Snowboarding In Solitude

My winter break began the week before thanksgiving which at first seemed like the most exciting news ever. But now I sit alone with all my friends in different states wondering what to do. I've never been one to sit and do nothing, my doctor blames my ADHD but I blame my inner wanderlust that feels the need to be constantly exploring and not wasting time staring at a screen for hours. So when I woke up early one morning with nothing to do but lay wrapped in blankets sipping tea and staring at the freezing air outside for hours before work I decided to bundle up and throw my snowboard in my trunk ready to shred the slopes in Wisconsin filled with inches of fake snow. It was opening day at Grand Geneva Mountain Top which meant free lift tickets....score! After about an hour of driving I arrived ready to snowboard in the 10 degree weather. The crisp air burned my cheeks to a perfectly rosy hue as I shivered on the chairlift to the first run of the day. I always like to push myself, and the limits of life for that matter so naturally the first run I chose was a black diamond.

I instantly was back in my element carving down the mountain effortlessly and I could not wipe away the smile that formed on my face. I spent hours doing this exact same thing and eventually even built up the courage to do jumps and tricks down the mountain for some fun that ended in my knees developing purple bruises but that is just a minor detail. I think my favorite part of the whole experience was staring out from the top of the mountain and seeing that around the mountain was snow free with a golf course still in perfect condition but even with the fake snow the day was as real as ever.

The day flew by and soon enough my hands were numb from the cold so I did one last run down and took in the scenery and headed to my car. I traveled a few minutes to the adorable and friendly town of Lake Geneva. The people there are amazing and the nicest most genuine humans you will ever meet, seriously I recommend everyone to go there at least once just to be reminded how great humanity can be. I stopped at a cute restaurant named Simple and got a fresh hot sandwich that was the best I have ever tasted, I will be going back for sure to try more from this place. Following my excellent refreshing meal I sped home to make it to work just on time and smiled as I cruised home thinking about how grateful I was to embrace my solitude and experience such a fun day. 

Recent Roadtrip

I embarked on the road in the early afternoon eager to reach each destination. The mid day sun was hidden behind those grey Chicago clouds but still managed to peak through and act as a guiding light during my drive. Accelerating a bit over the speed limit unknowingly as my Wild Belle Pandora station played through my speakers serving as the soundtrack. My first trip was to Ann Arbor, Michigan to visit friends at the University of Michigan for a game day and see what all the hype is about. Turns out they truly are having as much fun as it looks like in the many game day Facebook photos that are uploaded each weekend. What I never realized was how early the activities start! By 8 am I was woken up by fanatic frat boys cheering on their school as they walked on the sidewalk. So I did what every other person on campus was doing, threw on a Michigan shirt and made my way to the frat houses to pre game. Being my outgoing self, I ended up running from house to house finding friends I hadn't seen in months and taking more selfies than I care to admit but I did get a few pictures to sum up my morning.


With the mass amounts of cheap beer being consumed it came as no surprise that before any one goes to the game a stop in Ann Arbor for some food is vital. My friends decided to take me to a new burger restaurant that had just recently opened up and upon arriving I was overcome with excitement that my favorite burger place on the beach from my days of living in sunny Florida was now in Ann Arbor. I'll admit it, I did go back twice that day for a quinoa burger.

After an exhausting game day these Michigan students do not seem to stop, I was called and told to come to a friends dorm to begin getting ready for a night of going out to the fraternities. Tired as I was I came to experience it all so I threw on my heels ready for the adventures of the night. It was your typical frat basement set up with an abundance of red cups, dark lighting, and even a twerk wall (which of course I had to pose in front of).

I had to rise early the next morning to make it back to Chicago for work at noon but I had yet to experience the one thing that Michiganders claim is the greatest, Zingermans. I accelerated as fast as I could to get there and as soon as I stepped inside the friendly staff greeted me and offered me a sample of anything I saw. Shelves upon shelve lined the walls covered in breads, cheeses, olive oils, and other savory food items. 

I was now fueled for my journey home and as I took those final steps on the grounds of Ann Arbor I knew my trip had been worthwhile and that one day I would be back for a longer amount of time to enjoy this beautiful city.

There was a shortage of cars on the road due to my early traveling time making the drive go by faster because my right foot chose to make my car go faster on the highway. With this extra amount of time I would have before work I pondered what to do with it, since time is valuable and I try to make every moment count. Then I saw a familiar sign on the side of the highway, the sign for Exit 1 leading to New Buffalo. I had spent every summer of my childhood from age two until age fourteen exploring this town, it was a second home to me growing up. Without thinking twice i slammed my wheel to the right and instantly a smile emerged on my face as I passed through the town of my youth. My first stop was Customs Imports, a store I had grown to love for its little trinkets from across the world. I felt at home stepping inside and smelling the incense that burned throughout the store.

As I left I came to realize that in order to make it back to Chicago on time I could only spend a maximum of 20 minutes in this beloved little town. There was so many things I wanted to go back and see scattered throughout this be achy destination but ultimately I decided to go to a clothing store that I remembered always had the most gorgeous garments I had ever seen. Unfortunately it was closed but I spent a few minutes walking around the hand painted shop and absorbing the beauty. 

It was hard to turn around and leave but I had no choice. Those twenty minutes of exploring the small town made all the difference to me and I'm happy to say I soaked up each second of being there. Luckily I quickly arrived  back home in Chicago where the sky was a bright blue hue and the skyline was as breathtaking as always. But the spontaneity of the trip inspired me to explore more, more often and that is what I intend to do.