Merry Christmas

I hope you all have a great Christmas. It's been a year of ups and downs. Looking forward to a new year and new beginnings~

Happy Thanksgiving

Every other year my family heads down to Mexico for Thanksgiving. This year we went to Puerto Vallarta, and it was such a great week! The weather was perfect everyday, 88 degrees, light humidity, hardly a cloud in the sky. We stayed at an all inclusive resort, the Vallarta Palace, which was fantastic! You could get anything you wanted to eat or drink day or night, the staff was awesome and it wasn't very crowded so you never had to wait in lines or stake out chairs by the pool early in the am because there was plenty of room for everyone. We mostly hung out at the resort every day, hitting the beach in the morning, and pool in the afternoon...but did manage to leave the resort one day to do the zip line, which was great...but not as great as relaxing on the beach and by the pool 12 hours a day. Sucks to be home, but looking forward to going to CA for Christmas in a few weeks.

Amazing!

November 4th, election night, A. Fears and I head to Piece in Wicker Park, saddle up at the bar and wait for the results of this historic election to roll in. I, for one, am super excited about Obama being elected. I think it's not only a huge step forward for our country, which seemed to be falling so far behind...but it's refreshing to have someone young and forward thinking, with new ideas in office. Here's hoping for a brighter future with Prez Obama. Now, bring on the dirt about infighting between Palin and McCain! :)

O Hallow's Eve '08

This year for Halloween Krista, Erin and I headed over to the 'Haunted Sanitarium' on Fullerton. Jimmyzzz and A. Fears were working inside as freaks and goblins so we had to check it out...and let me tell you, it was the scariest haunted thing I've ever been through! They did a great job at making you feel disoriented, claustrophobic, on edge and just all around creeped out. We will definitely be back next year for more scare.

Krista and Raf tie the knot.

Friday 10/24/08 they finally did it! Krista and Raf got married in Madison WI at the beautiful Monaco Terrace. Krista's dad happened to receive a lung transplant the Saturday before the wedding so he unfortunately had to miss the beautiful event....in person....but they did put a web cam in his room so he could still watch her get married, which is so cool! Get well soon Jerry!!

The wedding was so much fun, we ate and drank and danced like ya do. Congrats Krista and Raf!!

Edwards and Frank's New Digs!

I knew Edwards and Frank moved in together a few months ago, and I couldn't want to check out their new place! Well, the wait was over last weekend when I got an inpromtu invite, true to Edwards laid back style, and made my way over to Wicker Park less than 24 hours later for a little housewarming. We got a tour of the 3 story beauty while we grazed on some delicious snacks and wine. After a bit we made out way over to Cafe Bolero for some Cuban Food...which I highly recommend...it was absolutely delicious! Congrats guys...and thanks!

Marathon Sunday

About this time every year I get woken up on Sunday morning to the sound of music and cheers. I am initially confused, and then quickly realize, Ah. It must be Chicago marathon time...it runs right past my condo down Orleans Street every year (I think it's mile 16). It's a lot of fun to make some breakfast, and hey, even a Bloody Mary, why not, I'm not running...and gaze out the window and watch all the hard work being down below. There are stages to the marathon. First, the leaders run by, 3-5 of them. They are fast, steady, strong. A truck rides ahead of them filming for TV. Then some time passes. Eventually the middle pack shows up, and for hours, groups and groups of them run by...cheered on by friends, family, signs held up, it's nice. You watch people struggle, you see how proud some of them are, one gets carried off in an ambulance with a swollen ankle. There are some people completing the marathon on a bike powered by their arms...man, I feel for them, Orleans has a slight incline, it's not and easy street to get up this way. Also, mixed into this middle pack are some characters. Elvis, a running Chicken, groups dressed the same or painted. Then, After the majority of the pack has passed we get the stragglers for another hour. People you have to give credit for trying, but they have been walking for awhile now and they look like they wish they never started this thing. But, hey, as long as they finish, who am I to judge. I'm sitting in my window eating waffles!

One Step Closer...

Two weeks from today Krista and Raf will be hitched, and last night we went out to celebrate! After some drinks and apps hosted by Stacie, we took Krista out for some Sushi and then dressed her up like a naughty bride and paraded her down the block from bar to bar drinking and celebrating her last days of freedom. See y'all at the wedding! Congrats again Krista!

Best Change I've Made All Year...

...Well, besides actually using the gym membership I bought 3 years ago! The best change I've made all year is bringing my own bags to the grocery store. F paper or plastic. I hated having all those bags around the house, and not having a use for them. It just made me feel bad because it's such a waste! The most I would ever do with them is put other garbage in them and then toss them out. A few months ago I decided I was going to start bringing my own bags. I've found that it makes so much more sense, they have better / longer handles so their easier to carry, they hold more than you think, and once I unload the food, I just put them in the car ready for the next use. The only thing I have to watch out for are those fast 'bag boys'. I have literally been standing there with my reusable bags trying to pay only to look over and see the bagger has already started loading up paper or plastic bags! They get a little annoyed when I inturrupt their flow and hand them my own bags. I wish they'd start asking people if they have resuable bags before they start loading them up. Also, I have to keep an eye out for cashiers at CVS or RiteAid putting 2 items in a plastic bag way too big for the purchase, or, my favorite, packaged items put in a bag...is that really necessary?? Start taking your own bag to the store, it's SO much better!

You gotta see the baby...!

After Santa Barbara I made my way back to the L.A. area for a few days to visit a friend of mine from my SF days, Lyndsey, her husband Josh, and their new baby Nola! Nola is 3 months old as such a little doll. She is super smiley and really only cries when she needs something. Thanks again to Lynds and Josh for taking me to Pinks, to Lynds for all the fun at the grove, for carting me around L.A., and all the hiking, swimming and yoga... and to Nola for being such a little sweetie, and to Maya for the goose!!

Congrats Hank!

A week ago Friday a group of family and friends made their way to Santa Barbara to help my uncle Hank celebrate his Masters degree in Organizational Development. It was a great weekend in beautiful SB, where we all shopped, ate, and celebrated Hank for his great accomplishment. Congrats again Hank!

Busy Summer!

Well, it has been a busy summer...so busy in fact that in no time it's making it's exit and fall is silently creeping in. Damn. Anyway, I've missed many opportunities to post here because so much has gone on, which is counter-productive since the whole reason I started this thing is because I thought it would be fun to look back at the end of the year and be reminded of everything I did and who visited, etc. So I'll just do a short catch up and go on from here. Try to be more disciplined about it! In a nutshell I've been to a few cubs games, had the family in town for cousin Jimmy's wedding and made a trip back to CA to spend some time with my parents. When the family was here we had a lot of fun traipsing with the kids all over Chicago. I'll post a pic of me and my nephews...aren't they cute!?

I'm too old for this....

I started bartending again tonight. My feet hurt. My legs hurt. My finger hurts. Sure it was fun after we got things set up...but man, it's a young person's game. There's a reason we grow up and get jobs behind desks. Thank god I'm only doing it a night or two a week. *Sigh*

Cubs Win!

I went to my first Cubs game of the season this past Sunday. We had seats in the Bleacher section, which was a lot of fun, but the hot sun beats down on you and you could bake out there if you're not careful! The only hope for some reprieve from the heat is a stray breeze or random cloud. But hey! CUBS WON! So, it was all worth it =)

I'm so bad...

I know all of my fans out there are itching for another post, some pictures, and update on what I've gotten myself into lately. Ok, stop all the emails. I've been bad, ok? I haven't taken my camera with me, and without pics, it's rhetoric...but here goes. Last weekend I made it over to the Wicker Park Fest and saw some great bands. Well, we saw many bands, but only 2 great, to be exact, Baliff and Brighton, MA. Check them out if you wish, it may be worth your time.

I am currently in a contest with my mom and one of my aunts to see who can drop the most lbs. before my cousins wedding (Aug.23rd). So, I have been better than good on the eating and drinking front these last few weeks, which probably explains the lack of fun, which explains the lack of blog posts. In fact, while I was at the Wicker Park fest, while everyone else was happily downing beers, I drank water. One step closer to the Nunnery? Yes. But, hopefully by the time I post the next pic of myself I will be a mere shadow, and $200 richer!?

In other news: This week I saw two movies, Mama Mia (no.) and Batman (sure, go for it.), went on a date with a guy who ate sushi with a fork, and got myself a new bartending gig at Room 21...actually a cool place, check out the website here: http://www.room21chicago.com/

Anyway, it's late, and I've got to get some shut eye. But, I did want to post something so things don't get too out of date.

Have a great weekend, more later.

~SCS

RIP Olive 1930-2008

:(( My grandma's cousin, Olive, died last night. RIP Olive. Hope you are in the 'beautiful place.'

Congrats Karen and Jimmy!

My mom came into Chi-town this week and we spent most of it preparing for a bridal shower that we threw at my place on Sat 7/12. My cousin is marrying a lovely girl named Karen next month and we threw a 'gettin hitched' shindig for her so she could get some cool stuff. Congrats Karen and Jimmy!

1 am in Anchorage

Valdez 7/1-7/2

Tuesday and Wednesday we drove to Valdez. It was the most beautiful drive, I highly recommend it if you ever get the chance. The further you drive the more beautiful it gets...it was amazing really. We spent the night in Valdez, had a great hamburger at a local dive, and walked around the town. The next day we took the ferry to Whittier AK, where 50 families reside, and there is one tunnel out of town that only allows traffic to travel one direction at a time, and you share it with a train!

Monday 6/30

Ginger's friend Brian took us out on a private white water rafting tour down the Mat-Su river at the beginning of the week. All was going well, he even let me guide the raft for awhile because it was a pretty calm day. However, just after I gave him back the reigns we hit a couple of wicked currents that nearly knocked us out of the raft and tipped over the raft. Brian stuck the metal ore so hard into the bottom of the river it bent! The raft turned and we straighted out at the last secong, but Brian said it was the closest he's ever come to flipping the boat. Whew!

Alaska!

I spent the week before the 4th of July in Alaska! My aunt Ginger has lived there for the last 25 years, and always wanted me to visit. It's so beautiful...she kept me on the move and took me everywhere! Thanks Ginge!

Happy B-day Erin!

It was Erin's B-day on Sunday so yesterday Krista and I took her out for a celebration on Tuesday. We wanted to go on a boat cruise, but it was sold out. We settled for drinks at the Signature Room and dinner at Le Colonial. It was also a last celebration of all three of us living in the city for the last week...Krista is moving out to the burbs with Raphael this weekend because they are engaged and getting married in October! Congrats Krista! But we'll miss you not living in the City.

SUNSET LOUNGE!

We call it Sunset Lounge, and it happened almost every Friday last summer. We've managed to get together a few times this year, too. It's like our own little bar. We sit on my balcony, in the nice summer air, have some drinks and chat. It's such a great time, relaxing and a money saver too! Woo Hoo!

Blues Fest, Rib Fest and Shakespeare

It was a busy weekend! Saturday I met up with Erin and we headed over to the printers row book fair, where we browsed through books, new and old. We each bought something, so it was worth the trip. We then went to Blues Fest in Grant Park. It was such a nice day, so we grabbed a couple beers and sat on the grass to listen to the music. We were there a few hours, and then headed off to catch the train home. As soon as we got on the train there was a down pour of rain. Some how we escaped it! Yay.
Next, I went home to change and then met up with Andrea to go see Jimmyzzzz in 'The Comedy of Errors' at Chicago Shakespear...he did such a good job. Yeah Jimmyzzz!!!
Sunday started off to be another nice day and we were gearing up for Rib Fest '08 when suddenly a wild thunder and lightening storm swept through Chicago - ALMOST dashing the hopes of Andrea and I to devour our own weight in Ribs. Ah. But, we're on to this Chicago weather and how it changes every 5 minutes, so we scurried over there anyway only to have a clear blue sky and sun by the time we arrived. We ate many delicious ribs, and had a deep fried snicker. I know! Sorry, no pictures because I forgot my camera. Andrea had hers, but when I asked her later why she didn't take any pictures, she just lifted up her hands and shrugged. I don't think she cares about my blog. So, here's some stock photos to give you the idea.

Preschool Grad

Jakey graduated from preschool today. Congrats Jake! In the meantime, Brandon is in a cast up to his shoulder from his wrist break the other night, pics of that to come...

More Breaking News....

My nephew Brandon broke his wrist last night playing baseball. They were in the ER until 1am, and I guess he has a nasty break, and now a cast up to his shoulder. OUCH!

Breaking News...

Cool little dragon fly on my patio:

Sunday Brunch

We do it every Sunday - go to brunch somewhere in the city. In the winter we usually go to Bongo Room because it's the best. But in the summer we go to any place that has an outdoor patio. This past Sunday we went to Citizen...which has a great patio (and rooftop, which for some reason is not open at brunch??), food was ok, staff a little lame. Afterward, we took Shanda to see Millenium Park because she's never been there. (although she's lived in CHI for years) ...and she's moving back to Seattle at the end of the month :( Anyway...

Best laugh I've had in awhile!

Don't you love it when you're going about your day and you run across someone that looks like they are straight out of an SNL sketch? Well when this woman sat down next to us at Wildfire, I don't know if my sister and I were slaphappy from lack of sleep or what, but we laughed until we cried. Everyone thought we were nuts, but come on! Oh man, I'm laughing even now as I post.

Lunch with Gramps

Saturday we dragged ourselves out of bed to go take Gramps to lunch. Since he lost Grandma earlier this year we have to make sure he's well taken care of. He was looking good and we had a great lunch at Wildfire. Yup, more food.