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Each year my birthday insists on reminding me how very lucky I am. I had yet another fabulous birthday weekend and was happy to have so many of my nearests and dearests on hand to help me ease into my 24th year.

We started out the evening playing board games over drinks at my favorite North Side tavern, Guthrie's and ended out the night at our old college haunt, Trader Todd's, where we danced to our hearts' content with about 3 feet of available space.

Many thanks to those who made it out!

There are more pics where those came from- if you don't have Facebook, click here to view my album!

I Was There

WHAT-A-NIGHT!

As I rode the 147 up Lake Shore, I made sure to remind myself to take it all in- take in this beautiful day in this beautiful city for this historic event. I have never been a part of something so big and so communal and SO positive. Everyone was talking to each other and bouncing around with excitement.

We got into the rally just in time to find our spot and watch the polls go up and up in our favor. We heard about Ohio in the line outside and we saw Virginia's results on the big screen...and then, without announcement or notice, up on the screen it said BARACK OBAMA ELECTED PRESIDENT.

I'm not exaggerating here- this was a top moment in my life.

From that point on it was cloud 9, pure bliss, "pinch me!". I was so surprised by the relief I felt. I expected to be ecstatic, but the relief was the primary initial feeling. FINALLY! These last eight years have been painful, stressful and incredibly discouraging. And these have been the years my generation has come into its own- we've had no choice but to be disillusioned and disheartened with our country. FINALLY- sweet, sweet relief!

It still hasn't full sunk in- the reality of it all. I can't even believe I get to say that I was there! To say I feel lucky is an understatement.

As we walked north up Michigan following THE speech, there was this feeling of community and love and (you guessed it...) hope. Every ten minutes or so a chant would start "YES-WE-CAN!" or "O-BA-MA". Totally thrilling- the best kind of celebration.

This measly blog doesn't do Tuesday night any justice. It was the real deal and I've promised myself to etch it in my memory. Here's hoping all the rest of you enjoyed the historic night as well! And to those of you that didn't...y'all just had eight years- There's a new sheriff in town.

Sign, sealed, delivered- he's ours :)

Queen of the Road

Ladies and germs, I would like to introduce you to my new bike!

It's actually a used bike, but it's new to me! I picked it up at Nearly New Bikes on Broadway and Sheridan. They take and old frame and totally update the bike, so it's...you guessed it, nearly new! It's super lightweight, which has taken some getting used to, but I love it.

I am soaking up the last few weeks/months of ride-able weather and enjoying being soooo close to the lakefront path. It's such a luxury to live so close to the lake and I'm trying to take advantage of it best I can!

My car is on the way out, so it's bike and public transit from this point on. Green transit all the way, baby!



I'm thinking of calling her my Black Beauty...

Back In Green

First off, I apologize for not posting in ages. I wish I could say it's because I'm out being outrageously fabulous and saving endangered babies, but that'd be a lie. I've just been plain old lazy. Forgive me, adoring fan(s), forgive me.

I can't remember a time recently where I've found myself on a Monday morning feeling excited about just being alive after the weekend. This euphoria is thanks to the Green Festival. Usually I'm depressed about how short the weekend is and the lame job that I return to at the start of every week, BUT not this week!

Rachael and I spent pretty much the whole weekend at the fest- volunteering and seeing the sights. I got to see two speakers- Amy Goodman of Democracy Now and John Perkins, author of Confessions of an Economic Hitman (I'm currently reading and loving it!). Amy was amazing, John was less-amazing, but still good to see and meet.

We volunteered on Saturday for Global Exchange at their store, where we worked as the wacky but endearing cashiers. The crowd loved us and so did John, our "boss" for the day. On Sunday, we were in charge of making sure each vendor cleaned up after themselves, which basically meant Rach and I walked around after the fest closed and took pictures of messy booths and wrote the offenders up- the perfect job for two judgmental ladies like us ;)

It was a wonderful and exciting environment to be in all weekend. We were surrounded by people that care- people who have dedicated their lives and careers to the greater good. Sure, there was a whole lot of green consumerism, but there were also a whole lot of causes and movements that are doing their part and making a dent. It was also pretty awesome that the cuisine was mostly vegan- no perilous searching for something just right for me- I actually had options!

Not only did I leave the weekend more informed and inspired, but I also have a new, socially concious cell-phone provider, Credo Mobile. Go to the site and see what they're all about. I'm going to talk on the phone anyway, so why not have some of the profit do some good?

Rach and I spent a long time talking to John from Global Exchange and it turns out that he's a pretty awesome guy- he's worked for non-profits his whole life, is a cancer survivor, an artist and he's does non-violence advocacy in schools. Check out his art- www.meltguns.com

Oh, and I also picked up the documentary, 9/11 Mysteries. Trust me when I say that you NEED to see this film. It blew my mind. My mom watched it last night and her mind is blown as well. I own it, so you have no excuse for not accessing it!

I encourage EVERYONE to come to the fest next year! There were tons and tons of people there just to see what it was all about. You don't have to be a tree hugger extraordinaire to enjoy and benefit from all it has to offer.





PS- I solemnly swear to blog more often!

Celebratory Snippets

What girl wouldn't want to be surrounded by beautiful men?


Gabes is Dustin's most impassioned fan.
(Damn you, Dick and Danielle! He could have been the champ!)

Twenty-three never looked so good

Hey, want to hear about my weekend? Cool.

Just this last weekend was the coldest we’ve had all year. It was disgusting. I felt like I should have been hanging out with Jack London and husky. Anyway, the cold didn’t keep me inside. In an uncharacteristic move on my part, I actually went out ALL weekend…and I’m really glad I did; it was a hoot!

Friday- I met up with Carly, Ann and Keenan for margaritas at Caesar’s. From there we headed over to SoPo (sans Carly- she’s our “mature” friend) where I happened to run into my childhood besty, Ms. Katie Nudo. We were close back in the St. Raymond days and into high school. Back in the day, we enjoyed riding bikes, passing notes and fighting over John Bopp. Anyway, it’s always good to catch up with old pals…especially when they were around during the dramatic puberty years ;)

I ended up at Carly’s, after finding myself locked out of Dustin’s (my fault!). I also made a few phone calls that I remember about 5% of. Needless to say, Saturday was painful, but STILL fun!

Saturday- Dustin and I went to see Cloverfield. I actually really liked it! I love a good destructive, creepy, “holy crap!” movie. Plus, the lead is a Columbia Theatre alum, so that’s totally cool (and he’s totally adorable!). From there I went to a party with Gabes and Keenan (aka “The Kristins”) where we knew about 1.3 people, but became fast friends after playing “slap the bag” (You don’t know what that is? Too bad!) THEN we headed over to Sedgwicks…while there, Keenan and I were talking to a guy from the party when suddenly another guy jumped out of nowhere and punched the guy we were talking to, and knocked over an exposed flame, starting a small fire and getting blood all over the floor. It was gross and scary…and we still don’t understand why it happened. Drunken fooooools!

Sunday- Ann, Gabes, Keenan and myself spent a glorious two hours at Chipolte before Gabes and Ann met up at my house where we ordered Italian and watched Bring It On Pt. 4: In It To Win It. I’m sure you caught that one as well. I like to think it’s going to be an instant classic! CHEER SMACK DOWN!

The only way to get through a job that tends to get me down is to have weekends like this one (well, sometimes I don’t need to ingest so many toxins, but still!). I love my friends and after a lame, lame, LAME past few months, it seems that things are looking up.

Oh! It’s officially t-minus 16 days ‘til I join the old ladies club and turn 23!

B-day shout out to Dustin, who joins the club today! Love youuuuuu!!!