Love is...

As a teenager, I loved the "Love is..." comics. In high school I worked at a library and we kept the Chicago Tribune and Chicago Sun-Times on a counter at the front desk. I would always go through the Sun-Times to read my horoscope and the Love is... comic before I left work.

A couple weeks ago I was standing at a co-worker's desk and he had the Sun-Times. We were looking for the horoscopes to take a mini mental break when we passed the Love is... of the day: "Love is...comforting."

"Oh God," was my response.

I thought it was really corny and kept flipping through the paper to look for the horoscopes section (which had horoscopes by 2 different people that couldn't be more different from each other).

Well, I spoke too soon with my comment and rolling of the eyes when I saw the comic.

I ended up having a rough day at work and was exhausted by the end of the day. I drove to work and was driving down Lakeshore Drive when I thought about how much I wished I had a boyfriend to go home to that night. Just someone to relax with and snuggle. And then I thought, "Love really is comforting."

My family and friends know I would love to be in a relationship (as I'm sure some of you might have gotten that impression too if you've read past blog posts ). However, I am fine with being single and I don't need to be in a relationship to be happy. In fact, I have grown up a lot and learned a lot about life and myself over the past few years. But I'm not going to lie, having a boyfriend wouldn't be too shabby either.

I have great friends and family who I know I can talk to about anything, call up to hang out, etc. But there's just something about being in a relationship that's just...comforting.

The only other living being that can cheer me up and I enjoy cuddling with is our family dog.

Maybe I should just get a dog...

I got Janice Rossi'd...

Karen Hill: This is Karen Hill, I want to talk to you. Hello? Don't hang up on me. I want to talk to you. You keep away from my husband, you understand me? Hello? ANSWER ME. I'm going to tell everybody that walks in this building that in 2R, Rossi, you're nothing but a whore. [gets on phone] Is this the superintendent?... Yes, sir, I would like you to know that you have a whore living in 2R. Rossi, Janice Rossi... He's MY husband. Get your own goddamn man.

About 2 months ago I was talking to this guy who I have know for a couple years. We talk on and off, but I was never too interested for some reason. Well, I finally put my guard down and gave him a chance. BIG MISTAKE! Right after we started talking again, I get this mysterious text:

textforfree.net: Do you know he has a girlfriend? What does that make u? C u soon!

Needless to say, I was rather freaked out considering I was with him at the time. I was waiting for a girl to pop out of the bushes and go Tanya Harding on me! I asked him several times that night if he had a girlfriend, but he denied having one. I just chalked it up to some crazy ad I may have gotten. I had recently been getting random texts about claiming free vouchers, so I just assumed it was spam or to get me to go to the textforfree website. I didn't get any creepy texts like that again, so I forgot about it.

Things ended about a month ago between me and this guy because I asked if things were going anywhere between us. He said he is in counseling for committment issues, and that was my sign to hit the road!

This past Sunday I get a phone call that comes up as Unknown. I always send Unknown calls to voicemail, but decided to pick up the phone...and I got Janice Rossi'd!

Me: Hello?

Crazy: Hi, is this Christine?

**In my head thinking, oh it's a telemarketer, and bitch, my name is ChristinA**

Me: Yes.

Crazy: Hi, you don't know me, but you know my boyfriend.

Me: Who's your boyfriend?

Crazy: **Says name**

Me: OK.

Crazy: How do you know him?

Me: We met a long time ago and have mutual friends.

Crazy: So, you're saying you're just friends and that's all?

Me: Yes. I can't even tell you the last time I saw him.

Crazy: Well, I saw in his phone that you have recently been in a lot of contact with him.

Me: Yeah, I was, but I haven't been in a long time.

Crazy: And have you ever exchanged any inappropriate pictures?

**My eyes are bulging out of my head at this point!!**

Me: Absolutely NOT!!! I'm not stupid enough to send out inappropriate pictures of myself and if he has any, they're not of me!

**Not lying at all! I'm not a pig and don't send nude pics of myself or as people call it "sexts"**

Crazy: OK, well, I'm just calling because you're 1 of 25 women I'm calling today.

Me: Well, I wish you the best of luck with things.

Crazy: Well, thank you for taking the time to speak with me.

SERIOUSLY?! WTF WAS THAT?! I was so off guard by all of this. I was polite...and despite it all, so was she (well, as much as she could be in this situation). I've never had that happen before!!! Luckily, my Janice Rossi experience did not show up at my door, but it was still bad enough over the phone!!

A few things I learned from this situation...

Go with your gut instinct. People always asked me why I wasn't pursuing things with this guy. Just because he is incredibly attractive and a nice guy doesn't mean you have to be interested in someone. I always had my guard up with him because I stereotyped him and compared him to the people he hung around with. I finally put my guard down and gave in and look at what happened!!

Don't text people your address. Awhile back, I text messaged this guy my address to plug into his GPS. The text was months ago, but my phone actually saves every text I have ever sent unless I manually delete it. I'm hoping that is the case with his phone or else b**** may have my address!

If the phone says Unknown...Don't pick up!!! I am seriously letting all Unknown/Private calls go straight to voicemail from now on. That way if I get a threatening or harassing voicemail message, I can report it and have proof!

Balancing Act

Time, where did you go?
Why did you leave me here alone?
Wait, don't go so fast
I'm missing the moments as they pass
-Time, Chantel Kreviazuk

Today's post is about time management, but let me first start off with: Where did the time go? And how have I not blogged since January 7th? I know I'm not an avid blogger, but I usually don't try to go so long without a post! Especially since I had 3 comments on my last post!! Thanks!!!

Anyways, back to the main point of this entry. Yesterday I finally sucked it up and joined a gym. I've put on about 25 pounds since I graduated college (EEK!) and have probably worked out 5 times in the past couple years. Not only am I going to continue to get fat if I don't do something about it, but it's also really unhealthy! But back to my real point...

So, I walk over to a gym a few blocks away from work and signed the paperwork, which was pretty quick and harmless (I joined the gym over the summer - and never went - so no need for a walk through and all that jazz). I head to the lockeroom and change and head to the cardio room. I spend an hour on the Elliptical Cross Trainer and decide I'm not going to push myself any harder since it's my first day back to the gym after 2 or so years. By the time I got home, it was 7:30 and I still had to cook dinner. And I began thinking, How do people balance their time?

I'm not very active during the week. I leave for work around 7:45 am and get home from work around 6:30ish. Then it's time to plop on the couch and watch TV. My question is, how do people who have kids, significant others, etc. balance their time? I was exhausted when I came home from the gym and was asleep by 9. And going to the gym early in the morning before work is not an option for me. My sleep is too precious. And I'm a crabby bitch if I don't get enough sleep -- so even if I look hot in a bikini thanks to my morning gym sessions, no one is going to want to date me because my personality will be ugly!

I would like to make a schedule for myself for gym days, tanning days, hanging out with friends, etc., but I feel like things change on a regular basis that it's almost hard to pencil these sort of things in.

So 2 questions for YOU!

• What do you do to manage your time and things in your life better?
• If you had all of the time in the world, what are some things you would do more often?

Here's my list of things I wish I had more time for (and if money weren't an issue):

• Go back to school full-time
• Work out everyday
• Take dance classes
• Learn to box
• Write more (I like to write stories)
• Read more
• Write a business plan...and start my own business!

Won’t You Take Me to Funkytown?

Right now I’m stuck in Funktown, but I need to go to a “town to keep me movin’, keep me groovin’ with some energy.” OK, corny, I know, but I couldn’t help. But I have been in a real funk lately. I had a great week last week and now I’m just blah. I’m not sure if it’s because the excitement of the holidays is over, there’s not a holiday to be off of work until Memorial Day, or what the deal is. All I know is I need to make some changes in my life, which brings me to New Year’s Resolutions.

To be honest, I hate New Year’s Resolutions because people procrastinate and put off their goals until a new year rolls around and then half the time never do anything about it! If you want to make a change, don’t wait for a new year to roll around! Make it happen! But for argument’s sake and since it is a new year, we will call my goals New Year’s Resolutions…

Be more social. I really need to start going out more often. I feel like I have been isolating myself. I enjoy sleep more than going out, but that’s not healthy for anyone! I’m young and need to go out! How am I supposed to meet new people if I stay in my apartment all of the time?

Try new things. A couple months ago I joined the Facebook group Young Professionals of Chicago. I get messages and invitations to events all of the time, but have I gone to any? No. It’s a great way to network and meet people around my age.

And remember that entry I posted in August about all of the things I want to do while living in the city? Haven’t gotten on that either…

I’ve also been dying to take some classes…whether it’s writing, cooking, exercise, whatever! I want to put myself out there and figure out what I love doing!

Get healthy. And I don’t just mean “lose 25 pounds.” Right now is when everyone gets on their diet and workout kicks for a month and then go back to eating poorly and lazy again. Not only do I need to get to the gym and start eating healthier, but I need to start taking vitamins too!

Vacation. I haven’t been on vacation in almost 2 years! At one point, I had gone to NY 4 times in 13 months! Now I’m going through vacation withdrawals and need to get away! I can’t afford to lose my sanity anymore than I already have!

What are some things you plan to accomplish?