chicago: the visit.

wow. it's been a while since i've posted. things have been busy/hectic/crazy/exciting/fun/interesting/complicated/all of the above.
but i will now go into brief detail about how my trip to chicago went.
so sunday i flew in, and you saw how all of that went.
and then on monday we woke up, hung out around the house for a while and then we went to glen ellyn to look at an apartment.

needless to say, it was a pretty big disappointment. we drove around until we finally found this awful brick building, then we walked up to the front, or at least what we thought was the front, saw the banged up doors and smelled the awful smell, and then i decided i didn't even want to look at the inside. so we left.
phil went and got his eyes checked because he was having some trouble with his contacts, then after an early dinner at lou malnati's with tony sorrentino, we went and looked at the next apartment that i had lined up.
it was ideal. it was in arlington heights, 10 minutes from church and 15 minutes from phil, stores down the street for potential jobs. a two bedroom apartment, low rent with all utilities included, and an awesome girl living there with her cat looking for a roommate. so after i filled out an application, we left and i was feeling anxious and nervous and excited all at the same time. then we hung out with some friends that night and went to bed.

next day we spent all day recording. i tracked piano and cello for brandon grissom's cover of all the poor and powerless by sons and daughters. it's an awesome song. look it up if you have the chance.
that was the majority of tuesday, then wednesday i tracked harmony vocals and played at axis, the college youth ministry at willow creek. it was awesome.

there's my man on drums. what a stud. then we left after hearing much good feedback and having many good conversations with people there.
when i came home with phil, i walked into a completely dark front hallway to find that my baby had thrown me a surprise birthday party.

he had all of our friends over and they had cupcakes and pizza and some other snacks, and we all just sat around the table and talked. it was really fun. and i've never had a surprise birthday party, nor had i ever had a birthday party in general before. so it was definitely a big surprise, and super sweet. :)

thursday was the final day. we got breakfast with tony sorrentino and then we went to willow where tony got some film footage of me playing piano for a video that he's making for the sons and daughers cover.  then phil and i made a stop, had a quick squiz and then i packed and we headed to the airport, where i flew safely home.

my mom brought joey, my little beast, home to stay with me in maryland while no one is at the apartment in philadelphia. so he's just been hanging out with me during my late nights surfing the internet, and then during the day he runs around in the basement so the other cats don't terrorize him. poor little guy.
and that was my trip! more posts to come shortly after this on the rest of my life happenings!

all the best,
laura <3