Good Bye Chicago

It is Sunday and we are leaving Chicago on Tuesday. I feel much better than I felt in my previous entry, even though the end of our stay is almost here.

We have been able to go back to the beach since the weather is very nice again and it makes me feel so good. I really missed that, it was kind of a mood setter for the hole day. Swimming is very relaxing and bathing in lake Michigan feels like becoming one with it and the city. It must sound silly. But when I am in the water, I realize that I am HERE, in Chicago. I have nothing to worry about, really. 

Usually when I go back to France in October, I am buried in bills and taxes, but for once I still have money in my bank account and will be able to pay for everything. First time ever.

For the first time in a very long time I also go back to a steady job.

The only thing I have to worry about right now is how am I going to pack all the stuff I bought here in my  suitcase and take it to the airport.

Not even a real problem. ;)

Like a reflex, I would be tempted to say that I am going to miss the apartment we are in a lot. But when I think about it, it is not true at all. I think it is a nice apartment and I really made it my own for a month but I will not miss it one bit.

Sorry about the mess. :p 

A few days ago I was really excited about sharing pictures of the place but I realized I didnt have any real stories about it. It is just a place we slept at for a month and spread our stuff all over.

It is located in Old Town Chicago. Last year, the place we rented was in Lake View East and the neighborhood was awesome. Bookstore, tons of cool places to eat, my favorite record store ever: Reckless Records, the lake was close.... so many little things. But this time, we did not click as much with the area. That is really OK because it is close from erything. Everything is 30mn away walking, the Loop, Lake View, Wicker Park. All the places we love. And we have a very nice beach 10mn away.

But still, it did not do the trick for us.

I had a really fun time. I did a lot of things I really wanted to do. Last Thursday we have been to Blue Chicago, a bar on Clark street with live music. I have been wanting to go to this place for a long time and last year we almost went but backed out at the very last minute when we were at the door. 

That is really something I can cross off my bucket list now.

So many other new things, new restaurants, new walks, new beach...

 I got a tattoo by a different artist. Usually when I come to Chicago, I always get a tattoo by Jacob Kearney.  I have 5 pieces by him. But this time I needed to change.

I think that is the bottom line. As much as I love Chicago, I need a change. I want to see something else now. I guess that is why I have been feeling weird for the last few days. I slowly came to realize it was time to turn the page, at least for a while.

We have been talking about going to Portland, Oregon next year with Greg. It seems lovely and fun.

But for now, it is good bye Chicago. And I dont even feel sad about it.

One Week Left In Chicago...

Here we are, just another week left in Chicago. Usually by now I can not wait to go back home but this time my heart is breaking a little at the thought of leaving.

I wish I could have made posts on this blog about our every day life these past 3 weeks because it has been really sweet.( But I don't have a laptop and I wouldn't have been able to upload pictures from my camera on here, and I don't really see the point of posting pictures from my tablet for a whole month.)

The only remotely bad day I had was yesterday. It was sunday and we decided to stay at the apartment, it should have been a great day for me to sew and draw but I felt uninspired. Oh well, that's OK but I guess that's why I'm feeling quite confused and meh today.

It's funny how the first week of our stay went by so slowly. We went to the beach every morning and visited Chicago the rest of the day. That was awesome. Then we got tattooed Greg and I and it was over with the beach. The weather got pretty bad so we wouldn't have gone to the beach anyway. Our 'healthy' routine went out the window though and we didn't find nor did we look for something else to replace it. But again, that's OK. We did tons of cool stuff and had so much fun.

I did a lot of things I wanted to do here. I tried a bunch of different American wines. I worked at my sewing, not as much ass I wanted to but I guess I could never sew as much as I'd like. :p 

I've finally been to Hobby Lobby again. It was quite a trip, we had to walk to the loop, take the L to Rosemont station and then take the 606 bus to the store. One of my main goal, if not my main goal, when I go to the US is to load up on craft supplies, ad this time I scored big time. I got everything I need for this year projects. Everything on my list that is.

I think writing this post, I'm trying to make myself feel better, coming up with an assessment of the days gone by.

As I said usually by this time during my trips I want to go back home. This time it's diffferent. I've been able to work here and it's not usually te case. That's all I want in the end. (When I say work I mean sewing for my online shop.)

When I get home I have a pretty nice life to go back to. I'll be working as a salesperson selling cooking gear in my favorite parisian department store and I'll be working only 3 days a week. My dream job. Not a lot of responsabilities, with people i love, doing something I like. And the rest of the time I plan on visiting my family and friends and of course making my own sewing business grow. I think it's the first time in my life I have a plan. And I also think it's a pretty good plan. Working 3 days a week should cover my basic expanses and I'll have all the time I need to do what I really love on the side.
That's it for today, it's a beautiful day here in Chicago and I can't wait to go outside.
I'll be back shortly with a new post before we leave.
It's funny how I see the posts I write here as souvenirs I'll be able to read when I get home. But in the end, I think I'll really grasp how good was this trip after a few days back home judging on the memories I have of it. Memories, memories... That's all it will be... (Sorry for being so gloomy)