Steak Dinner and Fireworks at Navy Pier

Catch part one of the Chicago recap here.

When we finally made it back to the car, we were completely drenched.  I had been wearing flip flops and a pretty thin shirt, so I immediately started shivering (now that I'm looking back and thinking of this, this might have been part of the reason I got sick when I returned to Cincinnati...DUH!).  Luckily our hotel was only a couple miles south in downtown Chicago (we stayed in a different hotel each night, using Marriott points Antoine had been accumulating).  Once we checked in we both got showers and started getting ready for dinner.

That night we had plans to have a nice dinner at a fancy-schmancy restaurant called Primehouse, which is part of the James Hotel.  Primehouse is an upscale steakhouse owned by chef David Burke, and it happened to be only a couple blocks from our hotel.  Last time Antoine visited downtown Chicago with his friend Cory, they went out and had an expensive steak dinner at the Chicago Chop House.  When he got home and was telling me about it and the $60+ steak he had enjoyed, I proceeded to complain that I never got to go to such fancy places.  And that the most expensive steak I'd ever had was probably from Outback.  So, this time it was my turn.  Now, in truth, fancy places like this scare me!  I worry if I'm not dressed up enough, and I always feel like they know.  They know that I'm an impostor.  That I probably makes less a year than their bus boys or their hostesses.  That, deep down, I'm a cheapskate at heart and filling up on the free bread and only drinking tap water is "my schtick".  But there's something fun about going out with your fella on a proper date and not worrying about how much it costs, but instead only focusing on having a good time.  It's a rare occasion, but maybe that's also what makes it so enjoyable.

Antoine had made reservations for 6:30pm.  We arrived a bit early and we were seated right away.  I think we got there just at the right time.  There were only a couple other tables of people and we ended up beating most of the rush and got a lot of attention from our server.  Since this was a proper date night Antoine and I decided  to go all out and instead of just getting our usually water, Antoine got a beer and I got one of their drink specials called a Wildflower.  It tasted like a flower (hibiscus and jasmine) and I love it, but it's certainly not for everyone.  For dinner we both got steak, obviously.  I got the classic Filet, which at $39, was the cheapest steak on the menu (but still the most expensive steak I've ever had).  It was delicious, like seriously worth the price tag.  Not a skimpy portion at all, beautifully cooked (medium) with a deliciously spiced, charred crust on the outside!  Antoine wanted to go for the 75 day dry aged ribeye ($65), but unfortunately they were sold out, so he got the 55 day ribeye ($62), which he said was excellent.  Then we shared three sides: the mac n' cheese (surprisingly my least favorite, it had a strange taste which I later found out was probably the veal stock in it...YUCK!!  I absolutely hate veal, not only because of the taste but also the principle of it...killing poor baby cows), truffle asiago fries (good, I was worried they were going to overwhelming but they weren't), and fresh corn with Parmesan and lemon aioli (a special that night and by far our favorite, we gobbled it up!).  By the end of the meal we were completely stuffed!

I would highly recommend Primehouse.  Our steaks were delicious; they really know what they're doing there!  And our server was amazing, he was energetic, welcoming, extremely personable, and not at all snobby!  In fact, as soon as we left the restaurant we started talking about how great the service was and began comparing it to a restaurant we had recently went to DC called Graffiato.  Graffiato is the new restaurant of recent Top Chef All Star winner Mike Isabella.  I'm a fan of Top Chef and it happened to be within walking distance of our hotel, so we decided to check it out.  The food was excellent, but we found our server to be pushy and slightly snobby.  It was one of those instances where the server is trying to get you to order more so your bill will be higher.  I don't respond well to that type of attitude, so we disregard his insistence that we get more food and settled for two plates and dessert (and A got a beer).  And by the end we were pleasantly full, but we left with his oppressive attitude lingering over our heads.  It was not pleasant.  Whereas at Primehouse our bill was probably four times what our Graffiato bill was, but the service made all the difference in the world.  We left happy (and stuffed) and ready to go watch some fireworks at Navy Pier.

In all my trips to Chicago, I had only been to Navy Pier once (with my mom and my sister).  I remember being underwhelmed, as it was very touristy.  But when Antoine said they had free fireworks every Saturday night during the summer, I was stoked.  And that night happened to be the last fireworks of the season.  I was expecting Navy Pier to be booming with people, and it was, but it still felt like it wasn't too crowded.

 The view of the city from Navy Pier is pretty cool, especially at night.  Next time I think I would like to go and take one of those Chicago architectural cruises.  There's also a special fireworks cruise that takes you out on the water so that the Chicago skyline serves as a backdrop to the fireworks.  As far as fireworks go, they were pretty standard (complete with Katy Perry's "Firework" song, of course!  Ever since that song came out it seems like it has been mandated that it be used at every fireworks display for the rest of time!).  I've seen better and I've seen worse.  But since it was free, it's definitely worth the walk to Navy Pier to enjoy some Saturday night fireworks and a churro.

The End of One Thing

I have finally emerged from my cocoon of fuzzyheadedness and can now think semi-coherent thoughts. Woot! Now, back to business...

Sunday was my last shift at Sbux. I opened, as I usually do. But since the shift that I usually opened with on Sundays (my friend Jess) had recently transferred to another store, I was left to work my last shift at Sbux with my boss, the store manager. Fine. I don't hate her like some people do at the store. Sure, she's not the best boss/manager in the world...but she's ok. We went about our open, setting things up and whatnot. We were ridiculously slow for a Sunday, but that was okay with me since I wasn't feeling well!

Then, at 8am, when the third morning person showed up I was surprised to see one of our male employees who am not particularly fond of (not because he's a guy, but because he's a young, arrogant guy who talks too loudly and thinks he's the shit when he's really not!). See, I was disappointed because I had been expecting to see the bright, shining face of my friend Liz (but apparently her and the Douche had to switch schedules for some reason). She was basically my equal, my clone at Sbux. We both had the same skill set, we made drinks with the same accuracy and speed and we both cleaned like mad women. I was somewhat anal-retentive when it came to cleaning the bar...and so was Liz; therefore we had a mutual appreciation for the others thoroughness! Only difference between the two of us, she's so ridiculously adorable it makes you sick (seriously, she's one of those young girls who can roll out of bed and without even trying look absolutely flawless) and she swears like a sailor (a very dirty, vulgar sailor). So yeah, I was a little bummed by the line up. The dude was being majorly annoying and barely anyone was coming in to distract me from his endless chattering!

But, on the plus side, while I was on one of my ten minute breaks one of the sweetest and loveliest ladies that works in the morning, Amy, came in to bring me a card, some tulips, and give me a big hug goodbye! All of a sudden I was feeling thousands of times better and I was able to tune out the nonsense coming from the 19 year old annoyance a couple feet away from me. As my shift was coming to an end I looked down at the very end of the line near our retail section and saw a familiar face. Another friend with gifts to wish me farewell. This time it was Vanessa, my closest friend at Sbux who I closed with two days during the week, every week, since probably November! We have the same sense of humor and since she started at Sbux, Vanessa and I have been pretty good friends! She had brought me a box of cupcakes she had decorated herself (she works part time at a local bakery) with frosting bows and edible gold dust, all tied together with a balloon. Don't ask me why the balloon said "It's A Girl" (that's Vanessa for you), but everyone got a kick out of it, including me! Vanessa's goodbye gifts and hugs made a somewhat sour last day a little more meaningful.

While I'm glad to be done with Sbux, to only have one job...I'll still miss it! But while it feels weird not to have to go there anymore, not to see the regulars, or my dear friends...it's been nice to just be home (especially since I've been so ill lately). Monday was the first Monday in what seems like forever that I didn't go to Sbux to work after my day job. And since I always worked Mondays and Wednesdays, tonight will probably feel just as weird. It's a strange feeling to quit something that you've been doing every week for over three years. It's strange to not have to go to that job that you've had for so long, to see those faces that you saw several times a week. I guess it's a bittersweet feeling. I know I will come to like it, especially when the weather gets nice and I can spend quality time outside with Antoine or Cheese or friends, but right now it feels like there's a slight emptiness inside me. Like I've lost a little bit of something that's been my routine for the last three years.

And while I love my day job, Sbux put me in close contact with people my own age who were on the same level I was. At the library, everyone is older than me by about ten years, except for the students (but I'm technically their superior, so it's not the same). I'm someone who doesn't make friends easily. I'm not one to start up a conversation with people, even if I want to, but at Sbux I had to come out of my shell a little bit. Where at the library I can be the recluse you know and love (hell, I work in a flippin' basement...we're basically the hermits of the library down here), Sbux made me be more social! It compelled me to gossip (in a store of almost all women), it forced me to make small talk, and the people there were, for the most part, social people who wanted to get to know me. Instead of coworkers, most of the people at Sbux were friends! When I started dating Antoine I remember going into Sbux and telling people like Amy and my boss about it. In fact, I remember working at Sbux the morning of my first date with Antoine...and telling those who were working how nervous I was, but also how excited. I will miss the memories I had there, but I won't miss the people...because I've made a pact to myself and with others like Vanessa and Amy that this isn't the last they will see of me! Just because I'm not longer working there doesn't mean I have to say goodbye completely! I've made such good friends over the years that that is just not an option.

So, goodbye second job! Hello, free time to appreciate the things I care about: Antoine, our house, our creatures, beautiful weather (when it comes) and all the great friends that I have!

Moving On...

I've always been one to embrace change, realizing that change is a good thing and things tend to happen for a reason! Well, now I feel like kicking change in the face because it's taking away my best friend. Yesterday was Amanda's last day in Cincinnati. Her and her fella packed up their apartment and moved to Indianapolis today! Yes, I know it's only two hours away from Cincinnati. And yes, I know I'm being a complete drama queen! But you know what...you can just shove it, you meanie! I'm sorry, I apologize for my rudeness...I'm a little distraught! Here, let me explain why...

It all started about 7 years ago, give or take. I was just a lonely, scared freshman at Xavier trying to figure out what the heck I wanted to do with my life (i.e. do I want to major in English or History...like it made a difference! Like your major defines you as a person!). My freshman year wasn't exactly the most enjoyable year of my life (that's putting it nicely)! I was living in a dorm, I went through 3 different roommates in one year (one of which tried to off herself via Advil...but that's a different story), and I had a full class load. I was also coming to terms with the fact that, while I had a good number of friends in high school, making friends in college wasn't that easy for me! I was shy, I avoided all the usual gathering spots of my fellow coeds (i.e. the student center and the cafeteria), and I almost never talked in class...that is, until I met Amanda.

Amanda, who was a second year transfer student from Chillicothe and also an English major, was in two of my classes...an English class and a history class. In our English class, where she sat right next to me, one day we started making conversation with one another (probably reveling with one another in the absolute kookiness of our professor). Eventually we became study partners. And then, in the summer when I mentioned that I was looking for an apartment near campus (because I couldn't stand dorm life) she mentioned that there was a two bedroom apt opening up in her building...and would I be up for a roommate!? Well, I thought to myself, this chick doesn't revolve her life around soccer and guys (roommate #1), she doesn't appear to be a cutter or mentally unstable (roommate #2), and she doesn't look like she could karate chop me into oblivion (roommate #3...the only dorm roommate I actually genuinely liked and didn't drive me nuts)..."HELL YES!".

So, that was the beginning of Amanda and I! We were roommates for four happy years. And in those four years we became fast friends. Actually we became more than that...we became HLPs (Heterosexual Life Partners...a name we coined for ourselves and others whole-heartily agreed with! We came up with it while sharing a house with a lesbian couple my Senior year at XU...when we acted like more of a domestic partnership than they did). We would go grocery shopping together, study together, I would make dinner and she would do dishes! We watched Gilmore Girls together, and I forced her to watch countless reruns of America's Next Top Model! She's the person I was with the first time I got drunk, and many times after that! We were fish parents together...to many, many fish (RIP Dustin Hoffman and David Duchovny...two of our favorites)! We traveled together...to England, Scotland, Wales, France, Colorado, etc. It was all around good times!

Two years ago, we finally parted...I moved into my own apartment in Oakley and she moved back home for a short time. Then, she came back to Cincy and got her own apartment in Clifton. Still connected at the hip, just no longer grocery shopping together, I was there when she started grad school at UC and she was there when I got both my jobs. We were there for each other to support each other in our various relationships and personal endeavors. Basically, what I'm trying to say is that my HLP has been integral part of my adult life!

We've studied abroad together: eating our peanut butter sandwiches, exploring castles, hopping on trains to Inverness and Caerphilly, playing "10 pence" (UK adapted "Quarters") in our flat with other students, walking through Green park, attempting to order a ham and cheese baguette in French without knowing what the heck we were saying, etc.

We survived the massive blizzard of '08 together. Determined not to be holed up in our apartment on Amanda's birthday we roamed around for hours playing in the snow and acting like 5 year olds!

We drove half way across the U.S. to Colorado together. We hiked in Rocky Mountain National Park together and Amanda discovered that she was a chipmunk whisperer.

We nearly suffered heat stroke in St. Louis in the middle of August together!

We've celebrated birthdays together...some good, some bad (and some where Amanda gets all creepy with her beer bottle)!

I wouldn't trade the last 7 years for anything. They've been some of the best years of my life...and Amanda's partly responsible for that! I'm going to miss having her here, just a 10 minute drive away.

At Red River Gorge on our ritual girls weekend away with my sis and her bff.

Blizzard of '08: Amanda wandering around Mariemont in the snow.

I know she'll only be two hours away, which isn't that far...but I can't help but feel scared and uncomfortable with this change. I'm sure things will be fine. But this change, this sense of not-knowing doesn't sit well with me! I miss her already, more than I can express! I feel disconnected and somewhat alone, like I'm losing a piece of my history. But if the last 7 years have taught me anything, it is that things happen for a reason and with everything there is a balance and a purpose. So, we shall see!

We Now Return to Our Regularly Scheduled Blogcast: Kindness and Karma Week

I'm a tad ashamed. I haven't been taking Kindness and Karma week nearly as seriously as I'd initially hoped! Tuesday proved to be a horribly wretched day where every little thing seemed to go wrong and then yesterday was a distraction...talk of lobsters, the making of lists and dreams of ink. But today, today I focus! And, due to my slackerness, I'm going to have to force several days of kindness into one. But I have faith that I can do it!

Following along with the Grumbles' posts I have about three days worth of kindness to catch up on...

1.) The Internet kind...doing nice things for people via the Internets. So far I've made a little bit of progress already in this department. I thanked the Grumbles for her invention of Kindness and Karma week (via a comment on her blog...my first comment on her blog), I thanked a fellow Sbuxer who switched swifts with me this week (via a Facebook message), and I put a little love note up on my mom's Facebook wall. It's crazy how just doing those minute things has improved my own mood and made me feel even cheerier!

2.) As for the real kind of kindness or being kind to people, namely strangers, in real life...I'm working on that. This is a tricky one for me, as well as for the Grumbles, since I'm usually not one who would approach a stranger and talk to them...ever! However, I do have some stuff in the works for non-strangers. Some of that will occur this weekend and other things will happen tonight and tomorrow (stuff like little love notes and phone calls to my parents, who I haven't talked to lately because I've been so busy). And as far as the stranger thing goes, I guess I'll wait for an opportunity to present itself and see if I have the guts to follow through!

3.) Onto the importance of keeping it in perspective, or remembering what exactly you're trying to do here and not get wrapped up in all the messy stuff, which, as I've stated, is harder than you think. But...I'm taking care of that right now! I realized I was a moron and got too wrapped up in all those shitty little problems and forgot the bigger picture, and now I'm acknowledging my moronicity (I know that's not a word...except now it is...BOOM)!

So, I'm going to re-watch the pale, blue dot video and remember why I wanted to participate in this K&K week to begin with! Now I'm going to leave you to do some kindness for myself and for others! And if you want to join in of the kindness-fun remember it doesn't take much to make a person (including yourself) smile...so give it a try!

A Love Story: Part 2

Where did I leave off? Oh yeah, Antoine and I were at the stage where we were both giddy at the sight of an email from the other (although, I should say, "the early part of that stage", because I think it lasted like 6 to 8 months). So, after about a month or a month and a half of emailing pretty regularly the topic of meeting each other came up. Now, I should note that part of the headline of my Craigslist personal ad/post described me as "shy", which I am, to some extent. In H.S. I was voted shyest girl in my class, however my friends scoffed at that, saying I was anything but shy. See, I'm the type of person who takes a while to warm up. I'm generally quiet when I first meet someone, but once I'm comfortable then I'm a horse of different color! And in truth, my shyness has gotten better. In college, I think it might have been at its worst. I disliked bars and parties, because the idea of talking to someone I didn't know made me a little nauseous (that might be why I was single?) and in class I generally went unnoticed by my fellow students and by my teacher (which I believe, was often to my benefit).

So, I was shy, and Antoine knew that (plus he knew my lack of experience in the realm of dating and guys) so he was prepared to move super slow. But after about a month of emailing I was expecting to hear him mention meeting up, and as much as that would have terrified me I must admit that I was itching for it! Finally, he casually (as he usually does) asked if I would want to go to a movie with him and some of his friends. Now, that's really not the ideal first date, a movie with not only the guy you're meeting for the first time, but also a group of his friends whom you've never met. The idea of it made my shy little heart jump out of my chest! I declined, not because I was nervous (at least, not entirely), but because they were going to a really late show and I had to be up before 6am to get ready for work. So I waited for a reply that suggested an alternative meet-up plan, but no such plan was proposed. So I waited a couple days (which seemed like weeks) and I finally mustered the courage to ask if we could finally meet. I think Antoine was a bit shocked by my asking, but I think pleasantly surprised as well.

So we coordinated our schedules and picked a day for our first date! At this point I think I was a ball of nerves, but at the core I was just excited. So the day of the first date came, I got home from work, I might have gotten a shower and got ready for the second time that day, except this time I was a little fancier (aka I put on a blouse instead of a t-shirt). I think Antoine was supposed to pick me up around 6:30pm or 7pm, but I remember being totally ready an hour or so before he was supposed to get there (that's just how I am). I knew we were getting dinner, where, I didn't know (he wanted it to be a surprise). But besides dinner I had no idea what the date would involve (and yes, several people knew I was going out with him and expected phone calls from me when I returned to make sure I was okay [you know, in case he was a serial killer or something]). So, I was all primped (as primped as I get, I might have even put a little eye shadow on!) and ready to go, so I started waiting for him to arrive. My eyes shifted between the clock on my wall and out the window to my driveway. The pick up time came and went...he was 5 minutes late, 10 minutes late, 15 minutes, 20 minutes (and here's about the time I went from being calm, thinking maybe he got lost, to angry at the possibility that I was being stood up). 45 minutes later I heard a knock at the door. Yes, that's right folks, he was 45 minutes late!! But that's Antoine for you, he is perpetually late (although he's gotten better about it). It is surprising however, how a knock on the door can melt away all that anger and the excitement can just go over you in a wave.

So, here's the part where the mystery date is revealed...I open the door to find a worried, slightly sweaty, VERY nervous Vietnamese guy wearing a slight puppy-dog expression (I love that face he makes!) and a horrible beige polo (he hasn't worn it since because he knows how much I don't like it) and khakis. Not what I had imagined, but I flashed a smile and said "hi" while he apologized for being so late. He nervously opened the passenger door of his car for me and I suddenly felt very calm. The rest of the night progressed like this, me astonishingly calm and talkative and him supremely nervous...it was definitely a first for me!