Nashville
Roadtrip with the girls! After much deliberation, Nashville seemed like the obvious answer: not too far, but yet far away enough to be away from it all. Oh and because I found out there was a wine festival that weekend in the area with a $20 bottomless wine glass...
So we get there after 4.5 hrs of singing boy band songs and other songs that remind us of our high school dance memories. Our hotel? Has a guitar shaped pool. Tres bien. We make our way to Broadway Ave to start our exploration...
So this night is remembered in chunks with some parts missing. But thankfully, there's 4 of us and we each remind each other of different events that occurred, so that helps. Some of my choppy memories of the night: Coronas that magically became ours, the bass player giving away our free drink, no brown people, lots of cowboy hats and boots, falling on my ass, karaoke and not getting discovered on the spot, and some of the best late night food (don't remember what it was though...)
The next morning, needless to say, was a little rough. We took TWO naps that day. But first we went to the pancake place near Vanderbilt and ate breakfast with an American Idol star and his manager. THEN napped. THEN woke up to go to the wine festival (success). Got our hair bedazzled for free. Checked out the Grand Ole Opry but weren't able to sneak in. Then ate some fantastic barbeque at a place that didn't need reservations. Found out that when boys say "Aw, dang" in a southern accent, it's quite adorable. Then napped again. Then went out again. Saw one of the most incredible (and by "incredible", I mean "ridiculously funny") dancers in the world. Made friends. Ran away from friends. Found another Asian. Took obligatory Asian picture. [insert blurry memory at end of night and somehow ending up back in the hotel].
Sunday we chillaxed. Well, went to the bicentennial park and scoped that out before making our way back home... and checking out a flea market along the way.
Norris Lake, TN
Figure that, two weeks later I'm back in TN. This time to enjoy the beauty and surrounding fun of Norris Lake. My friend Ryan has friends that yearly rent out a giant cabin for Memorial Day weekend so a bunch of us got to tag along. Let me keep it short, sweet, and simple: 3 days of hot weather, boating and jet skiing, staying stocked on liquids, great food, and fantastic people. The days blend into each other because of how laid back it all was. Great relaxing getaway.
Houston
My friend Aaron was getting married!! Reunion of the Westlake High School crew, who I hadn't seen in a while and fun times getting caught up. While I forgot how ridiculous HOT weather felt (105?), I kind of missed the blistering in the sun sensation. Friday night I showed up at the beer garden with my luggage after Emi and Max graciously picked me up from the airport. Some few drinks then took the party to the hotel lobby (well, hotel room.) and celebrated Aaron's last night of bachelorhood. He has a tendency of lifting people when he gets drunk, so lots of lifting was done.
Saturday we start the day at a Mexican hole in wall restaurant near Rice then start to make ourselves pretty for the wedding. Beautiful ceremony, and then a fantastic reception. Haven't danced that much in a while. Seemed like everyone was owning it on the dance floor. Great times. And yay to open bar. After some miscommunication, lost wanderers hitchhiking back, we ended back in a hotel room to continue.
Ate at the House of Pies (mmmmm SO delicious) the next day and then got to spend some quality birthday time with Emi before heading back to the airport. Short but sweet.
Chicago
Trip 4 of 4. Last weekend we took a somewhat last minute trip to Chi-town. Gaia hasn't been anywhere in the US besides Cincinnati, so Lynn and I decided to change that. Drove in Friday night after work and met up with Lynn's friend who lives in Chinatown (YES! DIM SUM PROXIMITY!) and spent the rest of the evening chatting. So, right, first thing Saturday morning, headed to Chinatown to wait for the dim sum place to open at noon... Yum boba tea and dried everything snacks in the meantime (and what are the 20 different types of ginger used for?). Met up with Kim who I hadn't seen since her stay with me and she spent the rest of the trip with us! We overate ourselves and saved some leftovers for later.
Took the El (I forgot how much I miss reliable public transportation) to our hotel (swanky Renaissance Lynn got us for cheap, but unfortunately weren't able to get the upgrade to the presidential suite). Checked out the Cultural Center with its awesome ceilings and rotating art exhibits, then walked to the Bean, took the obligatory touristy pictures, before making our way to the Hancock Building where we enjoyed our drinks on the 95th floor with a great view (the best views were actually from the restrooms...). Oh and then we ate again (isn't that what vacations are all about?) at Lu Minati's (sp?) for some deep dish pizza. Over ate. Again. Took a rest break/nap back at the hotel before heading out for the night.
Started out downtown but we weren't quite feeling the vibe (all sausage fests and the rest were bachelorette parties - we bet on how many we would see that night), so we headed over to Wicker Park. Ended up at Nick's Bier Garden and made friends soon enough. Good times, fun conversations (which somehow ended up sexist), and hilarious moments. At around 2:30 Kim pointed out that if we left NOW we might be able to catch the El back and not have to wait another half hour, so out we ran. When we got to the stop, we heard the train, and this is where the hilarity starts (note, our few drinks might have had some sort of influence on us at this point):
We decide to make a run for the train that we hear upstairs. We're scrambling for our ticket passes, Gaia and I get through first, bolt up the stairs, only to get to the top and see the train slowly start to pull away. I scream out a "NOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!", and to my surprise, the train reacts, stops and reopens its doors. We run in and I only count 3 of us. Apparently during the past 5 seconds, Lynn had managed to run into the gate bars and fall flat on her face. I hold open the doors as they're shutting again to see her race up the stairs. We get to our stop, get off, and somehow manage to get lost even though our hotel was only 2 blocks away. There's a car of guys somewhat following us and catcalling. A limo drives by and I yell "HEY!". It stops. I run up to the lowered window and ask the chauffeur if he can give us a ride home. "Sure, jump in." I turn to the other car: "Sorry, THIS is our ride." Gaia, Kim, and I pile in, but Lynn does not. Apparently we're only a block away from the hotel, but it's worth it. One block later, we say our farewells and thanks to the chauffeur and head back in. The night is ended by some peeping-tom action to a hotel room across the street from us...
We recooperate Sunday and make our way to Eleven City Diner for some marvelous brunch (get the french toast and egg cream soda if you're ever there), hang out with some legs, then slowly meander our way back through parks to call it an end to our Chi-vacation.
Surprisingly, I'm not going anywhere this weekend ;) Work's a little hectic right now and I need to tend to some end of fiscal year matters.
Wait. I lied. I'm going to Churchill Downs in Louisville, KY on Friday for a new hire social... but we're coming back that night.... so that doesn't really count, right?
