I started this blog after closing another, similar one, both times wanting to write about the unexpectedness life can throw at us.   And while my heart isn’t heavy to say goodbye right now, it’s also just not in the blogosphere at the moment.

I blogged for four and a half years.  Blogging brought me a lot of surprises.  I’ve said before that while my blog was intended to be a way for me to practice my craft of writing, I never realized just how much of a two-way street it could turn out to be.

I made a lot of friends through blogging.  Some of them have become my nearest and dearest. And whether I’ve known you for a while or you just came aboard, whether you’ve regularly and actively engaged or just watched from afar, I bid you a fond farewell, no matter how long it turns out to be.

Well I am going to start by answering the second question first.  I am clearly taking My Guy with me.  And we’re going somewhere romantic and beachy.  So I’m thinking somewhere in the Mediterranean.  I am a pretty diplomatic person, so I’d like to hear why he’d like to go, but I’m thinking somewhere in Italy, Greece or Southern France.  Or, there is always the possibility of Australia/New Zealand.

Jessica asked: Who is your favorite co-worker that blogs?

Nothing like fishing for a compliment Jess.

Christina asked multiple questions about My Guy:

1) What do you like best about him? I like a lot of things about him obviously.  His smile.  That he makes me laugh.  His laid-back attitude.  That he doesn’t play games.  What I like best though is that he has ALWAYS made me feel comfortable and taken care of, from the very beginning.

2) What has surprised you about the relationship? I think in some respects, the relationship itself surprised me.  A simple coffee date turned into a lot more.  And while it’s most welcome and I’m grateful and extremely happy that it did become more, I’d be lying if I said I had that expectation when I ventured out in the snow one evening for a latte with a guy who’d sparked my interest.

3) Name one quality he possesses that you never thought would characterize your boyfriend. Hmmm, that’s tricky.  In all honesty, I didn’t assign too many specific attributes to this abstract “guy I’d date,” before meeting My Guy.  I just wanted someone who was attractive and funny and cared about me.  And I got it.

4) When will you post a picture? One is forthcoming.  I just snapped a great photo recently.

Tinsie asked: What’s the last film you watched, and the last book you read? Did you like them? The last film I watched in the theater was Milk; the last I watched in entirety (not just snippets here and there on TV or something) was The Secret Life of Bees.  The last book I read was The Reader.  I liked Milk and The Reader.  The Secret Life of Bees (movie) was ok, but nothing to rush out and see.

Alice asked: Do you think you’re in the “right” career for you? If not, what would your ideal job field be? Yes, I do.

Kilax asked:If you were stuck on a deserted island and could only have 3 foods there, what would they be? Chocolate, pizza, potatoes.

Dave Q asked:

How do you feel about the Designated Hitter rule? I grew up rooting for an American League team (go Twins!) but I have to say the DH rule is such a cop out.  It just ISN’T what baseball should be.  As a concept, I think it’s wrong.

What’s your favorite beer? I don’t drink beer, unless everyone wants me to vomit.  I drink cider, and my favorite is Woodchuck.  I am intrigued by Guinness and wish I could try it without risk of being sick.  Damn hops.

Of the first 6 commenters, who would you least want to hear sing? I have absolutely no idea.  Especially because I do not know what half of them sound like.

Claire asked: What’s your favourite swearword? Fuck.  It’s extremely versatile.

Anisa asked: Do you have a “favorite day?” A day that you look back on and think, gosh – that might’ve been the best day of my life. I’ve had a lot of good days; a majority of my days have been, luckily for me.  I guess I’m still waiting for the “best” day.  But I’m ok with that.  It gives me something to look forward to!

And this is for Bluebird:

It started with a normal cab ride to one of Chicago’s many Irish-themed pub, where My Guy and I met up with a group of his friends for a day of drinks.  I had some ciders and two shots of Jameson (that’s right!), and about seven hours later (around 6:00 or so) we were ready to move on to meet another group of people.  Eight of us split into two cabs.  And then it got interesting.

First of all, it being St. Patty’s weekend, cabs have been used all day, and there was something fruity and foamy in the backseat, that one member of our group insisted on telling me repeatedly was some sort of bodily fluid as I sat impossibly close to it.  Then, our cabbie turned the wrong way down a one-way street.  My Guy sat up front next to him, and I can only imagine it was even worse for him to stare down the cars facing us.  And as our cabbie backed-up, pulled forward and backed up over and over to turn around, people on the street laughed at us and then we were on our way.  Still with the fruity goo awfully close.

Then our cabbie missed the turn and proceeded to back up  on the crowded Chicago street.  I turned around and saw myself staring down a bus.  Finally he got on the street and made his way to one of our cross streets.  And something (experience) told me not to trust this driver.  I peaked over the partition to make sure he was turning right.  He had his left signal.  “Um, no.  The street is right from here…You need to turn right!” I commanded. He finally did and he got to our second destination.  Whereupon said cabbie got maybe an 80 cent tip.

I think we were too generous.

So go ahead.  Ask me anything.  For the most part, I’ll answer as best as I can.

Ready, set, go.

Note: Observant me that I am, I’m anticipating some questions about My Guy.  All questions about him will be answered if he gives his approval.

Last night, I took a cooking class with the Domestic Goddess.  Cook extraordinaire (the woman makes her own baklava instead of just buying it), I was a little intimidated.  She assured me not to worry, as she has never been a self-proclaimed Domestic Goddess, only a Cheryl-proclaimed one.

I’ve taken classes at this establishment before.  I’ve always enjoyed them.  And while I enjoyed this class, and some of the recipes, and hanging out with the Domestic Goddess, well I have never received so much slack for my eating preferences before.  And it? Was kind of annoying.  So annoying that at one point I turned to Domestic Goddess and whined a bit.

It started out with a girl who, well to be frank, was a little annoying.  DG insists she was drinking before class (wherein we were all free to order wine).  I insisted she was just, kind of odd.  Like she didn’t want to cook or try anything.  Why one goes to a cooking class if one doesn’t want to cook is a bit of a mystery. She only wanted to do one thing, carve a chicken.  But more on that later.

It was a chicken-themed class, and one of the sides to one of the dishes was a prosciutto salad.  Let me lay it on the line for you all: I don’t eat beef or pork because I don’t like them.  I just don’t like pork and I don’t like red meat as I stated a few posts ago: bloody=yuck to me.

And so I skipped the salad.  The instructor asked why and I explained I don’t eat pork.  Now, most people take it in stride when I tell them that.  Especially because it’s just a personal preference.  I’m not avoiding beef and pork because of animal rights–I still eat poultry and fish, after all.  I don’t even care if people grill them together or use the same utensils on them.  I’m never one to inconvenience others by my preferences, meat or otherwise.  So usually it just comes up as more of an interesting fact about Cheryl and we all move on.

Last night, annoying girl heard me say I don’t eat pork and asked “Are you Muslim?”  I admit, I was taken aback by the statement.  No one has EVER asked that.  I have rarely been asked if I’m Jewish.  And honestly, that makes more sense to me.  I guess I think I probably look more ethnically Jewish than ethnically Muslim.  But whatevs.  That’s neither here nor there.  I just wonder why, not eating pork brings someone to an assumption that it has anything to do with religion.  Ok, I can see why because it was clear that I do eat chicken, thus I wasn’t vegetarian but still.

And if it were related to religious beliefs, why a total stranger in a cooking class I’ve spoken about 10 words to in the hour and a half I’ve been sitting next to her feels the need to ask me anything about religion at all is beyond me.  I also didn’t know how to read her.  Would it have been a problem with her if I were Muslim?  In hindsight I almost want to go back say “yes I am,” and throw out the takbir just to see her reaction.  But I digress.

Later as the annoying girl carved the chicken she asked if anyone had preference to white or dark meat.  Now look, EVERYONE I know has a preference for poultry.  White or dark meat, some prefer a wing over a leg.  This is not new, in fact it’s why she asked.  I said I prefer white and after all the fuss (theirs not mine) over pork, was asked by the instructor if I’m a chicken racist. It was a joke, I know (not a good one, really).  But oy! Never have I felt so scrutinized over my eating preferences.  All I’m saying is, it’s a good thing we weren’t having beets.

Maybe it’s because there were another two years behind these past two years of blogging on the now defunct Reality Check (may ye rest in peace ol’ blog), but somehow lately I am not feeling the creative blog juices flowing.  I never wanted blogging to feel like a chore, and yet lately it somehow does.  It’s something that I sometimes feel like I have to do, rather than want to, at any given moment.  And yet, overall I do want to blog.

Blogging brought me a lot of unexpected things, including some friends, some quite good friends actually.  I never knew coming into this that it wasn’t just a one-way street o f my pumping out my insights and anecdotes.  That with comments back and discovering other bloggers, I’d find a way to connect to people.  People I consider friends.  Who cheer me on when I need encouragement, celebrate when the good happens, and have offered sympathy and support if it’s something bad.

And so, I apologize to you.  I feel somehow I’ve let you down.   And you’re sometimes what keeps me coming back.  Which is the best part of all.  I know you’ll be here whenever I have something to say.  And for that I thank you.  On on this, my belated blogoversary I send the happy and good wishes your way.  Thanks.

But no one likes just flat-out advice, right? So let’s begin with a recent anecdote. It starts last night. Actually, it starts Monday night. When My Guy told me I had plans for Saturday and that I should dress up a bit. We aren’t talking cocktail dress or anything, but something to match his own dressier outfit.  But he would say nothing more.

Clearly he has something up his sleeve. I figure the most a girl can do in this situation is buy a new dress for the mystery occasion. And really, I’ll take any excuse to hit up some of my favorite stores. And no, I won’t post a pic of my dress. It’s a surprise, really all I have to counter his.  I think he takes the cake on surprises in this scenario though.

Anyway, yesterday after work, I hit Michigan Avenue. There is something to be said for working a block east and just a touch south of a famous shopping district. I tried on dresses, and cute as they may be I noticed something I’ve always noticed while shopping. Garish, fluorescent lighting washing me out and giving me greenish undertones, highlighting the general pastiness of my nearly translucent skin and making my eyes look like I hadn’t slept in a good month or so.

And so we come to the advice section of this post. It applies to all stores as I have yet to encounter one that has picked up on it. Here it is: soft lighting is our friend. Seriously, put me in some flattering light while I try on your merchandise and I’ll stick around a while and end up saying “Damn, I look good, I must buy this…and this…and this,” instead of “Augh! I’m a hot mess, must flee the store immediately!”

Seriously, what I wouldn’t give for somebody to just get that!

In other news, maybe it’s because My Guy is in Puerto Rico this week, but I began contemplating summer, and my lack of sandals.  So I ordered some online from my new favorite site Endless.  Why favorite you may ask?  Because they offer free, overnight shipping on select items.  And that included both pairs of sandals I got.  They arrived Wednesday, promptly in time for the snow we received.  Sigh, a reminder that it is, in fact, still February and there are still a good two months or so moving forward before I can actually wear said sandals.

This past weekend was a reunion weekend of sorts for me. On Saturday night, I met up with an old friend from high school that I was happily able to reconnect with thanks to Facebook and our reunion. This is how I know she and I really are friends despite being out of touch for almost a decade: we sat in a bar talking and laughing about the past and present for four hours. Then, on Sunday I met up with a college friend in town for dinner.  We laughed and talked and enjoyed half-price sushi.  Yum!

This week is work, work, work, capped with a movie on Monday (thank you work for giving us President’s Day off) and martini night on Thursday.  Oh, it also entailed a cold.  I’m hoping it’s planning on leaving soon.

And how are all of you?  Anyone else ready to purchase some sandals?

And so I tried Boca burgers.  (Disclaimer: Boca is a client of my company)  Mmmmm, Boca burgers.  As far as I’m concerned they taste like a real burger (I don’t really remember what a hamburger tastes like any more, or a steak).  I’ve heard their chicken patties are to die for as well.  Every summer I stock up on Boca burgers for the grilling season.  And, they are also good crumbled on a salad.  So, imagine my delight when I got to attend a Boca-sponsored event all about balanced living.

I attended with the ever-fabulous Nilsa of SoMi, and got to see other fabulous blogger pals. And in honor of healthy, balanced living we sampled Boca burgers, yummy side salads, and were treated to manis, pedis and massages, plus tips on healthy, balanced living. I think pampering is definitely part of a balanced life. It’s just about treating yourself well, treating others well.

And speaking of treats, Boca supplied a most excellent goodie bag that I am now gifting to a commenter. It contains, among other things, a yoga mat, a day planner and a relaxing CD. So leave me a comment about how you live a balanced life. All participants get their name in a hat and one lucky winner’s name is coming out of that hat. What are you waiting for? Comment away…

So here it is: I’ve been dating someone for about a month.  And things are going really well. Really, really well.  Our first date was everything you want a first date to be.  Well, everything I want a first date to be.  We talked and laughed for two hours, until we closed down a coffee shop.  And then he walked me home.  Things moved from there.  And here we are.  I’m quite the smitten kitten.

So, this weekend, My Guy is leaving for a much-deserved and overdue vacation.  I won’t lie: I’ll miss him.  But  I’m happy for him to get to go somewhere with his friends and have a break in the sun.

This traveling brought to mind some of my trips in life.  When I was younger, I decided I wanted to visit all 50 states.  I thought it would be so cool to say I had been to them all.  Hey, cool as a kid is different than it is as an adult.

Anyway, I never made it to all 50 states, but I made it to quite a few.  And I had some interesting experiences in those states.  So, I present a list of interesting travel stories from yours truly.  Enjoy.

Alabama: I’ve never been to Alabama…starting off well, aren’t we?
Alaska: Ditto Alaska.  hmmmmm.
Arizona: Another state that has not been graced with the presence of Cheryl
Arkansas: I think Arkansas was more or less a “drive through it” state.  And Maybe we stopped for gas or a McDonald’s.  I’m beginning to think this exercise wasn’t a good idea after all…
California: A few years ago, my mom took my sister and me to Disneyland.  We stayed in Anaheim, flew through LAX.  No offense, but LA did not impress me.  San Diego did.  It was gorgeous down there.  My mom said she just might retire to San Diego.  I said I’d come visit.
Colorado: When I was 12 or 13 we went to Colorado and I don’t really remember it all that well.  Lately, visiting Kendra in Denver have been two really great trips.  Always filled with sushi, vodka, mountains and laughs.  I love Denver.
Connecticut: I lost a tooth in Connecticut.  No really.  We stopped there to have lunch, just so I could say I’d been there.  Well, I was 11 or so and had this molar coming out, but it hadn’t released fully.  I took my first bite of food, felt my tongue pushing against the tooth and had to excuse myself.  Wherein I went into the restroom at the Friendly’s, stood in front of the mirror and plucked out my molar.  An hour later, it was goodbye CT.
Delaware: I used to drive through Delaware between Philadelphia and DC, but there wasn’t much to report…hi, we’re in Delaware…
Florida: When I was 8, we took that magical trip every kid dreams of: Disney World, Sea World, Busch Gardens, the beach.  I took my first plane ride to Florida and I remember gross food and upon our return we exited via rolling stairs right onto the Tarmac.  MSP has since upgraded their Humphrey terminal to include jetways.  I’ve been back twice to Miami/Ft. Lauderdale to depart on my cruises.
Georgia: Once again, a place I have not been.
Hawaii: Hello, dream vacay.  Again, never been
Idaho: Nada here
Illinois: Yeah so I’ve lived here for going on six years.  I have way too many stories to tell.  In fact, see the entirety of this blog for Illinois, ok?
Indiana: I’ve been a few times.  The first time we stayed at a terrible hotel in Gary.  Although it was not the most horrible hotel we found ourselves in on a family vacation.  That prize goes to…Mississauga, Ontario.  Where my mother actually said the words “We can’t stay here, I don’t know if these sheets have been laundered” and where, as an adult I now have complete confidence the rooms went by the hour, if you know what I’m saying.  I’d also like to clarify that upon seeing the room and its sheets my family did NOT stay at that hotel, but hightailed it to a different Toronto suburb and nice clean, comfy Choice Hotel.  And why we were in Toronto, I still don’t know. But Gary, oh Gary.  You are quite the town and so was your hotel.  The first time I remember being less than pleased by an overnight stay.
Iowa: When I was 14, my mom and dad and I went to Iowa and saw the Field of Dreams.  I was 14 so I’m sure I was all “OMG this is so uncool.”  But that movie now always makes me think of my dad–who loved baseball, who loved that movie–so now that he’s gone, and despite all the BS that went on between us, I’m happy we went.
Kansas: We drove through Kansas once, and holy flatness.  I remember the fields of wheat waving like the ocean.  And yet, so land-locked, quite dry.
Kentucky: Um, once again a drive-through state.  Not much to report on Kentucky.  Sorry Blue Grass state!
Louisiana: Have not been
Maine: On a trip to the east coast, we drove up to Maine and stopped in a trading post to peruse Maine-y type stuff.  We did not eat lobster.  What the hell is wrong with us?
Maryland: I looked at apartments in Maryland–near Silver Spring–when I thought I might move to the DC area.  I also hit Maryland on those trips to DC and still remember the looooong tunner under the harbor in Baltimore.  Good times.
Massachusetts: On that east coast trip, we hit Boston.  I loved all the history and the red stripe on the sidewalk that took us to the historical sites.  I also remember seeing Cheers.  Here’s the thing.  Back then anyway, you didn’t get to go to the actual bar unless you were drinking and 21.  Otherwise you had to go to that Bull & Finch restaurant and see T-shirts.  My dad knew I wanted to see the bar (I used to watch Cheers reruns during my summer vacations) so somehow he conviced the bouncers to let him take me in, and straight through to the back door.  I remember darkness, smoke, noise and a huge crowd.
Michigan: Oh Michigan.  I’ve really only driven this state.  But I do remember seeing gas for $.98/gallon at one point.  Ah, memories.
Minnesota: Grew up there, dontcha know?
Mississippi: Once again, I believe Mississippi entailed a gas stop.
Missouri: I’ve been to Kansas City (saw a baseball game) and St. Louis (saw the arch) and Hannibal, Mark Twain’s hometown.  I couldn’t stop picturing that when I read Huckleberry Finn in high school.
Montana: Nada
Nebraska: Ironically, I missed Nebraska.  I went around it, never into it.
Nevada: Oh how I’d love a Las Vegas weekend.  Alas, I have not been to Nevada
New Hampshire: I fell in a river in New Hampshire.  In the Washington Mountains. I decided to wade in.  Well a slippery rocky and a strong current meant that river swept me off my feet–literally.  It was a long, wet drive back to Boston.
New Jersey: Oh New Jersey.  You do get picked on don’t you?  I’ve been through NJ many times.  I went to Atlantic City once–um, I think it’s seen better days.  Cause damn.  Also went to Six Flags there in college.  We went on a day where it was only open to a few groups, which resulted in being able to go on one roller coaster three times in a row.  We didn’t get off the ride, just stayed in our seats and went again.  That was a great time.
New Mexico: So, the Southwest is like a black hole to me…never been here.
New York: I’ve been to upstate New York: Buffalo and Niagara Falls, Rochester and the Finger Lakes for my friend’s wedding, Cooperstown for the Baseball Hall of Fame, and I’ve been to NYC many times.  The first time I went I had to run from the Port Authority to a theater to see Chicago, then had a slice of pizza (mmmmmm) and then saw Times Square before heading back to Philadelphia.  It was quite the trip.
North Carolina: Another black hole is that portion of the east coast south of Virginia and north of Florida…never been here.
North Dakota: I’ve been but there’s not much to say about it.  Sorry ND.  I was in Fargo briefly and, yeah…
Ohio: I’ve driven through Ohio many a-times (there is no other way to get from Minnesota to Pennsylvania, really) and one time we stopped in Cleveland to see the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.  The museum is awesome.  The Hall of Fame?  Well, let’s just say I’ve been to many a Hall of Fame–Baseball, US Hockey–and I didn’t even know I was in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame til I left it.  Hall to me means big hall–large open room.  Not hallway.  I wasn’t impressed with that part of it.
Oklahoma: Nope
Oregon: Nada
Pennsylvania: Went to college here for two years.  Many stories to tell.  In fact, I belive Pennsylvania is the first place I got drunk.  That’s right.  In fact one time I got so drunk I banged my head, started crying (even though it didn’t hurt cause hello booze) and then sat in the dorm bathroom crying to a friend “I don’t want to throw up!  I don’t want to throw up!”  I didn’t.  But oh the headache the next day.
Rhode Island: I went to Newport and saw the disgusting displays of old money in those “summer homes.”  I also had fresh seafood, saw a lot of ships and enjoyed the seaside town.  And ice cream.
South Carolina: Try again later
South Dakota: You know the typical stuff: Corn Palace, Mt. Rushmore.  Erin lived in Sioux Falls for a bit so I visited a couple of times.  Oh, and I got sick in Rapid City.  Like delay the family vacation sick.
Tennessee: We went to Nashville and Memphis.  I remember Nashville as being gorgeous.  With beautiful flowers and scenery.  And the Grand Ol’ Opry.  I remember Memphis as cloudy but we did see Graceland, and the Pebody Hotel with the ducks (geese? swans?  Help me out).  And the Lorraine Hotel, where MLK was shot.  Talk about a place having a pervading feeling to it.
Texas: This is probably the most ironic of all the states I haven’t been to, because I root for Texas (Hook ‘Em Horns), especially in football season.  Why?  Cause I went to a D3, all-female school.  And didn’t have a team to root for.  The Texas fans adopted me.  Yee-haw!
Utah:  Um, as far as going to Utah is concerned: Fail.
Vermont: Another state I somehow just kind of missed.
Virginia: My experience with Virginia is entirely DC-related: Arlington, Falls Church, etc.  I have a friend who lives in Arlington and have visited her a few times, more-so in or directly after college.  I liked it there, I haven’t ventured much further away.
Washington: This was my first non-parents trip.  The summer before my senior year, my friend Anna and I went (with my sister) to Seattle to “check out colleges.”  Other than the University of Washington, we didn’t spend too much time at the colleges.  We spent way more time on the water front, at touristy places, eating and drinking coffee (as there was a Starbucks every 12 feet).  Loved it.
West Virginia: My route to college included about 30 minutes in West Virginia and the city of Wheeling.  It was very picturesque, though brief.  It wasn’t long after leaving Ohio that you were in Pennsylvania.
Wisconsin: Oh Wisconsin.  Bane of my existence when I must drive home.  Land of “Are We There Yet.”  Also of cheese, fireworks and porn.  I’ve been to Wisconsin many times.  My grandmother lived there (on my father’s side) and every year we went to the rutabaga festival.  The often overlooked, but valiant veggie (?).  Oh yeah, plus there’s the Wisconsin Dells…
Wyoming: Drove through it.  Stopped for lunch with some of the worst service.  Saw a lot of open spaces.  It’s also the first (perhaps only) state I saw post a population of “4″ on the town’s sign.  For real.