Winter blues.

I see the sun, but feel no heat.  Spring, are you here yet?

Southside love.

Chicago.  The windy city.  Fun fact of the day:  Do you know how we got our nickname here?  Windy climate?  Think again.  “Windy city” because the city is full of windbags.  Interesting, eh?  I learned that on a good ‘ole Chicago River Architecture Cruise.  Onward and upward.

You’ve heard of Chicago, so you must have heard of the fabulous Michigan Avenue.  Famous strip.  The magnificent mile.  Expensive, fabulous shops and boutiques that I only dream of having the kind of money I need to shop at.  Yeah, I live on that street.  Not on the fabulous, busy, north Michigan Avenue part.  I live on south Michigan Avenue.  I live here  —>

For some reason, whenever I tell people where I live, their faces contort into un-natural states as they say “really?  Could you not find an apartment on the northside?”  This aggravates me to no end.  Yes, I could find an apartment on the northside.  No, I did not want it.  Yes, I did find an apartment on the southside.  Yes, I did want it. 

Why oh why does everyone have this incredible fear of anything south of Jackson (300S)?  Greektown.  White Sox stadium.  Chinatown.  Hyde Park.  The University of Chicago.  UIC.  Da Bears.  The best Mexican restaurants in the city (Pilsen).  Cute little Italian ladies in Bridgeport.  Beaches. Maybe it’s because I’ve only been in Chicago for eight months, but I actually prefer the vibe on some of the southside spots to the uppity popped collar boys in Wrigleyville.  Scratch that.  I really don’t mean to generalize, but that’s always the feel I get when I head up to Lakeview, etc etc.

Anyone else with me?  Southside Love? 

Fire flower.

Today was a good day.  Today was the day I met with a financial aide advisor and realized that my dream of going back full-time for my MBA might actually really be a reality in the near future.  This August near future.  Woo-hoo for me.  What does my MBA hold for me?  Great things, and a job where traveling with luggage rather than selling it would be a fabulous start.

Today was also a day I decided start browsing for a new camera bag.  Negatory on the purchasing front.  Camera bags are ugly, would be the general statement about that.  Does anyone know where to find a cute, fashionable bag, that also just so happens to be padded perfectly for a DSLR?  If so… throw your thoughts my way.  I’d love to hear.

And to top it all off – who knew pasta could be so pretty?

Come into my world.

So I have decided to start a journal, or blog I suppose. 

I’ve always loved the idea of a journal, but every time I start one I get a few entries in, realize I can’t read my previous words due to my atrocious handwriting, and then decide I want to start fresh with a new one.  Rinse.  Cycle.  Repeat.  That’s the most fabulous thing of all about the online thing.  No terrible handwriting to deal with.  No excuses of “it’s because I’m a lefty” or “I was trying to get all my thoughts out really quick.”  Click click click and it’s perfect every time.  It even has spell check (let’s hope I remember to use it) ;]

So what is this? 

I was recently having a conversation with a good friend, and he was telling me about a Diana Krall special he was watching over the holidays and how her passion and talent inspired him to give his all to the things that mattered most to him.  When the table flipped my way and we started talking about what I was doing and where did I want to go and all that, I didn’t have much to say.  I got laid off a year ago and I’m now selling luggage for a living.  I’m headed back to school part time in the Fall.  What do I want to do with my MBA?  I don’t know yet.  “You’re young.  You’re smart.  You’re gorgeous.  Do what you want, and enjoy it.” 

He left, and for the next 5 hours, all I could think about was how right he was.  I’m young.  I’m smart.  Why am I selling luggage?  What do I want to do?  Not sell luggage for the rest of my life, that’s for sure.  For starters, I’m training for my first half marathon this year.  I want to explore the possibility of pursuing my MBA full time so I can reap its benefits before I’m 30 (eek!).  And lastly… I have always had an intrigue in photography.  Why haven’t I indulged in it and tested the waters?  Couldn’t tell you.  I just didn’t.  No more, though.  Today I bought my very first digital SLR camera – used, but I can learn with it.  It’s a Fujifilm Finepix S1 Pro.  I don’t know how to use it yet, but I will.  This is going to be my journey of learning the art of photography, and seeing just what I can do with it.  Follow me if you’d like.  Or not.  Totally up to you.

Comments and feedback will be accepted with lots of love.

P.S. Diana Krall – I love you.