Here are pics from my recent trip to Kalahari Resorttttttssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss in Wisconsin Dells:
Our hotel was the exact opposite end of the indoor water park and indoor theme park. So every day where I took this picture we had to walk to the very other side of the resort (pictured here...in the far off distance). The walk was kind of entertaining though.
And they had tigers.
It was hard to capture the tigers on camera they're quick little babies.
fun adventure land. more on that later.
Crayz man cutting up stuff and throwing knives in the air! food was really really good here. I had an awesome ass steak.  Our server was a bitch though.
Johnny and I played in the play thing. Taryn and Nate were too cool to come in with us. It was really fun though heh. Our favorite part was the squishy thing. 



Climby wall was hard. I fell off it when I did it haha. Fail. I got to about the point Johnny is in this picture though.


Go karts were fun. I'm pretty sure that was my first time on a go kart.
Indoor swimmy land.
Wave pool. These pictures don't do justice of the awesomeness of the indoor water park.
The pictures also don't capture our awesome hotel  suite.
Heres a pic from their site. This is exactly what our suite looked like. I very much appreciated not being forced to eat out every day that weekend. Cooking in a hotel is just fun. You don't have to do your own dishes! <3
And every night when the pastry store closed we got freeeee pastries! and coffee!
Taryn ruining the shots. He loves it.

another attempted photo ruining of John with an ape.
Crazy adventure indoor land. Johnny beat me at mini golf by ONE point. I think he cheated.
Taryn and nate drunk waiting in line to go go karting. They got yelled at by the staff for swerving hahaha.
rope climby adventure thing was fun. By the time I took these pictures this was about the 3rd time Johnny did it so I sat it out.
It goes VERY high.

This weekend Johnny and I made a ginger bread house from scratch:
We had never made one before so I'd say this turned out pretty well. I think John and I found a new puppy for me. She is bread from the number one Japanese Chin breeder/shower in the US. This is her father:
She's going to be lemon colored like this guy...lemon meaning mainly white with some light brown. No pictures of her yet though. All I know about her so far is that she's a female lemon is about 8 weeks old and will be available from 10-12 weeks. Upcoming fun things for me? Who knows. Getting my new doggy soon hopefully. I'm a wreck without a doggy to love and snuggle.


PS-

Here are some random photos taken this week too:

Taryns addition to our neighbors sign. I wonder if she's seen it yet. Actually, I think this sign was taken down recently! hahahhah.


The aftermath of us drinking last Thursday. Oats everywhere.

So the thing I've been making numerous obnoxious updates about for the last eight months has already passed away. I couldn't think of a more obviously worse thing to happen to me. Mitsuko was my comfort dog. She was my first. The dog I had been waiting patiently to get for years. And now at a year old she has already been reduced to ashes under my care. I was at work when she was hit by a car and I still feel responsible somehow.

Yesterday I received this in the mail:

I think I would rather have not had this. I had no idea the vets office was going to make this for me. It was obviously made after she died, too. Now that I have it I can't just throw it away. Anyway, that paw cast ruined my day yesterday. I cry every day I come home from work now, but that cast made everything a lot worse. I couldn't stop thinking about how tiny her paw is in this.

When is this feeling going to be over? Its been two weeks since Mitsuko passed and I still feel almost the same as I did the first day of her death. God. I have never cried so much in my life.... and I am not a sensitive person. I've never had to deal with death before. I cried myself to sleep and as soon as I woke up the next morning I began crying again. This didn't stop for literally days. My eyes were completely red and blood shot. I cried so much it began to burn my tear ducts. I didn't even fucking know that could happen to humans.

Johnny seems to be over it. I have no one to relate to share these feelings with anymore. People having to put their pets down because they're old is one thing. Granted, I'm sure it's still painful, but god damn it is nothing like this. Mitsuko was the only consistently good thing in my life.

John and I picked up her ashes today. I also had John get her old harness with her name tag on it because I wanted it. On the way there, looking at the harness that still had mud on it from playing in his back yard, it just sucks. I was too emotional to go in the vets office to get her ashes myself. I hate when I'm crying and I can feel people's sympathy. It just makes me cry even more. Her urn is nice at least:


Apparently the "rainbow bridge" is some made up pet heaven. I think that sounds kind of gay but whatever.

The urn is sitting on my computer desk next to my bed. Baby enjoyed snuggling with me in bed so I'm sure she'd want to be as close to me as possible. John and I are going to bury some of her ashes in Smith Park this weekend. I took Mitsuko there every other day since I've had her pretty much. We've had a lot of good times there.

Here are the last pictures of her from Thanksgiving at my parents house. I'm glad I took a thousand pictures and video while I had her at least.


Snuggling her nomnom on the car ride there. She was always so good in the car.


Granddaughter and Grandma.


Beggin for nomnoms


more begging for nomnoms...but she knows I'm onto her.


sleepy baby tired from beggin


my mommy took this one. such a pretty baby.


Mitsuko loved my dad. She usually doesnt sit on peoples laps.



she loved hanging out in my bookshelf.


Sigh. I miss you, Mitsuko.

Let me start out this entry by saying I love 7-11's new adaptation to DOMOOOOOOOOOOOO


DomoDomoDomoDomoDomoDomoDomoDomo.

Ukrainian Village is looking nice this time of year with my doggy playing in the leaves...

And people breaking into cars....


These break ins were at the apartment building I almost moved into. Like, "almost" as in, we had our deposit ready and were driving to the real estate place to sign the lease but changed our minds at the last minute. Good thing, too! That could have been MY car... if  I had a car! Close call.

John and I have been going on a lot of doggy adventures with Mitsuko...


I like this one because Mitsuko and John have the same dumb expression on their face....heh.



This thing is in the middle of the forest preserve. Imagine walking through the woods and then finding this.

And then napping from all the adventures...




Taby made an appearance in Chicago for Halloween.

Although it seems like we are having a blast I'll be honest with you.... Halloween was kind of a let down. Bars are so boring now. There is no amount of liquor in the world that can make me enjoy bars anymore.


at least I looked good though.

I was this chick:


BATTLE ROYALE!

After Halloween Taryn and I carved pumpkins:

I carved a Mitsuko pumpkin


Taryn carved a more traditional pumpkin. We were so festive for Halloween on November 3rd.

Oh yeah. Speaking of Taryn....he's living with us now. Only temporarily until he finds a place of his own....but then after our lease is up we're all getting a place together. Taryn is making an excellent roommate so far.

Speaking of rooms...I've been working on sprucing up mine. Who knew interior design is so HARD and expensive? This is a ridiculous hobby especially considering I know I'm not going to re-new my lease in May.



I love my new TV.



New holiday to focus on:

There used to be fake snow wrapped around the bottom of the tree but Mitsuko decided to tear it up into little pieces while I was at work.


yay :)

Friday was the GMPD show at Empty Bottle...


A classic show. I can't believe I have been watching this band for over 5 years now (I think it's been 5 years anyway?) Not much has changed in all the years. Just less beer-bottle sodomy.

So I re-took the ACTs. I'm not sure how I did, but considering the months of preparation I would HOPE I did better than the first time, where I didn't study at all.

Mitsuko needs her spay surgery done again pretty much. It's kind of a complicated story if you care to read. If not just skip to the fun Disney pictures.

I have taken Mitsuko to the vet for examination at least 3 times since I've had her. Never did a vet mention she had a umbilical hernia, which needs to be surgically corrected. These hernias are fixed surgically almost ALWAYS when a dog is receiving her spay so they don't have to undergo surgery twice. It's an easy fix because hernias are located in the same area as spays are done.

I must have picked the only spay clinic in Chicago that doesn't correct (or inform you) of hernias while they are giving the spay. After calling around other spay clinics today I discovered all the other clinics I was considering said it is a standard to fix hernias while given spays. I called the spay clinic I chose and the vet tech I spoke to was being a huge cunt. She was more focused on arguing with me rather than being a little understanding in my frustration with having to have my dog undergo surgery again when this could have been avoided if the clinic had just called and gave me my options.

Johnny is taking Mitsuko into his vet tomorrow at 5 to get a second opinion about her needing the surgery. some dogs have small hernias that don't require surgery. I think taking her in is a waste of time but he was really pushing to do it so whatever.

Basically its just a bunch of bullshit and every time I think about this I just get depressed so I'm just going to move on.

....DISNEY...


The view from our balcony.


Ducks live in the pool! I saw their duck nest in the bushes. True story.



Johnny checking out the sights.


This building was weird.


You can take a lot of boats at Disney. I like boats.


My dog owns this restaurant!


After the Space simulation Johnny and I went on. Oh my god. Sitting in a small dark box that shakes you around a lot is not my idea of fun. I get sick very easily these days because I'm an old lady.

I made Johnny call his mom like every day to see how our baby Mitsuko was doing.


hey its that life tree from the lion king in the back ground! wtfz


petting zoo. I got yelled at for feeding the donkey. Screw you disney world, johnny paid for us to go there, we can feed all the animals we want.


I wanted him to make the face like the gorilla but he chose a more boring face.


safari adventure!! I saw deer and a lion.


hey its this thing.


after the boring finding nemo ride there was an awesome aquarium. it had dolphins in it n shit


fuck the main characters. I liked that guy.


Johnny wanted me to buy that head band so badly. I declined...over and over. but I was nice enough to pose wearing it in this picture.


for the day of our actual anniversary john made reservations at this nice french restaurant. I really liked the "Crepes duo, one Suzette the other like a purse with warm apples" I want a purse with warm apples.


Before the "bugs are your friend" movie in 3-d.


Lots of ducks at disney. I like ducks.




Johnny likes the ducks too.


This bird is like america's next top bird model. look at that fucker looking right into the camera.


hey its this hat thing.


my bill cosby impression


john and walt.



one of my favorite parts of disney: playing with legos. DUH. what else do you do at disney world?


my other favorite thing about disney was the "honey i shrunk the kids" play ground. IT WAS BIG ENOUGH FOR ME TO PLAY IN!! i went down lots of slides. good times.


john was inspired by all the asians he saw around disney. this was while we were waiting in line for the toy story ride...which we had to wait in line twice on two separate days because the first time we waited in line for 30 minutes they said the ride was broken and to exit the building. stupid cocks.


but then i got Mickey ice cream and it was okay.

If you didn't notice earlier, John and I were wearing our winter and fall coats in most of these pictures. That is because while we were in florida there was a crazy cold period in which one day it was 52 degrees while we were there. It was pretty much cold the whole trip except the last day we were there it was 82, so I finally got to swim with the ducks:


and go down the slide.

On the last day of our trip we also discovered there was a beach at our hotel. It had teather ball! I missed that game so much. I used to rock that shit in elementary.

On our flight home this kid at our gate gave me one of his balloons! It was the exact balloon I wanted while we were there but we didn't take the time to wait in line to get one.


it didn't even pop during the flight. the other balloon the kid had that he kept did pop though, hahha sucker. That balloon is in my living room as I type this LJ.

So yeah, that was my trip. I wish it had been warmer but what are you going to do?

This weekend Taby, Tony, and Taryn are coming in town for halloween and Taryn has a job interview down here. I hope he gets the job! I need him to be my roommate when my lease is up in May.

SMB will also be in town for a show they're doing here so I'll get to see them for a minute at least. Hopefully this weekend will turn out to be good times.

...Pictures from Disney later. Right now I have to focus on studying for the ACTs. .......Yeah. I'm 22 years old and I'm re-taking the ACTs. Whatever. I couldn't think of an easier way to get into the college I want and I am obviously not getting in with a 19 on the ACTs. I think the average is 20, right? Well, I could have cared less about that test when I took it the first time.

So I'm using this program that lets you take real ACT length practice tests online. After 3 hours of testing, the answers I submitted got fucked up somehow so I never got my real results or score. So essentially this whole day was a waste. I could have been studying facts instead of taking a fake test that didn't gauge how I'm doing.

Also, there are rats or mice living in my closet or walls, I'm not sure which yet. It's awesome to sleep to the soft squeaking of mice wondering if you're going to wake up with one on your head later that night.

Another awesome thing I realized today..I'm 30 minutes over my minute limit on my phone. That will cost me at least $20. And T Mobile has still not located all of the contacts and data that has been deleted from my phone.

This is going to be one very annoying week.

Baby and I after our trip to the park today. Watching her run around in circles as fast as she can even makes ME dizzy.


Mitsuko should be a dog model. She makes that silly toy look so sophisticated.



And then she can also make it look sexy.




I bought a day bed at Ikea to satisfy Mitsuko and I's desire to always be near the sun and a breeze. When did I start liking the outdoors so much?? Probably when I started working full time in a building that has no windows.


Going to some party later tonight... it will probably not be fun.

Drinking is boring to me now. Time to move onto crack!

So last year, my birthday blew. Really fucking blew. As of recent all of my birthdays have fucking blown. So I really wanted to make an effort to do something cool this year, even though it's just my 22nd birthday. There's nothing special about 22, but oh well. I needed to make up for last year, where I went back to my home town for my 21st birthday and like, one of my friends showed up who just happened to be out at the bars that night anyway.

THIS year... I booked a cabinnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn. I wanted to light some crap on fire.


I couldn't find a cabin until last minute so I only booked a night. This is a lot of crap for one night!


Johnny and Mitsuko drove most of the way.


Mitsuko's saying "You mother fuckers shut up back there or I'm pulling this car over!"


Sitting on dad's lap.

Due to Johnny's irresolvable constant tardiness, we got to the cabin at 10pm. ONE NIGHT OF CABIN...and we show up at 10pm. Obviously I was annoyed. But I digress.

The cabin was surprisingly baller:




Weird fish statue thing that Mitsuko was trying to attack

we attempted to make a fire on the beach in complete dark. Did not work out very well.


so we all gave up and went to bed.

The only saving grace of getting to the cabin so late was that the people who rented it to us said we could stick around as long as we wanted the next day.


View from the balcony thinger


view from one of the hammocks


The trail of death to Lake Michigan




I took Mitsuko on a walk and she saw this gorilla statue


she was scared of it heheh


Dad fixing Mitsuko's harness. Aww.


Private Beachhhhhh


blankestsss

blankeeetss!!


palest cunts on the beach. can you tell I'm sucking in?


Captain Mitsuko on the S.S. Arf Arf


She didn't hate the raft as much as I thought she would.

After we left the cabin Johnny took me to Houlihans for dinner. It was nom noms. Very nom noms.

I'd like to rent out a cabin again and do it better. It's not worth all the effort to only go there for a night. All my friends seem down so that's cool.

Now I'm going to go play with my baby because I've been ignoring her to make this entry.

byebyeezzz

While I was packing for LA Mitsuko made it clear she wanted me to take her.


When I landed Alyssa and I got a bunch of weird Japanese food served on hot turtle plates. The meat was pretty yum yum. We only realized after we had ordered that the restaurant only had a B rating for food safety. We were tempted to leave.

BEHOLD:

My first Yogurt Land!! I also just noticed I accidentally saved this as "Pink Berry" Pfffft. At Pink Berry this fro yo would cost $20 and there would be one pissed off fro yo cashier for having me make her do all this work.


Mine and Alyssa's fro yos together. They're friends. <3



Alyssa then took me to Little Tokyo where I bought $50 worth of asiany food! yum yums!



I loved these bags!!!


I'm trying to be like the bag.


My candy loot.


alyssa screwing the pooch


one of the days I was in LA I went to Renee's house to meet her doggy-face (who is also a japanese chin like my babykins).  They are very similar in dog-looks and dog-personality


WE WENT TO THE MOUNTAIN THINGGGG

I really liked this mountain thing that I was on. I wish I could remember what it was called, heh.




someone name this mountain


I saw my first lizard thing!!#J$K@ 

Then Renee took me shopping in Silver Lake. I was not impressed. Wicker Park is actually a lot better as far as hipster neighborhoods go.

But this thing was cool.


I love renee's laughy face.


My last day was spent at a Kareoke bar. Alyssa was pretty funny up there.


I had some time before my flight took off the day I was leaving, which coincidentally was the day that Laurennn was coming back from her traveling adventures so we met up. I haven't seen her in like... 5 years. Probably literally. It's cute to see us all grown up now. We've known each other for like 8 years I think?! Is that crazy?! Maybe I'm wrong. It feels like 8 years haha.


My hair looks stupid because this was when we returned from going to the beach! 

I swam in the ocean for the first time in my life! It was amazingggg. Then I got salt water in my mouth and I wasn't a fan.

Waves are so fun!!!

The day after I got back from LA was Johnny's birthday. I had a custom-made vegan cake made for him.


Mitsuko wants that cake. You can see it in her eyes.

The day after THIS everyone was in town for NIN....so I'll include some random pictures from this (Now you realize what took me so long to put these pictures up. Too much crap going on at once)


The guest bed for Ben Desroaches and Def Leper Jason


Random new coat that I bought and love.


Jason!

Since then I have completely re-done my room. New bed. New arrangement of furniture. New stuff in the living room too.


Pictures from my birthday coming soon.

Here is a tribute to my awesome dog:




puppy bicycle basket!!! don't worry, she has a puppy seat belt. Srsly.


My roommate nathan loves my puppykins.


This is how puppy sleeps every night. She loves her pillows :)


She was typing "zzzzzzzzzzz" i kid you not.


crazy puppy laser eyes!!!!!! duck!!


puppy sitting at the table at inn joy. Arf arf!


cuddling with daddy.


Mitsuko at my best friend's wedding.




doggy beach serious face.


taking serious puppy business calls.


she sits on the pillow in car rides and doesnt move like a good little babykins


her nap spot in my apartment


she does not enjoy water.


watching dad fly a kite


little baby!!!!!!!!!!!!!


she also does not like sweaters.


but loves tummy rubbbsssss


on her first doggy date.


doggy periods. gross.


doggy naps


doggy jail when i was re-paper training her.


yay!

I should probably be updating about witnessing one of my best friends since middle school being married. Or I should be going to bed. One or the other. But instead I'm going to write this:

Yesterday was my 2 year anniversary of living in Chicago. It was a good time to reflect upon everything I've done while I've lived here. I'm not really happy with my progress.

I have to start doing something more productive soon or I'm just going to go nuts with the monotony of my job and everything else. This has been my week, every week, for the last 2 or 3 months:

Monday through Friday:
9am - get up for work.
9:30am- walk dog
10:00am- go to work
11:00am - 4:30pm- Play sudoku in my office
5:00pm - Go home

Saturday - Sunday:
All day: see Johnny and maybe go shopping

Don't get me wrong. I love my job for what it is. I get paid a lot of money , my co-workers are nerdy sound engineers and some of them have neat hook ups, and my job itself is extremely easy and I'm basically allowed to do whatever I want. I get paid lunches usually two times a week, I get almost 40 hours a week with a set schedule, I work around hot band dudes all day, I could go on but you get the point.

My actual job doesn't make a difference. This job is not my life's purpose. I'm also not learning to sound engineer fast enough to justify my not being in college.

In realizing this, I feel like my life is beginning to bifurcate. There are too many options and when I pick one I'm stuck with it. Here are my potential plans:

1) Major in marketing at UIC. It's cheap, local and I can keep my job easily while I'm in school. It's a very safe and logical option for me right now. But I'm not sure if I want to go down this route. This could be the start of my path down to a long, boring unrewarding job.

2) Go to full sail for audio engineering which is what I would want to do anyway. I hear this is like "the" school to go to for that sort of thing. It's very intense training though. I'm honestly not even sure if my brain could take all the hard work it takes to graduate there. The school is also in Orlando...

3) Stay in Chicago and major in audio engineering here at some gay expensive art school like Columbia.

Sigh. Am I a total cunt for not being grateful for what I have now? I moved to Chicago with nothing, working at Buffalo Wild Wings and living in some shitty garden apartment. I've achieved a lot of goals since I've been here, shit I never thought I would achieve (I must have low standards).

There's nothing wrong with wanting to better yourself, and I feel like I have a lot of room for self-improvement.