Xmas Tree

One reason I am starting to love Chicago is because they celebrate EVERY holiday with gusto. There is even a Thanksgiving Eve!! We thought that was funny! When I got to work today our building had decorated for Xmas. Here are some of the decorations.

Snow

This is what John and I woke up to this morning! It started snowing yesterday morning and snowed all day and all night, but it didn't start sticking until after we went to sleep. We didn't think we were going to have any stick and then SURPRISE when we woke up. It continued to snow most of the day today as well. This was the third time for snow this year, but the first time it stuck. Everyone in Chicago called it the first snow and John and I are don't agree. Chicagoans don't call it a snow unless it sticks! Well, they aren't from TX! Anyway, John drives every Monday because he is in a basketball league and can't take the train home. It took him 2 hours today to drive 35 miles. I told him thats what he gets for signing up for a league in the suburbs. There are a million leagues in the city he could sign up for.

Parade

In Chicago there was a Thanksgiving Parade in downtown outside of Macy's. John and I decided to get up and go. It started at 8 am and was 24 degrees with a wind chill in the teens, which is why we are dressed the way we were. There were balloons just like the New York parade. It was really neat. My favorite was Elmo!

Thanksgiving

John and I were invited over to a co-worker of mine for Thanksgiving. We unfortunately were not able to go to TX this year. We had a great time but after I really appreciated the traditions we have at home. Everyone does things so different here that sometimes we feel like we are in a different world. They had no pecan pie but instead had Minced Meat pie. Well up until this Thanksgiving I thought minced meat pie was like a pot pie. Boy was I wrong!! Anyway, they don't serve cornbread dressing up here either. We had three different types of dressing but they all tasted the same to me and were kind of weird (of course everyone knows I can be picky when it comes to food!). There also was no mashed potatoes, no sweet potatoes, and what a surprise I got when I big into what I thought was a little peeled potato that turned out to be a little onion!!!! Jeez, they should put a sign on that! We really had a great time, but it made me miss home a lot. I am thankful that I have had the opportunity to move around the country because it has really opened our eyes to how different people live in different parts of this country. Oh, I almost forgot. I made my Soapapilla Cheesecake for dessert and took it over to their house. Everyone asked what it was and I told them the name. Then my co-worker said what was the first word you said? I said, Soapapilla. They were like what is that?? John and I looked around the room and not one person out of 12 people knew what a soapapilla was!!!!!! I was so shocked that all I could do was laugh. No wonder we have a hard time finding good Mexican food around here!

TV

John and I have finally joined everyone in the 21st century. We have gone the last 5 months without a tv and have now purchased a new flat screen LCD. John loves it and we forgot how great it was to have a tv on the cold winter days (although ours are just starting). Hooray for HD tv!!

Robert Rosales

Red tree at Walnut Room
Robert, John and I eating at Silver Cloud
Robert came to Chicago for business. While he was here we got to hang out. It was great to see him especially since it has been so long. While he was here we went to dinner at Silver Cloud (a neighborhood spot) where he "conveniently" forgot his wallet in the hotel. The restaurant was really good then we came back to our condo and caught up. The next day we went to Chili's of all places to watch the Cowboys beat the Redskins.
During the week Robert and I met at a restaurant called The Walnut Room. It is on the 7th floor of a 9 floor Macy's Department Store. It is known for its huge Christmas tree and Christmas decorations. The Walnut Room has some excellent Chicken Pot Pie. We can't wait for Robert to come back in December. Maybe next time it will do a little more than snow flurries :)

Designer Purses

Aren't they beautiful? Kate Spade (above)
Dooney and Bourke (above)
Dooney and Bourke (above)
Coach (above)
John and I in our condo
Brandy and I freezing at Wrigley Field
Brandy came to visit two weekends ago and we went to an outlet mall in Aurora, IL. We had a great time shopping and found some great buys. My favorites were my first ever designer purses. I should have just bought one, but once I had one in my hands I couldn't stop and ended up with 4!! They had a Dooney and Bourke Outlet. When Brandy and I walked in they gave us a scratch off and when I scratched it off I had a 40% off of a new item coupon. So, I got a purse from the summer and a new purse. At Coach Outlet we had to wait outside like we were waiting to go to a club. They had the red rope and everything. It was snowing/sleeting and we stood out there waiting our turn. I found the cutest Coach purse It was so crazy in there. Then we went to Kate Spade and I fell in love with this little clutch. That was my crazy purse weekend. The rest of the weekend with Brandy was great, but it was so nice to have someone to go shopping with. I really miss that!

BRRRRRRRR!

Well, winter seems to be almost here. We are now getting dark around 4:30 pm and it continues to get earlier and earlier. I feel like we live in a cave because we never get to see daylight. It is barely light out when I go to work and it is already dark by the time I leave. I didn't sign up for this! Also, we have had snow twice ALREADY. When do we get to move back to TX?? The scary thing is it is only the beginning of November! My advice is to never move North. We have spent so much money on winter clothes because you have to have two sets. One for when it is like winter in Dallas and one for when you think you are going to die from the -20 wind chill! Thankfully we haven't hit that yet but everyone keeps telling us it is around the corner. Sorry for the rambling, but I had to vent!

Our New Condo

John and I purchased a condo in downtown Chicago in September. We have currently been painting and unpacking. This is our third time to move this year, so we are going a little slower than we should. Now I am at the point of pulling my hair out if we don't get it done soon!!

Stoney LaRue Concert

John and I went to the Stoney LaRue concert at Joe's Bar last Thursday. It was the best concert I have ever been to!! There weren't very many people there (because there aren't very many people who like country music in this city) so we got to be REALLY close! The concert was 3 hours long and included an acoustic set in the middle of the concert. At the end they were all jamming out and Stoney told the crowd to get close and then he crowd surfed! I held up his back (with John's help)!