A Long Break Between Posts

Okay Okay - I started this blog feeling ambitious and like I would add to it all the time. Well, my last post was March 19 and its now June 12. Not exactly timely.

The other thing I realized was that I never actually wrote about the book I read, Island Girls (and Boys). Its been 3 months and to be totally honest - I don't remember anything about it! I remember it as a light funny fluffy book. Probably won't pass it along to friends unless they're feeling a little down - then its a good escapist page turner.

The reason I felt compelled to post today was because I had another "judgement" experience last week. When it came to watching the Blackhawks play in the Stanley Cup finals it truly is more fun with friends. The more the merrier - more hands to high 5, more drinks to be ordered, more people to yell at the tv screen with. Face it - sports are much more fun to watch with others. It is a whole nother story when it comes to where we were going to watch the games. I was outnumbered by my friends last Friday - they all wanted to go to one bar and I wanted to go anywhere but there. ANYWHERE! In the past year of attending this bar regularly, our circle of friends are often the only people there, its quiet, and there's not much activity. All well and good on certain days, but when you're a single gal in Chicago the possibility of meeting cute boys at the bar is always an added bonus.

On this particular day, last Friday, I complained all afternoon about going to watch the game at said bar, but decided to suck it up because it was where everyone else wanted to go and when it came down to it - I just wanted to watch the game with my friends.

Well well well - what did we find on that lovely friday night? A bar full of people. FULL. And not just that - full of NEW people. That we didn't know. That we'd never met. It was heavenly!

Its always interesting to have your assumptions proven wrong. I went into the evening with a certain set of expectations about what the evening would be like - and I wasn't very excited about it. I left after the hockey game happy that I'd gone....even happy that I gone to that particular bar.

Yup - just another lesson in judgement on a Friday night in June. The Blackhawks lost that game, but the night out was still fun.

Book #1 Done

I finished reading Island Girls (and Boys) last weekend and it was exactly what the cover led me to think it was - bubblegum sweet and kinda corny - perfect for reading on the beach or in the middle of winter when you just wish it was time for beach reading. :)

I know this is only my second post, but after I wrote the first one I got to thinking about this idea of "judging a book by its cover." In reality, this idea influences a lot of different parts of life. I know I've misjudged people, restaurants, all sorts of things - only to be pleasantly surprised (or disappointed) in the long run.

Case in point....the Lawrence Fish Market (LFM). Dan, a friend from grad school, does a lot of yelp reviews and I recently read his review of the sushi at LFM. Rave rave reviews. A sushi fan myself, I decided to give it a whirl and order takeout last friday. I'm usually pretty cautious about sushi places - you never know with fish. I like going to places that friends recommend.

So I place my order and drive to Albany Park to pick it up. From the outside I never would have guessed that such a treat was inside. A nondescript storefront on a crowded street, LFM is a hidden jem. Two fish counters line the walls, with one round table in the center of the room, and a bench seat from a van pushed up against the cash register for those who have to wait. As I was leaving all I could think was, "What have I gotten myself into? Am I just asking for food poisoning?" The resounding answer to that question is NO!

Ready for a quiet night of movies and my sushi I was BLOWN AWAY by how good the food was!! Super fresh fish, crisp veggies, great wasabi and ginger. The best part was that I paid $15 for 4 rolls - 4 rolls!! At any of the uber-trendy places around Chicago you would pay $15 for 2 and the fish is nowhere near as fresh.

Imagine if I would have let the outward appearance of the Lawrence Fish Market keep me from enjoying this sushi wonderland?!?! What I would have missed!

So you see, my idea isn't just limited to books. Kinda neat. Can't wait to see what I come across next! Until then, I'm introducing my friend, Kari, to my new favorite sushi place tonight.

Start of Something New

Its funny how a random conversation can turn into a new endeavour. That's exactly how I wound up here.....writing my own blog.

Everyone who knows me knows I love to read, can spend lots of time rummaging through the shelves at used book stores, and that one of my favorite festivals in Chicago is the Printer Row Book Fair. I love it and can't seem to get enough! To be perfectly honest, when picking out new reading material I am totally guilting of doing something I try not to do in any other part of my life..... judging a book by its cover.

What can I say. I always pick up books with catchy (read: cheesy) titles, bright colors, cool patterns, and fun pictures. You would think I was selecting fabric. Books with dark covers, historical painting pictures, and ugly fonts make me cringe. Occassionally I'll look at one of these boring covered books, but I can't make myself buy them. It just doesn't work.

While talking with my 2 roommates the other night about my recent Half Price Book purchases (3 clearance books for $1 each!), we found ourselves laughing at the ridiculousness of their titles (and the beauty of their covers) and my roommate suggested I write about my finds. So here I am! A fun new project!


Up first: Island Girls (and Boys) by Rachel Hawthorne
One of my $1 clearance purchases, I'm 20 pages into this one and it already has me cracking up. Can't wait to share it with you!