A long, slow week is halfway to its close, but by this time next week I’ll be relaxing with the fam at Callaway Gardens for our annual summer family reunion. Callaway-time always means that summer is at least halfway over (if not more) which is a scary thought. The older I get, the faster it goes and the less I feel like I get done before it’s time to change schedules again.

A loooonngggg time ago (as in, 10 years) summers were very different: school was out, life was an open plain ready and waiting to be explored, time was endless and easily wasted. It didn’t matter the day or the time — it was summer. And then, after what felt like a million weeks of doing anything and everything my young imagination could contrive, the summer would begin to drag. Endless free time became boring, and my naive, unhampered mind was eager to return to school. Don’t get me wrong, I’m still very eager to return to school these days (ie now that I’m *old*) Call it a personal flaw, but I really enjoy the whole striving for excellence and further education thing. Either way, summer is still quite different. I dread the day that summer might lose its magic altogether, its effervescent promises of freedom and carelessness, its spontaneity, warmth and whimsicality.

Conclusion: Guess I’ll have to be a school teacher after all.

My recent trip to Chicago has made me realize how very little I know about my hometown of Atlanta and the wonders it has to offer. Living north of the downtown area probably has the most to do with it, but I’ve decided that I really should dedicate at least a little bit of time to getting to know the various (if not vast) aspects of entertainment that this bustling southern metropolis has to offer.

Perusing the Atlanta version of Daily Candy has given me a heads up on some of the more recent trends in the area, such as the opening of a new Thai restaurant SybDee on 10th street downtown. Sounds like a promising dinner prospect and perhaps while I’m in the area I could visit the Margaret Mitchell House for a little history lesson, or the RetroModern store for some fun home-furnishings browsing. Although the Atlanta transit system (MARTA) is not quite as convenient as the rail system in Chicago, there’s free parking outside the Margaret Mitchell House, so we’ll save a little with that!

Back to work and sick . . .

Chicago was amazing and I was sad to leave, but I suppose it’s best to leave wanting more.

And I’ve decided that the countdown has offical begun:

Time until I leave for Italy

Sunday, August 27, 2006

In Chicago and LOVING IT!

Activities have included:

Riding lots of trains (ie the El and Metra…back and forth back, and forth…not complaining )

Walking through the Taste of Chicago festival and down to Navy Pier (all the while acquiring a nasty sunburn in the lovely v-neck shape of my shirt)

Eating lots of great food: Thai, Indian, Irish (really just a burger at an “Irish” pub), French, Mexican, McEneely fare….and some superb grits

Shopping – Purchases so far: new makeup (after a very educational “make-over” at the Clinique counter); dress ( I love forever21) and a blue bead necklace

Walking (it’s good for ya, right?)

Visiting a church – Pilgrim Lutheran (www.pilgrimchurchandschool.org) – interesting, but definitely not one to keep on the list

Being amazed at the “other side” of Chicago — this city never ceases to impress (it has it’s downsides to be sure, but all in all not a bad place to be)

And more to come!

I’m going to bake cookies tonight. I’d give you the recipe, except that it’s taken me years to perfect it and I’m not about to hand out that sort of blood, sweat and toil in a measly xanga post . . .**

I started packing for my big trip to Chicago last night and realized that I may be one of the few people on earth who starts packing days (or even months) ahead of time. This is my way of getting excited. And yes, I already have a suitcase started for Italy. But I can only take one suitcase! I have to start now or else I would be so overwhelmed in August that I wouldn’t have the time to maximize such minimal packing space. The point is, I’m excited to be heading up to Chicago for the weekend. Can’t wait to see all the lovers and friends I’ve been missing since school got out!

**I actually just found the recipe online sooooo you could probably find it too if you made the effort. 🙂

A) Me + sleeping on couch = crick in neck + Advil = Gone

B) Me + Coffee = * AWAKE *

C) June 27 + 2 months = Me leaving for Italy

D) June 27 + 3 days = Me going to Chicago!

A + B + C + D = All in all not a bad start to the day

(And you thought I wasn’t good at math  . . .  )