1 Month

I can't believe it.  Can you?  I've lived here for a month.  Just a mere notch in the belt for my 48 month stint here in the Big City.  But it's an accomplishment.  I've cooked, ironed, sewed, cleaned, shopped, eaten (tons), made a budget, worked out, gone to school, studied...I've lived and I've been able to balance what I want to do with what I need to do.  Believe it.  I've done it.

This week was an exciting week.  It has been jam-packed with many "you have to do "this" while you live in the Big City moments".  It's been great and lucky for you, I'm going to tell you all about it.

Monday the roomie and I went and checked out the Children's Hospital.  There is a Dairy Queen in there so we went to check it out.  We were sad to find out they only make blizzards.  It was lunch time and while I guess we could have eaten ice cream for lunch we opted to actually eat a meal.  We enjoyed people watching in the cafeteria...ok maybe doctor watching.  Either way it was informative and entertaining.  Yes, we did that.  Later that night we REALLY wanted some ice cream after thinking about it all day...so we went to Ted Drewes.  A staple here in the Big City.  I can't tell you how many times I've been told to go to Ted Drewes.  It did not disappoint and was better than I could have ever imagined.

The custard is so thick that they turn it upside down before they serve you to prove...it isn't coming out. I had some kind of Devil's Food cake, vanilla custard, hot fudge concoction that was AMAZING.  I'm glad I have to drive there because it means I won't go.  On a side note, if I make it out of the Big City not weighing 500 pounds it will be nothing short of a miracle.

After we went to Ted Drewes our friends came over to watch Gossip Girl.  We checked out Stub Hub and saw that tickets for the Cubs-Cards series were like $0.89-5.00.  What?!  We thought, why not...let's get some.  So we did and for $3.  So Tuesday night I saw the Cubs and the Cards play.  I had not been to the new stadium...in fact I had not seen them play since Mark McGuire was on the team. Yeah.

The game was tons of fun.  I was on a hot pursuit for some cotton candy.  Yes, my five-year-old heart was very satisfied when I found some.

I had Thai food for the first time this week.  I'm not sure why I've never eaten it...probably because there aren't any Thai places in Oxford.  I had Pad Thai.  It was very pleasing to my palate.  I didn't feel that full until I stood up.  It felt like a ten pound weight was sitting in my stomach.  Then.  Oh then.  It retaliated on me.  The worst acid reflux of my life.  It was a sad moment in my life because I realized that my dream of marrying an Indian probably was not going to work out.  (Yes, I know that Thai is not Indian) Why you ask?  I guess that's two fold.  1. I wanted the Indian marriage mainly for henna tattoos at my wedding and the whole two weddings thing...and you know I like tan men.  2. The Pad Thai was rich...not even spicy.  Indian food is spicy.  I just don't think I can handle the flavor sensations.  Yeah.  I'm sad too. 

Friday night I did probably the coolest thing I've done so far.  Every year there is a Hot Air Balloon Race in Forrest Park.  Friday night they do a Balloon Glow with a fireworks show.  We went out there and we were able to walk around all the balloons.  All the "pilots" were out with their balloons...air-horns would sound at different times and that signaled the pilots to blow up their balloons at the same time.  I'm not sure if this makes sense...here are some pictures.

It really was the neatest thing.  I really wished that I had my H(e)art's camera that night.  It would have taken some righteous pictures.  The race was Saturday.  We missed it but this giant Energizer Bunny (like the size of a Macy's Day Parade balloon) leads the race all around the city.  We enjoyed a night out on the town that night and got to visit with one of the boyfriends.  It was unanimous.  He's a keeper.

Saturday we went to a Cards game with our whole program.  It was hot for the Big City but we managed.  They lost...again.  But we had a great time.  We were walking around the stadium and I saw this building:

See Poodle.  You can move here.

Here are a few day time pics.  If you haven't had enough.

It was a great weekend.  Still loving school.  Still not sure how I got in.  So many absolutely brilliant faculty members.  It is a humbling experience every day.  I am always surprised.

Oh and a funny story.  My friends here do not understand Chacos.  I've told them that if they would try them on they would understand why I wear them.  I have been asked if I'm going mountain climbing or even white water rafting when I wear them.  The roomie has even been bold enough to ask me if I'm a lesbian...they are not lesbian shoes.  (I told my roomie she would regret asking me that because I would post it on the blog and then she would have to deal with the wrath of my Mimi and edotlouise)

They're cute and comfortable.  Don't play.  Will I stop wearing them?  Of course not.

Another funny thing is that when I introduce myself people don't understand me.  I always have to say my name twice when  I first meet someone.  My friends say that I pronounce it with two syllables.  When they mock me they pronounce it like "Bay-eth".  Since I refuse to say it the way they want me to I decided yesterday I was going to try out different names.  Last night I was Sarah because who can really screw that up.  It worked and considering you never see the same people twice I can really be whoever I want to be.  I am taking suggestions on who I should be next weekend. 

That's a wrap.