Happy Morning!

Wow, this weather is borderline perfect now! It's crisp and it's fall. I have all of my windows open!!!
It's the kind of weather where it's cool in the shade, warm in the sun, and you could pretty much wear anything you wanted.
Yesterday I hung out with Stephanie (one of my friends from SNB) and we went to an art gallery downtown, walked around a ton & ended up at the Nordstroms Rack. What a zoo. Regardless, I found something cute to buy and decided I need to go back when there is a need for more "unmentionables".
My friend Cassidy is moving here next week & I can't wait. A little familiarity goes a long way. I'll save my panty raid to Nordstroms for when she gets here as she & I together discovered the magic that is the Nordstroms lingerie dept.
Oh yeah, and I'm gearing up for my housewarming party as well. It's next Sat. night & I can't wait. It's weird that except for Mike, not one person coming over has been to my place before. I've invited my old friends but no on is able to make it so all of my guests are new friends! Strange but cool.
I now must sit back and enjoy my coffee on this beautiful Sunday morning in Chicago, Illinois.

Drowing....again

Hi there...I'm feeling overwhelmed so I'm going to share it! I posted a while back about "when the waves in life get to big, learn to surf". I've been surfing some little waves for a while now but the big kahuna is taking over...
I love this city...hands down. I love all of the friends I've made (and the ones I've left too) hands down. I love my new job, I love taking the train to work, I love walking Radar 3-4 times a day, I love exploring, I love stitch n' bitch and the fact that I've accepted my knitting & yarn addiction.
But I've realized that while change is great, change can sometimes come with consequence. Once again, let me re-iterate that I have no regrets about my move...but there were consequences of moving and I feel like now I'm beginning to face them head on.
It's funny how life is...you start out young, have someone make choices for you, teach you things, then send you out hoping they've done the best job that they could have (and they did...thanks!)...then you have to turn into some sort of adult-like person and hope you make the right decisions.
First off, I still have yet to consider myself an adult. I like being a little immature each day and I feel as though I'm fortunate enough that with this move, and my new job, I surround myself with people who are just like me.... creative and immature :)
Second, making the right decision is a crap shoot...hands down (my new favorite saying since this entry). You start out in a situation in one mind frame, then life rolls along and you wake up saying, "what the hell?".
Not to get all preachy but I feel very fortunate that I have a good relationship with God and I ask for a lot and feel like I get a lot in return. If it weren't for Him, I wouldn't be here today (and that's a loaded statement).
I know this is rambly but that's how I feel.....I guess for anyone chosing to read this, here is my unsolicited advice...live your life to the fullest, cherish each day that is given to you and treat people the way you want to be treated. Give back to others when you can and be a nice person overall. Think hard about the decisions you make in life and how they affect others. Pray for what you want and what you have....hard. Take the time to thank those who give to you. Don't take your close friends or family for granted and help them when they need you just like you would help them when they need it in return.
Most of all remember life is very, very short...treat it with the utmost respect.
Nighty night

Holy Craft Fair Batman!!!!

I went to the Renegade Craft Fair yesterday....I can't even believe how much money I could have spent! It was like every indie crafter & artist who advertises in BUST magazine or Ready Made (who was a sponsor) was at this fair. I think I was there 3 1/2 hours.

The above photo is the funniest damn t-shirt I saw...and there were a lot. Had to have it.

I also saw at least a half dozen people selling hand made/hand spun yarn. After much looking I bought the yummiest one I came across. I don't know exactly what I'm going to make with this yet, but it may very well be a pair of knee high socks. My mind is still brewing on this one. One thing I have learned about myself....yarn is like a drug and I am an addict.

Nevertheless, so far this is in the top 5 of my "stuff I've done since I've lived in Chicago" list....it may even be in the top 2. Hmmm...I'll save my list for another posting.

I ran around today running errands...I put a half tank of gas in my car as I don't drive for the most part Mon-Fri. My car sat nicely in it's parking spot from last Sunday until yesterday...I almost feel evil bragging about it :)

Pimp My Ride

I took the train downtown today. My only concern was the walk from the station to work as I thought it was farther than it was. It's about 10 blocks, but they're not true "city" blocks in the direction I have to go so it takes about 18 minutes. No longer than the walk I did in Naperville.

Let me say, I'm really excited about this...a one month pass for the commuter train is $58.20....can't beat that with a stick....especially since I was filling my tank every 3 days for about $40+ bucks a shot. It's time to save money...yahoo!!!!!!!!!!!
I also started working out this weekend...if the low the next few days is going to be 45 degrees, I'd better take advantage of the highs being in the 60's-70's!!! Brr...I'm actually putting a blanket on my bed tonight...

That's so insane....

Heat Schmeat

While it will be a balmy 90 degrees today in Dallas, it will be a high of 76 here in beautiful Chicago. I walked/ran at the beach yesterday (as I'm trying to tone up all of my giggly pouf areas) and it could not have been more gorgeous out. Today should be a carbon copy of yesterday. I think I have actually moved somewhere with seasons!

Mmmmm Toasty

Well here you go. In the middle of all the wackiness that is my life, I finished my first pair of socks! They actually fit & came out really nice. I didn't say they matched size exactly, I just said they fit :)
Moving along, I'm going to work on a pair of arm warmers, then another pair of socks that will be MUCH more crazy & involved. Smaller needles and an insane pattern. I'm always up for a challenge you know!
A few notes....
Radar is doing much better today. He's not 100% yet, but slowly on the mend...good for him AND for me.
My first week of work has gone well. Although I don't have a clue as to what my job really is because there are not photo shoots going on for another 2 weeks, I have plenty to keep me busy. The atmosphere is really relaxed & laid back.
The Tavern I had lunch at on Tuesday has $4 Captain Morgan on Thursdays...there could be a potential problem :)

Crapapalooza '07

Oh boy was last night fun....
Got home from work, found a fabulous "pile" from Radar on my new ivory shag rug. Had to clean it...it's still drying in the tub 24 hours later...
Fast forward...2:40 this morning I wake up to a dog sitting on my shoulder, violently shaking, and wickedly panting...his was so stiff you would have thought rigamortis had set in...
He's acting really weird, I'm thinking he's having a heart attack or something, he's jumping up & down off the bed, lying down, getting up, lying down, getting up...then he gets down off of the bed and squirts liquid poo all over my OTHER ivory shag Flokati rug....nice....I take him out where the fun continues, bring him back in and begin to clean the mess. I've recently decided that the Flokati has almost seen it's day but now Radar has made that decision for me...I pick up the rug & try to fold the corner over to just trash the whole thing, and the corner falls out & the liquid poo plops nicely on my bedroom floor.
I proceed to the dumpster in the alley at 3:00 am (scary), then return to clean the mess off of my bedroom floor.
I call the animal 9-1-1 where I ask some irritable queen if I can give my dog any over the counter stuff for diarrhea...his response, "no...........we don't know what's wrong with him"...ass...
He gives some advice, we go back to bed & 30 minutes or so later, the shaking starts again...I took him out where the fun continued, we came back in, went back to bed & got up this morning and hit the vet at 8:00 sharp...did I mention that during this mornings walk I turned a Ziploc bag inside out so I could have a tasty sample of the liquid poo????
Long story short (too late), he has a bacterial infection which he could have gotten anywhere....oh yeah, and an unrelated mild heart murmur....nice...
I pray that this week has at least ONE normal day in it because it hasn't so far!

12.7 miles

That's really all I should have to say about my first day at my new job.
The commute took about 35-40 minutes. I got to work early and after work, I actually had time to go get my grocery shopping done AND still find parking in front of my building.
Now if only Radar hadn't crapped on my new white shag rug today...
I just take one day at a time...
(oh yeah, work was great :)

P.S. Just for you Radar fans....he has NEVER done that in the 10 years I've had him...maybe that was his way of getting back at me for the last 3 months and the move....it's his secret

Back from Big D

YAAA HOOO!!
I went to Texas but now I'm back. Glad I got to see everyone that I did, but I have to say...they city itself reconfirmed why I wanted to leave.
Not only do I feel that there isn't really that much to do, but all of the stuff I did enjoy doing is closed/closing down....and by God if there is a smidge of bare land...some land developer will come snatch it up and build condo's on it...
What I always wonder is while it's great to build new property, what the hell do these people do for entertainment??? Literally everything that gets knocked down is replaced with an extremely overpriced condo! The apts. behind my old duplex got knocked down last summer to be replaced with an entire street of condos..."ranging from $620,000 to $1.2 million!"....and that's behind my little 'ol duplex??? I just don't get the lack of preservation in that city...
Anyway, all went well with friends & family. But by the way...while the midwest is all about "it's our last hurrah weekend for summer...no more summer...summer's almost over....etc.."...it is still summer in Texas at 90+ degrees outside....
....as it should be :)