Chicago it is.

Oh it's Friday already? Funny how time flies when you're not working but instead having cocktails every night by five and in a blissful alcohol induced sleep by ten. Today I did have to work a bit, kinda. I just got off the phone with my boss for my yearly review. Not only did I not get fired, but I also got a raise. I'm not one to brag about money, but let's just say I got about a $525 increase. Over the span of a year. You do the math, I simply can't work with figures that big. But if I had a calculator on my phone I'd say that figure might provide me with enough extra to take Chris and myself to a fancy dinner at Outback almost once a month, blooming onion included. Not too shabby.

So let's see what else is there... Oh yes, SUCK IT TOPEKA!!! Yeah. That's right, we're leaving this place for good one week from today. Do you know how long I've been waiting to say those words? Probably since that fateful day last August when Chris told me the roller coaster of life might be on the down slope for a while. But that while is over. We're back on the loopy de loop, hands free in the air wind in our hair because we're moving to the windy city. Chicago! Home of my all time favorite player Michael Jordan #23 whoop whoop! That bald black man that every single kid of every race and gender dreamed of becoming is going to be my neighbor, figuratively speaking of course, unless he does happen to live in Lincoln Park which would be awesome! And the best part is we're going to have friends there! I can already name at least nine people I know in Chicago who I bet will want to be my friend! Nine friends! All in the same city. I know, I can hardly believe it myself. It's been a while in the works but we've had to keep it on the DL until it's for real, and today it's finally for real. As of June 1 Chris and I will be official residents of Chicago, IL. We've already signed the new lease and everything. And our new landlords seem like real gems I gotta say, I found them on Craigslist and as soon as they heard we were from out of town and would be doing everything via email they were more than accommodating. It was easy as pie, all we had to do was wire them the money and we were set to go, they weren't worried at all about accepting money from people they've never met. They did ask for a pretty steep security deposit (on account of Harlow I'm sure) and also the first month's rent, but I'm sure they'll be nice people I can't wait to finally meet them.

I know what you're thinking, what about our current lease? Well, what most people don't know about me is that I'm also somewhat of an undercover lawyer. Now even though I've never had any formal education or training in law per say, I've actually won quite a few cases in my time- 1997: Taylor vs Mrs. Blakeman 6th grade teacher, 2002: Taylor vs NHS AD Dolliver, 2009: Taylor vs UNL. I wrote down every injustice I felt my 6th grade teacher acted upon toward me in order to prove she had favorites and that I wasn't one of them, 2002 I had to prove what a chauvinistic ass our athletic director was and is, and in the case vs UNL I demanded money back for three unnecessary credits four months past graduation. All were victories. So even though much of my background is in educational suits I figured I might as well try my luck in a residential suit. And now I can add Taylor vs Topeka Rental Agency to my book on wins. Last Monday I marched into the rental office with a Topeka Tenant Law Book with numerous lines and pages highlighted pointing out every law they were breaking by renting a unit that had a pest problem (ants gross!) and a basement that wasn't completely sealed (water leakage!) I served them with a 14/30 notice. They had 14 days to fix the problems or we were moving out in 30. And so they decided it would be easiest for them to just let us out of our lease. Just like that. I even said that were are expecting our security deposit back in full because according to Kansas Law we have no reason not to as we are leaving the house in better condition than we found it. Done and done.

So between the news about getting into the writing conference, moving to Chicago and actually getting out of Topeker, and then being let out of our lease you can understand my anxiety regarding tomorrow and the supposed end of the world. Everything is just working out too good for me right now. It reminds me of the couple days leading up to Disney World when I was nine years old. I was just certain a tornado was going to wipe out Norfolk and ruin my upcoming vacation because going to Disney World just seemed like it was too good to actually happen. So cheers to hoping tomorrow is just another day so I can actually feel the joy I've dreamed about for so long of pulling out of Topeka once and for all and looking out the back window and flipping it off. But if my God is anything like I think He is, He won't think twice about allowing this to happen. Here's to another day.