VEGAS BABY

This week definitely ticks the something new box, in more ways than one. And what an awesome place Vegas is. I really had no idea of what it would be like before going, with my only references being Oceans 11, 12, 13… and the Hangover….and it was all I could have hoped for and more.

Vicks and I flew out the Saturday morning and joined Paolo and Paul (aka Gloria, and the Pope) and we had an absolute blast. Sunning ourselves in 90 degree heat drinking cocktails and people watching like none-other (gosh these girls are seriously hot…and a few were definitely men, now more lady like….but still amazing)

We went for dinner and drinks at Aria – one of the new hotels on the strip. Where Paul and Paolo got a giant piece of meat for dinner….

We had cocktails and dinner at Cosmopolitan where they served food in a shoe…..(secretly by far my favourite Vegas hotel and I totally want to stay there next time). We were staying in the Playboy mansion with work (The Palms)….which was absolutely hilarious. There were even 10 condoms in my room….just in case.

On the Saturday night Gloria hooked us up (some dude, who knew some dude, who he vaguely knew) and we managed to get VIP at Hays the new night club in Aria….it was AWESOME. A total Hollywood moment where there are 100’s of beautiful people in a line waiting to get in and we just got whisked by and sent through the red carpet and straight pass all of them. All I needed was sunnies and small dog of some sort. We then proceeded to get free drinks all night (I still don’t really know why) and we mingled in various VIP lounges. Unfortunately by 3am, the wine, excitement and general Vegasness got the better of me and when I was politely asked not to sleep in the VIP lounge I knew it was hometime. Gloria nearly died when he saw me asleep!

On Sunday I had to do a bit of work and then we did loads of touristy stuff. Belagio Fountains, Caesars Palace, The Mirage, Venice, Paris….all awesome.

The conference Monday through to Wednesday was also great fun.

The work laugh came out a lot. I drank a lot of wine and cosmos (because I had to). Talked utter rubbish and learnt how to play Craps. Ghost bar in our hotel was fantastic for the view – overlooking the strip it was a spectacular sight, although after a few cosmos I was convinced the moon in Vegas wasn’t real. Very much a Nicky ruffie moment I think!

One of the cool things about the Palms, was that we got to see where the Real World was filmed. For the English amongst us, this is a spin-off Big Brother type show, so Gloria and I were shown around and we were like kids. They had the diary room, where people cry on the phone to their mum, 7 beds, Jacuzzi bath (that's what we are in in the photo), pool table, communal showers…and just general opulence. And you can hire this suite for a mere $10,0000 a night. Cheap as chips.

As we all know, the rule of what goes on in Vegas stays in Vegas will always stick. So many funny stories, so much laughter – it was brilliant. Paul Corporate and Gloria Estafan are friends for life. Those boys are brilliant (albeit they do block some…… ;-))

I'm coming home, I'm coming home - tell the world I'm coming home....

Well, it’s been an awesome nearly 2 years in the US, but I’ve decided to hang up my Stars and Stripes dress, to head to London for a new adventure.

It’s been a tough decision and I’m excited, scared, sad, happy all rolled in to one – but all in all it’s the right decision and I actually think I’m ready to be a Dizzy Badger back in Blighty - and maybe even settle down (don’t quite buy a hat yet though).

Without getting emotional (not really my style, as we know I’m practically dead inside) – but I needed to do the US thing to find myself a bit. And I’ve totally done that and more and I think my dad would be super proud. I hope so anyway…

But man I’m going to miss my Chicago Friends….but I’m hoping they will visit lots and they will always be friends for life. And you never know…I may be back again some day.

Westbrook's last weekend in Chi...

Last weekend was chicken oriental! It was Sarah (as in Sarah and Fi's) final weekend in Chi before heading to Brissle, so we had to make it super special. Sarah and Fi have been my family out in Chicago - seriously, they feed me, listen to me talk crap, drink wine with me and are just generally bloody brilliant. They moved out to Chi a month after me, so it really was the end of era. Old Gloria (aka Paolo Decannio) flew in from Colorado and it was general debauchery from the outset. There was lots of drinking (I can still taste the tequila....10 years I have been dry of that stuff and there is a reason)....dancing (Kwiec dancing was legendary....and the shirt taking off was errrr Nicky's fault). Lots of eating -a giant pizza at work Friday and Yolk breakfast on the Sunday was lush - smoked salmon eggs Benedict....ummmmmm. And lots and lots of laughter. We met fake barristers, some dude with a sweaty hat and there were lemon drops.... On the Sunday night, it was March madness (big college basket tourny) - so we went to watch U of I play and have a quiet few beers. Unfortunately a quiet few beers turned into a fish bowl that we won in the raffle, so we all got nicely fuzzy and had a fun evening. To finish we had a Skillet Cookie, which was the giant pudding that consisted of anything full of sugar. All in all a brilliant weekend and Chi won't be the same without the wee family. But Bristol will be bingo bongo and we the wedding to look forward to! Friends for life x o x o.

St. Paddy's Weekend Celebrations in Chi

This weekend in Chi was St. Paddy's Day Celebrations. Not quite sure why it was the weekend before real St. Paddy's Day - but saying that the whole city celebrates and not one single person I met was chuffing Irish! Any reason to party in Chicago.

So a big thing for the city is turning the River totally green. The River runs through the city and is beautiful with the sky-line and el (train) surrounding it - so turning it green was pretty special. Me and the pups (Ruwe, Ferrick, Schoolyard, Bobby, Westbrook) headed down to Lizzie's on the river and as per true Chicago tradition had a drink at errrr 9.00am! The black velvets went down a treat.

We had an absolute blast throughout the day...drinking, Irish dancing, a party (the Wagners) and there was beer pong and green beer, more bars and I finally called it a night at 1am! Not bad for a little pup drinking black velvets all night - who would have thought it.

Wooooow we're half way there....

Wednesday this week saw my first Rock concert and crumbs was I not ready for the stone washed jeans! Sarah found some cheeky tickets for 9 bucks to see Bon Jovi at the Uniter Centre (where the Bulls play) so I thought I'd go for a bit of a laugh. Now, for those that know me - I love music, but I'm notorious for never knowing the right words to songs and also never knowing who sings what. So at one stage I thought I was seeing Guns and Roses and also U2.

The concert was loads of fun and we met a serious die-hard fan. Some dude that had seen old Bon Jovi 16 times and he even had the tat to prove it. He loved the old Brits for some reason, although he was disappointed we hadn't seem them in Europe!

Old Jon opened with Living on a prayer (or is it Deliver our prayer...I never know) and the girls went wild. So it was lots of fun and definitelty hits the new list (and all in all a good 9 clams well spent!)

Anyone for a game of Bags....

I’ve got 10 months left in Chicago (mrrrrrr) so the new rule is that each week, I have to do something new. If that something new is ultra Americano – then brilliant. But it just has to be something new.

So, this week there have been a few new things. I tried to mount a giant moose in a beer garden at Mountain’s birthday drinks….that was an interesting experience, particularly as I don’t like heights, nor animals (whether real or not) and the frozen ice really didn’t help with the proceedings. Thankfully, I had Schoolyard one side and Dusty the other to catch me if I fell……what was I thinking.


This week also saw Nicole and I entering a 'bags' tournament. Now for the English among us, bags (or cornhole as it’s sometimes called) is a very Chicago thing. It’s basically two boards with a hole and you’ve got to get your 4 bean bags either ideally in the hole (3 points) or on the board (1 point). Now there’s not a massive amount of skill involved and you don’t need to be a Sri Lanken spin bowler to achieve such a task. So when I saw a chance to play, in a bar, drink beer….and win tickets to the baseball – it seemed like a no-brainer. The ‘Bollockers’ as we had named ourselves were for sure going to win. (brilliant that bollocks isn't used at all in the states).

Oh how I could be so so wrong. There were 6 teams including us (and then maybe another 2 last minute teams…randoms from the bar) and the 5 main teams you could tell play weekly. They were like professionals. They literally made a 3 pointer every shot and it was only when the pressure was closing in at around the 19 mark, did you see these dudes faulter. So Nicole and I reverted to the only tactic we had left. Flirt like hell, get them drunk and hope they take pity on us. It worked (in the short term) and a few times I swear they missed the board on purpose….but in the end the Bollockers came second from last and unfortunately did not win the legendary Cubs tickets (thankfully we weren’t the worst team, who were some dudes from somewhere miles away….and they really did have the touch of a …..)

So my career as a bags shark was short lived...if lived at all. But it was a bubble and we did gain a few new fans thanks to Nicky (or is it Niki?) Val you know what I mean.

This weekend has also seen one other new first….that I’m not really sure is bloggable. I can’t wait for gno and talking about this one….Shreadles will hate it!

Is it summer yet....errrr no!

Well it's still bloomin cold in Chi-town (I cannot explain how the ski jacket and layers still don't seem enough some mornings waiting for the el) but on the one nice day we did have, I made Wang plays tennis with me. It was still chilly-willy and we were the only fools (apart from two lads) to actually venture onto the tennis courts, but is was fun never the less. The sun shone, it was bitter cold and old Wang moaned like a girl - because he wore chuffing shorts! And I came back from being 2-0 down, to winning....brilliant.

We then hit the pub with Sarah and Fi and crew (Dan, Dust, Jo, Finks, Ruwe) to celebrate Sarah and Fi's engagement and how can you go wrong with $2 mimosas and pasta (with peas I might add). Bingo Bongo....roll on the summer and Oz Park...softball, tennis and the beach. It has to be around the corner now.....

DCx

A family wedding.....holla

Well it's been a rather crazy weekend (and very exciting too). It involved steak at the best Argentinian steak restaurant in Chi (which is BYOB so we are always pretty merry by the time the steak arrives) and from which, I then proceeded to leave behind my left-overs in a taxi like a wally....I'm sure that taxi now smells errrrr beefy pits. Drinks for both Heather and Lauren's birthday (sports GF) and a spot of driving range action in the snow. The weather is rather odd at the moment and it's gone to being all nice and mild....but I think old Jack is just around the corner again and winter definitely isn't over yet.

But the most exciting news is that my sis (Chants) and Simon got engaged on Sunday evening and we have the first family wedding to plan. It's going to brilliant and I can't wait, as knowing them both it will be anything but traditional. I'm thinking PX90 over skype for sure and maybe a rat to give me some hair!

It now just means there's only me, Cousin Neal and Cousin Bills left.....crumbs chief is all I can say! Thank goodness I don't need a green card....it could be man down!

The blizzard, moving and the Superbowl

Well it's been a rather busy month for the badger in Chi. Christmas saw a quick trip back to blighty which was slightly put on ice because of the dreaded snow at doggy Heathrow. Saying hello and good-bye again to old friends, Katie and SP getting hitched, a quick visit from Santa (and Thomas the tank engine to Sen bobs) and a good-bye to Field End and Fiddlers Hill in preparation for Ads moving in January. Then it was a flight back to Chi and another flight out to Vail for a spot of swosh, swosh, swosh and lots of beer for NYE.

Then it was moving time. Mus and I had decided to give up the Brit pad to be a bit more froogle (I know, that place was ace) - so I was house hunting to find something for little old me. In the end I landed a cool little pad in Lincoln Park (right in the hub of the University action) - so I feel a bit like I did when I arrived at Colston Street back in Bristol all those years ago - apart from it's not so much like prison and there isn't as many pigeons!

Moving in the snow was errrr interesting and since then, we've had nothing but snow. The week before in NYC we got hit by some crazy snow...I'd never seen NY like it and then last week saw my first proper storm in Chi-town and it was all quite exciting (and a little bit scary too). Apparently it's the worst storm in 5 years (or something like that) and the thundersnow was pretty dramatic - I'm still not entirely sure what thundersnow is, but it sounds good none-the-less. Thankfully Westbrook let me huddle up in her pad on the 46th Floor of her building overlooking the Lake and Oak Street Beach and the views were amazing (only did the building sway a couple of times during the storm....so not bad going at all!)

This weekend saw a trip to Grand Rapids for some Festivus on Ice at Kacey's mansion (and it really is a mansion). Grand Rapids is ace (although I didn't see any rapids) and is about a 3 hour drive around the lake going into Michigan. We had a bit a road-trip with poor old Wang being stuck with 4 girls in the car, but I think he quite enjoyed it (apart from the nakedness he thought he saw that night....which he is still very upset about...I think it was the mushrooms or maybe the 15 cans of Miller Lite in about 4 hours...) So at Kacey's we ate (I think there were at least 10 crock-pots bubbling away) drank....and played winter sports on the frozen pond. Highlights were bowling on the ice and of course human curling.

Finally, to round of the weekend was the Superbowl. Now I did lose slight interest, as I was convinced the Bears were going to make it, but thankfully my good friend Ferrick who is from the old Pittsburgh, helped to put the magic back in the game by being the biggest steelers fan EVER. She decked me out in a top, which I think was of Ben no. 7...who has had a shadey past...think touch of a xxxxxx (fill in the blanks) - so that made for some interesting abuse in the pub. There was singing, the polka, towel waving and I even drank pittsburgh beer. Unfortunately for Ferrick the Steelers didn't quite do it - although they did have a great comeback - so the Green Bay stole the thunder on the night. But all in all, a great Superbowl and I actually think I now understand the game - and I even cheered at the right times. This is immense progress (although I still struggle with the word offence...it's just wrong).

So close to being a yank and then yet so far....10 months should help.

This is my road (Belden and Lincoln) during the Great Chicago Blizzard of 2011.

My first year in the US

Well I can't quite believe tomorrow officially marks my first year in the US. It was a year ago that I got off my flight...went through immigration (which took an age with a lot of grilling), jumped in a cab with my giant suitcase not really remembering where I lived and then I trecked up the stairs to our lovely Brit pad - where all the Lincoln Park group jumped out as a surprise and a glass of red wine was waiting! I should have known the group would prove to be every bit as brilliant over the next 12 months, just from this alone.

(This photo is of the group hiding behind the worktop in our new apartment).

The last year State-side has been awesome - sooo many happy memories which I will always treasure and hopefully I will continue to tell these stories for many years to come.....It's been a year of firsts....My first Super Bowl party, my first Cubs game with many of you, my first American wedding, my first Miller Lite (yuk!) and my first Irish car bomb, my first college basket team OH IO, my first college football team MSU, my first Festivus, my first thanks-giving with the Valiers, my first potato tot, my first trolley for Shreadles birthday, my first marathon, my first 'You've been iced', my first 8 hour road trip to St. Louis (never had I sat for 8 hours in a car), my first attempt at roller skating in a bar, my first game of flip cup, my first game of beer pong, my first pool party (where I was called Natalie for the day...) my first Fire game, my first Bears match and tailgating. My first American Halloween, my first Brides maid bar crawl, my first dodgeball team, my first Sunday Funday, my first singles softball team (dear lord!)....I could go on....

It's been a blast. I hope this next year doesn't go quite as quickly as the thought of heading home this time next year is a mixed one. Happy to get back to the family, but I will miss my new American family lots.

But I've still got a year and soooo much to do and see in Chi-town AND so much to see across the US (and a lot of Starbucks mugs to collect on the way too).

Thanks to all for making it what it has been. Here's to a brilliant 2011.

Dizzlepop x