One Year.

Today marks the first anniversary of my moving 3/4 across the country to this place by myself.



It has been an amazing year. One in which I've learned so much about life and myself. I can't wait to see what the next year has in store... Hopefully it will be a shorter winter. (It was in the 40s this week.)

Score!

Now that I get to move into my own place (for the first time), I am planning the placement of everything to a T. I have always lived with roomies who had the living room and kitchen stuff. The plus side is that I now get to pick it all out and make sure that it all comes together. The negative is that I now have to buy it all.

When deciding on a coffee table, I looked to craigslist for an old steamer trunk and found this beauty: 

Which used to be advertised here:

Awesome, right? Want to know what's even more awesome? I was playing phone tag with the seller (who was selling it for $100) when my mother told me that she had a trunk just like that. It was my great-grandmother's and was sitting in the corner of her bedroom. When I asked if I could use it, she said go ahead. So now here is my new heirloom coffee table:

I will put a piece of glass on the top of it to protect it, of course, but I was going to do that regardless of the trunk I used. Yay for my score! I save $100 and I get a heirloom piece from my great-grandmother :)

Thanks Madre!

Some News.

I am moving from this skyline:

To this skyline:

Kinda similar, right? But worlds apart.

I am leaving San Diego to move to Chicago in 4 weeks for a 16-month term clerkship. This is a quick move and I am super stoked about it!

Because it is so quick, I am also going to try to answer the questions I get on repeat:

1. You know it's cold there, right?
Um, yes. I am well aware that it is called the Windy City and have been briefed on the opinion that the city is only livable 4 months of the year. However, people live there year-round so I think this refutes that opinion. And to my ability to live in cold weather - Do you people forget that I have spent months in Switzerland in the winter with J? If I can handle the Swiss Alps, then I can handle Chicago.

2. You are going to get fat. The food there is SO good.
(More of a comment than a question, but I feel it still deserves a response)
Similar response to #1. San Diego has phenomenal food and I am not Roseanne Barr, therefore, I think I will be able to handle to Chicago food. I am not a fan of deep dish pizza, I prefer thin. I also don't think I will be eating in all the fancy restaurants. I do have student loans people.

3. What are you going to do about the bar? 
I am not taking the California Bar this summer so I could take this job. I think I am going to try to take the Illinois bar next July (so I have plenty of time to prepare). I am going to talk to the judge I am working with and get feedback from others to see if this is doable. Then when I return to California after the position, I will take the February California Bar. It is scary to delay everything but I think barbri does a great job at preparing everyone so I am trusting them :)

4. What about J?
He is still in Switzerland so this makes travel so much easier!!! Yay!

5. Can I come and visit?
Yes!!! The more the merrier. I know 2 people in Chicago and I have never stepped foot outside the airport so I am accepting all applications for visitors and tour guides. I just locked down a lease for my own apartment in Wrigleyville so I can have visitors whenever I please without pissing off a roommate :)

That being said, if anyone has any tips, places to visit, things to do, friends I could borrow, please send them my way! I am SO excited for this opportunity and am like a sponge - ready to soak up Chicago!

Also, if you know of anyone playing soccer in Chicago, let me know. I am looking for a team.