I was watching this and realized that it captured exactly what i love about living in a city -- even if it's a different city -- the parkspeoplebuildingstaxistrainslatenightsearlymornings, the weird energy and unexpected encounters, whether its an old adventurer, complete with eyepatch, sitting on the train next to you, or the 12 year old girl at the conservatory with an uncanny knowledge of beekeeping.
Happy two year anniversary, Chicago!

my dormatory life @ the young age of 29

Hello me ladies:) So, Im sooo late on this. Yes, my apartment went thru. I have been there 2 months. ha. I love it. A lovely girl who also adores art, music and randomness , moved right across the hall!!!! Her name is Kate. One night I was playing ella fitzgerald , had some incense going , and cleaning my apartment when I heard a knock at the door. It was a beautiful young girl that introduced herself and said she doesn't know a soul in Cleveland. She is from Pittsburg. She just got a job at the Cleveland Clinic as a nurse in the Cardiology ICU . She later told me, that when she heard ella fitzgerald and smelled the incense...she thought to herself...this will be either really cool, and be some young cool girl...or reallllly awkward and be some older black man hippie. That was 3 weeks ago. We have been hanging out ever since. Gabriel also loves her. We are the only ones in our hall way, so sometimes we leave our apartment doors open. (the hallway has doors that close off from the rest of the apt building. So after office hours, Gabriel roams free in and out of our apartments. We also have a fire escape which he loves to chill out on:)
One day while at the library I got a few phone calls back to back from Kate. So after the 3rd ring I picked it up. She was balling and begged me to come take her to the hospital because she cut her hand.
So I took off my heels and ran across the Lee Rd intersection...up the stairs and to her apartment. Mind you I didn't have a bra on ...so Im sure that was fun for all the people at the red light. I can hear it now. " Dat white girl is crazy!!" I didn't actually hear anyone say that, but I know that 80% of the people who saw me were thinkin it. So anyway, I ran into her apartment. Blood all over the sink. I filled a bag with ice. Grabbed a towel. Told her to apply pressure and we were off to Cleveland Clinic. She had just started working there the day b4...lmao. So I watched them stitch her up. It was pretty exciting. Poor girl. Then, last night, a week later. I helped her take the stitches out:) Talk about bonding! We made dinner, had some wine at her apt. Then she brought her blanket and pillow to my apt and we watched some of 'science of sleep' .
Then I preceded to text my new friend from California until 1 am. His name is Raul. He and I have been chatting for 2 months now;) He is a deep thinker... and loves that about me too. He also is intrigued by how I find ways to amuse myself on a daily basis .... He is a fitness trainer....He has the body of a greek god. No joke. Oh, and him and I , how cute is this.....had a date ....one saturday night, we both got something to eat...called eachother and then pressed play on our DVD players at the same time:) We watched Garden State...and preceded to text eachother commenting on the movie thru the movie. He LOVED IT!!! In fact it inspired him quite a bit. So much to tell but I will save my Raul stories for another day....Toodles ladies;)

Texts, Vol. II

I woke up with kapow on my cheek!
Well now I have peanut butter stuck in my hair.
"Autism: The Musical" is now in our Netflix queue!
I just read a story about a vegan strip club and thought of you.
What were you doing putting your lips near bees?
And you need to avoid getting blown up in gaza!
And staring longingly at the dinosaur egg.
Is there a moose?!
::bounces in and jumps on bed:: hi!
AUGUST 23 FERRET SHOW ASK FOR TIME OFF NOW
Okay so I'm at Wizard World comic convention
I'll dump confetti on his desk and stomp away
BUT THE BUNNIES
Flamingos? Cherries? Polka Dots?
I'll bring you all the finest muffins in the land!
Tell me you're bringing us balloons?
He's eating your paper!!
Oh it was nice. Even if my hair smells like steak.
I just got invited to play beer pong at a comic book store?
Wish I could distract you with pianos.

Breakfast!

Sometimes I love being a grown-up.

[one of my favorites from dinosaur comics!]
I just found out that one of my best friends from Wooster days is having a baby. He also mentioned that they were giving it the same middle name as me. Life is so strange.
[Any news on that apartment?!]

I think I found my apartment!!

Hey ladies!! I am sitting here eating goldfish (as in the cracker) accompanied with "Mattie's Perch-Chardonnay" wine....
I think I found my new apartment!!!! I had an appt. to see an efficency, which I wasnt thrilled about...being that Gabriel is the size of a Mountain Lion. BUT...when I got there..the girl told me there was bad news. She said the effeciency was applied for and the person was accepted. Then she said, "however, we do have a 1 bedroom, that I can show you" I instantly thought, I already know I cant afford it....THEY GAVE ME A SWEET DEAL! She said its usually $550 but they will give it to me for the price of an efficency!!! I will be applying tomorrow morning. All wooden floors. Cute kitchen ...and I will turn my living room into a very Zen-filled Yoga ready-Serenity room:) :)
I am very excited. Its in Shaker Hts...in a safe area. Only 10 from work...and though I really wanted to be back on Coventry...its only 10 miin away too:) Plus, I really liked the girl that showed it to me...her and I might workout and do yoga together. She works in the office below:) Cute,black girl about my age...we got along well. Well, I am gonna run for now. I love you each very much. Keep your heads up....and enjoy all the beauties you encounter...

Me at 25.

Some moments that I want to remember:
The first sip of the first truly expensive bottle of wine, received as a thank you at work.
Gin and tonics at one AM at a dim jazz club.
Walking under the rumbling train tracks and realizing that the sound is a comfort, not an annoyance.
Blinking in the sunlight after a matinee and strolling arm in arm down Michigan Avenue, only to happen upon a perfect bookstore.
Calls in the middle of the day to seek out skiball.
Squooshing on the couch to look out the window for Johnny Depp or Christian Bale.
Wearing party dresses to work, simply because life is too short not to.
Handing the old valet parking attendant a cd of French pop songs, after he requested it.
Free Dairy Queen in the middle of the work day and picnics on the roof.
Dancing at the Metro with old friends.
"To Sunday nights and Kurt Vonnegut".
Sitting at the Underground, listening straight through to Astral Weeks.
Fresh French bread from the tiny farmer's market around the corner.
This is not where I expected to be at 25, but somehow it feels absolutely perfect.

Growing Pains

Im not sure if anyone still comes to our blog but here is a piece of artwork I finished about a month ago. I love you girls! -me

At first I thought "what in the world is this" but then it hit me like a ton of bricks...This was so powerful. I cried so hard...Thank You Yahshua!!!

A date to celebrate what???

It was a beatiful day today!!! 60 degrees in January!! I took Isaac a walk in the stroller. It was nice to get out and see the sun again. Check this!!! Tomorrow, the mother I work for is going to be induced!!! I WILL HAVE TWINS TOMORROW.Im not use to itsy bitsy babies...Daniel was over 10 lbs when he was born! Im excited even tho I know my priorities are about to multiply! .....
Pump yo' breaks sista. A date to celebrate what? Uhhh ummmmm....uhhh, just keep it real sista? A date for WHAT? I remember the veryyyyy round about comment you made at Shannon and Eddie's wedding...Ya might wanna save your bridesmaid dress from Karyn's wedding.ummmmm okay? So come on girl. Lets straight shoot! Just make sure Im sitting down;) (and have a beer in my hand) J/k...Don't you have to get engaged first before you get married? Im confused...Anyway, I LOVE YOU and miss you much!!! I know I have a phone phobia but it doesnt reflect my love for you!!! Also, I had NO IDEA you were gonna be in town that one weekend. If I had known you woulda gotten the biggest hug and kiss!
Wow, I have a tear rollin down my cheek cause I just watched "Good Times" LOL...crazy...I gotta run. Love you each!!