Things I learned this weekend: Chicago Edition

I had to get up real early for my flight on Saturday, which was especially difficult since I had slept for roughly 14 minutes the night before. I woke up at 2 in the morning to Boo attempting to break down our front door, and didn't fall back to sleep for hours. I don't know what he was trying to achieve, but he was definitely successful at annoying the shit out of me.

So cute though.

Needless to say, I was up in time for my flight. Good thing, too, since Google calendar was of no help to me this weekend. My flights had been automatically added to my calendar, but of course, they were in Eastern Standard Time. So, since booking my flight, I thought that I would be arriving in Chicago at 10 am (I arrived at 9), and that I would leave at 7 pm (I left at 6). This is because there are these things called time zones, and apparently Chicago is far enough away to be in a different one. Who knew? Luckily, I made it there and back without a problem.

Shortly after I arrived, I went out to brunch with my friends/hosts where I ordered breakfast nachos. Technically, they were called chilaquiles, but I'm white, so I'm appropriating them for you. Did you know that there is a bounty of delicious Mexican food in Chicago? That's the second thing I learned this weekend. The first being time zones.  Surprisingly, I did not any eat any deep dish pizza nor hot dogs while I was there. But I did drink a ton of delicious beer, and that's what's important.

On Saturday night, my friend and I went to see a show at Second City. It was hilarious and edgy, but it wasn't actually improv, as I had hoped.  Now that I'm, like, a professional improviser (read: I pay hundreds of dollars to take classes on how to LARP in front of an audience), I want to see improv everywhere.  Regardless, the show was very well done and actually professional.

On Sunday night, I went to WGCI's Big Jam, which featured a number of artists including Meek Mill, Kendrick Lamar, and Monica - as in, The Boy is Mine, Monica. Truthfully, I didn't know she still existed, but she put on a great performance. I was going to riot if she didn't sing "Angel of Mine", so thankfully she did.

Speaking of almost rioting, WGCI DJs kept telling the crowd to tweet at them for a chance to see their tweets on the jumbo-tron. It is an absolute travesty that this was one was not chosen:

For those of you who don't know, Yazz is a rapper (and also a type of birth control).  And that tweet is a lie. I was just being modest.

Anyway, I was pretty surprised that so many people cared about Meek Mill and more surprised that so few people stayed to see Kendrick Lamar. Then again, I was also no less than a decade older than everyone around me, so maybe I don't know what's cool anymore. Related: I sat down for most of the show.

After such a big night out, I took it easy the next day, exploring Chicago on my own. I spent most of the day at the Art Institute of Chicago, which is impressive since I don't really care about art. Here's a selection of my favorite pieces:

I call this one "Playa, please."

I call this one, "Beetlejuice".

I call this one "One Night Stand" because it looks like the guy has quietly gathered up his clothing and is surreptitiously trying to ghost before she wakes up.

I call this one, "Stephen Hawking".  

This one is legitimately called "Woman", which gives me the sense that Miro was probably not a feminist. 

This one would make a perfect welcome mat.

I spent the rest of my time eating donuts and wandering around different parts of the city. I guess I looked pretty comfortable because three people came up to me on the street to ask me for directions. It made me realize that, next time someone does that to me in Boston, I can just lie and say, "I'm not from around here," and they'll leave me alone. #NewEnglandHospitality

Til next time, Chicago!

A picture is worth 140 characters.

Yesterday, I went for a 9 mile walk because fall. Look at this motherfucking foliage!

While I was walking for literal hours, I thought about all the things I could write about when I finally resurrected my blog. Less than 24 hours later, I have forgotten every one of those things. Maybe because at the end of those 9 miles there was this (x3):

Anyway, how the fuck have you guys been? I'm asking as if you have all been waiting with bated breath for me to show back up on here. I kind of feel like blogs are a dying medium, but that's just because I'm self-centered, and since I barely write or read them anymore, I assume no one else does either. Everyone's like, just show me a picture, I have no time for words!!!!!!!

On that note,  I went to Mindy Kaling's book signing at the Brookline Booksmith a few weeks ago. It was a very rushed, impersonal experience. I was really disappointed, and I blame the instagram generation for that. I basically had 30 seconds to squat and pose for a picture while she scribbled her signature in my copy of Why Not Me? (which is great, and you should read it). I felt like I just had waited in line at Disney World to get Mickey Mouse's autograph. No disrespect to Mindy. I'm not criticizing her. I can't imagine being famous and having to meet hundreds of strangers in less than 2 hours (except that I'd love that. Come on guys, line up to tell me you love me!). I am sure she was just doing exactly what she was expected to do. She and the bookstore were giving people what they wanted: these days, people care more about getting a picture taken than having an experience. But I would have rather had a 30 second conversation with Mindy than a photo and generically signed book.

We do look great together, though.

Last weekend, I went to a CLUB and wore heels and drank vodka and grinded with strangers to some dope ass beats, and I had the most fun I've had in probably years. And you know what? I have not one picture to show for it. That's because I was having too good of a time to stop and take out my phone.

Of course, I was also having a great time the next morning while eating this McDonald's breakfast sandwich and I definitely made sure to take a picture of it:

MCDONALD'S BREAKFAST ALL DAY. I've waited my whole life for this.