Category: Thoughts

The most unique situation happened to me last week. I decided to walk to work (not unique as I do this almost everyday) and I had my sunglass slipped thru the strap of my purse and unfortunately when I got to work, I realized that I had lost my sunglasses somewhere along the way. Here comes the unique, random part…I was headed to lunch with coworkers several hours later and I happen to mention to them that I had lost my sunglasses that morning when suddenly a stranger beside me says to me “What did they look like? Someone dropped their sunglasses this morning and we found them. You should check to see if they are yours.” and then he smiled and walked off. Well at first I just looked at this person like they were crazy since obviously he didn’t find my sunglasses and he was obviously just starting a random conversation. Then the more I looked at the person, I started to think I might recognize him….and he was talking to me as if he knew me personally. Then suddenly it hit me, this is my barista from the Starbucks that I go to so frequently on my way to work. I just didn’t recognize him immediately because we were on the street and he was in street clothes and not his Starbucks uniform. But surely the universe had not just put my barista in the exact place where he would run into me several blocks from where we usually see each other at this completely random time, when I was telling my coworkers that I had lost my sunglasses (also, as a side note, I do not usually go out to lunch as I usually bring my lunch and eat at my desk so this was the first time I have went out with my coworkers in that direction at that precise time). So the following morning, still doubting the Universe could be that good at arranging small details, I head into my Starbucks where my barista hands me my Red Eye with a side of Nine West sunglasses.

I’m sorry. I deeply apoligize. I have neglected my site and any of you fabulous readers for much too long! The past 12 months have been a whirlwind (some good, some bad and some I will eventually talk about on here). I have been posting photos via my Instagram but I just haven’t made the time to put pen to paper, or in this case, letters to screen. But I am turning a new leaf and will get back to the regular posts of all of the fabulous randoms that make up my life (and hopefully yours as well)!

So I am experiencing something for the first time this week. A friend is moving away from me. This is such a foriegn feeling. In my life, I have always been the one to leave, the one waving from the car window, headed to my next destination. Being on this end is very different and honestly, I am not sure I care for it much. When I moved to Chicago and started working at The Job, I met a great chic and in the short 9 months we have known each other…well let’s just say she makes me laugh and I will miss her terribly (I don’t want to go any deeper, as I will get sad and I want this post to be thought provoking, not mush).

In all of the years, I have been the one saying “I’ll keep in touch!” (with complete intentions to do so) however, I have always focused on the new adventure in front on me. I do not believe in wallowing or focusing on the past, it is what it is, the past. I have always been someone who looks to the future, and hopefully my friends from all over the world will still be a part of it. But now that a good friend is waving goodbye to me from the car window (and giving the City the middle finger ;), it makes me understand the sadness that I now vaguely remember seeing on the faces of so many friends that I have left over the years. Not that I am devoid of feelings, of course I have missed my friends and acknowledged their sadness at my departure. But let’s be honest, I have been too focused on the new chapter in my life, the unwritten pages unfolding in front of me, to spend adequate time on the sadness my friends felt. And for this apologize. My friends are very dear to me, I think of them fondly and miss them often. But I am living my new adventure and I know they are continuing with theirs.

So, no, being on this side of goodbye does not feel very well. And it has definitely opened my eyes and my heart to the frowns, tears, and loss I have caused along the way. But you know what? My previous experience allows me to be able to say this and truly mean it: I wish my friend all of the happiness in the world. As she leaves her Chicago friends behind, I don’t want her to focus on the sadness on their faces, but instead on the new chapter and unwritten pages in her life.

First of all, I am sorry. I have been MIA for a couple of weeks and haven’t posted like I promised I would. To be honest, I haven’t felt much like writing. We bought a new bed and it was delivered a few weeks ago and apparently between the platform bed and the memory foam mattress, there was not enough support for my back. After about a week, I was messed up! I was in so much pain, I couldn’t sleep in the bed (even after buying a nice new mattress!), I couldn’t sit in my desk chair at work. I just simply wanted to cry! I was in pain and so exhausted with no end in sight. I think the most upsetting result was the fact that I had to walk my St. Patty’s Day 5k instead of running it. This was very upsetting because I felt like I had done so well at training over the last 8 weeks. Not that I would have been able to run the entire thing (thanks Mr. Winter for sticking around and making it impossible to run and breath at the same time!) but I think I would have done a lot better in this 5K than I did in my first. I know, I know, at least I was able to complete the 5K, but I was still upset. Thank goodness that, after many Icy Hot nights, Salonpa’s heat patches, daily stretching, much more medication than I care to take, and wonderful (though painful) nightly massages from The Husband…I am FINALLY feeling better! Still not 100% but at least I don’t want to cry every time I move now. Other than daily stretching, I haven’t worked out at all since walking the 5K last Saturday. Though I hated taking a week off, I thought it might be better to take a little time off so that everything could heal without any added strain. I am hoping to be able to have a short run this weekend and then get back into my routine Monday. Fingers crossed anyway!

First, let me start this post off by saying I love Winter and I love the snow, cold weather, and all the bundling up that comes with it. And I actually love that I am finally feeling the winter blues after MANY years of not having a true winter (thanks Southern states). But I am starting to feel those blues creeping up on me…. You know, the dreaming of sunny warm lake breezes, laying on blankets in the park, sandals…..awe those pretty little shoes that show your painted toes…. Of course, in the midst of winter, I really need a pedicure, but that’s another story!

Winter, true winter, is hard. Its cold, its windy, and its COLD AND WINDY! But it also snows and this makes me very happy 🙂 Like this morning, we awoke to about four inches of snow….nice! No it wasn’t the easiest thing to walk around in, but if you live in the north, it’s just something you do. I guess I am still like a kid when it comes to snow. Maybe I will hate it after living with it for a few years. Maybe, but I highly doubt it. See, the snow and the cold winter weather means something. It means that everything has went to sleep for a few months. It gives us all a little time to “sleep” before awakening. And I think both nature and humans need this. We need more downtime, a little time to recuperate from the wide open summer vacations, fall festivities, and holiday craziness. Winter gives us time to relax and unwind before it all starts again. Winter is our time out, our siesta. And then it leads us into marvalous spring. When everything comes alive and people begin to peek their heads out of their scarves and hoodies. I cannot wait to be able to sit in the sun on our rooftop or on a blanket in LP and watch the world come alive again. Maybe I will paint my toenails this weekend….just in case it gets here sooner rather than later….