June Lately: SoCal, NorCal, and Chicago
It’s currently 1:15AM as I’m sitting here typing up this post. Even though we’ve been in Chicago for the past few days, I still feel like my body is set on California time. Which is going to make for a very difficult time at work tomorrow.
Instead of laying in bed tossing and turning, I decided to do something productive and type up a hodgepodge of what’s been going on as of late.
Lately I’ve Been…
Celebrating:
My BIRTHDAY! It was so nice to be able to be with family for my birthday. Since my birthday falls after school is out for the summer, I always end up spending it with family. This year, since I put a pause on teaching, I don’t actually get the summer off. So I didn’t think I’d be able to make it home. But, fortunately, I was able to work it out with my boss and got quite a bit of time off to be able to go back to California.
Visiting:
Ankur planned a fun anniversary/birthday trip for us in Chicago! It has been many, many years since I had last been there and Ankur’s never been there before so he secretly planned a trip for us and almost got away with surprising me. Until a calendar notification popped up on his phone with a reminder about his flight out of Chicago. Oops. Still, most of the activities we did while we were there were a surprise for me! We went to the Field Museum, the Shedd Aquarium, the Willis (Sears) Tower, and the 360 Observation Deck. We biked along Lake Michigan and took an Architecture River Cruise.
Eating:
While in Chicago, we indulged in deep-dish TWICE. But we also branched out and tried some Chicago-style hot dogs. There’s a fun hot dog stand outside the aquarium and Field Museum that makes you dance for ketchup. Because, apparently, ketchup is so-not-a-Chicago-thing. The hot dogs were okay. The PIZZAS WERE GREAT. (Though, I’ve been told that “deep dish” doesn’t count as a pizza.)
Watching:
Ankur pulled off the best surprise of my life. He got us tickets to see Hamilton while we were in Chicago. I just assumed (and accepted the fact) that it would be a few years until I got to watch this show considering our current circumstances. But, he managed to find tickets three months ago and keep it a secret from me until the night before! I can’t even begin to explain how life-changing and magical this experience was for me. I don’t remember the last time I was so fully engaged, so fully present, so fully TAKEN by a performance. It just makes me want to plant some seeds, leave my legacy, RISE UP, and take shots (in more ways than one). It also made me wish that my history teachers in high school took a page out of Lin Manuel’s book and rapped a few songs about the U.S. Constitution or the Louisiana Purchase or the Emancipation Proclamation. I feel like I’d probably be a much better history student if someone sang me some songs instead of made me look up definitions in the back of my book.
Reading:
Since Ankur and I had a nice, long road trip to and from Chicago, we started listening to this book on Audible. So far, so good. I also just finished this book on the plane back from California and am rethinking all my life choices.
Listening
Hamilton has been on repeat since yesterday. We listened to the entire soundtrack on the drive back from Chicago. I will probably continue doing this all week long. No shame.
Feeling
After two weeks of vacationing in California and Chicago and eating my way through each city, I’m feeling like it’s time to jump back on the shake-o train. I’m excited to get back to my morning routines and my Facebook challenge group! Speaking of which, our next 21-Day Challenge group starts on MONDAY! It’s not too late to join. Send me a message if you’re interested! 🙂
Questions of the Day:
- Do you consider deep-dish a pizza or a pie?
- Have you seen Hamilton? Heard the soundtrack?
- What are you currently reading? Eating? Watching?
I’m from NY and I must say that I took a liking for Chicago style pizza 🙂
Don’t get me wrong! I’m a huge NY pizza fan too! 😉
Another fab blog – I’ve heard so much about Hamilton and think I really do need to get and see it. Pizza looks amazing too – putting a pause on teaching looks like it’s reaping the rewards in many ways! Happy weekend
It’s true! And the biggest reward is probably the fact that I realized just how much teaching means to me! So I’ll be back 🙂
I’ve loved following your travels on Instagram. So excited that you were able to see Hamilton! Hoping reentry into everyday life is easy!
Thank you!! <3 I think it was really nice that I came back on a Friday! Just a nice eaaaaaase back into work and then we have the weekend!
I am so jealous you got to go see Hamilton!!!!! What an amazing gift. Happy birthday!
Thank you so much! <3
First of all, happy birthday! What an awesome surprise Ankur pulled off!! I’ve heard such wonderful things about Hamilton, and I’m glad you got the chance to go!
Thank you so much! 🙂 He WAS pretty sneaky. I consider my detective skills on point so the fact that he held onto this for three months without me finding out was pretty impressive!
Glad to hear you are home safe and back to routine.
Hope your day isn’t too long after your fun filled vacation.
Happy Friday.
Have a great weekend.
HAMILTON..:):):)
Sounds like some wonderful adventures and a sweet surprise! I love deep dish. I actually prefer it over the thin NY slice, but Sicilian is my all-time favorite!
I will take pizza in any form! 🙂
I always enjoy your posts 🙂 I’m currently reading Bird by Bird about writing and May Cause Miracles by Gabriella Bernstein. So far, so good 🙂
Thanks for the compliment! And thanks for stopping by today! <3
So excited you got to see Hamilton! What a wonderful surprise!!
What an amazing trip! I am so jealous you saw Hamilton! That’s awesome!!
We are heading to Chicago in August for a week. I haen’t been in a few years so I am pretty pumped!
Oh my goodness, what an incredible trip!! And amazing that your hubs was able to surprise you AND get tickets to see Hamilton (what?! Color me jelly!!). I haven’t been to Chitown in ages but I’ll never forget the taste of deep dish–so yummy!!
Having a birthday, traveling and reading a book at that makes you think of life choices is a real shake up. If I were you I would look at all my life choices at once, it’s too much. Instead, choose one thing to work on and then another. I’m glad you had such a lovely time on your birthday/anniversary!
I’m so glad you had such lovely trips to California and Chicago!!
That’s awesome Ankur kept Chicago MOSTLY a secret. I was just there this past weekend! I didn’t get to do too much though because I was there for the American Library Association Conference, but it was still really fun. I should have a post about that soon. OMG! I’m so jealous you got to see Hamilton. That is amazing. I love the soundtrack and I’m DYING to see the show.
Sounds like you had an overall really great June and birthday month. I’m so happy for you!
Awesome blog post.. Love reading it… Keep up the good work…
I have plans to get to Chicago this summer. I wan to take my kiddos to the zoos and aquarium and museums.
They’ll love the aquarium! It was so so much fun! And they have so many kid-friendly activities!
Love everything in here! Especially Hamilton and Chicago style pizza
What’s your favorite song from Hamilton?
HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Sounds like it was a good one. I have not seen Hamilton but the boys and I picked up Lost in the Sun by Lisa Graff. That pizza has me drooling. I call it all pizza LOL
Seriously. My definition of pizza is anything DELICIOUSLY tomato sauce and cheese-filled. This fits the mold!
The hubs and I want to got back to Chicago sometime soon. The best deep dish pizza ever! And I can’t believe how busy you’ve been friend! I’m so glad that you had some time to do it all!
Yes! It’s been so fun and I wish it were longer, but there’s something nice about being back to routine! <3
A belated Happy Birthday! It sounds like you had a great time. I enjoyed hearing about your trip to Chicago — and how neat that you got to see Hamilton too!!
Oh, I really want to see Hamilton! Hope you had a wonderful birthday 🙂
How fun!! That pizza looks amazing! I consider deep dish a pizza 🙂
Sounds like an awesome birthday! The pizza looks delicious, too. I love almost any type of pizza!
wow seems like you have been busy in the best ways! Happy Birthday! I love Chicago. I live in NY and its like a minier, more managebale city. Plus i love the lake. I do like all kinds of pizza. Some NY’ers pooh pooh Chicago pizza, but I will anything!
June is my favorite month, The start of summer and not too hot!
Chicago style is the ONLY kind of pizza there is……that slop in New York isn’t worth the greasy crust its on!!
Lori and I honeymooned in Chicago and loved it…..
Omg love this post! I need to try Chicago style pizza for sure!
Happy belated birthday! It looks like you had a wonderful celebration surrounded by friends and loved ones.
So sweet that he tried to surprise you with an anniversary trip! And, I’m so jealous that you saw Hamilton. Everyone seems to be raving about it. Looks like you’ve been having a blast!
Looks like you had a wonderful time! Deep dish is most certainly a pizza but I’m English so you can’t trust my opinion on the matter 😉
Happy birthday!! Looks like you’ve had a busy and fun month. I would love to see Hamilton, I’ve heard lots of great things!
Awwww happy birthday!!! I have a June birthday too!!!! Mine was just on Friday. Glad you had a fabulous one!!!
That pizza looks amazing!!!
That deep dish pizza is making my mouth water! I’d love to visit Chicago one day to try it!
Happy belated birthday! My birthday was about a week ago, too. Though I think you were able to celebrate yours better than I did mine.
Happy belated to you, too! <3
This sounds like the perfect way to celebrate your birthday! I’ve never been to Chicago and its on my list for long now. Watching Hamilton is soon climbing up that list too. I wrote a blogpost about our trip to NY last year and how we ended up watching the broadway show An American in Paris. http://veenamrutha.blogspot.com/2017/06/itinerary-from-our-nyc-trip.html
Eating hot dogs the correct way in Chicago is a must. Lol. I’m glad you enjoyed Chicago. The city is wonderful.