The Windy City!

Hello everyone! I've been here for a week now, and I've learned a lot about living on my own. Some of the advantages: less laundry, fewer dishes, and a great deal of privacy. However, with privacy in a new city comes a real lack of companionship. I've found that expecting to meet real friends in the first week is like expecting to get a job as a lawyer without going to law school. It will take time, but I'd better get used to it, because getting that beautiful couch into my skinny little door involved way too much sweat and labor for me to even imagine leaving this place any time soon!

So lately I've embraced my new loner existence by finding things to do with myself out around town. The second day I bought a transit card and bussed myself downtown to meet with the general manager of Red Lobster. She immediately took me on as a transfer, which means I won't have to do the work of being rehired. I'll be starting work by the end of August.

Throughout the week I've also spent time pounding the Lincoln Park pavement, checking out stores and coffee shops, restaurants, banks, etc. Here's a view of Clark Street, a main stretch in my area. It's not the concrete jungle that is downtown, but still plenty of places to go and things to do.

On Saturday, I decided I needed to get out on my own and meet people. This was an idea a couple of friends from home convinced me to try. I stopped in at a small bar near my place where I was successful in meeting someone from my building named Blair. I normally would never have dreamed of going out by myself, but, as a friend of mine would say, I've started one little spiderweb by getting one new number.

Today, I wandered up to my roofdeck to get some sun. I brought everything but the kitchen sink with me: my camera, iPod, phone, journal, a newspaper, spf 15, tanning oil, a book of poetry, and a towel (of course). It was nothing like laying out in my back yard in De Pere, because the breeze kept me from getting too hot. They don't call it The Windy City for nothing. Here are some pictures I took of the view I have up there.



Lately, my mom's been fretting over not being able to cook anything without my dad around (she discovered she's really more of an assistant). Last night I was thinking about it, and decided I'd try to fry an egg - just to see if I could do it. The good news is I can. The bad news is I had to eat a fried egg in the middle of the night. Maybe tomorrow night I'll try something else.

It's time for some coffee. Take care, and thanks for reading!

Moving Day

When my family moved to Countryside in De Pere my cat, Mo, was disturbed. The first time he ventured out of his corner in the bathroom, we watched as he crept carefully down the stairs, made a circle around - kitchen and living room - and went back up. Tonight, after my parents left me here in my new apartment in Chicago, I snuck out my front door, took a walk to Clark Street (or what I think might be Clark) and crept right back into my apartment. I wasn't afraid, but it felt like enough for my first night.


Before leaving De Pere I spent some time saying goodbye to friends. The night of my birthday, I went to Pat's place, and one of the first pictures I took with my digital camera was of his dog. Oliver sat opposite the bonfire as Pat and I shared a few beers. Pat's decided he might move to Chicago in a few months, which would be great. I learned quickly in Madison that he's a fun coffee/lunch/going out partner, and also a very loyal and genuine friend.

On Friday night, Krystal and I celebrated our midsummer birthdays with a little bash that began at my house and moved to Mojo's in De Pere.

Here I am with Pat and Krystal. We look pretty amazing -- of course this is pre-first drink of the night! Throughout the evening I took lots of other pictures, but this one is my favorite, because they're two of my very best friends.

I felt less than spectactular the next day, but I had my friend Erin's wedding coming up soon, which I prepared for by listening to Allison Krauss's "When You Say Nothing At All" 25 times and practicing in the kitchen, where the acoustics sound most like a church. Erin looked gorgeous, and I've never seen anyone look as happy as she did.

Playing music was a family affair that night. My dad was the DJ for the reception. He kept everyone on the floor and having fun all night, as I'm sure he always does. This was last night, so despite the fact that my parents and I were unable to prepare much for today's move, everything went well.


I was thrilled to see my new apartment come together with the help of my dad's handywork and my mom's interior design sense. Here are a few pics of the new place. The couch is coming on Wednesday, so I've got a very hippie-style living room for now.





Enjoy the photos, and I'll enjoy my little screened off "bedroom". It's been a long day.