You’ve Lived Here How Long?

I love visiting New York and it seems like whenever I go, I do some sort of sight seeing (mainly because I go with different friends each trip and they want to experience all of the NYC attractions). When I chat with my friends who live in New York and tell them about all of the places we went on the trip, I usually get, “Hmm…I’ve never been there.” I was shocked that one of my friends had never been to the top of the Empire State Building. But then I thought about how I’ve never been to a lot of the popular attractions in Chicago. I recently moved to the city, but lived in a suburb 20 minutes west of the city my entire life. There’s really no reason why I shouldn’t have never been to the John Hancock Building or to the Art Institute of Chicago (especially since I work a couple blocks away).

My goal at the beginning of the summer was to experience a lot of things Chicago has to offer that I’ve never done before (or rarely get to do) now that I live and work in the city. I compiled a list of things to do and places to see.

Museums. I love museums, but never go. When I was a kid, I used to always go with my childhood best friend and her family to the Museum of Science and Industry and Field Museum (I believe they were members). Museums are a great place to go because you can go any time of the year and not have to worry about the weather (but should probably avoid Winter, Spring, and Summer vacations when the kiddies are out of school). You get to enjoy and learn something.

I’m not really into art, but would like to go to the Art Institute of Chicago. One, it’s a couple blocks from where I work. Two, I’ve been to a few art museums in Rome and it would be nice to experience one in the states as well. Three (and probably my main reason for wanting to go), is because I am reading The Time Traveler’s Wife, which takes place in Chicago and the Art Institute is referenced throughout the book.

Lincoln Park Zoo. I love the zoo! I’ve been to the Lincoln Park Zoo before, but can go over and over again (as long as you keep me away from the reptile house)! It’s free and a bus ride away (I really don’t take the bus, but do know how to take the 151 which I can pick up right by my apartment and drops me off right in front of the zoo).

Millennium and Grant Parks. There are always fun and exciting things going on there (music festivals, dance classes, movies, etc.) and just peaceful in general. My goal the past few winters is to go ice skating, but it’s never happened. This is the year I will make it happen!! I also love Buckingham Fountain. Not to mention they’re both right by my work.

Navy Pier. I’ve been to Navy Pier on countless occasions, but still enjoy going (although I could go without riding the Ferris Wheel again).

The Beach. I’ve been to the beach once this summer. Granted, we haven’t had the greatest summer weather-wise, but there were a lot of hot days I should have taken advantage of the beach! It’s practically fall weather already (although I’m sure it will be 100 degrees in a week since that’s how Chicago works), but I’m a fan of the beach at night. Bringing a blanket and relaxing in comfy sweats when it’s cool out is so peaceful.

Cubs Game. I haven’t been to a Cubs game since I was about 5. Now, I live 4 blocks away from the field. I really have no excuse. This may have to wait til next season since I haven’t made it to a game yet, and we all know what the Cubs’ name stands for: Completely Useless by September...

The Grass is Always Greener on the Other Side

A friend of mine recently passed away. He was only a year older than me and I’ve been thinking about how fast time goes and to try and appreciate life. I’ve been thinking about how a majority of people always think about the future opposed to living life in the now. It also made me think about how we’re never satisfied with what we have until it’s gone.

College vs. the “Real World”

I was walking to work and there is a university located downtown. I saw a bunch of “kids” walking with their DePaul University book store bags and I began to think how much I miss college! The whole time I was in college, I kept thinking how I couldn’t wait to graduate and only have to work full-time. I even attempted taking 3 summer classes one year that way I could try graduating early. I had a part-time job from the time I was 14 years old and all throughout high school and college. I always thought having a full-time job would be so much easier than having a part-time job, school full-time, and homework. Little did I know that was the life!!!

The beauty of college is you can have breaks in between classes and take naps! Going out and boozing it up with friends an average of 4 nights a week wasn’t a problem because even if I had an 8:30 am class, I could still go home and nap for a couple hours (or sometimes 4…) before my next class. Unfortunately, I do not live in Europe and get siestas, so it’s impossible for me to hang like I used to!

Needless to say, I would trade lives with a college freshman in a heartbeat!! Working full-time, living on your own, and being a “grown up” are not all it’s cracked up to be!!

Single Life vs. Being Committed

Why is it that when we’re single we want a boyfriend/girlfriend, but when we’re in a committed relationship, we want the freedom of the single life?

I’ve always considered myself a “relationship person.” I had two serious relationships in college and was happy. But then at some point I freaked out and needed to be single. In my second serious relationship, marriage was in the talks. I wanted it more than anything until I freaked out and broke the poor guy’s heart. This was 2 years ago. Since then, I have gone on countless dates or “hung out” with guys, but have yet to be in any sort of an actual relationship. And I’ve never been more ready to be in a relationship now. My fear is once I’m in one I’ll wish I was single again!

Appreciate what You have and Live in the Now

Something I would like to try and work on is appreciating what I have. I would also like to experience life and stop worrying about the future. I’m a planner, but planning can only go so far. Why plan for the future when you may not have it?

Learn from yesterday. Live for today. Hope for tomorrow. –Albert Einstein

I should be a martyr...

Well, not really. But do you ever see people on the street, public transportation, etc. and just look at them and feel bad for them? By living in the city and working downtown, I see a lot of homeless people and crazies on a regular basis. My heart goes out for them. My heart also melts for the elderly. I wonder if they have family and friends and hoping they're not alone in life. Wishing I could start a business that drove the edlerly around for free so they didn't have to walk everywhere and take public transportation.

But my heart also goes out for the people who look like a hot mess. I'm not saying I'm some fashionista or the next Miss America, but I definitely don't look like some people out there! What made me think of this is the poor 20 something year old I saw at the el stop this morning (Chicago's equivalent of the subway). The poor guy looked like he had makeup on from the night before and didn't wash it off (but he didn't) and his facial features just seemed smooshed together. Now, I feel bad for him. There wasn't much hope for him, except maybe if he waxed his unibrow.

Do you ever see people and wish you could pretend your Stacy London and Clinton Kelly (from What Not to Wear) and tell people they look like a hot mess and give them suggestions how to improve their look? Well, I do. Especially when I'm bored on the el. It's amazing what people wear.

For example, I was on the el and could not take my eyes off a woman's outfit a few months ago. She had a lilac trench coat, with silk pants (that looked like pajama pants) with orange flowers, and brown shoes. I wondered if that woman owned a mirror and what compelled her to wear such a thing. If you don't believe me, see for yourself!


My point is, I wish I could go up to people and tell them how they can improve themselves...well, without getting chased after or beat up...

Blame it on the ah-ah-ah-alcohol

We've all been there. You wake up the next day and think, "What the f*** happened last night?" That was me Saturday night...err, early Sunday morning when I woke up from a ridiculous stomach ache from drinking TOO much (gotta love open bars for the measly $25) and hardly eating anything before the debauchery began.

Now, I despise when people use alcohol as their excuse for cheating on their significant other, acting like a complete moron, etc., but sometimes you really do need to blame it on the alcohol. I think it's safe to say that you shouldn't blame your mistakes completely on your boozing habits, but I do think it definitely influences your decisions.

For example, I probably would not have gotten extremely excited over the 2 pairs of biker sunglasses I won in a raffle on Saturday (I don't own a motorcycle nor have ever been on one). I then proceed to pose against a wall modeling the new sunglasses thinking I looked sexy...until I saw the picture when I was sober and just looked like I was holding onto the wall to help me stand up. Or taking another picture and posing with my head near my friend's boob. We won't continue on with the other crazy stuff me and my boozing buddies did on Saturday, but I think you get the point.

And the worst is, you don't remember any of it until someone posts a picture on Facebook, MySpace, or some other lovely social media site. So not only do you get to see what type of fool you made out of yourself, but everyone else does too! Wonderful!

Needless to say, I am detoxing for the next 2 weeks. I drank more this past week than I have in the past 6 months and my liver isn't too happy with me.

Maybe SHE'S Just Not that Into You...

Whether you first heard the phrase on Sex and the City when Carrie's boyfriend, Berger, tells Miranda that a guy she went on a date with is "Just not that into you" or you read the book by Greg Behrendt and Liz Tuccillo or saw the movie, you've heard the phrase, "He's Just not that into you." Well, did it ever occur to you that maybe SHE'S just not that into you?

Now, I'm not saying I'm a relationship expert, but I have learned a thing or two over the past 7 years I've been dating and listening to my girlfriends' dating problems.

I feel there are double standards when it comes to men and women in the sex and relationship world. Forget the whole, she's a whore/he's a stud when it comes to the numbers of people someone has had sex with. I'm not talking about that. I'm talking about why is it annoying when a girl gets attached and shows she likes you by texting you all the time, but it's OK for a guy to do it to you?

The reason I bring this up is because I met this guy a couple weeks ago. I was slightly intoxicated and was playing flippy cup (or "flip cup" for you non-Chicagoans). He was the ref and complimented me on my chugging skills, where I then proceeded to say, "Chugging isn't my only skill, you should hear my burping." Yes, I'm one classy broad. For some reason, he was still interested in me. The first few days we text messaged constantly. I figured, "We're just getting to know each other and things will die down." Well, they didn't. He continued to text constantly like he was in one of those "My bff Jill" commercials and it got quite annoying. He also tried inviting himself to be my date to a friend's wedding (after only knowing him for 4 days) and kept trying to get me to invite him over to my place.

Here is my question: If men don't like women being clingy and up their toosh, why would a man think it's OK for him to act that way? Maybe someone women are into it, but not me. There was a huge red CREEPER alert flashing when all of this happened.

I understand, most men are not like this and it's usually women who are (but not to say all). However, I have come across several creepy clingers and let me tell you, it is a turn off.

Now, I know I should suck it up and tell the guy he's coming on too strong and I'm just not that into him. But it's hard! No one wants to hurt someone's feelings! Especially after they've called you and left a humiliating voicemail message at 2 am saying, "Hi...I'm drunk...I like you."

I'm still working on the courage and hoping for the right time to tell him I'm not interested in pursuing anything. In the meantime, I've been using the subtle "I'm just not that into you" hints. The book and movie, "He's Just Not That Into You," explain ways to tell if he's just not that into you. And in my mind, some of these apply to men.

He's Just Not that Into You if He's Not Calling You. I've listened to the audio book of He's Just Not That Into You and the authors role play. The female makes excuses like, "Well, maybe he's busy. He was going out of town for work." And then Greg is the voice of reason. Or if you've seen the movie, Gigi makes the excuse that Conor hasn't called because "Maybe his grandma died or maybe he lost my number or is out of town or got hit by a cab..." and Alex straight up tells her "Or maybe he is not interested in seeing you again." My point is DON'T MAKE EXCUSES! Last I checked, it only takes a second to shoot someone a text message to say "hi" or "Just thinking about you" or "Hope you're having a great day!" And if he really is that busy and is interested, he'll tell you he's busy and not just ignore you. Point is, if someone is really into you, they'll make the time for you.

Men, this applies to you also. Most of you think we're neurotic and clingy to begin with, so if we're not responding to your texts, calls, emails, or any other form of technological communication or just in general seem distant, maybe we're just not that into you!

My point being is, dating rules should apply no matter what gender you are!

Welcome to my new blog!

I have been contemplating creating a blog for quite some time and finally did! I have always said my first love was writing. I have been writing stories since I could write! Even though my grammar may not always be correct, writing has always been an escape for me.

I have a personal blog where I used to write about my day-to-day activities, but I have always wanted to start a blog with content that has substance and worth while. Now, I'm not saying all of my posts are going to be deep and philosophical, but I want to talk about more than just "I went to a lounge with my girlfriends last night and we had a few drinks..." etc. I want to make YOU (if I ever get any followers :-) ) think too!

More to come...soon...hopefully! :-)