Why I'm at the library

Reason #73 to bring reading material on the train: you may otherwise find yourself staring at various people's crotches for 20+ minutes.

To that point - If you are a standing passenger, be aware that your crotch is directly at other people's eye level.. 5 inches away from their face.

My true point here is: wear pants that fit. Not too small, not too big. Skinny Jeans are a common offender. (You can call me Goldilocks of the El, if you want.)

Ok, yes, the real point is, I need a book.

So, I'm at the library.

Also, I am at the library because my computer hard drive is being replaced which means no computer. (Which means a very quiet apartment and a feeling of being disconnected..)

I am at the library to avoid looking at crotches, to know what is going on in the world, and to have a source of entertainment. (Yesterday, I read a cookbook cover-to-cover.)

Texts from the El

This is a series of real-life texts that I sent in succession. 

Isn't this terrifying?*

Me: OMG, I almost actually got impaled by one of those revolving metal spike-doors leaving the El today.
Me: My worst fear!
Me: But on Thursdays the band plays at my Red line stop.
Me: So I guess that's even.

Response: Oh god. Haha, your texts sound like the bloggess..

Me: You don't have to try to flatter me.
Me: But really, it was scary...
Me: Happy Halloween Week!

Maybe I do love me some theblogess.com though. But Jenny Lawson has a literary voice like no other: like really. If you haven't read her book, do it... if you can handle humor and her actual-to-life-crazy stories.

Alternate title to this post: Jenny Lawson, I wish I were funny like you. But I can't be. No one can. You are one unique lady.


PS - Yes, I retyped these texts here because I don't yet have a snazzy smart phone that will let me just post the image of those cute little bubble texts. And yes, I used the word snazzy.. because I am a 70 year old blogger, obviously.

*Not my picture, from the internets: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jcontreras/5252162313/

This thing they keep saying: it gets cold here.

There are rumors of snow tomorrow. It is only mid-October.

I have chocolate in my pantry and in my fridge.

I also have a Wall o' Scarves.

Bring it, Chicago.


(Also, I'm not that worried because I think they just mean bitterly cold and some snow-drizzle.)



More importantly - I hate wearing layers on my lower half. Do men do this??? I can't imagine that men are walking around with leggings/tights/hose under their suit pants. But if not, what is my other option??

#pantsproblems (Also, alternate title to this blog, apparently.)

Can't you just feel the moon shine

Yes, I am spending the evening with my cat, blogging and drinking wine.. because that's how you make friends in a new city.



But honestly, I'm tired. All this real-world-job-stuff is tiring. One forgets.



But also, I successfully wore pants with buttons and zippers all week and tomorrow is already Friday. AND, I managed to muster the energy to go for a walk this evening. I think that deserves a glass or two of wine. No?

I am so glad that I went for that walk though, because check out this moon, y'all:

PS You may be wondering, "What's with all these bloggers and their cats, yo?"

I know, right???

Well, if you don't know about this blog with a dog, here you go: http://maddieonthings.com/. Maddie is precious.

PPS I feel like I know I am getting older because I've grown to appreciate James Taylor (and Fleetwood Mac).

Fifi in the (Second) City: Thrifting and Pizza

This weekend Mom and I did all the unpacking and most of the settling in.

I was hoping to show her a little bit of the city, but she (being the domestic goddess that she is) wanted to make my apartment homey and clean (so fresh and so clean clean).  So, we only made it around probably 15 blocks of my new neighborhood.

Which Mom was ok with. And I was ok with, too, really.

But Mom insisted on finding the nearest thrift store. And I insisted on finding her a slice of Chicago style pizza.

Some classic Fifi observations of (the 15 residential blocks of) Chicago that she witnessed this weekend:

• On stuffed pizza: This pizza is, oh my gosh, amazing. I’ve never had anything like this before. This crust, it’s like, like something I recognize.. like quiche or bread.  Oh, but this sauce is what makes this pizza.  (She is basically a food (non)critic.)
• On my LGBT friendly neighborhood: There seem to be a lot of gay men around.  But they aren’t like, fabulous-gay. (I don’t know what that means, exactly.)
• On my commenting that she shouldn’t smile and say how-do-you-do because we aren’t in the South, this is Chicago: They may need a Southern smile. (They might..)
• On my saying that she definitely shouldn’t call out of our truck to tell that one lady how well she parallel parked, because we aren’t in the South, this is Chicago: Amber, they don’t know me here. They need to know Fifi. (They do. True story.)
• On the 15 blocks of Saturday residential style: This city does seem a little… backward, I mean the hairstyles and clothes… I guess, I am just used to Atlanta trendiness. (Because the South is a trendsetter? Because Fifi is so Southern chic? And because she is so into Atlanta and style???)
• On the thrift store: (Glowing and hopping from section to section) Oh, I’m so happy, I love this place.

She ended up insisting on getting me a couch and making me refuse a weird shelf and lamp.  She is one-of-a-kind. And generous. And awesome. I miss this lady already.

But, you know, she prepared me for this: just smile, say what you need to, and emit love. Go, follow life and do what you love.

Thanks, Mom. Zoe and I will do just fine.

To Chicago - Mom in tow

Today is the day. Today is the day that I pack my necessary belongings and my mom into a truck and drive half way across the country -ish. Wish us luck.

Also, if you want to know a bit about my priorities in life, my “essentials” include:

• 5+ boxes of kitchen supplies
• 1 suitcase of clothes (+ 1 carryon of scarves and undergarments)
• 1 trunk of blankets
• 1 cat
• 1 box of DVDs
• A mattress 

PS - in case you were wondering, Zoe has been in harness training all week and is doing better with it.  Here are some pictures of her supervising packing yesterday. There is still some disdain noticeable, but that could be just because she is a cat.

 

A good sign.

This song popped up on Pandora this morning. I think that is a good sign, no?

If you care to find me, look to the (mid)western sky

Um, I’m moving in 5 days. That is happening. I’m moving to the Midwest. That is happening.

Who would have ever thought?

How many times have you uttered that in your lifetime?

Because I feel like I am in a constant state of when-did-that-happen-ness. Constant.

Unpredictable, that is probably the most certain thing that there is. And here’s the thing, I am a planner - like a make-a-to-do-list-every-day and had-a-life-list-at-22 kind of planner. The unpredictability of life, thus, was once a small (or, er, terrifying, huge, earthshattering) tragedy. My 20s, with all its turbulence and change and damn uncertainty, have been tough.

But time and circumstances, and the fact that I believe that God and/or the universe likes to give you every opportunity to overcome your struggles by making you face.them.incessantly, have sensitized me to (at the least) and made me eagerly welcome (at the most) the things that I never could have imagined. This is the kind of progress that makes us better people – better to be around, better to cope with things, better inside of our own minds. 

Staying open – mind, heart, etc. – that is what helps me to avoid the panic. That, plus the chocolate, of course.

www.postsecret.com

It should probably be noted that I don’t plan to wear any real pants until I start my new job next Monday – because of all the packing and thinking and chocolate. So if you happen to see me around in leggings or lounge pants, don’t judge. This is what progress looks like, sometimes.

Also, I will probably most definitely be listening to this song a lot. (When will this hit Broadway show become a major motion picture, already? I’m looking at you, Chenoweth.)

PS - something to look forward to - I am moving my cat this weekend too. I bought a leash for her for the 11-hour car ride. She hates it. (And I thought change was hard on me!) Updates later.