Welcome to my Online Journal!
MOM... I'm ready for my first day of school!
I’ve been up to Wrigley Field, I’ve been down the famous Magnificent Mile (Michigan Ave), I’ve biked up the Lake Michigan shoreline, walked to the end of Navy Pier and much more. It’s been a lot of fun! 
I can chop an onion just as well as anyone these days! I’ve really impressed myself…so much so that I’ve taken a picture of some of my finest… let me know what you think! PS: That George Foreman guy is a genius! Photos: 1) My bike and the view of Lake Michigan/City skyline. 
FOOD HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY!!!!
It started off with my first El experience, which is the Chicago subway system... I swiped my ticket and casually walked through the rotary gate and then all of the sudden I could hear a train coming. Instead of finding a map to figure out which direction I wanted to go, I chose one of two staircases and sprinted as fast as I could into an open car - I figured I had a 50/50 shot of jumping into the correct one and it seemed as if I had the luck of the Irish was on my side because I was right! I spent most of the day in Wrigleyville, which is the area that surrounds the famous baseball stadium Wrigley Field... home of the Cubs! It's really beautiful from the outside because it has a unique old-fashioned look. I guess that's an easy look to acquire considering it was built nearly 100 years ago in 1914. I can't wait to go to some games this spring! Who wants to join me? 
But I decided to avoid the crowds and meet up with a friend I hadn't seen in a long time and join in on his planned festivities. We had such a great time going from one house party to the next and finally ending up at the bars. I can't remember the last time I was at a party where I didn't know 99.9% of the people there. Although, it was actually kind of refreshing meeting that many new people at once. So far, everyone I've met in Chicago has been really nice and there seems to be a ton of people my age, which is awesome. I thought I’d share a few pictures of my first night out on the town here in the big city! 
It took a few days but my mom and I were able to make this apartment my own. A lot of cleaning, a bit of rearranging and a trip to the grocery store has made this place a dream come true… I’m definitely not going to want to leave in June! I couldn’t have done it without you so I wanted to say THANKS for all of your help! Come back and visit soon (when it gets warm)!
Well, a lot has happened since I last wrote... I spent the last six weeks in Lake Placid training and wrapping up a great season. I won my first gold medal at the NY Empire State Games, which was kind of neat. My parents, aunt, and two cousins were there watching which made it extra special…Definitely a nice way to end the year. Since I've been home, I've been doing my usual catching up with friends... the same old "Hey, I'm back in town...but only for a few days... let's hang out"! I swear sometimes I feel like the phantom friend-in and out in a flash! I've been emptying one suitcase and filing up another... the piles of left over junk keep growing in my room (sorry mom)! But with all this, I don't think I've ever been this excited to jump in the car and drive 12hrs...I'm really looking forward to Chicago!
