Good morning!

Well good morning all. It's a dreary Sunday morning here is cold-ass Chicago. I am officially ready for winter to be gone! I enjoyed it from November through February, but now enough is enough. Radar agrees w/me wholeheartedly.
I'm pretty sure my Ipod is dead. You have NO idea how bad that sucks for me. I use it every single day. So NOW on top of getting a few parking tickets, having my car towed, and needing to get Radar's shots this week, it looks as though I might be purchasing a new Ipod in my future. Sigh. As Glenn put it, "usually bad things come in 3's....you seem to be working on a baker's dozen!".
Oh well, it's still not as bad as the homeless pile of people I saw under Lower Wacker Drive when I had to walk to the pound to get my car out. I rounded a corner and there was about 20 yards of blankets and trash bags full of life. Until I actually stepped around 2 blanket lumps, I didn't realize that the blankets were full of people trying to keep warm.
Not only was it a shocking sight, but a more shocking sight being on foot. It was quite humbling as I realized how lucky I am to have the things that I do in my life. Yes, getting my car towed sucked. Yes, having my Ipod break sucks. Yes, having to pay Dell to remove a virus from my computer sucks (forgot to mention that one earlier). But in the grand scheme of life, I have a family, friends, job, home, clothes, car, and food. Whining about paying for a luxury like a computer, car, and Ipod seems insignificant when you consider these people trying to literally SURVIVE living on concrete under a bridge. Here is an article I found that's a little old but quite interesting.
So you get the point. Be thankful for what you have.
Have a wonderful Sunday! xo

Out of touch

So I'm starting to think about changing this blog around a bit. I've based this decision on the fact that the blog was intended to be about my move to Chicago. So, hear I am & I don't really know if my life has been all that interesting lately...or at least the bits I can report and stay PG rated!
Let's see, Radar is getting old... or at least that's what I think the problem is. Let's just say his bladder isn't as bulletproof as it used to be. He's had 2 accidents in the last month & he's never done that before. It makes me sad.
Work is work... mundane. I love my company but the actual position I'm in is sucking the life out of me. I'm not using any creative bones in my body and I'm really not used to that.
Mentally I'm about 100% better than I was. I've grown to love living alone & I've moved past some crappy situations I was in. Nothing like having a few life lessons make you wake up. Nevertheless, I am a better person for it and now know exactly what I do and DON'T want in life, relationships, work, etc.. and what I do want and will tolerate. 'Nuff said without saying too much.
Hope everyone is doing well. I haven't talked to too many peeps in quite some time but it's okay for now. I'm just kind of finding myself all over again & it's good to have me back.

Retail Therapy

I went to therapy today. It sucked the life out of me as we dug deep into my past....
What I found out is that while I'm really glad I go, I enjoyed this afternoons retail therapy better. Spending money you don't really have to spend combines a feeling of euphoria and guilt all rolled up in the same pile of dough (so to speak).
Nevertheless, I went to buy a few new white t-shirts & ended up with those, a kick-ass dress (yes I threw it back to 1983 there with kick-ass) and a few products from Aveda. Sigh...I don't think the concept of "getting out of debt" will ever see the light of day.
Maybe I should play the lotto....

HAPPY BIRTHDAY RADAR!!!

Today is Radar's birthday. He is 11 in Kristen years. I adopted him 11 years ago today and he was the ugliest thing ever. His back feet were taped because his dewclaws had grown back into the pads, he was undernourished, and his hair was to the floor like Fu Manchu.
All it took was for me to pick him up and we had love at first sight for the both of us.
I've never felt luckier than to have this little companion by my side the past 11 years. He doesn't judge me, loves me unconditionally, is patient with me, and gives me lots of hugs and kisses no matter what.
Please be sure and raise a glass to the coolest animal I know.

Things I desire

Here is a top 10 list of things I want to do... just in case anyone really cares...

10.Try snow sports
9. Have a mid-century modern house with a tiki bar/room
8. Live near a beach (...no, a real beach)
7. Have a job that I would continue to do if I won the lottery
6. Drive a Z
5. Go to Los Olas all women's surf camp
4. Be able to get a massage once a week
3. Have Radar live forever
2. Be able to cure all things medically wrong with my family & friends
1. Find a miracle that allows me to be with my soul mate

Ahhh love....

Roses...I actually don't care that much for roses. So I guess in the big scheme of things, its a good thing that all of my men didn't get me any today because I didn't want them anyway. Hibiscus...now that's a real flower.
As I was walking to the train this afternoon, I saw tons of people walking with roses, cards, stuffed animals, etc.. Even in the train station they were totally capitalizing on the madness with bins and bins of flowers.
I sit here tonight with my one true love. Radar. He will not bring me flowers, but his breath is fragrant enough that I don't need them. We will cozy up soon with tomato soup and grilled cheese, finish a beer and a frosty paws and watch LOST.
The perfect date in my opinion.

Here we go again

So here I sit this morning with yet another slight hangover. Maybe after last Sat. night I would have learned my lesson...maybe not.

I had a Valentines day party last night at my pad. Had about 10/11 people show & as usual, the booze was flowing quite freely.

I took the opportunity to make fun of the overpriced, Hallmark holiday and bought some tacky decorations & crepe paper. My house looks like an elementary school classroom. Love it.

The wall for photo ops was a big hit. It was like prom all over again....sans the bad date.

Radar was my date and he's always the perfect gentleman.

Post nasal drip

So here it is, two days before my Valentine's day party and I'm getting sick again...lovely.
I went to the dr. today to get a jump start on this thing. Antibiotics are in hand (and in stomach) so hopefully, they'll kick in ASAP.
What could have caused it? Hmmmm.....a zillion alcoholic drinks combined with staying out until 6am combined with riding public transporation in a city of 5 million people???? Could that have anything to do with it? Maybe a smart girl would take better care of herself.....
Then again, I never claimed to be a smart girl :)

Oh My...

I went out with Christine last night.
I partied like a rock star.
We left here at 9:20 pm, took the El downtown, and had an amazing Thai dinner.
We then proceeded to the following...
1) a gay bar (by accident but who cares, we had fun & got a free shot from the bartender)
2) a bad bar with wierd Chicago guys. the manager was trying to make friends with us, was kind of gross, but bought our drinks and a yet, another shot
3) a piano bar with a $10 cover...which Christine charmed her way out of and we proceeded to chat with some out-of-towners here for a boat show
4) a final, late night bar which we closed down at 5:00 am... after many, many, more drinks were purchased for us...
5) my house, 6:00 am via taxi

Fast forward to today...hangover city.
I am far too old to be partying like the rock star that I am not.

Wow, it's freaking winter!!!

So I had to dig my car out of about a foot of snow this morning...I'm sorry I didn't get a pic of that. Sad thing is, last night when I parked, I WEDGED myself in between two cars & it was the closest I've ever parallel parked. I literally had like an inch between cars. So digging and brushing the snow was a bit difficult this morning. Then, as I tried to get out of my spot, I was pretty much doing bumper cars back & forth around 100 times to get out.

I drove about 4 blocks & then went nowhere. Smart girl that I am, I turned around & went back home. First conclusion...the bug is not made for this weather.

I went inside & added another sock layer before heading to the train. Much quicker & less stress. Then when I got downtown I literally TRUDGED through the snow a mile to get to work...what a great thigh & butt workout! Second conclusion, I need taller snow boots...ankle boots don't quite cut it.

All in all it wasn't that bad...I only wish that instead of going to work, I was sitting in front of a fireplace, drinking an irish coffee, hugging a hot guy.