But there's a light on in Chicago...

Who knew I would fall for Chicago?! Don't get me wrong. I was excited about my trip to Chicago, but I didn't realize how much fun and how interesting it would actually be. My best friend and I managed to do all things Chicago (just like we promised the guy at U.S. customs - lol).

The Famous Wrigley Field

K.Hi & I left my house around 6:30 A.M. on a Thursday morning in June. We left early because we had tickets to a Chicago Cubs afternoon game (interesting fact #1 - almost all cubs games are afternoon games). We encountered some hard rain, but made it to Chicago without incident and even early for the game so we scored free Chicago Cubs sunglasses. Being able to experience a game at Wrigley Field more than made up for the less than desirable hotdog and seating. After the game, K.Hi and I had a late lunch at Al's #1 Beef (which has been featured on Man Vs. Food). K.Hi thoroughly enjoyed her beef dip!

My wonderful friend, J. and her husband, M. were more than welcoming, allowing K.Hi & I to stay at their humble abode for Thursday and Friday night while we were touring the city. J. helped us figure out the transit system in Chicago so we could get around easily. I'm not familiar with public transit having grown up in a small town, but Chicago's system seemed fairly easy to get the hang of. That night we set out to Willis Tower (formally the Sears Tower) to take in the view from the Skydeck, 104 floors up. We stayed long enough so that we could get late evening and night pictures. 

Loooking up at the Willis Tower

Me - 104 floors above Chicago

Sunset over Chicago

                                                   

                                                                 The Ledge - 104 floors above S. Wacker Dr.

Gino's East Pizzeria

We then found our way to the Magnificent Mile and got to see the long stretch of designer stores. It was late and they were all closed, but let's be realistic... we weren't going to be buying anything at Tiffany's or Georgio Armani anyways. From there we went to eat a very late dinner at Gino's East (which is known for it's deep dish pizza and was also featured on Man vs. Food). There was a line up at this pizza joint at 10:30 at night with two floors of seating full. By the time we got in at 11pm we were starving only to find out that the deep dish pizza's we ordered would take an hour to make. We spent most of our time waiting, taking in the scenery of the restaurant which was covered in graffiti. K.Hi loved her deep dish pizza! I liked mine, but I think I'll stick with regular pizza.

Shedd Aquarium

The next morning we took the bus to the Shedd Aquarium. It was a free admission Friday and there was a 2 hour line-up. It was the main thing I had wanted to do in Chicago, so K.Hi, being the good sport she is, put up with the 2 hour wait in the hot sun with me. Afterwards, we took a water taxi to Navy Pier and boarded the 3pm Architectural Boat Tour. This Tour was about an hour long and took us up and down the river with a guide who talked about the different buildings along the river's edge. It was so beautiful to witness and interesting as well. After arriving back at Navy Pier, we had a late lunch at Harry Caray's Tavern.

River City - from the boat tour

Lunch @ Harry Caray's

Millenium Park

We then found our way to Millenium Park where we saw the giant sculpture that looks like a chrome jelly bean. Right beside Millenium Park is Grant Park and an ampitheater. There just so happened to be a free orchestra concert that night so we took a seat and listened for an hour or so and relaxed. We then found State Street where we were advised to go shopping. K.Hi scored a Michael Kors bag there and was ecstatic! By this time it was 10 or so and we found our way to "Ditka's" which we assumed would be a sports bar/tavern. When we arrived it was a fancy steak and seafood place. WHOOPS. We weren't turned away for a dresscode so we stayed. K.Hi had the meatloaf stack and I had a burger (the cheapest thing on the menu for $15 dollars). 

Saturday came and J. and M. took us to a farmer's market and then to Lincoln Park Zoo (interesting fact #2 - it is a FREE zoo). We took J&M out for lunch to thank them for allowing us to stay with them while we were in town and then headed out to our hotel near the airport. We stopped for dinner at a place (featured on Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives) called Smoque. I didn't order anything, but K.Hi was in bbq heaven! We signed in at the Hyatt and chilled a bit before getting ready for the event to end out our weekend: the NKOTBSB concert at the United Center. What a concert it was! It was the perfect mix of boyband greatness, if I may be so blunt! The shuttle back to our hotel from the airport subway was quite an adventure. I got spat on by a crazy person who I thought was going to take the shuttle driver hostage and/or turn around and knife me, but I survived!

New Kids On The Block AND Backstreet Boys

Not only did I have an amazing trip, I also got to cross off another new state visited on my 101 in 1001 list. 

What Would I Do Without my E-BFF!

Some wise words from one of the best people on the planet I've had the privilege of getting to know... my e-bff ♥


Learn to look past things...
Your happiness is yours; not yours AND everybody elses!
They don't live you're life for you. YOU DO! 
Your happiness is yours, and yours alone! 
You make it for yourself and don't worry about what anyone else thinks. 


Wise words from a wise friend. Love that girl! Ty

Memories

In the spectrum of things, there are actually very few things in life anymore that can really melt your heart and turn you to mush; OR, maybe that's just me.

Last Sunday evening, I went to a friend's house for one of those "candle party" thingies, and a few of my other friends showed up, with kids in tow. I'd spent most of the day stressed about finding a permanent full time teaching gig, and working on cover letters, school board apps, etc. Something happened that night that has given me one of the greatest memories I've ever experienced. It seems like such a small thing too.

Here's the background:
Every Tuesday, I babysit my friend's 16-month old daughter. Usually when she sees me she gives me the stink eye because she associates seeing me with her precious mum leaving her. Needless to say, it takes a while for her to warm up to me, even when her mum is still around.

Sunday evening rolls around, and my friend and her 16-month old daughter come to the candle party thingy. They come in and get settled. Baby is wearing her Tinkerbell pyjamas and has a mini ponytail at the right side of her head. She looks around the room; she looks tepid and shy and unsure of what to make of what is going on. As she's looking around the room her eyes fall on me and I give her a smile.

Here is the moment:
Baby's big, beautiful, blue eyes widen and twinkle and a huge-ass open-mouth smile graces her face as she realizes who I am and RUNS her tiny little feet towards me in excitement and jumps on me with her arms opened.

Yes, I realize that the only reason she was so excited to see me is because the room was full of people she wasn't very familiar with and I was someone she recognized. Do I care? NOPE! I'll take it! I love that little girl and to finally see her so excited to see me is one of the greatest visual memories I've ever had. I almost wish I'd gotten a picture of it so I'd never forget, but I have a feeling that moment is plastered in time in my heart and will never disappear.

Funny how such a small thing can have such a huge effect on someone's soul.

Hello... My name is Sarah and I am an internet geek.

If you know me well enough, you know that I spend a ridiculous amount of time online. It started in University when surfing the web and chatting with strangers seemed like a far better alternative to studying and/or writing papers. Owning a laptop has made being online even more accessible and in turn has taken up even MORE of my time it seems these days. Sure some people may think I'm an internet geek (which I don't technically disagree with), but I've come to the realization that it's not really that bad a thing.

I am now 30 years old (ugh) and living at home as I struggle to find a teaching job in South Western Ontario (which is harder than you think - believe it or not). The few friends that still live in the area are all married and have families and/or are busy with full time careers. I'm not pouting about being left behind, because that's not the issue. The issue is that I have a LOT of free time on my hands. When I'm not working, I turn to the internet for my main source of entertainment and interaction.

I agree with my friend in that it's probably better to be immersed in online activities than sitting in front of a TV like a lump and letting it overtake me. At least, when I'm online I can find things to do that are thought provoking. The internet is much more interactive. I'm not saying you can't learn anything from television, but the world wide web allows you to have a wealth of knowledge at your fingertips.

Along with finding interesting things to immerse myself in online, I also spend a lot of time "chatting". I have met some amazing people that I wouldn't have otherwise had the opportunity to have met without the internet. One of my favourite things in the world is stumbling across someone who has different thoughts, philosophies and outlooks on things. People are FASCINATING!

If you don't spend much time online, you probably don't know much about online communities. I know it sounds weird and freaky, but hear me out. I visit two places online regularly that could be categorized as "online communities". There are a group of "regulars" who interact daily, weekly, etc. I'm a "n00b" compared to some of the tenured regulars, but somehow I just fit in. Everyone knows everyone there. I got to know people and over time, some of these people who started off as random people to talk to behind a screen have turned into incredible friends. They became a support system and someone to turn to when I'm not quite sure where else to turn. PLUS they are easily accessible... sometimes more so than friends who live down the street.

Sometimes I get down on myself because it feels like I have more friends online than in "real life". Then I remember that my friends online are just as real. They have feelings and troubles and I try to be there for them as they are for me. Who wouldn't want friends all around the world?! I have friends in California, Massachusetts, Texas, New York, Louisiana, Indiana Oregon, Pennsylvania,Germany, Ireland and Iran! Some of these friends I text, send Christmas cards to and some I've even been lucky enough to meet in person. I don't regret a single one. They've all come into my life and offered me more than just friendship. They've all taught me different lessons and offered me insight into this thing we call life.

I will NEVER regret being an internet geek! ☺

A Little Bit of Nostalgia

I think all this talk about moving on and starting fresh in 2011 has had a reverse effect on me. I found myself reminiscing a lot about the past year and although it wasn't a great year, I did get to experience many great new things, meet an incredible group of new people and even managed to have some great memories. Here is the highlight reel:

#1 - Team Canada wins GOLD in the Winter Olympics held in Vancouver, BC

#2 - I was introduced to the wonders of IRC - yes, I do realize I'm 15 years late for the party, kthx.   

♥ #toolarmy & reborn // #GiM ♥

#3 - I have an whole new catalog of music thanks to a ton of influences:  

• Ry - too many discographies and albums to name (Mastodon, Killswitch Engage, Unearth, Coheed & Cambria, etc)
• Ghaz - post-rock (God is an Astronaut, Yndi Halda, Godspeed You! Black Emperor)
• Aceface - dubbbbbstepppppp
• Rem - This Will Destroy You (which is one of my favourites now)
• Bri - Guitar gods like Stevie Ray Vaughn & Steve Vai
• .similar from Last.Fm 

#4 - My Michiana Adventures - Notre Dame Campus, Fireworks over Lake Michigan @ Silver Beach outdoor concert in St. Joseph's Michigan.

#5 - Camping @ Valen's Conservation Area w/ Kristi, Norv & Kishan

#6 - End of the year bashes with my bestie

Oktoberfest 2010 @ Norv's in B-Town

The Enormous Party @ Dirty Scott's in B-Town

DecemberFest 2010 @ Russ' in Toronto

#7 - Stella & Kaylee's 1st Birthday Parties ~ love them ♥

Stelly Bean

Kaylee-pie

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

2010 also had it's share of lowlights:

• Being sick every weekend from the end of January until the 1st of March (one weekend was only because I was massively hungover from Kristi's birthday - took me 7 hours to get home from the Hammer and I had to pull over in Strathroy for a nap in my car)
• I only made it to two concerts this year: NKOTB & Tesla which was okay, but I missed out on Tool, Puscifer, All That Remains, Deftones, Mastodon & Maiden. UGH!
• I had my first visit to an american jail... twice! Definitely a lowlight, but strangely enough makes for good stories.
• I had a rough couple months near the end, but I made it through with the help of old and new friends. Thanks to all! 

Now back to your regularly scheduled program - 2011