Weekend Highlights

Yes time always flies when you have fun and this weekend flew by so quickly.

Friday

I was able to go see the Tourist and even though the plot was not that believable it was great to watch Angelina and Johnny in beautiful locales and on an adventure. I love adventures they’re so much fun. I also made this a ‘me’ day and went to watch it by myself.

I never really understood going to the movies as a group or on a date…yes, hanging out before and after is always fun but the movie experience is intimate and somewhat ‘private’ within the context of a public show, of course. As I have learned, there really is no time for chatting.

With that said, this was one of the first times I went on my own. It was a freeing experience for sure.

Now, whenever I go with others, I am better at watching movies that I don’t enjoy while keeping the Mystery Science Theater commentary within the confines of my thoughts.

Yes, I am a movie snob, I’ll admit it. But now, if I go to a movie I don’t like, I know exactly what will get me through it.

Saturday

This day brought some a side gig of work for a friend of mine and shopping for Christmas presents. Walking around town in the cold was doable but still really cold. Layer up friends…layer up.

I also attended the first course in my new French class courses. For a while now I have been practicing my French in the car and in my apartment with the help of my CD’s. To further this, I also have been checking out self-study courses at the library. This Saturday was the preliminary, “is this for me” seminar and realized that ‘Oui, bien sur’ this was the class for me (yes, of course).

My professor was impressed with my French accent and I will also take a proficiency exam because he thinks I could be a few levels ahead (schweeet). I also had a chance to meet great people; including a woman whose native language is Aramaic (even though it is a dead language there is a small group of people that still use it).

As she introduced herself she said, “I also speak Aramaic, you know, Jesus’ language?”

That totally got the class laughing.

Sunday

I headed to the German market for my record 4th time this year and met up with a few people who had not been. I love the potato pancakes, candy, strudel, and the Gluhwein. Yum, that Gluhwein kept me warm which helped because my feet were going numb. There was a band playing Christmas carols which helped keep us in the spirit and outside for as long as we did.

On a previous trip, I also purchased a ‘baby’ cuckoo clock for my apartment. If you have never been, I highly recommend it.

I left my friends and headed to the ‘Little Village’ area of Chicago because they have a candy store full of Hispanic candies. This is the time that I stock up on all the goodies. I remember our church doing Posadas and the Nativity scene play. Once, I was a shepherd and had lines. I was like 8 years old and my debut on the stage (ha!) Now, I just buy the candy and remember those memories.

The final joy that was my weekend arrived when I headed with some buddies to the Black Hawks game. It was a fricken blast. Loud music and flat out action on the ice. The crowd was lively even on a Sunday. There was even a fight which totally rocked. I hope to make more games this year and also catch some live Bulls coolness. The Hawks won which made the end of a full weekend really a reflection of the fun.

I will say that usually my weekends aren’t this busy and even though there are tons of things to do around here, I enjoy when I can stay at my apartment and relax. I do not like to overbook weekends and enjoy taking a nap here and there too.

So cheers to all of you as Christmas quickly approaches and hope all of you and your loved ones are well.