This morning I stopped at Einstein's on my way into work, as I often do. There was a new, 35+ year old woman working there today, and she decided to strike up a conversation with me (not a good idea given that I have yet had my morning cup of Joe), but I played nice and chatted it up.
Lady: "I just bought a sweater exactly like the one you are wearing..."
I chuckled because I bought this cardigan in high school which makes me awesome.
Jen: "My sweater is almost 10 years old."
Lady: "I bought some brightly colored scarves too..."
Jen: "My little sister's are very trendy and they wear scarves every once in a while."
Lady: "I don't really like bright colors though."
Jen: "Me either. I wear a lot of black, white, and brown."
And then she says it...the one phrase you never want to hear, let alone at 6:45AM
Lady: "We probably don't like bright colors because we're getting old."
I paused for a moment. Forced a fake, awkward laugh. And went on my way.
You know, my sisters always joke that I am an old lady because I wear sweaters to the bar. I don't wear tight clothes. I'd rather be cute than sexy. I own a pair of "mom jeans." I have tried on capri pants (and for the record, I did not buy them)!! I make dinner every night. I like to stick to a routine. To them, this makes me old, but I am old(er) than them, so I never take offense to it. They poke fun, we laugh, and that's that.
Mike and I always talk about how we have old souls, but we never call ourselves old...at least not seriously. We were married at 24 and 25 (which will forever haunt me, because I always wanted us to be the same age when we got hitched given that I am a cougar by 4 months). We don't mind staying in on the weekends. An exciting Saturday for us is getting up around 6:30AM, hitting the gym, grabbing some breakfast, taking Finnley to the dog park, and running errands. I know, I know...we are WILD! We love family dinners (and not just because they are free...well, okay, that doesn't hurt). We do laundry every Sunday. We don't stay up past 9:30PM on week nights.
But I don't think any of this makes us old - it makes us exhausted professionals that are overworked, underpaid, and just trying to get by. So if waking up before the sun, hitting the dog park before noon, and grabbing dinner with the family makes us "old," then so be it! I will accept my fate, and move on. I will continue to shop for cardigans. I will continue to rock "mom jeans" on the weekends. And I will still turn down an invite to a movie on a Friday night because I know I will fall asleep. I am old, and proud of it!
Friday, July 29, 2011
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Driving for Dummies
I like to think of myself as a pretty good driver. I was told once, in high school, by someone whom I also feel is a pretty good driver, that I was the only girl that he felt comfortable driving with! Granted that compliment came almost 10 years ago, and I have certainly had my moments since then when my husband may argue that compliment, but for the most part I am a solid driver. My ability to judge someone that I am comfortable driving with vs. someone I am not comfortable driving with is whether or not I feel safe enough to close my eyes and nap. If I can shut out the world, and trust you to get me to where I need to go, then you are a good driver. I have also found that most people that have the ability to drive a manual transmission are great drivers. They are accustomed to having to pay attention a little more than someone else that is driving an automatic as they have to be alert enough to shift gears, which requires foot and hand coordination, etc. Manual drivers are good drivers, in my opinion.
Coming in contact with (and I don't mean literally) people that are not as good of a driver as me sucks. There seems to be an increasing number of people who are driving with little or no mission these days. They are out for the proverbial "Sunday drive" on Tuesday morning at 6:50AM when I am trying to make it to the office by 7:00AM. They do 2 below the posted speed limit, and do not dare go over! They cruise in the left lane, while everyone else has to pass them on the right. They make complete stops at every stop sign and they remember what their driver's ed teacher taught them; when you get to the white line, stop fully, and spell "S-T-O-P." The list could go on forever. Now, in theory, this would make these people excellent drivers, because they are following what Dick taught us a A-Adam's Driving School. But in reality, these people get eaten alive out on the road. Let's address this list, shall we:
1) The speed limit - going 2 below the speed limit is only going to increase your chances of being tailgated (probably by me, and definitely by my little sister Julie who must have installed magnets in her front bumper and everyone else's rear bumper, otherwise there is a force of nature that is pulling her that closely to the car in front of her). May I suggest you do at least the speed limit, if not a few MPH above? And if you don't happen to be the first car in a line of traffic, then just keep with the flow of everyone else. Do not become the person in the middle of the pack that decides to blaze their own trail and screw everyone else behind you. It will not help you make friends.
2) Cruising in the left lane - I swear there is a secret society of people that think the left lane is for "hanging out." I am sorry, but every driver's education book, every DMV pamphlet, every decent driver knows that the left lane is for driving fast (and for passing). If you are in no mood for driving quickly or with a purpose, then get out of my way! The nice thing about a highway is that it is designed to allow for all types of drivers to get where they need to go at the speed they wish to get there. The speed demons can take the left two lanes, those that are in no rush, trucks, and all of the idiots should stay in the right two lanes. Period. And if you don't know which lane you belong in, then you definitely belong in the right two lanes. Remember that.
3) Complete Stops - I totally get it. It's the law! You must stop at stop signs. It's really a no brainer. But, if there is no one around, and no one else is at the adjacent stop signs, give your courtesy brake tap and move on! I mean seriously. I know I could get some criticism for this one, so I will cut you a little slack if you stop for a millisecond, but then move forward. It's the people that get to the line, and act as if they have to wait their turn when there is no one else around!! Silly. So silly. And while we are on the subject of stop signs - when you approach a multi-way stop sign, and two of you get there at the same time SOMEONE GO! I don't care who goes, I don't care if it is your turn or not! Someone HAS to go. Don't sit there and stare at one another and then one of you says go, and the other says no you go, no you go, no you go...It is like the world's worst Ping Pong match. Just go!
Now, to be fair, I am very grateful that there are people out there that want to take things slowly and everyone isn't just driving recklessly all the time. I do drive with a sense of urgency, but I am not reckless. There are some people that are able to separate the two; there are others that have an an inability to separate out this duality. To those of you that think that having a place to go means you should drive like an a$$hole, I have news for you! People hate you just as much as they hate the slow drivers. You are not doing anyone any favors by being a jerk on the road.
So in short - all you slow drivers out there, for the good of the people, step on the gas! And all you crazies that find the need to bob-and-weave through traffic...I'll see you at the stoplight. You'll just be waiting there a little longer than the rest of us. Safe travels!
Coming in contact with (and I don't mean literally) people that are not as good of a driver as me sucks. There seems to be an increasing number of people who are driving with little or no mission these days. They are out for the proverbial "Sunday drive" on Tuesday morning at 6:50AM when I am trying to make it to the office by 7:00AM. They do 2 below the posted speed limit, and do not dare go over! They cruise in the left lane, while everyone else has to pass them on the right. They make complete stops at every stop sign and they remember what their driver's ed teacher taught them; when you get to the white line, stop fully, and spell "S-T-O-P." The list could go on forever. Now, in theory, this would make these people excellent drivers, because they are following what Dick taught us a A-Adam's Driving School. But in reality, these people get eaten alive out on the road. Let's address this list, shall we:
1) The speed limit - going 2 below the speed limit is only going to increase your chances of being tailgated (probably by me, and definitely by my little sister Julie who must have installed magnets in her front bumper and everyone else's rear bumper, otherwise there is a force of nature that is pulling her that closely to the car in front of her). May I suggest you do at least the speed limit, if not a few MPH above? And if you don't happen to be the first car in a line of traffic, then just keep with the flow of everyone else. Do not become the person in the middle of the pack that decides to blaze their own trail and screw everyone else behind you. It will not help you make friends.
2) Cruising in the left lane - I swear there is a secret society of people that think the left lane is for "hanging out." I am sorry, but every driver's education book, every DMV pamphlet, every decent driver knows that the left lane is for driving fast (and for passing). If you are in no mood for driving quickly or with a purpose, then get out of my way! The nice thing about a highway is that it is designed to allow for all types of drivers to get where they need to go at the speed they wish to get there. The speed demons can take the left two lanes, those that are in no rush, trucks, and all of the idiots should stay in the right two lanes. Period. And if you don't know which lane you belong in, then you definitely belong in the right two lanes. Remember that.
3) Complete Stops - I totally get it. It's the law! You must stop at stop signs. It's really a no brainer. But, if there is no one around, and no one else is at the adjacent stop signs, give your courtesy brake tap and move on! I mean seriously. I know I could get some criticism for this one, so I will cut you a little slack if you stop for a millisecond, but then move forward. It's the people that get to the line, and act as if they have to wait their turn when there is no one else around!! Silly. So silly. And while we are on the subject of stop signs - when you approach a multi-way stop sign, and two of you get there at the same time SOMEONE GO! I don't care who goes, I don't care if it is your turn or not! Someone HAS to go. Don't sit there and stare at one another and then one of you says go, and the other says no you go, no you go, no you go...It is like the world's worst Ping Pong match. Just go!
Now, to be fair, I am very grateful that there are people out there that want to take things slowly and everyone isn't just driving recklessly all the time. I do drive with a sense of urgency, but I am not reckless. There are some people that are able to separate the two; there are others that have an an inability to separate out this duality. To those of you that think that having a place to go means you should drive like an a$$hole, I have news for you! People hate you just as much as they hate the slow drivers. You are not doing anyone any favors by being a jerk on the road.
So in short - all you slow drivers out there, for the good of the people, step on the gas! And all you crazies that find the need to bob-and-weave through traffic...I'll see you at the stoplight. You'll just be waiting there a little longer than the rest of us. Safe travels!
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Online shopping: My Kryptonite
Hello my name is Jen Andre, and I have an online shopping problem.
I use online shopping to help me get through a bad day. I use it to help me get through a great too! There are some people that are simply not online shopping fans. They have to go into the store, feel the clothes, touch the fabrics, try them on, etc. I am not one of these people. I have a pretty good handle on what size I am in what fabrics, and at what stores or brands, so online shopping is pretty easy for me. In fact, its almost too easy. Once you have visited a site and purchased something from it, they remember your payment information. Therein lies the problem; these nefarious websites have found your number. You don't need to take out your wallet to find your credit card and fill in your information over and over and over again (or, if you are like my mother-in-law, who is the preeminent online shopper, you have it memorized so its not about taking out the card, but showing off your memorization skills...haha). Having the information stored right there is really convenient, that's for sure.
But it is also very lethal. Having to take out your wallet to find your credit card would allow for some down time and a little self-reflection "do I really need another pair of Jessica Simpson pumps?" or "do I really need another dress for an event that I have not been invited to yet?" By removing the need for pause, all I simply have to do is click "Add to Cart." It excites me to add something to my cart, to watch the little icon in the upper right hand corner tell me I have three (3) items in my bag, especially when you are on a website like Ruelala or Ideeli where time is of the essence. They give you just a certain number of minutes or hours to purchase this one-time only, super incredible sale price. I am a sucker for those. I get a rush of energy when it hits 10AM and I know that Ruelala is open and ready for business!
I will browse those sites, finding the perfect "must-haves" and add them to my cart like its nothing - and really it is nothing. Putting something in your cart does not mean you are purchasing it. It just brings you one step closer to having that beautiful item in your closet. But if you are feeling really frisky, and you know you just gotta have it, then there is always the Purchase Now option! No need to put the item in your cart. You can simply purchase it directly from that screen. Amazing!
Online shopping is meant to make the overall shopping experience a little more convenient - and I think that some sites have accomplished this. As long as return policies seem honest and fair, then I am all about purchasing items online. Some noteable companies, with some pretty great return policies - first and foremost Zappos! If you have not shopped Zappos before then you are really missing out. They have a 365-day return policy, free shipping both ways, and excellent customer service. Local stores (like Express or Gap) have a good return policy as well - you can either ship the items back, or take them back at the store. That's always nice, so that you don't have to pay for shipping to send it back. Word to the wise: be sure and look at the return policies before you make any impulse buys.
Oh, and never, ever, ever, show your husband the boxes! Nothing good ever comes from that...trust me! Happy shopping.
I use online shopping to help me get through a bad day. I use it to help me get through a great too! There are some people that are simply not online shopping fans. They have to go into the store, feel the clothes, touch the fabrics, try them on, etc. I am not one of these people. I have a pretty good handle on what size I am in what fabrics, and at what stores or brands, so online shopping is pretty easy for me. In fact, its almost too easy. Once you have visited a site and purchased something from it, they remember your payment information. Therein lies the problem; these nefarious websites have found your number. You don't need to take out your wallet to find your credit card and fill in your information over and over and over again (or, if you are like my mother-in-law, who is the preeminent online shopper, you have it memorized so its not about taking out the card, but showing off your memorization skills...haha). Having the information stored right there is really convenient, that's for sure.
But it is also very lethal. Having to take out your wallet to find your credit card would allow for some down time and a little self-reflection "do I really need another pair of Jessica Simpson pumps?" or "do I really need another dress for an event that I have not been invited to yet?" By removing the need for pause, all I simply have to do is click "Add to Cart." It excites me to add something to my cart, to watch the little icon in the upper right hand corner tell me I have three (3) items in my bag, especially when you are on a website like Ruelala or Ideeli where time is of the essence. They give you just a certain number of minutes or hours to purchase this one-time only, super incredible sale price. I am a sucker for those. I get a rush of energy when it hits 10AM and I know that Ruelala is open and ready for business!
I will browse those sites, finding the perfect "must-haves" and add them to my cart like its nothing - and really it is nothing. Putting something in your cart does not mean you are purchasing it. It just brings you one step closer to having that beautiful item in your closet. But if you are feeling really frisky, and you know you just gotta have it, then there is always the Purchase Now option! No need to put the item in your cart. You can simply purchase it directly from that screen. Amazing!
Online shopping is meant to make the overall shopping experience a little more convenient - and I think that some sites have accomplished this. As long as return policies seem honest and fair, then I am all about purchasing items online. Some noteable companies, with some pretty great return policies - first and foremost Zappos! If you have not shopped Zappos before then you are really missing out. They have a 365-day return policy, free shipping both ways, and excellent customer service. Local stores (like Express or Gap) have a good return policy as well - you can either ship the items back, or take them back at the store. That's always nice, so that you don't have to pay for shipping to send it back. Word to the wise: be sure and look at the return policies before you make any impulse buys.
Oh, and never, ever, ever, show your husband the boxes! Nothing good ever comes from that...trust me! Happy shopping.
Friday, July 22, 2011
Return of the collared shirt!!
So apparently the first attempt at righting all of the fashion wrongs at the gym was not as successful as one would have thought. It seems as though the only people who read about the appropriate (or the not-so-appropriate) dress code were the one's following the rules; we had some definite rule breakers last night. And I guess I can't completely blame them - there were definitely some things that I missed. I will now bring to light other fashion faux pas that should be avoided at all cost. First up, flesh-colored socks.
Yes. You heard me right - flesh-colored socks. I have a severe opposition to flesh-colored cotton tube-socks. I understand sneaking a pair of nudey socks under a pair of jeans, or nude no-show socks with a pair of Sperry's (which I may or may not be sporting today). My hatred comes from socks that hit about mid-shin and are worn with shorts! My first encounter with this look was at a car dealership. There was a little boy there in a pair of shorts and these awful, awful socks - in the middle of winter! I turned to Mike immediately and said "our children will never wear nude socks!" And from then on, I have had an adversion to them.
Well, at the gym, I have the pleasure of seeing the same man and his cotton socks every time we are there. He must come straight from work, and like our collared-shirt friends who do not want to dirty a second shirt, this man does not want to dirty another pair of socks. So, he confidently walks through the gym with his flesh-colored cotton tube-socks and his athletic shorts as if he is not looking like a complete dweeb. And those nude socks against his very, very pale skin create quite the juxstaposition. I want to walk up to him and say "Excuse me, sir. Your Vitamin D deficiency is showing." Note to all men who must wear flesh colored socks to work: bring athletic socks to the gym with you - preferrably ankle socks. Thank you in advance.
And how about the girls that work at the Spa in the gym. At our gym, the spa is in the front right corner; the free-weight area is in the back left corner. There is absolutely no reason that the "spa-girls" should be walking in the free-weight area. Zero! So nothing annoys me more than when I am getting my ass kicked by my personal trainer (aka: my hubby), sweating profusely and whining because the weight is too heavy, and these girls come walking by in their spandex pants, their sparkle tanks, and their hooker-heels - an outfit that I find completely inappropriate for work, but quite perfect for a sweet night out at Zero Gravity (a 16-23 year old night club). The teenage boys eat this up, and you hear them saying things like "oh, I like your shoes!" WHAT?? Drop and give me 20 kid. You are missing the point of being at the gym!
Then there are the men that do two reps of bicep-curls and decide to walk a lap around the gym to shake it off. Help me understand why you need to take a stroll in front of the elipitcal machines where the tweens are watching E! News in their Soffe Cheerleading shorts and sport bras? I find that to be the most stupid thing to witness. For those of you out there that think you look cool doing that, I hate to break it to you, but you're all tools.
And grunting!! Oh my gosh. Nothing is more obnoxious than when a group of meat heads come together to outlift one another and, in turn, out moan one another as well. I am sitting at the bench press, minding my own business, when I hear men start communicating to one another via grunts. The first one goes, and we get a RAHHH out of him. Then the next one grabs the same weight, and we hear RAHHHHHH!! Clearly the second guy is stronger than the first because he growled like a grizzly bear a few seconds longer than the first guy. Against my better judgment, I turn to look at the juice heads that are too tan for their own good, and wearing a cut off that exposes both nipples (not a good look). When I catch myself looking, I change my glare to a look of death so that they know how annoying that is. So unattractive, for the record.
It's amazing to me all of the hilarious things that take place at the gym. Yes, I should be focusing on the weights and paying less attention to the people around me. But when you have this much entertainment at every corner, how can you not just take it all in. Thank you, gym-weirdos for providing me with motivation to get through my workout, and reminding me how much cooler I am than you! HA! :)
Yes. You heard me right - flesh-colored socks. I have a severe opposition to flesh-colored cotton tube-socks. I understand sneaking a pair of nudey socks under a pair of jeans, or nude no-show socks with a pair of Sperry's (which I may or may not be sporting today). My hatred comes from socks that hit about mid-shin and are worn with shorts! My first encounter with this look was at a car dealership. There was a little boy there in a pair of shorts and these awful, awful socks - in the middle of winter! I turned to Mike immediately and said "our children will never wear nude socks!" And from then on, I have had an adversion to them.
Well, at the gym, I have the pleasure of seeing the same man and his cotton socks every time we are there. He must come straight from work, and like our collared-shirt friends who do not want to dirty a second shirt, this man does not want to dirty another pair of socks. So, he confidently walks through the gym with his flesh-colored cotton tube-socks and his athletic shorts as if he is not looking like a complete dweeb. And those nude socks against his very, very pale skin create quite the juxstaposition. I want to walk up to him and say "Excuse me, sir. Your Vitamin D deficiency is showing." Note to all men who must wear flesh colored socks to work: bring athletic socks to the gym with you - preferrably ankle socks. Thank you in advance.
And how about the girls that work at the Spa in the gym. At our gym, the spa is in the front right corner; the free-weight area is in the back left corner. There is absolutely no reason that the "spa-girls" should be walking in the free-weight area. Zero! So nothing annoys me more than when I am getting my ass kicked by my personal trainer (aka: my hubby), sweating profusely and whining because the weight is too heavy, and these girls come walking by in their spandex pants, their sparkle tanks, and their hooker-heels - an outfit that I find completely inappropriate for work, but quite perfect for a sweet night out at Zero Gravity (a 16-23 year old night club). The teenage boys eat this up, and you hear them saying things like "oh, I like your shoes!" WHAT?? Drop and give me 20 kid. You are missing the point of being at the gym!
Then there are the men that do two reps of bicep-curls and decide to walk a lap around the gym to shake it off. Help me understand why you need to take a stroll in front of the elipitcal machines where the tweens are watching E! News in their Soffe Cheerleading shorts and sport bras? I find that to be the most stupid thing to witness. For those of you out there that think you look cool doing that, I hate to break it to you, but you're all tools.
And grunting!! Oh my gosh. Nothing is more obnoxious than when a group of meat heads come together to outlift one another and, in turn, out moan one another as well. I am sitting at the bench press, minding my own business, when I hear men start communicating to one another via grunts. The first one goes, and we get a RAHHH out of him. Then the next one grabs the same weight, and we hear RAHHHHHH!! Clearly the second guy is stronger than the first because he growled like a grizzly bear a few seconds longer than the first guy. Against my better judgment, I turn to look at the juice heads that are too tan for their own good, and wearing a cut off that exposes both nipples (not a good look). When I catch myself looking, I change my glare to a look of death so that they know how annoying that is. So unattractive, for the record.
It's amazing to me all of the hilarious things that take place at the gym. Yes, I should be focusing on the weights and paying less attention to the people around me. But when you have this much entertainment at every corner, how can you not just take it all in. Thank you, gym-weirdos for providing me with motivation to get through my workout, and reminding me how much cooler I am than you! HA! :)
Thursday, July 21, 2011
The weather has become the news!
Breaking news: There is a massive heat wave afoot here in Chicago...and Jen Andre is totally immature!
I have always been somewhat obsessed with the weather. I blame this on my father, who is TOTALLY obsessed with the weather. As a kid, growing up, it was a family ritual to watch the "Local on the 8's" as a family before any big day. We wanted to make sure that we were dressed appropriately for the impending weather conditions. We needed to see what accessories would need to be packed - jackets, umbrellas, sunscreen. We would huddle in the family room, get our marching orders as to what things we needed to grab, and off we'd go. Because of this nonsense, I have an innate desire to know the weather for the day. It is ingrained in me. In fact, my desire to know the weather has actually evolved into a need for watching the news! I have to know what is going on at all times.
I used to be one of those people that watched Saved by the Bell in the mornings while getting ready for school. For the record, my sister is, and always will be, the one of five people that watches Boys Meets World in the morning while getting ready for work; she will never convert to a news watcher - ever. I was also one of those people that could listen to a CD on the way into work. Not any more! I have completely shifted my mindset. The minute I wake up in the mornings, I am turning on NBC 5 to be updated with the latest headlines, and of course to catch the Weather & Traffic on the 5's. (Fun Fact: I was Matt Rodewald's (the traffic guy at NBC) 1000th Twitter follower. He @mentioned me. It was neat). I come home from work, I turn on the news. I get ready for bed, I turn on the news. And in the mornings, on the way to work, I have to listen to the radio in case anything crazy happens in the world of news or traffic.
So given that the weather has now BECOME the news, you'd think that I be in heaven - and you would be right! At first, I found it rather silly that "Extreme Heat 2011" was the top news story every :30 mins (and to be honest, I still think it's silly). Anyone living in the area right now knows how freaking hot it is! We don't need the fancy intros. We don't need the dramatic music. And we certainly don't need three news anchors "reporting live" from three different locations. It's hot everywhere people!! We see reporter one reporting from a suburb, button-down shirt with a loose collar and rolled up sleeves - very telling of how hot it is outside, obviously. Then we see reporter two down at North Avenue beach with all of the unemployed hotties who say things like"of course I am at the beach today! Where else would I be?"- oh I don't know?? WORK MAYBE??? And then there is reporter three who found a fire hydrant that is blasting water, and children splashing everywhere. Again, an obvious, tell-tale (and pretty cheesy) sign that it's hot in the city.
But what we absolutely cannot live without are the hilarious words used to describe how hot it is outside. ***Cue: immaturity*** This morning I had the pleasure of hearing - "Today is going to be a steamer!" and in turn I laughed out loud. No one was home, so I was laughing alone, but it was hysterical. I don't know about you, but when I hear steamer, I think of one thing, and one thing only. Only when the weather gets like this is it socially acceptable for a grown man to announce to the city of Chicago that the day is going to involve "steamers." Or how about swampy, as in "Today it is going to feel really swampy!" Again, my mind immediately goes to the gutter - swamp-a$$, if you will. And then there's miserable, horrible, foul, down-right muggy, moist (least favorite word in the English dictionary), thick, and the list goes on and on. I find it to be absolute pure entertainment to hear these meterologists come up with the best adjectives to describe a hot and humid day. So keep on keeping on Andy Avalos and Ginger Zee. You crack me up!!
I have always been somewhat obsessed with the weather. I blame this on my father, who is TOTALLY obsessed with the weather. As a kid, growing up, it was a family ritual to watch the "Local on the 8's" as a family before any big day. We wanted to make sure that we were dressed appropriately for the impending weather conditions. We needed to see what accessories would need to be packed - jackets, umbrellas, sunscreen. We would huddle in the family room, get our marching orders as to what things we needed to grab, and off we'd go. Because of this nonsense, I have an innate desire to know the weather for the day. It is ingrained in me. In fact, my desire to know the weather has actually evolved into a need for watching the news! I have to know what is going on at all times.
I used to be one of those people that watched Saved by the Bell in the mornings while getting ready for school. For the record, my sister is, and always will be, the one of five people that watches Boys Meets World in the morning while getting ready for work; she will never convert to a news watcher - ever. I was also one of those people that could listen to a CD on the way into work. Not any more! I have completely shifted my mindset. The minute I wake up in the mornings, I am turning on NBC 5 to be updated with the latest headlines, and of course to catch the Weather & Traffic on the 5's. (Fun Fact: I was Matt Rodewald's (the traffic guy at NBC) 1000th Twitter follower. He @mentioned me. It was neat). I come home from work, I turn on the news. I get ready for bed, I turn on the news. And in the mornings, on the way to work, I have to listen to the radio in case anything crazy happens in the world of news or traffic.
So given that the weather has now BECOME the news, you'd think that I be in heaven - and you would be right! At first, I found it rather silly that "Extreme Heat 2011" was the top news story every :30 mins (and to be honest, I still think it's silly). Anyone living in the area right now knows how freaking hot it is! We don't need the fancy intros. We don't need the dramatic music. And we certainly don't need three news anchors "reporting live" from three different locations. It's hot everywhere people!! We see reporter one reporting from a suburb, button-down shirt with a loose collar and rolled up sleeves - very telling of how hot it is outside, obviously. Then we see reporter two down at North Avenue beach with all of the unemployed hotties who say things like"of course I am at the beach today! Where else would I be?"- oh I don't know?? WORK MAYBE??? And then there is reporter three who found a fire hydrant that is blasting water, and children splashing everywhere. Again, an obvious, tell-tale (and pretty cheesy) sign that it's hot in the city.
But what we absolutely cannot live without are the hilarious words used to describe how hot it is outside. ***Cue: immaturity*** This morning I had the pleasure of hearing - "Today is going to be a steamer!" and in turn I laughed out loud. No one was home, so I was laughing alone, but it was hysterical. I don't know about you, but when I hear steamer, I think of one thing, and one thing only. Only when the weather gets like this is it socially acceptable for a grown man to announce to the city of Chicago that the day is going to involve "steamers." Or how about swampy, as in "Today it is going to feel really swampy!" Again, my mind immediately goes to the gutter - swamp-a$$, if you will. And then there's miserable, horrible, foul, down-right muggy, moist (least favorite word in the English dictionary), thick, and the list goes on and on. I find it to be absolute pure entertainment to hear these meterologists come up with the best adjectives to describe a hot and humid day. So keep on keeping on Andy Avalos and Ginger Zee. You crack me up!!
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Warning: Extreme use of overgeneralizations!
So last week we tackled fashion faux-pas at the local gym. I am (un)happy to report that I have no idea what impact that blog had on our fellow gym attendees as I have not dragged my butt there since it was posted. Awesome! I'd like to think that we at least brought the issue to the forefront, and each of us is a little bit closer to working out without horrible distractions - and by distractions I mean jorts.
Speaking of jorts - Sunday I had the pleasure of spending the day on the lake. WOW! My retinas are forever scarred by the insanity that takes place here every weekend. It is truly a melting pot of epic proportions. Allow me to set the stage...
First off, we have the families - "Mom," "Dad," and their offspring. The kids are jumping around and splashing, throwing water balloons, and shooting squirt guns at the twenty-somethings (who, by the way, are not having it, but we'll talk more about them later). Then there is "Dad," standing around with a Budweiser can in hand, his beer-belly hanging out over his swim trunks - or jorts, depending on the mood he is in - that are sitting just low enough that when he pulls himself out of the water and onto the boat, you get a nice view of the crack. Attractive. And then we have "Mom," in her little pink bikini (that clearly belongs to her teenage daughter), her gigantic, fake boobies, her overly tan, rubber skin, her anklet, and her Sun-in dyed hair. She's dancing off beat on the back of the boat with a Mai Tai or some other fruity drink that the teenagers next door gave her.
Next, we have the teenagers. The teenage girls are there, usually with their parents, but they walk far enough away from the family boat that you don't know which group they belong to. They do this on purpose in hopes of attracting someone their way. It is usually unsuccessful because their pre-pubescent figures don't stand a chance next to all the women that are there with their "enhancements." The teenage boys are really no different. They walk up and down the lane looking at the "Mom's" (for a complete description, see above) and completely ignoring the girls their own age. They try to attract the twenty-somethings by congregating near them, or throwing their footballs in the general vicinity of hotties - I know because I had several footballs thrown my way this weekend, if you know what I mean! :)
Moving right along...the twenty-somethings. Now this group can be classified down even further - (1) single, (2) taken and faithful, or (3) taken & unfaithful (aka: single...see 1). The taken and faithful group don't really draw attention to themselves. They sort of hang out with their friends, they goof off, but they are neither here nor there. They look at the other party-goers, but they are in no way looking for attention on themselves. Now, the other two groups single, and taken & unfaithful, are at the lake to do one thing and one thing only - party! These are the ones that make the BEST people watching - their shameless flirting, often braggadocious behavior, total diregard for classiness makes for quite the scene.
So, okay - some of these statements are gross overgeneralizations, but some of them are truly spot on! If you don't believe me, spend an afternoon on the lake and take it all in, then let me know if you too are scarred for life. Enjoy!
Speaking of jorts - Sunday I had the pleasure of spending the day on the lake. WOW! My retinas are forever scarred by the insanity that takes place here every weekend. It is truly a melting pot of epic proportions. Allow me to set the stage...
First off, we have the families - "Mom," "Dad," and their offspring. The kids are jumping around and splashing, throwing water balloons, and shooting squirt guns at the twenty-somethings (who, by the way, are not having it, but we'll talk more about them later). Then there is "Dad," standing around with a Budweiser can in hand, his beer-belly hanging out over his swim trunks - or jorts, depending on the mood he is in - that are sitting just low enough that when he pulls himself out of the water and onto the boat, you get a nice view of the crack. Attractive. And then we have "Mom," in her little pink bikini (that clearly belongs to her teenage daughter), her gigantic, fake boobies, her overly tan, rubber skin, her anklet, and her Sun-in dyed hair. She's dancing off beat on the back of the boat with a Mai Tai or some other fruity drink that the teenagers next door gave her.
Next, we have the teenagers. The teenage girls are there, usually with their parents, but they walk far enough away from the family boat that you don't know which group they belong to. They do this on purpose in hopes of attracting someone their way. It is usually unsuccessful because their pre-pubescent figures don't stand a chance next to all the women that are there with their "enhancements." The teenage boys are really no different. They walk up and down the lane looking at the "Mom's" (for a complete description, see above) and completely ignoring the girls their own age. They try to attract the twenty-somethings by congregating near them, or throwing their footballs in the general vicinity of hotties - I know because I had several footballs thrown my way this weekend, if you know what I mean! :)
Moving right along...the twenty-somethings. Now this group can be classified down even further - (1) single, (2) taken and faithful, or (3) taken & unfaithful (aka: single...see 1). The taken and faithful group don't really draw attention to themselves. They sort of hang out with their friends, they goof off, but they are neither here nor there. They look at the other party-goers, but they are in no way looking for attention on themselves. Now, the other two groups single, and taken & unfaithful, are at the lake to do one thing and one thing only - party! These are the ones that make the BEST people watching - their shameless flirting, often braggadocious behavior, total diregard for classiness makes for quite the scene.
So, okay - some of these statements are gross overgeneralizations, but some of them are truly spot on! If you don't believe me, spend an afternoon on the lake and take it all in, then let me know if you too are scarred for life. Enjoy!
Monday, July 18, 2011
Superfluous Buns
Well, it happened again! And no, I am not referring to my horrific sunburn - although, yes, that happened again too. I am referring to the one thing that, most women can agree, is the most irritating thing to have occur while you are in the shower. The conditioner has run out while the shampoo is still going strong! Nothing in the world is more annoying than when the shampoo and the conditioner run out at different times. No matter how hard I try, this always happens. I'll use more shampoo and less conditioner; or more conditioner and less shampoo. It doesn't seem to matter what I do, they never quite catch up to one another.
So now, I have a conundrum. Do I buy a new bottle of conditioner, forever compromising any sort of conitnuity that could be obtained? Do I throw out the remaining shampoo, which always bothers me because shampoo and conditioner are not cheap?! Do I try to find another half-gone bottle of conditioner somewhere in my house that has been tossed to the side the last time the shampoo bottle decided to run out first? Except that I am one of those people that like when the shampoo and conditioner are a set. I am steadfast in my opinion on having them match. If I am using Herbal Essences shampoo, then I have to use Herbal Essences conditioner. If I am using John Frieda shampoo, ten guesses as to which kind of conditioner I must use.
But shampoo and conditioner are not the only mismatched pair out there. How about peanut butter and jelly? They never seem to finish at the same time, no matter which size jar of jelly or peanut butter you buy! Detergent and dryer sheets. Ashton Kutcher and Demi Moore. The multipacks of yogurt that come with 4 containers when there are 5 work days! Green Mountain Coffee coming with 12 K-cups in them when there are 14 days in a 2-week period. Or, as George Banks points out to us in the Father of the Bride, hot dogs and hot dog buns Superfluous Buns Video Clip (it's worth the laugh...and the break from the boring work week - as long as YouTube isn't blocked at your office...if it is, I am sorry)!
So now we, as the consumers, are stuck with figuring out what to do next. For what it's worth, I will most likely go to the store tonight, pick out two new fresh bottles of shampoo and conditioner, and retire the not-quite-empty shampoo bottle to below the sink where it will never see the light of day again. RIP Sheer Blonde Shampoo.
So now, I have a conundrum. Do I buy a new bottle of conditioner, forever compromising any sort of conitnuity that could be obtained? Do I throw out the remaining shampoo, which always bothers me because shampoo and conditioner are not cheap?! Do I try to find another half-gone bottle of conditioner somewhere in my house that has been tossed to the side the last time the shampoo bottle decided to run out first? Except that I am one of those people that like when the shampoo and conditioner are a set. I am steadfast in my opinion on having them match. If I am using Herbal Essences shampoo, then I have to use Herbal Essences conditioner. If I am using John Frieda shampoo, ten guesses as to which kind of conditioner I must use.
But shampoo and conditioner are not the only mismatched pair out there. How about peanut butter and jelly? They never seem to finish at the same time, no matter which size jar of jelly or peanut butter you buy! Detergent and dryer sheets. Ashton Kutcher and Demi Moore. The multipacks of yogurt that come with 4 containers when there are 5 work days! Green Mountain Coffee coming with 12 K-cups in them when there are 14 days in a 2-week period. Or, as George Banks points out to us in the Father of the Bride, hot dogs and hot dog buns Superfluous Buns Video Clip (it's worth the laugh...and the break from the boring work week - as long as YouTube isn't blocked at your office...if it is, I am sorry)!
So now we, as the consumers, are stuck with figuring out what to do next. For what it's worth, I will most likely go to the store tonight, pick out two new fresh bottles of shampoo and conditioner, and retire the not-quite-empty shampoo bottle to below the sink where it will never see the light of day again. RIP Sheer Blonde Shampoo.
Friday, July 15, 2011
Here comes the bride...and her 20 drunk friends
Wedding season. A time for love and romance. A time for eternal happiness. A time for singing birds and melodic symphonies. Beautiful, overpriced flowers. But most of all, its a time for... BACHELORETTE PARTIES! Yes, that's right. Bachelorette parties. A night (or sometimes a weekend) of pure, unadulterated fun with a group of your closest girlfriends. It doesn't get much better than that!
Bachelorette parties come in all different shapes and sizes. Some are intimate affairs with just a few ladies sipping wine and eating cheese (....zzzzzzz....). Some are huge, blow-out bashes with handles of Vodka and tigers (wait, what?). And then there are those that find there place somewhere in the middle. I can say that my bachelorette experiences have always fallen somewhere inbetween, but I have seen, and/or heard, of all of the above taking place. One thing is for certain, no matter what - every bachelorette party will have panties (there ya go guys)! It's a must.
But have you ever been at a restaurant with your family or friends, enjoying the ambiance and each other's company when all of a sudden there is a commotion at the door? You pick your head up, your eyes dart towards the entrance, and you see it...you try to look away, pretend like it's not about to happen, but you know you are stuck...a bachelorette party has entered the building!! Their scantily clad outfits (most of whom should not be wearing), their obnoxious laughs, their sorority chants (I can say this because we have them), and their "look-at-me" demeanor. It's almost like the restaurant owes it to you to get on the PA system or post a note on the door that says: "Attention all members and guests (that's the intro at Xsport) - you are about to be completely and utterly annoyed for the next 120 minutes as there are 20 drunk girls that just entered the establishment and are looking for free handouts - drinks, food, etc. We are soooooooooo sorry, but we are an equal opportunity restaurant and we couldn't turn them away for fear of a lawsuit. Just try and ignore them or at least stare at them because you know thats what they want. Sincerely, Management." So then, you start crossing your fingers (literally if you are me), saying a couple prayers, and hoping with all your might that the large empty table next to you is NOT where they are seating the party. Just like on an airplane when the young parents and their screaming child board, and you sit with bated breath hoping and praying that they are not sitting in the same row, aisle, or even within 10 feet of you. Yes, bachelorette parties are being equated with a screaming child. Sounds about right.
I absolutely HATE being part of THAT bachelorette party. I am all about having a good time, but I am in no position to ruin someone else's night by being obnoxious. It's just wrong. I am not a fan of penis earrings (unless they are coated in diamonds - then we can talk) or condom necklaces. I am not a fan of plastic chalices (chal·ice –noun ; a drinking cup or goblet) or "to-do" lists. I am not a fan of desperation via excessive cleavage or booty shorts. BUT - I am very much a fan of super high heels!! There is nothing better than a fierce pair of stilletos. Sure your feet ache just looking at them sitting in your closet, but c'mon! They make your legs look amazing, you find yourself strutting a little sassier, and your self-esteem skyrockets. High heels MUST be worn at a bachelorette party. High heels - the answer to everything.
So listen, I love me a good bachelorette party, and there is NO CRIME in having an amazing night with your girlfriends. In fact, I encourage it. But I have come to realize that the more intimate, organized, and frankly, sober, a bachelorette party is, the better off the whole world is.
Bachelorette parties come in all different shapes and sizes. Some are intimate affairs with just a few ladies sipping wine and eating cheese (....zzzzzzz....). Some are huge, blow-out bashes with handles of Vodka and tigers (wait, what?). And then there are those that find there place somewhere in the middle. I can say that my bachelorette experiences have always fallen somewhere inbetween, but I have seen, and/or heard, of all of the above taking place. One thing is for certain, no matter what - every bachelorette party will have panties (there ya go guys)! It's a must.
But have you ever been at a restaurant with your family or friends, enjoying the ambiance and each other's company when all of a sudden there is a commotion at the door? You pick your head up, your eyes dart towards the entrance, and you see it...you try to look away, pretend like it's not about to happen, but you know you are stuck...a bachelorette party has entered the building!! Their scantily clad outfits (most of whom should not be wearing), their obnoxious laughs, their sorority chants (I can say this because we have them), and their "look-at-me" demeanor. It's almost like the restaurant owes it to you to get on the PA system or post a note on the door that says: "Attention all members and guests (that's the intro at Xsport) - you are about to be completely and utterly annoyed for the next 120 minutes as there are 20 drunk girls that just entered the establishment and are looking for free handouts - drinks, food, etc. We are soooooooooo sorry, but we are an equal opportunity restaurant and we couldn't turn them away for fear of a lawsuit. Just try and ignore them or at least stare at them because you know thats what they want. Sincerely, Management." So then, you start crossing your fingers (literally if you are me), saying a couple prayers, and hoping with all your might that the large empty table next to you is NOT where they are seating the party. Just like on an airplane when the young parents and their screaming child board, and you sit with bated breath hoping and praying that they are not sitting in the same row, aisle, or even within 10 feet of you. Yes, bachelorette parties are being equated with a screaming child. Sounds about right.
I absolutely HATE being part of THAT bachelorette party. I am all about having a good time, but I am in no position to ruin someone else's night by being obnoxious. It's just wrong. I am not a fan of penis earrings (unless they are coated in diamonds - then we can talk) or condom necklaces. I am not a fan of plastic chalices (chal·ice –noun ; a drinking cup or goblet) or "to-do" lists. I am not a fan of desperation via excessive cleavage or booty shorts. BUT - I am very much a fan of super high heels!! There is nothing better than a fierce pair of stilletos. Sure your feet ache just looking at them sitting in your closet, but c'mon! They make your legs look amazing, you find yourself strutting a little sassier, and your self-esteem skyrockets. High heels MUST be worn at a bachelorette party. High heels - the answer to everything.
So listen, I love me a good bachelorette party, and there is NO CRIME in having an amazing night with your girlfriends. In fact, I encourage it. But I have come to realize that the more intimate, organized, and frankly, sober, a bachelorette party is, the better off the whole world is.
Thursday, July 14, 2011
A collared shirt. Really?
When I go to the gym, I am not there to make a fashion statement - let's get that perfectly clear right now. I am not there to "pick-up hotties" (although they are certainly nice to look at). I am not there to check myself out in the mirror (although I am certainly nice to look at). And I am, without a doubt, not there to let the horn-ball teenagers stare at my hiney - which by the way happens to look phenomenal in a pair of stretchy pants so I can't really blame them, but that's neither here nor there! My sole purpose for going to the gym is to get myself in shape and to let off a little steam. That's it. And by no means am I entitled to pass judgment on others at the gym. I am not the fashion police, although Mike may beg to differ as I am constantly giving him grief about his outfit choices. I'd like to shed some light, however, on what other people are most likely thinking along with me, and maybe how we can improve our overall gym experience one awful dresser at a time.
What is it with men coming to the gym in collared shirts? You know, like a polo shirt and gym shorts. That concept to me is absolutely baffling. Sure - maybe they wore that shirt to work and they don't want to have to do more laundry. I would rather see them in an undershirt, even the one they wore to work, than in their collared shirts. Or even worse - khaki shorts or plaid shorts? I literally have seen men walk around the gym in a pair of khaki shorts and cut-off tee. What this means is that the man made an effort to put on a cut off, for whatever reason, but thought I am going to keep these super cool khakis on because they are totally awesome for the gym. Attention all men that think this is a good look - IT'S NOT!
I have even seen men wear slides - open-toe, no back slides - in the free weight area!! Now I am not saying that my Nikes are going to prevent a broken toe if I were to drop my 65...okay fine, 15 lb....weight on my foot, but its a heck of a lot more practical than slides. Plus, slides are ugly no matter when you wear them, but I digress. I am almost certain that in college you were required to wear closed-toe shoes to the gym, and chances are it was for a reason.
Believe me - women are not much better. What is it with the women over 35 (I am being generous) wearing a sports top and no shirt? God bless you for having the confidence to wear that, but please - save that for the privacy of your own home. The rest of us twenty-somethings are not interested in learning what toll nature will take on our bodies...at least not yet anyways. And ladies - what is it with your "shants?" (shants = short pants). Please invest in a pair of Nike workout pants that at least come close to touching the floor. I promise you - you won't trip while you are speed-walking on the treadmill with a 3 incline, so Just do it (pun intended).
And to all patrons attending the gym - do not walk around the locker room naked!!! - no matter how confident you are in your physique. It is just gross. GROSS! We don't want to see any of that...ever. And we certainly don't want your bare bottom on the bench. UGH.
One final note: All blow drying should be done fully-clothed and upright! We do not want any upside-down, naked blow drying taking place in public. That must be stopped immediately. Your utmost compliance to this matter is very much appreciated.
What is it with men coming to the gym in collared shirts? You know, like a polo shirt and gym shorts. That concept to me is absolutely baffling. Sure - maybe they wore that shirt to work and they don't want to have to do more laundry. I would rather see them in an undershirt, even the one they wore to work, than in their collared shirts. Or even worse - khaki shorts or plaid shorts? I literally have seen men walk around the gym in a pair of khaki shorts and cut-off tee. What this means is that the man made an effort to put on a cut off, for whatever reason, but thought I am going to keep these super cool khakis on because they are totally awesome for the gym. Attention all men that think this is a good look - IT'S NOT!
I have even seen men wear slides - open-toe, no back slides - in the free weight area!! Now I am not saying that my Nikes are going to prevent a broken toe if I were to drop my 65...okay fine, 15 lb....weight on my foot, but its a heck of a lot more practical than slides. Plus, slides are ugly no matter when you wear them, but I digress. I am almost certain that in college you were required to wear closed-toe shoes to the gym, and chances are it was for a reason.
Believe me - women are not much better. What is it with the women over 35 (I am being generous) wearing a sports top and no shirt? God bless you for having the confidence to wear that, but please - save that for the privacy of your own home. The rest of us twenty-somethings are not interested in learning what toll nature will take on our bodies...at least not yet anyways. And ladies - what is it with your "shants?" (shants = short pants). Please invest in a pair of Nike workout pants that at least come close to touching the floor. I promise you - you won't trip while you are speed-walking on the treadmill with a 3 incline, so Just do it (pun intended).
And to all patrons attending the gym - do not walk around the locker room naked!!! - no matter how confident you are in your physique. It is just gross. GROSS! We don't want to see any of that...ever. And we certainly don't want your bare bottom on the bench. UGH.
One final note: All blow drying should be done fully-clothed and upright! We do not want any upside-down, naked blow drying taking place in public. That must be stopped immediately. Your utmost compliance to this matter is very much appreciated.
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
You look tired...
There is no worse sound in the world than that of your alarm - and I don't care how cheerful you have set that darn default to. It totally sucks when it goes off and you know that you have to get your butt out of bed and head in to work! Terrible. However, I hate starting the day even more when you forget to set an alarm and your biological clock saves your a$$. Thank goodness for biological clocks as it has saved me on more than one occasion...today being one of those days.
As a result of my tardiness, today is a ponytail kind-of day, literally and figuratively. It's the kind of where you anticipate at least one person (maybe two people) will have a comment like "Wow! Don't you look tired today?" What is it with people thinking that it is okay to say that to someone else? Do they think I don't know that I look like a$$ today? That I have magically avoided all mirrors this morning and I can't see the hand print that is still indented on my face, or the sleepies that are still in my eyes? NEWSFLASH: I know! I am perfectly aware of the flyways that have zero purpose on my head other than to flap in the wind when I walk. And the fact that I am just NOT loving my outfit today. All of that combined makes for an interesting 9 hours at the office.
So here's to making it through the day with maybe only a few comments from coworkers about how crappy I look...awesome.
As a result of my tardiness, today is a ponytail kind-of day, literally and figuratively. It's the kind of where you anticipate at least one person (maybe two people) will have a comment like "Wow! Don't you look tired today?" What is it with people thinking that it is okay to say that to someone else? Do they think I don't know that I look like a$$ today? That I have magically avoided all mirrors this morning and I can't see the hand print that is still indented on my face, or the sleepies that are still in my eyes? NEWSFLASH: I know! I am perfectly aware of the flyways that have zero purpose on my head other than to flap in the wind when I walk. And the fact that I am just NOT loving my outfit today. All of that combined makes for an interesting 9 hours at the office.
So here's to making it through the day with maybe only a few comments from coworkers about how crappy I look...awesome.
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Suburbs vs. City
Yes I know. I am behind the 8-ball when it comes to starting my own blog. But reading all of the cool things my friends and family have to say on their blogs has inspired me to start my own. Coming up with catchy titles is going to be a work-in-progress. Right now, my concern is having interesting things to say to keep people wanting to read about my suburban life. Living vicariously through my city-dwelling siblings is much cooler than them living vicariously through me - their married with dog, suburban-loving sister.
I have always been that way though; never really a fan of the hustle and bustle of city-life which, if you kind of know me, may sound surprising. If you really know me, not an earth-shattering revelation. Insight: the thought of having to find a parking spot on Grace Street literally would give me hives. The idea of sitting in Cubs traffic for 2.5 hours after work is my hell on earth. And the never-ending emergency vehicle siren at all hours of the night is enough to rattle my nerves.
On the flip side, however, there is nothing better than the summer in the city. Being able to walk everywhere, the street festivals, the beach, the BYOBs, the people-watching. Summers in the city of Chicago are by far the best. We do our best to make the most of living in the suburbs. We hang out in our little yard grilling hot dogs and hamburgers, and we wash cars in our drive way - both things that you can't do (without paying a HUGE premium) in the city.
Its all about finding your niche. Some people are perfectly happy with the amazing things the city can offer during the summer, and that helps to offset the misery that is winter in the city of Chicago. Me, I much prefer visiting the city, taking advantage of what it has to offer, but then returing to my little suburban townhome, with my tight-wadded homeowner's association, and our golf course view. There is something to be said for experiencing life in the city. My moment in time was fleeting, and has since left. I could never imagine living away from the city itself - as there are times when I need to get my fill. I will always be within driving distance of my beloved Chicago - but I am thankful for having a nice cool garage to pull my car into at the end of a long day.
I have always been that way though; never really a fan of the hustle and bustle of city-life which, if you kind of know me, may sound surprising. If you really know me, not an earth-shattering revelation. Insight: the thought of having to find a parking spot on Grace Street literally would give me hives. The idea of sitting in Cubs traffic for 2.5 hours after work is my hell on earth. And the never-ending emergency vehicle siren at all hours of the night is enough to rattle my nerves.
On the flip side, however, there is nothing better than the summer in the city. Being able to walk everywhere, the street festivals, the beach, the BYOBs, the people-watching. Summers in the city of Chicago are by far the best. We do our best to make the most of living in the suburbs. We hang out in our little yard grilling hot dogs and hamburgers, and we wash cars in our drive way - both things that you can't do (without paying a HUGE premium) in the city.
Its all about finding your niche. Some people are perfectly happy with the amazing things the city can offer during the summer, and that helps to offset the misery that is winter in the city of Chicago. Me, I much prefer visiting the city, taking advantage of what it has to offer, but then returing to my little suburban townhome, with my tight-wadded homeowner's association, and our golf course view. There is something to be said for experiencing life in the city. My moment in time was fleeting, and has since left. I could never imagine living away from the city itself - as there are times when I need to get my fill. I will always be within driving distance of my beloved Chicago - but I am thankful for having a nice cool garage to pull my car into at the end of a long day.
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