Happy Anniversary to Me!

Well, exactly a year ago, I made the big trek up north and moved to Chi-town. Looking back, it's amazing how much has happened in just one year. I feel more mature and more immature at the same time.

Lately, I've been feeling nostalgic about my first couple of months here. Everything was new. Everyone was new. (People are nicer to you when you're new. ;) ) Life was one big fresh experience. Untainted. Wide open spaces.

I'm a fan of lists, so here I go...

Things I've really enjoyed about Chicago:

• Autumn - so beautiful. It puts me in a good mood to be outside, and it actually makes me want to jog. (Ok, what I really mean is walk leisurely.)
• Snow - I LOVE SNOW!!! Watching snow fall is very poetic to me. And I get to wear Uggs!!
• Public Transportation - not driving is fabulous. I also love the anonymity of being one of those people that plugs her iPod in and shut out the rest of the people on the train. It definitely sends a "do-not-bug-me" signal when you've got 2 white earpieces sticking out your ears.
• Proximity to Chinese Food - black pepper beef tenderloin at Triple Crown Express, $4.95. Yum.
• Proximity to Church (CCUC) - but somehow I'm still late.
• Spending All My Time with People Young Enough to Have Been My Youth Kid back in the Day - keeps me young! Kinda fun to play "big sis" for once.
• Deep Dish Pizza - there is no other way!
• The Architecture - so rich in history! And the view is breathtaking driving south on LSD towards The Drake.
• Portillo's - best chocolate cake, EVER.
• Lake Michigan - haven't really taken advantage of it, but it's nice knowing that it's there.
• City Dwelling - actually seeing people walking around in the streets of downtown is pretty cool.
• Michigan Avenue - they don't call it The Magnificent Mile for no reason, you know. At Christmas time, the lights are amazing; really puts you in the Holiday spirit.
• Fireworks at the US Cellular Field - the ghetto-est way to get front row "seats," but pretty darn cool.

Things I really miss about Dallas:

• Oasis - the camaraderie, the fellowship, the food, the love...I'm so sad now. :(
• Parking Spaces - always available. Metered (parallel) parking spaces are at least 1.5x bigger than the ones in Chicago.
• Tex Mex - Mexican food here kinda sucks.
• BBQ - and I don't mean throwing a bunch of hotdogs and burgers on the grill. The proper term for that is "grilling." BBQ is messy w/ sauce and usually accompanied by coleslaw, potato salad and bread.
• Suburbia - clean and rat-free!
• The Bible Belt - it's so much more apparent to me the difference in people's attitudes.
• Calling Carbonated Beverages "Coke" - I will never succumbed to using "pop." It is as painful for me to hear as fingernail on the blackboard.
• Cheap Gasoline - well, cheaper, at least.
• Chick-fil-A - closest one to Chicago in Racine, WI. I could probably eat this stuff everyday.
• Hanging Out at People's Spacious Homes - with a yard, that requires a lawn mower.

*sigh* Why can't I have the best of BOTH worlds?