World Traveler

Today we finally booked our trip to Costa Rica. We are going at the end of February through the beginning of March. I had no idea where the country was until the boyfriend showed me on a map. I might be geographically challenged. I thought it was an island. I think I'll be more excited once I'm on the plane going there. We're transferring in FL. I wish we had some time to spend there. I haven't been since I was five. We decided to split the trip up into 3 days of all-inclusive and 3 days at a bed and breakfast so we could do some sightseeing on our own. So, there will be the adventure part of the trip and the relaxation part of the trip. I'm happy to be putting this horrible winter behind for a few days, but I'm also nervous about going. What if something bad happens while we're there? Like what if i get attacked by a jellyfish or a monkey? We'll be in a foreign country, after all, with no cell phone use. We should have access to the 'net, hopefully. I also have a really difficult time just relaxing. I simply can't relax. I worry about the work I should be doing. I know I could get a guest editor for the week, but I'm such a control freak that I'd rather do it myself. I guess I'll have to brush up on my Spanish. I've forgotten so much. Anyway, time to get a new bikini.

In the next couple of months, there are other destinations I'm flirting about going to. SXSW is coming up in mid-March and then Coachella in April. Every year I tell myself I will go but never do. This year is the most likely time for me to go. One of my editors put in a SXSW press pass request for me, so now I'm just waiting to hear back. There's only one day of Coachella I'm interested in seeing, which is the Friday lineup of Paul McCartney, Leonard Cohen, Morrissey, and Franz Ferdinand. Amy Winehouse is playing on Saturday. It'd be interesting to see her, too. The thing is, I've seen a lot of these bands before and a lot of them will eventually come to Chicago. I was thinking about going just for Friday and then spending the rest of the weekend in L.A. Going to CA was on my list this year, anyway. But if I had to chose between SXSW and Coachella, I'd chose the former. It's more of a party. Plus I haven't been to Austin in a decade! I'm hoping all of these trips will work out. I just really need to travel and experience more things.

I'm really glad it's almost February. I can start sighing a little relief because Retrograde is over with. The boyfriend thinks I'm crazy because I believe in that stuff, but I only believe a little bit of it. I think January is the worst month of the year. It's been nothing but mediocrity all month. February can go either way. I've had a lot of bad stuff happen to me in Feb., but I'm hoping nothing but good stuff will occur this year.

Wed. night, I did some Ipod DJing. I only "dj'd" for a half-hour. I would've liked to have done it for longer, but there were other people who wanted to do it. We actually had a pretty good turnout at the bar. I wish people would've danced. The best part about DJing is we got free drinks all night long. I hope to do more in the future.

So, there's a good chance I might have a new gig. I talked to the company about it today, but I have to do a "test" first. I pitched them some ideas and if they like them, I will have to turn in a writing sample. The job would start out as part-time then might go full-time. It'd probably pay well and be a steady thing, so I'm really hoping I get it. I'd be working as an associate editor for a local publication that I really like. The best part is the company approached me about the job, not the other way around. They approached me because they knew I worked for Myopenbar. This company is sorta similar in terms of what they do, and they seem to generate a high revenue. I've been writing for MOB for exactly two years now. I never thought in a million years it would pay off (literally and figuratively). If I get this job, I will have MOB to thank for that. I'm already thanking MOB for the boyfriend and all the good friends I've made. Fingers crossed.

Yet another weekend is here. Tomorrow night we're going to my friends sketch show. Sunday is the Super Bowl, but I have no desire to watch it. I still need to see Slumdog Millionaire and other movies. I watched Gone Baby Gone the other night and thought it was really good--much better than I ever expected. All I feel like doing is watching movies, these days.