Chicago Walking Tour

I just returned from my third trip to Chicago and I decided it was time for me to do a little more obvious sight seeing, so I signed up for the Historic Skyscrapers Walking Tour. I met my group at 10:00 am for our two hour tour feeling pretty good about the three shirts I was wearing, in addition to a sweater and coat, two pairs of socks, scarf, hat, and tights under my pants, there was no way I was going to be cold. The group turned out to consist of me and one other girl from Germany. (I'm sure the size of the group had nothing to do with the fact that it was negative 4 degrees that day!!!)

(Cloud Gate. AKA The Peanut)

The tour turned out to be really interesting! There were so many intricate designs on the buildings that I had never noticed, even when I had locals showing me around. Plus the history behind all of them was informative and kept my interest. I've posted some photos below, but unfortunately my camera died mid-tour. I would definitely recommend this tour for future visitors. (Surprisingly, even in the winter!) It was conducted by a sweet older woman who was a retired English teacher and a volunteer. She really knew her stuff!

Burnham and Root’s Rookery (1888)

The Rookery's Winding Oriel Staircase

Rookery Ceiling Designed to Maximize Light
Frank Lloyd Wright Restored the Interior

La Salle Street runs through the Loop and is
considered the Financial District of Chicago

Additional stops on the Historical Skyscrapers Tour: Adler and Sullivan’s Auditorium (1889), Holabird and Roche’s Marquette Building (1895), Holabird and Root’s Chicago Board of Trade Building (1930)

By the end of the tour I was frozen to the bone. Face chapped, feet wet, and let's be honest...miserable. I made it two blocks down the road before I had to escape into a cafe for a cup of soup and a panini. I took refuge there for about an hour enjoying my hot food and book. When I finally ventured out again I walked another five blocks, cursing under my breath, and slipped into another cafe. This time I endulged in a Chai tea and a scrumptuous lemon bar. The plan for the day was to walk the city while my friend was at work. Ya..................NOT A GOOD PLAN! I ended up taking a nap in her office while she finished work. I never fully warmed up until later that night when I spent an hour in a scalding hot shower.

Funeral Potatoes

Somehow my friend in Chicago heard about Utah's "funeral potatoes". She has been asking me to make them since my first visit last year. So last night I went to the grocery store, purchased the necessary ingredients, including corn flakes for authenticity, and set out to wow her. The potatoes, I thought, turned out good, however her response was pretty anticlimactic. I guess just us Utahn's can truly appreciate the cheesy, sour creamy goodness of funeral potatoes. I told her about the different versions of this dish and she said she'd be up to trying a different one. She was shocked to learn that at my grandpa's funeral there were at least 5 different variations. I'm guessing she's now not so interested in trying the jello dish I was planning on introducing her to! Anyone have any to-die-for funeral potato recipes?

Urban Sledding

I'm currently visiting my friend Lisa in Chicago and she asked if I wanted to go sledding?

"Um...sure, but there aren't any hills" was my reply.

This is how the city kids go sledding. Notice the traffic in the background. Also notice that by sledding I mean me pulling a sled along the snowy sidewalk.

It was Sean's first time sledding, and considering how cold it is in Chicago right now, I was suprised that he loved it. Plus he looks so adorable in all his snow gear!

We made a stop at a nearby park to hit the icy slides. Got to do what you can to make up for the abscence of hills!

He was so tuckered out that he just layed his head down on the way home.

I wouldn't trade my childhood sledding experiences for anything. There is nothing like repeatedly hiking up a huge hill, piling two or three girls on a tube, and flying down the mountain (or so it felt like a mountain at that age). I also can't forget the joy of hitting jumps only to fly off and get the wind knocked out of you. It's good for ya, makes kids tough!

It's Karma

So, I just got home from the dreaded first interview. First, I hate interviewing!!! Second, I usually get a good sense of how the interview is going and whether or not the interviewers like me, I had no idea on this one! Third, as General Manager at my last job I was in charge of the hiring and firing. I always had my Wedding Consultant sit in on interviews with me and we would take the good cop/bad cop roles. I would always be the bad cop, asking the hard questions and having fun with the interviewee. One time I asked a girl to get on the table and sing. Another time I asked an interviewee to call an upset father of the bride and explain to him why their tuxes were late (I didn't end up making either one do what I asked, just wanted to see if they would :). All I have to say is.....Karma. Today I told the panel that I wanted to learn Spanish and that I've had a few College Spanish courses (true, but that was two years ago). They asked if I could answer a question in Spanish and I said no, but that I could talk about myself for 10 minutes (I don't know why I said 10, to pass the class we only had to talk for 5!). Anyway, one girl said, "Please do" . I laughed for a minute thinking it was a joke and she looked me straight in the eye and replied, "No, seriously, we both speak Spanish and I'd like to hear it". I bumbled through about 3 lines and apologized that it had been awhile and I was nervous. I felt like an idiot! I was not prepared for that!!! Why didn't they ask me my strengths and weaknesses? That I had prepared for!

So people.....KARMA. I publicly apologize for the many I have interviewed and had fun with at your expense. Ooops, not so fun when you're on the other end :(

Also, if anyone knows of an available job please pass it along!!!
I'm starting to think McDonalds would be a great place to work. They have good benefits for their employees right???

I FINALLY DID IT!

Okay people, this has been 7 years in the making.

I finally graduated from The University of Utah with a bachelor's in Social Work!!!

A little school history for you, I had originally planned to go to Utah State. I applied, was accepted, put a deposit on an apartment with my friend, and at the last minute decided It wasn't what I wanted to do. I ended up losing my $250 deposit. So, the following semester I began my education at Weber State my first year out of High School. I rarely went to class, met a lot of freakish Ogden boys, and was still stuck in my High School behaviors where I didn't apply myself and didn't really care. I was on a scholarship at the time, lost it, and earned very few transferable credit hours from class. I decided I needed a break. I took a year off and it was excruciating getting me back. Best thing I ever did however. When I started at Salt Lake Community College I was on my own. There was no one paying for me, it didn't affect anyone but me if I went to class or not, and I actually wanted to amount to something. Little Alina was finally growing up. In 2006 I graduated from Salt Lake Community College with an Associates of Science degree and knew that I wanted to pursue a degree in Social Work. I am also proud to say that during the course of my education I have always worked full time and during my years at Salt Lake Community College I didn't take out one student loan. It all came straight from my pocket. I didn't receive any financial help from my parents either. My education was truly my own reward.

In December 2008 I graduated from the University of Utah with my degree in Social Work. I couldn't be happier with the career I have chosen. People tell me time and time again, "You're not doing Social Work for the money that's for sure. Ha... Ha...."

I always knew I wanted to do more, and Social Work has been a tremendous outlet for me to do that. I no longer want to "help people" (this is a common phrase that is coined with Social Work). I want to recognize a person's strengths, empower them with information and tools if I can, and watch as they "help" themselves. The world is cynical. If I've learned anything it is that things are truly not what they seem. There are misconceptions everywhere. My hope is that people will step outside their own sheltered box and realize that a teen mother is not always pregnant because she's irresponsible and likes to sleep around, a homeless person is not always "just lazy", and an immigrant is not always here to steal your job and ruin your life. Had to get on my soap box for a minute. Let me know if you want more :)

I also want to thank my family and friends for always supporting me. I couldn't have done it without you! My friend Jen always makes it a point to ask me how school is and how my finals are going. Cory has proof read many papers and has been an amazing sound board to bounce ideas off of. Most important is my Jason. I don't know how he put up with me, but he has been the most supportive. I can recall countless times of him encouraging me to do my homework when all I want to do is play. He has helped me complete take home tests, make flash cards for quizzing, or helped me rehearse for oral presentations. I've even made him go to class with me! But probably the most important, he has stuck by me through what he likes to call "two weeks of hell", at the end of every semester as I study for finals and inevitably turn into a rotten mean person. I love you babe and your support has meant everything to me. I pride myself on completing my education all on my own, but I really didn't. I'm at this place in my life today partly because of you. Thank you love!

Sorry for the long post, but I felt the topic warranted a few lines!

White Girl

I recently finished my internship where I case managed the files of Early Head Start's teen mom participants. I was working with one girl, and she was telling me about life before she moved to Utah. Here is how our conversation went: (As you are reading the girl's part it is important for you to talk like a gangsta)

Girl: Utah gangs are just scary.
Me: Wow! They're worse than where you are originally from.
Girl: What?! No, I said they're scary.
Me: So...they are more frightening, terrifying...
Girl: No! (laughs) Scary means chicken!!! (she actually used a word I didn't feel comfortable using, but you get the gist.)
Me: Oh.

Story Continues

Girl: So they came up to me and asked, "who ya bangin?"
Me: Wait, wait. You've said that a few times now, so are they asking who you're having sex with?
Girl: What?! (laughs for about 5 minutes) No, like what gangs are you rolling with and what areas are you hitting. (something like that, I was still confused)
Girl: (pats me on the back) Look at the white girl learning new words! (She proceeded to tell all her friends what I had said as they walked into class)

So, in order to keep you all hip to the new lingo I figured you could benefit from this post.

Recap: Scary=Chicken and Bangin does NOT = sex.

I should have showed her this sweet graffiti I did in Seattle a few years ago.
Who's the white girl now? Oh, still me.

Text Messaging Gone Wrong

So, you could say that my older brother and I don't have the best relationship. It's about every other conversation that we have an argument. I guess this stems from our past. It doesn't help that in High School he would tell people that I wasn't his sister, and many times would leave me at school to walk home or try to find a ride (it was a joyous day when Lynze Wardle got a car). Point being, we still struggle to have even a civil conversation sometimes. This Thanksgiving we had another irritating conversation where I attempted to be nice and was shut down immediately.

This text to my sister is what followed:

"Nate's an ass. Hurry!"
(meaning hurry and get here since she was over an hour late!)

and what do I see as I'm sending it? Oh, just that I was thinking of Nate as I was sending it and being all worked up, accidentally put his name in the send to box.
SSSHHHIIITTTT!!!!! is what was running through my head.

So, feeling more embarrassed than bad about the text, I walked up to Nate and said, "Hey I just sent you a text, it was an accident" and walked out. He was already mid texting me back. The rest of the night was.....awkward. Looks like I ended up looking like the ass that night!
Hate when that happens :)

For the record, we did end up making up as we most always do after one of our petty arguments.

This is the closest I could find to an "Oh Shit!" face