dirty down there

Since I work in health care, there are almost no health subjects that are off limits at work. It seems that lately, we have had an excessive number of teenage girls coming into the hospital positive for STD/STIs, which is very concerning to me. One of my co-workers uses a great phrase to describe promiscuous people and people positive for STDs..."dirty down there." 

As I was reading an article on cnn.com today, it linked me to an article from www.thefrisky.com. Since the article was cleverly written, I started clicking around on the site and read a few more articles when one featured another website that helps you tell people when you are "dirty down there."

InSpot.org is a website sponsored by a nonprofit organization that is "dedicated to developing and using Internet technologies to prevent disease transmission and enhance the sexual well-being of individuals and communities."

Through this website you can send e-cards to sexual partners notifying them that you are positive for a STD or just letting them know that they might want to get checked. There is also an option to send anonymously. A handy scrolling list of STDs is available if you want to get specific. Even if you aren't "dirty down there," you should check out the site and keep it mind in case you ever know of anyone that has the misfortune of contracting something.

And just remember...

You don't have to be a cheap, immoral promiscuous slut to get AIDS. All you have to be is unlucky.

The Great American Autumn Adventure

Your hood or mine?



That was Brock's text yesterday as we were trying to figure out what we were going to do. Deciding that we wanted something new, we headed to Lakeview in search of a late lunch and "autumn in a glass." We were enjoying the nice fall weather when we blew by Wilde. Just by looking at it, we knew that they would be able to create "autumn in a glass" for us. The inside is really warm and cozy with fireplaces, a massive bar and upscale pub food. We had a great waiter named Brian with whom we gave the challenge of creating a nice fall beverage for us. He brought us cable cars(a martini of spiced rum, triple sec and lime juice with a cinnamon and sugar rim). Fabulous.

After enjoying our food, we headed back out to continue on our autumn adventure. As we were walking the temperature suddenly began to drop and I felt rain hit my face. Not sure if I was imaging things, I turned to Brock for verification. As I did, the wind picked up and we were being pelted by sleet. Fortunately, this only lasted for about 3 blocks. We were near our next destination of Kit Kat for a late afternoon of 1/2 price martinis. We quickly befriended the bartender and the couple sitting next to us. The woman apparently makes pecan pie that's better than sex(according to the guy) and he is a triple 7 pilot for United.

During Brock and I's conversation we discovered that we are both going to be in Chicago and family less for Thanksgiving. So, we decided that we are going to have Thanksgiving together. No turkey and we will have a mandatory casserole, since we are from the Midwest. Needless to say, I am very excited to have plans for Thanksgiving.

2 out of 10, not bad

I am by no means a trendsetter or do what the in-crowd is doing. So, I was shocked as I was paging through Chicago magazine and saw that I had recently been to 2 out of 10 on the Hot List. Falling from last month's #1 spot to #2 is eating at Graham Elliot and lower on the list is More, a cupcake shop.

I would recommend GE to anyone. Great food. I believe that Graham recently came out with his fall menu. More just happens to be located at 1 E Delaware, which is Brock's building and there are always free trays of More at his front desk. Honestly, if Brock didn't live there, I am sure I would have never had More. I do love that his front desk guy never makes me sign in or call up to Brock. He simply lets me in. It must be because he saw me come and go about 1000 times helping Brock move in.

Seasons change

You know those lame ice breakers you frequently find yourself having to participate in when having to get to know other people? What's your favorite color? Dead or alive, choose one person you would most like to have dinner with? What's your favorite season?

Well, I had to partake in a fun icebreaker session the other day and the favorite season question made me stop in my tracks. Spring was the answer about ready to leave my mouth, then I stopped and realized I have either changed my mind or have been lying to myself for years. Spring puts up a good fight though, because it does own my birthday. Anyone who knows me, knows how much I love celebrating my birthday(and Aaron's, too). I enjoy seeing everything turn green and the weather turn warmer, leading into summer, but maybe I like other things more...

This year, I have found myself having a love fest with fall. Even though it signals the end of summer and warm weather gatherings outside and the end of patio weather, I am really enjoying fall. I have always been a fan of walking through the crunchy leaves. The cooler weather is the perfect reason to throw on a hoodie or cozy sweater and curl up with a cup of hot tea and a book.

So, for now...fall. Fall, it is.

Zac Brown Band

Come one, come all!

I am STOKED that the Zac Brown Band is coming to Chicago Friday Nov 7. They are playing at Joe's on Weed St.

I love Chicken Fried. Listen and love it. Love it.

it's me

I frequently get these e-mails, so I'll help everyone out and fill it out myself(not quite the same effect, I know).

Where did we meet: I am constantly meeting myself
Take a stab at my middle name: Leigh
Do I smoke: Only when I'm on fire
Color of my eyes: blue/green
Do I have any siblings: yes
What's one of my favorite things to do: Have a good time
What's my favorite type of music: I really listen to anything except angry music. 
Am I shy or outgoing: Depends on the situation.
Am I a rebel or do I follow the rules: I like to believe that rules are elastic and sometimes I like to see how far they can stretch.
Any special talents: Yes, I do believe it's called the horse face.
How many children do I have: At work, a lot. Personal life, none.
If you and I were stranded on a desert island, what is one thing I would bring: a boat

And they called her Bedbug

It has long been proven that smells trigger the strongest memories. After a rain the other day, I was walking outside and smelled a familiar smell. I could not immediately put my finger on it, but kept thinking and thinking about where I had encountered that smell before. Then memories started forming...it was late at night, I was walking down a white, gravel road with a girl about my age next to me, laughing hysterically. We were in flip flops, despite the puddles in the road with the water being splashed up on the backs of our calves. We were walking towards a dark lodge with only the moon light to guide us. 

It was the same smell that lingered at camp after a rain and my brain was flooded with memories, most of them including my partner in crime, a girl better known as Bedbug(named from a song, not promiscuous activities).

You see, during my summers in college, I worked at this great camp for kids that was pretty secluded down a gravel road and all the roads and paths in camp were gravel or dirt. My last two summers there, I was the assistant director. This meant that I got upgraded to living in an 8x10 foot tar paper shanty(loving called "The Hut") that had electricity! Don't kid yourself into thinking it had a bathroom or running water, though. Oh, and I got to share The Hut with Bedbug. We had two cots and a small shelving unit. We had to be careful where we put our cots or they would go through the wood floor(there was also a very nice woodchuck that lived under that floor that liked to wake us up at 4am). All of our clothes were stored in Rubbermaid containers to keep the nice mice out. They were two of the most fun summers of my life. Full of constant pranks between our amazing boss, the Bug and other counselors. 

The memory of Bug and I walking up to the lodge late at night made me smile as I walked down the street, in a big city, hundreds of miles from the rural camp we called home for 9 weeks every summer. A place that greatly shaped who I am today and brought me one of my best friends and a former boss who is also a great friend and mentor. 

Ryan Bowen, what?!?!

Last night at work I got floated up to the adult floor. While checking on some of the patients in the day room, the NBA Europe Live Hornets vs Wizards game was on. I looked up at the TV screen and thought, that tall white guy looks really familiar. In fact, I ran into him at Target at home a few weeks ago. What? Ryan Bowen is still playing pro ball? That can't be him.

Sure enough, he turned around to run down the court and on the back of his jersey was Bowen #40. I guess I just figured he wasn't playing pro anymore since I saw him at Target with his cute kids a few weeks ago(all of them were decked out in Iowa gear), but I guess I was wrong(first time ever being wrong, for the record).