The End of 2008

December is beautiful in Chicago! Holiday lights and decorations are everywhere, the snow leaves everything a peaceful white, and Christmas music is heard throughout the city. This was my official first White Christmas! To celebrate, Becky and I threw a Holiday Cocktail Party. Our home was filled with so many of our fabulous Chicago friends. I feel blessed to already have so many good people in my new Chicago life.

December also brought a long trip back to Cali. It all started in the San Fran area for one of my best friend's, Kim, engagement party to Josh Write. She has actually found "Mr. Write" :) The party was held at Kim's parents beautiful enormous home. There was a sushi chef, Michelle the chef, bartender, coat checkers, and a cleaning crew making sure everything stayed perfect. And perfect it was! It was such a wonderful night filled with people who love Kim and Josh and who are so excited and happy for them. The night was fabulous, Kim looked stunning (as always), and it was all just a preview of how amazing the Cabo wedding will be!

After the fun Nor Cal weekend I flew down south to spend the Holiday with my family. I stayed with my brother, his girlfriend and their adorable new puppy. My mom of course drove in from Vegas and all of us, including the Jabbora's (our family/friends), had a wonderful Christmas. It was 100% better than last year at this time. Last Christmas my mother and I were not the best of friends. Among other issues, she was upset with my decision to take a break from teaching and move to Chicago. My recent health problems had also changed our dynamic. Anyone who knows me knows just how close my mother and I are, but for various reasons that greatly changed that year. So much so that last years Christmas night we almost canceled our Puerto Vallarta trip leaving the next morning. Last Christmas was filled with tension so it was extra special that this Christmas was back to normal :)

I also got to see many friends on this trip home. Some planned and some unexpectedly but all of them so great full to have seen and spent some time with.

So my trip back to Chicago was an adventure! Becky was bringing a car back so I canceled my flight and decided to join her on the road trip. We knew it would be long and probably boring but together we could make it a bit more interesting. That we did! It took us 3 long days that were filled with: deserts, the first meteor crater, Pi Phi songs, many large porn stores along all the highways, dinosaurs and tepees, the alphabet game, every song on my ipod about three or so times, the "would you rather ___ or ___" game, lotto tickets at every gas station (no winners), and one of our favorite new games "I really love it when my (boyfriend, ex, guy I'm dating) ____." The ___ was filled in with something embarrassing or not so great about boys from our past. Not sure who "won" but this literally kept us entertained for an hour or so. Try it sometime.

We arrived back in Chi-town just in time to ring in the New Year here. We had a fabulous and crazy night that started at Martini Park and left us all somewhere different throughout the city. However we all regrouped on the 1st for brunch/lunch/dinner to exchange stories and keep celebrating the beginning of 2009!!

Fall has Come & Gone!

Here's a semi quick sum up of the past few months...

AUGUST:
The end of August contained Becky's birthday in which we had a super Sunday Funday at Castaway's. This is a huge ship bar on the sand at the lake/beach where you get to enjoy sun rays, live music, and great times. And great times we had!! I can't wait to spend more time there next summer. All in all it was a Becky Birthday Blast!
This is also about the time that I experienced what it is like to get fired. Let me explain...During an intense Cardio Core Ball class I ended up injuring my back, badly. Upon discovering I had a slip disc in my already messed up back, I called my work as I left the chiropractor to explain why I couldn't make it in. Well, when I called in to see if I had to make my next shift I was basically yelled at for faking. As my manager shouted about someone seeing me at the corner of State & Erie twenty minutes after I had called him from the chiro. When I let him know that that is actually where I literally live, he proceeded to argue that I was "all dolled up with feathers in my hair." I literally laughed. I then remembered that I had worn a dress (Mindy~ the purple low V neck one I got with you in MB) and flowered scarf in my hair to the chiro. Anyone who knows me knows I LOVE dresses and wear them just about everyday, and my scarf was hiding my greasy hair from living in a hot oil bath all day. I then laughed again because I found it a bit hilarious that a sun dress, hair up & messy in a scarf, big sunglasses and without a drop of make-up is "all dolled up" to these Midwesterners. So I basically got fired for looking good through physical pain and living in a great neighborhood. Thought about being crazy & suing them but got over it fast since I didn't really care enough nor want to go back. I was like, sweet now I can relax for a bit and let my back heal....

SEPTEMBER:
After letting my back heal for a few weeks I went in search for a non-profit job. Not finding anything that I loved and rent due in a bit I headed over and got a cocktail job at Martini Park. Love it there! The staff are all nice, friendly, & relaxed, unlike Rockit. As for the rest of the month, I basically worked, went out, and explored the city a bit. Nothing too crazy or exciting I guess.

OCTOBER:
On the first of the month Becky & I flew to Cali, spent a few nights relaxing at her parents house in OC and then headed to Mexico for Hill and Kevin's wedding. Oh what a wedding! It was held at this small resort right on the water where all the guests stayed all weekend for the fun festivities. The wedding itself was beautiful and touching. We all celebrated with cheers, tears and tequila shots! After the wedding I did get to spend a few days up in Manhattan Beach and see some more of my favorite people :) A few days after I returned home to Chicago Daniel flew out here for a visit. I'll give you all a moment for your "why does she keep letting him do this!?" type thoughts. I guess I should also mention that in September Daniel found out that his baby's mama who lives up in Canada is preggers again! You'd think these two would have learned from the first opps. Even though he called me crying right after he found out and understood if I didn't want him to come out, I ended up still letting him come. We had a great time exploring Chicago, which he loved. It was of course one of our usual emotionally bumpy roller coaster visits. We are so happy, loving, and fun most of the time but mixed in there is tears and sadness from both of us over this whole situation. All in all, glad he came.

As soon as Daniel left I developed a flu that then turned into a horrible cause of pneumonia! I was incredibly weak with bruised ribs from my extreme coughs that finally lead me to the doctor. Who not only informed me of my bad case of pneumonia but was actually shocked by how low my oxygen levels were. So shocked and unbelieving that he did repeated & different tests. Apparently my oxygen was well below a "sick elderly smoker." Oh so that's why I'm out of breath all the time! I literally gasped for air when I walked, stood up, talked, tried to eat...oh, and walking and talking at the same time was never an option. This all made sense now. Although he wanted to rush me to the ER,but with my stubborn "I'm tough" plus my lack of insurance at the moment allowed me to return home with my mini meds. Steroids to strengthen my lungs (watch out Ms. China!), antibotics to kill the mean bug in me, strong pain pills for my throbbing ribs, and stuff to help me sleep through the nasty coughing, oh and of coarse a 72 hour house watch. All in all I was sick for a month straight. And I was so sick of being sick! Becky was smart and overdosed on airborn, emergenC, and any other form of sick protectors. By the time Halloween rolled around I was much better and able to go out for a bit. No drinking for me of course but I don't think it was smart of me to be up till 7am...opps.
NOVEMBER:
Well it officially become cold this month! Not so many dresses anymore, they're still there, just not summery ones. Now most are worn with boots or leggings and usually a jacket.
Mid Nov was also when I attempted to get back in the gym. I say attempt because anyone who knows me knows cardio is one of my favorite things and an hour of high intense cardio is standard for me, well my higher but still low and out of practice lungs only allowed me to move at a slow walking pace for a measly 20 mins. I don't even want to get into what a joke lifting 8 pound weights was...goodbye muscle, hope to see you soon.
Though who I did see soon was my mom! She came out to Chicago the Saturday before Thanksgiving and stayed with me for a fun filled week. It was her first trip out to Chi-town and she loved it! We ate out, got high (this is the feeling my mother refers to after less than one martini), saw Dirty Dancing, shopped, and explored. It was truly a fabulous trip!!

My life could be a reality TV show

I do sometimes wonder if my crazy and random life would entertain others as much as it does for myself, friends, and strangers around me. Becky and I are constantly asking ourselves, "where is our film crew to document this!?!"
I know it has been quite a while since my last update so this one could get long but I will try to zone in on the major issues such as moving, a wedding, my birthday, and a tornado.

Moving- first off...all movers suck. Becky's movers didn't show up and since we had rented out the elevators at our old and new buildings at specific allowed times, we were forced to do most of the moving ourselves. We were moving to a building that was only a block away so we loaded up suit cases, boxes, and bellboy carts. As we pushed and pulled our belongings through the people and cars among the streets, we felt energized every time one of them honked or giggled in support of our struggling transport. This was all going okay until I decided that we were also strong enough to carry the couch/love seat over. Apparently in my moving adrenaline rush I had forgotten that my arms are not strong at all. I can not even do a real push up and they even get tired when I'm braiding my hair. By the time we some how managed to get the couch outside, our limp arms needed to rest every 3 steps. And yes, that even included the times we had to cross the streets, causing me to pull out my crossing guard arm and stop traffic while I took a seat on the couch. Thankfully a 5 foot little man was humored by us and came to our rescue. He threw it over his shoulder and walked it over to our new place all the while continuing to smoke his cigarette...damn we're weak.
Did I mention that all movers suck? My movers from CA decided to hold my belongings hostage until they were paid $1,200 cash (not at all what was owed to them). I was still at a wedding in Philly when they showed up and declared this outrageous amount. I had left Becky my credit card and some cash, positive that my due balance (which I kept requesting for weeks) could be absolutely no more than $400. So I spent 3 hours Saturday morning in Philly calling and leaving 17 messages for anyone involved with Baker Moving company in CA (still no one has returned a phone call or e-mail) while Becky was stuck standing outside a Semi with two chain smoking Russians trying to mediate. Very long story short, I paid it and will have to fight for my money back....any lawyers out there??



On to better topics...Nick and Kat's wedding. It was soooo beautifully fabulous!! She looked amazing...practically sparkling from head to toe, he looked handsome and calm, and the venue was gorgeous. I thought I was in a mansion somewhere in Europe. I of course cried a few tears of joy here and there for happy couple and romantic atmosphere. It was also so wonderful to see some of my crazy Cali friends that I had been missing a bit this past month. I love them all dearly and can't wait for them to come visit me in my new home. As some of you know, I did bring Daniel as my date. Why I let him back in my life so much these past few years...I don't know. Well I do and I don't know. Needless to say and without giving you guys all the details, we really did have a great time, just as we always do.

After the wedding weekend was my birthday! Becky and I went to my first Cubs game...so fun! Much different (and better) then any Dodger game I've ever been to. As for the random tornado storm, in an odd way I kind of enjoyed it. My neighbors told me to get off my balcony and away from all my floor to ceiling windows. While my mother told me to go get in the bathtub. I'm assuming she just watched Desperate Housewives.
So I am finally feeling settled in here now that I have my own place and all of my stuff. That is except for a few missing things (damn you Baker Moving!) and my car that I'm planning on selling...any buyers? That sums up most of the big stuff right now, just been busy working and enjoying the fabulous summer life here in Chicago.

When it rains, it pours

Although I did purchase a cute purse size umbrella, it didn't do me any good on Saturday morning as I realized it was sprinkling, went back up to my apartment, and realized I was locked out. This was just the beginning to what would be a not-so- fabulous day. After arriving at work a bit soaked for my second real day out of training, I come to discover that 1 girl didn't show up and the other 3 that did, it was their first day...yeah, we're all "newbees" who don't really know what to do! Well of course the born leo and leader that I am, I take a bit of charge and make things happen. The day actually goes pretty well until we realize that 3 out of the 4 of us are on a double (including me) meaning we should be cut early in the day so that we can have a few hours of break time before our next shift. Well that would have left a day one newbee working the entire restaurant alone for a few hours, so dumb/nice me offers to stay and just work through into my next shift and then be the first one off in the evening. Sounded smart. It wasn't. I worked 15 hours straight without ever sitting, eating only a bite of pizza & two bites of turkey chili. But worst of all was that I was wearing new shoes that went through 10 band-aids and still destroyed my feet. As 1:30 am rolled around and I was painfully walking home, I was actually feeling a bit good about the long day because I had just counted my money and there was lots of it. That happiness soon went away when the heavens decided to open up and literally pour down on me in the form of shreekingly loud thunder, bright bolts of lightning, and bucket sized rain drops. Normally I would have jumped in a cab but since I was less then 3 blocks away and didn't want to just stand in the rain trying to get a cab among all the drunkies in downtown...I ran/bolted home. I arrived home out of breath and so soaked that I pealed my clothes off, threw them in the wash, and fell fast asleep.


Thankfully a "rainbow" did follow my rainstorm. Sunday was gorgeous! Becky, our friend Jen and I had brunch at Tavern on Rush while the sun gleamed on us and the Bellini's kept on pouring! We then continued Sunday Funday by jumping on our friends boat and zoomed around Lake Michigan and then anchored it in "the playpen." For those of you who have ever been on a Havasu Spring Break trip...this is no Havasu (probably a good thing) but still very fun with lots of boats and people everywhere. Even wave-runners, which I of course jumped on the back of one!
Thank you mother nature, I needed that fabulous weather :)


Right now I am also dealing with organizing my unorganized/never answering the phone movers to get my stuff from storage in CA to my new apartment here in Chicago before I leave town for a wedding and on the days I can use my service elevator. So far not working out so well. I'll keep you posted....

Chicago Lesson #1...

...always carry an umbrella, even when it is 5pm on July 10th and 80ish degrees outside. Mental note, must find a cute, tiny, with some form of cute case, umbrella for my purse. As I was leaving my new temporary job and walking the 5 blocks back to my new temporary apartment, the heavens opened up and poured on my tank, skirt, and umbrella-less self. I'm going to go with that must be my guardian angels' tears of joy over my amazing few days I've had :)

So before Oprah adopts me, I want to have a fabulously fun filled summer and really live it up in Chi-town. Well, apparently that's all still going to cost me money and since LAUSD decided that they actually don't owe me $15,000 more (we'll see about that), I needed to get a quick fast money making job to not only chip away at debt but also enjoy life to it's fullest. We'll after walking into one of my favorite restaurants/bar on Tuesday, I was once again hired on the spot (4th time so far!) at Rockit (rockitbarandgrill.com). Oh and by the way (btw) at our intro meeting yesterday I was informed that the designer of this fab place was Nate Berkus.... OPRAH'S designer!! The signs are everywhere!!!
The other great news is that Becky found someone to sublet her apartment yesterday and today we found and signed papers for our fabulous new condo. It has everything we were looking for in look, amenities, and location! Pics will be sent after our Aug 1st-ish move...get excited, we are!!

oh, btw I know that I use fabulous quite often and it is not because I don't have an extensive knowledge of more adjectives, it's just that fabulous is MY word, and if you know me, you already knew this :)

Oh Beeky...

Apparently my dear Becky wasn't 100% sure I was really coming to Chi-Town. She had spent a week in Cali for a family visit and our friend Hil's bach weekend. During that week we spent a lot of it together whether up in LA (where she could see I hadn't really done any packing) or in Palm Springs among other best friends. In that time she kept hearing stories of how much I had cried the week prior. Sad to leave my great school wonderful staff and students, goodbye parties with family and friends, physically closing down my classroom of 3 years and my California life of 26 years, I did some crying. However the tears were filled with both joy and sadness. The thoughtful gifts from my students such as a blank pink key to use in Chicago "so every time you open your door you will think of me" from my little Karen...she's eight, an amazing scrap book put together by my aide filled with pictures and quotes from present and past students (I will always treasure this, thank you Kristen), many words of strength and encouragement, and the hundreds of goodbye hugs...well this just all made me cry, a lot.

So between these emotional stories, even witnessing a few tears herself, my change in flight plans, and the fact that I didn't answer my phone at the airport on the morning of the 5th...well this all got my Beeky thinking that I just may have backed out last minute and decided not to make the big move. Oh silly Beeky. But I guess my phone call right before take off reassured her and she went out and bought markers and poster paper.

I'm here!

I have arrived in my new home...CHICAGO!!

Let me first start off by giving a tid-bit of background info on this new move of mine. My name is Jennifer Champion hence the "story of a Champion". I am a third grade teacher and love everything about it, well of course the money could be better. But as a whole it is perfect for me: I love children, helping, teaching, being creative & silly, and love summers off for my other love - traveling. I am also born and raised in southern California back and forth between the LA area and San Diego, but always near the beach. I love the sun and have never really experienced living through a cold and snowy winter. My wardrobe mainly consists of dresses, tank tops, bathing suits, flip-flops, open toed heals, and sunglasses. So with all of the above said, I completely shocked my mother, friends, and co-workers when I announced that I was basically quiting my job and moving to Chicago.

I like to call it my quarter life crises. In reality though I am just pursuing a few of my other passions. I've always wanted to live in a city city. I love organizing and planning fund raising events. I want to help children in Africa. I love Oprah. When I added these all up, it equaled Chicago. And between my three Chicago visits to see one of my best friends Becky, I just felt right and at home in Chicago....

So as most of you know, my departure day had always planned to be on July 2nd. Well when my movers showed up on July 1st three hours late and without boxes my plans changed. And yes I paid the extra to have them do most to all of my packing due to the fact that I had just boxed up and closed down my classroom, not to mention how extremely busy I was with goodbye parties and bachelorette weekends. So when I literally pointed out my "full service package" on my contract, mover man realized he'd have to come back the next day...my flight day. Well thanks to wonderful new Chicago friend Yanelle (pronounced Janelle) a flight attendant, I was able to use one of her buddy passes allowing me to change my big fly off to the 5th. Although I had originally really wanted to spend our Independence Day in my new home town of Chicago, it was secretly really nice spending it with my fabulous friends in Manhattan Beach. These friends mean the world to me so spending my last night with most of them surrounding me and fireworks in the sky was perfect :)

"We are now landing in Chicago. The sky is clear with a temperature of 85 degrees. If you are catching a connecting flight, the information is to the left when you exit. If you are returning home...welcome home." This is when not only do I smile but also tear up a bit. An even larger smile and yell come out of me when I go down to baggage claim and find Becky and Dee standing there holding my welcome signs.

And now the journey begins....