Holiday Hangover

Similar to many people on the planet, I'm currently in the process of detoxing from the holiday fun, food, & festivities that took place over the last two weeks. I'm also trying to digest the many visits with friends & family in Chicago and how I felt being, as we say, "Back in the old neighborhood."  ...It's a lot to swallow.

During my trip, I got to do all the things. Christmas with the family & New Year's Eve with friends. I had lunch with a former co-worker, margaritas with the girls, caught a show downtown, decorated a gingerbread house with mom, saw a movie with dad, and had an old-school sleepover with the sister. I even got to experience the perils of holiday air travel. See? All the things.

Mom & I decorated...

...every house should have a gumdrop garden.

If you're in Chicago during December, visit the Chicago Botanical Gardens. Their display of Chicago in miniature - all made by plants - is astounding.

Art Institute - complete with wreath-wearing lions

 Chicago Skyline

Chicago Bungalows

(aka, the house your grandparents lived in or 

the house you live in now, after a gut-rehab)

The Broadway production of "Newsies" is now on tour. I saw it while in Chicago and can't say enough about how impressive the dancing & tumbling were. Their performance on the 2012 Tony Awards will give you a preview...

I did other things during my 10-day trip, such as bake, eat, and drive to all these fun activities in the Chicagoland area. I also finished Season 2 of American Horror Story and got through 7 of 8 episodes of Top of the Lake. (Naturally they don't have it on Canadian Netflix, so I have to wait for the resolution. First world problems!)

No matter what I did though, I felt comfortable in my hometown. I originally embarked on this journey because everywhere I went in Chicago felt 'itchy'. It felt small & clusterphobic, and I felt small in it. This time it felt welcoming. Still not sure it's where I'm going to end-up, but it was a surprising and positive reaction I didn't expect.

Now it's back to life in rainy Vancouver! Improv class starts again this week and I'm finalizing plans to head up to Whistler Blackcomb later this month. (Here's hoping I remember how to pizza and french fry!) I'll continue to post as the adventure continues!