Madcity
Last weekend was my first girls’ weekend in a long time. Possibly since before I was married. Though, I hadn’t been jonsing for one of these weekends (I actually do like spending time with Sweets), I was excited to spend some time with girls I’ve known for a decade.
I started my weekend off with my first training run for this 10-mile race I will be completing in May. I wanted to bring SoMi for part of it, but knew she’d be exhausted from her first week of running (she’d already run a total of 6 miles that week). So, I brought her on a short 2-mile loop, dropped her off at home and finished the next 3 miles on my own. It was the perfect start to the weekend.
I wore comfy yoga pants and a warm fleece vest for the 2½ hour car ride from Chicago to Madison, thinking I’d change once I got there. Instead, my girlfriends and I immediately walked out the door and up the street to the Great Dane Pub. Apparently this place is a landmark, so we had some microbrews (of which there are plenty in the area) and downed some greasy pub food for lunch.
Walking down State Street, the main pedestrian thoroughfare in Madison, we window browsed at hippy-dippy tie-dyed, patchouli-smelling shops to high-end, overpriced cute little boutiques better situated in trendy Chicago. And then it was off to the Botanical Gardens, where we saw a small flower show, learned about where chocolate comes from (no samples, though, boo!) and walked through the snow-covered gardens.
It wasn’t until we were talking about our evening plans that I finally snuck away to change into the proper clothes I intended to wear that day (jeans and a sweater, perfect for Madcity). That night, we tried to go to the Roller Derby. Only, they were SOLD OUT. It was crazy how many people were already in the parking lot when we arrived. Thankfully, Chicago has their own team, so I’ll have to check them out here at home. Instead, we went out for drinks, out for dinner and out for more drinks (while I pretended not to watch UNC get their asses handed to them by Duke).
Sunday, we finished our visit with a 4-mile walk. Along the way, we stopped off at Lazy Jane’s for breakfast. Only, there was nowhere to sit and we didn’t want to wait. So, we continued on our walk and wound up at Eldorado, where we not only were seated immediately, but we were seated next to the visiting roller derby team. One of the girls had a beat-up eye where the white part was bloody. Clearly, we missed a crazy night.
But, that’s ok. Our night (and whole visit) consisted of catching up on years of history. Recent break-ups and exciting new relationships. Walks down memory lane of our joint trip to Spain too many years ago. Discussions of travels recently completed and soon to be had. Conversations about work-life balance. And debates about life in the way you only can with friends whom share your history. Friends who don’t need to be filled in. Friends who just know. Because they’ve been there with you. Through all your ups and downs, ins and outs.
Our next meeting may be in Chicago. It may be in Madison. We’re not really sure. And it doesn’t really matter. Getting to soak up time with these friends warms my heart. Fills my soul. And reminds me just how valuable these kinds of relationships are.
When was the last time you got together with some of your besties? How did you celebrate your time together?
March 9th, 2010 at 6:29 am
The last time I saw two girlfriends was in January and we had our significant others with us. The last time I was truly alone with them was in college. I wonder if I would like a trip like that.
I didn’t realize Roller Derby was so popular!
March 9th, 2010 at 7:44 am
My high school girlfriends (there are 6 of us) do an annual girls’ weekend on the beach in Michigan- no spouses, no babies. We’ve seen each other through marriages, divorces, children, deaths of parents- it’s a cool thing to have people with whom you have such long history.
Unrelated: I’m planning to run that 10 mile, too!
March 9th, 2010 at 8:36 am
Girl weekends always do my heart good! And I love that kind of shopping where you hit a hippie, incense burning store and a chic boutique side by side! Sounds like you had a great weekend!
March 9th, 2010 at 8:52 am
Sounds like a great weekend! I rarely get a chance to do that but when I do I always feel so refreshed and so much more happy.
March 9th, 2010 at 9:03 am
I am so glad that you had a fun weekend! Time spent with old friends always lifts my spirits and warms my heart. There is something so comforting in knowing that you dont have to explain to friends because they just know.
March 9th, 2010 at 9:14 am
That sounds like one of the most relaxing weekends ever. Most of my girls from school live elsewhere so it’s hard to get together, but this makes me yearn for it! :)
March 9th, 2010 at 9:44 am
Girls weekends are the best. The last one I had was NYE with four of my good friends at the coast in Oregon. I dream of renting a big farm house and celebrating my 40th birthday with my closest friends under one roof. My inner circle is a lot of couples so if everyone stays together (fingers crossed!) it could totally work.
I have 3 years to plan it. That is SO like me.
March 9th, 2010 at 9:45 am
Love the Great Dane Pub! Matt and I ate there years ago. He made me steal a pint glass with their logo. Good times!
March 9th, 2010 at 9:47 am
Sounds like you had a fab time. It is just nice to re-connect with the girls sometimes. I did that a lot last year with the pre-wedding events especially the showers and just going out on the town to have dinner.
I miss some of my besties but they are only a phone call away and I will be visiting them in the summer so that will be fun.
March 9th, 2010 at 9:58 am
I don’t have a lot of friends from my past, so I’m lucky that my best friends in the whole wide world live within 20 minutes of me. We are ALL dreaming of a day at the quarry.
March 9th, 2010 at 10:29 am
Holy healthy lifestyle batman. Can you light a fire under my arse? And woop woop for girl time!
March 9th, 2010 at 10:31 am
Oh, it sounds lovely. I’ve seen a bunch of my besties individually over the past year or so but I think the last time they were all together was my wedding. And the last time it was just us besties was a few months before the wedding when four of us went up to one bestie’s country house in upstate New York for the weekend. It was lovely.
March 9th, 2010 at 10:41 am
Does the trip to Florida in early Feb count? That was pretty fabulous. I see my StL Best friends about once a week, sometimes once every other depending on our schedules which isn’t necessarily enough but it’s just the way it goes, I suppose :)
Sometimes there’s nothing like a weekend of friendship and fun. Glad you had a great time!
March 9th, 2010 at 10:54 am
That sounds amazing! And roller derby? I’m jealous =)
This winter has been really hard on my group of friends and there’s been a lot of stress and unhappiness in a lot of the lives around me so while we’ve been getting together here and there it hasn’t been like this. I’m getting together one on one with one of my best girls tonight though, and I’m hoping to turn that around!
March 9th, 2010 at 10:55 am
How fun!
The last time I got together with my best friends was when we all descended upon Washington, DC for the Inauguration. Talk about an awesome, awesome time!
We are planning a get-together this August in San Diego. Can’t wait!
March 9th, 2010 at 12:12 pm
that sounds like such a lovely weekend, nilsa. so glad you got in some girl time. it can be so refreshing.
last time i met up with my besties, just the girls, was back around christmas-time. we get together over the holidays every year for a little secret santa gathering. we used to do an annual trip every year, but that’s gotten harder since we’re not all living real close anymore.
March 9th, 2010 at 12:12 pm
I so miss my girlfriends. Our lives have taken us all over the world and it’s a rare occasion we are all together in the same country. Your weekend sounds great and like something I need right about now! ;)
March 9th, 2010 at 12:15 pm
Ahhh, so wonderful! I love weekends like that—hell, even just nights like that. Few things beat quality time with your best ladies.
March 9th, 2010 at 12:20 pm
It’s been a LONG time since I’ve done something like that -- I moved an airplane ride away so I haven’t seen my best friends for a while. Instead, I found some girlfriends here and we try to meet up once a month or so. But being with your best friends tops the cake…. hoping to do it soon :)
March 9th, 2010 at 12:42 pm
oh fun! i have a girls night every week with my local girls -- every tuesday night, dinner & drinks at one of our houses. i missed last week and it’s been AWFUL. i really depend on my once-weekly girl time!
March 9th, 2010 at 12:44 pm
I was just about to ask, “How was your girls weekend?” SO GLAD to hear it went perfectly -- roller derby or not!
Which has got me thinking, when WAS the last time I had a girls weekend? Perhaps my bachelorette party? I have a picture at my work station of my two favorite sorority sisters when we had a girls day in 2006. Which would mean it’s been too long.
Then again, now that I have a gal dog, it’s girls weekend every weekend!
March 9th, 2010 at 1:34 pm
Two weeks from now we are all descending on San Francisco for a wedding! I can’t wait.
March 9th, 2010 at 1:43 pm
I was in Colorado right before Christmas with a friend I’ve known for 27 years and another I’ve known for 25. There’s just something magical to spending time with people who don’t have to ask any questions to know exactly what you’re talking about.
March 9th, 2010 at 3:34 pm
your weekend sounds lovely!
March 9th, 2010 at 6:36 pm
sounds like a great time! and comfy yoga pants are my daily uniform..but oftentimes people mistake them for dress pants, so it can’t be too sloppy right?
March 9th, 2010 at 10:08 pm
Sounds like an amazing weekend. Girl weekends like that are the best. It’s nice to be around people that don’t need the back story on things because they know you well. Or if they don’t know the back story, they know enough that it doesn’t take them long to get caught up to speed. And you don’t edit what you talk about. And you are honest about where you really are in life instead of saying, “I’m fine” or “I’m great” when someone asks, regardless of whether that is the truth or not.
I used to really complain and sort of feel sorry for myself for not meeting my Mister at a younger age -- but now I am actually thankful for the single years I’ve have in my 20s. As a result, I have such amazing, strong friendships. Not that I wouldn’t have had these friendships had I gotten married at an earlier age, but the friendships would be different.
March 9th, 2010 at 10:17 pm
BUMMER about Roller Derby. I had no idea it was that popular and that Chicago had a team. I’ll have to check it out. I love Madison, glad you had fun!
March 10th, 2010 at 2:42 pm
ohhh madison! i went to school there for a year before my life went crazy. state street is so great, so many memories walking up and down that place, haha.
March 10th, 2010 at 5:19 pm
These meet-ups never seem to be long enough, do they?
I had dinner last night with a group of girls I used to babysit (two are married now and one has a baby…they’re quite grown up) and I felt like we couldn’t get enough talking in while we were there. I guess that’s just more reason to plan the next outing…
March 13th, 2010 at 11:23 pm
Oh, that sounds fantastic! I love Madison — I went to school near there & spent just about every weekend my senior year hanging out on State St. It’s now once of my girly getaway destination spots.
March 23rd, 2010 at 5:19 pm
That sounds like so much fun. I am glad you had some time with precious girlfriends.
I haven’t had a real girls-weekend in a really, really long time :( All my really close friends live so far away… I never get to see them and if I do, we only get an evening or something together. It’s really sad *sob, sob*