Reviewing the year!

My blood, sweat, and tears just for you.

Every entry painstakingly categorized.

Yes, it's that time. Time for the annual blog archive!

Below you'll find ALL of the posts for this year.

A divine way for those new to my blog to get caught up or for the regulars to catch a post you might have missed.

Let's go!

January:

(1-2-12) Three becomes two.
(1-7-12) Fun with cats!
(1-11-12) Wordless Wednesday - Monroe Harbor in the morning.
(1-15-12) We failed at love.
(1-18-12) Buying myself flowers....like always.
(1-22-12) Happy Anniversary...
(1-28-12) It only takes a moment.....

February:

(2-1-12) Wordless Wednesday - The corner of Arlington and Clark Street
(2-4-12) Cutting hours.
(2-8-12) Wordless Wednesday - The corner of St. James and Clark Street
(2-14-12) From me.....
(2-19-12) Wearing color!
(2-22-12) I'm not happy.
(2-29-12) Erasing love.....

March:

(3-4-12) Happy Birthday, Chicago!!
(3-9-12) Recognition!
(3-16-12) Like a phoenix.
(3-22-12) Something all her own.....
(3-27-12) Mornings and nights.
(3-31-12) Worm.

April:

(4-4-12) Wordless Wednesday - Juliet of Verona (in the rain) at Navy Pier
(4-7-12) Magic paper!
(4-13-12) Endure.
(4-18-12) Wordless Wednesday - "Please stand by ME" (Van Buren Street Train Station)
(4-26-12) Coming out of hibernation.
(4-29-12) Losing Maria.....

May:

(5-1-12) The day after.
(5-8-12) I could care less.
(5-9-12) Wordless Wednesday - Dead pigeon on 11th Street
(5-17-12) Losing Johanna.....
(5-18-12) Seattle, here I come!
(5-25-12) Taken by Seattle.....
(5-30-12) Wordless Wednesday - Last week's trip to Seattle!

June:

(6-3-12) Justin Bieber and coffee!
(6-11-12) Not creating art...again.
(6-12-12) Time to fly.
(6-17-12) In the meantime.....
(6-20-12) Burn out already!
(6-22-12) Monster.
(6-25-12) A good day to die.
(6-30-12) Does anything ever stay the same?

July:

(7-7-12) Color therapy!
(7-15-12) Almost mine.
(7-21-12) A chance.
(7-27-12) Reconnecting with Seattle.....
(7-29-12) Putting a smile on someone's face.

August:

(8-6-12) It's a girl!
(8-8-12) Wordless Wednesday - "Hello" (cardboard along Roosevelt Rd)
(8-11-12) Losing Sujin.....
(8-15-12) Wordless Wednesday - Buckingham Fountain in the rain
(8-19-12) Not meant to be.....
(8-25-12) Dean Facts!
(8-29-12) Two years.

September:

(9-2-12) Carnations!
(9-10-12) Glitter Cross!
(9-15-12) For rent.
(9-20-12) A year already!
(9-23-12) Butterfly in half.

October:

(10-1-12) Golden Chocolate Orgasm
(10-7-12) Appreciation in bloom!
(10-10-12) Wordless Wednesday - LOVE(D) (The alley behind Altgeld St. and Wayne Ave.)
(10-16-12) Lost and found...and mine!
(10-21-12) Anxiety into color.
(10-24-12) Wordless Wednesday - The Rock-a-By Lady (at Lincoln Park Zoo)

November:

(11-3-12) Small thanks.
(11-7-12) Wordless Wednesday - Two red cones (Van Buren Street Train Station)
(11-11-12) Forgotten nude!
(11-14-12) Wordless Wednesday - "Antigonish" (on the corner of Clark St. and Roosevelt Rd.)
(11-19-12) Bow Boy!
(11-21-12) Wordless Wednesday - Seagram's Vodka (along Roosevelt Rd.)
(11-25-12) Disappointed.
(11-28-12) Climb.

December:

(12-4-12) It's almost like going home.
(12-8-12) I'm not giving up on love.....
(12-10-12) That much closer.
(12-12-12) Wordless Wednesday - Last month's trip to Seattle (cameo by Hugo)
(12-19-12) Cheating on Chicago.
(12-26-12) Wordless Wednesday - The corner of Wabash and Roosevelt Rd.
(12-31-12) Reviewing the year!

I couldn't help but look at all I went through while organizing this blogpost.

Losing love at the beginning of the year, growing closer with my coworkers at the crafts store, and of course, starting my love affair with Seattle.

Who knows what the new year will bring but I do hope it'll be AMAZING for everyone!

See you all next year!!

Wordless Wednesday - The corner of Wabash and Roosevelt Rd.

Cheating on Chicago.

I'm blessed to live in this city. Chicago will always be my home. My first love. But...I'm starting to stray.

Now when I'm walking down the streets in the Loop, I'm thinking of elsewhere. Wanting something much more than what I've always known.

I keep comparing one city against the other. Seattle versus Chicago.

The cloud cover isn't the same and the light is different here. Here the sun's harsh and intense and stings. In Seattle it's often soft and diffused.

In Chicago the rain comes down fast and heavy but is short-lived. There the rain descends light and steady...like a passionate kiss.

Mmmmm.....

Seattle aglow at night!

There's not a lot of opportunity in Illinois. It seems so hard to find decent work. If I should be offered a position in Washington, why not take it? Otherwise I might be working here at the crafts store for several more years.

Seattle isn't perfect though. There are things I don't like about that city--but the same could easily be said of Chicago. Both have their pros and cons.

Beautiful Chicago!

My life sort of went back to the way it was upon my return home two weeks ago. But I mustn't forget my time in Seattle. I mustn't.

It's on my mind constantly. The obsessive part of me won't rest until I have it. IT calls to me...like a lover.

Forgive me, my dear Chicago--I think my heart belongs someplace else now.

Wordless Wednesday - Last month's trip to Seattle (cameo by Hugo)

That much closer.

It had been such a long, overwhelming week. Returning from my trip to Seattle only to go back to the stresses of work at the crafts store.

This feeling of falling behind and never having enough time--or sleep.

It's enough to make me cry...and I did.

But this weekend changed all that. HR contacted me on Saturday in regards to the qualifying interview I had late last month in Seattle.

I passed!

When I heard the news I clenched my fists and shut my eyes. This rush of fear and excitement and vindication warmed me.

It's like all of my determination and desire and hard work towards getting to Seattle is finally starting to pay off.

Now I have a full year to apply to upcoming, staff-only positions within this city department as they're made available to me.

I'll still be competing against other candidates and there's no guarantee I'll get hired but this makes me that much closer to getting in. To going back to Seattle...to stay.

I'm not giving up on love.....

For Steven,

Thanks for everything.

(((HUGS))) and *kisses*

"I know you're feeling restless

Like life's not on your side

It's weighing heavy on your mind

But when we stand united

Our hearts, they beat in time

I know we'll make it all alright

Let's bring it back to you and me

There's no one else around

Don't get lost in gravity

'Cause I want you to hold me now

Nothing else matters

It's just the two of us

And if it all falls down

Nothing else matters

You know we're strong enough

I'm not giving up

I'm not giving up on us

I said, I'm not giving up

I'm not giving up on love."

It's almost like going home.

Most of the week was chilly, with no sun in sight, and it rained off and on every day I was there.

Mmmmm.....

I returned late last night from my trip to Seattle and my time there was wonderful.

The interview went well too and afterwards I was determined to make the most of my remaining time.

While taking pictures along the waterfront, I spotted a glove dangling from a tree. A children's glove resembling a beaver! 

I plucked it from the barren branches and took it to my hotel room, carefully washing it in the bathroom sink.

A perfect souvenir from the Emerald City!

Even though I didn't see as much as I did during my first visit, this time the focus was on meeting new people and building existing friendships. Oh, and I got kissed too!

Hee hee hee.

The thought of leaving made me cry a few times during my stay but I'm CERTAIN I'll be back.

Every time I go to Seattle it becomes more and more familiar. The bond becomes stronger. And now...it's almost like going home.