Meloncholy and Infinite Sadness

I'm cutting the cord this morning. Both physically (as in my modem) and psychologically (as in departure from a powerful 3-year chapter in my life). Why it didn't occur to me that I would be emotional over this move is beyond me...this is on the surface a move across town, but in reality the boxing of a very emotional time in my life.

It started, coincidentally last night while biking down to get more tape and some wrapping paper for my sweetie's birthday present (he really needs a nickname for this blog, I'm thinking Bosco for now.) Riding back, I ended up taking Paulina home. (cue: Theme from "The Way We Were") This is a route I use to take a billions time a week when I lived there with D. Even rode past our old apartment (yes, the music now quick changes to BNL), where we both happily and very un-happily cohabitated fro almost 3 years as well.

It struck me, through some weepiness this morning that I am really leaving the area of Chicago I have called home for 7 of my 8 years here (half a year was spent in Rogers "Gangland Warfare" Park and a few months in Lincoln "Trixieville" Park renting a friend's guest room after the Big Breakup.) This will also mark the longest distance I've lived from Logan's Dave in 5 years, and I've taken for granted the luxury of having him as good friend and neighbor. This is an end to running over to "D&S's" for ER nights to share a bottle of vino, dropping by to loan a tool or cooking utensil, getting a hug after a hard day or passing out to watch movies on the couch after a brutal bike ride.

Hallmark commercial aside; I am very excited about my new place, it will be amazing to have heat and solid walls and the gloriousness of eating toast whilst sitting in front of my air conditioner (see this entry re: fuses). I will also have an Express bus right outside my door to swoosh down to Bosco's in a record 15min trip (this will be particularly meaningful to local Chicagoans in our CTA crisis; I presently live of the Brown line which runs whenever it feels the need to). These are all good changes, and I am quite sure I will acclimate to things quite duckily. But, for this morning, I'm wistful wandering back through room and past memories. Heck, where I'm sitting right now, and about this time was the inception of this very blog.

*sigh* (cue: "Memory" from CATS)

Employee Handbook p25“Removal of a Underwear from a Common Hallway”

There is no page for this in the company handbook or procedural instruction, and amazingly we as an Art Studio are in dire need of page 25 right now. Somehow, a pair of men’s teal BVD brand briefs landed in our hall by the printers. How this happened, the location of their owner are and MOST importantly re-routing of the walking traffic pattern until someone finds a long stick to remove said undies are all underway.

Moving on up....to the Lakeside!

Hi Blogosphere, it's been awhile...it's trite, but I've been busy. The biggest fence I've been perfecting my jumping form on is my impending move next Saturday to the delightful (or so I've heard) Belmont Harbor area. Believe it or not, I've had actual requests for visual progress reports, so I bring you...."Jen's Move Cam"....this might be a recurring feature over the next 10 days if impressive box elevation or unfortunate quagmires entail. For those not in the know, this is all I have accomplished boxing of a 1-bedroom apartment; you may now utter whichever phrase of pity you prefer...I personally like "Glad I'm not her!"

A Game of Dining Room Jenga anyone?

 

A is for "Assistant to Managed Chaos"

"Hup, two, threem four, gonna bike 12 miles more!"

 

So today, Logan's Dave, fearless capitano of my MS bike team graced me with this dubious honor. I embellished the "managed chaos" part...but he did pull me up from the rank of unwashed bike shorts to a recognized leadership role on the team. EEK! RECOGNIZED! EEK! LEADER! This is partially due to my questioning his considering adding another assistant captain to the team. While I was fine to slug away in the trenches under Dread Pirate Dave and Assistant Cohort T, the addition of another assistant did rankle my tail feathers. My sparse postings here are testament to a lack of free time....much of which has been recycled into writing pub quiz rounds, design team jerseys, coordinating vendors, training and even providing a sane shoulder for our mighty leadership to lean on when it gets too crazy at the top. While I wasn't gunning for any special accolades, it was upsetting to ponder someone else getting such a position without having done anything much to earn it. But, big mouth opened, this official title has now been extended and it's up to your very tired narrator to try and fill those stripes. Do I want to BE a biking ranger? Do I WANT to lead a life of danger? Only 175 miles will tell for sure!

PS: The "A" designation of the jerseys comes from Dave's, (and T's and mine for that matter) obsessive love of hockey which designates their leadership players with letters. See here for an explanation of such.

Brushing Off That Celebrity Pixie Dust!

This is the kind of news you would read of in the Red Eye (the local Chicago rag) alongside "Kids in School Found Reading in Library" and that "Lindsay Lohan wears a size 9 shoe." But hey, it's my blog and today it's MacdullaOblogata Hollywood style! (Oh, and no, this is not an April Fool's thing!)

I saw my very first celebrity last night on Division Street, while walking tipsily home for the evening and right into Jon "The Daily Show" Stewart." My companion M even boldly shook his hand, dropping the name of his hotel where all the "Who's Who's" stay in whilst in Chicago....yes Mr. Stewart was in fact staying there. As we walked away, it seemed quite odd that of all places in Chicago he picked Division Street to hang out....although upon ruminating this morning it occured to me that many Chicago universities are on Spring Break and there were a fair amount of drunken co-ed's to be leered at.

The picture below, while not taken last night is a dead ringer.....apparently Mr. Stewart favors grey shirts and rumpled baseball hats when trolling for tail!

I'm not just a boy toy. I have feelings and dreams like anybody else. -Jon Stewart