This week has been terrible. Icky bad nasty sad terrible. I wanted to spend most of it crying, but it was not the kind of week that could be spent hiding, it was the kind where I had to keepittogether, keep my head down and just get through it.
That being said. Here are five things that were wonderful and amazing this week:
1- My coworker friends introduced me to Protein Bar, if I had the audacity to call myself a lifestyle blogger, I would eat here at least twice a week and just cover my instagram in pictures of it happening. Oh my buffalo quinoa bowl. It is so good.
2- It was flip flop day! Thursday was my favorite day of the year. The day I finally wear flip flops. Oh Chicago warm weather, I missed you so much. Don't ever, ever, ever leave.
3- I got to celebrate the last friday-before-good-friday by eating fish fry al fresco with some of the nicest people in Chicago, with special guest appearance by my favorite Chi-town baby who charmed us all with her blowing raspberries and bouncing and giggling and snuggling until my heart almost burst. That little bundle of love is the cure for nearly all my sadness.
4- Boyfriend liked it so he put a down payment on it. He officially owns our apartment. Its his celebration, but I am excited for him. He is part of the landed gentry! So classy and fancy. Let's hope nothing ever breaks.
5- Tomorrow I am going to forego spending my entire day in the beautiful 75 degree weather for an amazing IOP Political TV Festival at the University of Chicago. Six hours with some of my besties including Josh Lyman, Toby Ziegler and Cyrus Beene. Its tots sold out, so just hang out in the sun and be jealous of this crazy line-up.
That was not that hard, although it was heavy on the end of the week. I am thankful I got through the first three days because the rest of the week was pretty nice. And after a great Saturday, Sunday is going to be pretty amazing too.
Showing posts with label West Wing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label West Wing. Show all posts
Friday, April 11, 2014
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Four more years
I think my love of voting stems from watching too much West Wing as a teenager, and assuming that if I voted enough times eventually Jed Bartlett would be president and Allison Janney would be my friend and everything would be perfect.
It hasn't turned out that way - but voting is still one of my most favorite things to do. Up until this year, I voted absentee in every election, which is fun and convenient, but does not really hold a candle to actual voting. Which is why I am probably one of the only 26-year olds who gets truly amped to head to my polling place.
And! In the past four months I've gotten to vote in two different elections! And they're not your run of the mill elections either, I am responsible for picking the first mayor in approximately 4 billion years who doesn't have the last name Daley. Apparently, this is huge. I've only been here for five years, but people say he was mayor when the only constituents were cave people, and his Dad was mayor of the Dinosaurs. The Dinosaurs!
The last election did not turn out so great - because we apparently live in a country/state where everyone has lost their goddamed mind, or just quit cold turkey on caring about anything. This was all fun and good in November when I could just be morose about the future, but now the future is here and I am angry. For a million bajillion reasons, but mostly just - I am angry that people don't realize that they caused this...this funding of what's really important (NASCAR) and this refusal to fund the fluff stuff (Planned Parenthood, NEA, blah blah thing) - wait, strike that. Reverse it.
Not voting in America is kind of like not drinking in Canada or another ex-British colony (or really anywhere in Europe). They practically give the booze away when you're, like, a toddler, and you stick your nose up at it? Wait, what? Why? There is really no reason. "Oh, I'm not drinking because it'll take time out of my busy day of playing on facebook." "I'm not voting because if I have one ballot I'll have to work out twice this week."
Anyway - so I'm all voted. And I will be totally honest - I did not have time to make a fully informed and educated choice in my alderman election, which is distressing because its pretty important, but I was busy moving and knew that almost anyone would be an improvement over the current alderman. So I voted with the person who had the funniest sign in their campaign headquarters window -
I do feel like I made the best choice for mayor. Its distressing to know that the person you're voting for has no chance of winning, but refreshing to vote for someone who has ideals that you agree wholeheartedly with (also - he's the ONLY person running who has not been or is not still a criminal - stay classy Chicago).
But none of it really matters - what matters is I did it. Its so awesome that we live in a place where you get to vote. And if you don't think that's true, look at the people all over the world who are fighting for that right, right now.
It hasn't turned out that way - but voting is still one of my most favorite things to do. Up until this year, I voted absentee in every election, which is fun and convenient, but does not really hold a candle to actual voting. Which is why I am probably one of the only 26-year olds who gets truly amped to head to my polling place.
And! In the past four months I've gotten to vote in two different elections! And they're not your run of the mill elections either, I am responsible for picking the first mayor in approximately 4 billion years who doesn't have the last name Daley. Apparently, this is huge. I've only been here for five years, but people say he was mayor when the only constituents were cave people, and his Dad was mayor of the Dinosaurs. The Dinosaurs!
The last election did not turn out so great - because we apparently live in a country/state where everyone has lost their goddamed mind, or just quit cold turkey on caring about anything. This was all fun and good in November when I could just be morose about the future, but now the future is here and I am angry. For a million bajillion reasons, but mostly just - I am angry that people don't realize that they caused this...this funding of what's really important (NASCAR) and this refusal to fund the fluff stuff (Planned Parenthood, NEA, blah blah thing) - wait, strike that. Reverse it.
Not voting in America is kind of like not drinking in Canada or another ex-British colony (or really anywhere in Europe). They practically give the booze away when you're, like, a toddler, and you stick your nose up at it? Wait, what? Why? There is really no reason. "Oh, I'm not drinking because it'll take time out of my busy day of playing on facebook." "I'm not voting because if I have one ballot I'll have to work out twice this week."
Anyway - so I'm all voted. And I will be totally honest - I did not have time to make a fully informed and educated choice in my alderman election, which is distressing because its pretty important, but I was busy moving and knew that almost anyone would be an improvement over the current alderman. So I voted with the person who had the funniest sign in their campaign headquarters window -
back story - there was a rash of window breaking in campaign offices back in the Fall. I like that this guy had a sense of humor about it. If nothing else, this ward full of gang violence, mismanagement of public funding, and disaster-crap needs a little humor - and probably more cops (also he kind of looks like Colin Firth).
I do feel like I made the best choice for mayor. Its distressing to know that the person you're voting for has no chance of winning, but refreshing to vote for someone who has ideals that you agree wholeheartedly with (also - he's the ONLY person running who has not been or is not still a criminal - stay classy Chicago).
But none of it really matters - what matters is I did it. Its so awesome that we live in a place where you get to vote. And if you don't think that's true, look at the people all over the world who are fighting for that right, right now.
Sunday, January 23, 2011
dressy dresses - UPDATED
My lovely friend T-bone is getting married in June, and she very sweetly asked me to stand up for her.
I am excited to get to share this day with her for a butt load of reasons, and one of them was - I like the opportunity to buy a new dress.
I know that most girls have horror stories about having to purchase bridesmaids dresses - and I totally empathize with them - its a crappy scene. I seriously (seriously) do not understand why David's Bridal insists on making their dresses different than normal people dresses. If I wear a four or a six in Every Single Other Brand then Why (oh Why) do I wear an eight at the DB? It basically just complicates things and ruins people's lives. And most of what you find is just boring.
T-bone and my bestie Beans (who got married two Septembers ago) have both been amazing about bridesmaid dresses. Some vague ideas about what they want but in general fairly low key and just wanting their bridesmaids to be comfortable and feel good.
Anyway, in looking for a dress for T's wedding I came across this amazing website - LaRoux's Closet. I bought my bridesmaid's dress AND my rehearsal dinner dress (both of which I will probably wear a zillion times before they wear out) and in total (including shipping) it cost $80, for both! They are both pretty casual - but the bride loves them, and so do I. Win. Win.
LaRoux's deal is they want to give you a good deal - and I think that's awesome. I think that deserves a sweet blog plug and so here it is. I wish I had bought a few more things but I am hoping that they'll be around for awhile.
AND AND AND as if this bomb ass website could get any better - I have a referral code, which means if you decide to order stuff drop the code "rgrandi" at check out and I'll get LaRoux cash to buy more adorable things. E'rrrebody Wins!
Anyway - blogs about my epic devastation at the bears loss to come later.
I am excited to get to share this day with her for a butt load of reasons, and one of them was - I like the opportunity to buy a new dress.
I know that most girls have horror stories about having to purchase bridesmaids dresses - and I totally empathize with them - its a crappy scene. I seriously (seriously) do not understand why David's Bridal insists on making their dresses different than normal people dresses. If I wear a four or a six in Every Single Other Brand then Why (oh Why) do I wear an eight at the DB? It basically just complicates things and ruins people's lives. And most of what you find is just boring.
T-bone and my bestie Beans (who got married two Septembers ago) have both been amazing about bridesmaid dresses. Some vague ideas about what they want but in general fairly low key and just wanting their bridesmaids to be comfortable and feel good.
Anyway, in looking for a dress for T's wedding I came across this amazing website - LaRoux's Closet. I bought my bridesmaid's dress AND my rehearsal dinner dress (both of which I will probably wear a zillion times before they wear out) and in total (including shipping) it cost $80, for both! They are both pretty casual - but the bride loves them, and so do I. Win. Win.
LaRoux's deal is they want to give you a good deal - and I think that's awesome. I think that deserves a sweet blog plug and so here it is. I wish I had bought a few more things but I am hoping that they'll be around for awhile.
AND AND AND as if this bomb ass website could get any better - I have a referral code, which means if you decide to order stuff drop the code "rgrandi" at check out and I'll get LaRoux cash to buy more adorable things. E'rrrebody Wins!
Anyway - blogs about my epic devastation at the bears loss to come later.
Monday, January 03, 2011
one two three four
JED [walking away] Numbers, Mrs. Landingham. MRS. LANDINGHAM Excuse me? JED If you want to convince me of something, show me numbers!
Its true - numbers are essential. On the 31st (or the 1st - it was so long ago) I outlined my goals for the year. Gym, writing, reading. But after three days of being like, "yeah! good things!" I realized I need to make things far more concrete for myself to have any chance of getting them done.
So here it is - the numbers post.
42 books in 52 weeks. That's less than a book a week - this will probably be the hardest thing as I also have to keep up the New Yorker and such as well. I am hoping that this will also help keep me off facebook and the interwebs, except of course.
150 blog posts in 365 days. A random number, sure, but I got so close last year to 100 that I had to up the ante. Plus 42 of those posts are going to be freebies.
200 days of exercise. Exercise includes: going to the gym, yoga class, biking (at least an hour, even if its broken up throughout the day), walking more than two miles in a stretch. This will also be hard as we try to figure out where we are living and what we are doing this year. And let's be real, this is the one where at the end of the year I am going to have to spend like 50 solid days working out. One can only hope I'll have a gym membership again by then.
So here we go - for reals this time.
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