Chicago and bondage

What a great weekend!

Saturday, I decided to drive out and meet Kirk and Heather at Brynn and Casey's in Chicago. I hadn't seen them since the Pirate Party nearly 9 months ago and I was well overdue for a road trip, so why not? It was perfect driving weather too - blue skies and warm sun, with plenty of CDs and a Red Bull for good measure. Somehow I actually managed to conquer the city traffic, pick up Heather, Brynn, and Kirk from downtown, and find FREE parking in the city on a beautiful Sat. afternoon. I knew right then that it was going to be a fine weekend. We met up with Steve H in "boystown" and walked down the rainbow-laden street and stopped in every bondage shop in town, tried on drag-queen-sized (runs larger than normal - go figure) corsets, gawked at dildos bigger than the size of my arm (hi mom! pretend you didn't read that) and dreamed of the day when we can afford to be hot. Apparently it's expensive to be hot; I saw thongs with less material than a wallet going for over $100.  I personally don't want to pay that much money to have a cow product wedged up my ass. I didn't come home empty handed, but hopefully I'll have a good pic to post of what I bought soon. ;)

The Chinese-Vietnamese food place in boystown was great. Have to remember to go back there! Before Kirk had a chance to pass out, we went back to Brynn and Casey's. I love their apartment - anyone with orange walls in their bedroom is awesome in my book. We ended up staying up until the wee hours of the morning sharing ghost stories, hauntings, lucid dreaming, and well anything else in those categories. It's great to know I'm not the only one that used to be able to control my dreams 100%, and I'm not the only one that just lost it one day. In honor of that conversation, I am adding a lucid dreaming link to my page. I need to work on getting that skill back... But I suppose you need to SLEEP to dream, and I've never been good at that part. ;)

Casey made strudle in the morning and Brynn whipped out her fiddle. I had such a great time, and I never realized how cool Chicago is. I've only always been to the touristy expensive parts, but I would love to live in some of those northern areas. The houses and lofts are so great... I don't think I'll ever make up my mind where I want to live though, so that's my whim of the week.

I had a hockey game this evening, so I specifically left early Sunday just so I could make it. I missed last week, and we only have 3 more games, so I really wanted to play! But stupid me got stuck in traffic and got home too late. I was really really pissed at myself; the only reason I left was for that game, otherwise I could have spent another evening visiting them. Grrr. I messed up. At least I got to watch the Wings game and the Sopranos. And during the drive home, the Columbus Fire Crew was playing "tag" with me in the stop and go traffic. Hot firefighter pulls up and checks me out; they get stopped; I smile and pull forward. Repeat.

Tomorrow I am going to get Mark Mowers (Red Wings player) autograph for my brother. Supposedly he's young and hot so I agreed to go again for my bro. Oh darn, please don't make me see an attractive hockey player, I hate those guys! (woops, was that sarcasm??) Tues I get to go to the Wings game, Wednesday is my favorite holiday of the year (and yes, I am Irish so I have to make my kinsfolk proud), hopefully Thurs I am going out with city boys to celebrate my newfound employment, then Friday I will take off on another roadtrip. This time, somewhere warm and sunny. We were thinking North Carolina but I guess there isn't much hiking to do in the Outer Banks... not sure where to go! We didn't want to drive too far but maybe we should try the Gulf Coast of Florida?

If I had a bedtime, I'm sure it would be well past it right now. Woops. I finally got my freelance writing "how-to" book, so I guess I'm feeling inspired to keep the words coming. But I suppose I should go to sleep and practice dreaming some more.

Roll out!

Another successful night of Texas hold 'em!

Jeff had a pretty good turn out too - the pot was up to $46 or something, I think we had about 12 people playing? Not sure, all I know is that "Dos Equis" turned into "Muchos Equis" if you know what I mean. Apparently I have skill in poker that I didn't know existed. It's not the type of skill that will make me rich, but it's enough to keep me ahead. Came home this week in second place once again, with $14 more than I started with. Which means that I am currently around $24 ahead. I think I just lack the patience to battle it out for first place. Ok, so I thought Chris was bluffing and took a silly risk... but I really wanted it to be over sooner than later. Really. <wink>

That's a lot of money in my eyes. That's the difference between drinking $1.50 Labatts only during Wings games, or a big fat Guiness whenever I please. It's the difference between seeing a new movie or whipping out Slapshot for the 20th time. It's more than a tank of gas for my little Focus. And I'm gonna need that gas money... Since I am going to Chicago tomorrow (today? gee, it's almost 3am. woops.)!!!

Kirk and Heather are already there visiting Brynn and Casey, and I really would like to see them so this is my best chance to go out and visit. I haven't been to Chicago in a few years now; not since Tara and I tore up the town for my family reunion, running around the streets of the Windy City during a rain shower in cute little tanktops and shorts! Although I'll have less than 24 hrs to play with them, it's well worth the drive!

Hopefully I'll have some good stories to post on here when I get back. :)

high heels

Yeah, I have this... fetish I guess?... for high heels. I don't mean just any high heels either. Man, I'm such a girl. For years, I always scoffed at women with a million pairs of shoes. I always had 2-3: running shoes, hiking boots, and something casual (Dr. Martens). For special occassions I had a few pairs of heels I shared with my sisters, but they were conservative. For some reason though, I have this newfound love for high heels.

Maybe cuz they show off my legs? Maybe because I'm taller?

Or maybe it's just cuz I think they're HOT. So I bought a new pair today, it's the 3rd picture on here, it has black upper and wooden sole. Believe it or not, that picture of the 6 inch heel is the most comfortable pair I have ever wore. No kidding. Wore them for hours to a party; needless to say, everybody wanted to try them on.

I love ankle straps, which I why I bought the other pair I have a picture of on here, but it's not very comfortable. Woops. Maybe I'll sell them to someone with a fetish on ebay.

There's two more pairs I am really digging right now, both at Victoria's Secret. One is another pair of black heels that you tie around your ankle, and the other pair is a casual khaki colored wedge with an ankle tie also. Can't decide between the two, but I know I will end up buying one. Maybe both, now that I have a job. I don't blow my money on many things, but my willpower is  no match for hot shoes.

makes me feel a little better...

Well, according to this, Michigan is the 3rd hardest state to get a job right now.

Phew, that makes me feel a lot better (sarcasm).

Not much else new, had a fun evening of skunked beer and intense conversation last night, then was happily greeted by a big red salt truck on my way home. Had to stop and chat of course - which probably looks pretty odd, my little green focus parked behind a plow truck, just sitting there with our lights on but not actually moving. Marc is such an ass but he's still fun anyway. Sortof.

I might be heading out to Chicago this weekend. It's a lot of driving for just one night, but it's worth it - I haven't seen Brynn or Casey in a long time!

Well gotta go feed my shoe fetish - I need a decent pair of buisnessy type heels since all my shoes are slutty stilettos or strappy vixen sandals. Hee hee. Too bad Victoria's Secret has some hot new ones that lace up the ankle. Meow, baby!

living off of "potential"

well, i said yes to the job after drilling him on the details.

at first, there won't be benefits, sick days or vacation days. so i tried to negotiate and see if he would pay a higher hourly wage to make up for it. he refused and said he wanted to start me at $12 and see how it works out, a "probationary" period. i can take sick days and vacation days but they will be unpaid for now.

however i was very persistent about benefits and how i need to be able to make enough money to support myself. he was understanding and is "very open to  negotiations as things get underway". he said that the company will not provide benefits, but in maybe 6 months or so we can negotiate a higher salary to cover the costs of benefits, or maybe get some paid vacation and sick. I guess it all depends on how well I negotiate. ;)

I wasn't going to accept the job, because the thought of having a "career" that lasts forever but doesn't have benefits makes me nervous. however, he told me straight up that as the company grows (he just got a bunch of new jobs from
wayne county and the city of detroit that will last years) he wants me to be his right-hand (wo)man, and he anticipates in 3 years, we will be so busy that we'll
have to hire a secretary to take over part of my job, while I get more into the consulting end of things. He kept saying that the "potential is unbelieveable" and
that he promises I'll make lots more money as I am taken under his wing.

Well, maybe I'm gullible but that's good enough for me. I'll give it a try. If I get offered the zoo job, I'll tell him I need a pay raise or benefits, or I am
walking. ;)

In the meantime, I need to figure out what is "business casual" for that conference in Grand Rapids. Fortunately, my everyday work outfit is jeans and anything I can get dirty while playing in the greenhouse. :)