How to have an ADVENTURE

Greatest day ever!

Crystal and I had an amazing, much-needed female bonding day. That doesn't mean we painted each others toe nails and brushed each others hair and dared to call up radio stations and dedicate songs to the cutest boys we know...
We had an ADVENTURE! She and I use that word a lot to describe our exciting Chicago days, but today I got to thinking, what makes it an "adventure" and not just a great day? I think I have narrowed it down to a list that allows even you, to have your very own adventure at home.

Criteria for a typical Shan/Crystal adventure:

1. Must have an idea, of where you are going to spend the day, but, not be restricted to that idea if something else arises.

2. Always keep a fresh eye out for any changes in environment that may facilitate a new twist in the adventure. And you MUST be open to any suggestions the other one might bring up (this rule more applies to Crystal, those of you that know me, might have an idea that I am usually the one who says something like, "Look over there, it's an alien space ship! Let's go in it!" and believe it or not folks, she has never once said "no way." Hence, she is now circling the moon! oops! haha)

3. Must incorporate strangers into the day. Whether it is a flirtatious conversation with our slovenly and care-free waiter, Marty, or lending a helpful hand to the crazy man pulling a chair up the escalator, strangers of the city are an important part to every adventure. They bring an added dimension to the story and hopefully we have passed on a bit of happiness to their day too!

4. Souvenirs! This one is more Crystal's rule. I don't know if she even realizes that she does this, but everywhere we go, she picks up a pamphlet, saves the receipt, draws a picture or buys a keepsake. THEN, (this is the important step 2 to the fourth rule) we see our other friends and she casually brings out the item to show off. When they ask "What the heck is that?!" she gives me a sideways glance and begins to unravel the story of our great Crystal/Shan adventure, which leads into the fifth criteria...

5. You absolutely MUST tell the story of the adventure, or else it's like it never happened. And I don't just mean tell it in bullet points, it's about creating a legacy. I mean, you gotta get up out of your chair and act it out. You gotta raise your voice until your managers shush you and scold you "Shannon! Shut up! We are working!" You gotta wave your arms wildly and often hop up and down in excitement. You gotta use alternate voices so the listener really understands the extent of weirdness of the homeless man on the subway. You gotta relive the best parts of your day for the listener, so that their only response can be....

Why didn't I get invited?

So, after that intro, wanna hear about my day yesterday?