simple.

I don't have much to say except that, you should check out this blog.

Absolutely awesome.

http://jonesdesigncompany.com/

realization.

At 21 years old, I pretty much think I am indestructible. I drive too fast, drink too much and take life for granted.

Two days ago I experienced something that will never, ever make me do that again. As I was sitting on the Metra home, the train came to a stop in the middle of the tracks. I complained that I might be home ten minutes later than usual.

I watched other people in the train make jokes, uncomfortably shift in their seats and complain, just as I had been doing. The conductor came on and announced the train in front of us had gotten into a wreck at a crosswalk. People complained more and more...this went on for 30 more minutes.

Later on, the conductor announced the wreck involved a fatality. Immediately, my stomach dropped. Whoever that was, was someones loved one, someones best friend, someones child. I sat quietly in my seat and waited. When we began moving, I starred out the window. What I saw next, no one should ever, ever see. A lifeless body lay on the ground with a sheet covering it. It turns out this fatality was planned. This individual wanted to end their life. I can't get the picture out of my head and this will forever change me.

Don't take life for granted. No one is indestructible. Life is a blessing.

learning process.

Okay. After my small rant, I want to share what I have actually learned, observed and experienced from the past month of living in the city.

1. Big cities are not for me. Many people love them, but they're just not for me. I am a small town girl at heart. I am thankful that I came to Chicago and learned what I do not want.

2. Chicago style hot dogs are good, except you can't taste the hot dog...

3. The South really is a friendlier place. There have been countless times when I have said good morning or smiled at someone in Chicago and did not receive a  response. People are constantly in a hurry and they will push and shove you to get where they need to go. I will never again complain about how slow things in the South move.

4. The 5:52 Thursday Metra train has a party car.

5. It's acceptable to drink at work.

6. Traffic is real. And it will control your life. Not just two, three, or ten cars, people. Hundreds. Stopped. Honking. Standstill.

7. If you live anywhere in Illinois south of Chicago, you are from the south.

8. The homeless man with the kitten is the only one I give money to, well played, sir.

9. There is nowhere to go to escape civilization and go for a "country" drive. Seriously, I tried. You end up in another suburb.

10. Be thankful for where you came from. Ultimately that will stay with you. You will miss it and desire it more than you know.

chaos.

Needless to say, I haven't written lately, at all.

I miss it. And there have been so many times in the last month and a half where I have every intention of logging on and writing. Then life happens.

Let's talk about that. Life hasn't been as great as it could be lately. That is probably the understatement of the summer. In case you cared, here is why I have needed to write and have a major vent session.

1. I haven't actually had a summer. Remember my post about how much I was obsessed with summer? Yeah. I got three weeks of it.

2. Chicago, no. Without going on a rampage about how I loathe public transportation and big cities, I'll just stop at "no".

3. My internship...not what I thought it would be. Not good, not bad, just not what I thought. I am ready to go home. Ready to go back to school and ready to get on with my life.

4. My love live. Two words: in shambles.