Thankful Friday : Carpe Diem

Today's Thankful Friday post is a little somber. I called my parents at lunch like I do every day. But instead of our usual banter and lightheartedness, I found out that my uncle who has been battling cancer is deteriorating rapidly and will likely pass within days. To add to an already sad situation, we also found out today that my dad's niece has an aggressive form of breast cancer- she is only 29. In the wake of all this bad news, I'm flying home tomorrow to be with and support my family. I couldn't in good conscience be 2,000 miles away at a time like this.

So in spite of the tragedy that seems to be looming over my family right now, I am thankful. Thankful for the health of the rest of my relatives. Thankful for the wellness of my friends and colleagues. Thankful to work with people who have stepped up and relieved me of my professional duties so that I can be with loved ones during a dark hour.

I'm posting this for the sole purpose to remind us all that life is short and that we can't take people for granted. So if you haven't already done so today, pick up the phone and tell your family you love them. Tell your friends what they mean to you. Don't let a day go by without doing so, because you never know what can happen tomorrow. Relish in every day and opportunity you're given. Don't let moments pass you by. Live life to the fullest, work hard, and have a damn good time doing it.

Thanks to everyone for your kind words, thoughts, and prayers. Now go give someone a hug and call that person you've been meaning to.

With love,
Alessia



A political move that needs to be aborted.

Although a huge part of my life in my younger years, I'm not too political anymore. Not because the issues don't matter, but because at the end of the day, it seemed like a huge waste of energy. But a recent vote in the House is enough to snap me out of my apathetic state.

This past Friday, the House passed an amendment that will take away Planned Parenthood's federal funding. While it's true that PP offers abortion services, it is a law that this procedure cannot be performed with federal funds. Instead, this loss of funding will take family planning and preventive health services away from those who need it most. This is going to mean more unwanted and unplanned pregnancies for people who neither want nor can care for these children. Which in turn is going to lead to a higher need for welfare to support these families, higher rates of preventable diseases (such as STDs and cervical cancer), and a likely higher crime rate due to an increase in a population that is desperate and living on the fringe of society.

Aside from the societal woes that stem from the Right legislating its purported morals, it is extremely disconcerting that elected officials think they have the right to tell Americans what we can or can't do with our bodies. Bottom line is, if I want to have sex, I'm going to, regardless of what Chris Smith and the rest of the demagogues on the Hill make into law. And I should have access to birth control, condoms, and STD screenings so I can do it safely, regardless of whether or not I can afford these resources. It is a primal instinct to want and act on that urge, and people are going to have sex no matter what the law says or what their income level is. Might as well make available ways for them to do so responsibly.

Regardless of what side of the aisle you're on, it can't be argued that taking away these reproductive resources is going to serve a higher purpose. Cutting PP's legs out from under them will not mean the end to abortion. If only politicians would worry less about making their beliefs into law and more about bettering the lives and circumstances of the American people.

If you'd like to sign an open letter to Congress

pleading with them to stop this amendment, click here.

Thankful Friday

Since I am still entirely sleep deprived and running on fumes thanks to last weekend and work/social engagements all week, I couldn't be happier that it's Friday. Though quite a departure from Vegas debauchery and rocking out to Kaskade with Saudi princes, I have high hopes for this weekend. For once I have Saturday off, and I plan to make the most of it and take in some of the great offerings that Chicago has right now. Here are a few things I'm excited about for this weekend...

The Chicago Auto Show. I've loved cars ever since I was little, thanks to my dad and his affinity for German automotives. I'm really looking forward to seeing the concept cars and anything European, though it's sure to make me miss having wheels of my own.

The last day with my Benzie. The silver lining to not having a car- it may have been stylish, smelled better than the L or the 156, and didn't transport bums (with the exception of a certain ex-boyfriend)... but at least I don't have to sit in traffic or pay $3.50+ a gallon now.

Restaurant Week! Since there is really nothing that I enjoy more than eating, I plan to take full advantage, beginning with lunch at the Chicago Firehouse before the Auto Show tomorrow. Look at that menu... my mouth is already watering.

A hot date. I'd be looking forward to the aforementioned activities regardless, but the fact that I'm going with a great and attractive guy that I have a lot of fun with (and who is actually considerate!) definitely sweetens the deal.

Friend dates. Working two jobs can make it difficult to see your friends, especially the ones who have schedules and social calendars just as full as yours. I'm really looking forward to seeing Matt and Dailey this weekend and finally getting to catch up with them.

Dailey flabongo-ing last summer. Obviously she is one of my favorites.

 Though this weekend is going to lack the amount of rest I so desperately need, I can't wait for 5:00 so I can get it started. Hope you all have a wonderful weekend!


**UPDATE**
This Friday, I'm also thankful for drinks over lunch with Lou (at Chipotle, of course).



{Someone bring me coffee.}

Vegas-ing for Valentine's

It's back to reality after what was possibly the best trip to Vegas I've taken yet. A few days spent with some of my best girlfriends was an incredible way to spend Valentine's weekend. Especially due to how this vacation came to fruition. One of the girls had purchased a plane ticket to head out to Vegas with her boyfriend and a few other couples. When they broke up in December, the rest of us decided there was no way she could let a flight to Sin City go to waste, and so we tacked on and made it a girls trip. When life gives your best friend lemons, you make lemonade with her.

{The Vegas Dream Team.}

While recapping our evening on Saturday morning, I joked that Jenny, Elisa, Liz, and I are the Vegas Dream Team (minus Jacqueline and Brianne of course). We spent the entire weekend frolicking around The Strip, laughing and having the best time together, and getting the royal treatment. I think you would be troubled to find girls who are as fun loving and drama free as we are, and I'm convinced it's this vibe and Elisa's swag that get us ridiculously hooked up every time we go to Sin City.

I told Elisa that I can't go to Vegas without her. Being the smart, confident, and attractive girl that she is, she gets us whatever we want. Normally I enjoy leading the charge when it comes to planning things and going out, but I take a total backseat on weekends like this because Elisa just gets it done. For instance, Friday night we're heading to Haze, the nightclub at Aria where we already have a table comped, when we walk past Marquee. A VIP host spots Elisa and asks if there's anything he can do for her. She replies by saying, "Comp me a table." This was followed by a "right this way" and being ushered into the newest, best club in Vegas. We're placed at the best table in the house and given drinks. Once the guy who reserved the table shows up, we decide he's not who we want to hang with that night, and we instead link up with some Midwestern boys at a table right behind us. They were very friendly and hospitable, and didn't seem to care that they weren't going to get any from us. I think that's the best thing about the way we do Vegas. A lot of girls would have to put out to get taken care of the way we do. But us, we just get dolled up and keep it real and that's enough.

The area we were in was shared with another table, and the guy who reserved it just sold his company to Google for $300 million. Obviously, he was in the mood to party. After sharing his bottle of Grey Goose with us in the form of vodka waterfalls into everyone's mouths, our party of four began to diminish. Poor Jenny hadn't drank in a month because of grad school, so she was first to bite the dust. We had a bouncer put her in a cab and kept partying. And then there were three.

{Liz and me at Marquee.}

After leaving the Chicago boys' table in search of greener pastures, we went out to the pool area to say hi to a few college friends who also happened to be there. We weren't outside for even ten minutes when the VIP host who brought us into the club comes up to Elisa and says, "You and your girls need to come to the owner's table." My arm didn't need much of a twist. I certainly don't mind ending my night drinking Veuve with the club's owner. Shortly after our arrival at the table, however, the booze starts to catch up to Liz. She decides to send herself home and ends up loitering around the Cosmopolitan casino for an hour while Elisa and I continue to imbibe. And then there were two.

After some more Veuve, I look at Elisa and tell her I'm doing everything I can to keep it together but am basically a ticking time bomb. I've been socially drinking long enough to tell when the wheels are about to come off the bus, and so we made our exit. While leaving, we realize we never heard from Liz that she made it back to our hotel. We call her and she picks up, and I realize she is stumbling walking right in front of us. We rejoice over our miraculous reunion and head for late night food.

{Fat Tuesday is not a hangover cure once you're older than 22. We cut our losses.}



{Kaskade at Marquee. Absolutely amazing.}

Saturday was straight up recovery mode. We finally managed to day drink in hopes of feeling better and walked around The Strip a bit. Unfortunately, the diabetic-shock-inducing 190 Octanes we got didn't exactly cure our hangovers, and it took all of us except Elisa until about 1 AM to stop feeling awful. I felt so lousy that I nursed a Ketel soda for about two hours. (Does that mean I'm getting old?)

Finally, conditions began to improve, and just as I'm feeling better, we end up at the table of Saudi princes. At the table they had magnums of Patron, Goose, and the biggest bottles of Veuve and Perrier Jouet that I have ever seen. Bottles at that table are priced at $3,000 and above, so I can only imagine what their final tab must have been.

Based on my preconceptions of Saudi culture, I figured these guys would be stiffs, but I couldn't have been more wrong. At one point, one of them made an ice luge out of the ice bucket scoop- filling it with ice, putting it up to his mouth, and simultaneously pouring Goose and Red Bull into it and down the hatch. He was like the Macgyver of binge drinking.

But the best thing about these guys was their generosity. I suppose that's easy when you've got billions in oil money to throw around, but they could've been the typical creeps who want lots of girls at their table to increase their odds of getting laid. Instead, they didn't bother us at all and just wanted fun girls to be around their table, having a great time and drinking champagne. And aside from the fact that we were partying with Saudi princes which is cool enough in itself, we were now front and center for Kaskade who was spinning at Marquee that night. Since I hadn't drank much, it was like being a fly on the wall. Most everyone around you at 3 AM has the lights on but no one home, and seeing the way people act at a Vegas club when you're sober is very entertaining to say the least. Not a bad way to spend my last night in Vegas, especially considering it meant feeling spry for my Sunday morning flight.

Aside from how great it was to be around three of my absolute favorite friends, this was a trip for the books and I can't wait to go back.

The Sweet Escape

Tonight I will leave the frigid weather of Chicago behind for a (relatively) warm and debaucherous weekend in Vegas. This trip is timed perfectly for two reasons: 1) we are on the downhill side of winter and a weekend away to somewhere not reminiscent of Siberia will help me power through these last cold months, and 2) there's no better way to celebrate Singles Awareness Weekend than with some of your best girlfriends in Sin City.

Being on the cusp of a fun filled weekend has me feeling nostalgic of past Vegas trips. Back when I lived in California and a stone's throw away from Vegas, I would go multiple times a year. I went nine times in 2007 alone, spending two full weeks there in July. I love that city and the stories from my weekend stints there are numerous. Since what happens in Vegas winds up on Facebook (and the blogosphere), here are a few of my favorite stories and photo memories.

Memory 1: "Stuck in Your Traps"



This trip took place in March of 2009 and was my last trip to Vegas done right. On the night pictured, Elisa (far right) worked her magic and we were whisked away to a VIP table at Body English where we enjoyed free bottle service (I love being a girl in Vegas!). This was the same night that Jenny (far left) invented a very coordinated and sexy dance move known as "snaking." Jenny will be joining us this weekend so I will be sure to document said dance moves. Snaking stopped Jacqueline (center) right in her tracks, a saying which she confused to be "stuck in your traps." The other great part about this trip was that all of my USD friends were there as well. All in all, a great trip with great people.

{Liz, Pat, Nick and me at Moon. A fraction of the USD contigent there that weekend.}

Memory 2: Rhythm Divine



This was possibly one of my all time favorite trips to Sin City. Not only did we get to sit at Enrique Iglesias' table at Tao and drink with him, we also met Jaslene (winner of one of the 500 cycles of America's Next Top Model) and Shontrese (pictured above), a preschool teacher who moonlights as a stripper. I have no idea why we wound up going into The Bank with her, but it made for a few good laughs the next morning. This was also a weekend when Brianne suffered from narcolepsy (pictured below).

Memory 3: The Best Sunday Funday of All Time



On a trip during summer of 2008, we made a spontaneous decision to bar hop down the strip at the close of our weekend. This was the day of the Euro Cup Semifinal between Italy and Spain, and Italy's demise also ended up being my own. Our oh-so-kind waiter at ESPN Zone helped me drown my misery during penalty kicks, and before I knew it we were barely making our flight out that night. (Not because we didn't get to the airport in time, but because I couldn't tear myself away from the slot machines at McCarran to board the plane.) Anyway, it was one of the most fun Sundays I've ever had... thrilled that I will be with both of these girls this weekend!

{"Proud to be an American" was playing during the Bellagio water show and Elisa felt compelled to rock out.}

Memory 4: It's All About the Benjamins

This was during the infamous July that I spent two full weeks in LV. This time, the occasion was my roommate Jackie's 21st birthday. With plenty of gambling money and poorly made jello shots in tow, this was one hell of a trip. Jack- we need to do this again soon. Perhaps for the 4th anniversary of your 21st?

Memory 5: "I thought Vegas was like LA on crack?"

This trip was in January 2007 for my friend Rachel's 21st birthday. She's a personal stylist and being dressed for the occasion is paramount. Having never been to Vegas, she thought the level of glamour was "like LA on crack." Thus the hat, heels, and Chanel. This trip for Zimmy's birthday was awesome and we didn't stop laughing the entire time.



{With about half of our Alpha Phi chapter and Rachel's boss aka our sugar daddy.}

Well, I suppose that's a long enough trip down memory lane. I can't wait to cause a ruckus with Elisa, Liz, and Jenny this weekend. Updates to come on Monday or whenever I recover!

If misery loves company, I'd like to RSVP.

Last week Forbes Magazine released its annual list of America's 20 Most Miserable Cities. Chicago is listed as No. 7 due in part to high sales tax, violent crime, and Jay Cutler's arm.

Sure, Chicago has its downsides. Thunder snow and 6 degree weather that "feels like -12" aren't exactly mood elevators, nor is the sales tax rate of 9.75%. (At least it's not still 10.25% like it was when I took up residency here, though we are nevertheless tied with LA and Oakland for the highest rate in the US.) There's also the Cubs' 102 year World Series drought to lament, as well as a recent income tax hike thanks to the ne'er-do-well politicians in Springfield. But despite some valid reasons for our rank on the metropolitan misery index, I can't help but feel a little insulted by our spot on the list.

Forbes considers ten quantifiables when creating the ranking. They include unemployment, tax rates, crime, commute times, political corruption, housing prices and foreclosure rates, and the recent success of local sports teams. I suppose these are all valid factors to consider for a ranking like this, but I'd argue that there are significant points that Forbes is overlooking. In my humble opinion as a content Chi-town resident, here are a few reasons why this city is far from miserable:

• Bars per capita. Chicago has more taverns and bars per resident than any other major American city. Not to mention that we've got a microbrewery scene worthy of respect. Hard to be too miserable when you have endless nightlife and libation options.

• Chicagoans love to have fun. We dye our river green for St. Patrick's Day, a holiday with no other significance than an excuse to get shamelessly liquored up sans judgment. I think that's proof in and of itself.

{Jackie, Shannon, and me on St. Patty's day last year.}

• Active young professionals abound. I can't quantify this without the help of the Census Bureau, but based on observation, the fountain of youth may very well be in Chicago. Everywhere you go, there are (mostly) attractive twenty and thirty-somethings shopping, drinking, and out being active. We love sports, are career oriented, and know how to party. What a welcome departure from the cougar-ridden landscape that I left behind in Orange County!

• Summertime. There may not be a data point to reflect it, but there is no better place in the world than Chicago when it's warm. I don't know how anyone could argue differently. You can bronze at the beach, enjoy world class shopping and dining, catch a baseball game at the biggest bar in the world (who cares if the Cubs suck, there's no better way to spend a summer day than drinking beer in the Wrigley bleachers), and enjoy outdoor street and music festivals every weekend (speaking of which, Lolla is going to be amazing this year!)... and all while being surrounded by Midwestern charm. This place has a vibe about it in the summer that no amount of unfavorable data can take away from.

{Kicking off summer 2010 - boating Memorial Day weekend.}

• Sports. Despite frequently enduring heartbreak, Chicago is a great place for sports lovers. Forget about the Cubs choking in 2008 or having Steve Bartman shit on their 2003 World Series berth. Forget about Cutler being too big of a wuss to finish out the NFC Championship game and contributing to a loss against our arch-rivals, the Packers. We've still got the Blackhawks and the Sox (both with recent championships), the Bulls, and plenty of upcoming events to look forward to. And even when our teams underperform, at least their games and stadiums make great drinking venues. It also helps that we've got great sports legacies to sustain us during losing seasons.

{Angels v. Cubs series at Wrigley last year with the Cali kids.}

I doubt my reasons for loving this city will garner much enthusiasm from the middle-aged suburbanite with three kids, a long commute, and an upside down mortgage. But for me- the car-less, fun-loving, night-crawling runner and sports enthusiast- sweet home Chicago is anything but miserable.

New Beginnings

Hello darling readers. Sorry I've been a bit lax with posting lately. Everything I've written in the last couple weeks I ultimately decided not to publish to the world wide web. Since I had the brilliant idea of putting my full name in this blog's web address, I have to censor myself more than I'd like to. Especially since I will soon begin the hunt for a new job! (Can't have my future employer read all about my dating triumphs and disasters, now can I?)

This past Friday, I finally put my money where my mouth is and had a chat with my office boss about how unhappy and bored I am here. It was really a great conversation- she understood completely and knew I wasn't going to make a career out of being an admin. We plotted out my exit timeline and I will cease to be a full-time employee here come April 6. I'll then go part-time until the end of May, just to get the firm through a few big events that are coming up.

Even though I'm really excited, part of me is pretty nervous. I've been fairly conservative with my spending habits lately, but I still don't have the level of wealth amassed that would allow me to comfortably job hunt without needing to rush into anything. My game plan is to find another job in the hospitality industry and just bankroll this summer... and then hopefully I will begin the corporate job of my dreams come fall! I hope another serving gig will allow me the breathing room to take my time with the job hunt and not settle for the first thing that promises a paycheck. I'll keep you all posted on the job search, and if you know of anything PR or marketing related, please send it my way!