Pictures!!

A little bit of Scotland in Chicago. I can have it all!

View of the City from the river.

Merchandise Mart. The widest building in America. Spans two city blocks.

The Willis Tower. Chicago still refers to it as the Sears Tower.

Look at that sky line!!

The Wriggly Building. I love the views in this city!

The Chicago Tribune Building.

At the Aquarium! Peering over at the whales. We had a connection and some day I hope to pet one.

Apple picking in Indiana.

Lake Michigan... it is like looking out to the ocean.

Museum Campus!

Chicago!!!!!

All roads lead to New York!

Navy Pier!

The Best Laid Plans of Mice and Men...

The best laid plans of mice and men... could be my mantra on life these days. I had meant to post here regularly. Document my this adventure but it has been almost 2 months since I have checked in. I had meant for things to go very differently this past month... but as they say "the best laid plans..."

When I started this adventure I thought it would be smooth sailing. I had faith in the Universe but it was a shallow faith, and looking back, I naively thought everything would be amazing all the time. I am learning so much more than what my professors are teaching me.

When I came here the plan was to stay with a friend. I would help her look after her dog since she had been staying with her boyfriend mostly anyway. I would give her some money towards rent and in the mean time have a "home base" so I can be in Chicago and search for an apt. A week before I left this plan was still in effect but then things started to change. My friends roommate needed me to pay a third of the rent. My staying there was an inconvience and she felt this would make things fair. Okay, a third of the rent. Two days before I left the roommate had found a place of her own and needed me to pay half the rent. Alright, this still seemed like best option. All systems a-go. I had an amazing weekend of adventures with friends and family and said see you later to my city. The day I traveled here the roommate had contacted the landlords and found a way to end the lease a month early. Where was I to stay? The night I arrived I spent most of my time on craigslist looking for a roommate. In attempt to rally the hooray-for-adventure-spirit I went to the deli and over beers, cheese doodles, and Preseco we toasted to Chicago.

That night both the roommate and her mother pulled me aside - told me that it wasn't personal against me but I needed to be out within a week and they were going to do everything in their power to end the lease and get their deposit back. I could feel the anxiety start to set in. The following week I went to orientations and saw apts. I cried every day. Multiple times a day. I was feeling dis-illusioned with the city, with my program ( i was feeling the pressure to have a car/know how to drive), and my faith in the Universe. I was on the verge - I contemplated returning to NYC, taking an apt I didn't like, and at one point one that seemed a bit sketchy. The weight of student loans, "homelessness", and isolation (I was far removed from the heart of the city, didn't have friends, and saw little of the friends I did have) was setting in.

As D-day approached i knew something had to change. I was beside myself. I booked myself into the holiday inn to get away from the situation. I knew I had a couple days there where I could brainstorm. I was going to try and find an apt and give the school a semester to prove its self to me. I decided if life was going to push then I needed to push back. I am a New Yorker! We are bold and fearless. Was I going to just lie down and go home? While, I didn't feel I had anything worth fighting for yet I did know I wasn't going to just lick my wounds and return to NYC. My friend and i threw all our stuff in her boyfriends truck and locked it up in storage. She found a place for her dog and I hit the pavement looking for an apt. There was option that seemed nice and I was close to taking it but the Universe provided... a friends, cousins, friends needed a roommate. This apt was everything I was looking for. I could move into the apt in 2 weeks! Hooray! Now I had to figure out where was I going to live for the next two weeks?

It was the first week of class and I still had a few days paid up at the Holiday Inn. A girl in my class was trying to organize margaritas after class and I thought 1) i need a drink 2) the girls going seem so nice and i need friends. I hadn't told anyone I was staying at the hotel. I was embarrassed. I thought it seemed weird and I needed to solve my own problems... i didn't want pity. I also didn't want to carry my books to get drinks. I took a chance. These girls were going to be my friends I was going to share with them. I asked if I could stop by the hotel and drop my stuff off. I explained the situation and to my surprise they both offered to let me stay with them. I was no longer in NYC. I was blown away by the sincere generosity of these girls. I was feeling so vulnerable and the Universe brought me these friends. I said "YES!!!!!"

A couple of days later I went to stay with E.C. This worked out so well. E.C. is one of the sweetest and most sincere people I know and I was so happy to have a friend. I also didn't have my books yet since I needed to have them shipped to me. She let me use her books and stay with her for 2 weeks. I had my books shipped to M.G. and they both became some of my best friends. I have been on adventures with them. I have been to the Aquarium, the Field Museum, the zoo, a river cruise, the botanical gardens, different neighborhoods, a Bears game, apple picking and Navy Pier.

I have moved into my new home and we are caught up to today. It has been up and down. A learning process about vulnerability, trust, friendship, the Universe and faith. I am going to post some photos and sign off. I will try to come back more often.

Chicago

I have not forgotten about you blog. I am in Chicago and will post soon. It has been a busy and eventful couple of days.

Museum

In one week I begin the 2 day journey to Chicago. But before I can even think about that there is much on this end to do. Paperwork and packing. And see you laters. I don't like goodbyes. Paths cross again. I already have plans in the works for my first visit back. But before I leave or make plans to comeback there are still adventures and celebrations to be had here. Before this new chapter begins.

And today was adventure and celebration. The weather was beautiful. A taste of what summer in my mind should be. Cool breezes stiring the leaves in the trees. Sunny days. Smiles on the faces of everyone. And a lack of humidity. Because I have the summer off and my good friend has summer fridays; we decided to make the trek to the Museum of Natural History. I grew up at this museum. Fitting I should visit it before I move to a new city.

When I was a kid my mom would bring my brothers and me to the museum. We would visit the dinosaurs, the big blue whale and my favorite the gems. I loved being able to run through those levels and touch the gems and the geodes. I love geodes; there is something wonderful and maybe poetic about how on the outside the rock is plain or unattractive and on the inside is color and texture.

So "J" and I went uptown to visit the museum and check out their brain exhibit. It had been awhile since I was there and dang the museum has changed. The cafe has become gourmet with fancy Italian dishes and a salad bar, they have closed the lower level of the museum shop, and a few exhibits have a new facade. All the changes though seem to be positive (and they left the gems section as is) and it was wonderful to be at the museum. "J" and I bought our tickets and made our way downstairs for some food. Where she presented me with this...





Great minds think alike. I love it.


After lunch we made our way to the brain exhibit. It is a great! Most of it is tactile and hands on. I learned some cool new facts. We played some fun games they had to demonstrate how the brain works and explored the exhibit. Visited a few of the old favorites (like the big tree) and then left. Overall it was great time with a great friend.

I am going to sign off now. It has been a long day. Sweet Dreams.

Counting Down

I can't sleep. A mix of having a "lazy summer" schedule with the luxury of being able to sleep late and thoughts about this new adventure I am beginning.

Since I last posted there have been a couple of developments....


I was in Barnes & Noble and I bought myself two books on the in's and outs of living in Chicago.





I am going to know the best farmers markets, the best days to visit the museums, how to navigate the public transportation, the history of Chicago...

When I moved to Scotland I had a few books with me. One that was all maps, one about the customs and things to see. I went on tours and explored and learned that city like it was back of my hand. When my friends came to visit for Christmas and New Years I knew every inch of the city's history and was able to give them a tour. We went to the castle, Arthur's Seat, Mary's Close, the new city, the parks, the museums, Colton Hill, the Royal Mile...I was even able to tell them an anecdote about the lead horse statue on the Royal mile . It had to have a few modifications on it due to the Scottish weather. I don't know if this is the exact truth but this is how I heard it from the Scots. So, in Scotland it rains every day. Multiple times a day on most days and there is this horse statue that sits on the royal mile outside the old parliament . Actually it is King Charles II on a horse. To save money they made the horse hollow but every time it rained, water managed to get into the statue and it would tilt. So they made a hole in the bottom of the statue so the water could drain out. Now every time it rained it looked like King Charles was sitting on a horse that was urinating. In the end they had to fill the statue and make it solid.

When I have friends come visit I will be able to share stories like that as well with them about Chicago. Local folkore that adds flavor to the city. Chicago I am going to know your secrets.

I am also in the process of ironing out details about my living situation. It was too much to be able to go to Chicago for a couple of days and rush decide on a place to live. So I am crashing with a good friend for a couple weeks while I search.

Sleep is starting to kick in so I am signing off. Sweet Dreams.

Home Sweet Home

Part of this adventure has been finding a place to live.

For months now I have been telling friends about this idea I have. My dream house. Not even a house. It is really this backyard. In my mind's eye I see this garden. Friends gathered around a fire pit. Bob Marley or The Beatles playing in the background. The sound of laughter mixing with crickets, mellow tunes, and a crackling fire. A night sky blanketed with stars. Flowers and ferns lining stone paths. There is an ivy covered trellis, solar powered twinkle lights, and a hammock. The smell of smoke and spicy herbs. And the icing on this (saccharine-y) cake is that in the background a dog is eating tomatoes off the vine. While this concept is so cheesy I can spread it on crackers, to me this sounds wonderful.

Alright, so while I know that I won't move to Chicago and find this magical garden of all the perfect sounds and smells complete with a dog who has a taste for tomatoes; esp. those right off the vine ... a garden is on the list for my apt search. Being a New Yorker and living in an apartment a garden is this foreign concept that holds so much potential. So, along with an interest in certain neighborhoods and amenities I know a garden will help make my apt. a home. Luckily, Chicago has a plethora of beautiful apartments to help make this dream come true.

So far the apt search has been an interesting endeavor. While it has yielded no permant abode yet, I am in touch with friends whom I haven't spoken to in a while. Their kindness and support has meant a lot during this transition. I have also met a few potential roommates/friends through the school (some even from NY; take us out of the city and we tend to gravitate towards each other) My "fall back" is also a wonderful option thanks to a wonderful friend. All in all this should be good and as time flows I will update as to which option I went with.

Anyway, it is late and time to call it a night. Sweet dreams.

Beginnings

I come back here for all new beginnings it seems. Scotland. Cross continent trips. I will try to stick with this through the journey. Not just to mark the new beginning.

I am starting a new adventure. I am moving to Chicago within the next month. Really it is probably within the next 3 weeks to start graduate school. In truth that statement isn't real to me yet. I do not have a set moving date. I do not have an apt yet or a roommate. There is still so much for me to do. But I have faith it will all come together.

I have all sorts of feelings about this move. The first being... this makes sense. So many things have pointed me to Chicago. I believe deeply this is what my next step should be. I can feel it in my bones this is where I am suppose to be. It is KISMET. This is where my career, my mind, and my spirit will be nurtured. At the same time I am nervous. This is happening all in the span of a few weeks. I was only accepted a couple of weeks ago. And the excitement is tempered by all sorts of silly worries that have flitted through my head. The "what if's" can be overpowering when so much is yet unclear.

I am jumping in with both feet though. Ready for the adventure that follows. I love this quote "Life loves to be taken by the lapel and told: "I'm with you kid. Let's go." - Maya Angelou

Well, " I am with you kid. Let's go"