Good things

Sometimes I don't update the blog because I get overwhelmed by how much has happened, so I procrastinate the update because I know it is going to take forever to do it. Now I'm crazy behind on my updates and I have to write about driving to NYC, playing 2 shows, climbing to the top of a huge rock formation, work, yoga, and everything I've cooked. Gosh.

I guess I left off after we played that show in Bloomington. That seems like forever ago.

So a couple of weeks after that, I went with Tracer Bullet on tour to the east coast. We left early in the morning on Thursday, May 6, and drove to Harrisburg, PA, where we camped in tents and roasted marshmallows and broke part of a dead tree. The next morning, we headed to Philadelphia. I had never been there, so I was very excited to see it. It is such a beautiful old city, but it is terrible to navigate! We are used to the Chicago grid system. Derek and I walked around for a long time. He wanted to go to the Rocky steps, but we didn't end up having time. We did see the Liberty Bell, though!

Pretty buildings.

A statue.

I was immature and kept thinking that the buses were going to Penis Landing. It made me laugh every time.

That evening, we headed to Gloucester City, New Jersey. This is what it looks like.

Tracer Bullet played a show at a bar full of disgusting 40+ dancing drunk redneck sluts. It was so gross.

After that, we left for NYC to stay with Cale like we did last year. I drove to New York at 2 AM! It was my first time driving in New York, and I was very glad that it was so late because there wasn't too much traffic. We arrived, caught up with Cale, Brett, Lindsay, and Jarrod, and passed out. I slept better than I've ever slept. Those guys have a very, very comfortable couch.

The next day we spent in Brooklyn. It was a gorgeous day outside. We had breakfast in a park and just walked walked walked all day.

I met up with my dear friend Sam later in the evening and we went and had Indian food before going to the Tracer Bullet show. Seeing her was so great. I miss my Angers friends so much! We're having a 5 year reunion in Sweden next August, which will be unreal.

I took a cab back to Cale's and we talked for a while. Brett and Jarrod showed me the newest installment of their web series, Sweater Club. Derek came back and said that he met Zach Galafanakis. Or however you spell that. We slept again. It was good. We woke up and I made French Toast for everybody using bread that I baked myself. It was awesome! We then headed back to Philadelphia.

Philadelphia round 2 was more tiresome. We got stuck in traffic forever, but we finally made it to Soy Cafe, where we had awesome artichoke sandwiches.

It was 3 by this time, so we decided to go to the hotel early and shower and take a little nap before the show that night. I had seen Tracer Bullet play 2 nights in a row, and although the band is so much fun, I was kind of burned out by the third night. While they played the show, I took myself on a date to see a movie. I was so proud of myself for navigating Philadelphia by myself! I saw City Island on a whim, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I was surprised. I got some popcorn and a coke and I was just the happiest thing until about 1 AM when we were driving back to the hotel and I had the world's worst stomach ache.

The world's worst stomach ache was still in full force the next morning at the continental breakfast. I could barely eat anything. I felt awful all day while we drove 15 hours back to Chicago.

The week that followed was pretty busy as well. I worked, which is getting worse than ever. I'm so glad I only have one shift left at Starbucks. It used to be tolerable because I had friends there, but somehow I seem to have fallen out of their favor. The girls I used to hang out with are not at all friendly to me anymore. I don't know if it is because I am leaving or what, but I haven't been mean or rude or anything but nice to them, so I don't appreciate getting the cold shoulder. It is alright, though. One more day. I seem to have a lower tolerance for the rudeness of customers these days, too. Some customers will be so rude to Starbucks employees because they think we are anonymous, but it really hurts my feelings when someone insults me or just throws the money down on the counter or won't get off the phone to communicate with me.

Blah blah. Wednesday, Piercing Music played a black and white show at the Underground Lounge. We looked fancy.

I made seitan! It is wheat gluten that is kneaded into a dough and then boiled. It has the best consistency and flavor. I made some taco flavored and some BBQ flavored. Derek has been eating it like crazy. He loves seitan.

Friday night, Derek, Erika, and I played an open mic in Wicker Park. It was a lot of fun! It was outside and there was a really friendly crowd. It was mellow and awesome.

Early Saturday morning, Derek, Josh, Jessie, and I went to Roche-A-Cri State Park north of Madison, WI. We stopped by the Madison Farmer's Market on the way and picked up some delicious cheese, tomatoes, spinach, and honey. I took several film pictures of the farmer's market, but I haven't gotten them developed yet.

Roche-A-Cri is a huge rock formation. Here is Derek on the top.

And here is me on the top.
After an exhausting day of hiking, we built a fire and settled in for s'mores. Josh really had a good thing going on with his three-pronged roasting stick.

Besides that, I have been really enjoying my yoga practice at Core Power. I am getting so much stronger all over. There are so many poses that I used to struggle with, but now I am able to take the more advanced variations and really focus on my breathing. Erika loves it too, and we want to get certified to teach yoga in Nashville.

Yesterday I shot another commercial for Preval. It was so much fun! I love the people at Luminair Productions. We had a great time filming and then we went out for Steak N Shake afterwards. A grilled cheese and chocolate shake is not the most vegan thing ever, which my stomach reminded me of shortly afterwards, but it was so good and so much fun. I am so thankful for the opportunity to work with them and put my degree to use. The pay is awesome, too.

So these next 9 days before moving are going to be some of the fullest days yet. Today is Thursday, which is my day of the week to really get stuff done. I went to early yoga, and now I'm making some bread to last a few days. Later we have to practice for our upcoming show. Tomorrow we are having a farewell party at Whirlyball, which is a bumper cars place. It is going to be so much fun! On Saturday, I am taking promo shots for Lady Parts, hanging out with Karen Black because she is coming through Chicago, and attending Karyn and Erika's graduation party. Sunday I work 8-4, and then we're practicing music again.

Here is the list of things to do before leaving Chicago: Things in blue are already done

1) Navy Pier

2) Use the Groupon

3) Soul Vegan one last time

4) Nutella Mocha from Ipsento

5) Cubs game

6) Willis Tower Skydeck

7) Buy local art from Pilsen

8) Get nachos at Perez

9) Have Max over for a French dinner

10) Go see Too Much Light Makes the Baby Go Blind

11) My Place for Tea

12) Buy an ice cream from one of the street vendors in the neighborhood

Some of these things probably won't happen, but we're going to try.

Part of me will be sad to leave Chicago, but part of me is totally ready to be out of a huge city. France in less than a month. Eek.