I understand that each year, the parade gets progressively rowdy. The number of people attending the festivities grows each year, and in 2009, I believe there were 300,000+ parade-goers. I’m sure at least half of them were a bit intoxicated. This resulted in 3 stabbings, 1 shooting and countless assaults on police officers, which led to 54 total arrests… an 80% increase from last year.  I also heard there were people fighting/peeing on Metra trains… not a pretty sight.

~* Irish baby and Daddy watching the SSI Parade *~

I hate that some bad apples ruined it for the rest of us. I know that my entire group of friends drinks quite a bit on the day of the parade. We gather at 9 a.m. (three hours before the parade kicks off) for Pete’s sake! (Side note: who is Pete… and why do we say that?) Anyway, none of my friends have ever engaged in bad behavior at the parade. None of them have ever been in a fight. And we are all 23-24 years old… of age.

While it is not legal to drink on the street, everyone does it. And each year, Chicago says it will “crack down” on public drinking. I really don’t think they do, to be honest. I do remember last year, a few of my friends had their cups of beer taken away. But I’m pretty sure that all of my friends got away with it this year. You could even see people being interviewed on the news with  red solo cups in hand. And I’m pretty sure said people were not drinking water, juice or pop in those cups.

~* Ryan (with beer in hand), Carrie & Pat *~

I also believe that a lot of the craziness stems from teens. I’ve seen plenty of drunk high schoolers stumbling around the alleys of Beverly and Mount Greenwood. That is not OUR fault. Drunk minors are the responsibility of the parents.

When I heard that Evergreen Park wants the parade, and will not tolerate drinking, I literally laughed out loud. Unless the EP police arrest every single person who has a beer or a mixed drink in hand, the drinking is not going to stop.

~* Caitlin Boline – Queen of the SSI Parade *~

All in all… I’m just mad. I’m mad at the people who ruined it by being drunk idiots. I don’t just go to the parade to get wasted. I actually watch quite a bit of it. A friend of mine was even the Queen of the parade this year, and I watched her float scoot on by me.

What are your thoughts?

Here they are, in no particular oder:

• Rude people
• Sore losers
• Opening Day, MLB 2009!
• Healthy living
• South Side Irish Parade
• My epiphany… I know where I belong (this will be a good one)
• Job hunting (it really blows)
• My love for athletes

OK, I think that should do it for now. I really do have a lot on my mind… sheesh!

You can tell someone how much you love them. You can tell someone how much you appreciate them. But to me, it really doesn’t mean a damn thing if you constantly hide your true feelings and never publicly acknowledge those who inspire you, who listen to you, etc.

A reason that people may do this, I’ve experienced, is because they are worried about what other people will think. Well, did you ever stop to think how this would directly affect the people in your life whom you are snubbing? While you are so busy being concerned with what other people think, you are indirectly hurting the people who matter the most. And if you know that people will be getting hurt, well then you are DIRECTLY hurting them.

When did being friends with someone become this much work? Not all of your friends have to like each other. And I refuse to be the fall girl. I’m not going to be the girl you always go to but never publicly acknowledge.

That being said, thank you to all of the people who are true friends. Sometimes, I don’t know where I would be without you.

However, almost two years out of college and I’m still working two part-time jobs. Not for lack of trying, but I just haven’t been able to find full-time work. In the summer of 2008, I was offered full-time by my current part-time writing gig, and I turned it down because I thought I was getting something else. I thought wrong.

That terrible decisions still haunts me, and I learned my lesson. However, I was choosing between a pursuing a “career” at a college study abroad program and a “job” at a real estate marketing company. I put those two words in quotes because, to me, a career is something you plan to do long term. A job is something you do to pay the bills and to get the experience for your career.

At any rate, here is the life of a writer… living on the south side of Chicago:

• Part-time copywriter: 1-3 days a week depending on volume.
• Freelance writer: Two paid gigs and three free gigs (hoping for that future payment someday soon)
• DJ/Karaoke Host: Two part-time jobs equal full-time, right? Not so much, but this second job does allow me to keep up with my bills, my student loan payment and my travels.

There you have it! I also manage this blog (obviously) as a platform for venting about anything and everything, and I manage a travel blog that has won an award. I hope to parlay that into a full-service travel site someday that offers planned itineraries for cities all over the globe. And I’d love to write guide books. It’s a project I’m working on slowly but surely. I’m also writing a horror film, which I think would be great for Twisted Pictures. Anyone with a contact, your help is appreciated.

I have been to Nashville, New Orleans and London so far this year. And when I’ve been home for even a week, the travel bug sneaks up on me again.

I don’t plan on going anywhere during the month March, unless it’s to the South Side Irish Parade (10 minutes from my house), a Hawks game (about 30 minutes from my house) or maybe even somewhere in the Loop (about 30-45 minutes from my house depending on traffic). BUT… I have some ideas for April and beyond:

April

Cleveland: This one-day/night trip marks the beginning of my MLB Expedition, where I attempt to visit all 30 parks before I am 30. This is going to be tough, as some stadiums are being torn down and new ones are erected in their place. Nevertheless, it mostly has to do with seeing all 30 teams in their hometown. I’m starting with a plan for the Midwest teams: drive/fly in the morning, attend the game at night, go home the next day. However, I’d like to spend an entire day in Cleveland… to go to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame… so I might leave Thursday night and come home Saturday afternoon.

May

Cincinatti OR St. Louis: My boyfriend is a Cubs fan… and a National League fan. So we have to catch an NL game on the road. We haven’t decided if it’s going to be in Ohio or Missouri yet. I have a college friend in St. Louis, so I’m pulling for that.

June

New York City: I go to NY every year. Last year, I went in November with my friend/co-worker, Becky. This trip is being funded by my amazing bosses at the DJ/Karaoke company. We take a DJ trip every year. Next year, it’s off to Cancun! I’m not big on the heat, but I haven’t been to Mexico, yet. And it’s on my list! Hope to attend a Yankees game or a Mets game, since they both got new stadiums this year.

July

Minnesota: Third stop on the MLB (Midwest) Expedition. I must get to the Metrodome and see a Twins game before the stadium is torn down at the end of the season. I know I will need to visit the new one, but I’d really like to see this park before it’s demolished. I’ve been to MN twice, so I plan to fly there on a Friday morning, go to the game at night and return home Saturday afternoon.

August

Kansas City: I have a friend from London who visits KC at the end of every summer because his dad lives there. My hope is to take him to a baseball game (or meet him there, since he lives in KC, Missouri). I’d like to stay in Kansas at this amazing hotel I found online… details to follow on Gettin’ Carried Away in the near future!

September

Not sure yet: It’s still baseball season, so maybe Randy (my bf) and I will go to both Cleveland and St. Louis. We’ll go to one game in May and one in September. No plans yet!

October

Finland & Sweden: This is my next huge trip, I hope. Several U.S. NHL teams, the Blackhawks included, will be opening their seasons overseas. I would like to see the Hawks in Finland and the Red Wings/Blues in Sweden. The game in Sweden is already sold out, but I’m betting tickets will be available on StubHub or eBay soon. I wish I could throw Norway in with this, too, but I don’t think I would have the time. I like planning 24-hour visits, though, so maybe it will happen.

November

Becky’s NY Birthday (part 2)??: She doesn’t know it yet, but I will probably suggest this to her. She didn’t get to go to her favorite Jazz club, so I want to be able to take her to it this year. So… do I love New York or what?

December

My couch: In December, I am going to relax. I might go downtown for some ice skating or to see the Macy’s Christmas windows. OH! And I want to go to the Christkindle Market in Daley Plaza, because I didn’t go last year. This month, it’s all about Sweet Home Chicago!

~* My 4th grade class… I’m the circled one…duh! *~

One of these beliefs is the abstinence of eating meat on Fridays during Lent. Each year, I try really hard to abide by this rule. I never give up anything else… like beer,  cursing, chocolate, etc. My mom told me that I should try to be a better person, instead. So I usually go out of my way to be a little kinder: donating money, giving blood, etc. But I really want to stick to this no-meat-on-Fridays thing.

~* 8th grade Carrie… still in Catholic school *~

So my vow for the next six Fridays is to eat cheese pizza for dinner. This also means I’ll have to watch what I eat during the rest of the week, seeing that I’ll be chowing down on a greasy pie once a week.

And in case you were wondering… I’m not a big breakfast eater, and I have yet to decide what my lunch will be. Probably a salad with garlic/butter croutons and French dressing. Mmm!

Whose idea was it… Manny’s himself or his agent Scott ‘I’m a Douche’ Boras? Either way, I think it’s selfish.

Now, I’m sure plenty of Manny fans will argue with me and tell me that he is the best hitter in the league and he is worth a lot more. You know what I say to that? Bullshit.

How much money has Manny made already? And with the U.S. economy struggling so much, why is he turning down two-year deals worth millions of dollars? If it’s because of the money, shame on you, Manny Ramirez. If it’s because he wants a longer deal, I can understand that. We all want to work at the job we love for a long, long time. But either way, man up, Manny, and take a damn deal already before no one wants you.

This also means…

• You can’t say one thing then do another.
• You can’t blatantly ignore another person’s good advice… especially when you are the one who sought it out in the first place.
• No matter what you think, you can’t get away with anything… ever.

I try very hard to be there for the people I love. However, I do admit that I sometimes mess up a bit and become very consumed with my own thoughts, feelings, wants, etc. We all do it. But the difference between me and most people I know is that 95% of the time, I concern myself with everyone else, instead of myself.

If I know someone in my life is struggling, I worry about them constantly. I am always thinking about them, and I am ready to drop everything I am doing (as long as I’m not working) to help them get through rough times. Maybe this is why I tend to get played for a fool… a lot. And while some people might truly care about the fact that I am trying to help, they don’t always show it.

I’m attempting to learn from my mistakes. It’s very hard to fight the urge to help people. But I have to keep telling myself that not everyone is deserving of my help.

The lesson here? Sometimes you have to be selfish. If your world revolves around every one else most of the time, you are going to get played. Advice? Be very careful, and don’t expect too much out of every single person involved in your life. It’s a sad but true reality.

I know that people have bad days. But when one bad thing happens, try to leave it at that. And if you can’t, please think before you speak. I’ll give you an example so you can better understand what I am talking about…

Example: Someone called, left a message and no one told you about it.

How to handle this…

• Calmly confront the people you live with.
• Ask them if they would please remember to check the messages or to inform you when someone calls for you and you are not there.
• Do not bring up past mistakes that made you angry: your roomie not doing the dishes the day before, not taking out the trash a week ago, etc.
• Accept the apology (if they give one) and move on. Immediately.

By staying calm and not biting off the head of the person who wronged you, you’ll save everyone a lot of grief, including yourself. In the end, you won’t feel good about yelling at someone and pointing out everything they have ever done wrong.

And sometimes, when you are really wanting to share your thoughts, people are not always around to listen to you. Writing is a release, an escape. It’s a way to get everything out in the open and get it out of your body. And with blogging becoming so popular these days, it’s almost the norm.

So whenever I’m thinking about something, anything, I’m going to come to Carrie’s Corner and share it with you. I’m ready to rock!