Invasion of the Midges

So it's no secret that I've been slacking on blog posts... I like to blame the fact that I quit a job, started a job and started dating someone all in the span of a month... not to mention the promise of summer and increased social obligations... but the truth is... I got a little lazy. And without bad dating stories, what is a girl to talk about?!

When one falls off the blogging horse... you need to find something particularly blog-worthy that might bring back maybe one or two of your readers... and I think I found it.

Picture this... Sunday night... relaxing in my newly cleaned (spotless) living room with my +1... when I look to the corner of the room only to notice a swarm of what-appears-to-be mosquitoes. (Cue music from Hitchcock's 'The Birds')

Within minutes both of us realize that the mosquitoes not only are in the living room but in the bedroom AND entry way. The apartment had been invaded by these tiny nat-thingys and the commissary downstairs which sells Raid closed approximately 30 seconds before this realization.

We spent about 20 minutes killing each and every one of them... by hand... and with the "help" of my oversized cat. Isn't bug-killing supposed to be feline instict?

So the interesting part of this story (as if it weren't captivating enough), is that they aren't mosquitoes at all!

After a call into management yesterday morning, I learned that every year, apartment buildings by the lake and in the loop get infested with these little nats called "midges." They have a 48-hour life span... and don't bite... but they do fly around your apartment and create nests in the corners, creating a lovely, "i-don't clean-my-apartment-for-months" look to the place.

They come in through the vents... through the screens.... through the walls. There's no rhyme or reason for how or why they come inside... but they do. Luckily, they should be gone by the end of the week. And if they aren't, the exterminator will make sure of it. In the meantime, management just suggested to "sweep the dead ones up." Sick. For real?

Given all the news coverage when the city thought they were going to be invaded by cicadas... I'm surprised to have no previous knowledge of this annual home invasion.

Anyone out there also sharing your apartment with these unwelcomed guests?

Do tell...

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Why are all the comments to my blog in Chinese letters?!

Ahhhhhh.... wtf. Jimmy Walsh, cousin and tech dork, I will be emailing you soon.

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Bobcats, a Boot, Some Beer, a Brauhaus and My Bro

The Hart siblings took to Chicago this weekend - and left it a little more happy - with a little more heart, if you will. My brother, P(Pat)-hart (pronounced Fart), visited this weekend, and we certainly made the most out of our two days in the Windy City.

Friday night, after he arrived with the typical mid-March arctic chill, we had a few 312s before heading over to Second City's "The Taming of the Flu." Laughs were had... more drinks were drank... memories were made.

Saturday may rank up there as one of the most random, yet spontaneous, days we've ever spent together. Together, we braved Chicago Snowstorm 2010 to make it to Crossroads by noon to grab tables before the OU Bobcats took on the Tennesee Volunteers. After waiting two hours for cold chili and grilled cheese, drinking stale beer and watching a sad and disappointing loss, we decided we needed to step up the evening.

We took a solid three hour break that consisted of burgers at The Counter and board games at my friend Mike's... and then headed up to Lincoln Square to experience the Chicago Brauhaus.

The best way to describe the Chicago Brauhaus is an authentic German bar (steins, traditional beers, etc) mixed with almost-suburban Chicago (family-friendly), mixed with your last family wedding (old couples dancing to polka music). Picture that... and then throw in a two-foot glass boot that is passed around the table and drank by all. Holy H1N1... apparently no one is that concerned anymore.



Anyone else experienced the Brauhaus? Watch out May Fest... I'm spreading the word!

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Oh my, OU...

I'm not going to claim that I'm a huge basketball fan. Or baseball. Or football. But, if I am loyal to any of my alma maters... it is Ohio University. Those four years shaped me into the person I am today... and I met some of my best friends within those college greens. So, tonight, as more than 200 people gathered in Crossroads at Wrightwood and Clark to cheer for the school that they also love to call their own... I couldn't help but jump into the madness.

And to our surprise and delight... they KILLED Georgetown. Check it out!

I have to say... when you mix the best city with the best college... you get one of the best nights ever.

Way to go, Bobcats. Thanks for a great night!

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'Tis the luck of the Irish

So as it turns out, March just might be a lucky month for this Irish lady.

But because I've neglected you again, let's step back for a second. 2010 so far has vastly out-performed my expectations. A short recap.

February could be summed up in one word: Florida. The time I was in Florida... and the time I was not in Florida. I don't recall much about the Chicago days... but I had two solid weeks in Sanibel. And I remember every second. The weather wasn't ideal, but I did get a chance to hang out with my parents for an extended weekend - and my long-time girlfriends for another.

To sum up the girls' weekend... I had just put my two weeks in, Christina announced she was moving to Wal-Mart, Arkansas, Helen dropped the news that she was preggo and Katie was in the midst of job drama. Needless to say, the break was welcomed by all. Next year, we're all coming in Tuesday night. Fo to the sho.

So ya, I have a new job!!! Woohooo! And now that I'm moving forward from the guilt of leaving my old job (and all the drama that came with that the last two weeks)... I'm enjoying the new gig more and more every day. I started at Edelman on Monday working on two restaurant accounts... famous for cheesy biscuits and breadsticks (attempting not to get picked up by too many blog monitorers!) Any guesses?

And throughout all of this craziness... I thought it'd be a great idea to start seeing someone. And so far he hasn't done anything insane or red-flag-like. He's met all my low-standards of 1) Paying for first/second dates, 2) Not afraid of social media or modern technology, 3) Not afraid of (attending) weddings 4) Blinking during conversations and 5) Not making crude, racial or anti-sematic comments. So far it appears as if he might be normal... definitely no complaints. Timing (starting a relationship and a job in the same month!?)... not ideal. But I suppose you can't plan these things... so will just have to see where all of this pans out. I'll try and not be the screwed up one in this situation. :)

And if things couldn't be any better, I'm back to my old commute... no more 6-block treks to the 156. 151, I missed you! Somebody burst my bubble... no... actually... let's just let that bubble fly for a bit.

Thank you, March and 2010. I heart you.

Anyone else feel the luck of the Irish today or this month?

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Need a few Irish tunes to get you in the spirit? Here ya go.

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Notable Quotables

"Call it a clan, call it a network, call it a tribe, call it a family. Whatever you call it, whoever you are, you need one."

-Jane Howard,British actress, model and novelist

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Make Room for 'The Room'

Last year on Valentine's Day weekend, my girl friends and I drank several bottles of wine, had an exclusive apartment dance party among five of us, plucked a dozen red roses looking for a creepy hidden camera (there's a bad poem behind that) and took shots every time we heard "Single Ladies." Last weekend, to celebrate the weekend of love, I joined 1800 other Chicagoans (and a group of about 15 friends) at the Music Box Theatre for a showing of "The Room."

To describe what I experienced will probably sound very cult-like... maybe slightly trek-y. But it was freaking hilarious. With spiked sodas and popcorn, plastic spoons and footballs, 10 of us lined up in a row, high school-style to enjoy America's Worst Movie Ever.

To make the event even more memorable, the 40 1/2 year old director AND leading character - Tommy Wiseau - made an appearance at this historical Southport theatre... his long mane still in-tact, and odd Arnold Swartzenegger accent echoing off the walls during the intro Q&A.

If you look "The Room" up on Wikipedia you'll learn that it contains no famous actors. That the plot is shallow ("Johnny's my best friend") ... the decor, ridiculous (spoons, spoons, spoons)... and the lines, amazing (i.e. "Oh hi, Johnny... I didn't see you there") and the acting, ground-breaking (tossing the football to each other three feet apart).

The 2003 film definitely earned every "bad movie" award that it was awarded. And getting a copy of the DVD for an extra $5 was also worth every penny. You can place yourself on the waiting list by posting a comment on this blog. Don't rush to type yet... there will be enough time to show to everyone. Although my boss has already reserved the first showing...

All in all... another Valentine's Day weekend to remember.... all while watching an off-color movie about the worst love-triangle ever invented and filmed. Not too shabby.

Any fun, non-traditional Vday stories from you readers?

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