Strange Condition

Not only a great song by a great singer Pete Yorn, but also a way describe how I am feeling right now. The past week I was in Kansas City, MO visiting family and friends for the Christmas holiday. But this trip was different, because for the first time ever I looked forward to going back to Chicago and when I returned it felt like home.

I have lived in Chicago for 6 years now and going back to KC for me was always going home. There was comfort in sleeping in my old room, waking up to breakfast, driving a car, all those things. This time around I was pushed into my mom's office to sleep (perpetual fear of all twenty somethings returning home for the holidays) and all at once I was no longer home, I was a guest in my parents house. Even coming to work today I looked forward to getting back to the daily grind, and on my salary people, that is simply unheard of. I guess this is my so called jumping off point, I have gotten old enough to where what was my home is now a house I share memories with.

Now my home is my 4th floor (horrible must... get... to... the... next... level) walk up in sunny (haha) Chicago. My friends are an essential part of the equation, being gone and missing our Tuesday night ritual of live music, and hungover Sunday brunches was torture. So I guess fate was right, Chicago is in fact my kind of town despite what I once may have thought. KC will always have a special place in my heart and no doubt will be a place I consider moving one day when I return to entertaining the idea of moving once again (hell). But as for now Chicago is home and I am ok with it.

A quick recap for a quick week.

As you can see I am not exactly the constant blogger. But its been a busy week. Friday I decided to do another drinking marathon 5:00pm to 5:00am. I blame my work friends and my friends from the Emerald Isle. I blame them but I love them for it. There is something about nights like those that just make the hang over worth it. The Irish boys always have a way of making every crazy decision sound like a good one!

Besides that I am wrapping up the short week before the holiday (a huge bitch I tell you). I went to Damien Rice/ The Swell Season at the Vic on Monday absolutely fantastic. Damien is an even more hauntingly beautiful performer live. The Swell Season is the lead singer of The Frames and his musician friend from the Czech Republic, they are absolutely amazing as well check them out. I went with the infamous Katie G, it was her Christmas present and seeing her face light up was well worth the cash. We were third row!

Tuesday brought the long awaited reunion with Vanessa, my dear friend that has been living in Madrid for the past 4 months. She had an amazing time and really learned alot which of course made me happy since I twisted her arm to make her apply for the program. We had some beers, caught up and got home in time to watch sex and the city.

Tomorrow I embark on a journey back home for the holidays. Which is going to be a trip and a half! My dear friends Beth, Erin and Matt are throwing an ugly sweater party, I have an eggnog social at my friends Josh and Sarah's, and of course all the family events that make coming home so amazing.

Stories I am sure to come, all in all this has been a pretty serious week for "and hilarity ensued".





Ok Ok.... P.S. I made out with an Irishman that had Jason Priestly (Brandon Walsh) circa 1993 hair... laugh all you want...

I survived Tbox, with only minor emotional trauma!

Ok ok, so I know you have been waiting for the follow up (all one of you that read this) but I actually have worked this week! TBox was all that I could have imagined and more. Here's the bar by bar play by play:

Bar 1 (Casey Moran's): We meet the infamous Dirty Dave our fearless leader, and vow to keep it under two beers at every bar and no shots!

Bar 2 (HiTops): Beer rule quickly thrown out the window (3-4 consumed) and we are the only group at 11:00am belting out the words to Livin' on a Prayer.

Bar 3 (Irish Oak): After the bar two performance food is in order, and by food we mean anything fried or with cheese or both. Also Jeanie and Ed decide its time to do an O-Bomb. And I got my picture taken with my hot elf boyfriend pictured above.

Bar 4 (John Barleycorn): This is where things get interesting. Drunk dancing ensues, along with a long talk with a guy who has recently lost custody of his son to that "Britney Spears wannabe who lives is a shitty house in Detroit". And we are drunk...

Bar 5 (Central): Its about 3:00pm at this point maybe a little later who knows I left my cell phone for good reason at home. And who wears a watch anymore really... We only pop in here for a shot, don't ask me what it was because I don't know.

Bar 6 (Feista Cantina): And its on, Jeanie and I are performing quite the strip (by strip we mean fully clothed) performance on a stripper poll in the bar. Next thing we know we've got 20 one dollar bills each and are doing upside down margaritas on the platform with the bartender. Meanwhile Ed is crying in his cherrios in the corner we aren't sure about what and Shoe, Tise, Dirty Dave, Josh and Jenny are dancing (Shoe is booty bouncing for sure)

Bar 7 (Redmonds): Drank here for a bit, Jeanie Takes off her pants to take off her tights in front of everyone, I kiss the coat check guy who looks about 18. And we move on to bar 8.

Bar 8 (Johnny O'Haggans): Don't remember anything at this bar but leaving.

Bar 9 (Dark Horse): Shoe gets rejected because she only has her speeding ticket (In Illinois they take your license till you pay the ticket)so we move onward.

Bar 10 (Houndstooth): Ed and Josh do a shot of wild turkey... hahaha. let's all laugh and point.

Bar 11 (Cubby Bear): Jeanie and I realize we have not met any boys yet. So Jeanie says hi to the first guy she see and he responds with "No...No... just No..." and gives her a talk to the hand like hand gesture (circa 1992). To which I respond, "I will round house kick you in the face partner". Jeanie runs off, ends up walking home throwing her mistletoe headband to the floor in protest, and running into ex-flame Asher who walks her home like a gentleman. Everyone leaves me at Bar 11 to go home, but I a determined to go Wire to Wire.

Bar 12 (Kelly's Pub): Well hello Drunkie McGee, I sit myself down after I am sure a great entrance, and order a huge blue moon. I then tell the bartender my good buddy Jarred who will never let me live this down "My arms are too tired, can I get a straw" It's 9:00 pm people...

I then celebrate by drinking all of four sips of my final beer, hop in a cab and by some miracle make it home. Jeanie joins me in toasting to a great tbox adventure by waking me up at 4am for bologna sandwiches. After all we did go to bed at 9:00pm! There you have it. in all of its glory!

I came, I saw, I went Wire to the Wire.

Highlights of TBOX 11

Quotes of the night.

"that bartender has a tight ass I want to pinch" (beth) 4:00 pm

booty bounce (Shoe) 12:30 pm

I want to have sex in the bathroom (Jeanie) 3:32 pm

shoe loves PDA (Beth) 1:15 pm

PDA #976 (Ed) 1:16 pm

your very horny knock it off (Ed) 5:30 pm

I have a celtic porn star tattoo (Ed) 7:00 pm

1 beer down beth bifs it on a huge boulder of ice - Ed "That boulder owned you"
11:15 am

why do I always look like a pervert in pictures" 12:45pm (Beth)

12 bars (S25.00), drinking 10am to 10pm ($70.00), Bologna Sandwiches in bed at 4:00 am (priceless)!

More to follow soon!

The 11 annual T-Box

This weekend I will participate in a Christmas holiday tradition in the city of Chicago that dates back many years ago (11 to be exact). The event T-Box, short for Twelve Bars of X-mas, is a pub crawl that takes place in the Lakeview neighborhood of Chicago's Northside. It consist of twelve bars (hence the name) and it runs from 10:00 am to whenever you "tap out".

In light of this blessed Christmas event I thought I would talk in today's blog about the importance of 1.) Training 2.) Day of Rituals and 3.) General tips for the event that I hope will get me through it in one piece:

1.) Training: After four years of college, one of which was spent in Dublin, Ireland, I feel like I had a pretty solid training base. However with an event such as this one must always remember that it is a marathon not a sprint. I learned that the hard way on my first crawl: Titled the "First Annual, Last Annual St. Patrick's Day 'Dart' Crawl" (the Dart is their equivalent to the EL). Being a wee lil' girl only 20 (which is legal there) I was the youngest of the group and therefore the stupidest as well. Needless to say by 10:30 am I was stealing potatoes out of people's stew at the pub. After that debacle I learned to train. How might one train? Easy don't go out and get wasted every night (sounds crazy). Train your mind to not push yourself beyond a "healthy" buzz.

2.) Day of Rituals: Costumes are a must, why not make a complete ass of yourself if you are going to do it. Be prepared with plenty of late night munchies (high in carbs) to settle to the stomach. Write down some note from the day/night that you can then go back to for reference the morning after. And most importantly eat a big breakfast and chug a lot of water.

3.) General tips: Do not.. I Repeat Do not... Invite anyone who has not already seen you at your worst! This is just asking for one of the stories that gets told every time you go out in big groups and then everyone looks at you like "wow that girl can't hold her liquor". In other words invite those who make you appear stronger. Also a pictures speaks a thousand words, document your trip down drunk lane, its funny and helpful in some situations!

So as I embark on my "not so noble" trip ahead wish me good luck and god speed, and wait on a great blog filled with delicious tidbits from the event.

The Christmas Card

I hate to open like Jerry Seinfeld would but "What's with the Christmas Card?". Today I am reflecting on the importance placed on sending both the family and the work related Christmas/Holiday/ or in my case Festivus greeting. A little background on me might help this story: I am 23 years old and a recent college graduate. I just started my first real job in September, and like most people my age, I am still adjusting to this whole real world/"adult" life. My job which I surprisingly enjoy, is working for a University in their advancement office. This year the lowly ones (aka. me and all the other people with out an office) we given the opportunity (arm twisted behind back) to send out an official University E-card (look at how far we've come). I went with the traditional Happy Holidays greeting as to not offend anyone, however on further inspection I began to think since I work at a Catholic institution perhaps it should have had more of a religious message. Back at home (and by home I mean my cramped 3 bedroom 4th floor walk up I share with my two roommates) we discussed our Christmas Card plans. We decided to go for the popular choice among the 20 something crowd to produce the photo Christmas card decked out in our best Christmas gear posing in the all the traditional poses (prom picture, wedding party, happy family etc.). This year we took it further with a Christmas letter, but as our alter egos: Lerlene, Purl, and Trixi. As you can imagine its entertaining. Thus bringing me back to the question "What's with the Christmas Card?". Where did this phenomenon come from and why do I need to know that my second cousin, recently graduated top of his med. school class is out saving the world one injured person at a time? I mean really instead of sending out positive Christmas vibes, I now after reading the letter feel like the loser cousin with the job that pays her barely over minimum wage ,who volunteered once this year for two hours at the children's hospital, and who is neither engaged, pregnant, or for that matter successfully dating anyone. I say put an end to the Christmas Card! Ok maybe not an end to it but scale it back to what it once was (or so how I hope it once was) a simple greeting of holiday cheer. As my good friend Buddy the Elf would say "The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear". With that said I am hitting up the Karaoke night a the dive bar down the street, with the intentions of spreading some Christmas cheer!