Kayla's Trip, a Precursor

Kayla and I have been traveling all over Chicago the past few days, and we have one more day left tomorrow, so I haven't been able to post anything, but I plan on writing a very long post soon with pictures of our adventures and everything very soon. I'll just say that we got to do everything on the list and more, so it's been a really fun couple of days. We've traveled all over Chicago and the Chicagoland area in search of fun things to do, some of which have been Christmas related. The snow on Saturday was a lot of fun, I got to stand at the bus stop and listen to Christmas music as the snow fell from the sky, and it was amazing. Now I know what all those Christmas songs are about! I think it's going to snow again tomorrow, and possibly on Friday and Saturday right before my mom and brothers come. Anyway though, like I said, I'm going to post a novel here pretty soon about everything we did, and Kayla took a whole bunch of pictures so those of you who don't like to read can still follow along. Expect that soon! Time for bed, I'm exhausted from all the things we've done. Goodnight!

Kayla

I'm about to leave and head to the airport to "pick up" Kayla (ride the train with her), and it couldn't possibly be more picturesque outside. It snowed overnight so the ground is covered in perfect white snow and it's still falling lightly to the ground. I hope this is what it looks like on Christmas Eve, when I make the same trip to pick up my mom and brothers. Anyway, I've gotta put all my good winter clothes on and head that way! Wish me luck, y'all.

P.S. - Kayla (back when we hung out all the time) generally has a camera on her, so there will definitely be pictures from our mini-expeditions over the next few days. Stay tuned!

Winter, Here I Come

I'm finally prepared for winter. This past Sunday (Dec. 4), we were given our manager's discount (which is equal to cost + 10%) for anything we wanted at Sports Authority. Luckily, we were also able to get as much as we wanted, so I went on a little bit of a spree.

I bought things that I have never owned in my life: gloves, a beanie, thermal underwear things and compression wear (a shirt and pants) for running outside in the cold. I also bought some general things that I figured I'd pick up while they were cheap: sweatpants, a hoodie and a pair of socks (regularly priced $13.99 a pair) that are really padded and great for running. That one was just a little extra I added because I wanted to find out for myself why everyone liked them so much and why they would be priced $13.99. Apparently they're better than buying insoles.

The huge deal that would make every bargain hunter proud of me was a North Face coat that'll be my savior from the snow and wind this winter. Regularly priced at exactly $300, I was able to purchase it for $125. The coat that got me through my last Texas winter was generally laughed at when I would explain to Chicagoans that it was, in fact, my heaviest jacket. I knew I would need something heavy and snow-proof, and this was the perfect time to buy something both warm and (relatively) cheap.

Overall, I spent about $330 on $700 worth of merchandise, which I couldn't possibly be happier with. Because of price mark-ups, I was able to get the high quality brands like North Face and Under Armour, and so far everything has worked out really well. Although it's my coldest winter yet (it snowed last night and stuck for the first time), I'm actually surprisingly warm walking in the cold winds. I ran outside for the first time the other day and all of my compression gear kept me really warm, and the socks kept my feet warm and helped with the impact on the sidewalk. I'll have to try them some more before I invest in another pair, though. My favorite purchase (besides the jacket) was the leggings that I can put on under my pants. In Texas, it was so rare that I needed to have something extra on, that I would just wear pajama bottoms under my jeans. Trust me, this is much better.

Hopefully all of my purchases will keep my warm this winter, because if they don't, then it's back to San Antonio! Kidding, of course, but I think I should be just fine. I still can't figure out how to keep my face warm, though, besides those full face masks that I'd rather not wear. I'm sure I'll find a cure soon, though!

My First Visitor!

So, I thought my first visitors would be my mom and brothers, but actually, I have a friend coming up to see me on the 17th!

My friend from college, Kayla, (pictured above) is coming up to see me! I'm really excited for my first visitor, and I requested the days off so we could go do a bunch of Chicago stuff while she's here. We're going to try and go see the Home Alone house, because it's about that time of year. It's only about 20 or 30 minutes north, and I'm pretty sure a train goes there. It's for sale, check it out: http://homealonehome.coldwellbanker.com/

I also want to go to the Lincoln Park Zoo (downtownish) because they have a cool Christmas set up called Zoo Lights. I went the other day for the first time, but the lights weren't on, and I think that would be pretty cool to see. The zoo is completely free, and I didn't even see a gate, so I guess everything is open 24/7, except for the exhibits that are indoors. They have lions and gorillas and everything, but it's located in the middle of the city. It's the weirdest thing.

I'm excited to have someone from Texas coming to see me, and I'm sure some of my homesickness will disappear for a while. It should be a lot of fun! I'll let you know, of course.

Thanksgiving

My first Thanksgiving away from family turned out to be pretty great. I got a little sad at one point in the day because I really missed everyone and wished I could have been in Texas, but after I got to my friend's house, I had a great time.

I was surprised by how traditional my Thanksgiving was, actually. There were about 20 of us (some people I knew and some I didn't), gathered at my friend's apartment with potluck food spread out over the counters. We had baked turkey, green bean casserole, stuffing, corn casserole, mac and cheese, as well as an assortment of desserts (I had made coffee cake). We ate until we couldn't eat anymore and then drank wine and watched the Macy's Parade, which had been DVR'd earlier in the day. After everyone started to get restless we went out to the bar that most of my friends work at, turning it into a true Chicago Thanksgiving.

The best part about Thanksgiving (and the days surrounding it) was that I had the apartment to myself. I pretty much lived on this couch in the living room the past few days, and before this I had probably only sat on this couch twice. There's no TV up here, so there's really nothing to come up here for. So yesterday, I brought my TV up here and watched Home Alone 1 and 2 to get in the Christmas spirit. I'm really excited for Christmas, and having mama and brudders come up!

I hope everyone enjoyed their Thanksgiving! From what I heard (and saw, virtually), everyone did. I wish I could have been there to spend it in Canyon Lake and San Antonio, but there will be many more to come, and I'll be there soon!

The Busiest Guy in All of Chicago

Well, maybe that title's a little exaggerated, but I really do feel like I've been the busiest guy in this city. I don't know if anyone realizes this, but working two jobs is tough! It's hard enough just trying to set up the schedule, because they're made for both jobs on the same day. I'm trying my hardest to be lenient though, which has gotten me into working both jobs each day. This past Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, I worked 10-6 at Sports Authority, followed by 8-? at Marriott. Tuesday it was 8-2 (yes, 2 A.M.) and Wednesday was 8-2:30. Let's just say I'm glad this past week is finally over. Fourteen hour days do not suit me well.

These double shifts have definitely been a character builder though. I feel like, if I were living at home in San Antonio, or even living in Dallas, days like that would have me wanting to quit one of the jobs. Up here in Chicago though, I'm willing to do absolutely anything to make it, and if that means I have a few hard days, I can deal with that. Whether I sink or swim in this city is completely on me, and I'm definitely not about to give up. One day soon I'll be working at my dream job and living comfortably, but right now I'll take what I can get. Plus, the money has been good, and not only can I build up my savings, I can also afford to do the fun things I want to when I'm not working.

I wish I had something fun and exciting to report, like an adventure or some cool place I've been to, but I've been too busy to do anything like that. On my day off, however, I had a surprisingly good time talking to a banker at Chase. I went to their building downtown just to deposit a check and was directed to a banker to find out about direct deposit (which isn't really what I had wanted to do). I ended up spending about an hour there, talking about savings accounts, CDs, direct deposit, how to pay my Wells Fargo credit card from my Chase account, how to get an Illinois driver's license (not sure about that one), and, of course, the weather. She was so nice, and something about the whole experience gave me some sort of holiday cheer. I guess I'm not sure how to explain that one, but it was the best trip to the bank I've ever had, haha. Then I went to pick up Stephen King's new novel, 11/22/63. It's really good so far!

One last note: I'd really like to Skype with everyone on Thanksgiving (like y'all have done with Mark in the past), so if anyone can help set that up, that would be great. I'm not sure where Jake will be, but I'm sure he can bring his laptop wherever and I'll get to see all of y'all's beautiful faces! If not that, I'll definitely be on the phone and I want to talk to each and everyone one of you!

Ok, well I'm all typed-out, but I will talk to everyone on Thursday! Hope everyone is doing well!

A Story

          About one week ago today, I was walking to work per usual and was about halfway to the train stop when it started to rain.
          Oh great, I thought. Just what I need, rain. I don't even have my umbrella!
          As I was just beginning to think about the side effects of cold rain drenching me from head to toe, I looked down and saw tiny white dots speckled amongst the black of my jacket. I took my gloveless hand out of my pocket to brush off whatever lint had attached itself when I realized that maybe it wasn't lint at all.
          What is this?
          The lint seemed not to brush off, but to become absorbed into my jacket. I pulled my hand away, cold and wet, and looked up into the sky.
          No way... could it be?, I speculated.
          It was. Somewhere high about the stratosphere, the freezing temperatures and precipitation (most likely from the lake) had given way to small ice particles, which came down to Chicago as snow. It was now sifting it's way down onto my jacket and the pavement of the street around me. I opened my mouth to the sky to get my first taste of Chicago snow, and could feel the tiny flakes on my face and hands. I noticed people began to look at me funny, so I stopped abruptly and kept walking.
           The miniature flurry lasted until I got onto the train and, looking out of the window, I could tell it was over as quickly as it had started. It was only my first taste of what this winter was going to be like, but it put a smile on my face as I sat on the train, considering what this Chicago winter had in store for me.

(I've been reading a lot lately so I thought I would right this like a story. Sure, it's a little exaggerated, but it really did snow, if only a little. It hasn't snowed since, but it's gotten to be very cold. The days are still beautiful, though, and the sun has been out, even if the wind has too. I think I'm definitely going to need a heavier jacket!)

Actual, Real Update

Okay, so here I am for real about to update everyone on things going on. Let's see how much I can type in 20 minutes! I think I'm going to separate this post into sections, so you can read what you like a pass through the rest, or just read it all. It's like one of those "Choose Your Own Adventure" books!

Jobs and work: So I began work yesterday at Sports Authority and it went really well. I just learned about the register and checking people out, which is like riding a bike and even though this bike is different from my last, cashiering is mostly about customer interaction rather than how well you manage the actual register. Something that I didn't expect at all (although I probably should have) is that there are so many foreign customers. I worked from 9-3 and I would say that 75% of the customers I checked out were foreign. I helped customers from the UK, France and Australia. It's so interesting, and I think it's because we're right downtown, where they are generally staying. This makes asking for zip codes kind of awkward though, just because there's usually already a language barrier, and they just say that they're from overseas and have no zip code. I usually just tell them that's quite alright as I enter 99999 on the register. It's just for marketing purposes anyway, so it doesn't affect anything too much. The people at this job seem really nice, and I'm sure we'll be good friends soon! It's so relaxing to be back in a customer-based atmosphere with people my own age who are in good moods and ready to joke around but also do their work. I think I'm going to really like it there.

We have about two weeks left of real, solid business at the JW, after which I probably won't be working very much. That's alright, though, as I'm excited to get more into my new position at Sports Authority. Also, I have today, Friday and Saturday off, so I'm pretty happy about that.

Weather: I was happy to report that the weather was excellent and it felt amazing outside... and then I woke up this morning. You couldn't have asked for a better day yesterday, it was 70 degrees, there was a slight wind and the sun was out with not a cloud in the sky! Today was cold, rainy and, worst of all, extremely windy. Apparently it's called the Windy City for a reason. My friend was telling me that there's a saying here: "If you don't like the weather in Chicago, wait an hour", which is funny because that's exactly the same saying that they have in Texas. The lake is the main cause for that here, whereas Texas is just crazy by itself. I think we're seeing an end to the nice, springtime weather, and finally getting into fall. That's okay though, I'll be ready!

Holidays: It's official that I will be spending Thanksgiving with friends here! I'm really excited for that, as I have never spent a holiday with just friends. Of course I'll miss everyone, but I'm gonna try and set up a Skype date so that I can see what everyone is up to on Thanksgiving, and talk to y'all. Christmas will mean mom and brothers in Chicago, and I'm still working on what I want to show them while they're here. Hopefully there will be a few surprises!

Random notes: I've had a craving for chips and salsa for some reason and so I went to the store to get some the other day. I bought some salsa I had never heard of and it was alright, but I think I can do better. I like my salsa to have cilantro, like the one our family makes. Anyway, the point is, if you know of a good salsa brand, let me know and I'll see if I can find it. I know that Anna's Salsa tastes almost exactly like ours but they didn't have it at my friendly neighborhood Jewel-Osco. Oh well! Also, the cold (inside me) went away, just as the cold (outside) picked up. I'm so glad I fought that cold with fruits and vegetables and Nyquil and Dayquil and was only left with a cough. My double shift yesterday would have been really awful if I had been feeling bad. Also, here are some pictures:

This is me, my roommate Sophia and her friend Derek, about three weeks ago. We were at Sophia's friend's house for her birthday party. Derek's from Ozona, Texas, which I've never heard of, but he graduated from UT Austin. Sophia is a teacher and she's from New York. This was fun.

This is one of my other roommates, Hannah, who's from New Jersey. We were at dinner like two weeks after I got here. I've only been in like 10 pictures since arriving, but that's okay.

Okay, I think that's all I have to say today. I'm sorry it took me so long to come up with another post, but I will be more vigilant in the future. Keep checking, too, because I am definitely not going to stop writing in this altogether. Thanks for reading, y'all!

Delays

I'm soooo sorry I haven't written anything in a while, I've been pretty busy with work and everything. Quick update though: I got the job at Sports Authority and had orientation on Monday and then Marriott after, and tomorrow I start actually working, so I'll be doing 9-3 at S.A. and 4-12 or so at Marriott which is why I've been so busy with other things and which is also why I'm about to go to bed. Thankfully, I have the next three days off and I'll be using them to catch up on social things and such. I need to write a true update on here, respond to a few emails that some of y'all have sent me (thanks so much, I really enjoy getting emails from everyone) and make a few phone calls. Anyway, I'm about to down some Nyquil (I feel a cold coming on and I'm trying so hard to beat it before it fully hits me) and get in bed. Hope everyone is doing well! More in-depth update in the next few days! Stay tuned!

Job #2 (continued)

I just wanted to clear something up after rereading my latest post: I will not be leaving Marriott for another job, I'm just going to be getting a second job in addition. Also, I interviewed at Sports Authority on Wednesday, and it was probably the best interview I've ever had. I should have a second interview coming up soon! So that means that as Marriott business is winding down (in the holiday season), something in retail like Sports Authority will be picking up, creating an ideal situation for me. I'm excited for the possibility of working with people my own age and with similar interests. Let's hope I get a call soon!

Job #2

As I've been told multiple times by both my coworkers and managers, the 40 hours a week I've been getting at the Marriott is about to go down. Not by 10, or 20, or even 30 hours, but by 40. As the holidays approach, there are going to be fewer and fewer banquets, meetings and events to set up for and with my level of seniority being at the absolute lowest, as well as the fact that I'm only a part-time employee, my hours should be cut down to 0 days, 0 hours by the last week of November, possibly up until January. This, of course, is not a favorable situation for me to be in, and that is why I'm now searching for Job #2.


Job #2, I've decided, is going to be fun. I want Job #2 to have me working with people my age who will maybe want to go out after work or who I can actually befriend and have things in common with. I also want Job #2 to cater to my own personal interests, so that I can have a passion for what I'm doing and the product or service I'm providing. Job #2 will be something I've never done before, and will probably never have the chance to do again, because I want to experience everything I can before I go full fledged into my career. So let's compile all of the components of Job #2 and see what we've got.

As you may have noticed through the blog, I've had a growing interest in health, wellness, fitness and exercise. Also, my current job offers little to zero customer interaction, which is kind of nice, but I'm a hospitality management major, of course I like engaging with customers, and I feel like I'm missing that aspect in my life. So, all that being said, I've been applying at places that require customer interaction and a knowledge and passion for fitness and health. So far, I've applied to the Nike store, Formula Fitness Club (a gym with multiple locations in Chicago, but not the gym that I go to), Columbia and The North Face. I plan on applying to more places like this, such as Lululemon Athletica, Running Away (a multisport store) and XSport Fitness (another gym). Whereas Marriott will be lacking in business during the holiday season, retail stores will be picking up, so I'm hoping that I haven't missed the hiring window and that I'll be a candidate for the open positions. I'm really excited about this, and I've never had two jobs at the same time, so it'll be kind of cool to work at two different places and break up the monotony a little. Let's hope my phone starts ringing soon!

Fun Fact: It turns out that application spree I went on a while back worked more to my advantage than I had thought! I got a call from Hyatt Regency today to set up an interview for the bellman position I had applied to way back when, but because the job was full-time and PM/Overnight, and I've been settling in to Marriott so well, I informed them that I had already received a position "but thank you for the offer"! It definitely helped my moral going into the search for Job #2.

Defensive Driving (a.k.a. One More Reason I'm Glad I Don't Have a Car)

So, way back in June or July (it's been a while now) I got a ticket speeding through Austin on my way back to Denton. Well, two tickets, but that's extraneous information. The point is, I had declared that I would take Defensive Driving to make up for some of the price of the ticket while also avoiding any rise in insurance. Well, I have until the 31st of October to get the class done and the information turned into the court and, well, let's just say... I just started.

Now, that's not to say that I had completely forgotten about it until now, no way. I've thought about it multiple times since I've moved to Chicago, it's just that it wasn't a thought that stuck. It would drift up out of memory whenever someone would mention getting a parking ticket or having a deadline and I would think "oh yea, I have to do defensive driving soon" and then the thought would slip back into my subconscious mind until once again awoken by some key word or phrase, like the way people remember that they're going to have to start buying Christmas presents soon in late October and November.

So here we are, or, I should say, here I am, rushing to get this defensive driving over with and into the past as quickly as possible. It's an online class called "Comedy Defensive Driving", although there's nothing remotely funny about it. Nonetheless, I would definitely recommend it to anyone in need of a defensive driving course because it allows the student to take as much time as necessary to complete it, and knowing that you can leave it alone and start up again tomorrow is helpful. I got through about 3 hours of it tonight (which is partially why I'm up so late) and I plan on finishing it tomorrow. Luckily, the tests are easy and the videos are at least semi-interesting. It has caused me to miss driving the highways and streets of Texas, but also reminded me that the roads are dangerous, and that texting or reading a book is perfectly acceptable on a train, but not in a car. I'm still happy I don't have a car but, at the same time, I miss my little '97 Cavalier that gave me a lot of crap but got me through high school and college anyway.

All that being said, wish me luck as I forge my way through the rest of this class tomorrow. I think I can make it, despite the terrible impersonations of Christopher Walken, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Captain Jack Sparrow of Pirates of the Caribbean. Let's hope I can, anyway.  

New Email Address

I meant to say this awhile ago, but I changed my email. So if anyone wants to send me an email or ask me a question, my new email is:

austinbondesen@gmail.com

That's all!

The Working Life

Since the beginning of this week, I've been working in my actual position at the Marriott. It's been fun! The shifts are supposed to be 8.5 hours long, but sometimes they go over. Monday, my first day, we worked from 4 PM to 2:30 AM. That was quite a shift. The train line I would usually take to get home closes at 1:30 AM so I had to go with a coworker to the red line, which is 24 hours. I haven't had a shift that long again, but they've generally been over 8.5 hours.

Anyway, the work is good and the people are nice. It's a very physical job, which is something I thought I wouldn't like but it's actually kind of nice. I don't really have to deal with any customers, which is different from anything I've ever done before. You just kind of go in, get your work done and go. After three shifts in a row, I still haven't worn myself out but, then again, that's not very much. Hopefully I can keep up this momentum for the next, say, 6 months so I can change positions! I definitely did not see myself moving to Chicago to work in a position that was, essentially, the most entry level position possible, but hey, I've got my foot in the door with a great company, and I can still continue to look around if I feel like I can find something better. I can see myself moving up in the company, but at the same time, I don't know that I'd want to work as an event planner in a hotel, working with the same meeting space every day and essentially just moving things around. Working for an event planning company unaffiliated with a hotel would probably offer more creativity and flexibility.

Anyway, I should probably get to bed now, I have to be up at 8 tomorrow for my last day of orientation. Sorry if I ramble sometimes, it's just good to get my thoughts out every once and a while. Goodnight family and friends!

The Aqua Building

This is the Aqua Building. Apparently it is a residential building in downtown Chicago, but I have yet to see it in real life. It's designed to look as though water were cascading down it. One day I will live there.

Things I've learned at Trivia

I know I talk about Trivia quite a bit, but it's the only routine thing I've done since I got here! So here are some interesting and useless facts I've learned while attending:

-The DeLorean in the Back to the Future series has to go 88 MPH to go back in time (which I said but I didn't feel confident enough in my answer to overrule everyone else)

- In Illinois law, when a tree has a purple line spray painted on it, it means no trespassing.

- In 101 Dalmatians, the human dad's name is Roger.

- The Nintendo Wii was released in 2006.

- Denzel Washington's highest grossing movie worldwide was American Gangster.

- In Monopoly, the four railroads are: Short Line, B&O, Pennsylvania and Reading.

I feel like I've learned so much more, but that's what comes to mind right now. I'll have to ask my friends for more random questions we've answered.

New Jobs and Those Kinds of Things

So I've started my new job at the Marriott. Well, I haven't begun actual work, but I've had two days of orientation, which is primarily paperwork, followed by Marriott's core values and a tour of the facility. I've always loved Marriott as a company, and finding out about the JW Marriott in particular was really interesting. Also, as a part-time employee, I don't receive all of the benefits, but I do receive reduced prices on my stays at other Marriotts. I cannot wait to start using that! The hotel itself is really cool and has a lot of history, as the building was built in 1912 or 1914, I can't quite remember. It's been recently renovated and the hotel opened last November. I also learned some facts about Chicago, like I had no idea that the Chicago River's flow had been purposefully reversed so that the trash that was flowing through it wouldn't be carried into the lake. Anyway, I'm pretty sure I'm starting next week and probably working all week, which is fine with me. My friend Anthony is coming back this weekend though and we're going to see some friends of ours from Dallas finish the Chicago Marathon, which is a really big deal here!

Tonight I saw Carrie Fisher's one-woman show "Wishful Drinking". It's basically a comedy show where she talks about her life: famous parents, playing the role of Princess Leia, handling alcoholism, drugs, and bipolar disorder, and her marriages. It was hilarious. I'm so glad I went to see it, and it was nice getting to go to one of the theaters here, because there are so many and I hadn't gotten a chance to see any shows yet. Other than that, in the "fun" department, I've been going to Trivia on Tuesdays still, and I've really started working out hard this week, which I'm putting in the "fun" category because I'm tricking myself into loving it. Really though, when I work out and eat healthier, it makes me feel so much more productive and accomplished, and I've been taking vitamins regularly which I've never ever done before. Geeze, how boring has this blog become if I'm talking about taking vitamins? Just kidding, there's still good stuff to come on this blog!

This one's for Moppy, but anyone else is welcome to read: I started getting back into reading! I had only read one short story in Stephen King's "Full Dark, No Stars" but now I've read stories two and three and I'm halfway through the last. They're all really good and diverse, and it's hard to put the book down sometimes! I'm excited to start reading a novel though, because sometimes reading short stories gets old because you keep having to switch characters and situations and they all get mixed up in your head. I'm thinking about reading "It" again because I've always listed it as my favorite book and it's probably been since middle school when I last read it.

What else is going on? I've been getting a little homesick lately but I think that's to be expected. I miss all of y'all and I can't wait 'til the next time I see everyone! I even miss the Gaylord Texan (being at the Marriott has reminded me a lot of it). But, at this point, moving back to Texas is not even an idea of a thought on my radar. There are so many opportunities for me here, both socially and career-wise, and I couldn't possibly see myself leaving them all any time soon. I have absolutely no idea what my Chicago life expectancy is, but right now I'm loving it and living it up.

The Job Hunt Ends... Kind Of

My blast of resume sending and application filling has paid off! On Tuesday (or maybe Wednesday... I lose track of the days) I got a call from the J.W. Marriott in downtown Chicago (http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/chijw-jw-marriott-chicago/) to come in and interview for the Banquet Aide position. I was ecstatic, as this was exactly the company I had in mind to work for when I moved to Chicago. So I went in, did my best, and was offered the job on the spot. I can now say that I work for Marriott! Plus, this location is really cool, and right off of the train stop, so it's really convenient.

Job description from Marriott website: Complete final breakdown of function, by cleaning the room, and cleaning and returning equipment to its proper location. Complete closing duties, including storing all reusable goods, locking doors, breaking down goods, etc. Set up, stock, and maintain work areas. Monitor and maintain cleanliness, sanitation, and organization of assigned station and service areas. Transport dirty linen to correct area to be cleaned, separate napkins from tablecloths, and restock linen shelves with clean linens. Maintain cleanliness of work areas throughout the day, practicing clean-as-you-go procedures. Assist other departments when needed to ensure optimum service to guests.

There are minor drawbacks to accepting this position, however. One is that it's part-time. The manager said that, right now, part-time employees were working six days a week because it's a really busy season for them, but when it gets closer to the holiday season I might not even be on the schedule at all, which is not ideal. He suggested outright that I should probably get another part-time job due to the uncertainty, and he wasn't able to give me a solid idea on the amount of hours per week I'll be working. At the same time, however, I feel like he knew that this wasn't my ideal job and that I would be looking to move up quickly. He told me that after six months of working for Marriott, I can apply for any available job posting in the hotel, and that I would be much more likely to be considered than someone who hasn't been in the company. I'm definitely looking forward to that, but I like that I'll be starting kind of at the bottom, because I can understand the banquet side of the hotel from the ground up.

Another is that I don't start until October 4th or 5th, because that's the first available day for orientation. That's fine with me though, because now I can enjoy the unemployed life for another week without the stress of finding a job. Job security without the job, you might say.

Other than that, though, I'm excited. I'm going to get a second job doing something fun, or something that I can relate to, just for two days a week or so. Maybe working at a gym or a bookstore or library or something. I'm ready to start this new job that will eventually turn into my career, and hopefully I'll climb through the company!

P.S. - I never heard back from Best Buy which is kind of sad because that would be a really great second job. Oh well, at least I got the one I really wanted!

The Job Hunt Continues... But Not on Trivia Night!

So, it's late, and it's Monday night. Well, Tuesday morning to be precise. I've been up all night applying to jobs (I also played some video games, but I would say I was mostly job hunting). I feel like my search has been going alright, but tonight I made some major improvements. Overall, I've been applying pretty steadily, but never have I applied to so many promising opportunities all at once.

Tonight I applied for: two positions at the J.W. Marriott in Downtown Chicago (Banquet Aide and Banquet Server), two positions at a Hyatt located downtown (Administrative Assistant in Human Resources and Bellperson), a job at Whole Foods downtown (Customer Service Representative), an opening at Living Social (Event Coordinator), a position at Hilton downtown (Bellperson) and a position with Appreciation Events (Entry Level Corporate Event Coordinator).

That kind of gives you the very broad range of the kind of position I'm looking for: all very hospitality related, but pretty diverse within themselves. They also vary in that some are part-time and some are full-time, as, currently, I'll take whatever I can get. The jobs I'm most looking forward to hearing back from are anything to do with events or banquets or meetings. I've been a bellman before, and while it wasn't the worst thing in the world, I'd prefer to try my hand at something else. At the same time though, I'll take whatever will get my foot in the door at a nice hotel. (See how I used both hand and foot in those two sentences?) I plan on applying this diligently tomorrow during the day, but tomorrow night is trivia night, and that's very important!

For the past two weeks my friends and I have been going to a restaurant and bar called State (http://www.state-chicago.com) on Tuesday nights and we play a really fun game of trivia where everyone in the restaurant competes. Whenever questions are being asked, everyone's cell phones have to be in a basket in the middle of the table, so they're pretty strict on cheating and all that. So far we haven't won, but we've done pretty well and definitely had fun. We've also learned some random facts like: in the State of Illinois, a purple line painted on a tree means "no trespassing", the digital camera term SLR means "single lens reflex", the Nintendo Wii came out in 2006, Back to the Future was released in 1985, and the slogan "Save Money. Live Better" is that of Walmart's (I was the one who knew that one and I think it's because I'm from Texas. There aren't many Walmart's up here...). The grand prize is $800 every Tuesday, so I'll let you know if I win it and how much I'll be giving to each person who reads my blog.

So anyway, I'm definitely hoping to hear back from one of these companies in the next week or so. If, by the end of this week, I don't hear from any of them, I'm going to pack up, buy a plane ticket and move back home. Just kidding. But seriously, let's hope this works.

The Bondesens

I just wanted to post this picture because I really like it, and it has almost everyone in the family in it. Also, it's probably colder here now than it is in this picture...

A Glimmer of Hope

So, I've been applying to jobs pretty efficiently since I first got here, but nothing has really come up. I have a few connections here that have been helping me figure out different ways to look at open positions in the event and meeting planning field, so overall, I still feel good about my search. I have, however, started to apply for more part-time jobs that are just meant to sustain me while I search for something that I really want. I've applied at a couple of different gyms, Macy's downtown, and I plan on applying at places like Whole Foods. My main goal here is to stay away from handling food. I've worked fast food, been a server, worked in the kitchen at school and it's just not something that I'd like to continue on with.

The small glimmer of hope in this bleak job search is Best Buy, who called me on Wednesday to set up an interview. So I took the red line train about 30 minutes south to a part of town called the South Loop and walked over to the Best Buy for my interview. The area is really cool, just a little south of downtown, and the Sears (or Willis) Tower is surprisingly close. Anyway, I had my interview, set up a second one, and went home. Friday came around and I made my way back, finished my second interview and was told that I would get a call if I had received the position, and wouldn't get one if I hadn't. So, I'm going to wait over the weekend to see if I get the call and if I don't, the job search begins again on Monday!

Two Weeks In

So, I've been in Chicago for two weeks. It's been a lot of fun, and it's been interesting learning about all the ways Chicago and Texas differ. That's actually one of my favorite things to do, compare Texas and Chicago, because there are so many differences between the two. Apparently it's illegal to talk on your phone while driving in Illinois, which is something I could never have imagined happening. Luckily, I'm not driving anywhere anytime soon, so this won't affect me too much. There are obviously less trucks here, I never really see any except for when I'm on the highway. There are hardly any parking lots, which is so very different from Texas, where every store has a gigantic parking lot. Everyone seems to be pretty fit here, too, which I'm sure has to do with the fact that everyone is constantly walking around the city. My legs hurt pretty bad the first week, but I've gotten used to the amount of walking this city requires.

Other than walking, the public transportation has been really fun to figure out! I've mastered hailing a cab, and actually really enjoy cab rides, which I only take late at night or if I've got something really heavy to carry a long distance. The train has been my second favorite mode of transportation, and it's easy to figure out once you get an idea of what you're doing. Harder to understand, though, is the bus system, and I've only taken one bus since I've been here. I'm sure I'll get it down though, before winter comes, hopefully!

Also, buildings are so weird here. I mean, maybe they're not that weird, but they're different. In Chicago, generally, they go up, rather than out, because everything is so tall. When Anthony and I were shopping, we went into a Macy's and started looking for the Men's section.We took an escalator up, and then one more, so we were on the third floor, and we thought "okay, well then it has to be the next floor." It wasn't. But surely it was on the next one, right? Long story short, the Men's section was on the eighth floor of the Macy's, which I didn't even know was possible. Plus, with only one floor of men's clothing, I can't even imagine what was on the seven other floors. A Target we went into was two stories, and there was an escalator for carts, which I had never seen before, but apparently that's a norm here. Even the Jewel-Osco down the street is two stories.

I've also been running more than I usually do. Running along the lake shore is a blast, people are out at the beaches, enjoying the small amount of time that the beaches are actually open, and people run, bike, rollerblade and skateboard up and down the Lake Shore Trail. I'll have to take a camera with me the next time I go because the view is probably the coolest thing about the trail. It runs right along the lake, so you've always got that to look at, and in the near distance is the Chicago skyline which, needless to say, is magnificent. The first day I ran, I went all the way to Navy Pier (about 5 miles from where I started) because it's so easy to see it and think "that's not too far away, I can do it!" Even running back was enjoyable, and it makes you feel like you're a part of the movement of the city when you see so many people running with you. I also went to yoga in a little studio down the street from me, and it was probably the most challenging yoga class I've ever been to. It was fun though, and hopefully I'm more flexible because of it!

I've also (surprisingly) been a vegetarian since I moved here. I didn't think that it was something for me necessarily, but it turns out that it's not actually that hard to cut meat out of your diet. For me, it's been a lot of oatmeal, pasta, Boca burgers and Morning Star chik'n nuggets, as well as a lot more vegetables and fruits than I was getting before. Some favorites of mine that can go along with any meal are carrots with ranch dressing and applesauce. I'm also a huge fan of the little broccoli and cheese frozen packages at the grocery store. It's been a challenge to find things that I like at restaurants, but at the same time, it's opened me up to things I normally wouldn't eat, including mushrooms, which I wouldn't have gone near before, but seem to be a staple in vegetarian diets. I'm not sure how long this is going to last, but it's been so fun and interesting trying it out, and at least I've opened myself up to trying new foods. I don't feel like I can speak to the health bit just yet, only because it's too soon to determine that, but I don't see how eating more fruits and vegetables can possibly be a bad thing!

Some of the major things I've done while I've been here include (but certainly aren't limited too): Chicago Cubs game, shopping on the Magnificent Mile, running the Lake Shore Trail, and Rivers Casino (I won $40!). I feel like there's so much more to do, so many museums to visit and theaters to go to. I have a lot to experience in Chicago, and I'll definitely be keeping everyone up to date on what's going on!

The Apartment

I know everyone has been wondering where I live now, so here's my virtual tour of sorts:

Here she is, 3848 N. Janssen Ave. #2, 60613. Just about all of the houses on this street look like this, and most are duplexes. Before I got here, I didn't really understand how this could be a duplex, but now it makes sense. The two doors open to two different apartments and one is on the first floor and the basement, while ours is directly up a staircase, on the second and third floors.

This is our street. You can't really see the houses because of the trees, but it's very residential, and there's an elementary school on the left in this picture. Also, ice cream trucks and apparently ice cream buses make frequent runs down our street, and that's what that bus is doing there. I'm gonna have to check that out in a minute.

So that's our front door from the inside. I was so confused when I opened the door only to find a huge staircase, but now it seems natural. I really like this entry, and I'm so glad we're not on the first floor and basement.

The dining room is right at the top of the staircase, with that little nook letting in a lot of natural light. To the left of this picture is my roommates room, while my room, the kitchen and the bathroom are to the right. I really like our dining room table, and I'm glad we have dining room chairs now because we didn't for a while. It's kind of a mess in this picture, but it's much cleaner now that we've gotten more and more settled.
 

This is the view from that nook. You can see the mess much easier in this light. So the room to the left is my bedroom and the stairs both up and down are in that doorway to the right. We'll go upstairs in just a minute.

So this is my room. It's the smallest of the five, but I don't mind, and my rent is cheaper than everyone else. I really like the green color that was on the walls, but I'm going to have to get rid of that curtain. There's my new IKEA desk with my laptop, XBOX and TV on it. That chair is really a dining room chair but I'm borrowing it for now because I haven't gotten a desk chair.

There's my closet, my IKEA dresser/nightstand and my inflatable mattress I used for about a week. Luckily, my actual mattress came in yesterday, so I've been sleeping a little better now. I have to say though, that air mattress was really comfortable, and it's tall, which was nice. My boxes are on the left... I need to get those out of the way...

Here's my closet. It's pretty empty because I'm low on hangers, but it's the largest closet I've ever had so I have absolutely no complaints. It's also pretty tall, so it's got shelving around the top.

The hallway to the bathroom and kitchen. There's a little bookshelf to the right, and I'm not sure what we're going to use it for.

The bathroom! Nothin' much to see here. The tub is kinda cool though.

Here's the kitchen. Two things that I'm not used to are the fact that there's no garbage disposal and that the dishwasher there on the right is on wheels. After you're done loading it, you wheel it over to the sink and hook it up to the faucet and plug it in. That's so weird to me, but I mean it's not a big deal. Apparently that's common in Chicago. Also, with 5 people living here, our refrigerator is pretty packed, but we make it work.

Oven, stove, all that, plus the back door to the deck.

Here's the deck. I haven't really spent any time out here, but it's actually a pretty cool spot.

So here's upstairs. This is the view from the stairs. There is so much natural light in this area, and we're using it as a living room. I'll take another picture once we get all of our sofas, tables and rugs up here, but this is how it was when we got here. This space is huge, and to the left is another area a little lower than this part. It's a really interesting design, I think.

Probably my favorite part of the house. The windows in the picture above are directly behind me now, with the stairs a little to the left of this picture. There are two stairs leading down to where the table and chairs are, and these huge windows flood the room with light. Such a cool little area with a nice view of the street. I can't wait til we actually start using this room.

Now the big windows are behind me, and the stairs are to the right. The door on the left is the second bathroom, the one directly forward is the largest room and storage area, and the room on the right is another bedroom. I didn't post pictures of that bathroom because honestly I don't even really know what it looks like, I've only seen it like once. This living room is going to be so cool when we get it all fixed up, and we're really almost there. I'm extremely happy with the house, and I'm excited to make the most of it!

The First Day of My New Life

Okay, let me start off by saying that to say my move to Chicago is the start of my "new life" is highly over-dramatic and I really don't mean it all that much. I mean, it's a huge move, but I believe I still have so many parts of my "old life" that I couldn't possibly look at this as a "new beginning" or something. But it's fun to say.

Anyway, the first day was crazy. I don't plan on writing a full page story about every day, but my first day had some merit. So, it was about a week ago today that I landed in Chicago, I think about 4 PM because our flight was delayed due to unscheduled maintenance. Oh, and when I say "our", I'm including my friend Anthony, who flew up with me to hang out for a week before school started. So we landed, and it just so happened that one of my roommates, Sophia, was getting in from New York (her hometown) right about the same time we were. So we split a cab to the apartment, which I thought was cool because I'd never been asked to split a cab in my life.

We got to the apartment and I really really liked it. The neighborhood is small and quiet, kind of residential, but there are bars and restaurants one street over (although if you were to look at just our street, you would never be able to tell). There seems to be little families in the houses next to us, and it's been quite a while since I've been exposed to that sort of neighborhood, so it was refreshing. After checking out the house and setting our things in my little green room, we went to a restaurant that most of the people Anthony had met on his previous trip to Chicago work at, and we ate lunch as we planned the rest of the day. It was kind of late, so we scratched the beach idea and decided we'd head to the Magnificent Mile (www.themagnificentmile.com) downtown to shop.

Our day-planning was derailed (that's train talk) as soon as one of Anthony's friends showed up and literally TOLD us that we were going to the Cubs game that night because they had two extra tickets in a box suite that their restaurant had won in a competition against all of the other restaurants on their street. You just don't say no to that. So off we went, to the Cubs game and to my first taste of Chicago life.

Let me just stop here and say that my first day in Chicago was quite possibly the weirdest of my life. Walking by bars and restaurants on the crowded sidewalk where people ran, biked, walked their dogs, rollerbladed; it was the strangest feeling to realize that this was my "new life". The temperature was 75 and all the restaurants had patio seating and open doors where you could people-watch out onto the street, it was so odd knowing that this is what I would be passing everyday. It was like being on a trip to a big city, taking everything in and feeling completely separated from feelings of home and then realizing this was your home, and that you were now a local, moving with the rest of the Chicagoans in your day-to-day life. Maybe that doesn't make sense, but it's so hard to put into words what I felt that day. The feeling has already started to pass as the days go by, but I'm reminded of it whenever I see the skyline in the distance, so unfamiliar to me but at the same time exactly where I want to be.

The Cubs game was so much fun. I've never been much into baseball but when you're there at the field you can't help but get into it, plus the stadium is 10 minutes (walking) from my apartment, so I knew I would have to go someday. They were playing the Atlanta Braves, and they ended up losing, but just like at North Texas, it's still fun to go and watch. I was also wondering about the dangers of foul balls because they fly into the stands so fast that it must be a serious hazard, and then one went straight into the stands to the right of home base and smacked someone in the head, who was escorted out of the stadium by a health crew. Anyway, the seats were great, pretty much right behind home base and up off the ground. There are also some really cool seats on local restaurants that just erect stands on their roofs where you can look into the stadium. I'd never seen that before, and I'll have to check it out sometime. It was definitely a really cool way to be introduced to the city, the team, and these people who could quite possibly become some of my best friends.

After that, it was back home, as I was mentally and physically exhausted. Such a great start to what's going to be an amazing experience.

Kicking the Habit

For the past year or so, I've had a growing interest in diet and how it affects both the human body and the world. I've watched documentary after documentary on the U.S. food industry and how it campaigns for the billions of dollars spent on food annually by Americans. I've read websites and magazine articles on the ways that different foods can affect the human body both positively and negatively, and how each of us can greatly influence the way we feel day to day as well as how that can impact us in the long run. I have yet, however, to make any serious, long term changes in my own personal diet and can only consider myself to be a hypocritical health nut.

While watching "Foodmatters", a documentary about diet in the way of vegetarianism, veganism and raw foodism, I was struck by something that one of the many scientists stated: "you're not supposed to be tired in the afternoon. You're supposed to be alive and vibrant." For some reason, this idea really said something to me about the way most Americans (myself included) live and eat. Nowadays, there are so many cures for midday drowsiness: 5 Hour Energy, caffeine and B-vitamin supplements to name a few. But what if you could get rid of this drowsiness as a whole and not have to worry about your midday energy level just by eating right and getting enough sleep? Sure, you can eat fruits and vegetables with every meal, but what if that wasn't enough?

About two weeks ago, I purchased a book by John Robbins called "The Food Revolution: How Your Diet Can Help Save Your Life and Our World." Far from being a weight loss diet book, the pages are filled with facts and information about how diet can encourage so many diseases and conditions that affect thousands of United States citizens daily. Statistics about how meat consumption is linked to both heart disease and cancer and how dairy products can elevate the risk of prostate cancer are surprising, to say the least. I never would have thought that meat and dairy could possibly be considered part of an unhealthy diet.

So I took a look at myself and how I treated my body through what I eat. Let's just say I lived a college student lifestyle with a college student diet. Between sleep, class and work, I found it most efficient for me to pick something up from Whataburger or Taco Cabana on my way from one activity to the next. There were times when I would struggle internally about what fast food joint I was going to stop at for this meal, and when I realized fast food was more of a chore than a treat, I knew I had a problem. Little can be blamed on the financial aspect of my college lifestyle, however, because there was a time near the end where my income was much greater than it had been in my entire life and still I would stop at fast food restaurants on my way to or from work. In the end, I have no one to blame but myself for my inability to make healthy eating decisions, and that's why it's so vital that the decision to change my lifestyle come from within. In "Food Revolution", John Robbins states that "when it comes to food choices, habit is stupendously powerful". Much like a smoker, I'm just trying to kick the habit.

I've made little attempts at this concept throughout the past few years but nothing has stuck, nothing has been made permanent. The knowledge that I've gained over the past couple of weeks, however, has been the catalyst for a major change in my diet, and I'm excited about the possibilities of health and happiness that this change can bring. When I started writing this article, I thought I'd add a part about how I'd love to change my diet, but I could never see myself becoming a vegetarian. As I learn more and more about the benefits of a plant-based diet, however, I can't help but second guess my initial reaction to the thought of vegetarianism. Perhaps it truly isn't that hard to cut the meat out of my diet, and maybe that change will introduce a new energy and vitality that I've never felt before. All that being said, I think that Chicago is going to bring about more changes for me than I had previously envisioned, and I cannot wait to get started.

Communication

I've figured it out! So, to leave a comment on any of my posts, just click on the "0 comments" or "1 comments" or whatever it may be directly under the post you want to address. After that, type your question and say you want to post with an AIM account on the drop-down menu. This should prompt you to login:

Username: bondekunziano (a combination of last names)
Password: forwardmotion

After that, it should take you back to the comment page, and you should be able to post your question. Let me know if it doesn't work, but I believe this plan is flawless. Oh and be sure to put your name in there somewhere!

Updates

Here are just some basic updates on random aspects of the move that people ask me about most often:

Apartment: Well, see below.

Job: I haven't found a job yet, but I definitely feel hopeful. I don't know that I'll be doing what I wanted to do when I set out planning everything (front desk at a hotel) but I'm definitely opening up to different positions. I'm thinking something in event or meeting planning is going to be something that I really like and something that I won't get bored with easily. But even if I get desperate, I wouldn't mind picking up a temporary job to pay the bills while I look for what I really want. I'm just not too worried about it, but at the same time I'm working on it and keeping up the search.

Transportation: So I'll be flying to Chicago on the 22nd, which means I won't have my car. My mom is going to try and sell it, but I really don't want anything to do with it. Out of sight, out of mind, I guess. I think it's going to be such a relief to not have a car, and to not have to worry about things like parking tickets, parking meters, driving in general, all that mess. Plus I have no idea how to take care of a car in the snow and ice. Or how to drive, for that matter...

Personal Belongings: I'm going to send everything I own (which really isn't much) through either Fed Ex, UPS or the USPS, whichever is cheapest. I'm going to look at UPS tomorrow to see how much it is compared to the USPS (which was like $25 for one of my heaviest boxes). I only have about eight or nine boxes and no furniture, so this really isn't that big of a move and it shouldn't cost too much.

Thoughts: I'm really not that nervous or worried, just excited. I really can't wait to be there and get to know people and explore and find cool things to do and live life.

That just about covers the big questions. I need to figure out a way for people to ask me questions on here... I'll look into it!

The Apartment Search

As I've looked for an apartment over the last couple of weeks, I began to grow nervous about my future living situation. Although I had been looking on Craigslist for possible roommates, I hadn't really gotten a lot of responses to my initial email and thought that maybe people weren't interested in living with a Texan who said things like "y'all" and "darn". Or maybe it was the fact that I didn't have a job and wouldn't be moving for another few weeks that scared them. Nonetheless, my apartment search is now over.

I've signed a one-year lease for a five bedroom, two bath duplex in Wrigleyville, so named for it's proximity to Wrigley Field, where the Chicago Cubs play. The duplex is two stories, with a living room area on each floor, one bathroom on each and two bedrooms upstairs and three downstairs (I'll be on the first floor). I'll be living with four roommates and couldn't possibly be more excited about that. I mean I'm moving to city where I have one friend, so having a lot of roommates is going to be a really good way of meeting people. They all seem really cool and I think everyone is from a different state: NY, NJ, IL and of course TX. There's actually one I have yet to talk to so I'm not sure where she's from. I think it's going to be an awesome experience to live in this tiny melting pot of a duplex, and I'm jealous that some of the roommates are already there. I'm sure we'll have lots of roommate bonding time when I get there, so I'm not too worried about it.

Here's a little map of where the neighborhoods in Chicago are:

I know it's kind of basic, but it get's the point across. Wrigleyville is inside of Lakeview, and this map shows them as sort of interchangeable, but I think that's just for the sake of space on this map. Anyway, it's right above Lincoln Park, which I've heard is one of the nicer areas and one of the ones I was definitely interested in living in. The Loop is the downtown area of Chicago, and I'm just a short train ride away from the heart of it. It's going to be so weird seeing the Chicago skyline from my doorstep, but that's one of the things I'm most excited about.

Out of all the apartments I've looked at, I was most excited about this one. I don't have the listing for it on Craigslist anymore, so I don't have any of the pictures from the realty agency but I'll post pictures as soon as I get there. I cannot wait to live here and get to know these people that I will be living with for the next year.

Here's a link to a site with information about Wrigleyville, and a semi-informative video. http://www.chicagotraveler.com/neighborhoods/wrigleyville-feature.htm

The Beginning

I'm moving to Chicago in 12 days.

And that's the reason for this blog. I want to keep all of my friends and family members up to date on what's going on in my life. Rather than calling each person and telling them all separately about my apartment and job search, I can write it all collectively here. That being said, don't be afraid to call me! I'm sure I'll be busy, but of course I won't be too busy for family. Other than that, I look forward to posting about my adventures in the Windy City and onward. That's, in part, the reason I'm calling this blog "Forward Motion". As I tried to decide on the perfect Chicago pun, I ultimately decided that Chicago really probably isn't the end of the road for me, and who knows where I'll be two, four, six years from now. "Forward Motion" encompasses all of my future endeavors, those that will hopefully keep me moving forward through life. Thanks for reading, y'all!