Mari's bday

Sorry for the lack of posts. I'll write more. In the meantime check out my pics from my cousin's bday this past Sat in Milwaukee:

Dipity Do'

I feel like my posts are growing more and more apart. Sorry peeps just slammed at work right now. Labor day weekend came and went. I had to come in Saturday to get a project done that had to be at our client first thing Tuesday am, so that was a bummer. I made up for Sat as we went out for my boo boo's brother's 30th bday bash. It was at this new bar downtown called English. While the air was broken, I have to say I had a blast! They had an open bar special for $35 until 12:30am...gurl let me tell you...we got our drink on! I had a very nasty hang over the next day. Many a drunk time was had, like this:



So I think I mentioned that a few weeks ago we went to Milwaukee to visit my family and went out w/ my cousins, got drunk, it was a good time. But...I have to tell you about the most tacky thing I think I've ever seen in my life (and I am from Wisconsin, so you know I've seen lots of tacky). So we're driving and I think we were already past Racine, heading into Milwaukee when I look over at this huge SUV and see this on it's bumper:



WTF!!! I mean I am all for people showing their support for breast cancer, but with a f*cking Packers logo smack dab in the middle??? OMG...I think that sums up Milwaukee for me. Tacky tacky tacky!!!! LOL! I swear they must be from West Allis or Crudahay, the armpits of Milwaukee.

So going back to the holiday weekend....we ended up doing something we never really do, go to the mall! We took a drive out to Skokie to go to Old Orchard mall...because I wanted bourbon chicken:



OMG I love bourbon chicken!!! I worked at a mall briefly when I was in college, and we'd always go get this dish on our meal breaks! Love it!!! So since we were out in the burbs, at the mall...you know this was coming...the suburbanites were out in all their glory. Of course. But I can't help but notice all the dippity do' boys were out. You know the ones...they look like the Gotti brothers, severely gelled hair, bad orange tans, they shop at Aramani Xchange. LOL.



Enough of my ramblings...take care everyone!

Chicago Speak

I've lived in Chicago for about 7.5 years. It amazes me that only having grown up one state over (Wisconsin) the local slang can be so different. This post is about the Chicago terms I've learned over the years (and the Milwaukee counterparts I know):

• Brazer: I know this term is so un-PC but I can't help but notice how much it's used amongst Mexican-Americans here in Chicago. It's the basterdized English version of the word bracero that is used to refer to [illegal] Mexican immigrants. A "bracero" is a worker, I believe. In Milwaukee I guess we were much more direct and would just say mojados (wetbacks...I know so wrong). It wasn't until I moved here that I noticed how everyone and their mother uses this word. Personally I think it's a pretty offensive word, what's so wrong w/ immigrants?

• Cotillon: When I planned my 30th Quinceañera theme some of my coworkers kept calling it my Cotillon. I have never ever in my life heard this term before moving to Chicago. I asked my cousins from Milwaukee and we all agreed it must be a Chicago thing. What's so hard about saying Quiceañera???

• ATM: It took me about a year of living her to stop referring to the ATM machine as the Tyme machine or my ATM card as a Tyme card. You see in Milwaukee the company that runs them is called Tyme, hence why the name has stuck w/ so many mootowners.

Those are all I can think of right now. Any others?

Edit

How could I forgot one of the most obvious?? As my Sista M already pointed out...

• Water/Drinking fountain: So drinking fountain or a water fountain isn't necesarrily slang...but in Milwaukee we call them bubblers. Why? It was invented in Kohler, WI by Kohler Water Works and was originally dubbed "bubbler". As years went by the more popular water fountain became the norm.

Star

Yes I'm alive. I've just been über busy at work and haven't had much time to blog lately. Sorry to the few that actually read this :)

So what have I been doing? Not much really. We attempted to spend a weekend home in Milwaukee last weekend but w/ a pending snowstorm in both IL and WI we only spent one night there. We had a mini reunion w/ some of my cousins:



We went to some new Mexican place in Bay View named Maya Riviera. It was alright. It's nice that they are fixing that area up. When I lived there the only trendy neighborhood if you will was the East Side. Good for them I say. I ran into someone from grade school there which was odd because I met out a friend from grade school who's sister used to date my cousin later on for a drink. Ok that was a mouthful.

Anyhoo though our visit was short it was nice seeing everyone.



I am currently reading Star by Pamela Anderson. Yes the fake boobies Baywatch Pam Anderson. I know I like trashy books but this one is too funny, and not in an on-purpose sort of way. I almost done w/ it. It's about a girl from a small town in FL who ends up becoming an overnight sensation after appearing on the cover of MANN magazine. I'll let you fill in the rest. I guess I can't complain, it keeps me occupied on the train. Speaking of the train, don't get me started on the lackluster service the Blue Line has been having lately. That'll be another post. Back to books...I know I've asked before, but if anyone has any good suggestions on what to read let me know. I love fiction, and biographies if it's someone really trashy. LOL. The last two books I read before this one were Prep by Curtis Sittenfeld which was a great read on the life in boarding school.



I also just read this:



I love me some Janice Dickinson! Too bad she's no long on America's Next Top Model.

Speaking of can we talk about how excited I am that Cycle 8 has started???!! I have to say my favorite thus far is a girl who didn't make the final 12 (or is it 13) from Cycle 7...but she made it back for this one. Even though I think she's a total tranny, her walk is fierce and her picture was amazing! She looks a lot like Janice if I must say. Ladies & Gentlemen, Jaslene:



Knowing my track record, I've never predicted a winner. All the ones I like always end up being in the top 5 but that's as close as I've gotten. I must say I've been happy w/ the last few winners. Danielle and Cari Dee. Love them!

OKies I must head out. Thanks for stopping by.