when the cat's away...

and the IT filters are down, the mice do blog.

have i mentioned in the last five minutes how happy i am to be in chicago? i made more friends! apparently, i am an incredibly awesome person to hang out with. or, as the work hottie put it, "damn, you're cool. how are you single?" umm, cause you're already dating someone else. even when i'm telling some guy i just met to stop being a lil' bitch cause my friend/coworker/recent birthday girl didn't listen to his mixed tape yet, i'm adored. no, really. allow me to play stenographer:
LB: "i can't believe you didn't listen to it yet."
BD Girl: "get over it."
me: "what's the big deal? did you write the songs?"
LB: "no..."
me: "do the songs express your truest undying emotions?"
LB: "not really..."
me: "then what are you whining about? cause she doesn't want to subject herself to what's sure to be your crappy taste in music? now shut up and carry the cake downstairs, i'm hungry."
LB: "she's really cool, i think i love her."
BD Girl: "i loved her first."

so, yes, chicago is fun. but i'm glad i'm here for a sorta less fun reason. my aunt in mill-wah-kay may have lupus. she's single, no kids, and while she has a ton of friends who love her dearly, if she ends up needing some round the clock care, i'm so happy i'm only a train-ride away. i really hope it doesn't come to that because it would crush her to no longer be independent, but i know it makes it easier on the whole family, and aunt patti, to know that someone is near by. especially when that person has experience cleaning cat boxes. (hey, not everyone can hack it.) hopefully, her symptoms will turn out to be caused by something else entirely, but until we know i won't be planning any trips back to the b-lo, which kinda stinks cause i miss all of you (especially after i took my first sailing lesson last night and was like, "you know who would love this?! everyone i know!") but i'm happy to be where i hopefully won't be needed.