Graduation is done.  Graduation party is done.  Thank you notes and graduation hangover? Not done.  I've  been in KC for almost a week and its been easy living here.  Just been riding my mom's huffy from her college years, eating way too many sweets, and lounging with Murphy dog.  The one productive thing that I've done is that I am back to running, even though my legs might not think so.  I was out for three weeks due to a strained brain from finals and now I am back trying to get up those KC hills.  Chicago doesn't have a single natural hill so I am looking forward to getting back to the flatlands on Wednesday. 

I start my internship at Venuszine in about a week;  I am getting rather nervous for that. Actually, my biggest worry right now is what I should wear.  So of course I just bought the new Elle UK and am trying to channel my inner Chloe Sevigny (ha!). Anyhoo, also on deck are a bunch of Crossfader King events coming up in the next few months.  Dance Party Magic in two weeks, the Pitchfork after party, Bicycle Film Fest mania, Lollapalooza after party and of course probably a million other things in between.  No doubt that this summer will be a good one.  Plus I am getting a new, more efficient road bike...now if I could only sneak in a few trips (west coast tour?) here and there this summer would be ideal.  

Because I know that my summer is going to take off quickly, and end way too soon, I need a check list of things to do.  Give me some suggestions if you've got any!

1) Bike rides, bike rides, and more bike rides.  I need my summer legs back!

2) Italian ice.  Enough said.

3) Long walks.  If you know me at all, you know that you can find me taking the pooches on long walks in the morning.

4) Tan.  Even though I am naturally tan, and get tan from just being in the sun for five minutes, I need to put some effort into getting rid of my farmers tan.  Attractive, I know.

5) Go to the beach.  Even though the beach is likely ridden with a million diseases I've never heard of I should enjoy the fake coastline we have.

6) Road trip.  I need some help on this one.

7) Watch the fire works from Navy Pier.  I've seen these once when I visited my brother before I had moved to Chicago.  Probably about time to see them again.

8) Movies in the park.  I usually get bored or hungry and then leave, so this year I am going prepared,  picknick basket and all.

9) Be a photo monster.  I need to take pictures like I've never taken pictures before.  Probably about time I put some fire behind my passion.  

10)House parties.  What ever happened to Chicago house parties? Maybe they just disappeared when I turned 21 and it's all down hill from here.  I hope not!

11) Sunday's in Wicker Park.  Sunday is usually my lazy forget the world outside my apartment day, but since it's summer I am going to enjoy it. 

12) Summer dresses.  Catholic high school and its plaid skirts have forever ruined me and now I am partial to skirts and dresses rather than pants and shorts.  At least I wasn't stuck with the khakis that the boys had to wear,  I would hate to see what I'd be partial to these days if I had.  

13) Irazu. Give me an oatmeal soy shake and steak sandwich and I am set.

14) Hot Dougs.  I am embarrassed to say that I haven't been there yet.  Reas is probably ashamed to call me his sister right about now. 

15) Avoid Taste of Chicago.  Why on earth have I gone to that thing for the past two years? I live in Chicago, I don't need to eat over priced tourist food.  

16) Trick someone into taking me sailing on Lake Michigan.  I did get the sailor of the week award in sailing school, nevermind that I was 13 when that happened.

17) No sleeping in.  Summer sleep hangovers suck.  I will do more with my time!

Ok, I think that's enough for today.  Plus the list could go on and on and I doubt that anyone read past number two. 

 

Dan hates getting his picture taken and didn't know about Mel's addiction to taking way too  many pictures.

I am done. Took my last final on Saturday. Promptly went out and enjoyed a celabratory bloody mary afterwords with the lovely Katie Aronson and Erin Petz. Found out my all night studying paid off because I got a 95% on my History of Photography final. But now I am done. It feels good to relax my brain for a minute.

Diana and Reas surprised me with balloons after my last final.  

Reas' birthday.  They spent part of their night at my event at Sonothque.  

Faces.

Lucky toilet paper.

1800-flowers.

Technology.

This made me laugh a lot.  It was on the desk I was studying at in the library.  KC people are everywhere.

Only in Chicago

It was in the upper 70's the other day, cold and rainy today, supposedly will snow tomorrow, and then will be 79 degrees on Saturday.  Keeping the layers going for a while longer.

It's dark, rainy, and cold outside and I am at work listening to Built to Spill and suffering from writers block.  This may or may not be a good combination.  

Working hard? Yes and no.  I have less than a month of school and about five million things to turn at school and a list of events to look after for work.  My eyes will fall out any day now, promise. 

Went home for Easter.  Drove around a lot and my head wanted to explode from all the pollen stuff in the air.  Spring really hasn't hit Chicago yet so my head didn't know what to do with all those flowers blooming.  After eating too much food I hit the airport only to forget my phone.  No phone means being glued to my computer so that I can communicate with the outside world.  This also means looking at a screen for longer that I'd wish.  

On the bright side, I will finally get all my work done for school and graduate.  I will most likely get my phone back tonight.  The Crossfader King events will be fun and worth all the worrying/planning.  And spring will finally reach Chicago soon, to be immediately followed the next day by summer.  

In other news Melanie is doing fine and riding high on oxycontin.  She has gotten a lot of funny get well cards and lots of yummy food.  Feel free to send any desserts to me because she has too many.  Also, if you're trying to sell her anything, right now would be the time to do it.  She can be talked into mostly anything considering she thinks our dog Murphy is talking to her.  Just kidding...kind of.  

Seriously though, thanks to everyone who's been thinking of my mom.  She really is doing great and it's good that they caught that junk before it got more serious.  Go by and see her if you're in KC.  She has lots of good treats.  

vices

1) Sweets

2) Sleep

3) The Twilight series?

It's no surprise that I'll gladly accept a sweet treat when offered, or that I am not opposed to a little extra sleep here and there, but my addiction to reading the Twilight series is as much of a shock to me as it is to you.  I saw the movie twice mainly because of Robert Pattison (who wouldn't?), but took to reading the books because I knew a better story could be found there; plus I was delayed at Midway long enough to need a new book.  Well, after  I devoured the first book in three days I couldn't stop myself from getting the next one, and the next, and the next.  My addiction has gotten bad considering I spent the last three hours reading the final book but I'd say it was well worth it.  The books are easy reads that still excite your imagination, but more importantly if you're older than 18, then you'll feel your inner high schooler come out and live the narration.  So basically I am a nerd of the highest order up there with all the other sci-fi lovers.  

Aside from my affection for vampire stories, I've been keeping up with the usual routine of school, work, and most likely hanging out with Dan, Kent, or the dogs.  It's been warm enough for my trusty stead to come out along with the new Brooks saddle that Reas gave to me for christmas, so I've been getting used to riding again.  Currently Chicago has too many potholes so major riding will have to wait till summer.  Other than that,  I am obviously in need of a new read (vampire-esq or not) so if you've got something good send it my way.  

It was 70+ degrees the other day so my me, my book, and my shiny new Jack Purcell's found a spot by the lake.  

The somewhat gross looking Lake Michigan.  

Danessa's birthday was a few weeks ago and she had a blow out party that lasted till 6 am, so I made 100+ mini cupcakes for the occasion.  Thankfully they were all gone by the end of the night.

View of downtown KC from my back deck from when i went home for spring break.  

The lovable Murphy dog, half lab half boxer.

Old bedroom.

Who knew!

Today is much better than yesterday.  Got a laugh from a man on the el who used the emergency button to tell the conductor to hurry up because he was late for something.  Man, I wish that actually worked because I would tell the conductor to go express from North and Clyborn to Loyola everyday. If only.  Aside from that I just found out I made the Dean's List for the School of Communication.  I don't think I've ever done that before.  Maybe this whole acting beyond my years is finally working out.  

I also went to Lovely Bakery today to study/snack/drink too much tea.  There is a wild chocolate sculpture that I can't imagine is real but am ready and willing to accept that all my dreams could come true if it is.  Since I don't live near Mercury Cafe anymore and its too cold/rainy to ride my bike I hop on the 56 Milwaukee to my new favorite cafe, Lovely.  It is everything the name implies and I can't wait to pass some serious summer reading time there. Try the tuna salad sandwich with a side salad if you're looking for a tasty treat.  

22 going on 45

It's been raining for forever.  Went to KC last week.  It was warm. Came back to Chicago and went out too much.  I am not 19 anymore, I can't stay out past 12 very easily.  Now I have a cold and need to do a portrait assignment, write a paper on film noir, and study for a midterm.  I am in the home stretch then comes real life. 

Went to this dog store in KC. Oddly enough it was just weird nicknacks that look like dogs, not dog toys or anything for your dog.  There was also a store called "Gatos" of the same vein; I passed that one up.