Wouldn't it be good to look into a brighter day?

[kaia]

This is my first weekend off in, well, a long time. I don't take weekends off, but this one I kind of lucked into. My boss gave me Saturday off, since she needed me during the week and I was right there as she was making the schedule so she gave me Sunday off too.

Normally, I would be all excited to hole myself in my room and play video games the entire two days with a few yoga breaks thrown in. Normally. Unfortunately (or not), I'm rather bored of that. I always do that, and unless a new game came out or I have some drunk fun PvP times with friends, I come out of it feeling ill at ease. Somehow, I just don't feel like getting wasted tonight and waking up to be miserable the rest of the weekend. Throwing up macroni and cheese is fun and all when you're trying to go buy a new video card (lol, don't think I told that story, whoops), but I think I've had my fill of that for now.

So, this weekend I'm taking a train into the city.

I've lived near Chicago my entire life. My dad worked there for about 20 years, but he never wanted us to actually live in the city, just close enough. I've been many, many times over the years -- for trips with friends, dentist and doctor visits, treks to the museums, dog shows, and my high school English professors were big into theater and took us to Steppenwolf Theatre once or twice a year. I'm not unfamiliar with it, by any means, but I've never gone alone. I've never just gone to explore the city, and see what I may not have when with other people.

I remember my most recent trip, a few years ago, actually, where 3 friends and I went. I love them, don't get me wrong, but there were moments I wished I was alone. There were things I wanted to do that they did not. That feeling of sitting there in the trolley, of sitting there in the water taxi and just watching the scenes go by are the highlights of the trip. I couldn't tell you much else about it, but I remember those, and I remember looking out while waiting in line for the water taxi and just being happy for being there in that moment.

My coworkers and even my dad are worried. "What do you mean you're going alone?!" My coworker other half likes to give me crap for my preference of going to the movies alone and commented today saying that this is different. I always go places with other people (lol except the movies), why can't I take a day for myself? Why do I have to constantly be surrounded by people?

I've been looking at things I could do -- the zoo because I've wanted to go back for a while now and Chinatown, because I've never been are the big ones, but Blues Fest is also going on this weekend. I may not be a huge fan of that type of music, but that's something I've never done and might be worth a look. The zoo would be fun, just because I've never taken a bus there before. I have two days though, so I figure I might just wander the first day then go to the zoo the next day. Metra gives weekend passes, so might as well use that. Or maybe I'll find one day is enough, who knows.

This might be exactly what I need.

Comments

[ragnarok-08.livejournal.com]

That might be what you need, hun <3

What I wouldn't give to go back to Chicago soon :)

[duskyn.livejournal.com]

It so totally was. <3

[night-owl-9.livejournal.com]

I think this will be exactly what you need, dear ♥ I hope you have a wonderful time!

[duskyn.livejournal.com]

Thanks! It did end up being what I needed. <3

[static--sound.livejournal.com]

I wish I lived near to Chicago! It's one of my favorite places I've ever visited. Quite a lovely city indeed. :) Have fun and be safe!

[duskyn.livejournal.com]

It totally is. I wish I had noticed it when younger, since I could've taken the train up almost everyday to visit my dad. Thanks!

[passionrlsusall.livejournal.com]

Let me know what you do.. I feel I've never explored Chicago enough either. Even when I went to college on the north side, I just drove to school and back to the suburbs. Lame, I know. My sister and I went to the Lincoln Park area last time I was home, and that was fun..we went to the International Museum of Surgical Sciences, which was interesting and unique, wandered through the zoo for like 15 mins since it was technically closed, then went to some bars. It was one of the only times I didn't feel I was doing only touristy things in the city. And don't let people scare you out of doing stuff alone, I say. My parents are always worried about me doing things alone, but you've gotta live your life. I just went to a movie alone tonight. Unfortunately 3/4 of the theater was obnoxiously laughing and talking throughout.

[duskyn.livejournal.com]

I really ended up just wandering around. The CTA pass thing was down at the train station, so by the time I located a place to buy one I was far off of where my bus stop was. Downtown itself is just cool to walk around. I checked out Blues Fest down by the lake, which I might've liked more if I liked blues.

I saw the International College of Surgeons, but had no idea there was that museum. I totally have to check that out next time I go. I wandered down Michigan Avenue, which I guess is cool if you like designer clothes. I loved walking down it just to see all the people -- like I was walking behind two Japanese men and had a group of Brazillian men behind me talking about getting run over by a car. Found a little wine cafe next to the river too, I might check out next time. I ended up in the Lincoln Park area eventually, and checked out everything in the zoo and that Nature Boardwalk.

Walking around made me see more and more things I wanted to check out, so I plan on taking more trips this summer. I have a whole week vacation, so I might take a good portion of that and spend it in the city.

[wunderaliceland.livejournal.com]

Oh how I misses being close enough to take the train into Chicago! Enjoy!

[duskyn.livejournal.com]

Thanks! It is definitely one of the things I'll miss when I move.

[morgan52x.livejournal.com]

It's nice to go off and explore on your own sometimes. Hope you have a good time :)

[duskyn.livejournal.com]

Thanks!

[meermondliebe.livejournal.com]

Come back and tell us all about it!

We have a similar story: today was my first Saturday off in a very long time, and I decided to explore and do some things alone, and it felt amazing. Of course, my journey was 20 miles south, not as drastic in the big city I live in, but still. Something about doing stuff alone that feels amazing.

[duskyn.livejournal.com]

I'll totally post about it today.

It really does. My coworker said it would feel lonely being surronded by people, but not once did I. You get some curious though, especially on the train.

[ex-c-hrista.livejournal.com]

I'll be in Chicago for my first visit for Leaky Con in August! I'm excited, I know so many people around there.

Good on you for wanting to do things on your own, though!

[duskyn.livejournal.com]

It is an amazing city. There is so much to do, and it is SO pretty. I could spend a whole day just out by the lake, watching the boats go by.

Leaky Con, that sounds really fun!

[mcgoggins.livejournal.com]

I enjoy doing things on my own. I mean, I don't really have any friends out where I live, so I've been forced to do things on my own (especially when I wasn't working but Daren was), especially if there's a movie I want to see that Daren doesn't. A lot of times I go without doing things because that means having ambition and gods know I have none of that anymore, but I don't think it's a bad thing to want to do things alone, or not even necessarily *wanting* to do it alone, but just doing it anyway.

[duskyn.livejournal.com]

Ha, sometimes it is more fun not having any end destination in mind. The places you could end up are amazing. There is someting so freeing about doing it alone too. I love my friends, but sometimes I just need to ride solo for a while.