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28 September 2009

Another conversation with grandma

By: Jessica B.
Tagged: family

Oh family. They make you laugh and cry, sometimes at the same time. I can admit, sadly, that I am an awful granddaughter. I don’t see my grandparents much outside of the holidays, but I do try to call when I can, even if it is painful to do so.

My grandma means well but sometimes when she says things, it can be…back handed. I just chant to myself, “she means well, she means well.” I know in my heart she does, but that doesn’t mean that I can’t tease her a little bit when she makes these comments.

She’s also been “supportive” of my quest to stay single too. I’ve posted before about our “colorful” conversations regarding my singleton status and recently  had another dating-related conversation with her, yippee. Apparently she’s brought this back on the call agenda because I’ve entered into a new decade.

Let’s join our conversation.

Grandma: I saw a report on the news that women in their 30s are getting “more involved” than they did in their 20s

Me: More involved?

Grandma: Yes, in things they didn’t get to focus on a lot when they were younger

Me: You mean, like dating or having kids?

Grandma: Well yes, they just choose to hold off on that stuff so they can live their life. So that’s something for you to look forward to

Me: You know, it’s okay if I don’t get married or have kids. That’s not for everyone

Grandma: Well you’re in your 30s now, so you still have time

Me: Yeah, maybe, it could happen, you never know

Grandma: Oh yes, that single stuff we knew was just a phase

Me: Like rock music and experimenting in college?

Grandma: Experimenting with what?

Me: ……….stuff, you know, like, actually never mind, yes I’m going to definitely stop living my life now in my 30s and focus on getting married

Grandma: There you go! Good for you!

Yeah, I cherish these talks :)

Does anyone else’s grandma or family continunally poke at their single status and anything else?

I know now never to bring up weddings around her because she’ll say how great it is and how happy it makes family when their kids get married.

Enter more crickets chirping from my end of the phone.

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27 September 2009

Weekend recap: weddings and football

By: Jessica B.
Tagged: family, Friends, sports, Wisconsin

Just because I was sick last week, missing half a day of work and working from home one day, that could not stop me from celebrating two of my favorite things: college football and my friend getting married.

And after some last minute prayers to feel better and survive the craziness, I’m pleased to say that I’m back in Chicago in one piece and feeling a lot better than I did Tuesday-Thursday last week (thank goodness!)

So let’s get started!

Football

My parents and I are huge Wisconsin Badger fans. Sure, I went to the University of Minnesota, but in our house, Badgers are #1 and getting invited to my take one or two of my parents tickets to the games is a big treat (*cough* 50 yard-line seats *cough*). And because I had to be in Madison for a wedding that same day, my dad gave me the golden ticket to the Michigan State game, where he told me beer would make me feel better (it does) and a soft pretzel (LOVE THOSE) would settle my stomach. My stepmom even smuggled in chardonnay, which we drank from a water bottle. Seriously, that woman is the QUEEN of smuggling stuff into games. Here’s the view from our seats.

Wedding

So after a great game (which we won!), I had to get ready for the wedding, which I did in my own traditionally classy way, carrying my dress, shoes and make up into a public restroom and changing in the handicapped stall. The Badger fans that walked into the bathroom and saw me struggling to reach the zipper on the back of my dress must have thought I was c-r-a-z-y.

But I pulled it together and was ready to meet up with Rebecca C and head to the ceremony.

And despite my “tough cookie” exterior and dead-inside heart, I do actually have a fluffy, nougat center (like a candy bar) and seeing two friends get married in such a personal, wonderful ceremony made me tear up, especially as the bride and groom choked up during the vows. I even had a moment, seeing them so in love and happy, where I said, “maybe this is something I want.”

Then my little group made our way over to a bar near the reception hall, but this bar had a tree inside. Yes, a HUGE faux tree. It was awesome. And drunk, male football fans were more than excited to see pretty ladies in dresses. I even discovered the joy of New Glarus’ Spotted Cow beer, which is almost as popular Miller in Wisconsin but is NOT available in Illinois. Oh the cruelty.

The reception was amazing, held at an old, vintage movie theater with the tables set at the floor of the theater with lovely accents and soft lighting. If I had gone with a date, yeah I would have been in the mood to make out :)

My weekend even ended with a French cab driver, asking me why I’m single and refusing to believe I’m 30. Yeah he got a little bigger tip than normal. Sometimes, it’s still nice to hear :)

So how was everyone else’s weekend? Do anything fun? Any other big college football fans out there?

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24 September 2009

I am a child when I get sick

By: Jessica B.
Tagged: family, Random

When I was a kid, I used to get sick a lot. Allergies, mono, strep throat, flu, you name it, I got it. I was like a magnet for germs. And I rarely got to stay home from school, which installed a “go to work/school no matter what” mentality for me.

My friends who have known me for awhile know that I rarely take sick days or go home early.

And since I’ve been out on my own, I haven’t really needed to take a lot of sick time because *knock on wood*, I’ve been overall pretty healthy.

But I now notice that when I do get sick, I go DOWN like a sack of potatoes and instantly morph from being an adult into a child.

When I get sick, the following things usually happen:

  • I forgo any sense of hygiene outside of brushing my teeth (showering? optional)
  • I stop picking up my house and it becomes littered with cups, tissues and blankets that I’ve kicked on the floor
  • My level of annoyance about things goes up by 100 percent
  • I retreat to the couch and lay like a beached whale on it with the remote dangling in my hands
  • I turn to napping (which I never do, so that’s another sign of illness)
  • I start to complain…a lot

The complaining part is actually kind of funny (once I’ve recovered) because my dad will call to check in on me and he really is talking to a child.

For example, I’ve been sick lately and when I went home from work yesterday, our conversation went something like this:

Dad: How are you feeling?

Me: Icky *sniffles*

Dad: What does that mean? Sore throat? Cough?

Me: Icky means icky, I’m just really run down and feel like crap *whimpers*

Dad: What are you taking to feel better?

Me: Stuff, I dunno, ibuprofen, cough drops, water *pouts*

Dad: Okay well get some rest and I’ll check in with you later

Me: I don’t like feeling sick, can’t you come take care of me and make this go away *bats eyelashes, even though we’re on the phone*

Dad: No, get some rest

Then I’ll usually hang up the phone in a huff and go back to watching TV.

I know, I’m so mature.

Are you like this when you get sick or do you prefer to just be left alone?

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13 September 2009

Weekend recap: food, crafts and friends

By: Jessica B.
Tagged: Chicago, family, Food, Friends

Happy Sunday everyone! Wooo! A gorgeous even summer-like weekend in Chicago. Loving it. And I have a lot to share tonight so let’s get started!

Xoco and Rick Bayless

I love going out to eat in Chicago and and sometimes I can peer pressure friends into going out to eat with me.

That’s pretty much the magic I worked on Friday with TC, who I nearly dragged from work to go with me to Rick Bayless’ new casual restaurant Xoco in Chicago. Seriously, Rick Bayless is HOT right now in the city (you know from that whole Top Chef Masters thing). And this new restaurant = awesome.

TC and I solved world problems while waiting in line (yes it was long but not too bad) and yes we did eat like there was no tomorrow, sharing some dishes and having a lovely cup of homemade hot chocolate.

Bask in some of the food porn below. You can see more on my Flickr page too!

And while we were waiting in line, Twitter proved to be a lovely distraction during breaks in conversations. I totally, absolutely 100 percent geeked out when I said “hi” to Rick via Twitter and got a DM back from him saying “hi” back. Check it out. Yes, I did feel like hot sh*t and giggled like a schoolgirl.

Only thing, we weren’t able to get a picture with him :( Maybe next time.

Getting craft, Renegade-style

Saturday I met up with Jamie and hit the Renegade Craft Fair in Wicker Park. It’s literally Etsy, in person! And while I got some sun and enjoyed a delicious strawberry lemonade. I picked up this cute print too.

It’s SO me :)

The only drawback, a clown that was walking around and took a shine to Jamie and me. I don’t like clowns. They scare me. So when he didn’t get the hint to back off, I firmly told him to do so. *shudder*

Small Facebook world

Finally, on Friday morning I also got a huge shock, when a long-lost cousin I haven’t seen or heard from in probably 10 years found me on Facebook.

And I won’t lie, I nearly started to cry because I’ve been looking to reconnect with her too on/off for the last six months. My super online stalking skills found her but I didn’t have an e-mail to contact her so I’ve been regrouping before she found me.

It’s a funny thing when you finally reconnect with those people because…what do you say? I’m still working on that but for now, I’m just glad I found her and have a way to talk to her now and catch up on some lost time.

How was everyone else’s weekend?

Oh I promise the post about my epically awful date is coming tomorrow. Trust me, it is awful :/

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09 September 2009

Nightmarish childhood chore flashbacks

By: Jessica B.
Tagged: family, Wisconsin

Now that we’re getting into fall, my dad is salivating at the thought of me coming home to visit because he has plenty of yard work for me to help out with.

Yard work sucks and I suck at it. Trust me.

Actually, I look like a total sissy in the yard because I don’t like to get dirty (especially my cute outfits and shoes) and I gingerly hold tools, as if they are covered with a disease that could spread to my entire body.

I know, it’s quite a sight to see.
But, the one outside job I hate more than anything, more than raking leaves (and getting callouses) or shoveling snow (and hurting my back) is picking up sticks. I hate it so much!!!
When I was a kid, my parents had a good-size house and yard in Wisconsin and my dad figured out the best way to get me to do this awful job is simple: offer money in exchange for me straining my back.
And it worked.
I picked up sticks in our yard several times to feed my Disney plush toy habit. I just heard, “well, I will give you $5 toward your [insert plush toy name that I absolutely had to have at that moment] if you go pick the sticks up from the yard.”
I don’t believe I even had to think about it because I was immediately in the back yard picking up those f*cking sticks, hating every minute of it.
And when my dad saw me slacking off, he would threaten to decrease my wage, causing my whining and bitching to become a whisper while I picked up those sticks. And he sat on the porch and WATCHED me do it to make sure I earned my keep.
Over the summer while my parents were having some yard work done, I had to help pick up sticks again on their patio and the horrid memories of my childhood came rushing back.
But when I jokingly asked for $5 to help with all the work, dad didn’t think it was funny and offered me hug instead.
I know, I should have asked for $15 to cover inflation.
The recession has hit hard!
What was your least or more favorite childhood chore? I’m sure I wasn’t the only one subjected (still) to labor when they go home to visit!

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