Goodbye Party

I went to Chicago last weekend for a quick trip back home.  I have been working my booty off at work, and was given a 3 day pass.

I needed it!

It was good to see family and friends.  I am going to miss them, I just hope email and snail mail is enough for when I am gone.

I was able to sleep, spend serious quality time with my guy.  Just what I needed.

Saturday night I had a going away drinks/dinner with friends at Fado.  Here are some group pics from the night.  Didn't include all of them..just a few good/funny ones!

I am lucky to have such good friends that came out.  Seriously.  Thanks for the well wishes and prayers!

Me n my guy.  Plus the best photo bomb ever.  

Southside High School best buds.  Love you guys!

Navy crew!

M and M.  

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Farewell to the Ocean State

It is that time to say goodbye to Rhode Island.  Time has surely flown by since my post in October.

It has been fun.  I have seen the sights, eaten great seafood, made great friendships.

I was able to host friends visiting, make brunch for friends, have District 9 (aka barracks) dinners, walk Bella on the ocean, sing karaoke at Celtica, savor food and drink at White Horse Tavern, enjoy burgers at Pour Judgement, the typical pumpkin beer at Coddingtons, amazing seafood at Scales and Shells, the list goes on.

I hope to visit again, and perhaps buy a timeshare here.  I loved living in Newport.  I wish I had visited more of the New England area while here, but school kept me rather busy.

Onto my next adventure, the next state.

5 States in 4 Weeks!

Fist state: Missouri.  Great visit.  Pictures and recap will be posted soon.
Second State: Illinois.
Third State: Leaving Rhody for good.  Will be bittersweet.
Fourth State: Virginia.  Another bittersweet stop.  Looking forward to catching up and learning at school.
Fifth and final State: Florida.  I can't wait to get there.  It means I start the next chapter of my life.

So..if I don't post a lot on here this next month..it is because I am flying and driving a few thousand miles.  Looking forward to the adventure!!

Goodbyes..little things..and Adventure!!

This past week was a whirlwind.  Literally. 

I did so much!  I almost feel like I can't remember it, which is probably why I started this blog to begin with.  Even though I have a photographic-rand-mcnally-like memory (seriously, its nuts), I started this to document places, things, events, etc.  I always know where my favorite pizzeria in country X is, but I know by walking down this street by this monument, etc.  That confuses people, and viola, here is ChicagoGirlAroundTheWorld.  I have now left Chicago, and am starting my travels.  I'll be here, there, everywhere for about 1.5 years....

First off, I hate goodbyes.  I hate them because they are emotional, and I am not an emotional person.  I am a girl that lives surrounded by walls..thus, I will not cry or get emotional.  Nope. 

I had two goodbye dinners and a lunch last week.  It was so nice spending time with my friends.  I love my girls!  From the girls I went to high school with, to the ones I am serving in the Navy with, etc, we all have a special bond.  I can't wait to see them again. 

Then came the work goodbye.  I tried to leave silently.  Then, as I was doing last minute errands, some how, people kept "finding" my cell # and called me and texted me.  They had to say goodbye in person.  It was nice to see that I had enough of an impact on people, that they did that.  I am a very tough person at work, and I know that.  I expect the best out of my guys/gals, and I try to give them my best in return.  I really enjoyed working this job, and each of my leading chiefs made it enjoyable to go to work every day.  I really hope my next job is like that. 

The goodbye with my guy was easier, because we spent a week together.  A week doing everything and nothing at the same time.  Bbqing, doing laundry, cleaning the house, watching season 1 of the Wire ( I am addicted, and have to buy my own copy now), trying new places for dinner, everything.  He helped me pack up my car today, and took me to breakfast before I started the first trek of my drive out East.  He is amazing, and I can't wait for our next visit.  It won't be for a while, because we have a lot going on at work, but it will be a great visit nonetheless. 

So here I am, sitting in a little hotel room in no-where-in-particular Pennsylvania.  Starting the next leg of my adventure after I am well rested tomorrow.  Looking forward to where to road takes me, and taking advantage of every single weekend I have out East.