the_sarahyk

I never update anymore... but I'm bored so I will just do that now.

I suppose the most recent major development is that I moved in with my boyfriend, Jon at the beginning of April. Our apartment is really cute and great and we've got everything all put together. We painted the entire apartment because as Rachel put it, it was painted "drywall gray". It looks a lot better now... very homey and cheerful. It was a big project but it was fun and I feel very accomplished. I've never put so much work into an apartment before. We also painted Jon's old desk and put some new handles on it for a nice updated modern look... and got to spare ourselves the cost of buying a new desk. We've spent a lot of money doing and getting everything and I think we're finally done with that for a while, which is good. I just kept seeing my savings going down and down. Anyway here's a link to an album I made on facebook with some pictures of the new place:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2259787&id=30800837&l=a2236ae45c

Last year I was really good about working out and eating healthy and I lost a bunch of weight. Then I moved here and I wasn't that good about it. Not in the sense that I un-did progress just in the sense that I wasn't making anymore. I've started getting into running again lately and Jon is starting to do it too. He also cooks a lot of healthy meals which makes it a lot easier. It's tough though because there are a TON of awesome place to eat all within just a few blocks. It's very nice not to be living in Logan Square anymore. I'm planning to sell my car anytime now, I don't even need it now.

Work is pretty boring. It's easy enough but I'm not at all challenged and it's frustrating to be forced into such mind numbing boringness 40 hours a week. I suppose it could be worse though. For instance.. last year when I still worked at pizza hut. Yes... at least I don't leave my job smelling like pizza/grease and I have health insurance and consistent pay/hours. I just need to figure out what I should be doing with my life. Career suggestions? ha.

Ehhh not much else, life is pretty simple and undramatic lately. I like it this way. Though having a couple more friends in the city would be ideal. Someone to get coffee/a drink or a meal with every now and then. I'm looking forward to my vacation from work in a couple weeks though. I'm off the week of June 29 and the following week and I go back July 13th. Don't really have the money to go anywhere, and I don't think there's anywhere I'd like to go that much. It'll just be lots of beach time and bike rides and going places that are normally busy on weekends, I think. Maybe I'll play tourist a little. I work along the river downtown and on my lunch break I always watch all those big tourboats go by. I think the best idea ever would be to go by my work on a tourboat and relish not being there. I probably have the worst vacation ideas of anyone you know. OR THE BEST. Zoo sounds good... maybe a couple museums I've never been to. It'd be a great time to come visit if you'd like. Next weekend there this Wells Street Art Festival happening right outside my apartment all down the block that will be fun to check out.

Time to quit bumming around for the morning I think.

So I am moving in with a boy!
Jon, to be specific.

We just found out today that we got this apartment we applied for (for April)
It's on Wells St at North Ave, in Old Town for those of you familiar with Chicago.
I love the location and the apartment and I'm really excited.

and it's going to be amazing living with Jon.

We're going to get a uhaul for the second weekend in April to avoid any moving around mess Probably April 11th. Jon already has 4 boys locked in to help and I've probably got 2 more haha so if anyone wants to help move it would all be easy not very heavy stuff and it would not take long and you could hang out and our sweet new place and we'd feed you pizza and beer for your efforts. also then I am indebted to you should you need to move at some point in the future.

haha keep this in mind...

excited! :)

I'm one of those lame "totally in love" people now.
I try to fight it, to be the old reliable cynic...
but I'm just so goddamn happy.

My (now boyfriend) Jon just rode his bike 10 miles round trip because he really wanted to kiss me.

He is the best for so many reasons... and that's just the sweetest thing I think that anyone has ever done.

NIU resumed classes today. I thought it would be really weird to not be going back, but it isn't. I was really ready to move on from that part of my life... from academics, from Dekalb, just all of it.

Today Lauren moved out, which is unfortunate but was necessary. I was very lucky that Valerie was available to take her place, as she had recently been screwed out of a living situation in Chicago and had her things locked up in storage. I didn't have to find a random roommate on Craigslist or something.

When my lease is up here... I want to move to a nicer area of Chicago. I am not too fond of this area. It bums me out. I also want to be more conveniently located to public transportation. I am also thinking I'd like to try living alone. It would be very expensive but I think it would be a good experience. I think unless I can find someone who I'd really want to live with, who could afford to live in a nice area with me... than I'm gonna figure out a way to go it alone. I have a lot of time to think on this though.

My job is going well. It's not that challenging or anything but I really like the people there a lot. It's a really great company and it makes all of the difference. I'd have laughed in your face if you told me I'd work at an investment firm after I graduated.

I've been seeing this really great guy lately. Our last date on Saturday ended with us walking 4 miles up along Lake Michigan holding hands. I've never felt so excited to hold someone's hand before. I think he's really special. We casually mention plans for things we should do together in the future all the time. It's not even a matter of just getting ahead of myself, I just see that it's going to work out. Now I'm just sorta in that weird relationship limbo... where it's kinda quick to put the pressure on of making things official... but I am definitely not interested in looking at any other men.

Things are good here, for me.

I figure perhaps it's... high time for an update in my life. People are nosy, myself included.

I mentioned the new job I got. I started on the 30th. It has been really nice so far. I have full benefits and everyone there is really nice. The job is easy and I end up going to lots of meetings, which I find to be pretty funny. They buy us food there a lot. It's still nice because getting up and getting dressed up a little and taking the train downtown for work is really just so cool. I am well aware how absolutely dorky that is, but it's nice. I guess not really in a way where I feel more important or anything either. I feel very out of place down there still. Sometimes I wonder if I look like i belong when I'm in a place. It's not that it ultimately matters, it's just something I wonder. I just feel very young and I feel it's difficult to present myself in a serious fashion. I don't know how long I'd be able to have this be my life, but it's pretty good for right now.

In general I feel I am adjusting to things in the city really well. I've figured out the basics of getting around, and I'm confident in those, and I just continually am expanding. Now that I have my monthly pass of unlimited rides I am not as bothered about the hassle of trying to commute and get around with busses and trains and I'm seeing and learning a lot about the areas. The novelty of going on the public transportation and listening and watchin people hasn't worn off yet. There was never public transportation really in Freeport. Taking the bus around campus feels completely different. Eventually the novelty will wear off though... the busses and everything and everyone will just be a pain. For now though it's really nice and I'm really patient with getting around.

Otherwise there's not a whole lot of exciting details going on in my life right now. I have been meeting an embarrassing amount of people from the internet. Most pretty disappointing so far. I don't really know where all to go to try and make friends. It's such an awkward procedure I think.

I've been really addicted to those gummi candies that are sour lately. Like the life savers gummies or the troli crawler neon worm candies. I'd like to note the distinction between this and Sour Patch Kids... which are good but sometimes I'm a little bit of a pussy and those candies aren't fucking around you know?
...I'm out.

I got my first REAL job today. I'm super excited. I start on Monday June 30th. I have been interviewing with this company for over a month now and it has been a slightly grueling process. So many interviews and people to meet and skills tests online to take. I finally got it. Also it is 5,000 dollars more a year than I was initially expecting :)

My mom is taking me shopping for work clothes which I'm really excited for. I'm also excited to know that I have a job and to have a full week 1/2 yet to just relax and continue exploring the city. It's nice knowing that money will be coming this time. I've generally been having a good time. Lauren and I have been having a good time I think. I love our apartment it's even better than I expected. I'm getting better at figuring out my way around and I'm less stressed by it all. Come visit.

I live in Chicago now!
It was a really long day of moving but I am very glad it's over. I have a lot of amazing friends who helped me out and it was awesome and not that bad. I am sunburned and sore but it's OK because it was completely worth it. Hopefully I find out this week if I got this job that is quite promising. Then everything will be ready to goooo in Sarah's new life.

this week... relax and enjoy the city.

I move to Chicago in 1 week. I have been slowly working on packing my things together... it shouldn't be too terrible. I don't have a TON of stuff. It's not like I have never moved before. In a lot of ways this time is easier. I have a Uhaul reserved that Lauren and I are sharing. This time I have an overlapping lease, which is also great. I still have THIS apartment through August. It's a lot different this time though. It doesn't just feel like I am packing up my stuff to move into another place, it feels like I'm packing up college. I am not simply moving into a different apartment to continue the same type of life in the same town. I am moving to a completely different city to live a completely different life. I am mostly really really excited about this, but I can't help but get a little sentimental as well.

The past week since I have graduated (congrats grad) has been really great. I have been in one of my moods where I can't sit still and stay in at all. Normally I really prefer to never go out. I have been filling my days very well between job searches and exercising. I've been hanging out with a lot of people who I know my relationships with them will never be quite the same when I move. It's not like I'm moving far away, I know I'll visit and they'll come to the city. There will be parties and concerts. Those are all great things but what you miss when you move away from a place is nights where you just watch tv in sweatpants and talk, or go grab dinner real quick. I think that those are all the real defining moments of relationships with people that I am going to be missing. I know I'll meet new people to have those experience with, and that they'll be great. It's just weird to know that everything about my life is going to be very different here in a week.

Another note... I have a job interview on Wednesday that I'm pretty excited and hopeful about. I have already done two phone interviews with the company. They are bringing me in for an interview that is 2-3 hours, so I figure they must be pretty serious about me at this point. I have to meet with a few different people in the company and take some types of testing... probably some type of ethics and personality testing. I also have an interview June 2nd at 9:30am. Right away after I move in haha. I think that something will pull through soon, I am just going to need a lot of money!! Today is my last day at Pizza Hut after over three years. That's weird too... I feel much less sentimental about that one though. It's time to move on to bigger and better things, ultimately.

Anyone want to come help me Sunday? It'll be super fun. Lauren and I have a pretty good sized gang lined up for both Dekalb and Chicago so there wont be very many trips to make at all. Then in Chicago there's a street festival that Ted Leo and the Pharmacists are headlining and there's a bunch of little merch tents and that kinda stuff. So if you're available Sunday and you wanna have an unofficial move in party in the city you should let me know. :)

Done with college! Graduating Saturday. Don't wanna go, it's going to be lame and boring and I don't understand why my parents (mostly my mom I am thinking) wanna sit and watch it anyway.
I just took my last final and I wish that was it. After Saturday... really it. Welcome to the "real world"
Chicago livin' in just a little over 2 weeks!

50 lbs total lost as of today. YES

I have a new apartment in Chicago!!!
Kedzie at Armitage in Logan Square (for those of you who would know what that means and desire the specifics of the location)

Now I just need a job...
it'll be OK. yeah.

I often contemplate deleting my livejournal. it's so damn embarrassing and whiney
I realize that's characteristic of internet journals but holy hell. Reading entries I wrote when I was 18 sends me into an endless shame spiral. Quoting shitting bands, obsessing over jerky guys. hmmm no one ever needs to see that shit!

I really like running now.
I like it so much I am going to stop smoking altogether; even after I secure a real job.
I want to run a 5-k this summer if I can find one. I am training to run a 10-k in the fall!
I'm really excited about it. I decided mid-January that I was tired of being out of shape and overweight so I just bought a bunch of healthy food and started exercising and haven't really looked back. I've lost almost 30 pounds now. I'm really really happy about it and super proud of myself.

Spring Break! woooo
when I get back from Spring Break it's only 2 months until graduation. aww damn
I've also gotta stop smoking and try to get a job.
It'll all be worth it, because then I'm moving to Chicago, yaaay.
I think Lauren and I are planning to go look at some apartments for fun over break. exciting.

I know it's such a cliche to say "I never thought it would happen at my school"
...but I just really didn't think it would happen at my school. I remember last year when the Virginia Tech shooting went down and it shook me up because their school was so much like mine that it really hit home. Due to the tragedy at Virginia Tech, our university began immediately working on a safety plan should such an event occur. They executed this all very well... but it still didn't stop six (so far :() deaths from occurring. It's a reminder of how horribly unsafe we are from these random acts of violence.

I'd like to document this and I figure some people on here might be interested in reading my account anyway.


I was on campus when it happened. I had walked by Cole hall on the way to my class right when it would have been the beginning of that class period. It was nearing the end of lecture and a student in my class shouted out about a text they had received from a friend who was in the vicinity of Cole when it happened. It was so shortly after the incident occurred that we couldn't even find any information on the internet and it was difficult to get through on the phone to find anything out. At 3:20 the university posted the information that there was a gunman on campus... and that the university was on lockdown. I knew that they were in the area nearby my classroom. It was terrifying... the not knowing. The realization that he could be anywhere and that he had a gun. Everyone tried to keep calm and hush everyone down but people were just frantically calling and texting everyone they could think of. I was scared... my heart was beating fast but I just sat there in disbelief. I texted some people. I think I was in too much shock to really process how fucking scary that is. About 10 minutes later someone ran to the door and told us they were evacuating the building... we all rushed out very orderly and were ushered out the back doors by several police with rifles, bullet proof vests, and riot gear. I couldn't believe it...

I talked to my mom the whole way out to my car which was parked nearby. Once I got into my car it took a very long time to get back to my apartment. The traffic from the sudden mass evacuation of campus was insane. I could only imagine what all the Dekalb residents must have been thinking.... most of them probably had not seen the news yet. When I got back to my apartment and got out of my car I noticed two news choppers above the scene. My friend (Lauren) who lives much closer to campus says that one of the choppers was directly above her apartment building. I'm sure that was unpleasant. The newscasters seem to have been nothing but greedy and insensitive about this whole issue. Their flat professional tones about the whole thing made me very uneasy. A "Jane Doe" was airlifted to a nearby hospital. It's like we aren't even real people here. They're saying four of the people (3 victims and the gunman) were pronounced dead on the scene. A total of two more have been reported dead since. The local hospital reported 4 victims with headshot wounds... the severity of these isn't known as far as I know.

One student took a video on her cellphone of victims being wheeled out by paramedics and sent this in to the news station. This makes me sick that one of our own students would send that out. It's one thing for those asshole news crews to pry in there with their cameras but it just seems awful undignified to do something like that. Perhaps I'm being oversensitive about the issue but damnit... it just seems so wrong to exploit this for media gain.

none of those people thought when they woke up that they might die today... but they did. This very thought has terrified me all night. I was just having a conversation earlier today about how scared and sad I feel whenever I catch news of someone young dying tragically and this just hit too close to home. Things are going to be very very weird. This campus isn't going to feel the same anymore. I hope there will be no more fatalities to report.

oh man. snow days are THE BEST.

also... my friend Mike just asked if I would want to go to Bonnaroo and I just gotta say what a bullshit lineup it is. http://www.bonnaroo.com/ I mean... the list already starts out bad with a 1-2-3-4 punch in the face consisting of Pearl Jam, Metallica, Jack Johnson and Kanye West. Those are presumably the "main acts" too. No thanks dude.

Almost everyone playing there is either: someone I've already seen, someone I like well enough but wouldn't even go out of my way to see them in Chicago, or a band/artist I just have no interest in all. There are a couple exceptions but they don't make up for it enough for me to pay 250 dollars and go to Tennessee for a few days.

I dunno why I am ranting about it so much... I can just not go of course, I just thought it would be a really fun time and I'm disappointed to discover that it's completely not worth it.
Oh and Lauren, you called it... Vampire Weekend is playing at Bonnaroo HAHA! ugh.

uuuuuuuugh. I hate the cold weather
I got up at 8:45 this morning to go work out and my car wouldn't start! I tried and tried until I was so cold I had to go back inside (which wasn't really very long... cuz it's -29 with the windchill)
damn. damn. damn. fucking got up and forced myself to eat breakfast for nothin'
tomorrow is my birthday! 22. They get increasingly less exciting from here on out. A lot of my friends are coming out though... so that's pretty special. I'll be at Stanley's from 9-on in case you didn't already know and you wanna come.

I think maybe I take myself waaaaaaaaaay too seriously.

winter break is really boring, but I don't want to go back to school at all. I'm REALLY over the whole "school" thing. I just want to move to Chicago :)

I was the coolest kid ever.
I just watched home videos with my parents and man was I aaaawesome.
generally speaking, I was the same as I am now but actually cute and funny

my favorite:

I'm six years old and I'm sitting on a table in my basement with a toy piano inbetween my legs. I have on some huge sunglasses that are sitting on top of my head. I would play the piano for a while and then lean back, spastically throw my hands up in the air and shout "Yeaaaaaa ROCK AND ROLL!" all drunkenly
totally the best.