FINE. UPDATE.

Wow, lots of things to say and tell you (Emily, my sole reader) about.

Current Living Situation: My new apartment is, well, I'll just call it charming. It has lots of character. Eventually I will take pictures and post them, as I am too lazy to describe it to you. My roommate is now Nital (who I lived with the first two years of college, as well), so we came into Loyola together, as blind roommates, and we'll leave very close friends. Those are the kinds of things you hear older cousins and parents telling you about- the lifelong friends you make in college and at jobs, but you don't realize those people are happening to you while you're living in that moment. But I've realized it, and I'm glad for it.

Anyways, we have a two bedroom, one bathroom third-floor walk-up apartment with really great light (weird that I notice things like that, but seriously- the place glows), and a cute little dining room off the living room where I sit and do all my great thinking (i.e. homework). Milo loves sitting in the windows, and watching the children in the playground right next to our building.

The Neighborhood: And on that topic- we live right next to a Waldorf school- I don't know exactly what a Waldorf school is, but I do know what at 8am in the morning, Monday through Friday, when parents drop off their preschoolers and the children become upset (throwing tantrums/crying/screaming/wailing), the teachers do not comfort them. In fact, they ignore them. On several occasions, after literally a full hour of a child having a fit, waking me up a little too early, and keeping me awake, I have wanted to stick my head out my window and yell something along the lines of, "*&*^(& ()*(&^)( it! Somebody *^&%@# talk to that ^%*!!# kid! Can't you ^&%#!$% see that he's *^%$^&% upset and that ignoring him may not be the best **&%&$#@# solution?" As of yet, I have refrained. It is hard to do homework at home during the day, because the kids are very loud and it seems like they are ALWAYS on recess. Nital and I have a running joke about how many fucking recesses these kids get a day. They are NEVER inside. They just play in the sand and flip around the jungle gym. And scream, a lot.

Technology: In other news, I believe it was about 17 months ago when I made a post about Steve Jobs keynote and the revealing of the iPhone, and how I claimed I would save up and buy one when they came out. Well, it is September of 2008, and I finally have one. George's aunt had one, and wanted the new 3G, so she said I could have her old one. It came by UPS on tuesday and I haven't stopped playing with it since. Okay, I knew they were cool before, I'd played with them at the Apple store and seen the demos- but you seriously cannot understand the awesomeness that is the iPhone until you have one to play with for a few hours without interruption. It is absolutely the most amazing gadget on the planet. The only things they could add to it to make it even cooler would be a camera so you could video chat from the iPhone, or a glucose meter for diabetics. Then, it would seriously be the end all to gadgetry. There would be no other need for any mobile device. The only times I've been on my computer since Tuesday were to type something for class. The iPhone is fucking spectacular, and all it took to add it to my plan was my original sim card and $20/month for the internet service and 200 text messages (so, I already pay $15 extra/month for my texting plan, but can get rid of that because of the new iPhone package- which means that I upgraded to the iPhone and only pay $5 more/month).

Back to the Neighborhood: Enough about that. The kids are at recess right now (obviously) and I just heard a bunch of them yelling, "Everybody was doing it! Everybody was doing it!" and then one, lone voice yell above them all, "Everybody was kung fu fighting!" These kids are about 9, so where they are picking up old crap like that is beyond me, but very entertaining at the same time.

Work and School: I am taking 18 hours at Loyola and working 35-40 hours a week at CPK. I'm putting 100 times the effort into school than I have in the past three years because I would really like to 4.0 this semester- I never have because I've never really cared about perfect grades, but I'd like to, just once, in order to restore the academic faith my parents once had in me. With 18 credits and full time at the restaurant, I rarely see my friends or do normal college kid things. I am in bed by 10:30 and up at 7am on most days. I have class Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and then normally work doubles on Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday. Sometimes I don't have to work doubles on Friday, but I'm so tired on those days I don't take advantage of my time off and I just go home and nap. I am finally at the point in my job where I can tell my managers what I am going to do, rather than asking, (also, I don't know if I've updated you on this, but I am now a bartender) and have began doing homework during the dead hours at work. I'll stand behind the bar and read, or just sit down at a table with a cup of coffee and get through as much as I can. My managers don't mind- two out of the three are really laid back and like me a lot, and the third is a wackjob going through a mid-life crisis, so he's vulnerable and I take advantage of that.

***A few weeks ago I got a package in the mail, but had no idea who had sent it. I opened it up, and it was a diamond ring. I noticed it was from Overstock.com, and realized that it was probably sent by my grandma, who is obsessed with the site. I called her, and she said, "Yes, it's fake, but I heard you are a bartender and you should wear that to make sure men don't hit on you!" It's actually a very pretty ring, and it made Nital give funny looks to her boyfriend, whom she is trying to convince that they should be married before the age of 24. I wear it at work, simply because I can and because I think it's pretty. I've only been hit on once since working there, and it was by a guy who was the most cliche nerd you can imagine. I just know that at age 23, his bedroom walls are plastered with Star Wars posters and his closets are stocked with NIB action figures.

"Ali, I have to ask, is that ring real, and if it isn't, my next question is: What are you doing tonight?"

Love life: I have one. That is all you need to know. I am going to South Carolina to see him in two weeks. He'll be back here for Halloween weekend for my birthday and to meet my parents.

Travels: George and I bought tickets to go see my Aunt Theresa and stay at her Inn in Greenwich, Connecticut. We've been talking about taking this trip for about three years, so the fact that we finally get to go is really, really exciting. I can't wait for him to see the place and meet my Aunt Theresa- she is quite the east coast moneybags character. Loves her to death. She calls me, "Babe," and wears Gucci and Manolos. She's very hip. Actually, I only knew her when I was younger, probably up until I was 5 or 6, and then didn't see her again until I was 18, but before I met her, my mom said that I am very much like her. But anyways- George and I are going into the city with the main goal of finding the camera crew for Gossip Girl (well, that's my main goal) and watching them film for a little bit. He has some friends in the city who we'll hook up with, and we have also planned a trip to Canal Street. Other than that, plans include sitting on the porch of the Inn, dressed like east coasters, drinking French 75's and hand-squeezed Cosmos. The barman, Astley, makes the best drinks I have ever tasted, and I can't wait to get back to that man.

Sorry I was boring. You asked for an update.

loving Chicago,
amk

"Phone Mail Safari iPod"
-the bottom menu of my iPhone!!