The Windy City

Quote of the week: 

  "Heeaath, I feel it would be in your best interest to take out the trash." -Jill

So the last few days have been great. The weather is fabulous and as Jill proclaims the city really is cleaner and nicer than NYC:) Sorry Rachel:) I say that sitting in a cafe listening to people, some who look like they have come right off the street read short stories and poetry as well as preach about their political views....hmm maybe Madison, WI will be different :P

What made the last few days great would have to be my dad coming to visit. I haven't seen him in a while and Im glad he came to visit from Guatemala (he is the crazy one sailing to South America and back). We had a nice time grabbing dinner at the Italian Village, downtown up on the third floor.  It was lovely and I got to take the chocolate mousse home, Yum! We had breakfast this morning before he had to head back home and spend some time on the east coast. 

After the visit, as I said we were to go sing some karaoke. Well in good Blumenthal fashion I cant say it went that smoothly:) When i returned Jill told me that their friend Cannon, who was supposed to be acquiring the limo for the people celebrating, was stuck in Andersonville (lesbian hangout of Chicago:) because the limo had broke down.  So we had to go bring tools and water and rescue him.  So we were off-after a quick 'nature break' of course. Sorry Cannon! :) Yeah, background on the 'Limo': Its circa 1980's, a 'classic' really, complete with a nice rusted blue and dented silver complexion, It comes complete with original 5 inch TV and hand crank sunroof (j/k). Now you ask, Why would they bother to purchase such a piece of art? Well its because it was a picture car! Yup a car used in the show "My Big Fat Obnoxious Boss". Sweet right? I know! 

  So we arrive to find Cannon in the back, alone, with a cooler of Miller High Life.  Spotting the beverage Jill and I 'rested' in the limo as the boys got to work.  Heath had to use my screw driver (thanks Jerry:) to pry open the hood...oooo so ghetto. Fitting the 2x4 just right to hold up the hood they tried their best.  They quickly returned to the back because we were told that we all had to wait for Zhenia.  Now if you ask me or Jill why we were waiting, we couldnt answer-I have no clue-but we did, for a while- We played your classic car ride games-'im going on a picnic' and 'I spy' then it quickly gravitated toward improv games and Jill's question game.  Zhenia arrives on this motorcycle and we explained the problem. Then they went to start it and the battery was dead. So they tried to jump it using the motorcycle battery-no use-we backed Jills car up to the limo and jumped it again- It started! quick close the hood and lets go! 

Everybody gets driving to drop the limo off and get to the party.  We park the limo and i ask the simple question of "hey, where is my screw driver?" "Shit, i dont know-did you check the car?" "yeah not there" "huh, um, im gonna have to guess that, yup its in the hood of the limo" "Son of a *@#$" "How do we get it out if we used it to open the damn thing in the first place?" Well thank god Heath had 3ft long crow bar lying around. Not to mention a thank god the screw driver was still in there and not dropped along the highway! Jerry would have cried at the thought of my being without tools:) 

After that we drove to the bar-i will skip the part about getting lost-im sure you can imagine it:) We finally walk up to the door to find everyone outside hugging and parting. Figures. No drinks, No singing, No Korean. But you know what? I was cool with it-Just not meant to be and besides I was a little too tired to hop up on stage and start whaling it out to Brittnay's "Im a Slave". 

So instead we took pictures of the would be karaoke experience before we headed back home to chillax. So here are some pics:

 Julia 'Jill'  Heath "Heeef"  n Jill 

 Cannon, me, Jill n Heath

Zhenia sneaking beverage

Well stay tuned...

Chicago

Soon after I arrived and had a chance to relax after that long drive, Jill and I headed out to Cleo's one fo the many neighborhood bars to meet up with some friends and celebrate a birthday.  It was fun, though I didnt last long, I soon became addicted to bubble popper, a game on Jill's phone and then was up all night:) 

   The next morning, having reset my clocks-crazy what an hour time change does to you!-We headed out to return some props used on a film Jill was working on.  I have never been to a prop house and I was told this was one of the best! 

But before we could return the props of course we had to put them on and snap a few photos, so here is Jill modeling the rocket launcher and 2 handguns:) 

Knowing what guns in the movies are actually made of, my respect and devotions to violent, shoot'em up films is ruined. :)

After the return we visited Jill's friend Trent's house and I took a few shots of the city view from his roof. 

Then we visited his vintage clothing store call Knee Deep and I contemplated a bright red sequence filled 80's prom dress. Check out the store at www.kneedeepvintage.com

We hung out a a cafe called the Swim Cafe (b/c its across from a swimming pool).  There was a tornado that came through here Monday and knocked out power, so Jill's internet was all busted from the surge.  We had some fabulous panni and updated blogs or searched for jobs, in her case:) 

We came home to chill and watch some fabulous specials on China. Later we went out to a different Cleo's to have $5 pizza! I met a bunch of her friends and we ended up hanging out back at there place till like 4am! Aaa the life! 

Today is Friday and I got my hair cut just a little-gotta keep the ends clean:) Then we got my 'Fit-Fit' Cherry a nice wash and towel dry. Having driven over 1500 mi. she was covered in bug guts and goo...i should have taken a picture! so she is doing much better all shiny and red! 

Tonight we have plans for Karaoke in a Korean bar...it will be my first karaoke experience, wish me luck! Pictures to come of course:) 

The Road to Chicago!

Vermilion, OH on Lake Erie :) 

Lake Erie! Private Beach

The Railroad tracks that run all along the Lake.

After Leaving the Days Inn, full of raisin Bran and cheese danish, I drove up to Lake Erie through Vermilion, OH.  Although most of the state is flat farm land, the lakeside was really nice. There were bike paths, no point for poor old bikeless me:(, cute shops and cafes too.  Swimming and boating all over, but I decided to head out on the 5 hour drive to Chicago rather than take a dip - I figured swimming in Lake Michagan would feel the same:)

 Only 223 miles to go!!

Crossing the Thomas Edison Bridge in Sandusky, OH

   Aaa the Beautiful, Flat, Corn filled, Flat, smells like cow poop, fields of Indiana and Ohio!

Well with only an hours time change I arrived in Chicago! Phew!

Pictures of Gettysburg

The Honda Fit at Gettysburg


Where Lincoln Gave the Gettysburg Address

Known Graves-I believe Pennsylvania soliders
Unknown graves
Unknown
Battlefield
Battle field (and a beautiful farm in the background)

On the road again

Aaaa the 80's are back!!
So after a day and two nights in Philly i must press on.  Thank you to Laura and Brian for having me, and a special thanks to Milo and Simon for the cuddling, 'kissing', and serenading:)Meow!

Here's a 'day in the life' of Milo and Simon (or just the most important time SNACK TIME!):  

that is one BIG kitty!!

After grabbing a muffin and chai from Mugshots I packed up and set the GPS for Harrisburg to visit.....

Yup walmart:) I had to get my prescriptions and some snacks...you have to stretch that $30/day! 

So as I set the GPS for Lorain Ohio (I chose it b/c its half way to Chicago and on Lake Erie) I realized I would be going right by Gettysburg. Having taught US History for two years I figured I had to go see a part of history I had liked so much.  So a detour was made.  A quick 45 minutes and I was driving through historic Gettysburg.  I found the National cemetery and parked.  It was just misting out, which made it great for walking.  I visited the site of the Gettysburg Address and stood where Lincoln stood! It was great, made me wish I had had a field trip here.  I walked through the cemetery, then across the street to the battlegrounds (one of many).  I finished with a driving tour around the whole area.  It was a great detour and wonderful chance to experience some history too.  Gettysburg Pictures to come...

Setting my GPS to Lorain, Ohio I set off on Highway 30 and drove through the mountains of western Pennsylvania. It was a much more beautiful drive than some big, faster highway:) I saw some great signs and had some amazing views, not to mention drove through a small mountain (probably a hill really:) so here are some more pictures:

          I love this sign!       

I stopped for gas a few times and just couldnt resist prices like this...

                   

I know its crazy! 

So another ThAnK yOu!!! to Rebecca for chatting with me tonight and helping me find a hotel to crash in.  So I am writing you from a Days Inn in Amherst, Ohio.  Tomorrow i am looking forward to my continental breakfast (included of course:) and then a quick trip north to see Lake Erie before i continue out to Chicago to see Jill, just another fabulous MHC improver:) 5 hour drive here i come! 

Goodbye New York

Well its been over a week and for the most part i really loved it. Maybe ill come back, get a nannying job (make mad $$) and start a masters...who knows:) 

   

 I packed up my bags and as Rachel and I walked to my car I realized my bike was STOLEN last night.  Fuck. I had had it locked with two locks to the car and it had been there perfectly fine ALL WEEK!.

     So now I have no bike.  I spent time and money getting it all ready to go and got to use it twice.  So if you are in NYC look for a yellow and black Trek with front shocks and a Mount Holyoke College ID sticker.  :( 

 This is how i should have had my biked locked i guess...

    So after a large order of frozen yogurt at Pinkberry (the place of gods! Go there you HAVE to!) I head out of the city to Philedelphia to visit Laura and i guess start a "Nikki needs a bike" fund.  I probably wont bother to find one until Colorado, just to play it safe.  And even then I'll be buying a giant bike chain. 

   Sorry to say that one experience soured me to the city, its hard to live in a place where you cant trust the people around you. I knew there would be something that would happen to help me keep going on this journey and not stop before I really started.  

temple and shopping

   So I hung out with Rachel all day Friday met her cousin and went to work with her.  I got to see the door to Jimmy Fallon's penthouse!! Grabbed some food, did a quick errand run and then I had to run home and change for Temple.  

   The service was really good and it was nice to go, since I haven't been in so long. Thanks Melissa for answering my random religion questions!  I think I could live off of challah bread by the way:) Afterwards we all grabbed dinner and drinks at The Heights in the upper westside where I got 'drunk' off limeade:)   The spicy tortilla chips were crazy hot!

   

 Saturday Molly and I went shopping.  After a late breakfast (yeah challah french toast!), we went around town buying some essentials. Then off to china town! We stopped at Starbucks for a 200 calorie beverage (yeah, its now law in the state of New York to post calories for everything!! I quickly became a little obsessed) then off to find the perfect purse!! We wandered for a while but with no luck. We stopped so I could eat $1 dumplings! Then we tried again...found something we liked and asked for a different color....then hit the gold mine.  We were taken to a back room where we found the most amazing collection i have ever seen! Prada to Fendi we were in heaven!  And with just a little bargining we went home champions!! I love New York! 

   Got home to have dinner with Rachel and Gina and then had a great tarot reading too! Thanks Gina :) 

     Going to hang our with my friend Chris tonight, he is going pre-med, crazy kid! so ill be catching him between midterms and finals:) So its off to alphabet city!