Remember This?

Sure won't be any snowy trees hanging around anymore.

It's Spring!

All of Chicago was smiling today. It was 76 degrees and everyone came outside to play and celebrate that spring is finally here. Walking down the street, every eating establishment was serving people outside. Diners, cafes, coffee shops, fancy restaurants; you name it, they were buzzing. Even the Chipotle my friend Jenn and I ate lunch at had it's giant windows open to let in the beautiful day.

I was tricked two weeks ago into thinking spring had come. There were two gorgeous days of sundresses and sandals, then bam. Snow. Not fun snow either. Slushy snow that pelted you in the eye. I was afraid to get too excited about the weather (in case Pelty Snow McGee decided to come back) but the locals confirmed. It's Spring!

Lady killa

Watch out ladies: there is a very suave man on the loose.  I'm not sure how he found me but I received this very tempting facebook message today from an unknown user:

Hi I am Saleem I want To Friend Ship With U Because U are a Very cute And Gorgeous So Cute

What he lacks in syntax, he makes up for with Enthusiastic Capitalization... I think he may be the one.

Belly Dancing

I had my first belly dancing class today.  It was super fun and I am excited about it.  All the ladies were very nice and no one seemed insulted by the sight of my jiggling ass, so I think I've found life long friends.

In fact, they even recommended a part of town where I can get one of those pretty, noise making waist scarves that will more then likely draw even more attention to the aforementioned jiggling ass.  

The class is taught at Old Town School of Folk Music, which (as luck would have it) is not actually in Old Town.  I live in Old Town, so the surprise commute was a bit of a let down, but that aside, it is a very cool school.  They teach everything cool there.  Dancing of all styles, music of all instruments, all ages are welcome.  I really dug the place.

Sketch vs Life

So, I’m in a sketch for my acting class called “Pictionary” and it’s a classic Second City sketch that everyone loves and is very famous, but here is the thing: I don’t think it’s funny.  I’m trying.  I’ve read it many times, I’ve watched it several times and I am now performing it in class but it has never summoned more then a couple chuckles from me.

I think the reason everyone loves this sketch so much is because everyone relates to it.  The sketch is about two couples having a game nigh.  The girls are happy because they are kicking butt and the guys are pissed cause they are losing and they argue and take things way to seriously.  Everyone has been in this situation before so most people can laugh at the fact that it’s just like game night with their family only funnier…

I think this may be where the disconnect is for me:  My family is crazy.  Though the characters in the sketch are admittedly quite bonkers, they cannot top my family.  Listening to two characters argue will simply never have the same comedic affect as hearing Uncle Jason insist (for the millionth time) that he “invented this game first.”  He has a bone to pick with everyone from the creators of Monopoly to the creators of Tic-Tac-Toe.  Run Mattel, run while you can.

Top Ten Pieces of Evidence that I Suck at Naming Things:

10)   At six years old I wanted to name my dog Pocahontas

9)      I usually don’t title my songs until someone requests one; then I just use the name they call it by.

8)      When AIM was cool, my screenname was an AC/DC reference no one got and that I am too embarrassed to state.

7)      At five years old I named my bird (who still lives at my parents house) Princess Tweety Bird

6)      I named this blog “A Californian in Chicago” thinking it was a clever and obvious homage to “An American in Paris”

5)      The title of every sketch I have written for my sketch writing class thus far has the word sketch in the title

4)      The title of this list could be much more concise

3)      I consistently call any group or team I am a part of “Team Awesome”

2)      My iTunes has approximately 350 untitled tracks on it

1)      Whatever the hell I named the document file for my midterm was so not memorable I can’t even find it!

 

Dear Chicago

Dear Chicago,

I am laying awake using wireless internet on my laptop that must be plugged in at all times to distract myself.  I have been gazing dreamily out my window at you for the last half hour.  You are beautiful.  You’ve completely romanced me, Chicago, you old rascal you.  I’m looking at your streets glowing slightly orange and your sky threatening to snow, and I feel wooed. 

My instinct is to be in the moment; I don’t want to think, Chicago.  If I’m having a good time and you’re having a good time, everything is as it should be; we’ll figure things out as they come.  It would be fine by me to just have a blast and then when it’s time for me to go home we can talk.  And then I’m sure one of these things will come up: Chicago, maybe this just is what it is.  I’ll go back to California and  I’ll see you around, maybe for a layover or a visit.  We’ll smile at each other and say “We’ll always have Illinois!”  Or maybe, Chicago, the timing is just not quite right yet, and I’ll go home for a while and then later, when I’m ready to leave home and you have an apartment open up that is magically affordable and wonderful, we’ll see if we want to give things a shot.  But just maybe, Chicago, our adventure isn’t over.  Maybe I should just stay put and let everything else sort itself out so we can keep having fun. 

I’m thinking aloud at this point, Chicago.  I’m not going to know the answers for a while, but I am starting to doubt my ability to make this decision alone, so I’m just throwing this out there.  Letting you know what is going on in the back of my mind.  I don’t want you thinking too hard about it though.  For now, I’m going to soak you up and we are going to have a blast.

Sweet Dreams, Chicago.