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Name: Karen
Nickname: Karen
Member since: 2007-05-14 15:50:22
Website URL: http://
About me: Karen is a 25-yr-old journalist, editor and graphic designer. In her free time, she enjoys playing bass guitar, writing poetry, reading and spending time with friends. She is a native of Chicago.
 

User comments

Heartbreaking atrocities leave us barren

February 15th, 2008 at 4:29 pm

Jillayne,
My brother is doing well, I think this sort of thing does bring him out of the bubble he finds himself in like most as a resident on a rural college campus.

What a sad situation, we are all in unison on that.

But am grateful not to be dealing with that winter!

Heartbreaking atrocities leave us barren

February 15th, 2008 at 4:24 pm

Lani,
I agree that is really tacky and terrible they are calling this the valentine murders.

I just thought with all the tragedies lately in IL I should write about how I am not impervious to the tragedies rampant there lately.

Yes, everyone there is in my prayers too.thank you for your concern, I’m doing ok, just feel bad about it all.

Seattle Sun

February 14th, 2008 at 9:40 pm

It is pretty darned good, Ardell. The weather is amazing, and you couldn’t ask for a more mild winter. Gorgeous photograph, Ardell, way to capture such natural beauty. I am reveling in this ‘winter’ – it’s sort of like a constant spring for me ;)

I empathize with ya, Chicago

January 30th, 2008 at 1:01 am

Hey Kate,
Congrats on getting married, that’s so exciting! I hear ya when it comes to the bitter temps. In fact, my former co-worker in CHI lived in SD for years and said it was brutal, especially since you getso much snow.

I’ve only been to Mitchell, when I was driving out here. It was the dead of summer, yet it was cold and rainy there! I just remember packing all shorts and it being so cold!

Stay warm in SD! Hopefully, spring hits fast!

I empathize with ya, Chicago

January 23rd, 2008 at 4:34 am

Thanks Deborah! Yes I worry about the animals in that bitter cold! The Midwest is almost not fit for humans when it gets that cold in the winter.

I’m sure I will adapt so the ‘colder’ temperatures here affect me more, but hopefully not too much :) .

Why did YOU move to Seattle?

January 21st, 2008 at 11:09 pm

Great thread, deb!
I moved here in mid-June with next to nothing and have built a life here in Seattle. And no I don’t have a husband or boyfriend, you can make it – take the chance. I left Chicago for a bevy of reasons, but I have to say getting away from the winters there is so amazingly wonderful!

But I also needed a change, wanted to move into a new phase in my life. You can do it, no matter how daunting it seems. I can’t tell you how many times people told me I couldn’t make, but you may just surprise yourself!

Here's to a shimmering '08

January 1st, 2008 at 12:34 am

No, I swear I’m not. I’m not a good enough actress to be like that ;)

Happy New Year!

... And down comes the rain

December 16th, 2007 at 9:49 pm

Thanks Ardell! Now that things are slowing down for awhile you will hear from me a bit more, I have so much to write about ;) Thanks for the invite, I will be back so I should be able to attend and cook some things for your party as well!

And you’ll be pleasantly surprised to hear that I haven’t owned an umbrella at all since I’ve lived here and don’t plan on getting one. See you soon, we definitely have to get together and chat over some libations!

The newbie's assessment: SEA v. CHI summers!

September 6th, 2007 at 7:27 pm

You are so right, Sandy, I’m sure I will be drinking the iced drinks in the dead of winter soon! No joke, I used to wear sandals in the snow throughout most of high school in Chicagoland; maybe I was just being a rebel though, LOL :)

The newbie's assessment: SEA v. CHI summers!

September 2nd, 2007 at 7:14 pm

What’s neat about any kind of geographical location is that people’s preferences for living there are ubiquitous – people live in different places for wide ranges of reasons. For some the weather comes in at the top of the list, others might live somewhere because the deep dish pizza is exceptional – it just depends.

The newbie's assessment: SEA v. CHI summers!

September 2nd, 2007 at 2:08 am

Def. haven’t spent enough time in the area mountains, thanks for the tip, Forrest. Are the mosquitoes only around the mountains in July and August? Because I know they aren’t there in Sept., having hiked there in previous years.

Oh geez, sorry Ardell about your daughter’s accident, poor thing! I feel so bad for her, she’s been through so much! Send her my best. Haven’t spent much time on the Eastside at all, I need to get out there more, especially before master’s classes at SU start up again in October. We should do another girl’s night for sure; I’m totally game. Who else is in? I can prob. do anything on a Fri. or Sat. except the weekend of Sept. 14.

The newbie's assessment: SEA v. CHI summers!

September 1st, 2007 at 9:31 pm

Thanks Deborah! Figured it was appropriate to sum up my experience of a Seattle summer as it winds down. I like the chill in the air over the humidity, but that’s just me. Chicago has a lot that Seattle doesn’t, but I when it comes to the overall comfort level I think Seattle wins. I had a neighbor back home who moved back to Chicago from Arizona and she said, although the heat was dry, it was brutal – but then she had to get used to the CHI winters again!

The newbie's assessment: SEA v. CHI summers!

September 1st, 2007 at 8:35 pm

Hey, Ardell! How’s your daughter doing? …Yes, we shall see how I cope with the no-sun season – should be interesting to experience first hand. I am bracing myself for it! Luckily, I’m not near a window at work so I think I’ll be oblivious to the pitter-patter of the rain on the building during the winter season. I’ll have to look for a territorial view if I ever find a way to buy some property; I’m trying to pocket everyone’s real estate advice in my head until one day when it hopefully becomes applicable to me. :)

Embracing transition

July 8th, 2007 at 10:52 am

Heard about the Seafair, Rhonda, hope you had a blast! I was hitting the books, have tons to do for class. I’m hoping to check out the West Seattle Fest next weekend though. :)

Ardell, I’ll have to check out the magazine you mentioned. I have the Seattle’s Newcomer’s Guide and love it, it offers more than I would have thought. It’s not the latest edition though.

In Seattle and lovin' it!

June 25th, 2007 at 11:57 am

Hi, Julie,
That’s awesome you’re moving here, Julie! I really like it here, I know the rain will probably get to me a bit during the winter months, but I won’t miss the negative temperatures in Chicago. As far as my move went, I used http://www.minimoves.com
They cater to smaller moves, so being single they were the perfect fit for me. If you are moving with your family or the like, you might want to check into some other companies that are better suited for larger moves. Be sure to check out any place you are interested in going with on the Better Business Bureau Web site though. Good luck with everything! Let me know how things go!

Signing out of Chicagoland

June 8th, 2007 at 10:02 am

Tim,
Ohhh, that story is a downer, but thanks for keeping me up to snuff. I figured they were going to either Oklahoma City or Vegas. It’s a shame! Ardell, I am hoping between my eventual job and grad school I have time to explore the city! I hope the thread won’t just be: “What portions of the Seattle U. library can I check out this week?” LOL

Signing out of Chicagoland

June 8th, 2007 at 8:06 am

Hi Rhonda!
Yep, I’m driving with my NYC brother :) I don’t know if we’ll get in until around 1pm that day, but I can assure you I will be joining you and Ardell and whoever at some of these events, gotta take advantage of the sun while it lasts!!! I hope we get into Seattle earlier than 1pm on the 16th, you never do know for sure. You’ll have to fill me in on other highly hyped summer fests, I can’t wait to get out there! Have you ever been to Bumbershoot?

Signing out of Chicagoland

June 8th, 2007 at 2:36 am

Hi, Rhonda & Ardell,
The parade is June 16, right? This is the day when I will arrive in Seattle so it likely will be a crazy busy day for me! Maybe I’ll be able to hit the Solstice Pageant though since it’s later in the day. But I’m so up for all these events, gotta enjoy summer while it lasts ;) . I wish I was getting in a day earlier. You’ll have to keep me posted on any neat happenings you go to, most all sound like a blast!

Signing out of Chicagoland

June 7th, 2007 at 3:18 pm

Ardell,
You’ll have to illuminate me on the naked painted bicyclist show. Sounds intriguing. Is it in Capitol Hill?

Signing out of Chicagoland

June 6th, 2007 at 4:01 pm

Oh no, I hope the Sonics don’t leave Seattle. Is there still a possibility they will stay?

Signing out of Chicagoland

June 6th, 2007 at 11:38 am

No worries, Ardell. It’s been rainy, chilly and overcast for the majority of the past week plus here in IL :( .

Making the jump from Chicago to Seattle

May 21st, 2007 at 8:27 am

Rhonda – thanks for the Fremont link! Jon – Thanks, I’m glad to contribute! I will miss Portillos, especially the salads. There is one less than a mile from where I work now so I’ve been trying to wean myself off of it before I go, otherwise I’ll end up ordering it online like my out-of-state brothers do ;) ! http://www.portillos.com/store/