There is was, my beloved, far off in the distance, fading away as I walked my way to the terminal. My eyes glisten over as I said goodbye again. Chicago. My beloved. Oh how I love thee.

There’s just something about that city that just gets my blood pumping every time that I am there. Every time I visit, I just felt like I belong. It is my city. It is an epitome of me. My life is Chicago.

The business trip to Dallas and Chicago was a very very long week. Days of Dallas felt like it was weeks and even months ago, but in reality it was just only days. Long hard days indeed.

But they were good days. They were great days as we got whatever work that we needed done done. We did it.

It was a good work week that took away whatever stress I was having in the office and got my mind on something else, something more present, the problem of upgrading everyone in these regional offices.

* * *

Dallas was the city of clean and proper. It was the city of heat and humidity. The mugginess killed me as I stepped out of the airport, hitting me with the icky ugh from the opening sliding doors.

But overall, I had a good time in the office. It definitely was the easiest office for all my travels so far. I got everything done in the first day for the most part, leaving only one user to set up on the second day. It was an easy office.

I got to meet some wonderful people…the Castillo who’ve I’ve been chatting with on the regular and then there’s the Chuck Waggoner. Cute and beautiful.

But with the people in Dallas, I never got the familiarity or that sense of instant deep lifelong bonding as I did with the girls in Chicago. There, I felt welcomed as part of their lives. There, I felt like I belonged.

Oh Chicago, my beloved, how I would love to move there, to set my roots there until another mid-life creeps up and I have another need for change.

* * *

Love.

My Beloved.

Chicago.

It started out with a lovely night out on my own after dinner. A nice brisk walk at night to the Pier, catching the fireworks show.

I was ready to go, to get things started bright and early in the morning.

Stressed was all I can say about my first day in Chicago. Stressed as I felt the day slip away from me as I still have 14 computers left to do and the day is already half over. It was about lunch time and I haven’t even imaged my first computer as I’m stressing to set up three people who already have their computers ready for them.

Stressed.

But we managed to power through. Dan got his shit and his network issues cleared up and I buckled down and tackled the imaging. It was a long day as I get out at 11:30 that night, but we got most everything done.

I finished about 20 minutes before it was time for Chicago’s 3pm happy hour. Just in time. I still have some etracking and minor issues to take care of, but things are done. That’s all I can say.

The work is done.

* * *

What to do, what to do?

So cute and adorable, pretty and funny with her sass and sass. What am I going to do?

Then there is Skittles who I can’t help check out while she’s on the go.

What is it about the ladies of Chicago that makes me not want to leave?

Walking the streets, I just never saw so many beautiful women walking the streets before. Unfortunately it is just because no one walks in Los Angeles/Santa Monica. They just aren’t walking cities. But Chicago, what can I say.

In a way it is where my heart yearns to be. Whether it is a genuine desire to move there or if it is just my heart playing tricks on me because it is something new and exciting, I don’t know, but in a way I do feel that if I am there, my life will definitely change in a way. Whether it is in the same trajectory that is happening now, I don’t know. It could come back and bite me in the ass.

There was a sense of distance from Skittles. Dan picked it up and I sensed something also. She’s wasn’t as chatty as she used to be, but a lot has happened since the last time we’ve seen each other. She wasn’t married then. Now, things are different.

Maybe she’s just distracted by the neck pain that she’s experiencing.

What am I going to do?

The adorableness is infectious, getting into my heart, worming its way. She’s just genuinely a great girl and I hope nothing but the best for her.

My playfulness just naturally comes out when I’m with the Submariner. There’s just something about her that makes me crazy. Blah.

I’m just in trouble as I really don’t know what I want. Besides, she’s off limits, done and done.

* * *

Might do another trip out there later in the year. Hien wants to go, so another weekend. I don’t care what we do ’cause just being there is enough for me.

So here’s to more fun and fun for me.

Fun and fun in my favorite city.

* * *

I need to stop drinking recklessly and start drinking smartly.

Nuff said.