So, yeah. When I say random? I'm talking RANDOM.

[rubykatewriting]

I'm seriously considering moving to Chicago. It sort of happened on a lark. I was messing around on CareerBuilder.com and set it for the US. Several jobs popped up for New York (way too fucking expensive), L.A. (which would be fun but also way too fucking expensive and I'm looking for actual seasons. BUT after posts like halfway2home's that involve Cate Blanchett, Leo DiCaprio and Brad Pitt being in the same room together being all good looking and charming and funny - well, a girl waffles), and Chicago.

I've started doing the research and Chicago isn't looking so scary, especially real estate-wise. The prices aren't THAT terrifying. (Sadly, Houston is booming so the prices aren't such a stretch.) I'm just concerned that I love winter weather such as Chicago's in theory rather than in actual practice. Am I still going to love the cold weather (and snow) when it's going on a week and the thermometer hasn't hit above thirty? Am I still going to love mass transit when I have to trudge through rain/snow/sleet/heat for four blocks?

So, um, are there any Chicagoans (or nearabouts) on the flist? Help a girl out. That said, I am not averse to someone selling me on the thrills of L.A. I've always loved the idea of living out there. Well, L.A. or New York. Those were dream places when I was growing up smack in the middle.

I have SPN fic! I still have to discuss some things with Evie, but it's basically finished. At a whopping 23 pages, it is my longest oneshot to date. I started it back in October, when my love for the show was only fizzling and not completely dead as it is now. I always seem to come in right as the creative drive of the show is taking a nosedive, or just veering off into left field. (Except for The Office. My love only grows for you, baby. Seriously. I would not be dying a small little death EVERY TIME I think about the Paley Festival if I didn't love you so. My John K. love is really only incidental at this point.) That’s when inspiration strikes, when it’s a pretty sure bet the fandom is waning and interest is little to zero. What can I say? I WIN at fandom.

Finally, I want to say thank you to everyone who commented on my previous two posts. It was way above and beyond and y'all are awesome for it. Truly appreciate it.

Comments

[romanticalgirl.livejournal.com]

Speaking of Paley - you know B&S is going to be there this year, right? As in Matthew? I say you, me and inlovewithnight throw off this whole "life" and "work" and "school" and "motherhood" thing and go stare at pretty boy. Or boys.

[rubykatewriting.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I had to stop looking at the lineup after I saw Brothers & Sisters on there. End the week with a little Krasinski and start the week with some Matthew? Yes, please.

I say you, me and inlovewithnight throw off this whole "life" and "work" and "school" and "motherhood" thing and go stare at pretty boy. Or boys.
Only TOTALLY.

[romanticalgirl.livejournal.com]

I keep hoping that BSG will be there and then I'll have Jamie and Matthew and might quite spontaneously combust from the ovaries outward. Especially because, after seeing that Matthew hung out with Ioan after the Golden Globes, you KNOW they'd all go out for a pint at a bar. And that makes me FLAIL IMMENSELY.

Ahem.

[rubykatewriting.livejournal.com]

Man, I'm still kicking myself for completely spacing the Globes. How'd our boy look?

[romanticalgirl.livejournal.com]

Well, he wasn't at the Globes that I saw, but he was at an after-party with Ioan and he was all in a dark suit with a white shirt and was pretty and ikindoflovehimomg. Hee.

[rubykatewriting.livejournal.com]

Without a tie? Open-collar? *thud*

How can one textualize that sound Bonnie Hunt made (admittedly as a joke) in Only You when they thought they'd found Damon Bradley? Because that is totally what I'm doing right now. The boy is SO FINE.

[romanticalgirl.livejournal.com]

No, there was a tie, but it was a little loose and he was a little rumpled by that point, and he'd loaned his jacket to Ioan's fiancee, Alice, so mmmmmmmmmmmmmm.

[rubykatewriting.livejournal.com]

Um, so yeah. Got nothing to add. Too busy picturing that in my head.

Alice - she was Catherine in The Abduction Club, right? She's quite pretty.

[romanticalgirl.livejournal.com]

Yes. It's very, um, YUM. Here's a link if you want to download it and see for yourself.

And, yes, that's Alice. She starred with Ioan in 102 Dalmatians and they've been together ever since and get engaged NYE 2005/2006. Except, you know, when he's having threesomes in my head with Matthew and Jamie.

*ahem*

[allthingsholy.livejournal.com]

I don't live in Chicago--I live on the other end of Illinois--but everyone I'm friends with is from there, and I have family there, and I've visited there, and I will say that oh, gods, the wind. But it's actually a fun city, and winter's not the worst thing ever, and, you know, the Bears. I don't know, I'm from St. Louis, but Illinois weather in general is usually damn insane.

[rubykatewriting.livejournal.com]

Yeah, it does look pretty fun. I'm a city girl through and through so that is a big, giant plus. And I've found about five buildings I would move into in a minute, but I'm still hedging. I have the Boomeister to consider. He's had nearly four years in a house with a backyard, and he has been damn near impossible to live with these past few days of solid rain. He likes his outside and Chicago sees some pretty long winters.

At least I have a year to make up my mind.

[honey-wheeler.livejournal.com]

I do not live in Los Angeles anymore, but I'm only an hour away. And while I myself love LA, many don't and I can't entirely blame them. I think the degree to which you like living there is directly proportional to your commute. And it would also be effected by your neighborhood. I lived off Melrose and loved it. If I had lived out towards Santa Monica or any of the Beautiful People places, I might not have cared for it so much. For my money, the best neighborhoods in LA are the ones that don't get much press.

But it's cool and interesting and there's fantastic architecture and concerts and you'll acquire stories like "I saw Anna Nicole Smith at a Carl's Jr. at 2am wearing pajamas and a pink feather boa!"

[halfway2home.livejournal.com]

Melrose is right in the middle of the city. That's why it's so awesome. :)

[rubykatewriting.livejournal.com]

Well a huge selling point for me is the fact that it's a city near the beach, much like Houston. Also, I'm used to a commute. (God am I used to a commute.)

It's funny. I reluctantly mentioned to Mom that I was thinking about L.A. instead of Chicago (which I thought she'd hate immediately) and she was for it. I actually have quite a bit of family out there. Plus I actually have friends out there.

So tell me about these neighborhoods...

But it's cool and interesting and there's fantastic architecture and concerts and you'll acquire stories like "I saw Anna Nicole Smith at a Carl's Jr. at 2am wearing pajamas and a pink feather boa!"
Yeah, I think I may just be sold. Priceless.

[halfway2home.livejournal.com]

Santa Monica isn't bad. My friend lives there and she's actually seen more celebs since she moved there than all the time she lived near Hollywood.

I'm from the West Hollywood/Hollywood area, which is right in the city, so lots of dining and entertainment around, which for me is a big selling point. Tons of galleries, museums, little shops, you name it. My place in SD is suburban and it bores me to death. Rent is going up in the area though, but when you're right smack in the middle of the city, you don't have to drive much. I never go on the freeway unless I'm going to the valley or to San Diego.

[halfway2home.livejournal.com]

Hey, it's nice to see you posting again. :::hugs:::

Come to LA! We have stars and panels and stuff, which I will drag you to! That's pretty much my sell. Also, seasons are overrated. ;)

Is that the SPN fic I looked at earlier? I actually really liked the last episode, but "Hunted" was meh. Anyway, looking forward to the fic!

[rubykatewriting.livejournal.com]

Ah, thanks, sweetie.

Come to LA! We have stars and panels and stuff, which I will drag you to! That's pretty much my sell. Also, seasons are overrated. ;)
Hee! Yeah, the more and more I think about it, the more I think it may be the right place. Even my mom is more supportive of L.A., which surprised the hell out of me.

And, hey, come May (June?), you'll be back permanently, right? See? BONUS.

Is that the SPN fic I looked at earlier? I actually really liked the last episode, but "Hunted" was meh. Anyway, looking forward to the fic!
I think I may just have to download the last two episodes. I've heard quite a bit about both, good and bad. They would go and get good again when I've completely given up.

Yep, that's the fic. Hopefully I'll have it up by the weekend.

[halfway2home.livejournal.com]

hey, come May (June?), you'll be back permanently, right?

June, yes! I'll be back and, hopefully, not unemployed for too long.

Listen to your mom. She knows best. ;)

Oh, and I think you said you work in medical research? Lots of jobs for that here.

[rubykatewriting.livejournal.com]

I've actually found more jobs in L.A. than in Chicago and Chicago had blown Houston straight out of the water job-wise.

I think it's going to be L.A.

[halfway2home.livejournal.com]

Yeah, my mom works in a sleep research office. I helped out there for a while.

Yay, LA love! :D

[halfway2home.livejournal.com]

Team LA!

[rubykatewriting.livejournal.com]

Love! So much LOVE.

[halfway2home.livejournal.com]

I'm glad you like it! My friend and I made that a couple of years ago. Some of the songs are kinda down on LA, but we love it despite its flaws!

[popculturespong.livejournal.com]

What's SPN?

[rubykatewriting.livejournal.com]

Supernatural.

[random-serious.livejournal.com]

Wow. Moving... good luck with everything. I hope you get all your ducks in a row.

[rubykatewriting.livejournal.com]

Thanks. I've given myself a year so. *fingers crossed*