Truckin’
I came across this scene the other night on my walk home.
In case you can’t tell, this is a huge truck full of chairs, couches, video game consoles, controllers and screaming, deliriously happy children. Apparently you can rent these things to park on your street while whoever you deem fit to join you plays all sorts of video games on large screen TV’s. I stopped in wonder and asked a nearby woman what in the heck was going on and she said they had rented it for their son’s birthday party. Sure enough, there were tables full of pizza and snacks sitting behind me (at like 8pm on a Tuesday evening, which I found weird but whatever I’m not a parent and I’m sure the trucks are way more expensive on weekends). Anyway the noises coming from inside the truck assured me the children were either having the time of their lives or viciously torturing small animals and since the mom in charge didn’t seem too concerned, I’m assuming it was the former. It seemed like fun to me and I wanted to get closer and check it out but I didn’t want to look like some creepy child-stealing person so I just backed up slowly and walked away. I was tempted to steal some pizza as I left because I figured my gift to the birthday boy could be a lesson in the school of hard knocks but I didn’t, mostly because the video game truck had wheels (obviously) and I didn’t want it to run me down.
If it held me hostage, though – well that could be a different story. Either way, I know what I want for my next birthday!
Pontoon Party!
I recently redeemed a Groupon coupon I purchased back in April (when it was cold and miserable and the thought of being on a boat was too good to pass up) and I spent Sunday evening lounging on a pontoon boat with my lovely fiance and a few of our closest friends. I sort of dropped the ball when it came to actually scheduling our sail date and all of the good times (read: times not at 2pm on a Tuesday) were taken when I tried to get mine set. However, Sunday evening was open and it worked out that it was one of the nicest days of the entire weekend! It also turned into a sunset cruise, which was a little sad because it means the sun is setting sooner now but it sure was pretty to be out on the lake while it was setting.
Sweet Home Chicago
I’m lucky in that my friend’s boyfriend knew how to drive a pontoon because when I tried myself, I immediately realized I would be better off sitting back and drinking wine instead of trying to navigate a small vessel. Who knew that the Chicago River would be so crowded with tour ships/other boats/kayakers on a Sunday evening? I attempted to drive for all of .25 seconds before turning the wheel back over and I didn’t regret it for a minute. Scott took over for the last half of the ride and I happily munched on snacks, drank my wine and enjoyed both my friends and the beautiful skyline. It was a pretty spectacular way to wind down the summer and it reminded me why I put up with the hellish winters to begin with. Because our city sure is pretty!
Fun and Fancy Free
An extensive renovation to the break room at my office is finally complete! The kitchen was shut down for a month and we’ve heard rumors of what could be going on behind closed doors in that time. Now we know the truth – we are completely spoiled brats and we’re all going to gain one hundred pounds.
Because check this out! Not only do we have the fancy coffee machines that make any foo-foo drink Starbucks does but we have a wide assortment of semi-healthy snacks, too. There’s Greek yogurt, cheeses, hard-boiled eggs, carrots and ranch dressing, veggie chips, oatmeal, various granola bars and all sorts of fruit, not to mention the different dry cereals and Chex Mix available in those bins you just twist to pour. We also have a skim and 2% milk dispenser and of course all of the sodas, juices and vitamin waters we used to have before the renovation. And did I mention this is all free? Because it is. Did I say how spoiled we are?
Apparently this type of breakroom is the next big thing with companies who are trying to recruit the top young talent coming out of colleges today. Speaking as someone who’s last job was with a company that went bankrupt – and where I witnessed the repo guy come and take our water cooler and coffee machine – these new perks are not something I take lightly. In fact, a tear or two may have been shed. And more tears may be shed in the future when I step on the scale after enjoying a bit of time with all of this free food, but that’s for Future Me to worry about. For now, I’m going to enjoy the hell out of some snacks and thank my lucky stars I work in a place that provides them!
Extra, Extra – Read All About It!
The anthropology nerd in me is having a field day. If you haven’t heard about the newly discovered hominid species, you should do yourself a favor and check this out. Basically, researchers have discovered an entirely new ancestor for the human race and it’s kind of a big deal.
I was here, once upon a time.
The fossils were found in a cave in South Africa and as someone who as been spelunking in a South African cave, I’m in shock and awe. The cave I spent some time in is Sterkfontein and there have been innumerable valuable excavations done there as well. In fact, the two caves are fairly close (as in 30 minutes) to one another and the knowledge that fossils of such an importance were so close kind of blows my minds. On top of that – who else knows what’s in these deep caves? Such a cool thing to find and such an amazing addition to our history as a people.
Who knows what will happen next!
Luck Be a Lady
I’m a lucky girl.
If I still have half as many of these wonderful women as friends when I’m old and senile, I’ll consider myself lucky indeed. And if not, hopefully I’ll be too forgetful to notice!
While making my solo drive back from my old college town this weekend, it occurred to me just how lucky I really am. I have amazing women in my life and I’m so proud and grateful to know all of them. I have amazing friends from high school, college, Chicago and every place in between and I am incredibly thankful that we’re all still a part of each other’s lives. I’ve managed to cultivate new friendships during every major step of my life and somehow my friends and I have maintained them. I may not get to see them as often as I would like but when I do it’s as if no time whatsoever has passed and we can pick right up where we left off. I know not many people can say that and I am honored to be one who can.
So if you’re reading this and feel it applies to you – thank you for being a friend!
College Reunion Weekend!
Today I am hitting the road and driving to my old college town, where I’ll be spending the weekend with some of my absolutely favorite ladies from school. I CANNOT WAIT! I’m staying tonight with a friend of mine who had a little boy about 10 months ago so not only do I get to spend some quality time with her, I get to meet her son too! We’ve come a long way from bitching about math class together, that’s for sure. Then tomorrow night I’ll be going to Indianapolis, where I’m staying with another college friend and going out with a few more. It’s a complete Girl’s Weekend and I am so excited to see everyone, catch up and enjoy some of our old haunts.
So many memories and ready to create so many more!
The only downside is that I’m driving myself. I’ve gotten very spoiled and used to the Megabus (which does not run where I need it to this weekend, unfortunately) and as I haven’t owned a car in like seven years, it’s just not something I do very often. But I’ll be renting a car from Union Station this afternoon and then will have the pleasure of navigating traffic in downtown Chicago during the Friday before a long weekend. Fun! But it’ll all be worth it when I make my way into town and the arms of all the women I love so much.
Look out Bloomington, here I come!
Epiphany!
I learn something new every day and today is no exception.
Guys. HOW DID I NOT KNOW THAT THE VOICE OF MS. FRIZZLE IS LILY FREAKING TOMLIN?!
Anyone who knows anything knows that Ms. Frizzle is the epitome of a good teacher (and if you don’t know anything at all, well…saying she’s the main character of The Magic School Bus doesn’t exactly do her justice but it’s the best I can do). I used to watch The Magic School Bus because it was educational, funny and just plain awesome and if I had become a teacher Ms. Frizzle is who I would have aspired to be.
This. Is. Everything.
Lately, I’ve been watching the new Netflix original Grace and Frankie, which is about two older couples who get divorced because their husbands have decided to marry each other. On a side note, I’m absolutely loving the show (Lily Tomlin, Jane Fonda, Martin Sheen, Sam Waterston, Ethan Embry, Craig T. Nelson and one of the original Ghostbusters…I could watch them watching paint dry and probably be entertained). Anyway, this new show has given me a newfound appreciation for Ms. Tomlin and imagine my surprise when I was Googling her and realized that she literally personifies one of my favorite cartoon characters OF ALL TIME. I had to restrain myself from freaking out and also from immediately re-watching every episode of The Magic School Bus that ever aired.
Good thing I still have Grace and Frankie!
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