March 31, 1998: Subleasing & New Apartment

It was a hard day for me today, as I was so nervous about finding someone to sublease my apartment.    I paid the management of Dearborn Plaza $200 to help me find a tenant.  It was a cute apartment, but only 325 sq. feet.  I wanted to have a roommate to hang out with.     I learned so many lessons with making this decision to move.     I was worried about coming up with $1100 on the new apartment up near Wrigleyville.  I know that God didn't give me more than I could handle.   
I put in ads in the Chicago Reader and newspaper.   A guy named Matt Peters came to look at my apartment to sublease and said it would be perfect.   I was so relieved.

After work, I went to my old apartment on Dearborn to pick up some things to move to my new apartment at 905 W. Cornelia, Apt. E.   It was just 1 block south of the Addison 'El' stop.   My roommate was Katy Kiech, whom I met in my bible study. 

March 14, 1998: Metra & St. Partrics Day Parade

Deyoung took us around Arlington Heights, Elk Grove Village, and Schaumburg.   We stopped at this Japanese grocery store in Arlington Heights.    I never realized the books in Japanese opened up on the left side and you read from the back pages.    Then, we drove around the forest preserve and got to see where AC Nielsen was located. They were a competitor of Information Resources.  We stopped at a Dominicks store. It was beautiful inside.  It had a Starbucks with a fireplace and couches.    It wasn't your typical grocery store.

Took the Metra back to Union Station in Chicago.     On my walk home down Dearborn St, I got to see a good portion of the St. Patrick's Day Parade.   They dyed the Chicago River green, which was a tradition for St. Patrick's Day.  

Nina Ganesh invited me to her friend Betty's engagement party.    I took the El up to the Granville stop and walked over to Sheridan.  Betty lived at 6121 Sheridan Rd, Apt. 2E.    Betty had bought her fiance a 32 inch TV for an engagement present so all of their friends from Northwestern University were playing video games on it.   Betty and her fiance Steve dated for 6 years before becoming engaged.  I took the bus home at 1 a.m. There were some strange people on it.    I was nervous walking alone home that late.

March 13, 1998: Metra Train to Bensenville

I took my first Metra train to the suburb of Bensenville to visit my friend Deyoung.  He lived in Elk Grove Village.   I sat on the 2nd floor of the train. It only took about 30 minutes to get there.   Met Deyoung and his friend at the train station and we had dinner at this Chinese restaurant.    Deyoung tried to set me up with his friend, Sal, who was doing his residency for medical school through UIC.     My co-worker, Wayne, was turning 25 today and going to see the Megadeth concert at the Ballroom tonight.

February 14, 1998: Chicago Auto Show

Slept in until noon and then Shawn and I took the bus to the McCormick place to see the auto show.  We got to sit in the new Volkswagon Bug and the Lexus car which had built in GPS.   We got an autographed photo of one of the Bulls players.    After 5 hours at the auto show, we went to eat at PJ Clarks on State St.     We went for a beer at Kronie's Bar on Bellevue St/Rush.   We got popcorn at Garrett's popcorn and went to the movie 'Wedding Singer'.  

February 6, 1998: Brew N View & Polly & Esthers

Work was pretty cool today. I had plenty to do. LIlly walked with me to Marshall Fields and we split up while I got my haircut.   We had lunch at Burger King on Washington St.   Chris Blackwell, Alison Basista, and Yolanda Thomas had arm wrestling contests at work and we all watched.  Chris wanted to play rugby in the spring.   It would be the Safeway team against the Q-scan team.  Wayne asked what I was doing this weekend.  I said I was going to 'Brew N' View at the Vic' and may meet Lilly and Jennifer either at Polly Esthers or Convent.   Wayne said Polly Esthers was pretty fun.   

Shawn and I went to Brew N View for Chris Farley night. We sat in the balcony and saw 'Beverly Hills Ninja' and 'Billy Madison'.   Adam Sandler and Chris Farley were my favorite actors.    It was pretty interesting watching a movie with a bunch of drunk people.

Shawn and I went to Tizzie's bar up on Clark, just north of Fullerton.   Then, we went to 'Polly Esthers' up on Wells St.  near Chicago Ave.   It's a 70s/80s dance club.  It had two floors.  They had memorabilia from Brady Bunch, Dukes of Hazzard, etc.  There's a room with bean bags, couches and orange chairs.    Outside the place, there was one of those vans from Scooby Doo all painted with flowers.    A guy tried to hit on us.   Saw Amy Itoko and Jennifer from bible study there dancing with their husbands.   

Shawn and I left about 3 a.m.  and walked home on State St.   We were going to go in this sex shop called 'Frenchys' but it cost $1 to browse, so we didn't go in. Plus, there were some weird people outside. 

January 31, 1998: Ice Skating in Chicago

Diane, Amy, Kathy, Beth, and I went to Mitchell's Diner which was near Park Community Church.  It reminded me of the 'Seinfeld' show diner from the outside.   The weather was gorgeous.  Then, Shawn and I walked down Dearborn St over to the ice skating rink on State St.   I hadn't gone ice skating in years.   The last time I went ice skating was with Connie and  Kim Daugherty at L.C. Walker Arena.  

Rented skates for $3 and went out on the ice rink.  I was surprised I was doing pretty well at walking on the ground on skates.  Got on the ice and stayed near the wall as I was scared to skate.   There were tons of people skating fast and racing.    I got around the rink 3 times without holding on the wall.   It was pretty neat ice skating on State Street surrounded by all of the buildings.     Marshall Fields was across the street from the rink.   Then, Shawn and I went to the 'Brew N' View at the Vic' on the corner of Belmont and Sheffield.  We saw 'She's so Lovely'.  They served beer here so that was cool.   Next weekend, they were having Chris Farley night.

January 25, 1998: Superbowl

Went to the Superbowl party with Jill Sumpter and Marilyn from the bible study. Park Community Church was hosting it at the Como Inn on Milwaukee Ave.  It was a beautiful facility.    Played 'Scrabble' with Veronica and won.   The Denver Broncos beat Green Bay Packers.  There were about 400 people at this party.