35mm

I picked up my essentials. I'm ready for Nashville.

dave's last day donut

It was our manager's last day today. We ate ourselves stupid; from donuts in the morning, to copious amounts of pizza (which I swear, there was Ambien placed in there, because 3 o'clock rolled around and we were barely functional human beings), to Girl Scout cookies in the late afternoon. We should have last days every day.

journal entry, 27 february

Sometimes I need to be reminded that there are adventures out there.

While it was a gorgeous sunny day in Lincoln Park, I found it to be more fun to lay in bed all day. I eventually did some chores; washing dishes with the Oscars on in the background. I hazily dried my dishes while dreamy Frenchmen with dazzling smiles won awards for not speaking English and having dazzling smiles.

with love, from thailand

#402

I begged and pleaded, but there was no give. I tried to extend my lease until September, but it was a no-go, so I'm moving out at the end of April. While I'm excited for summer plans, I'm having a really hard time with accepting the fact that #402 won't be my home anymore. It is my first apartment. I found this little room on my own. I paid for it on my own. Anyone who has stepped foot inside can attest to that it's perfectly "me". I've come home to this place for a year a half; whether I was happy or sad, it was my little cove. My escape. I was on the phone to my mom, and she simply said, "Just take a lot of pictures, it's one of the many stepping stones in your life." So, that's what I'll be doing. I'll miss those rainy nights, with fancy bar goers running in their heels, while the apartment buildings in the distance slowly slip behind the clouds. I'll miss watching the sun rise above the skyline in the early mornings. I'll miss the short walk to Lake Michigan. I'll even miss my tiny fridge, which fits in perfectly to my wee little studio. I just need to enjoy it while I can.

xoxo, the lab

grant plaza

11-7

I was only supposed to be at the 'Shop for my normal 4-hour shift, but I ended up staying for an entire 8 hours. My body wasn't prepared for it; my hand is still sore from carrying hangers (it was red and puffy and bruised until the next day) and my poor knees ached. I came home and made sure not to move from my bed unless absolutely necessary.

at home

larabee//webster//armitage

This is my Chicago.

16 february

Getting caught up on my "diary".
The valentine with a guitar is from my banjo teacher. The guitar turns into a skull. He must've given it to me because I'm such a badass.

the back room

These are just the things we have laying around the store.

drive on, drive on, my special one

all the good times

I don't think I'd ever be able to describe in words how much it has meant since I started playing. I can't wait to have my own cabin in the hills of Appalachia, sit on the porch with my coon-hound, wearing overalls and playing. Dream life.

weekend.

Pretty bland and boring weekend. Worked downtown (but my bus trip back was a first- I was on the bus [a double 22] by myself from Dearborn and Pearson, all the way up to Clark and Belden, about 20 stops. It was my own private bus!), and Chris came over to watch the Grammys. Thank God we were drinking, or else I don't think I would have made it through otherwise.

everlasting light

royal mail

I never get sick of these letters.

i have no hope in solitude

super wha?

Football? What's a football? I thought this super Sunday meant staying curled up in my bed, doing crosswords and watching Party Down?

between belden & grant

"will you be my brunch buddy?"

After work I popped up to Lincoln Square (actually, it was quite an event- my pass had expired, but the driver let me stay on the bus, and I was just going to buy a new pass once I arrived at the blue line, but they didn't have a machine to take credit cards, so I had to go into this bar [just labeled 'BAR'] to find an ATM, but instead found a bunch of sketchy old dudes smoking cigars) to meet my coworker Tyler (from the 'Shop) for brunch (at 5:30pm, whatever). Turns out, the place we had in mind doesn't really serve brunch all day, but becomes quite fancy food at night, so we ditched it and went to iHop instead (did you know I've never been to one before?). I knew this kid was alright when we opened the menu and upon seeing waffles he just said, "I feel like Leslie Knope."

And I went through the hassle of carrying my camera all day, but was horrified to find out I had forgotten to put the battery back in last night. More iPhone photos for you!

PS Thank you for the 'congrats' on my grad stuff. I still have some more hoops to jump through (finding out IF I can get financial aid) and I still need to hear back from some other schools. But it is nice to hear from you guys, and I appreciate it.

PPS I also have some other exciting news! Linds and I are road trippin' it down to Nashville to see Mumford & Sons in this crazy, beautiful venue (if you look to the right and see where the seats indent in, those are ours! Third row! Crazy!). March, get here soon!

2 february

In stark contrast to this time last year (buried in feet of snow, abandoned cars on Lakeshore Drive, the entire city shut down), it was quite sunny and pleasant today. I decided to take a long power walk along the Lakefront Trail (the first in a long time, and my poor legs are paying the price) and even made it down to the North Ave hook pier to get a really nice view of the hazy city. Upon my return home, I was greeted with my first acceptance letter to a grad program (go me!) and I may be potentially taking a very fun trip pretty soon. Today was great.

noodles

Co-worker Mike had a 'Buy One Get One Free' coupon to Noodles & Co. so I tagged along. I had some delicious pad thai. Mmm.