Halloween Weekend

Even though Halloween isn't until Wednesday, it was celebrated this weekend with all kinds of parties. Friday night some friends and I went to a bar that was having a naughty gifts party. The theme was to dress slutty, both guys and girls. We were only there for 20 minutes so it really didn't seem all the effort to get, um, slutty. Then we went to the Stoli Hotel. The Stoli isn't a real hotel. It's a warehouse converted into a couple of bars and lounge areas. They have music pumping throughout and lounges modeled after hotel rooms complete with beds and couches. The best part about it is the free vodka drinks and no cover. We hung out there for a while and then some friends and I went downtown to meet my friends visiting from Kentucky this weekend. We went to a bar and pretty much closed that out. I think my visitors were both taken and entertained by my drunken Swedish friend who became very silly intoxicated. I also began to lose my voice near the end of the night. I've been fighting a cold and it caught up with me. It's ironic for me to lose my voice considering I'm usually very quiet. Ironic, isn't it? Luckily by Saturday night I felt somewhat better. Stupid cold weather.

Saturday consisted of me having an early dinner with my visiting friends. We went to the Signature Room on the 95th floor of Hancock building. The view was spectacular. You can see the entire city including the Sears Tower and Navy Pier. It makes me feel lucky that I live in such a beautiful and unique city. I was in the Hancock on Friday because I'm doing a story how the grocery store on the 44th floor is the highest in the world. The adjacent swimming pool is also the highest. The thing is, they are both only open up to residents of the building, but I got to experience both. Sometimes being a journalist has its perks. Anyway, the Signature is a nice restaurant but a bit pricey. Luckily, I didn't have to pay for dinner. In fact, I didn't spent much money at all this weekend. Hallelujah to free stuff. For Saturday night I didn't dress up much. I wore devil horns and called myself a devil woman. We all headed to the Stoli again which was having a costume party. Another perk I'm discovering is writing for My Open Bar. We didn't have to wait in the very long queue and walked right in. For a minute, I seriously felt like a celebrity. The Stoli was once again pumping with music and the vodka was flowing. It soon became so packed that I had to wait in the bathroom line for 1/2 hour! Not cool. There were some cleaver costumes, though. I saw one dude dressed as an Indian wearing a Dell label and wearing a headset indicating he was outsourced. There were quite a few Amy Winehouses and Dick in the Boxes. The costumes that annoyed me the most were the slutty ones like slutty nurses and slutty Rainbow Brites. I mean, why can't you just be a normal Rainbow Brite? Being slutty for Halloween is simply tasteless and unoriginal. And the girls who dress like this probably wear this attire everyday of the week. It was cool to see everyone dressed up and walking around Chicago in costumes. I used to be really into Halloween but not so much anymore. I'm not really into any holidays anymore. Oh well. After the Stoli closed, we went to a loft party but it was jampacked. That's the only problem with loft parties. They seem like a good idea but when you can't move around, what's the point. We tried to find other parties to no avail so I decided to go home. I wasn't even drunk. I can't remember the last time I was really wasted. I get buzzed but haven't been too drunk lately. Maybe that's a good thing.

Overall, I had a good weekend but I wish my friends visiting would've have more fun and I wish I could've spent more time with them. I will have to visit them soon. I keep thinking how boys aren't the most important thing in life, that there are other things--like good friends and fun nights out. I have to keep reminding myself of this. I think it's okay if I remain unattached because there are options and more important things out there. I wish I could just be friends with everyone. It's so hard to brush all that other stuff under the rug and pretend like nothing happened. You can for a while, but that other stuff always seems to creep out from underneath. I also have a problem of not being able to just move on and let go. As much as I try to, I inevitably get yanked back to the past. I keep revisiting it. Maybe there's something to be found. I dunno. I just want to feel okay about all my situations but it'll take time. Who knows what the future holds. I also keep thinking about Europe. Soon my Swedish friend will go back there and unless I plan a visit there and to France, I'll never see him or Frenchie again. But when will I ever have the money or time to go? If I ever get a real job, they're not gonna let me take off. I really need to go before it's too late.

Also, I just realized it's Retrograde. That could explain why my life has been so goddamn haywire lately. Luckily, it ends on Nov. 1st. Maybe then everything will be somewhat less dramatic.