Miz M's Gonna Like It Here

A week of school time activities has passed and I must say that I am in a good spot. The orientation meetings were not the most interesting but they did provide a lot of good information on all the resources that are available to students at the University. Damn! I love it and I think it is so exciting that all these people are here (and are paid) to help students succeed at their intellectual pursuits. It's awesome to be a student.

At one of the TA meetings, the professor (and others) were warning us that as graduate students we would be surrounded by brilliant people and that it would be very intimidating and high pressure. And I thought: bring it on! Not that I want to be competitive or that I'm looking forward to the pressure but I am really excited to be surrounded by "really smart people." I think it will be very stimulating and I am looking forward to that!

The past weekend was full of departmental social events and I enjoyed pretty much every minute of it. I know that it may never be like this again. I'm on the brink of starting something totally new, and I have met all these people that are in the same spot. Pretty much everyone that is interested in socializing is really nice and I met a lot of fun people to talk to. I talked with one woman for an hour about eyebrows, another guy about religion, another group about the Greyhound Ameripass, and many, many other interesting and fun conversations. It was fun to meet people, spy out some potential friends, and be on the cusp of a new intellectual adventure. I even enjoyed my trip to Target tonight and the curvy roads, tall trees, and setting sun. It was even kind of beautiful. As Annie said, "I think I'm gonna like it here."

Making In-Roads With the Right Kinda People

The last night that Mr. D was here, we went exploring for a nice place to have a drink. We found a cool bar that, in truth, looked very "Chicago/Wicker Park." It had red Christmas lights, saggy couches, a pool table, a real jukebox, and a plethora of hipster kids. We sat down at the bar and then we were asked for our membership number. Huh?! The bartender, Lee, told us that an "antiquated bible belt rule" dictated that we needed to be members of the social club to drink there. A "social club" is what they call a bar down here that DOES serve hard liquor and DOES NOT serve food.

It was not hard to become a member ($10 fee & disclosure of some personal information), and our guy promptly waived the three day waiting period and comped me my first drink. Haaay-yo! (Chicago bar, but a nicer North Carolina bartender!) When I discovered the Elvis pinball machine in the back, I knew I was making in-roads with the right people.

Quality Time Spent with Mr. D

For the past six days, Mr. D has been visiting. We have had a wonderful time together. I met his parents for the first time, and then his dad's whole side of the family who live in the area! Whoa! I also met his best childhood friend's sister and her husband who live around here too. Everyone was very nice, fun to be around, and it helped to ease the loneliness of this new place. Big friendly family people! Old friends! Time with Mr. D! What a comfort!

We also ate at Mama Dip's three times! And spent some lovely and relaxing days at the beach.

Code Word: Ma'am?

Okay, it turns out that only some people in south are friendly. Some are rude! Maybe this is similar to anywhere but I swear, it makes me wonder sometimes: is there some cultural password that I'm missing? I have considered that this password could be "sir" or "ma'am." I thought that these words were only used grudgingly by characters in Harry Potter. But it seems that people in the south actually use these words, like on the phone.

The first time I was called "ma'am," I'll admit, it was charming. But later I found myself having slightly rude-seeming conversations with people that I was trying to get to help me over the phone. "Did I do something wrong?" I thought. Perhaps throwing in a "sir" or "ma'am" here and there would really help me get on with the locals in the service sector. But I can't help but think it would just sound awkward as an addition to my vocabulary. It would seem more like an affectation if I said it. "Oh, thanks for the insurance quote...... MA'AM!!!!!!!!" And when I said "ma'am" my voice would crack or squawk. I think I can only start using these southern passwords alongside some other physical affectation, such as a feather boa (too hot), rhinestone cat glasses (too much) or a diamond-studded cigarette holder (perfect). Until I've scoured the thrift shops and estate sales to find this perfect "ma'am" cigarette holder, well, I guess I'll just have to use the well-worn verbal tools of the North: "Please" and "Thank You".

Thumbs Up/Thumbs Down of My New Town

Thumbs Up:
Wine selection and chocolate selection at foodie store: A Southern Season.

The campus is beautiful.

The people are southern-friendly and love to chat, which is completely charming.

Logistics, such as opening a bank account, or figuring how to hook up cable and internet, are very easy.

More trees and fresher air.


Thumbs Down:

Olive selection at foodie store: A Southern Season.

It's 100 degrees today, and is supposed to be 100 degrees all week.

Garbage is put out on the curb, and it really really stinks in the heat.

Streets are totally confusingly laid out, change names, and wind around.

Lots of bugs.

Fresher air benefit is obliterated by high heat and resulting ozone alert day.

A Mixed Bag

I made it to North Carolina and alive and well, only tired.

My first impressions? When I walked into my apartment I still liked it, and subsequently, when I left and returned, I liked it again and again. So, that's a good thing! I've been setting everything up, with the help of my parents and I'm pretty happy with how things are going.

On the other hand, it is weird to be in a college town again. I feel kind of old. 28? Damn. That feels old somehow. Where are all the peeps in their 30s at?!? Other complaints? I have a scratchy throat from all the "new" chemicals. New bed, new shower curtain. All that fire-resistant shit smells a little funny. Or, could it be allergies from the NC vegetation? Maybe I should vacuum my apartment again. Then again, my new bed is awesome and comfortable and has nothing to do with my current insomnia. And my new shower curtain has a zebra pattern on it. Let's hear it for the animal prints! What?! What!? Anyone...

One of the hardest things is getting around town. All the streets wind around and change names. The shopping centers have such lush vegetation and little signage that, though aesthetically pleasing, it is very difficult to tell which stores they contain. It makes the area conducive to just "knowing where everything is" rather than, like, figuring it out on the Chicago grid.

Insomnia Can Be Fun

Okay? Searching through the Internet this morning, I found this webiste. It offers a retouching service for baby photos. Daaaaaaaaaaamn! That stuff is C-R-A-Z-Y!

And hilarious.

http://www.naturalbeautiescontest.homestead.com/retouch4a.html

Introducing... "Da Cheek"

Insomnia strikes again! But what better time for blogging?

I'm a little nervous about my move. Everything is packed up and awaiting a transit vehicle. My apartment is clean. I'm just hoping to get my security deposit (small SNAFU) before I leave. Today I just need to finalize some errands (drop off stuff at good-will, maybe do a load of laundry.) Hopefully I'll do some relaxing stuff too - like ride my bike, read, take a nap, or watch some episdoes of "The Chappelle Show." Yo!

My right butt cheek/hip/lower back is aching/tense like crazy. You know how some people can "feel it in their bones" or can tell a rain coming by an achy arthritic elbow or whatever? Apparently, I can feel "it" in right my butt cheek a.k.a "Da Cheek". Though the possibilities for this are not endless, they are somewhat interesting. Could "Da Cheek" indicate an impending pop quiz in grad school? The proximity of a Krispy Kreme donut house from the highway? Tell a good location for water from a well? That psychic on Mallrats had her third nipple, I now have "Da Cheek."

No Boogie Man

I actually woke up happy today.

I can't say why I slept so well. Or why I woke up in such good spirits. Perhaps because I've reached the point of no return with packing up my apartment. Perhaps because I finally got a new bed for my new apartment. Or perhaps, because my family shared in a North Carolina-themed going away cake that I so desired. But I woke up today happy, and ready for this change in my life to occur.

She Whaled On Those Dishes

My apartment is officially a mess and there's no going back until the final cleaning! The good news is that packing has ensued and several boxes have been officially packed, sealed, and labeled. My friend Jess came over today and whaled on my dishes collection by wrapping it in lots and lots of newspaper. Thanks, Jess! Seriously, this woman can pack dishes into a box like a jigsaw puzzle of pretzels and cheese from the 1980s. It was a huge help to get this moving forward.

I also went to Hot Doug's for the first time today with Mr. D. I had a smoked crayfish and spiced pork hot dog. With shredded Monterrey Jack cheese. And a remoulade sauce. Yeeeeeow! It was A-MAZING!

Yesterday I got a massage which was also amazing. I released probably an entire six months of muscle tension, which apparently I've been keeping all in my butt muscles. There is something funny and also embarrassing about that. Needless to say, it felt good to be able to turn my head again after loosening my shoulder muscles as well. Just in time to lift a bunch of heavy boxes and place them into a moving truck in about a week. Sweet.

Shrimp Po' Boy

On Friday, I rode my bike the grocery store and bought ingredients for quick and easy Shrimp Po' Boy sandwiches. It was a recipe from Real Simple that I thought Mr. D would really enjoy (he did). Then I got home in time to watch the show, "The View." It was fun, but also scary how easy it was to slip into the life of a stay-at-home lady. Real Simple? The View? Yikes.

Today I went to the local public pool for outdoor lap swimming. It was lovely and I think getting some outdoor exercise, in addition to packing, will help me keep my sanity this week. I'm looking forward to this change which I know will be a really good thing in many ways, but I am also fraught with emotion. I'm so sad to be leaving the city where I have lived for 5 years, and my friends and family that live here. I know I can visit; I know I'll make new friends. But I will miss Mr. D and I'll miss my routine and I'll miss being a part of the network I've built here.

I think I should just rent a sad movie, have a good cry, and be done with it! Brokeback Mountain is supposed to be a tear-jerker...

Mary Tyler Moore Moment

As I left my work yesterday after 5 years at my job, shopping bags in hand (filled with files, pictures, and other stuff from my desk) I had to laugh with excitement. I even felt like kicking up my legs in some sort of bell kick. I felt a very Mary Tyler Moore moment - a young professional woman gracefully closes a door and starts off on a new adventure! Exciting!

Sweet, Sweet Ninjas

I have two days left of work - two days! I have been cleaning out my files and email and the desktop of my computer. I've worked at my job for 5 years, and it seems like a lot has happened during that time. Anyway, I thought I'd publish this email from a friend of mine that I used to email at work non-stop. It was right after one of the White Sox Games in the World Series and it made me laugh so much at the time. I wanted to archive it somehow, as part of email pals gone by.
------------------
i am embarrassed to admit it, but i will cuz we bare all always: i did stop believin. a few times. in the 3rd, 5th, and 8th inning to be exact. i thought we were gonna out-and-out blow the World Series. and be the laughing stock of the sports world. i thought Journey was going to disown us, and we'd be left crying in our beers with only Nelson to donate one of their b-sides for our next theme song. but then something happened. something i shant soon forget. we won. and i started believing again. and again. it didn't stop til i as in the car this morning. i was listening to the radio, and a song distracted me to the point where i forgot to believe for a few seconds. but then i remembered to not stop believin', and that brings us up to right this second. i am believin' 100% even as i type every word of this email.

it feels nice to believe in something. something as pure and honest as a bunch of d-bags from all over the country representing Chicago, and using steroids and human growth hormones to cheat the system and win for me.

Friday the 13th - Rehabbed Purple Cars

I slept fitfully last night. You know, one of those nights where you wake up with your shirt twisted around one way, and the sheet twisted around the opposite way? I don't know if I have been watching too much Dr. Who, but my dreams were definitely bordering on the Sci-fi.

In one dream, there was a huge plastic bumblebee that was buzzing around my head. It stuck its big plastic stinger into my forehead to deposit a microchip (?) into my head. I couldn't get the bee to get out of my forehead until I woke up.

In another dream, I went to my landlord's house. In this dream, unlike in real life, he lived in the country. I walked up the driveway to his detached garage and there was a big purple car (from the 70s) that he was rehabbing. There were parts everywhere, and it looked totally obliterated, with parts all over the place. I walked around the garage and there were two more of these purple cars in the yard, both with the parts all over and everywhere. I never found my landlord, just these abandoned cars "in progress."

Mercury In Retrograde?

A few years ago I knew a woman named "Sage" who was a massage therapist. I knew Sage from some friends that were in performance art "bands," and I would see her around at different concerts and art events around town. One time I was chatting with her at a concert and it went something like this:

Sage: How ya doin'?
Miz M: Ugh, things have been so crazy lately!
Sage: Well, Mercury is in retrograde.
Miz M: Huh?!
Sage: It makes everything out of sorts.

I've since lost touch with Sage and her friends. But I still say that phrase all the time when things are going oddly wrong. If someone has a random miscommunication with a friend or coworker which is blown way out of proportion, my response is: "Maybe, Mercury is in retrograde?" Then I chuckle to myself. Ridiculous!

Mercury was recently in retrograde (June 16 - July 10). And, seriously, all kinds of that stuff was going wrong. My direct deposit didn't come through, a friend got money stolen out his account, another friend was charged for a hotel room three times at 5 times the rate. What's up, Mercury?

Reliable source, www.karmastrology.com sums it up when it says:

Retrograde Mercury is the most commonly known astrological signature for Murphy's Law ("If something can go wrong, it will"), and is one of the first features intermediate astrology students learn about. Say it to a seasoned astrologer and you'll likely get an amused smile and some delightful stories about how things can get quite unexpectedly unhinged.

Computers crash, software develops unexpected glitches, traffic jams ensue, telephone service snarls up, letters get lost on the mail, machinery breaks down, new projects fail. Ah, yes, the trickster Mercury is up to his old pranks again. In fact, at least three times a year for about three weeks each time Mercury has his way with us.

Common Sense for Pedestrians

I was riding my bike to work today and I cut through downtown to avoid the windy corridor of Oak Street and Taste of Chicago. It was a pain to bike through downtown because of all the stoplights, mostly. There was also an annoying pedestrian, a guy walking with his nose buried in the Wall Street Journal. In general, I don't have a problem with people walking and reading as long as they are will to be slow and kind of passive. In other words, they are fine as long as they follow the traffic signals and make it easy for people to go around them.

So I passed WSJ dude on my bike and then had to wait at a light. He proceeded to walk and stand directly in front of my bike at the street corner, only to begin reading his paper again. WTF?!

I had another similar issue with a pedestrian when I was visiting Chapel Hill last week. Some dude was standing on the street corner with his head buried in a map. The light turned green and there he was, buried in his map, not moving. I began to make a right turn, and lo and behold he stepped off the curb (not paying attention) and I had to swerve out of the way. "It's okay! I'll wait!" he yelled after my car angrily.

In these situations, both people have a responsibility to be attentive to their surroundings. Pedestrians certainly have the right-of-way, except when they are being total bozos and not paying attention.

Chicago Gay Pride Parade - 2007

Chicago Gay Pride Parade - 2007. My first year in all my 5 years in Chicago attending the parade and I got to dance on a float! The festivities were really fun, the outfits wild, and everyone had a bumpin' stereo. Aside from the fabulous drag queens and tough roller derby girls, there were also many church groups and health groups that had floats and supporters in the parade. It was fun and inspiring to be a part of a celebration for a community that doesn't always get support. When I was dancin' on the float, I thought of my family members and friends that are gay, and I was proud to be part of this message - equal rights for all and God loves everyone.

Pitbull With Lipgloss

We hit the ground running when we arrived in Chapel Hill on Thursday morning. The goal was to find an apartment within the following day and a half and I will tell you, dear readers, that the goal was well met! Though not without stress.

First we hit up a couple of giant apartment complexes. They ranged from cheap to really expensive - $425 to $699 for a one bedroom - but all complexes included an outdoor pool which shocked this Chicago girl. They were shabby to really nice, but after seeing a few, I knew it wasn't my ideal. We were hanging out for a break by the co-op grocery in the area, using the free Internet, when I decided to call the co-op affiliated realty company. It turned out that they didn't rent apartments, except for one guy, "Don" who had some of his own units for rent. He invited us to his office (dog friendly, of course) where he used his special realtor's code to look up some apartment listings, and then used his knowledge to screen one bedroom apartments in my price range. He showed us his place for rent (in a basement though, not my thing) and told us about the fun coffee bars, pubs, and an "underground" "smoke shop" whose hours were set by when the owner's car was parked in the back. Uh-huh. It was great, just what I was hoping to find, and he was very kind to spend the time.

He also told us where to find local BBQ, Mama Dip's or Allen and Son, and about one of the big rental companies, of which he described the owner as a "pitbull with lipgloss." Don's list of apartments also led us to my final pick. It is a cute two bedroom on the second floor of a house, has free laundry and parking, and is really close to the campus and downtown. I left happy and relieved that I found a good place to live. for (I hope) the next two years.

Ocean Picture - Ahhh!

We had gorgeous weather - hot and sunny most days but with a lovely strong breeze. It was rainy at the beach yesterday but the menacing puffy clouds made for inspiring photos!

The Beach House Where We Stayed

Oak Island Shrimp Dish

Here's a photo of what we made with our Oak Island local shrimp. We used a shrimp boil made by "Clem's," the local seafood business where we bought our shrimp. We sauteed onions, red pepper, spinach, and chives. We also bought some lump crab cakes, not local but totally delicious. We tried to eat out one night and ate at a nasty fried placed called "Jones' Seafood." No matter what we tried to get, even ordering from the more expensive 'broiled' menu, everything came out fried. I ordered "deviled crab cakes" that the waitress described as being seerved "on a plate." Those things were breaded and fried, just like the "shrimp." They also came with a side of hush puppies that were pretty good until we realized that the yummy "dipping sauce" was actually just pure butter with some cinnamon. Good for a few bites but overall, we were better with what we cooked ourselves.

"Beached"

I am posting from a library in Oak Island, NC. I've been 'beached' here for two days, going on three! We drove and drove and drove, and stopped a night in Asheville, NC, which really was lovely. Aside from spending so many hours in the car, it was a pretty drive. It has been so nice to relax in front of the ocean, swim in warm waters, and boil up some fresh local shrimp in pasta and veggies.

I've come to the library to do some apartment research and make some appointments for my pending visit to Chapel Hill. I'm sure to find something, and I hope it will be something good at least for one year. Best case scenario, it will be two.

Watch That Hemline, Wear That Sack

I have to attend a black-tie gala fundraiser for work this week. It is our second fundraiser of this sort and a few of my coworkers are notorious for showing some extreme cleavage at such events. Many of the ladies I work with are well endowed in that way, and so when they show off their *assets* it is very, ahem, noticeable. Here is an excerpt of an email the staff received regarding this issue:

It is important for the staff to err on the conservative side for the event. Specifically that means watch how much skin is showing. Short skirts or a revealing neckline might be fun for a private party but are not considered professional attire in the office or at events.

Overall, I don't have an issue with the message. However, it does strike me as rather hilarious because we have been told several additional rules for our behavior (i.e. don't have more than 1 drink, don't socialize during the event, you are here to work, you must lift this box, you only have 15 minutes to get ready), which end up being really prudish and taking away any possible enjoyment that the staff may have hoped to experience.

Regarding the attire, another coworker said, "Pretend you are attending a Mormon wedding - high necklines and low hemlines." Seriously? I better wash my turtleneck burlap sack for this event. Either that, or I'm expecting a wardrobe stipend to find the appropriate mother-in-law wedding outfit (long flowy skirt and bejeweled blazer with sensible shoes.) Perhaps the idea is that the scrubby-ass-looking staff will sucker the contributors to spend more money? Poor taste, I say - if I were a millionaire I would feel much more obliged to contribute to a hard-working staff who look totally glamorous while doing it. So, about that wardrobe budget...?

I'd Really Appreciate It If

I just discovered the joys of this hilarious website.
It is all about passive-aggressive notes from neighbors, strangers, roommates, etc. There is even a section about the office fridge. Sound familiar?

Enjoy!

The Clint Eastwood Factor

Lady Detective

I had a weird dream last night where I left my car at a gas station. I just felt like leaving it. Sometime the next day, I received a ransom note from a stranger trying to extract money for the car. Knowing that it was at a gas station, I went back to the gas station to talk to the attendants to find out if they were trying to blackmail me. When I arrived there, my car had a bunch of tubes and stuff in it. Working at the gas station was a bunch of young guys, kind of sweet and boisterous, and with a little flirtatious conversation I was able to glean that they thought my car was abandoned so they just decided to fix it for practice and because they were bored. Also, because I was so charming, they were going to do it for free. Sweet! I wish that actually happened. I also figured out that some random guy driving by the gas station wrote down the license plate number and had sent me the blackmail note just to see if anything would happen, because he thought the car was abandoned.

Frodo Feet

It doesn't seem to matter what shoes I wear around - flats or heels, sandals or closed-toe shoes - my feet get messed up in the summer. The material of the shoe straps, buckles, or just plain leather rub on the skin of my feet and give me some major blisters which I then cover with several band-aids. It' s terrible! I don't know what to do to prevent this. Go barefoot? Gross!

The Clint Eastwood Factor

I have only seen two movies by Clint Eastwood - "Bridges Over Madison County" and the one where he's a bank robber and voyeur. Both those movies are really, really bad and Clint Eastwood is a really, really bad actor in them. Because of these movies, I hate anything that Clint Eastwood touches. It may be unfair, but I'm judgemental like that. That same factor applies to good, though. After I saw "Ghostdog," I was absolutely interested in anything starring Forrest Whittaker. This type of grudge-holding (positive feelings or negative feelings) does not just apply to movies, but is rather a pattern I see in other areas of my life besides movies. It could be seen as a weakness, but it could also be seen as an old fashioned character trait called "loyalty." Even Clint Eastwood would appreciate that.

Candiru on Oprah and Interdenominational Chatter

I had a terrific Memorial Day weekend! It was a mix of spending time outside, enjoying friends, spending time with Mr. D, and catching up on some work. I went to a few BBQ's, and had some interesting conversations. Among them, we discussed the existence of a "penis" fish, which was backed up by the phrase, "it was on Oprah!" On agreed intent to google, I found out today that it really refers to the Brazilian candiru fish, which IS totally attracted to urine. My bad! Also of note was some discussion on the Lucumi religion, Buddhist meditation, and organizing social justice campaigns for the UCC.

Mr. D and I biked up to Evanston under the clouds on Saturday, and went to my favorite bead store. And this cool store too to look at rocks and geodes. I shared meals on Sunday with some different girlfriends, and even did some jewelry making. I'll try to post a picture soon of my latest beadation!

Job 2: 3 More Sessions, Job 1: 39 days and Counting

I am going to work my second job today, after my first job. I have been doing this job, recording meeting minutes for suburban public meetings, for five years! Not only is that a very long time commitment, but it also a very long time to have two jobs. I think the first 4 months out of college I had one job. Since then (2002), I've had at least two!

The extra money has been really nice, and I've felt that I've needed it. Over the years they have been flexible about the time and the deadlines of the projects. But still, as my days at my full time job dwindle (39 days!) I am really looking forward to a change of pace. And to doing something different. And to only having one job for a little while. Yes!

In other news, I am planning a road trip to North Carolina in June to try to find an apartment. My awesome friend and Piscean sister, Meghan, is coming on the road trip as well. I hope to make some appointments before I go to see some places, and also to make a few fun stops on the way. Memphis? Nashville? Ashville? Indianapolis? These are all possible stops on the way to my new intellectual paradise.

Headscarf Hands-Free

This morning on the train I saw a twist on the "hands-free" cell phone thing. Honestly, it was so distracting! There was a Muslim woman who seemed to me a more *liberal* type of Muslim, which I am basing (in my ignorance) solely on her clothing choices. She was wearing a green headscarf with embroidery and beading, and a bright magenta shirt. She also was talking on a cell phone. She had her big ole cell phone pressed against her ear, tucked into her headscarf so she didn't have to hold it. It was convenient and somewhat practical, I suppose. But it was still weird. I wanted to take a picture with my camera phone, but I thought that might be disrespectful.

After my previous post, I was thinking about street corner preachers. What type of message would I actually be interested in or identify with from a street corner preacher? I decided that rather than a preacher railing on about cigarettes or weed or Doritos, I'd rather that he publicly condemned the people on the bike path that let their dogs drink out of the water fountains THAT ARE MEANT FOR PEOPLE. That would be awesome.

"Bring a water dish for your dogs, good people of Chicago, or you are going straight to hell!"

Don't Curse My Doritos

State Street in Chicago is apparently an informal entrepreneur's paradise. Last week I was walking around on a weekday after 5 p.m. On every corner, someone was trying to exchange something - change for beer, religious pamphlets, hip-hop CDs. The religious pamphlets were especially notable - I probably saw 4 different people handing them out between Van Buren and Monroe Streets.

There are different types of pamphleteers. There is the guy who lurks and just slides the pamphlet into your path as you walk by, there's the friendly pamphleteer, and an aggressive one. Then there are the street preachers giving their messages. There's one guy who always stands in front of Old Navy with an amp and a microphone, talking about the dangers of weed and cigarettes. At least I get him. A few streets down on this particular day there was another street corner preacher. As I walked by him, I caught an earful of him cursing Doritos. Doritos? Is that really necessary? I mean, nutrition is a serious issue but I don't think it's serious enough to take Doritos to task on the street corner. You know?

"Bitch, crazy." And How AC/DC Provided Me A Slice of Heaven

I used to work with teenagers for my job. One day, I told one of them, "The one thing I wished that someone would have told me in high school is that some people are just crazy." After I said it, I wasn't sure that my sentiment really translated to anyone else besides myself. But it took me awhile to learn that in the working world because I tend to internalize a good deal of problems or situations and try immediately to solve all kinds of problems that don't belong to me. Realizing that a lot of times that it wasn't about me and that I should just let go was a helpful lesson. So professors and parents and mentors out there, please tell your kids, "Kids - some bitches are crazy! And you can't really control that."

This past weekend I went to an AC/DC concert, put on by kids from Paul Green's School of Rock Music. It was the most fantastic show that I've seen in awhile. Little kids rocked guitar solos, banged on the drums, and screamed into the microphone. A little 11-year-old girl sang, "Highway to Hell" and it was absolutely precious and hilarious. The kids were having such a great time, and the moms were too as they slurped down Michelob lights at 1 p.m. on Saturday afternoon and "Whooo-" ed their kids. It was ferocious fun, and felt great to support a cool music program for kids. You can catch another fabulous show on May 19, when these little rockers will be performing Led Zepplin tunes. Don't miss it!

What's In Your Party Wardrobe? A Set of Horns?

I ran into my downstairs neighbor today at the train stop. She is finishing grad school at the Art Institute and was talking about her job search. She went to a job fair in New York, where she said she interviewed with a lot of intimidating art people.

"You know, Orlan?" she asked.
"No," I said.
"Well, she reconstructed her face with plastic surgery and gave herself horns. Her hair is like 'Bride of Frankenstein'. And I sat across from her at the job fair and was all, 'I do landscapes.'" (She said this with total embarassment.)
I said, "Well, it sounds like it was hard to take her seriously!"
I should have said: "It sounds like you dodged a bullet!"

Another friend of mine recently (around X-mas) was arrested for biking with a keg while he was dressed up like Santa. And, he's Jewish.

Enough said about that.

Finally, I broke my Frankenstomach frankenfast of two days without coffee. I realized that I was just too out of it without the caffeine. However, I decided that I'm not allowed to drink coffee on the train. I spilled on my pants (dry clean only), my sweater (white), and my fake zebra skin iPod cover. Mostly, I was concerned about the fake zebra skin - you can't wash that shit! But much to my surprise, fake zebra skin absorbs coffee without a trace. Who knew? Note to self: incorporate more fake zebra skin into polyester-stocked party wardrobe.

Frankenstomach

I've been suffering from a mild flu-bug/stress stomach over the past couple of days. This frankenstomach has no friends, and friends of the special sort that I seem to favor - namely - cheese, coffee, caramel, and spicy foods. Boo! I mean, how much chicken soup and yogurt can one person eat?!?! Both the frankenstomach and the modified diet makes a grumpy Miz M indeed.

All news is not bad though - I had a lovely weekend. I spent a ton of time outside, riding my bike, rollerblading, reading books outside with Mr. D. - I even grilled burgers and veggies in my special marinade. Spring in Chicago is lovely and manic and good.

Spring Shine

Rode my bike to work for the first time in 2007 - !
The temperature was great for riding - sunny, 50s, and no breeze. I saw the usual excitement - some dude repainting a fence along the lake for the park district - with no shirt and some shorts! Someone is ready for summer - haaaaay! (But, hello? It's 50 degrees?)

It takes me an hour to ride my bike to work - an hour! While that is a great workout, and allows me to consume insane quantities of Chinese food at lunch, it can also be pretty tedious and tiring. While trying to plan alternate routes due to "three-track" construction (end result: same commute with a reason to leave work early sometimes...) I discovered a CTA/bicycle hybrid route to work. However, the whole maneuver of putting one's bike on the bicycle rack on the front of the bus seems slightly intimidating. I ordered a flyer from the Chicagoland Bicycle Federation so I can study it before my attempt. But if that works out, maybe I can get to work without sore legs and sweating profusely!

This weekend I plan on getting my tan on, vegging out by the lake, and possibly drinking some beers. I'm going out to celebrate my cousins' birthdays, and spending some time with Mr. D. It's called Spring, and that's what I'm talkin' 'bout.

Da Good Vibes

It's spring, and it seems like a lot is happening with everyone with the (slow) increase in temperature and (occasional) appearance of sunshine.

A couple items to note:

- a good friend of mine is having some relatively major/minor surgery today so send "da good vibes" to her

- spent the weekend in my hometown catching up with people and hanging out with my parents. I got a good long motorcycle ride in with my dad, which was fantastic. I really love riding on the back of a motorcycle because I always notice things more clearly - the pattern of the clouds, the sparkles on the river, the quintessential craggly tree on the edge of a farm field. It seems odd to appreciate nature so much from a roaring, speeding motorcycle, but it really is rejuvenating to me

- finally, as an homage to my impending life change, I'd like to note some daily details that may reveal my mixed feelings on the subject. Chalk one up for the pro-leaving side: the one working elevator in my office building has a pee stain in it

Pasta Version of "Loaves and Fishes"

It feels like a Friday, as the days of the week are stretching out endlessly into the cold weather and cloudy spring. I ate another meal of the pasta version of "loaves and fishes" - a pasta dish I prepared with Mr. D for dinner on Saturday night, along with our Easter foods of mac & cheese and cupcakes. I am only reminded of the neverending food of the "loaves & fishes" because I cooked the entire box of pasta, and the zucchini/pasta leftovers have created a seemingly endless number of meals since.

This week, I saw my old housemate from my study abroad tour in Barcelona! I was apprehensive (as we hadn't seen each other in six years!) but we had a fantastic time. We had a lot to talk about - grad school, travelling, boyfriends, world religions - and I felt both a sense of continuity of the past as well as looking brightly ahead into the future.

There's A Broke-Ass Fridge Too

Remember the "Fridge Smellification Committee" that I started at work?

Well, here is an email regarding the state of our broke-ass fridge sent by one of my colleagues at work today. I'm glad to see that my legacy will carry on after I leave my job.
-----------------------

Esteemed colleagues:

The refridgerator REEKS. Please take a minute to clear out anything that is yours and past the point of tolerable smellification levels. Don't think you have anything in there that's smelly?... That is probably why it smells so bad. For the sake of those of whose offices are situated within close olfactory range of the fridge, check it even if you think you are not at fault.

I thank you. The now delicate state of my smellification system thanks you.

xxxxxxx

Oh behalf of all those offended

Broke-ass Building

I'm not talking about moola, no, but rather my office building. The building where I work is "ghetto" as we used to say in my high school. The building is probably over 50% vacant, probably because nothing works, especially the elevators. I mentioned the "elevator creeps" in a previous post, but right now the biggest creeps are the building managers and building owner. Out of four public elevators, only one has been working most days. And by "working", I mean you still take your life in your hands - mental clanking and pinging, elevators that don't stop on certain floors, or ALWAYS stop on certain floors (floor 9) because one of the call buttons is broken. They have someone coming in to "fix" the elevators just about every other day and they still never work. It's ridiculous.

As if that wasn't enough, everything inside our office is broken too. We haven't had a copier or printer for at least two weeks. Or a postage meter. I have outdated postcard stamps hidden in my desk (23 cents) and can make essential copies of letters on the fax machine. Letterhead? Forget it! I'll just draw our logo on some legal paper. It's too bad that mental telepathy isn't more widespread because that sure would save a lot of hassle to just be able to mentally copy and fax this stuff instead of getting so frustrated with this crappy junk that doesn't work.

The New Bikini Wireless

Things have calmed down a bit at the end of the week - thank goodness! I've had to adjust my commute, my work environment, and my work projects for the next few months all this week. Damn! Now I'm mentally adjusting to my new routine (or the idea thereof) which has given me some ideas on how to make my *last* summer in Chicago a lot more fun.

I'll be doing a lot of writing for the next few months for work and so I think I may have to set up a satellite office... hmm, maybe on North Avenue beach! Huzzah! Bikini Wireless! Suntan report. Can I write about water quality while drinking margaritas???

So I made the official annoucement today at lunch. Surprisingly, my eyes welled up with tears - I guess I still have some mixed feelings about leaving Chicago. But, it is a huge relief to have it out in the open now and not have to worry all the time about being discreet about my plans. Phew.

The Cat Will Soon Be Out of the Bag!

I have decided to go to graduate school in North Carolina. Hooray! I'm happy with my decision, and now feel I can go about life for the next four months at least at peace with my next move in life. Phew! My family and many of my friends now know, and I make the official announcement today to my coworkers. I'm sure it will cause some degree of hub-bub, but hey -

On to other things -
I've had to adjust my commute this week because of the crazy broke-*ss CTA, but it hasn't been so bad. I've been able to make up some interesting stories about those folks that ride the Blue Line from Bucktown, and I find that commuting on hours that are slightly off have made it bearable.

Easter is coming up and I'm planning to rock a purple church hat on Sunday. I just wish I had some gloves to really pull off the church lady look. Oh well - it'll be freezing cold anyway so dress gloves would maybe have to be tossed for snow gloves anyway.

Stressed to the max after my trip - decisions, decisions! - working on my second job this week as well as the first, and feeling exhausted every day. Also, a blessing and a curse - I got to go out to two amazing "donor" type lunches this week. Complete with rich foods and cocktails and wine, I have to say that it is super fun, but it also messes you up for the day!

Anyway, last night my friend J* asked me to come hear some music. It was at Katerina's, it was flamenco (my favorite), and it was totally fabulous. All the musicans were AMAZING. It was a great way to relax for awhile.

Sa-da-tay!

North Carolina was beautiful, but it was also a stressful visit. I realized that I need to do some soul-searching for what I want out of the grad school experience, and also do some more research on faculty and curriculums, etc. Exhausting!

In the meantime, I've been trying to relax and unwind. I watched the awesome, "Pootie Tang" for the first time. Loved it! The characters were hilarious and the spoofiness was really funny.

I also rearranged the furniture in my bedroom, and I'm on a health watch to make sure I'm eating some good fruits and vegetables and exercising a bit. As for my grad school decision:

"I'm going to sine your pitty on the running kine!"
- Pootie Tang

Wrench In My Plans - Whatchoo Tryin' Ta Say?

I picked out all my outfits - professional, tasteful, stylish, but not too stuffy or over the top - packed my bags and headed to the airport yesterday. When I arrived at O'hare, I saw that my 5:40 p.m. flight to Raleigh/Durham had been cancelled. Argh! Waiting in line with about 30 bitchy people, on the cell phone with customer services, etc. etc., I had the possibility to try to fly standby (11 p.m.) or connect through St. Louis and arrive today at 1:20 p.m.. My lovely Polish agent tried hard to find me another spot, but to no avail. So I got back on the train at approximately 6:30 p.m. to head back to my apartment. Within 20 minutes, my flight to St. Louis had been cancelled!

After spending 30 minutes of my bus ride to my apartment on hold with customer service, I got booked on the 5:40 p.m. flight to Raleigh/Durham tonight. So I have to skip my entire day at Duke. Funny enough, I was in the cancelled flight line with a young woman who was going to the same place. Listening to her on the line with customer service, I pegged her as a not very friendly person, and one without a lot of warmth. Harsh it seems, but I introduced myself to her anyway. She was a PhD candidate in Psychology and Neurology and said that Raleigh was "okay."

"That's not really a glowing review," I said.
"Well," she said, "Raleigh is okay. I don't really like the program, so..."

Hmm. I realized that she didn't view me as a friendly soul seeking to chat in the airport, but rather as a competitor for a seat on a flight to Raleigh/Durham. Huh.

I think it would be too flaky to interpret these signs"from the universe" as a "no" towards Duke, but none of that made it seem more appealing. Rather than trying to split the little time I have left in North Carolina between Chapel Hill and Duke, I'm just going to go in depth at Chapel Hill. It may be my number one choice at this point anyway. Also, on the "good people" scale of life, I emailed my student host how my flight had been twice cancelled. She called me immediately and we chatted about it, and we talked about my upcoming visit, etc. She was sweet, flexible, and friendly, and said that she was that way because that was how people were when she visited Chapel Hill. Nice!

Being home this extra day has been a good opportunity to take some time to relax. I've been also able to email some of the professors that I'm interested in at UNC. Does it seem like I'm trying too hard to find a moral or silver lining in all this? Well here it is:

When life hands you cancelled flights and thunderstorms, use that extra time to take a bubble bath.

Or, something like that.

Refreshing Spring Salad - Better Than Airport Food

With all my excitement and stress for my impending trip, I realized I needed to put away the Doritos and eat some real food. I put together this salad today and it was super-satisfying:

- Arugula
- Tomato
- Avocado
- Carrot
- Feta Cheese
- Splash of Balsamic Vinegar

The avocado was perfectly ripe and, along with the Feta cheese, added a great deal of richness to this salad which made for a full and satisfying lunch meal. The arugula added a little fresh spiciness, the carrot, a little earthiness, and the tomato rounded it out. Yum!

All I can say is: wow! I go to visit North Carolina tomorrow and I am feeling a lot of mixed feelings. Coming off of a wonderful birthday celebration, I question this desire I have to move out of Chicago. But looking into these new places is really exciting! And getting a chance to see these schools, meet the faculty, discuss my intelletual interests and desires, and explore new career opportunities is totally thrilling! And, I feel a lot of excitement about the proposed 70 degree temperatures! Haaay!

I've been in Chicago for four years now, and I've certainly had a lot of ups and downs. But the possibility of a big change has really cast a different light on just about everything. Some days, I feel nostalgia - if I move away, I won't be able to go to the Chicago farmer's markets, or cuddle up with Mr. D every day, or step into the spring mud on my way to the neighborhood El stop. Some days, I think of how I want to sell all my stuff and leave all the little annoyances of jobs and the slow-ass brown line and my outrageous gas bills behind me. Yesterday, I had an anger moment at Chicago - hey! you haven't appreciated me enough ya bastard!

One thing I know is that I'll find cool things to do (like farmer's markets or jewelry classes) anywhere I go. And that the people that I really love, and that really love me, will be in my life no matter where I live.

Miz M Telling Her Birthday Story

Nutella Birthday Crepes With Strawberries

I started celebrating my birthday one day early when Mr. D took me out to breakfast this morning. Nutella crepes with fresh strawberries, oodles of whipped creme, coffee, and tea. Oh yeah, and a side of bacon. Mmmmm. It was a perfect, rich, yet light breakfast that both made me feel like a kid, and like a lucky woman who can appreciate good food and good company.

More good eats are on the horizon to celebrate my 28th year - lunch today with some girlfriends (maybe burgers and basketball!), and lunch and the symphony tomorrow with my mom. Tomorrow night's dinner will be tapas and some beers with friends, and this weekend will be a mandatory viewing of the movie, "The Host."

Let the Decision Making Begin!

So now I've heard back from all the graduate schools. As I mentioned, I got accepted to University of Illinois-Chicago, University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill, and Duke. Whoop! Whoop! I did not get accepted into University of California - Berkeley. Suckers! I'm truly okay with it though, because I just wanted to make sure that I gave myself a chance to apply. And I'm happy to say that the waiting is over, and the decision-making process can begin. I'm going to visit the North Carolina schools in a few weeks. Besides the excitement of moving to a new place and doing something new, I'm currently lusting over the warm weather! It's in the upper 70s there this week. Ahh...

If you have a more adventurous palate for salads, here's a good one that is cheap, tasty, unusual, and if prepared correctly, quite elegant.

The basic formula is celery, green apples, and Parmesan cheese with a little salt, pepper, olive oil, and lemon juice. It's a very light Italian salad, but could be varied with say, cider vinegar instead of lemon juice and some red pepper flakes. I suppose you could also make it a mayo salad if you want, but then you are adding calories and heaviness to the salad, which it doesn't really need.

You can chop up the ingredients any which way, but if you can manage to slice everything razor thin, it can look quite elegant!

During the beginning of the month, it always seems that money is tight. The freedom of living in my own place and belonging to a gym among various things, has a price. My new strategy is to stretch money out with my food budget to cut the funds spent on eating out. To attempt to alliviate associated stress, I find clever grocery shopping and cooking skills to be a major blessing, and a must. In the past three months I've discovered skills that I forgot I had. You know, how to make something good with a little this and that in the fridge and some dried pasta. Recently, I thought I didn't have anything in the kitchen, but I boiled some noodles, added some vodka marinara, capers, feta cheese, onions, and salami. Wha-la! Two meals worth of some totally decent pasta dish, and I still haven't had to go to the store.

For my next trick, egg salad on crackers! But, I also want to get a little better and cooking great food from scratch for cheap. A quick google revealed this seemingly awesome website, which I'm going to go read right now. Happy cooking!

Deep Into a Pancake Craze

On my visit to Baltimore, K and I made pancakes one morning and ate them with peanut butter, Nutella, and/or maple syrup. It was totally fun!

Growing up, pancakes were always too much of a "hassle," as neither of my parents were that into making breakfast anyway. My mom bought pancake mix; my dad bought "hotcakes" from McDonald's. But, until two weeks ago, I never realized how easy it is to make the batter from scratch. Now, I'm deep into a pancake craze.

Mr. D and I made pancakes last weekend, with oodles of bacon, coffee, and cheesy eggs. I spiffed up the pancake batter with an extra teaspoon of vanilla and a pinch of both cinnamon and nutmeg. The result? Delicious!

Last night, I was at home and kind of scrounging around for something to eat for dinner. But I was bored of all the regular stuff, and I didn't want to go out and buy any groceries. The solution? Pancakes, of course! It only takes a few ingredients, a few minutes, and there were even leftovers to put into the freezer for another day. Pancakes. Hooray. The only thing I was really missing was some chocolate chips!

Latest Obsession Jams

Beyonce - "Listen"
Justin Timberlake - "Rock Your Body"
Jennifer Lopez - "Love Don't Cost A Thing"
Mary J. Blige - "Be Without You"

Natty Bo Redux

So, this isn't a direct picture that I took in Baltimore, but I thought it important to share the hilariousness of the beer Natty Boh's logo. Apparently he only has one eye because he is winking, but why doesn't he then have a half-moon thing for the other eye? Why is there just blank space there? Who designed this logo? But also: awesome.

In other news, I have started getting news back from graduate schools! Finally! So far I've heard back from two places. North Carolina and Chicago have said "yes" to Miz M. But will Miz M say yes to one of them? Dun. Dun. Dun.

Velvet Kick

So I've been on kind of a velvet kick. Previously one to shun this "romantic" material, I've recently gone nuts for it. By "gone nuts", I mean purchased two items: 1) a red velvet hat on clearance at some junk store on State Street and, 2) a black velvet blazer marked down in a Baltimore store. Is it any evidence to velvet's popularity that all these items were marked down? I am gonna choose to say no.

I felt validated about my new personal fasion trend when I saw Ellen's slammin' maroon velvet suit at the Oscars. Turned up white collar? Gold chain? I was digging her outfit even though others were not impressed.

So, go buy your velvet suits and shit today because you'll feel awesome. (I do not know how to end this post?!?)

Brought to you by the velvet and velour pushers of America.

Baltimore & Natty Boh

I've been in Baltimore the past few days, visiting my friend K from my high school days. She is in grad school there and working her butt off. Meeting her colleagues in international public health made me rest assured that there will be some amazing, friendly, smart people working abroad on really important health issues in the near future. For a little international stimulation of your own, check out this BBC news series on the Thai-Burma border where K will be working next year. Go, K!

While I had a wonderful time visiting with K, I also got to try some Baltimore delicacies. Notably, crab cakes and raw oysters at Lexington Market, and the "local" beer nicknamed Natty Boh. I also saw some family - an aunt and uncle and a cousin with her new (adorable!) baby. If I can, I'll post some pics.

Wig Date

I found this note that I wrote to a friend in 2005 when I was cleaning out my email box. This is the kind of stuff I always forget to write in my journal, as I'm usually journaling out my own romantic angst or whatever. I love finding these little tidbits of stories that belong to someone else, but that I have forgotten about. Enjoy!
------------------------
8/23/2005
"I talked to my college friend Liz. Apparently she went on a blind date recently where this guy suggested that they wear wigs when they met. She wore a red bob, he wore a Rod Stewart number. After they met, they switched wigs and wore them to the restaurant. She, however, insisted to take hers off before going in. Hilarious!"

Shortbus Soundtrack

I picked up this soundtrack the other day and upon two listens it gets an "Amazing" rating. It's upbeat and lighthearted, but the songs are interesting and even somewhat unexpected. With iPods and iTunes these days, people complain that the art of ordering songs on an album is lost. In which case, this might be a relic. The order of the songs on this album adds to the enjoyability of the music as a whole, well, album. Not only is the movie excellent, but the soundtrack can definitely stand on its own.

The Road To Happiness Begins With Snow Boots

It's true! And I can post it now without bitterness, since the temperature is finally above freezing in Chicago! That last week or so was made bearable by the purchase of some snow boots. Anyway! Moving on!

I had a wonderful weekend, full of fun and romantic moments, and also some thinking/spiritual stimulation. I saw Dr. Micheal Beckwith speak on Friday, and he had some interesting things to say. Like any religious/spiritual tradition, it is interesting to learn about, and to think about the ins and outs of his theology/philosophy. By Monday night though, the philosophical part of my brain was totally exhausted!

Essentially, Beckwith's message was about positive thinking, and imagining the positive reality you want for yourself. As a spiritual aid, I think that is helpful and interesting. One of the other tenets of this philosophy is that you can let go of the things in your past that are binding you in negative thoughts. That you are not only the sum of your past experiences. However, I think it can be very helpful to draw on past experiences or family or genetic traits that are positive or inspiring. There are some things about my past or my family that I want to carry forward in my life. As I was playfully telling a friend this weekend, "I come from a people that farmed ice." I was referring to my Scandinavian heritage, of course, and I said it to illustrate that my people were tough, and thus, I am tough. Propitiating ancestors is another tradition that shows up in many cultures of spirit which speaks to this idea.

Anyway, there are many spiritual paths to follow...

So Mannequin So Irresistible

I really don't know what that means.
I had to check one of my colleague's emails today, and that was the title of her spam. I thought it was really weird and funny.

Happy Valentine's Day

I went to breakfast with sweet Mr. D today. It was nice. I gifted him one of my beadations, which looked marvelous and regal and very suitable on him. It was a nice moment, and that's more that happens on most Valentine's Days for me. But I left the breakfast table somewhat unsatisfied. When I got home, I questioned myself throughly - What's the matter? Why am I feeling funky? What was I expecting? Is it just the crappy weather and the tedious winter routine or is it something else?

I turned on the news this morning and there was some fluff coverage of both Valentine's Day activities and Anti-Valentine's Day activities. One of the Anti activities was a bunch of people who met at a gym, taped pictures of their ex on a punching bag, and then angerly punched the picture. Whoa! Though cathartic for some people, it's not my thing!

At worst, Valentine's Day is stupid and processed. At best, it is ultra-romantic and/or just a reason to show someone in your life that you care. And while the tradition may dictate the sharing of feelings, tonight I decided to treat myself to a Valentine's dinner. I decided that in spite of my funky mood, I would enjoy some time to myself. So I took my time and extra care making steak tacos and opened a bottle of wine. I've been listening to Maxwell and looking at these beautiful red and yellow roses from Mr. D. And I feel confident that, rather than rage at some man in the past that did me wrong, I'd prefer to treat myself to some extra lovin'.

I Earned My F*cking Snow Stripes

I went out earlier today for a little "retail therapy". This therapy consisted of going to Target to buy cleaning supplies and Trader Joes to buy groceries. I know, I know - I really know how to live it up. (Side note: I just got through a rather lean pay period, so when I got my recent paycheck I had to rush out to splurge on extra laundry detergent and pasta sauce, olive tapenade, wine, and about 20 cans of beans in preparation for some future lean time that may occur. Yikes.)

When I went to the store, I had to face the rather intimidating process of shovelling my car out of my alley parking spot. Normally fantastic, parking in the alley becomes a nightmare when it snows as much as it has in Chicago recently. Also, due to the blowing and drifting of snow, the snow was an extra 3 feet taller next to my car. I spent about an hour and half shovelling out the front of my car, and two little pathways along each side of the car so I could get in the car without stepping up to my knees in a snowbank. I also had to shovel part of the alley, so that I would have somewhere to walk with my snow-filled shovel to the place where I dumped my snow. But, how much of the alley does one really want to shovel? Shouldn't that be the job of some dude at Streets and Sanitation?

I regretted these words when I returned from the store. Oh, the sunshine had made me overconfident, and the major streets were as clear as could be. But, pulling back into the alley and trying to back into my parking spot - nightmare! At one point, I got totally stuck and my ultra-practical Dodge sedan did not have the "umph" I needed to get over the car-rut snowbank hump. In a panic, I got out to kick flailingly at the snow behind my tires, and twisted my knee in the process. Ow. I finally got dislodged from the snowbank, but it's a good thing I stocked up on those beans because I don't plan on going anywhere in my car anytime soon. Taxi!

Midwesterns Have Earned Their Snow Stripes

Into day two of an almost blizzard, I can say that it feels good to feel like a Midwesterner again. Years of mild winters and living in a large city have made us go soft. But this winter, we've been hit with at least three big snow storms in Chicago, and it has given us a change to polish our winter skillz.

Functioning in a snow storm is like remembering how to ride a bike. This particular skill set includes: shovelling out the car, driving in the snow, and dressing for activities related to shovelling out the car/parking spot. Also, making a meal out of whatever beans and corn and shit that is in the pantry so you don't have to go out in the snow to get groceries. It's brings us back to our roots, roots that have been too easily forgoten with our Texas-like weather over the past few years.

One Pair Of Pants - One Week Running

It's been several days where I've been able to wear just one pair of pants. Yahoo. I can speak for myself, and for other Chicagoans, when I say that I feel much lighter. It's not just the literal weight of removing all those layers needed to protect from the cold, but it's also a release from the shoulder scrunch, and the mentality of "I just need to get from my job to my apartment as quickly as possible so I can get out of this f*cking cold."

I do feel sleepy though, and thus succumbed to the tendency to lounge all weekend. Luckily, I didn't have to do it alone! (Wink, wink). Cuddling up with my new sweetheart, watching cooking shows on PBS, eating frozen pizza, napping, movies, and some jewelry-making was a relaxing and nourishing way to spend my time. I could handle a few more days of that! Haaaaay!

I'm Obsessed With Layers, and With Talking About Them

In Chicago winters, talking about coping strategies for the weather becomes almost as prevalent and obsessive as anorexic girls talking about what they ate one day.

With that in mind, I'll tell you that today I'm wearing longjohn pants, another pair of pants, and a long heavy skirt that pretty much functions as a blanket. I'm also wearing wool socks, tall boots, two sweaters, and an undershirt. This is just to sit inside. When I go outside, I add a down coat, hat, scarf on my face, and doubled-lined mittens. I was actually a little sweaty when I was walking to the train today. Hooray - I've got the layering thing down.

Two-Pants Depression

A few days of the bitter cold was do-able, but I'm over it!

I'm starting to get the two-pants depression. You know, when it's so cold that you have to be wearing two pairs of pants to even consider going outside?

Yesterday I was trying to strategize for layering my clothes, and I finally had to bust out the long johns. The long johns under normal pants is what I consider the "presentable version." This is for work, or for Superbowl parties, or whatever. The "quick trip" version is wearing any regular pair of pants, and then a baggy pair of work out pants over the first pair of pants. I do this to go to the grocery or get the mail.

Lord help us if it gets any colder. When the weather warrants three pairs of pants, well, even a turn in the sauna may not be enough.

More Jams That Light It Up

I recently got an iPod and it is really great. It's made me think about the music in my collection, and those albums that I absolutely "need" to have. I recently ordered a few of these albums and it has been interesting to review how they hold up over time. I went through a huge hip-hop phase when I was younger, and some of the albums I discovered then are still some of my favorite albums of all time. A few of these albums I recently added to my collection (formerly on a dubbed tape):

1. Outkast's Aquemini
2. Latryx's Album
3. Maxwell's Urban Hang Suite*

The first two were definitely on my old top five list in college. Upon a few iPod listens, I have found that Outkast's Aquemini still holds up as 98% excellent. I love the whole album (except I could live without "Skew it on the Bar-B.") When I first obsessed on this album, I was holed up in a trailer in Florida, studying plants of the Florida prairie. I related to the album then because I was in the South, I was lonely, and the thunderstorms were freakin' loud from inside the trailer. But, in the dead of a freezing winter in the Midwest, this album still warms my heart, and nods my head. The beats are great, heavy, but also fun, and it is interesting to revisit it after all of Andre 3000's recent projects. Aquemini still holds up as one of his best.

I have to listen to old Latryx a few more times. Although there are still some songs and beats that I still love, the test of time has made this album seem a bit more preachy over time. The jury's still out...

*Urban Hang Suite is actually a new addition to my collection, but oh!, I wish I had access to it for years.

Letter re: Intoxicated Celebrities

Dear Rich Celebrities:

In light of the plethora of celebrity drunk/ecstasy/cocaine/painkiller car accidents in the past month, I would like to offer up one pleading piece of advice:

Get a f*cking driver.

Seriously, can you sell off one Mercedes? Downsize your mansion by two rooms? Trade in a few designer handbags? I don't care if celebrities party or go to clubs and show their naughty bits or sleep with everyone under the sun. But the intoxicated driving, car accidents, and injuring or killing innocent people on the road had GOT TO STOP.

Thanks.

Cold Weather Strategy for the Geography of Public Places

Huh?! Well, I am thinking about going to grad school, folks...

I've noticed a "game" I play when I get on the CTA on these really cold days. It's called: what's my cold weather strategy? Fear of drafts from the open CTA door trumps my other CTA geography strategies so that my seat selection follows this hierarchy:

1) Try to sit away from the door
2) Try to sit on a seat with a heater vent if I have to sit close to the door
3) Find a single seater
4) Find a double-seater by a window
5) Sit next to the panel next to the door, preferably the one that doesn't open at most of the stops and has a heater.

These cold weather strategies for the geography of public spaces also fall into place in a restaurant, though to a lesser extent. The main objective is to not be seated at a table by the door where you and your food will cool at a rapid, rapid pace when people come in and out of the restaurant. Also undesirable is sitting by a window where draftage can be felt. Brrr! All these little things are what make us able to cope with our winter weather.

"Vihta" - Swat the Cold Out with Some Birch Twigs

I had a friend in college who was an anthropology major. He spent some time in Alaska with some native people up there. One thing that he brought back with him to the US was the tradition of the sweat during cold months. The people that he lived with did a sweat lodge every day during the winter, and this helped them to beat the winter blues, I guess. Every night after dinner, everybody would go sweat, and then go to bed. Sounds nice to me!

My own native people - the Scandinavians - are also fans of the sauna practice. There is even a tradition of hitting yourself with "vihta", which are apparently some birch twigs, to get your circulation going while you sweat. That tradition aside, these are people of cold lands, and I think they must have been on to something.

Thinking of these traditions, I went to the gym tonight just for a sweat. However, the gym changed the rules in the steam room so you aren't supposed to put water directly on the sensors, which many people do to create more steam. Needless to say, the steam in the steam room was pretty pathetic when I first went in there. However, a clever Korean woman (another culture who also loves to sweat) brought in a bag of water and poured it on the sensor, so everyone was sweating in no time. Hooray! Every little bit helps now that winter has actually come to Chicago.

Ice Cave

I had a dream last night that I was holed up in an ice cave in Alaska or somewhere with a few people I know through work. We were kind of stranded in the ice cave, but we were making due by burning garbage to keep warm. It started getting too hot, so I went to open the door (huh?) of the ice cave. When I came back to the fire, everyone was in their sleeping bags all, "we're too tired to burn anymore garbage."

Holy Cheerleader!

This weekend, I saw my cousin K perform her cheerleading routine before a competition. She's been a cheerleader for four years, but I have never seen her cheer. She is great at it, strong, and very animated because it is an activity that she really loves. She even had a high school fan club of boys that kept yelling, "Go, K!" during the routine. Obviously, they all had HUGE crushes.

The coach, however, was questionable. Not cute, not strong, and kind of scarily animated she yelled to the crowd after the routine, "I'd like you all to get down on a knee and tomorrow at 3:30 p.m. and pray to God that we beat out our other competitors in [the high school sports bracket.]"

Huh? That might be okay to say at a public school, but at a private catholic school, I'd hope that the cheerleading coach would be a little more holy.

Great Beach Reading. Now All I Need Is a Beach...

I read through "Sellevision" in about a week. It was fun light reading: perfect for a train ride, ideal for a beach. It's the kind of book that would be easy to pick up and read between naps, or between frustrated sighs on your morning CTA commute. The quirky characters, who are all hosts on a home-shopping network, are entertaining without being too deep or too flawed, and their trials and tribulations are both mildly amusing and slightly unimportant. The author, Augusten Burroughs, wrote a memoir Running with Scissors, which I think is fairly well-known. This is his first novel.

Pre-Valentines Maintenance

I had a friend who used to say that if you weren't dating anyone by November in Chicago, you were destined not to have sex with anyone new until the spring. A proscription most likely based on the double barbs of both winter weight and winter pastiness/ashiness.

Even so, those with new relationships, or the hopes of finding a new relation this time of year, still try in vain to maintain a level of physical decency during the winter months. Some daily moisturizing and weekly exfoliating can help with the pastiness. Minimal trips to the gym, or at least periodic sessions with a home yoga tape in between Doritos snacking can help with the winter weight. A few other things can help entice - a warm apartment (I'm talking radiators popping, "does it feel tropical in here so let's get naked?" hot) and clean luxurious sheets. Why not hedge your bets against the winter working against you?

All this advice is to stoke some hope in those couting down the next 20 days with dread -

And, if the physical maintenance fails, there's always this.

Community Characters

I have a second job where I record minutes for public meetings. The minutes are less detailed than a court reporter, but more detailed than just reporting what happens according to Robert's Rules of Order. In any case, observering, listening, and recording at these public meetings often provides some entertainment, because the community 'characters' sometimes take on a life of their own in my imagination.

Some of the 'characters' are recurring - some of the lawyers, the petitioners, the architects, the traffic consultants, the outspoken neighbors - I have seen time and time again over the years. Even some of the sites or streets take on a particular character as they are reviewed again and again as things change in the community.

Sharing is Caring

Every month, one of my aunt's hosts a 'family dinner' at her house in the suburbs. It's pretty fun to get together, and also to see my little cousin, Emma. She's about 1.5 years old now, and every few months brings a lot of changes in her development.

So far, she was a fussy infant, but a quiet toddler. She stares a lot at people, and seems to just be observing things rather than making a mess or causing a commotion. The big excitment at the family dinner on Sunday was hearing her say 'balloon', and watching my other cousins work on a 'sharing lesson' with her.

PJ Reclamation

So I think that the statute of limitations has expired on this story, which makes it okay to blog...

I went out with a guy for awhile last year, long enough to leave some pajamas at his house. Come to think of it, I left the pajamas at his house (I asked if it was okay), but the next weekend, he broke it off. Maybe there is some connection...? Anyway, I made sure that they were not my most favorite pajamas just in case something went terribly awry and they were to be lost, but I thought I'd at least make an effort to get them back.

It turned out that the weekend following the break-up, I was a few blocks from this guy's house to go to a craft fair with some girlfriends. I thought, "Perfect. I'll even have reinforcements - crafting chicks - to soothe the awkwardness and get my PJs back lickety-split." So I called dude, which of course went to automatically voicemail, and left a message like:

"Um, HI! I'm in your neighborhood for a CRAFT FAIR with some friends. And I thought that, you know, since I HAPPEN to be RIGHT HERE, that I could just pick up my pajamas from your house. That is, if you aren't in Mexico* this weekend. COOL. BYE!"

No matter what, calling someone who just broke up with you ultimately makes you sound slightly crazy. However, I had the moral support of my married crafting friends at the time, who got a huge vicarious kick out of the whole situation. Unfortunately, they were not with me when I retrieved the pajamas at lunchtime later that week.

*One of the reasons this dude broke it off with me was that I couldn't 'financially' go to Mexico at the drop of a hat. However, he did not go to Mexico that weekend because he didn't have his passport. So actually, I was better positioned to go to Mexico at the time than he was. I'm just saying!

I (heart) David Byrne

David Byrne updates this online playlist at the top of every month, and the music is always interesting and amazing! It often includes bands from his Luaka Bop label, but can also include some random stuff. Check it out - I guarantee it will bolster your day!

MdCL- what?

It's been awhile since I've gone out to hear music, but I went to an interesting show at the Hothouse last Friday night. Mark de Clive-Lowe, the New Zealand/Japanese mystery man. (He's a mystery man because he hides behind a hat.)

He was a wild performer (wild from the listening sense), and was paired with a neo-soul type singer who had a great set of pipes and a funky-fun outfit. MdCL's set-up involved three keyboards, a piano, and several mixer machines and sound boards.

I enjoyed this show a lot, but felt that it should have been promoted more! There is an audience for this type of music/performance in Chicago, but most of them weren't at the Hothouse on Friday night. Boo!

Tilapia Algiers

I've been slightly remiss in posting, which in this case means than there are developments in the love/dating aspects of my life! My dancing man and I have been hanging out and talking a lot. We've cooked some delicious meals - collard greens and black-eyed peas for New Years, tilapia Algiers with cumin and lemon juice, steamed mussels. We laugh a lot. It's really fun.

In other news, I've got one more grad school application due this month, two if I really want to push my options. I'm starting to plan my spring and summer schedule, which are going to be crazy-busy, and I'm hoping to include some short trips this year to visit friends across the U.S.!

Watch Out for the Boogie Machine in 2007!

New Years Flix

A Quick Reflection - Holy Shit 2006

So, before the reflection period gets away from me, 2006 was a busy year! A lot happened, and I grew up a lot. I dated a lot. I fought at my work to get a promotion. I fought with my landlord to make my utilities fair. I lost a person from my life who I considered a really good friend, and I still don't really understand why. I grew to appreciate with more depth my friends that have stuck around. I matured my relationship with my parents. I took a jewlery metalsmithing class! I applied to graduate school!

I'll say it again: Holy Shit 2006!

2007 is already off like a speeding bullet. What will happen this year?

Happy Re-New Year

It's a beautiful, sunny morning in Chicago today -
Which makes it not so hard to go back to work after a week+ off. I partied like a maniac at the end of 2006, but the brought the year in with sweetness. I'm not making any resolutions this year, but I am bringing in the year with a lot of hope. Prospero Ano, friends!

Aunty Cici?

Being home for Christmas has made me think of nicknames. I kind of wish that my family was one to give out nicknames, nice ones, to each other. I'm not saying I want my family to call me "Beefcake", but I always wished I had an aunt CiCi or Tootie or an aunt named Rebecca Anne that everyone called "Rose" for some forgotten reason. I think it sounds affectionate, and well, fun.

I've had a few nicknames throughout my life, but none of them have stuck for more than a few years. I once dated a Cuban guy who gave me all sorts of wondeful and affectionate nicknames: Pelusa, Pelusina, Patacoja, M-sona, and Mamita. I adored the habit (more than the man?) and I will never forget it. But the beauty of a nickname, and of nicknaming, is that it has to come naturally.

Beefcake?

I made a new friend recently, and one of the things we have in common is an interest in the WWF as a youngster. (Don't ask!) As we were conversing with each other, the common theme of wrestling kept coming up. We talked about all the old wrestlers like Supafly Jimmy Snooka and Ravishing Rick Rude. You know the ones! In a later conversation, this friend said that he was suggesting someone purchase a hedge clippers for their father for a Christmas present, and subsequently thought of another wrestler named Brutus "the barber" Beefcake, and finally thought of me.

"Wow," I replied, "I've never been associated with Brutus Beefcake before. Not even close."

And, thus, somehow I've been dubbed the wholly unfeminine "Beefcake." Ick. What a nickname. Also, hilarious! This friend writes to me in an email, "Not cool, Beefcake, not cool." Hee! It makes me laugh.

A Word to the Wise, Young, Single Men Out There...

Don't take this the wrong way...

Well, let me specify that this is not directed to anyone in particular, (you know, it's NOT one of those passive-aggressive blog posts favored by the tech-savvy hipsters to communicate frustration with each other) but rather a trend I've noticed in my dating travels about single men in their 20s and 30s. In fact, I'm seriously concerned about the straight men of my generation! I've met some awesome guys this year. Guys who I definitely appreciate more now than I would have 5 years ago - they are funny, smart, kind, have stable jobs, interesting ambitions, etc. etc. Only, they need to lose about 20-30 lbs., and stop smoking!

Since so many people are single longer, there is a different kind of responsibility for a person living alone to take care of their own health. Not to say that just because people are married or in a couple that they necessarily take better care of themselves. But, unlike other demographics, most straight guys do not face the same pressures as women or gay men to keep their looks and health together. (And don't even start about the "metrosexual" thing. That's bullshit and affects about 2% of the population - all stockbrokers or whatever.)

But, I'm talking about that guy who has all his hair, and is a bit of a diamond "in the rough" because of his weight. Maybe the guy has been single for awhile, had a few bad relationships, or are a little shy around the ladies. So, they kind of "give up" about their appearance. Or they don't want to do the hairless, prettyboy thing, which, thank god! But boys, that doesn't mean you should let it go all together! Get to the gym! Eat some veggies! It's genetics, fellas! Take better care of your health and the gals will come to you!

California Knows How to Party

I sent in a graduate school application yesterday to a certain school in California. Whoo-whoo! One more to go before the holidays, and then I'm cruising on the holiday party tip!

Cocktail Wieners in the Crockpot

So a friend and I are hosting a work-related party tomorrow, and we decided to make those magically delicious cocktail wieners that sit in the crockpot. When they are served at parties, they are super tasty and disappear much more quickly than anything with, say, spinach in it. Of course the special ingredient is the delicious sauce. A little research revealed many different concoctions for the sauce which included varieties of the following ingredients:
- grape jelly or currant jelly
- cocktail sauce or chili sauce
- ketchup and/or mustard
- bourbon
- brown sugar

Finding this variety of recipes was no easy matter. Apparently, cocktail wieners in the crockpot is too low brow for epicurious.com. Hee! But since the recipes varied so widely, and since it was difficult to use a cook's intuition to evaluate the different recipes (um, grape jelly and cocktail sauce? how could that possibly be good???), I had to consult an expert. Conference with my mother revealed her grandmother's recipe:

"Oh, DEFINITELY currant jelly. And, um, chili sauce that would be in like a ketchup-type bottle. And, you know, the cocktail wieners."