers (still have to show my support for the West Coast!).  But walking through Wrigleyville during game time was pretty awesome.  The atmosphere there is unlike anything I have ever experienced, and I’m hoping to be on the inside soon. 

Today has been the most relaxing day since I’ve been here.  I woke up and attempted to go to mass, only I got the parish name wrong and showed up 30 minutes late.  Oops!  Instead I decided to do some communing with nature (yup, nature in Chicago) and hang out in my backyard. 

Behind my apartment is this gorgeous little slice of Eden.  I’m seriously not exaggerating.  A brick path leading to a shed cuts the yard into two sections, with beautiful twisted trees and shrubs on the perimeter.  In one corner is a little statue of an angel who has her mouth curled in this perfect little smirk.  Most garden statues kind of freak me out, but this one is pretty and in place of the typical vacant, stony expression, are eyes that really make her look alive.  Needless to say, I like the statue. 

While the backyard has tons of plants and flowers, the house and porches don’t get a lot of sunlight.  Trees pretty much block anything that tries to get in.  It’s making it hard for me to grow my basil plant, but if that’s my only complaint, life is good. 

Actually…life is really good.  Cheers!

Here we go.

I’ve been waiting for weeks to write this entry and make the first post on my new blog.  While I try to keep “The View From Right Here” current with political, pop culture and breaking news events, I keep my day-to-day interactions and experiences out of it.  This blog, though, will document my transition from the collegiate life to the Big Kid World…using Chicago as my vehicle and my experiences as mile markers. 

I’m hoping to experience as much of the city as I can, and what I learn I will share with you.  Just like I enjoy a good debate on my other blog, I would appreciate feedback on this journal, as well. 

Right now I am sitting on the train, making the slow crawl towards the city.  I keep looking out the window just waiting to see the rising skyline.  It’s chilly this morning, and I didn’t get much sleep last night…chalk it up to a few nerves and some excitement. 

To be honest, though, I feel content.  I’ve been waiting to make a move like this for years, and it’s hard to believe that today is the day.  I don’t know what to expect, and I’ve tried really hard to keep my imagination at bay.  In reality, I don’t need to know what’s coming or what it will be like since I’ll be living it later this afternoon.

Thanks for reading and cheers!