Myspace

Do any of you on myspace have a "friend" who is not really your friend, but really more of an acquaintance who posts comments all of the time? Well, I do and everytime this said person posts a comment it just makes me feel even more sorry for the person than I already did which makes me feel like a bad person.

Reference: Adventures in Babysitting

Hello fellow children of the 80s. I am sure you all have seen Adventures in Babysitting (which was filmed here in Chicago.) Well, in that movie, they accidently ended up in the bad part of town when they were running from the car thieves. They stumbled into a club where they could not leave until they sang the blues. Today, that bad part of town is now my neighborhood and it is no longer considered "the bad part" of town. About 20 years ago, my neighborhood was strictly druggies, strip clubs, and prostitutes. Actually, a little trivia is that one of Al Capone's old hideouts is 1 block south of my apartment in one my college's dorm buildings.

Anyway...

My point is that the club they were in (where she sang the blues) is called Buddy Guy's Legends (many famous people stop in when they are in town- eric clapton for example.) Fot those of you who do not know Buddy Guy, he IS the blues and I mean he is THE man of the blues. Why am I talking about Buddy Guy? Perhaps it is because I will be having dinner with him the night before graduation at the president of my college's house and the next day, I will share a stage with him. I know, I know. It is so cool!

Mrs. Henderson Presents

I watched Mrs. Henderson Presents the other day before work and I really didn't know what to expect. I hadn't even read the description. So, needless to say, I was not expecting all of the boobies. Overall the movie was good. However, if you are going to have a "R" rating and are going to show that many boobies, go ahead and have a love scene or two thrown in for fun.

More good news

Since I will now be working on my thesis project (the business plan for my gallery), I will be considered a part-time student next year and will be eligible for the Graduate Student Advisory Board for the 3rd year in a row. This is great news! Now I will get 3 out of my 6 credit hours paid for. How cool is that? Plus, I can continue working on making the Columbia College Chicago Graduate School experience the best that it can possibly be.

A rediscovered dream...

The other night for class we met at a gallery to talk to a panel of gallery owners in the Pilsen neighborhood (an up and coming arts distrct and one of my favs.)

Before I move on, I went into my graduate program with one goal- to develop a business plan for a future art gallery. I took a class to create a business plan. But, due to various factors, I ultimately put my goal on hold.

So, after the gallery talk, I was feeling the entrepreneurial spirit once again.

Yesterday, I checked my mail and I received notification that I am receiving an award from my school for the best business plan created by a graduate student. This was it. This was the catalyst that I needed. Rather than studying for a stupid 3-day exam, I am planning to participate in a graduate thesis project that results in a finalized business plan. At the completion of the project, the department will consider me for a small business loan of up to $500,000 to get me started on my way.

I feel that I have a plan and that I can be successful.

Nostalgic

Now that my graduate school career is drawing to an end, I am starting to get a little nostalgic. This is it... this is probably the last time that I will be in school. It has been a long, but overall rewarding process. My 8 years of college (undergrad and grad) have given me sure footing from which to create a career. Most of all, I have met some really great people along the way... some friends that will remain in the moment and some friends that will last a lifetime.

This all started last night when I went to Bar Louie last night after class for $1 burger night. As I sat around with my friends from school (and Jamie), I realized that this was one of those moments that I was going to remember forever. We were making a memory. If only I had a picture.

My Easter...

Today, Jamie and I were going to use our buy one, get one free coupon at Hackney's our neighborhood pub/restaurant. We got ready, I got all doozied up and we walked there only to discover that they were closed for Easter. After deliberating for a moment, we said screw it and walked home. Shortly after we arrived back to our apartment, it started raining and it hasn't stopped- I know, rain in Chicago, it is crazy... it never, ever rains here- really, I am totally serious. I think we may have accumulated 1 inch.

Eating at home was the best decision. We had Salmon Roulade, green beans and macaroni and cheese. It was delicious! The salmon was stuffed with something cheesy and spinach. Jamie sauteed the green beans in the same pan that the salmon was cooked in... we sauteed the salmon in butter and deglazed the pan in white wine. It was fantastic!

Today, I also watched Pride & Prejudice (the one with Kiera Knightly- who, frankly, gets on my nerves with all of her pouting, but surprisingly, I kind of liked her in this film.) Jane Austin books turned films are the best... especially when they are well done. They make me feel so good inside. Seriously, there is no cursing, no sex, nothing... it is wholesome fun and it is a period when holding hands is considered something like third base. I think it all of the sexual tension and all of the decency. If there is a film that is out there that is a period piece and I have not seen it, then something is wrong. What is your favorite period film?

Call me a wuss, but...

I rode my bike for 2 hours yesterday by the lake and my ass is so sore. It is not muscle sore, it is boney ass on bike seat sore... I even bought a gell bike seat cover. The elevators were out yesterday morning, so I had to carry my bike down 8 flights of stairs (don't worry, I bitched the whole way.) When we got back, the elevators were still out, so I hoofed it up the 8 flights to get home. I felt so good about my workout, that once the elevators started working again, I treated myself to Edwardo's Stuffed Pizza (yum)... If I could get off of the pizza, then I could really make progress on my path to healthiness...

Speaking of health, I feel like I need to detox my insides. I have looked into several ways to do that, but I am still unsure about where to start, any suggestions?

Where to go on vacation...

I have decided to take my comprehensive exam in the fall and to register for my internship at the museum in the fall so that I can use student loan money to pay for it (since I can't afford it at this time and with all of the drama in my life, I don't feel that I have enough time to study.) So, I am going to have enough money left over to take a vacation. The only trouble I am having is deciding where to go. If you had to take a vacation anywhere at this point in your life, where would you go? I need suggestions.

Are you a geek?

If so, you should check out this site Geekologie... I am not sure if all of it is true, but it is entertaining regardless.

If you love Perez Hilton, then...

For those of you who love Perez Hilton, then you will love The superficial.

Let's catch up...

I know, it has been forever since I last posted...

Here is what you missed...

Last Thursday, I was told that my cousin passed away from complications from her bone marrow transplant. She was told that morning that there was nothing else the doctors could do for her and that she could either go home or to hospice. She chose to go home to die, but within a couple of hours she let go. There is definitely a void in my family and my life. She was my only first cousin. The thing that pisses me off the most is that no one in my family tells me anything. So, hearing that she was gone was quite a shock. The next morning, I found out that I did not get the internship in DC. There is nothing like getting kicked when you are already down.

One good thing came from my cousin's funeral. After 2 1/2 years, I was reunited with my estranged brother. The separation is a long story... let's just say it involved alcohol, my brother, and my prudy parents. I was not there for the argument thank goodness. I was so excited to see him. I ran over and gave him a big hug and he hugged me back. I told him how much I miss him and how much Christmas sucks without him there. He now has my email address and phone number, so hopefully we will start talking again. My dad talked to him as well- I think it is a sign that he is not mad anymore. My mom, on the other hand, needs to stop being such a stubborn bitch and start talking to him again. She told my nana that once she (nana) and grandmommie die, my brother won't have anymore family left. What kind of mother says that?!?! He will have me, my aunt, my uncle, and my dad. Anywho, we had big steps taken towards being a family again at that funeral...

On a better note, yesterday, I got the internship at a major museum here in Chicago. I will be working with the Special Events department. Pretty much, I will work with the Women's Board and their events and also work on weddings. It sounds like something that is perfect for me. The uncomfortable part is telling my boss that I will only be able to work for 2 days a week (sincce I will be at the museum 3 days a week.)

Overall, things are starting to look up... even in the light of sorrow.