Friday, July 30, 2010

Last Friday in Chicago (for now)

"I walked out that door, and I never looked back."

I didn't cry. I felt relief. I called my mom from the platform, waiting on the last train home.

Thursday, July 29, 2010

Last Thursday in Chicago (for now)

Today I rode the train to work, and before lunch, I went over to Dr. Warga's office to say goodbye.

Was there maybe 15 minutes. Gave Sue a hug, Jeanne another hug goodbye. Met the new associate, did not even make eye contact with jorga. fuck that trainwreck. Said goodbye and gave george a hug. i actually started to cry and thanked him for the opportunity to work for him, for teaching me, for helping me with letters, etc for school. I want so badly for my dreams to come to fruition, and he have me encouragement that they would.

I will miss this.

Last Wednesday in Chicago (for now)

Wednesday.

Wednesday.


A weird day of the week. Sometimes referred to as Hump Day.

Wednesday is my day off. I like having Wednesdays off b/c I only have to get through work on mon and tues. then sleep in and do whatever on wed, then just get through thurs and fri. It's kind of a sweet deal but also kind of sucks b/c everyone I know works during the day during the week and it can get kinda lonely sometimes.

Today Matt Clark and I went to Six Flags. I had never been to the one here. It was pretty sweet. Same kind of rides/games as the one in STL, including the Hurrican Harbor water park, except of course, for different roller coasters.

We got there about 4pm. Not too crowded, waited about 20 min for most rides, i'd guess. and excellent temps. not too hot/not too humid.

the first thing we went on was a coaster called the Wizard. It was pretty sweet actually. We were up in the second car from the front. There were no loops, but it went fast and had sharp banks and was still exciting. good warm up.

Then we rode the raging bull, which i understand to be the premiere roller coaster there. the cars seat four across, and the seats have a lap bar that looks like the riders are on those little rascal scooters. no loops on this one, either, but its FAST!! and there is a MAJOR drop. something like 208ft. drop on the first hill. hands up! eyes closed! lungs screaming!!

Then we went to the Hurrican Harbor to get some water slide action before that part of the park closed. The lazy river ride, which is my fav, was closed, which was a dang shame. All those lonely yellow tubes, floating around the loop without any bathers...criminal, i tell ya!

but we went on some FAST water slides. it was actually kind of scary in the watertubes b/c it was so dark in there, i couldn't see anything, i was just zipping and zigging and zagging. We went twice down the bowl slides, that empty out into a bowl and we circled the drain so to speak before sliding down the last part of the slide. The water park was a lot of fun.

The Hurrican Harbor closed at 7pm, but the rest of the park was open til 10pm. We hit up the batman coaster, which is the same as the batman in stl. its sooooo smooth, and and nighttime its so dark and the corkscrews are so fast and tight. its really scary.

Rode a coaster called the demon. it was okay. lots of loops and corkscrews, and one part with a tunnel and lights that was a huge surprise, but the ride was jerky and kinda hurt my head banging around on the body bar.

Also rode the Superman, which that ride was totally bad ass. I have never ridden a ride like that before. After we were all in our seats, the backs pulled up and we were parallel with the ground, like we were flying. it was terrifying! there was one loop in particular, when we were upside down, going around, and i could see the track ahead of us. There was a great pic that camera caught of me, mouth open screaming, eyes terrified, arms up.

the V2, which i think stood for vertical velocity was kinda cool. just one track, with one train, going forward and backward, each time getting higher and higher. it was pretty good.

the american eagle, which is similiar to the screamin' eagle, was an old wooden white roller coaster. really rickety and jerky. no loops, but that element of danger, like the train was going to fly off the tracks at nearly every hill. an of course a great first drop.

some other coaster we rode, don't remember the name, but we had to stand up on it.

then we rode the raging bull again. we got onto the last train of the night. first car. it was totally bad ass. again, epic first drop. fast curves and high hills. adrenaline was pumping. hands up, lungs screaming! eyes wide open in terror!

waiting in line for the last raging bull train of the night, with american eagle wooden white structure in the background:




saw these rasta bananas as prizes on the way out:



i kind of had a huge headahce. i made an conscious effort to drink water throughout our time there, so i don't think it was from dehydration. probably from hunger and/or so much screaming/g-forces/blood rushing loops.

on the way home, we drove around looking fora dang taco bell, finally got to one in glenview. geez, i could not get those burritos in my mouth fast enough! haha!

dropped matt off at his house, hug goodnight. great time today! totally exhausted. i will sleep well tonight! :)

Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Last Tuesday in Chicago (for now)

Met up with Jeanne after work. We went to Pita Inn in Niles and ate delicious Middle Eastern food, had good conversation and caught up with each other.


Afterwards, we went to run some errands and went to Target and bought some bras. Something about hanging out with Jeanne is always so comforting. I have really missed my mom, even just going to the store with her and talking to each other as we walked from aisle to aisle. Identify that comfort just hanging out with Jeanne.

She took me to the Harlem stop and I rode the blue line home. For the Last Time!

Monday, July 26, 2010

Last Monday in Chicago (for now)

Met up with Johnny after work for sweet hangout at Grant Park, Millenium Park, and pedaling along LaSalle and then Milwaukee.

I swung by Life On Mars and got us a sliced seitan sandwich, mac n cheese, bbq baked black eyes peas, and the coconut greens. We had a little picnic in the park, sitting on a bench amongst the flowers. Gorgeous blue sky, beautiful surroundings, good food with good company, and ideal weather conditions. I had been to this park previously, but not since winter, when I went ice skating, but didn't go to see any of the other cool things to see. This city is gorgeous, and enjoying a perfect day with friends makes me not want to leave this place.

Arch at the Art Institute:



Gorgeous Flowers in Grant Park:





Sweet bridge near sundown:











More vegetation at the Arboretum:
















Only took me 3 1/2 years to finally go to The Bean:









Some Chinese sculptures:







Fountains with Faces:






Riding along LaSalle then to Milwaukee home:















After I got back home, I was tired, but went to Delilah's for Punk Rock Monday, which Roy and I had gone to so many times this spring/summer. Although tonight Roy was not there; he was working.

I did meet up with cutie pie that i met a few weeks back. Turns out, roy took this pic of us out on the street, makes me smile:




And Danny! came out as well. It was great to see him before I left. I met Danny at a basement show back in the summer or 2008, and we never hung out or saw each other until this past June. He's a fun, funny guy. I'd like to come back up to chi in sept when he throws his bitchin' bday party at bob inn over labor day weekend.

Last Sunday in Chicago (for now)

Last Sunday in Chicago. day was gorgeous. i stayed in the house until about 3pm. met up at roy's house for porch beers. absolutely beautiful sitting on the porch. blue sky. cold beer. cool breeze. shade tree.

went to see despicable me. movie was hilarious. not a lot of people in the theater.

then i met up with johnny and we rode bikes to see the dragonlady, but the kitchen was closed. life on mars was closed as well. had luck at the handlebar, which i was glad b/c the portions there are huge and i have enough left over to take for lunch tomorrow. also, i had been craving lettuce/greens, and was able to choose the collard greens for the side. the bbq seitan is delicious. its so tender, and i really like the sauce. and we could order beers there.

then we came back to my house and hung out for bit and watched some hulu and drank beers.

i'm dreading going to work tomorrow; i know i am making the right choice in leaving.

Saturday, July 24, 2010

Sorry it didn't work out

I went to a house party at the new gator loft last night. Shit was hot as ballzZz in there. Bands were totally solid. (most likely the last) Death Warrent (show), Shithawk, some band from buffalo, and wild america. Not a lot of people at all.

Had rained eariler in the evening but was stopped and looking clear on the radar, so Johnny and I pedaled over there. Straight hood. Double locked our bikes up outside. I had a nice time. Drank seven beers there and didn't even feel buzzed b/c of the heat. Just sweating it out. again, something so primal about that. everyone was slick with it.

After the show, lots of rain coming down. saw Giuseppe, he had left but came back to the party to change a tube. I had his socks in my bag and gave them to him and told him I was moving and gave him a huge hug and i didn't want to let go. I started to get upset and left. Johnny was out on the street waiting for me to unlock the bikes.

pouring rain. but i was smiling. we got to an overpass on i think north ave. maybe armitage. couldn't see too well. the street was flooded. i plowed right into the water. my bike came to a near halt, the water easily a foot and a half deep. i started to laugh. i looked back and saw johhny, backlit from the headlights of a car that was not going to pass, bike slung over his shoulder, wading knee deep in foul backwater.

got to my street and got off our bikes. i started to cry. we embraced for a good 30 seconds. he texted me later saying that we should hang out everyday until i leave.

i debate all the time whether my decision to return to stl is the correct one to make. this summer has been great. easily top three. i saw nick sherman at party last night and i even mentioned that to him. summer 2010, summer 2006, and summer 2001, which i spent in c'dale.


but once school starts back up and work slows down and the sun starts to disappear at 4pm, i know i'll get depressed again. when i moved up here, i was afraid of missing friends in stl. but i made friends up here. i was afraid of missing my cute house. but i found a place to live up here that i loved just as much.

i can always come back, and i would like to. i know i will. the same friends will be here. when i get back to stl, i will find the same friends waiting for me, and i will find a new house to love just as much.

i was kind of hungover today. mostly b/c of the dehydration from the sweatbox that was the gator loft last night. haven't eaten much. woke up with severe leg/calf cramps.

clouds cleared this afternoon and i went to north ave beach to meet up with a very cute (seriously cute. dude is like 21 and totally just....cute!) boy that i met at the delilah's on monday. we were there for three hours. sun in and out of the clouds, but conversation was good. we got a spot north of north ave and there wasn't a lot of people around. no swimming allowed today. bogus. good hangout. good saturday afternoon. we'll see what saturday night holds.

Sunday, July 18, 2010

The cutest boys in Chicago reside in Logan Square

Gave my last shift away yesterday, so I'm off work today. Too bad its raining. Actually just got caught in the rain riding home. And it was so....INVIGORATING!! Riding a bicycle is exhilarating enough without wind whipping warm but at the same time cool hard rain right into you, eyes stinging, clothes clinging. Something about it. Raw. Primal.

Rode up to the LS farmers' market with the intention of buying carrots to put in a soup and also my favorite curry potato dish to take to work for lunch this week. The carrots were sold out, but I did get a leek, which potato leek soup is one of my favs, and I've no prob making that instead.

There was people everywhere. I was a little pissed off. Maybe I just felt left out seeing so many people out enjoying their lazy Sunday, getting brunch, nursing their hangovers, walking with their dogs. At the same time, though, I kind of don't want to be included. Maybe that is why I keep myself occupied with work all the time. I know it is.

Found out on Thursday that I did not get the job in Skokie. Stayed positive about it; chin up! Had another interview lined up that evening. I didn't even meet the doctors. An assistant interviewed me, and she totally sucked. Didn't smile, didn't make eye contact, insulted me after I said I had never used the Cerac machine before, spoke in monotone to whole time. What a fucking buzzkill. I set up a working interview for next Thursday, but I'm going to cancel.

I am headed back to STL on Tuesday night and have another interview set up for Wednesday with two more resumes out there that I am hoping to hear from and can also set up something for Wed since I'll be in town. Very much looking forward to hanging with my number one crush, too.

I have not yet quit my job and the dentist office, but I have every intention of putting in my notice tomorrow. Bike trip needs to just happen already!

Thursday, July 15, 2010

way too fast

Whirlwind last twenty four hours.

i decided to go see my sister in tampa over 4th of july. i took off a whole week and flew down there with plans on seeing off with their heads on the 3rd at the orpheum. rained the entire time i was there, but i don't mind. actually rested and relaxed and came back refreshed. did have a break in the clouds on saturday and went to the beach for three hours. burnt to a crisp. peeling now.

did eat a lot. i actually need to do a little running b/c i've def been indulging this summer. sis and i went to grass root, trang viet, cuban breeze. owth show was sweet. getting kicked out of the bar promptly at 1010pm was not sweet, but the tacobus was perhaps the best burrito i have ever eaten. and i was practically sober.

while i was in tampa, i received call from a perio office in stl that i had sent my resume to a few weeks back, and i set up a speaking and working interview for the following wednesday. the next day i got a call from another dental office in stl that i sent a resume to, and set up another interview for the following wednesday. then two offices in chicago got back to me, and then another one in stl.

i went to a working interview in skokie on tues. went really well. it was a huge group practice with lots of patients and support team, and the doctor was very kind and caring. if they will accept my school schedule, then i will accept a position there if offered.

took the overnight bus to stl for two interviews yesterday, including one working. the working interview was at a perio office, and all i can say is that i thought it was totally badass! there are eight auxillary and one doctor. and the place was sterile. procedures were messy. love it. the girls were all a little older but everyone seemed genuinely nice. if i'm offered a position, i will probably accept.

then went to another office for a speaking interview. kind of a weird vibe. feel so confidant about the other two, though, that i don't care.

have another one set up for tonight after work at a place in chicago. ten minutes bike ride from my house, so that is awesome. downside is that its work in city limits so i wouldn't get sweet tuition discount at my school.

so i was in stl for about 18 hours. it was HOT AS HELL! i guess i had forgotten about the humidity. heat index was 107. not cool. but i did hang out with my #1 most fav and we went to delmar to get bubble tea. had never had that before. i liked the gummy little tapioca balls. would drink again. would hang out again (hopefully next week).