Wind Swept

Somewhere around Day Eighty Four : Busy, Busy, Busy

2009-02-16T08:56:00.009-06:00

I know its been more than a month since I last posted. There are a couple of reasons for that. 1. I've just been busy with other things. 2. I haven't been out much and don't feel like posting without photos, not going out = no photos... 3. I'm getting ready to move back to Virginia in less than two weeks. and 4. I just haven't felt like I had much to really talk about.

Recap:

January = cold and depressing
Work = not the hours I was promised, in turn = less money to move home on

February = not so cold and depressing
Valentine's Day = lonely and frustrated that my gift for a certain someone didn't make it on time
Certain someones birthday = all I can do is call and wish him a happy birthday... =(

Other than those things its been fairly boring around here. Jack is a cute and adorable as always. My sister had one of her college friends in for a week so I actually got out of the house and did something. We ventured to Navy Pier (a huge tourist trap) to see the Stained Glass Museum. That was quite fun and interesting, I took lots of photos.... like this one!
A few days later we ventured to the Botanical Gardens up in Deer Field. Even though it was freezing cold and windy we had a great time. They had a wonderful Japanese Garden!!! It was set on three small islands!!!

They also had a wonderful Green House. It was beautiful as well!

Unfortunately I couldn't get all the photos I wanted in the Green House because the cold zapped my batteries and the temp. change fogged my inner lens.... >.<

I guess that is all for an update at the moment, I will try to be better at posting but with a big move of over 600 miles coming up I'm not exactly sure when that will be... I also have to write an admissions essay in the next three days..... x.x

<3
Ivy

Day Fifty Seven: Good vs Lucky

2009-01-08T23:00:00.002-06:00

Well... this is what I've done today, woke up, got dressed and ready for work, went to work, didn't take a lunch break, came home, ate some food, and then played around with my cafe press.

http://www.cafepress.com/Ivynightwind

Other than that not much has happened. Baby Jack is doing well and so is his lovely momma! They get to come home on Saturday.

Not much else to update for now. Its been a slow day.

Ivy <3

Day Fifty Six: Jack Isaac King

2009-01-07T11:01:00.005-06:00

I know it has been a really long time since I updated but there have been many many things going on around here lately!

Here is the really big news: JACK ISSAC KING is here! He was born at 1:13pm on January 6, 2008. He is 8lbs 9oz and 19.5 inches long!!!
He is the most adorable little thing ever! Dads lock up your daughters, Jack is here!

The kitties are very excited and feeling very left out at this point. I'm trying to love on them as much as possible and hopefully all will go well when Jack comes home.

In other news I've been trying to find a second job for a while now but still no luck. In December we were very busy at the Bakery and I was baking up a storm everyday!!

Ian came for a visit this past weekend. He arrived on Friday morning and went back home Monday night. We stayed about two miles from the apartment and had a blast when we went down into the city!

This is a photo of him inside 'The Bean'. Its a huge sculpture that is actually named Cloud Gate but it looks like a giant metallic bean. It was really fun roaming around the city with no exact idea of what we were going to do.

My sister gave us a gift card for a place called Maggianos. Its a very nice Italian restaurant. I was told there were a few in DC. We might have to go and check them out to see if they are as good as the one here. They have the BEST stuffed mushrooms and the lobster ravioli is amazing!

I will try and update more frequently from here on out. I know that I've said that before but now I have a new little photo subject so be prepared for lots of photos of Jack!

Oh and today I turn 23.... year of chaos here I come!

Day Thirty Five: Slowly driving onward

2008-12-17T21:43:00.004-06:00

Slowly the editing process continues on its course. Hopefully I'll be done with these photos for Sarah and Chris by the end of this year! Without the use of a real mouse its just hell trying to edit with the touch pad of a laptop. So goes the life of a starving artist I guess.

In other news the job is going well. I have some photos to edit for that and post... those won't take nearly as long as these Trash The Dress photos. For obvious reasons they need more editing time.

I've also just realized that since March of this past year my DeviantArt account has received 4,000 views to the main page. I've had the account since May 2005 and had only reached 2,000 in March. I must say that I am extremely surprised at how much popularity my page has been getting. I guess my work is actually going somewhere.

Anyway, in other news I'm going to try and work harder at posting in this blog more regularly. I feel horrible about not posting as often as I should be.

Baby King update: Kadie is feeling itchy... Jack is still awaiting his welcome into the world on Jan. 7th.

That is all for now.

Ivy <3

Day Twenty Nine: Remebering Times Gone By

2008-12-11T22:30:00.005-06:00

In another place
In another time
I was different from now
I was not me as the world has known me
I was not that which was ever real
Sometimes in our fantasies
We are what we know we cannot be

I don't know whats going on in my head right now. This post is going to be much different from the previous ones thus far.

I guess it started a little while ago when a friend of mine posted something on the art hosting site I frequent. It got me thinking about the fun times I used to have immersed in a world of fantasy. I made quite a few friends in this world, talked with them, laughed with them, died along side them.

I know I sound pretty crazy, right?

Until this past summer I used to play an online game know as Ragnarok Online. Anyone that knows me knows how obsessed I got with it. Along with a few other close friends as well. Some of them still play but I haven't really felt like logging on. You see once, about 4 months after I was introduced to the game, to my fantasy world, I joined a guild. I meet many new friends and spent endless hours talking with them and fighting along side them. I did art work related to the game, to my characters and others. I was wrapped up in my fantasy world and my new kindred spirits. Relationships began to form, not the romance kind but the friendships and alliances that seemed like they really meant something.

There were a few I got to know better than others. Most of them from other countries around the world. But now I seem to have lost contact with them. Occasionally I talk to them with a short little message on a forum or a messenger service but its nothing like it used to be. I miss my old friends and all the fun we used to have but I also know that its not going to ever go back to the way it was. People change, time goes on, and nothing ever stays the same for long.

Well, on to more of what this blog was started for:

As I have been asked I will now answer these questions...
How about telling us how your job is going? or how your sister's pregnancy is going? Have you met any cool people? What other stuff have you seen?

My job is going well I bake and decorate doggy treats 5 days a week and sell doggy items such as leashes, food and water bowls, coats, beds, and other different items. Its pretty fun.

My sisters pregnancy is going well, she is not so happy these days as she is itchy and cranky most of the day and has trouble sleeping at night.

I haven't really had much time to go out and meet people but have made a few friends.

As far as other stuff that I have seen, well I haven't really been out much to see things. But hopefully soon I will.

As for the pictures I know your all wanting well I haven't really had many opportunities to take many pictures or be extremely creative. I will try a little bit harder.

Until then, stay warm!

Day Twenty Two: Brrrrrr

2008-12-04T17:28:00.004-06:00

Ok so this is, as you can tell, a before and after image. So now you know what I did to make my title image. It took my far to long to mess with this, enjoy!

Anyway, today was another cold Chicago day. I went in to work this morning at 11 and my shift ended at 4. It was a rather busy day in the kitchen of The Happy Husky. I made 3 different types of dog treats and double batches at that. It was crazy to say the least. After work I had to go up to CVS to pick up some things and, after taking the bus up, decided to walk back. Huge mistake. It is almost exactly one(1) mile, thats 5280 feet!!!! What was I thinking, now my sore throat is 10 times worse and I have to work the rest of the weekend. On top of the fact that this weekend is a HUGE shopping event for the shops on Central Street. Eh, I have no idea how i will make it through this one... maybe a mug and some tea while I'm at work will help. We can only hope.

As sad as it is I haven't really had much time to take any new photographs. I'm really bummed about that. I guess I need to find out more about the area and try to get some shots on my days off.

That seems to be all for now.

Days Twelve thru Twenty: Work and Laziness

2008-12-02T11:30:00.003-06:00

Ok so, I am really horrible at updating on a daily basis. I know it shouldn't be that hard for me to get one blogger and update but my time is getting split so many ways now. I have been doing web cam chats with my boyfriend on a nightly basis lately. Thats not a good excuse for me not posting though. I just get tired or forget mostly.

I have started my new job. I actually started last week. I now work at The Happy Husky Bakery, I bake and sell a wide variety of healthy dog treats! Sounds a little bit crazy but its a fun job. Customers are even allowed to bring in their dogs, as long as they are friendly and leashed.

I've been trying my hardest to come up with the energy to edit more of the photos for Sarah and Chris. I got a few more of them done today on my day off but still have sooooo many to get to. I feel horrible for the delay in them, I was hoping to have them all edited and sent during my first week here in Chicago. Alas, plans change.

I've had some wonderful luck with a website called Freecycle.org. People post things that they are giving away or that they are in need of. I've already gotten some nice winter boots and sweaters. Later today I'm supposed to pick up a coat. Thats what I've really been needing these past couple of days!

I'll try to be better about updates.

Until next time, Stay warm and drink some cocoa!!

Ivy <3

Days Eight Thru Eleven: Busy and Random

2008-11-23T20:19:00.004-06:00

Well as you can tell my daily photo blog umm... well I missed some days. But thats mostly because either things have been really busy around here or I just haven't had the will power to post anything. I should, however, be better at keeping up from here on out.

So lets see, things that have happened since the 19th or 'Day Seven'... well Thursday morning my sister and I went to a coffee shop not far from the apartment with a friend and go some amazing caramel apple cider. It was partly to do with the fact of warmth, cause its freakin cold out here, and partly the fact that is was just really good. Funny thing is all they do is add some caramel syrup to the cider, I might invest in some cider and syrup this week.

Friday, the 21st 'Day Nine' I walked to the hospital that my sister will give birth in, suprisingly it is only about a 15 minute walk. I got to see her ultrasound which was very interesting. My first experience with an ultrasound being used to see a baby. Trust me, when your not pregers and you need an ultrasound it isn't very fun at all. I also started to edit some of the 'Trash The Dress' photos that I did with Sarah and Chris. Thats where todays lovely photo comes from. I also found out that I have a brand new job!!! On Tuesday I start my training for The Happy Husky Bakery. I'm excited about it, though I never thought I'd work in a bakery that makes only products for dogs. Should be a fun experience.

Saturday, the 22nd 'Day Ten' well that was a fun day. I woke up and couldn't remember if Iain had called me when he had gotten home Friday night. I was so out of it I was falling asleep on the phone with him. I actually had to check my call log to make sure I didn't just dream it.

Later that day I got a message from a girl I meet on facebook that is currently attending Columbia College Chicago. We sent a couple of messages and ended up planning a movie night. I left our apartment around 6pm and took The El (one of the subways/trains) and arrived on Harrison St around 7:15 or so, turned in the wrong direction, walked 4 blocks, then realized that I wasn't anywhere near the apartment I was supposed to go to. After righting myself and arrived at her apartment, we decided to go to the 10 o'clock showing of Twilight. Her boyfriend also tagged along.

We got back on The El and headed up to Central St., couldn't figure out which building was the right one, walked all the way around Nordstromes, then finally found the Theatre around 10:10. So we opted to see the 11 o'clock.

The movie was actually a lot better than I anticipated. I didn't really like some of the casting, mostly because well they weren't how I invisioned the characters when I read the books, but it turns out that they did a wonderful job! There were, as always, a few scenes that I didn't like but for time reasons I can understand why they did things the way they did.

So after the movie I crashed at her apartment and didn't actually get to sleep until around 3:30am. Fun times. She has an amazing view of Chicago from her window though, she claims the view from her boyfriends is much better but, being 24 floors up is still nothing to sneeze at.

Sunday, the 23rd 'Day Eleven' Well yea slept til about 10:30 then got myself up and headed back to the apartment in Evanston. Haven't really done much since I got home. I need to edit some more of those photos for Sarah.

Tomorrow shall be another day of photo edits and apartment cleaning.

Until then, Happy blood drinking! =)

Day Six and Seven: Sleep and Running

2008-11-19T18:31:00.009-06:00

So last night I didn't update and well... sorry I was extremely tired and didn't feel like spending time editing photos.

This pic is my lovely sister with her Jack warmer... oh I mean Kon. He was so cute sleeping on her tummy I just had to get a photo.

So as for the update for yesterday, well not much happened again. I took more of my applications in and stuff like that. Cleaned the kitchen again. The usual I guess.

Today was kind of an off day. I spent the morning watching Memoirs of a Geisha and then walked to my interview at The Happy Husky Bakery thats just done the street from us. I think it went well, their supposed to call me back on Friday. If a get the job it'll only be 20 something hours a week so I'll probably still have to look around for more ways to make money.

I'm not really sure what else to say, right now I'm pretty boring and I haven't really wanted to go treking in the cold to take photos. I'll have to make myself be more artist.

In the mean time enjoy this lovely picture of a squirrel!!

Ivy <3

Day Five: Vampire Wine and Kitties

2008-11-17T22:27:00.006-06:00

Ok... well then. Today was rather dull for the most part. I cleaned Jack's room or perhaps the better phrase would be organized the chaos. Then preceded to organize the other half of the living room.

I did leave the house a few times today. I swept the garage around 2 ish I think, not quite sure but after an incident last night I had to make sure I cleaned up all the lovely broken glass and pasta sauce.

I went out around 4 to take some of my applications back and gather a few more and in process lined up an interview as well. Wednesday at 2pm I have an interview with The Happy Husky Bakery. Its a rather interesting place specializing in baked good for canines. Leashed, well behaved dogs are allowed in the store. I am extremely excited about the possibility of working there.

I realized sometime around 8 that I hadn't taken any photos for the blog today so, in my frenzy I snapped a few of my lovely Vampire wine, a cabernet sauvignon (my fav!!!). I opened the bottle last night before typing yesterdays blog. It was wonderful! I also decided that the picture looked a bit plain so I took it upon myself to jazz it up a bit. Hence the blood splatter. (Thanks Photoshop!!)

Anyway among other ideas my sister suggested we dress up one of the cats in a onesie and take some photos... this is what happened....
Yea... he's pretty pissed, though I think its mostly because Kon, the other kitty here, was giving him this look that said " Dude you let them do that to you... ahahahahahahaha crazy man". But yes this is what we tend to do when bored. Almost makes you feel sorry for the poor furry devils. Oh and if you'd like to know more about the kitties you can visit Sly's blog here on blogspot. http://slylikesthings.blogspot.com

Other than that not much happened today. Until next time....

Ivy <3

Day Four: You Can't Take Pictures Here

2008-11-16T21:53:00.010-06:00

Today was somewhat of an adventure.

It started out pretty plain with me spending most of the morning hours on my computer looking at different things. At about 10:45 I realized that I was supposed to leave the apartment and walk about 5 blocks or more to the hospital to meet up with my sister and her husband to get a tour of the womens hospital. Just in case something should happen and I have to take my sister to have her baby. Anyway, after about 10 min of walking I thought perhaps I was going the wrong way, turns out I wasn't and I wasted about 5 min walking in the opposite direction.

Upon arriving at the hospital my sis txted me and told me to wait for them by the large fountain near the main entrance... well that is where I waited. As I waited I decided the fountain would make a lovely photo for my blog today. After snagging about 10 photos of this lovely fountain, a rather large female sercurity gaurd yells at me from across the room "Miss.... Miss, your not allowed to take photos in here" So yea, I politely said sorry and stowed my camera away in my purse. Oh well, I got the picture I wanted anyway.

After the tour we headed back to the apartment to get ready to go to a baby shower for my sister. Upon entering the garage we noticed a rather large and creepy spider....

Yea... that guy. Turns out he's pretty harmless and non-toxic to humans, which is a good thing cause I don't wanna die. Like a good girl I didn't smush him as I originally intented to do, I let him go about his buisness and weave a huge ass web of instecty doom.

The baby shower was nice but rather small. 4 people total including my sister. We had fun though. There was much food, laughter, and onesie coloring for all. Just in case you can't read them all I'll let you know what they say.

From Left to right starting at the Top

First Row: Illiterate, Hello my name is Jack, Num Num Num

Second Row: That's What SHE SAID, King (b-ball jersey style), Lock up your daughters, #1 Yankee's Fan

Third Row: http://www.slylikesthings.blogspot.com, Dunder Mifflin Paper Co.

So that was all before 5pm.... then I got to go grocery shopping with Adam (my brother-in-law). That was fun... until the return trip when two out of the four bottles of tomato sauce went crashing to the pavement in the garage. Stupid cheapy bags.

Loving my new background as well, it was rather hard finding one that didn't take away from my photos... crazy bright colors are an ADD kids nightmare for a blog.....

Anyway that was my day. Enjoy!

Day Three: Kon and Slys New Toy

2008-11-15T22:34:00.005-06:00

So today we hooked up the new TV that my sister and her husband bought. We spent the evening playing Mario Kart for the Wii, as you can tell by the lovely picture for today. This is the wonderful Kon worshiping the new shinny thing that moves. Sly was, at this point, sitting on the couch with his eyes focused on the screen. I think they like their new toy. Also they have both decided that my fuzzy blanket is the most comfy thing for them to sleep on. I find them in my room all the time.

The misadventures of the day consisted of yet again cleaning the apartment. I've gotten half the livingroom done and completely cleaned and scrubed the fridge. Next project.... Jack's room then on to the other half of the living room. I did go out for about an hour and gathered applications. Monday I will take them all back and start praying someone hires me soon. I don't like being broke all the time, the past 3 months have been hard enough... I need money soon. =(

In other news, I'm trying to have some fun while I'm here but at the moment playing on the Wii is about all I've done. I really need to find some people to hang out with a little. I really miss my friends back home right now. sigh....

Guess thats all for now... I'm sure I'll update again tomorrow.

Ivy <3

Day Two

2008-11-14T23:10:00.009-06:00

So the misadventures of today mostly involved more cleaning. I did however get to go out for dinner, there is a lovely little sushi place just down the street from the apartment. (we walked to it tonight) That is where this lovely picture comes from, yes ladies and gentlemen, this is what $12 of sushi looks like in Chicago. It was also very delicious as well as visually appealing.

Now is the portion of today's entry were I will answer some questions from yesterday's journal.

The lovely Sarah asked this of me:
How did the flight go?
and
How was it saying goodbye to parents/boys?

Well... the flight was not nearly as bad as I thought it was going to be, yes I was nervous but all in all it went very well. Landing was an interesting experience to say the least.

It was hard saying bye, Iain didn't get to come to the airport with us so I had to say goodbye to him the day before, which was harder I think. We did get to spend some quality alone time together which was very nice. As for the rents, well it was very hard to say goodbye to them as well. They stayed and watched me go through security, which I didn't know they did... airport security almost flipped out at my belly ring in my purse. Did you know they actually make you take out your body piercings before going through the metal detectors... crazy.

Anyways, I went with Adam (my brother-in-law) to go shopping for a new tv for the living room tonight. It was fun. Hopefully tomorrow we will actually get it to the apartment and hook it up.

I guess thats all for now.

Ivy <3

Day One In Chicago

2008-11-13T21:50:00.001-06:00

I've decided to start a Photo Blog about my time in Chicago and the times to come. I've officially been here in Evanston, IL (just north of Chicago for those who don't know) since about 1:30pm Wednesday afternoon. I flew out of Dulles Airport in Washington D.C. and snagged this cool lil photo to start off my journal.

I'm working on filling out tons of applications in hopes of getting a job SOON!! In the mean time I'll be cleaning my sisters apartment to help them out a bit while I'm living here.

Guess there isn't much else to say for now. I'll try my best to keep this updated for everyone!

Ivy <3>