Posts Tagged 'Friends'
October 7, 2010
So, I’ve been in Chicago for over a month now. I’m still coming to grips with that, in fact. It’s not that it feels like it’s been longer or shorter than that. But labeling that span of time as a month just doesn’t sound right at all.
I think this is largely because there was so much leading up to me actually driving to Chicago. There were months of planning, dreaming, praying, and preparing that were just as significant as the move itself. A month doesn’t sound right, because I’ve been “here” in this new phase of life for much longer. But that 15 hour drive? Saying goodbye to my parents, sister, friends, and home? No, no, that was just a couple of weeks ago.
If you’ve followed my trip at all, you’ve probably realized that I love Chicago. Adore it. The city is absolutely fantastic, and I would not trade the past five weeks here for anything. But Chicago itself was only part of the reason I came here. Of all the attributes of Chicago that drew me here, the most significant one was that it wasn’t Dallas. My loving family, phenomenal friends, and charming life as I knew it were nowhere near Illinois.
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Posted in Personal | Chicago | Family | Friends | Growth | Independence | Introversion | Loneliness | Seclusion
August 27, 2010
Well, it’s finally happening. It’s nearly a month behind schedule, but it’s happening. Next Tuesday, the 31st, I will be falling asleep in the city of Chicago, IL. I’ve got an apartment leased, rent in the mail, and rental car reserved. Here we go.
Monday morning, I’ll pick up an SUV from Avis, drive it home, load it up with all of the stuff that I’ll be taking with me up north, and probably try to take a nap. Then around 9:00 or 10:00 Monday night, I’ll set off for the wild north. It’s about a 15 hour drive, so I’ll probably see the Chicago skyline crest the horizon around noon on Tuesday.
Lord willing, I’ll pick up the apartment keys, spend half an hour hauling all the stuff from the car to the apartment, then drive a mile downtown to Avis, drop the car off, and spend 15 minutes walking back to my new home.
The apartment I’m leasing is a total of 325 square feet. For perspective, that’s about 18.5′ x 18.5′, or a mid-sized living room. It’s a bed, office desk, bathroom, closet, small dining table and corner kitchen. I don’t even know where I’m going to set my piano up. I’m on the third floor, and I’ve got a small window that looks north over a parking lot and Division St.
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Posted in Personal | Apple | Chicago | Chipotle | Family | Friends | Goodbyes | Homesickness | Loneliness | Moving | The L | Transition
August 13, 2008
The future of birthday greetings is now.
Posted in Websinal | Birthdays | Facebook | Friends | Social Media
January 25, 2007
I need more girl friends. Not girlfriends. Girl friends. We all went to high school, and I trust you remember the difference.
So, you’re having a rough day. You’re just kind of worn out, tired, and beat down. You feel the need to express your frustrations and weariness, so you just mention to your guy friends, “Phew… what a day. Work was long and hectic, then I had school all night. Boy am I tired!” And your guy friends respond with one of a few responses.
Option 1: “My day was crazy too, man. Let me tell you about it…” Technically, they’re probably trying to just relate to you, but in the situation, it seems like they’re trying to one up you. “You think YOU’RE day was rough…”
Option 2: “Well, at least you’re not working weekends, or taking more than 3 classes, like our mutual friend, <Insert Mutual Friend<” Again, he’s probably trying to make you feel better by comparing you to worse situations. At least you’re not HIM…
Option 3: “Why don’t you drop some of your classes? Or go to bed earlier? Or work fewer hours?” This is when we try to fix the problem. Men are fixers. It’s what we do. It’s not what we do best, but it is what we do. Unfortunately, this is not a situation that needs “fixing.” Just venting.
Option 4: (Unrealistic) “Oh, man. That sounds rough, dude. I’m sorry you’re having such a tough time right now. I’m sure it’ll get better soon. The semester will be over before you know it.” Obviously, that’s now how guys generally respond to another guy expressing frustration with life. But, that’s what I’m looking for sometimes. And women tend to be much better at sympathizing than guys. And I’m living with three guys and have few close relationships with young ladies.
Sympathy is in short demand.
Posted in Personal | College | Friends | Sympathy | Work
August 1, 2006
Opelousas.
Opelousas, Louisiana, to be exact. That’s where I was for the past two days until about an hour ago. Now, I’m in Lafayette, Louisiana, waiting for a flight. I was here doing, you guessed it, some work for a doctor. This doctor, though, I’ve actually done work for before. And this is probably my favorite office that I’ve ever done work for. Dr. Kempf is a gynecologist and his wife, Pam, is his office manager. And they are so much fun to hang out with.
Dr. Kempf is an incredible carpenter. Their entire house is full of insanely nice furniture that he built himself. I’m talking wardrobes, chests, bookshelves that would easily sell for $5,000 – $6,000. Amazing stuff. He also brews his own beer. I’m no beer drinker, but as beer goes, it’s really, really good. His wife sews and does interior decorating. They just always have something to talk about, they’re super-nice, and they have some of the foulest mouths I’ve ever heard.
I mean it. I have been around few people in my life that curse as much as they do. It’s just how they talk. F’s, S’s, A’s, B’s; nothing is off limits. It’s really pretty strange, ’cause I’m not uncomfortable around them at all. I could talk with them all day long, because they are so easy to just carry on a conversation with. They both have tons of hobbies, lots to ask me about, lots to talk about. They always have something to say, but they never really seem to dominate the conversation. They’re so fun to talk with, but they just curse like a mother f… I mean…
I think it’s wearing off on me.
Posted in Personal | Cursing | Doctors' Offices | Friends | Louisiana | Vocabulary
