monday already?

Every week, I find myself asking the same question: where did my weekend go?? Why are they always so short??

This weekend, I was laying (or possibly lying? I never know which one is right) pretty low. Here's why. Friday morning, I'm walking from CUS to the office, thinking of nothing in particular when a bug flies into my mouth. I could feel it whap up against the back of my throat (EW! EW! EW! GROSS!) - I don't know whether it flew back out again or if I in fact swallowed it. There was some ugly coughing and gagging happening and also a whole lot of spittle. TMI? Sorry, I'll stop.

All day I felt like that little bugger was still in my throat. I drowned it with water, tea, everything I could think of, and I spent the whole day completely grossed out. Since I am a hypochondriac and a drama queen, this was possibly the worst thing that could have happened to me. Like, ever. WebMD told me not to worry, but I was building up extraordinary scenarios in my mind. All of this stressing naturally upset my stomach, oh, and on top of everything - I had a review with my boss at 11:30 in the morning. That went well, though.

Friday night was not pretty, I was so, so freaked out and worried and felt like something was stuck in my throat. Clearly, I was a goner for sure. But I had to stay alive for Saturday, since I had been looking forward to it for so long - it was the day of the LILL Studio 1154 SAMPLE SALE. If you don't know the LILL Studio, go and check them out. You can create your own custom handbags there!!! You can do it online, or visit their shop in Lincoln Park (Halsted and Armitage). Their shop is little but amazing - filled with fabrics in the most stunning colors, and adorable, adorable bags. Since they are custom made, they are not cheap. But at the sample sale? Scads of adorable bags at 50% - 80% off. We've been going to the sale for maybe 3 years and we always come home happy.

Saturday morning my throat was really sore, but I had no fever and I decided that I might as well go to the sale. I could go to the doctor afterwards, if I needed to, right? These cute bags? Would not be on sale forever. So off we went. The warehouse is on Ashland and is in this crazy hard to get to area. We left my house at 7:15 Am and got there before 8, but there was already a HUGE line outside the door of the warehouse.

Inside, there are racks and tables set up with all the pretty bags - they also sell off bolts of fabric, pillows, wallets, all kinds of stuff. What happens is this - people patrol the racks and grab anything they see that they like. You will walk around this room with your arms loaded down with handbags. When you are not able to feel your arms, or when you start knocking people down with all the stuff you're holding, you take your haul off to the side and start sorting through it. It is helpful to have someone with you to do this - only a real friend can tell you that you don't really need four bags of the same style, or that you will never, ever carry a little tiny clutch purse or, you know, whatever. During this process, the buzzards start circling - they sort through your discard pile (and you sort through theirs) and as things are discarded, the racks are replenished, and you circle again and again, to see what's been put back. We were there for about 2 hours, and the decision process continued while we were in line to check out. People kept putting stuff back, you see. I changed my mind several times - and there was a particular heartbreak. I'd been carrying around a gorgeous bag, in a style I love - it was a tapestry fabric, with great fall colors, oranges, greens and blues, the strap was denim, the inside was denim, I was in serious LURVE with this thing. Then I opened it - there was no inside pocket. Does not sound like a big deal, right? But I carry this particular style as a work bag. I keep my train ticket and parking money in the inner pocket so it doesn't all rattle around in there and so I can lay hands on it without any problems. It broke my heart, but I put the lovely back and found one in the same style that did have an inner pocket - I may have been dazzled by the fact that the bag was on sale, but it was still over 70 bucks and it's stupid to buy something that won't do what I need it to do.

I bought several bags and spent way too much. I didn't feel bad though because: A) I am doing my part for the economy! And small businesses! and also B) I SWALLOWED A BUG on Friday, and I deserve something pretty.

For the record? I slept in on Sunday and woke up feeling mostly okay. My throat is better and although I am having some nasal congestion, I am blaming that on my allergies.