fun, no fun

So my friend had this amazing idea for her birthday...Pedal Pub! (In other cities it's called other things, such as in Milwaukee it's the Pedal Tavern.)  Since this was one of the options I had for my birthday I was quite curious to try it. 

Must admit...not as fun as I thought it might be.  Turns out that it is actually hard work, a.k.a. wear work out clothes if you choose to do this.  Also, the one in Chicago doesn't have it's liquor license therefore...no drinking on the Pedal Pub...which to me, means that at this point in time, it needs a new name.

Besides the fact that we worked our tails off and couldn't drink on the Pedal Pub, we did have an excellent time...but then again, that's the company I tend to keep.  By the end of the ride the majority of us had had enough to make us feel pretty loopy and one (the birthday girl) had so much that she was no longer able to pedal.

Oh yeah, and my elbows are painfully scraped up from the ride...:(  All in all...not sure I would do this again.

new decade

Today's the day...the start of my third decade!  I am in complete awe of how lucky I am and have been in my 30 short years of life. 

I believe the festivities began on Wednesday of last week when some friends came in town for a mini vacation.  They treated me for dinner at Rainforest Cafe...my choice because of their little ones!  Friday was planned by one of the greatest guys on the planet <3!  He planned everything from dinner at Nui Sushi (freaking amazing!) then drinks after dinner at Faith and Whiskey.  Saturday was the day that I planned...or really planned the start then everything else was up to the group.  Because of my late time change to the evite, Caleb and I met up with some early comers at Third Rail then we walked over to Market Bar for some rooftop drinks before dinner.  Dinner was quite tasty then we headed to Lumen, Mad River, and Barleycorn Lincoln Park.  So many of my favorites showed up!  Loud voices, laughter, and love surrounded the weekend! 

 

Last night, I realized that it was officially the last night of my 20s.  In order to say good-bye to another great decade we met at Kirkwood for a few drinks and great conversation.

Today, my actual 30th birthday, looks like facebook is blowing up with well wishes from friends and family.  My parents came into town, Dad to a Cubs game with his friend and Mom and I to West Side Story at the Cadillac Theater later tonight...but first...early dinner at Chen's.  Planning on meeting up with my pops upon our return from the musical.

Plans for continuation...special dinner on Thursday with some of my hometown besties then meeting a Cali friend for lunch.

Everything has been so amazing and I don't think I could ever thank everyone that I need to thank in the way(s) they deserve...

Oh yeah, I have also decided to begin a 365 picture documentation of my 30th year.  The first picture is a cheat since I didn't actually take it today (more so on Friday) but it fits the situation perfectly...

*1 of 365

failed

Diet Trials (Flat Belly Diet) lasted for about 1.5 days...barely. If I have to eat...no, rather look at, another grape tomato I might vomit a little. For lunch on the first and second days of the Flat Belly one is supposed to consume 1 pint of grape tomatoes...1PINT! For those who aren't quite sure how much that actually is...it's one container from the grocery store...a whole container.


The other reason the Flat Belly didn't work very well, for me, is because we went to DC for the weekend. My plan was to stay on FB Diet for all of Friday but I didn't quite calculate airport food into the situation...next time.


Now DC on the other hand...AMAZING! The weather was beautiful and my family was quite full of surprises. Not necessarily the surprises like "We're pregnant" or "We just bought a new house" more so their surprising comments like "You have to marry my cousin." Hmmm...I hope the bf isn't shy and knows that wine was involved ;)


All in all the trip was pretty amazing. 9 mile run Saturday morning followed by a stroll around Georgetown, drinks at the top of the W overlooking the White House and the National Mall, followed by dinner at PS7 which is ranked in DCs Top 100 and an amazing set of desserts at Hook by the soon to be famous Heather...and that was all on Saturday. Sunday included brunch at my aunts on Capitol Hill, a walk to and around Eastern Market then DuPont, and complete with a trip to Red, White and Bleu (Adam's wine and cheese shop) just in time to finish the bottles from a tasting!


Great trip for sure...even if it didn't include a diet. Guess I'll just have to try again...

two pounds per inch

A little before this past holiday season, I had an interesting conversation with a couple of my guy friends. We were discussing, in depth, the appropriate weight of a girl.

At first it was as simple as "she has to weigh less than me" but then turned into a complex theory...we'll call this theory Thomas's Law.

According to Thomas's Law a girl...excuse me...a datable girl must be no more than two pounds per inch tall. For instance, I am 5'7" or 67" tall. In order for me to find my datable weight I would take 67 x 2 (for the 2lbs/in). The most I could weigh at my datable weight would be 134lbs.

Humph...who are we kidding...I might have been that weight at the beginning of high school but after I learned about how much I loved sports (tennis, soccer, gymnastics, cheerleading) I quickly put much muscle mass onto my frame. Since then, with the exception of the freshman 10-15 in college, I have dabbled in the 145-155 category...no where near the two pounds per inch rule. In fact, for my weight to be acceptable, I'm going to have to grow to be 6'2"! ;) Or...I will just have to live with being 2.2lbs/in.

After I realized the truth that I was undatable it was time for a massive reconstruction plan on my diet and exercise lifestyle. My plan was to exercise more, eat healthy, watch portion size, etc. Trouble with that...I was already doing pretty well in all of those areas. I have always worked out 3-4 times per week and I eat extremely healthy during the day and at night with the occasional cupcake and alcohol intake.

chuck realization

Didn't think too much about dinner and drinks with an ex last week, I stay friends with almost all of my exes...I guess I'm just that girl. I knew that my ex was still dating the girl he met right after we broke up (um about 2.5 years ago) and I assumed he was planning on telling me they lived together.

After about an hour long conversation...just catching up here's how the conversation went:


A-So are you living with new girlfriend now?

C-Oh yeah, it's been a while.

A-Wow, that's great! I will forever live with a boyfriend before marriage chuckle under breath

C-Yeah, marriage. Did I tell you that my brother and his longtime girlfriend are getting married?

A-Actually you did mention that...that's amazing, she is such a great girl.

C-They are getting married next June when she graduates from Vet school.

A-And you? You have been with your girl now for, what is it now, 2.5 years? Are you engaged yet?

C-Oh, haha, yeah.

A-big smile Really!?! That's awesome! When are you getting married?

C-Two weeks, October 10...

A-did not hear anything for about 5 minutes after that because the shock had set in...

C-I'm surprised mutual friend didn't tell you...

A-I guess it wasn't on her priority list...she does have two small ones now and you're not the center of her world


This was all the confirmation I needed to know and believe that I am officially "Good Luck Chuck" but for guys. Almost every boyfriend that I have had since sophomore year of college and one even before that have married the girl they dated after me...well, the ones that believe in marriage anyway.

Yep...went through the list again...still true.

With that being said...the streak stops now! From this point forward, I will no longer be "Good Luck Chuck." Instead, roles will be reversed and I am passing the torch to the last guy I dated and no, we are actually not friends...which is why this works really well...he will now be Good Luck Chuck...mwahahaha

If you would like to join me...I am getting together with a group of friends on this wonderful day of October 10...downtown Chicago...to celebrate the passing of the torch. Good-bye Good Luck Chuck status...bring on the Mrs. degree. :)

a little of this and that

On my quest/search for my perfect match, I have come to realize that Mr. Whomever-He-Might-Be has got some pretty big shoes to fill. Not because my past boyfriends have been so extremely wonderful...there is a reason they carry the ex title...but because I see such wonderfulness in my friends boyfriends, fiancés, and husbands. Please don't take this the wrong way, the men in my friends' lives are perfect fits for each of my friends...not me...however, each one of these men have qualities that I am wishing to find in my Mr. Right.


Like in the movie Practical Magic I wish I could take a little bit of this and a little bit of that from each of my friends' perfect partners to make mine.


Young Sally: He will hear my call a mile away, he will whistle my favorite song, he can ride a pony backwards-

Young Gilly: What are you doing?

Young Sally: I'm summoning up a true love spell called amas veritas, he can flip pancakes in the air, he will be marvelously kind, and his favorite shape will be a star. And he'll have one green eye, one blue.

Young Gilly: I thought you never wanted to fall in love.

Young Sally: That's the point. The guy I dreamed up doesn't exist, and if he doesn't exist, I'll never die of a broken heart.


The only difference being that I do want to fall in love...the really good kind...which reminds me of another Practical Magic quote...


Do you ever put your arms out and spin and spin and spin? Well, that's what love is like. Makes your heart race, turns your world upside down. But if you're not careful, if you don't keep your eyes on something still, you can lose your balance. You can't see what's happening to the people around you...you can't see that you're about to fall...


I want...a husband I can't stop kissing. Btw, my favorite about all of these quotes is that Sally Sandra Bullock does meet this man that she didn't think existed and fell head over heels in love. It will happen to me too...it's just not quite ready to happen...yet.


With that nice long intro...here are the qualities that I would like to put together to make my impossible man. Note to friends: don't worry if your boyfriend, fiancés, or husband is not mentioned...I probably forgot how amazing they are :)


...a little of this...and a little of that...


Neal-not only his incredible Cubs season tickets which he so generously allows me to purchase occasionally but his overall love for sports and ability to care about his wife's friends and his sense of humor


Ted-not afraid to take on a project or to share his hobbies with the woman he loves


Dan-wanting for nothing more than to reflect on old memories and make new...better ones


Braun-the need to have his fiancé with him in any event whether it is trying a new experience or repeating the same mundane tasks of everyday life...needing her almost like air to breathe


Adam-the ability to switch gears in a second from sports crazy maniac to gentle compassionate friend


Ben-the security of who he is which allows for his wife to be secure in herself and her decisions...the ability to be independent with someone you love


Will-his dedication and loyalty to everyone he cares about...friends, family, etc. also his inability to lie


Tony-the comfort of knowing you are everything to your wife and she is everything to you...oh yeah, and his raunchy sense of humor which turns you beet red while laughing your pants off


Kevin-sharing the love of a hobby like camping, hiking, training for a half marathon so completely with his wife that the two are essentially one


Matt-having fun at every turn, letting things roll off his back with the greatest of ease, and his patience with kids


The men in my friend's lives have made them incredibly happy. It seems that I am always building my friends up...now it's time to thank their better halves for my friends have only gotten better, more complete since these men have come into their lives. Thank you...now it's my turn :)

sunshine & rabies

Oh how I've missed Trivia Tuesdays! It was a nice relief to eat and drink with friends while showing off our trivia knowledge of trivial things...or lack thereof.


One of my dear friends (can you tell I have been reading Dracula lately?), one who hasn't seen me since my 160lb weight loss Tim, wanted a little insight to how I have been doing and dealing with what happened...the regular inquiring questions. In the process of my explanation that I am doing surprisingly well (in case you were wondering too), I happened to mention that in our happy oblivion, one of us thought that once the move happened everything would be sunshine and rainbows.


Upon hearing this, Tyler leaned over and said "more like sunshine and rabies." Quite funny and clever, I have found Tyler's comment to be one with much truth. In relationships isn't it always the case that we take the good and the bad?* Yes, relationships, the good ones anyway, are supposed to be easy...but even the easy ones take work. The good sunshine is what helps us through the bad rabies. When the rabies overtake the sunshine, you realize that it is time for the vaccine...even if it stings for a little bit.


*You take the good, you take the bad, you take them both and there you have The Facts of Life, the Facts of Life.

thank god for office mates

Here's a shout-out to my favorite office mates of all time...Team MAGIC (Music, Art, Gym, Informational sciences and Computers), the FAT (Fine Arts Team) or shall I just say the specials teachers at the WB...mainly speaking about gym and music...not that library isn't included but I do share my office with the former.


Even though I am not happy about being displaced from my fabulous art room this year, I am happy that I have been relocated to the gym office...the back of the gym where three of us are squished a little bit like sardines. While I might not sound so grateful, in all honesty, I truly am. Grateful that everyday I come to work...good or bad...I get to be myself, laugh out loud, speak my mind, speak the truth, ask for guidance, etc...and my office mates think no less (or more) of me for it. In truth, I consider them to be great friends...especially since they know some of my secrets;) God knows that office holds its fair share of them.


I thank Matt for his fake surly attitude, your mom jokes, and for his ability to tune me out when necessary.


I thank Molly for her encouragement, inspiration and guidance/advice.


I couldn't imagine this year without the two of them. As for the WB...I don't think they will be trimming the FAT anytime soon. We are all too knowledgeable about our subjects and too good at what we do :)

the best friends indeed

Thank God for good friends in not so good situations. I feel that it is my turn to say thank you to my very nearest and dearest for dropping everything and to reach out to a friend in need this weekend...me.

After a snag in the fabric I like to call...my life, I have been able to rejoice in the fact that my good friends are, just that. Friends that are new and friends that are old both came out to show support and love whether in the form of a 27 hour time period with your's truly or through lunch and mani/pedis, or comfort through familiar places and some bloody mary's or through text messages and phone calls or through a fabulous journal and kind words. All were presented and all were appreciated.

I am extrememly hopeful that good things will come my way. In fact, I know they are. What they are and in what form, I am not quite clear...but good things are coming!

Make new friends but keep the old, one is silver and the other's gold.