Chicago Episode 1: The First Two Weeks
So far things have been amazing. The night I got up here there was a big party at the house and that was a lot of fun, I meet a bunch of Lindsey and John's (her boyfriend) friends. I get along very well with all of them and they are all into the same sorta stuff, settlers, movies, partying, hookahing, etc. The only weird thing is that they are all about 23 +, but there doesn’t really seem to be any sort of age barrier that I have noticed . But the party was very fun, I meet Karl from the TV show Beauty and The Geek 2, he is one of their friends and me him and John may be hanging out tonight at the gentlemen’s club, but I'm not so sure I'm going cause I‘m probably gonna be hanging with Charlie since he just moved it. One of their others friends Luke is really into films and is applying to Columbia for film and he has a DVD collection of a about 500 movies, its awesome! So the next day after the party we had the weekly Sunday softball game which is really fun, like 15 people show up every Sunday at this park right by my apartment. Then that night we had a BBQ at this other guys apartment on his rooftop porch thingy.
Her friends have really been great at accepting me into the group, they invite me anytime they go anywhere, and we are all going on a road trip to a brewers game in June. And I think fishing on the south side this weekend or soon
Then the week came and everybody had to go to work except for me, so the exploring/job search began. That week was even kind of fun because having the apartment all to myself is enjoyable, I just walk around blasting my music, peeing with the door open, all the good stuff. I've read one and a half George RR Martin books. The apartment is mega nice and the neighborhood is really nice too. Oh also to anyone who will be cooking all of there own meals in the future two words, George Foreman. That thing is amazing, I do 90% of all my cooking on it, its gonna be really good next year up at school. I really like cooking for myself. Its enjoyable to come home after a double shift and fry up some ham, salami, green peppers, onions, mushrooms and spices throw it all in a tortilla with cheese on it, mmmmmmmmmm. So anyway I applied at all the local places, and some corperate type places like, Mcdonalds, Blockbuster, Jimmy Johns.
Then that weekend Emily came for a visit and that was a blast. Getting to see a familiar face so early on made the transition a lot easier I think. She accompanied me on further exploration of the city we went down to Michigan Ave and the main downtown to try and get into to see Conan O’Brien. We waited two hours but no dice, some people I knew got in but they had been waiting 7 hours, I love Conan but I don't know if I'd wait 7 hours, maybe if I knew it was for sure Id get in. We also went to see this show called To Much Light Makes The Baby Go Blind, which is this really fun show where they do 30 plays in 60 minutes, it was pretty crazy. We got spied on by the CIA while playing frisbee. On Sunday we went to the free Lincoln Park Zoo, and it was sooo good for a free zoo, for any zoo really, Sunny when you and Kev come we will be going there for sure. Then Monday Emily returned home to the HUD to make birds.
That tuesday I went to the Art Institute of Chicago because it is free on tuesdays! That place is amazing. And I've decided I really like going to Museums by myself, I'm so used to going with my family or with a field trip. I had my headphones on and I got to see what I wanted for as long as I want. They have so many famous pieces and its so crazy to see them, knowing they are the real deal. I don't know tons about art so bare with me if you know the names of these. They have the one with the people holding umbrellas in France I think. They have the one with all the dots and people lounging by the water. They have Monets, and Vangots and Pollack and Dahli! and they even have Picasso’s Old Guitar Player! I also discovered some new guy that I hadn't heard of, Matta and his painting "The Earth is a Man" may be one of my favorite ever.
So after all that time to just explore I got a job just in time ! I was hired by Higgins Animal Clinic, and I am now a Vet Technician. I figured after hearing the job description I would need a degree for it, but they are training me in everything. I LOVE THE JOB! We are like nurses but with animals. We hold the animals during exams, we draw blood, take x-rays, draw out the injections, give animals IV fluids, do urinalysis and fecal tests, introduction to pet care for new puppy owners, and more. Its like an adventure everyday something crazy happens. Like yesterday we had a dog that ate 2 pounds of dry instant rice, so I got to watch and assist while they cut him open removed his entire stomach and spooned rice out of it. Then we had two dogs that got in two separate fights that the doctor had to sew up while I held the dogs. It can be kind of scary sometimes because we have the hold the dogs and some times they can thrash and try to bite. The cats are the worst, several people at the office have been to the ER due to bites and scratches, which worries me a little bit but I'm getting over it.
So right about now I feel like officially moved in. I've got a bank, a bus/train pass, a job that gives me 32+ hours a week, I kind of know my way around. Life is good. And I really like the fact that with my current hours and pay (which isn’t good) I could live here and survive. It would be paycheck to paycheck living but I could do it. That’s a very tempting prospect for when school is done or maybe next summer, anybody? That’s a long way off but still.
Last night Charlie arrived and he seems like a total bad ass, we didn't talk long cause me and Lindsey were headed off to a party but he gave me a bunch of beer to take to the party and when we got back he gave me some free Stefano’s Pizza, which is quite good. He’s got some friends here right now and they are out seeing the sights, they are friends of his that he has known since preschool, which I think is cool because that’s how many of my friendships are.
The party last night was an engagement party, kind of weird to be going to one of those. Like is this where we will be in 4 years? Going to our friends engagement parties? These are all of her college friends and she got like 3 wedding invitations since I have gotten here. And I don't know why I assumed when people got to the age where they are getting married and had real jobs they got all responsible and stuff. But this "engagement party" was just a bunch of people hanging out, drinking really good fancy beer and having a blast. So the future looks bright. I don't know if I was expecting a magical transition into adulthood, but believe it or not there isn't one.
Today we went to the bike co op which was like a warehouse with 5000ish bikes. It was nuts. They fix them up and sell them, I couldn’t find one I liked so I refrained but John bought a bike but then feel over and randomly twisted his ankle really bad so I may have his to ride for 3 weeks. After the bike shop we got Gelato from Cafe Gelato. If you didn't know Gelato is Italian for expensive ice cream. Apprently it was named best Gelato in the city and it was reallllllllly good.
And that’s it up until this moment right now.
In the near future I plan on going to the lake cause its really nice out today.
Looking forward to seeing Kevin and Sunny and the Joshua Radin Concert on the 30th.
Everybody is welcome to visit, and stay as long you like. FREE PARKING AWAITS YOU! That’s right, its free. My biggest concern about visitors was the cities 20$ a night parking structures, but the neighborhood near mine is free and mine is free for you guys, its cost me about 5 bucks to get a stack of 15 passes that are good for 24 hours each. So you could park for 2 weeks for 5 bucks!
I love and miss you all.
Case
Her friends have really been great at accepting me into the group, they invite me anytime they go anywhere, and we are all going on a road trip to a brewers game in June. And I think fishing on the south side this weekend or soon
Then the week came and everybody had to go to work except for me, so the exploring/job search began. That week was even kind of fun because having the apartment all to myself is enjoyable, I just walk around blasting my music, peeing with the door open, all the good stuff. I've read one and a half George RR Martin books. The apartment is mega nice and the neighborhood is really nice too. Oh also to anyone who will be cooking all of there own meals in the future two words, George Foreman. That thing is amazing, I do 90% of all my cooking on it, its gonna be really good next year up at school. I really like cooking for myself. Its enjoyable to come home after a double shift and fry up some ham, salami, green peppers, onions, mushrooms and spices throw it all in a tortilla with cheese on it, mmmmmmmmmm. So anyway I applied at all the local places, and some corperate type places like, Mcdonalds, Blockbuster, Jimmy Johns.
Then that weekend Emily came for a visit and that was a blast. Getting to see a familiar face so early on made the transition a lot easier I think. She accompanied me on further exploration of the city we went down to Michigan Ave and the main downtown to try and get into to see Conan O’Brien. We waited two hours but no dice, some people I knew got in but they had been waiting 7 hours, I love Conan but I don't know if I'd wait 7 hours, maybe if I knew it was for sure Id get in. We also went to see this show called To Much Light Makes The Baby Go Blind, which is this really fun show where they do 30 plays in 60 minutes, it was pretty crazy. We got spied on by the CIA while playing frisbee. On Sunday we went to the free Lincoln Park Zoo, and it was sooo good for a free zoo, for any zoo really, Sunny when you and Kev come we will be going there for sure. Then Monday Emily returned home to the HUD to make birds.
That tuesday I went to the Art Institute of Chicago because it is free on tuesdays! That place is amazing. And I've decided I really like going to Museums by myself, I'm so used to going with my family or with a field trip. I had my headphones on and I got to see what I wanted for as long as I want. They have so many famous pieces and its so crazy to see them, knowing they are the real deal. I don't know tons about art so bare with me if you know the names of these. They have the one with the people holding umbrellas in France I think. They have the one with all the dots and people lounging by the water. They have Monets, and Vangots and Pollack and Dahli! and they even have Picasso’s Old Guitar Player! I also discovered some new guy that I hadn't heard of, Matta and his painting "The Earth is a Man" may be one of my favorite ever.
So after all that time to just explore I got a job just in time ! I was hired by Higgins Animal Clinic, and I am now a Vet Technician. I figured after hearing the job description I would need a degree for it, but they are training me in everything. I LOVE THE JOB! We are like nurses but with animals. We hold the animals during exams, we draw blood, take x-rays, draw out the injections, give animals IV fluids, do urinalysis and fecal tests, introduction to pet care for new puppy owners, and more. Its like an adventure everyday something crazy happens. Like yesterday we had a dog that ate 2 pounds of dry instant rice, so I got to watch and assist while they cut him open removed his entire stomach and spooned rice out of it. Then we had two dogs that got in two separate fights that the doctor had to sew up while I held the dogs. It can be kind of scary sometimes because we have the hold the dogs and some times they can thrash and try to bite. The cats are the worst, several people at the office have been to the ER due to bites and scratches, which worries me a little bit but I'm getting over it.
So right about now I feel like officially moved in. I've got a bank, a bus/train pass, a job that gives me 32+ hours a week, I kind of know my way around. Life is good. And I really like the fact that with my current hours and pay (which isn’t good) I could live here and survive. It would be paycheck to paycheck living but I could do it. That’s a very tempting prospect for when school is done or maybe next summer, anybody? That’s a long way off but still.
Last night Charlie arrived and he seems like a total bad ass, we didn't talk long cause me and Lindsey were headed off to a party but he gave me a bunch of beer to take to the party and when we got back he gave me some free Stefano’s Pizza, which is quite good. He’s got some friends here right now and they are out seeing the sights, they are friends of his that he has known since preschool, which I think is cool because that’s how many of my friendships are.
The party last night was an engagement party, kind of weird to be going to one of those. Like is this where we will be in 4 years? Going to our friends engagement parties? These are all of her college friends and she got like 3 wedding invitations since I have gotten here. And I don't know why I assumed when people got to the age where they are getting married and had real jobs they got all responsible and stuff. But this "engagement party" was just a bunch of people hanging out, drinking really good fancy beer and having a blast. So the future looks bright. I don't know if I was expecting a magical transition into adulthood, but believe it or not there isn't one.
Today we went to the bike co op which was like a warehouse with 5000ish bikes. It was nuts. They fix them up and sell them, I couldn’t find one I liked so I refrained but John bought a bike but then feel over and randomly twisted his ankle really bad so I may have his to ride for 3 weeks. After the bike shop we got Gelato from Cafe Gelato. If you didn't know Gelato is Italian for expensive ice cream. Apprently it was named best Gelato in the city and it was reallllllllly good.
And that’s it up until this moment right now.
In the near future I plan on going to the lake cause its really nice out today.
Looking forward to seeing Kevin and Sunny and the Joshua Radin Concert on the 30th.
Everybody is welcome to visit, and stay as long you like. FREE PARKING AWAITS YOU! That’s right, its free. My biggest concern about visitors was the cities 20$ a night parking structures, but the neighborhood near mine is free and mine is free for you guys, its cost me about 5 bucks to get a stack of 15 passes that are good for 24 hours each. So you could park for 2 weeks for 5 bucks!
I love and miss you all.
Case