Leavin' for a Winter Wonderland - Things I'm Looking Forward to and Things I'll Miss

As I sit here procrastinating my final packing just about 8 hours away from taking off to Chicago, I'm smiling and thinking of home. Well, my two homes and what things I'm looking forward to having and what things I'll miss for a month. This idea came from a conversation I had last night with Jamey at our holiday party. Here's a short list of both (remember, short is relative in my world).

Things I'm Looking forward to in Chicago:

• Hanging out with my family in person - no more vonage or skype for a month, Dad - I'll actually get to see your whole face since mom can't hog the camera
• Hanging out with my friends and catching up on everything from A - Z much more easily than emailing
• Couch time with Goo - I look over at the second couch in my apartment and she's missing from it, the bad tv's here but not her to laugh at stupid commercials
• Playing with Ansley - our 3 minute phone calls just don't cut it
• Snow - the sight, the feel, the crunch although it sounds like I'm headed for slush
• Cooler weather - temps are in the 30s, not too cold for me (I think?)
• Wearing layers of clothing - I miss wearing them, get ready for more!
• Starbucks - peppermint mochas here I come
• Mexican food - Real chips, real salsa
• Cheese - Grilled cheese, shredded cheese to put on whatever I want, the variety, ooohhh maybe I'll have to head up to WI for more options
• Soup - it's the actual weather you should eat it
• X-mas music that matches the weather
• Driving a car - haven't done it for 5 months
• Baby Girl Faivre - she's going to be born while I'm home, I can't wait to meet her and also see her mom too, got your drink order ready?

Things I'll Miss about Brasilia:

• Walking everywhere - granted lately that hasn't happened so much but I do love it
• Blue skies - other than right now, we've had nothing but brillant ones for weeks
• Sun - love the tan you've given me and how you make me feel
• Tan - it's December 18th and I have tan lines, never had them at this time before
• Friends - I've made some good ones and will miss them but as 3 of us were saying earlier, we're glad not to see each other for a few weeks so we can just relax for a while, we'll see each other soon enough and my old one I'll see you, like you said, in about 48 hours anyway
• Open Windows - it's December 18th and my windows are open, love the fresh air
• Choppes - how I've grown to love you on a hot day to cool me off, gonna have to make me some of Andrea's eggnog to substitute for choppes

I still can't believe I leave today. Today! If you are one of the friends who lives close enough, definitely email me. Would love to see you while I'm home. In Chicago till January 14th (sorry Colleen I said it - someone asked her how long I was home and she replied that she wasn't even thinking about that, I'm not either Colleen). See you soon or if I won't see you for a while, see you around.