People say that you can pick your friends but not your family. This is true but I wouldn't change anything about the friends and my family today. Even though I am far away from them, they are still a big part of my life and I try to keep in touch with them as much as possible. Whether its a phone call, an email, a Facebook message, a text or this blog, I have tried to keep up with as many friends and family members as possible. (Side note: I know I am slacking on keeping in touch with some of you so I will try my best to get better at this) While these ways of communication are good at times nothing beats seeing your friends and family in person and getting a huge from them. This exactly what has happened to me the past two weeks and what is going to happen again this weekend.
Two weekends ago, so Halloween weekend, my parents were in town for a conference my dad attended and of course to visit me and meet my roommates. They arrived on Friday evening and I picked them up, drove them to my house, gave them a little tour and then headed to dinner with my roommates. We went to a family owned Italian restaurant called Franconello's which is right down the street from our house. We all enjoyed a delicious dinner and was joined by J-Bird and Julie at the end of our meal. Then it was time to hit up Western so we went to Rhino bar with all the St. Rita people. My parents got to experience Rhino bar first hand. They met all the people who work at St. Rita and my mom yelled "Oh my goss This place is so fun!" as soon as she walked in the door so I think they had fun haha. After the early night at Rhino we went to our hotel in the city for a good night's sleep before our big day in the city. Saturday morning we got up and did the grand tour of downtown Chicago. Mom thought it would be a good idea to do her hair as she does every morning until she stepped outside to The Windy City and there was no fixing it. The tour included a lot of walking to the Bean, Millenium Park, Navy Pier, Michigan Ave, deep dish pizza at Giordano's, and the top of the John Hancock building for an expensive martini. Then it was back to the Palmer House hotel to rest till dinner at this amazing seafood place called Hugo's Frog Bar which was amazing food but a long wait past our reservation time. After dinner we met two of my roommates, Molly and MC, at the hotel so we could change into our halloween costume (Ghostbusters complete with backpack :) check out the pictures on facebook!!) and head out on the town for a fun halloween night. The night was fun and very entertaining, including eating apple pie in the hallway outside my parents room with a cow! HA! Sunday Mom let me sleep in and we did a little tour of Beverly and my work (she got very quiet when I pulled onto Michigan Ave). The afternoon we went back downtown to shop on Michigan Ave/the Magnificant Mile which can be drastically compared to my not-so-magnificant mile of Michigan Ave in Roseland. The day ended with a great dinner at a steak house with my mom, dad, and one of my dad's co-workers. Monday my dad and I had to work but my parents took a cab to my office in the afternoon and then it was off to the airport to catch their plane home.
Tuesday of that week was also a fun time. My dad had told me about a jazz night downtown that his company was hosting. Since my parents flew home Monday night, my dad gave my roommates and I the invite to go. So we went and had a blast!! I tried to serve as a representative of Dad and NJM/CLI but I didn't know many people there; although I did get introduced to the owner (co-owner?) of the company Michel LaPierre who was very nice and glad to meet me. The best part of the night was when Marla, who had a lot to do with the set up of the party, gave my roommates and I one of the trivia questions that was going to win a digital camera. Funny part about this is that MC had lost her camera at a bar a week before we came to Chicago so she was in need of one. So extroverted Janine marched right up to the dance floor when the guy was going to ask the question and as soon as he said, "What is BB Kings Birthday? Day and Year?" Before he could even get year out, I yelled "September 16, 1925!!!" The guy then gave me a look and was like "how did you know that? can you prove it?" "I just know it!" I said. Then I was like, "I'm Jim Moretti's daughter I just know it!" Then the response was, "O jeez really? Jim cuts my checks, here its yours!" As soon as he put it my hand I jumped up and down and everyone clapped!" So thanks Marla for giving us a heads up, thanks Dad for letting me name drop, and your welcome MC for the camera that has already been put to great use!!!
This weekend was girls weekend because Griffin was in Milwaukee for a conference so Kerry Wulpern came to visit and Carolyn Bartlett from Merrimack came to visit Molly. We had a really fun weekend packed with lots of laugher, a fieta night with Margaritas, and dancing. Friday I had to work but Kerry, Molly, and Caroline came to visit me at the office and I gave them a quick tour/explanation. After our Mexican dinner on Friday night and then we hit up Rhino bar and some continued on to Brewbakers. Saturday we slept in and the girls went into the city to walk around Michigan Ave. I met up with them for deep dish pizza then came home to rest before our house party on Saturday night. Sunday Kerry and I went into the city and did the boat Architectual Tour which brought us throughout the Chicago River telling us about all of the buildings. Mom was very jealous when I told her we did this but I told her she can do it when she comes in February. We had a great time walking around on the beautiful day and catching up on life. Monday morning I drove her to the airport after an exciting weekend in Chicago.
This coming weekend Kevin is finally coming into town and I am thrilled! I'm excited to show him the sites and where I work. Were probably gonna spend some time in Wriglyville and around that area cause he is a boy and doesn't need to do the whole shopping on Michigan Ave. I don't know what hes more excited about, seeing me or deep dish pizza :) I hope its the first one but I can understand his love for pizza.
Having guests is a lot of fun but tiring as well. I have enjoyed showing everyone Chicago and letting them experience my new life here. Chicago, Beverly, and Roseland are all wonderful places that are uniquly different and I love showing all my guests their highlights and their struggles. So if anyone wants to come to Chicago to visit let me know and you can book a weekend!!
Fun fact: Chicago is actually built on a swamp and it got its name from an Indian territory named Chickagou
No comments:
Post a Comment