folks

I don't know how many more of these blog entries I'll make - probably at least one final one documenting what I hope won't be a too adventurous trip for Lacy and myself with all my stuff in a huge truck.  Worst case scenario, it will snow.  A lot.  I don't even want to think of that right now.

I do, however, want to mention the people I will miss, some a great deal.  There aren't a lot - I'm not a hugely social person - but there are a few that have touched my life in some way and who I will not forget.

I'll miss my building people.  Shelly and Terry, doormen extraordinaire, who have embraced me, my family and friends, and have made coming through the front door of the building a pleasure every time.  There's also Carol and Lazinya, and I can't forget sweet, handsome Val who was only there a couple of months after I moved in.  Also my neighbors, Norma across the hall, Gayle and her fiance' who's name I can never remember who lived next door to me.  There's the couple with the 2 kids - one born shortly after I moved in, and one just last year - who were always nice even though they did let their oldest run back and forth through the hallway while waiting on the elevator.....

There's also the couple who were Alabama fans because they have a daughter in school there, although the wife leaned toward Auburn and had an Auburn shirt.  There's the little girl on the 10th floor who I would see sometimes as I was going to work and she school - I watched her go from a chunky 6th grader who was afraid to ride the bus because the older kids picked on her, to an awkward 7th grader trying so hard to be cool, to the current 8th grader who has grown taller and slimmer and very pretty and definitely more confident.

There's the older woman who tries to know everyone in the building, but she asked my name about a hundred times in 2 and a half years.  I can't say anything - I don't remember hers either.  The lady with the beautiful golden lab that was so sweet.  The big guy with the tiny yappy dog, the guy in the wheelchair, and the strange guy who lives on 18 - the penthouse - and his crazy "theme" parties.  I won't miss the folks a floor down who were loud and obnoxious at times, or the ones a floor up who were loud and obnoxious at times.  I hope I wasn't as loud or obnoxious at times.

I'll miss my city friends:  Chris, Leo, Eddie, Lidya, and the others that I met at the Hop Haus and who became friends and who listened to me and my woes and joys almost as much as I listened to them and theirs.  Of this bunch, Leo who thinks the world of Lacy and Jeff, decided he was a U of A fan, left his fiancee' 3 times in the past year only to return with renewed resolve (every time), and has been a really good friend at times.  Chris who took a liking to us all the first day we met, and remained a friend after he had moved on to another job...crazy, funny, at times sad, I'll miss Chris.  And his girlfriend Monie who is sweet and young and impressionable, and who wants to visit me in Alabama.

Eddie....what can I say about Eddie?  Sweet, hot, a bit shy at times, and who I'll never forget for reasons I won't mention.  But I will say that I'll miss how he always tried to not charge me and was always overly generous with the alcohol and thinks I'm really cool.  And loved sharing buffalo chicken pizza with me.

Lidya and the other various servers and bartenders I knew over the time I was there; Hannah (crazy Hannah), Rachel, Ozzy, and the rest.  Scattered like leaves in the wind to other careers or bars around town.  Of course, I'll remember Tina, who always asked about my family, individually, even though she had never met them, and her partner of 7 years who made the Pride Parade a day to remember.

People that I met around town:  Genesis (sweet, talkative), Chris "Aflac" (finally gave up asking me out), James (ditto), Alex and Croy (another story), and several others who came and went over time.

A special shout out to Jessie, manager at Caribou Cafe' at Union Station, who would give me a double shot if I looked tired, and is an absolute asset to that company, and they'd better recognize.  The folks at Massage Envy who were so adept at working out knots in my shoulder and back, the guy at the 7-11 on the corner, and the great gals at Salon Excursion (Shellie, Yoon, Stella, Chloe, Manda, Su, and all the rest).

Another special mention - Erika, my darling, darling, Lancome rep who took such good care of me and who said I made her miss her mom back in California.  I actually had a voicemail from her last week so I HAVE to make sure I see her when I go back to move.

Oh boy - many, many work friends, some of whom I'll still work with from afar, and many who have left the company in the past few weeks (or will soon).  Cedric (a great boss), Roselette (congrats on your engagement and new job - and pooh on you for leaving - and thanks for being you), Mike, Kocur, Dave, Steve, Renelle, and many, many more - even Tiffany who is a pain in the rear, and Butzier who made my life hell for a few months.

My train friends - Megan, Grady, the Indian guy who I never got his name right, the lady from Australia who was so funny, and the rest.

And the people at Lou Malnati's for great pizza, Geno's for delivering great pizza, Al's Beef, Portillo's, Chipotle, Jake Melnick's, Yolk (crazy-hair guy....I was always afraid something would fall out of that hair into my plate), Eggsperience, Brunch, Green Door Tavern (Jessica, my first friend in Chicago), Club Lago (birthday kiss and fabulous food), Fado, RBG, "Eat and Drink Here" Bar on Clark, Steve's Deli, Bull and Bear (cut me off after 2 hours!!), Fat Cat's, Goose Island Grill, Cubby Bear, Lucky's, Messners/Wagon Wheel (Auburn games),  Glenn's Diner, Red Ivy, Sports Corner, Leona's.....more and more.  Okay, and the Houndstooth.  Happy?

Thanks to everyone I've encountered, good and bad, homeless, helpless, happy, sad.  The great majority have been friendly and accommodating and have made my experience even greater than it would have been otherwise.