While you were out at a bar...

My title may slightly reflect my current frustration, as this week proves to be a true test to my Lenten promise, but all in all this is the best thing I have ever done for myself. This change in lifestyle, a little less partying, a lot more relaxation time, and gravitating myself towards more positive people and things in my life is proving to be tough but worth it.

Last night all I really wanted to do was relax and watch what is now one of my favorite TV Shows the Black Donnellys. Although I did watch it, I spent most of the time on the phone deflecting the ever present drama that seems to dog my new lifestyle. Its hard to be the honest friend, who was sober at events, who remembers things. Anyways a friend of mine (we will call him johnny drama) loves drama, and makes a spectacle of every situation. He screwed over my good friend, so I told her, and johnny drama decided to make what could have been a quick problem a huge one.

Needless to say I was pissed off, I just wanted to watch the freakin TV show (might I add Tommy Donnelly is my ideal, seriously could not have created a more perfect picture of the type I go for). Except for the whole killing thing... but that's besides the point I digress..

I ended the conversation throwing my hands up in defeat and wanted to crack open a cold one (which I did not). What we have established here is we have a boy who loves drama, a one who is too honest for his own sake, and one who is a complete wiener and scurries around kissing drama's butt. They make my girls and I look down right butch! The fact of the matter is I couldn't agree more with the writers of the Black Donnellys on the following quote:

“The Irish have always been victims of negative stereotypes.... People think we’re all drunks and brawlers. And sometimes that gets you so mad all you want to do is get drunk and punch somebody.” -Joey "Ice Cream"

Sometimes all you want to do is get drunk and punch somebody, which is exactly what I wanted to do. Instead I will focus on the continued debacle which is this image reform in hopes that hilarity will ensue at some point soon!

Win one for the Gipper...

Yeah I don't know what that title is about, just thought it was funny. Anyways day one of the alcohol fast has begun, but not without a nice old fashioned going away party. And by going away party I of course mean 5 beers and 3 hurricanes, it was fat Tuesday lay off of me. Well it is time to purify. I lived it up, danced it up, got by butt slapped by an Irishman and I am ready to retire the drinking cap. Let the hilarity (non-alcoholic, yet equally entertaining) ensue. Until then I going to go get stamped on the head to prove I went to mass and call it a night. And don't worry folks I am no trashy-spears, I won't check out after one day!

Calm yourself, quiet yourself, Master your senses. Look right into the source of mind, Always keep it shining bright, Clear and pure. Do not give rise to an indifferent mind. - Hongren (602-675)

The price is wrong bitch...

Ok maybe that title is a little harsh, but hey I think it brings up the healthy topic of competition really well. Today's topic Game Nights:

This past Saturday my roommates and I decided we would try and save some cash and host a game night at our house instead of venturing out to the bars. So as our friends assembled we drank 40s and played some wholesome family fun games. But then again we are in our mid to late 20s so the wholesome part slowly deteriorated.

As some of you know I am a huge fan of themes, and really would prefer a daily theme to better accessorize my day. So when the theme of game night came up I promptly but on my Notre Dame Jersey, my running tights and of course my soccer cleats, which I topped off with a soccer scarf from my travels to Italy. I was always a big believer in the whole if at first you don't succeed look good doing it philosophy.

No one else adapted their outfit to the theme, which could explain why I dominated in "Scene It". Why didn't I do this type of a night more in college what a money saving and yet incredibly entertaining night in! All in all it was a great and for the most part wholesome night that allowed the opportunity to get to know friends better, enjoy some great food (Abi's Pigs in a Blanket anyone) and relax with a 40 ouncer.

On that last note today as you who follow my blog know, is the last day of drinking for this lil' Irish Girl until St. Patrick's Day, and then onward until the Easter Bunny brings me a basket of bud light. So now my blogs with be full of description as I will actually remember what happened the night before. Happy Fat Tuesday to all and to all a wonderful Mardi Gras Night.

Ode to a snow day... or lack there of...

This morning I awoke to a lovely blizzardy day in Chicago. Then I remembered despite schools being off, offices being closed, I was a real adult and snow days were no longer a benefit I enjoyed. After layering and suiting up I arrived at the bus stop. As we all stood huddled in the small shelter the snow plow came barrelling down the street, leaving in its wake about 15 people soaked in dirty slush from head to toe. I laughed hysterically, its what I do in those situations, and a woman turned around and in a snotty tone said "oh you think this is hilarious do you" and I replied with a simple "yes as a matter of fact I do". I then thought to myself "can't it be spring already, damn ground hog always lying to me!"

Oh the places you will go.

My brother and I at his Engagement Party





Waaawah... Sorry about the latest delay... Blame it on the large volume of incredibly hilarious things that have been happening in my life lately.

Where to begin ahhh: Boobies, Snoopy on a Plane, and other greatest hits.

Every Thursday as of late we have continued our love of open mics by hitting one up at Murphy's Bleachers right across from Wrigley Field. This people, is live entertainment. I do not know this songstress's name but what I do know is she has some serious tricks up her sleeves starting with her choice of instruments. She starts out her set with this dinky guitar, it kind of looks like those old cowboy guitars for young children. She steps up to the plate and in all seriousness begins her intro: "Hi y'all I am going to sing you a little song about a recent trip I had, I was on a plane on my way back from Iowa and had an empty seat next to me. I sat my snoopy doll down next to me (this woman is easily 35) and thought to myself I am going to write a song about this adventure. bad choice lady. Its like live American Idol people, that bad kind. She then with a dead straight face (that creepy I am psycho face) says my next song is written about something I truly love. (A boyfriend, a dog, hey that snoopy dog you say...) boobies." With that I almost fell out of my seat. After her lovely second original piece and when I thought it could not get any better.... oh wait... whats that she is pulling out.... oh yes a Clarinet.... the crazy is playing a Clarinet at a freaking open mic. I had to excuse myself, saying as I don't like to be mean outside of this blog.

After that I knew I was in for an eventful time: Next up the shit show known to some as the Super Bowl. Eh hmm.. the Super Bowl a night of endless athleticism and spirit, where the best compete against the best....... oh and people get shitfaced. Especially Chicago Bears fans, which sometimes I pretend to be. This year we decided to ditch the boys and have our own Super Bowl adventure. I with my super-fan shirt inscribed with a picture of a super fan and daaaa bears. My roommate with her cut up (to make it more cute) division championship shirt.. oh and a lot of things that end up with the word bomb. O-bombs, Cherry Bombs, oh and the beloved and curse Jaeger Bombs. Needless to say I don't really know the final score, or for that matter when the game ended and how we got to the next bar, what I do remember is dancing to hip hop (oh yes the Irish catholic white girl breakin it down) and my roommate cracking her eye on a cab door. Oh the Super Bowl.

Lastly, but not by any means the least my brother's engagement party. I don't know how many times I stated my age, occupation, and relationship status that night but what I do know is I remained entirely too sober for the event. Not to say I didn't make up for it once the party ended. Highlights: Seeing one of my best friend Karen so shit canned she fell off a bar (she never drinks), My brother wanting to have a heart to heart over shots of whiskey, lots of drunk hugging, oh and the highlight when the groom accidentally tackled the bride off a bar stool in an attempt to hug her (crazy kids). Needless to say the next day when my mother (the saint that she is) picked me up in the same clothes I was wearing the night before (I was at my brothers house people... I am not that bad...) and my mom yells out the window with the neighbor standing right there "this must be embarrassing having to call your mother to pick you up because you didn't sleep in your bed last night". Thus, once again affirming why at this point in my life I cannot move home.

This Picture was taken shortly before Joe tackled Kate: Look at his face...

With all of this said I have an important announcement to make: I am giving up drinking for lent (with the exception of St. Patrick's Day Week) yes week people. What, how, why you might ask. I don't know but you can all start placing your bets to how long I will last. Call me lohan, but a lot of people don't believe in my sobriety. On a truly sober note: http://redeye.chicagotribune.com/red-020807-binge-main,0,2360045.story?coll=red-slideshow Maybe all the 21-25 year olds in Chicago should join me in this quest for sobriety.

My favorite Picture: My mother and Joe#2 slow dancing at the engagement party. Classic Peg move.

I never claimed to be consistent...

Ok Ok, Alright even better "lay off of me I'm starving"... in other words, all apologies for my lag in recent blog posts. As of late this crappy thing called work has been interfering with my procrastination hobbies. But much to fill you in on. where to begin...

Ahh of course.... A New Year and new bathroom story to tell..

Let me be more specific here. Since last July when I moved into my current apartment with my oh so lovely roommates, our bathroom has been the scene of many crimes (against us, humanity, animals etc..) Starting with the pigeon (as most of you know I have a rocky relationship with those a-holes) who broke into our bathroom and used it as his own luxury suite before being forced out the window by my brave roommate. Requiring us to invest in all new Bathroom necessities.

Next up was the lovely Bat-gate of Halloween 2006: Brave Beth M. had to negotiate the bat into a plastic bag that was then handed over the boy neighbors to dispose of. And by negotiate I mean throwing the entire screen into a plastic bag, and by dispose of I mean scream like little girls and let it out off their porch. (wuss stuff I tell you). I do have to disclose that during both these events I was securely hiding under a blanket. I don't do flying things.

Which brings us to New Years '07 and my roommates ex-boyfriend's decision to use our shower curtain poll to attempt to exit out our 4th floor window. Lucky for him the ceiling gave in and he was not successful in his near fatal four story drop. (See above picture).

Which brings us about up to date on the bathroom situations of late. However it must be noted that previous to the ceiling collapse I was enjoying the incredible success of the "Stay Classy Chicago" theme.

Post New Years, of course we swore to be better behaved, and then Dirty Dave's birthday came along. For those of you who are readers of my blog, Dirty Dave is a famous character featured in my Tbox Blogs. Dirty turned Thirty and we celebrated as only Dirty would approve, lots of drinks and a cover band called "Wedding Banned". They were fantastic, we danced, we drank, we wandered home and swore off Dirty Dave for at least three weeks.

That brings us about up to date with life as I know it. This weekends events include my brother's engagement party, a classy event to some, for my family an excuse to bring up embarrassing childhood stories to his future in laws over shots of Jameson. Pictures and stories to follow.

Oh and one parting gift: Ed in his winning Classy costume: His alter-ego the Dragon.

Strange Condition

Not only a great song by a great singer Pete Yorn, but also a way describe how I am feeling right now. The past week I was in Kansas City, MO visiting family and friends for the Christmas holiday. But this trip was different, because for the first time ever I looked forward to going back to Chicago and when I returned it felt like home.

I have lived in Chicago for 6 years now and going back to KC for me was always going home. There was comfort in sleeping in my old room, waking up to breakfast, driving a car, all those things. This time around I was pushed into my mom's office to sleep (perpetual fear of all twenty somethings returning home for the holidays) and all at once I was no longer home, I was a guest in my parents house. Even coming to work today I looked forward to getting back to the daily grind, and on my salary people, that is simply unheard of. I guess this is my so called jumping off point, I have gotten old enough to where what was my home is now a house I share memories with.

Now my home is my 4th floor (horrible must... get... to... the... next... level) walk up in sunny (haha) Chicago. My friends are an essential part of the equation, being gone and missing our Tuesday night ritual of live music, and hungover Sunday brunches was torture. So I guess fate was right, Chicago is in fact my kind of town despite what I once may have thought. KC will always have a special place in my heart and no doubt will be a place I consider moving one day when I return to entertaining the idea of moving once again (hell). But as for now Chicago is home and I am ok with it.