The Tundra of Chicago

I really can't believe this winter so far. On Thursday, it was probably one of the coldest days on record. The high was around -17, and that didn't include the "real feel." I tried to go to a concert that night, but my car was pretty much frozen to the ground. I took that as a sign not to venture out and risk frostbite. It has warmed up a little. Yesterday it was a balmy 20 degrees. I desperately want to go to Costa Rica or somewhere warm. The boyfriend and I keep talking about it, but nothing has been planned yet. He keeps promising me it's going to happen, but we're still waiting for prices to drop. We'll see. I really want to travel now. We're talking about going skiing sometime, and it looks good for me to maybe get a press pass to SXSW in Austin this year, but like I said, nothing has been set and that depresses me. 

A couple of days ago, I had a brainstorm about opening a tater tot shop. Everyone loves tots including me. I think it'd be successful. I could rent out one of the many abandoned storefronts I see in the 'hood. We'd sell all kinds of tots made from all kinds of potatoes and serve them with all kinds of sauces. Of course I know nothing about starting or running a business. I'd want to be the owner but then hire a bunch of people to run the company for me while I reap all the money. Someone told me about a chain fast food restaurant specializing in only chicken finger meals. The guy who started it is a millionaire now. Maybe there's something to it.

Over the weekend, we decided to brave the cold. We ate a good Indian restaurant. It's strange that I'm a such a picky eater, but I do like Middle Eastern type food. I think it's because it was ingrained in me from birth. Saturday night, one of the local music venues gave away 2 hours of free beer. I sure like free beer. That night consisted of me surrounded by three guys. I love it when I'm the only girl and thus get full attention from my guy friends. Last night I went to my first concert of the year (and first in about a month). I think I'm pretty much over going to concerts. I feel like most of the ones I go to are pretty average. Most of the time I'm standing there waiting for it to end (actually, I always want most things to be over). There are very few bands that impress me anymore. It all begins to feel the same after a while. I am trying to see bands that I've never seen live before, but they're not helping me out of my concert rut. Last night was especially weird because I hung out with a friend who had brought a date. It was a first date for them making it  awkward for me. I mean, if they were "officially dating," it wouldn't have been awkward--but first dates are always awkward. I just felt like a third wheel all night. It also didn't help that this particular friend was someone I had a history with, and now he's dating. I don't care about the dating part, but sometimes it's weird when you associate someone with being single and suddenly they're with someone. Last night made me think about how I've moved on a lot in the past year. A year ago, I wouldn't have been okay with this date situation but now I am. It does piss me off a little to think, "why didn't this person take me on an actual date? How come I didn't get a dinner out of it?" But, whatever. You just get over things and move on. And I totally have. It's quite healthy, really. 

This time tomorrow we will have a new president. I'm getting sick of everyone talking about it, so let's get things rolling. I'm interested to see what Obama is going to do. I do think things will get better from here. Hopefully. I will be glad when this month is over with because the first month of the year always sucks. February will be a much more interesting month with the boyfriend's b-day, V-Day, vacation planning, and winter Saucony starting. Things just need to start picking up, already.