Hi loves! I feel like it’s been FOREVER since I’ve posted. It’s probably only been a couple days, but I get in the habit of “checking in” on this blog every night, and I miss it when I can’t! I’m having a blast in Chicago, but the kickass apartment my uncles hooked me up with, tragically, doesn’t have Internet. Luckily there’s a little coffee shop across the street with free wireless, but it’s a pain to not be able to blog from bed. It’s probably good for me to be separated from my addiction for a couple days, but I’m jonesing a little. Totally worth it tho. This is my view:
ANYWAY! Chicago is FABULOUS! Yesterday I did lunch with one of my uncles, then basically just relaxed in the room the rest of the day. I rented a bunch of movies. I watched the first four eps of True Blood, and now I’m hooked. I’m going to get another four tonight.
Today we had a mini family reunion. A bunch of my aunts and uncles and a few of my cousins were there (my father had thirteen siblings, so we’re a big family), and some of them I hadn’t seen in years and years. I don’t stay in very close contact with that side of the family, but I definitely belong to them. There’s no doubt that my sense of humor came from them. I can’t even explain it. I’d heard people talk about “Pasulka humor” before, but I don’t think I really appreciated what that meant until I was sitting around the table with all of them as an adult. It’s like we’re on our own planet. They’re on the same wavelength as I am in a way I’d never noticed as a child. This is absolutely my family. It feels good to know that I belong to this fantastic tribe. Here are a few pics of Tribe Pasulka from today:
Also, my cousin Nicole has a tattoo of a tire swing. It’s possibly the coolest thing I’ve ever seen in my whole life.
After I finished lunch with them, I did my very favorite thing to do in a new city: the double-decker bus tour. I’m such a sucker for those. I just LOVE them. And today couldn’t have been a more perfect day. The thing about the bus tours, though, is that the tour guides are kind of hit-or-miss. The guide I had was uber-annoying. Actually, you know what? She was uber-annoying for the first hour and a half. During the last half-hour, which was the last half-hour of her workday, she was too damn exhausted to continue being a caricature of herself and just talked to us like human beings. Then it was fine.
Here’s what I noticed, though: Chicago is architecturally mind-blowing. I never knew that. The buildings are gorgeous and creative and diverse. I’ve never seen anything like it. It’s just stunning to see them all, lined up one after another, each so unique and interesting. This is where Oprah lives:
I’ve been really impressed with the city generally. The fashion is fantastic, the people are gorgeous, the restaurants and parks and museums are all just so impressive. I was wishing I had a few more days here when I remembered I’m totally coming back in October to cheer my friend Tiffany on as she runs the Chicago marathon. (You can check out her training blog here.) So hopefully then I’ll be able to do some of the billion things I want to do but haven’t had time.
And tomorrow: I leave for the wedding! Indiana, baby! It’ll be my very first time in the state. I’m gonna pop my Indiana cherry. Soooo excited for the celebration!
So, without further ado, waaaaaay too many photos of buildings in Chicago:
