PSA on the CTA... and a dog picture.

"You wouldn't believe the people I encountered on the CTA today," I declared yesterday as I arrived to my warm home.

Then, this morning I read a Tribune article about trains being a respite from the harsh, harsh cold for many people whose mental illness hinders them from seeking help from shelters and other social services. And I thought, "This makes complete sense."

Then, this evening I found myself talking to myself on the way to my Green Line stop after work - shouting (under my breath) something to the motorist who didn't care that they were in a big, warm, strong truck and I only have my little feet to get me around... I know you saw me, buddy.

...There is no judgement here, fellow CTA riders. We all have our moments.

Also, if someone seems like they need help in the cold weather, offer to call 311 for them.



PS - Let's stop complaining about the cleanliness of the trains. And let's have a little compassion. And for goodness sake, let's bring back the programs that employ people and give us healthier public transit.

RANT OVER. Here's a picture of Bogey and me facing the cold together. (In truth, he doesn't mind it at all.)

One week in Uptown

It's been really cold out. Unpacking and organizing is a lot more exhausting that one remembers. And work be cray.

That being said, I haven't had a lot of a chance to explore outside of the new apartment. But one week in, here the things I do know about the new neighborhood:

1. Lawrence & Broadway is the windiest intersection in the Windy City. That is most likely a proven fact.
2. Uptown is by far the best smelling neighborhood in Chicago. (Holla Vietnamese and Thai establishments.)
3. All the Art Deco lives here. 
4. Sheridan Road gets confusing... I am having ATL non-grid road plan flashbacks.
5. Bogey is better at making new friends than I am. There are sooo many dogs.

I think Uptown suits me well. Let's face it - I am not hip enough for Wicker park; not yuppy enough for Lincoln Park; and not ballin' enough for the Gold Coast. No, give me some Pho, a few good bars, and access to the lake and the Red Line and I am a happy lady. 

Also, poor Bogey has been blown away on more than one occasion. His little ears look like bat wings and once the wind made him slide a few feet on the fresh ice. He's a trooper.

If it were summer and Bogey were a beagle, this is what his life would be like:

http://pinkbluelovescute.com

Fifi phone home

The big move happened this weekend. Fifi and David trekked up to bring a truck and help shift Hannah and I about ten blocks south - ten blocks that felt like the strain of about a 100 lbs of couch, bench pressed up three flights of stairs, plus the rest of the furniture and boxes. Thanks Fifi and David for your help!!

We found a little bit of time to show the fam around town a bit, too:

Fifi plays "E.T." with the "Bean"

   
My Southern family was amazed by the crystal-y snow that fell while we moved on Saturday.. and were frozen as we walked blocks on blocks downtown yesterday. When I told Fifi we'd be taking the train to get around, her response was, "All four of us??" Yes, Fifi, all four of us will in fact fit on mass transit...

It was such a fun and lovely visit.

But the most exciting part of the Fifi-David visit, they introduced a new resident to Chicago. Everyone meet possibly the calmest, cuddliest new Chicagoan:

Name: Bogey. Likes: food and snuggles. Fears: the CAT.. and most things.

Side note: I had a moment of "whoa" today when I called my parents' land line from my cell phone. I dialed "Home" on my contacts and realized that I should probably change that name to "Mom and Dad's".

The feeling that Home is the place that I live now is a new feeling for me. Home is no longer a place that I leave and visit from time to time; it's a place that I go to each day. It is a place where I feel I belong and fit. It is where my life revolves. This is new, a little unsettling, but kind of shockingly wonderful.

My parents' home is where my roots are, a place that is a part of why I am who I am. But Chicago, and my new apartment, and all the components of my daily life.. I'm home.

(Don't worry guys, I'll be back to snark and sarcasm tomorrow, probs.. sentimentality is fleeting.)

A fish story

Yesterday evening was officially the first day of moving to the new apartment.

Tuesday was officially the worst day of work since I started in October.

This is not me, or my picture - from the 'net.

Yesterday morning I felt similar to what I imagine a freshly caught fish feels when it is flopping around on the boat of an amateur fisherman - gasping for air, uselessly moving about as if it were actually able to do anything.

What would happen next, hopefully, is that someone would gently crush me with one's foot, painfully finagle the hook out of my gills, take a look at me to decide that I am too small/unworthy/gross, and hurl me back into the water. There, I may take a bloody breath and heal and move on . . . or I could get eaten by a predator . . . or I could be unable to heal and float to the top of the water, listlessly defeated. The options seemed grim.

Luckily, it seems that the first scenario played itself out; but man, there were a few hours when I wasn't sure.

Now, I feel very bad for fish. If you go fishing, I say just keep the fish - put it out of it's misery, please.

PS - Fifi is heading to Chicago tonight, with a brother and a new guest in tow. Stay tuned.

Notice: This Evening

Life will be on hold this evening from 7-11 CT for the Golden Globes hosted by Tina and Amy. (Yes, I am on a first name basis.)

A teaser, if you need to watch this again:

A Tale of Two Snow Days

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times...

This is the story of two people stuck in the same apartment for three days with the internet and a cat, while outside the wind whipped and temperatures reached ungodly lows.

Snow inside a train

Caution: Falling Ice

One of these people is an introvert (and a chocoholic); the other is an extrovert (who luckily also likes chocolate an acceptable amount).


The three days were a welcome breeze for the introvert, who drank in the respite from her sometimes all-too-social-job (along with a fair share of red wine).

The three days for the extrovert proved more trying. These three days fell atop a two week break from work at a school, and said extrovert was feeling.. feelings. The three days were akin to the gale winds that were beating against the apartment building for her. She even went as far as trying to make friends with the cat.

Yes, that is a friendship bracelet-cum-collar

Wednesday and Thursday, then, back at work proved the opposite.

The introvert dragged herself home at the end of each day, exhausted from office interactions and meetings.

Meanwhile, the extrovert seemed a little revived by.the.same.types.of.interactions.

Either way, the cat seems exactly the same: indifferent.

We get it, 2014

Well 2014, you know, you didn't have to make such a big, flashy entrance. We get it, you're here. We threw you a party and everything.

Fine, we'll acknowledge you still, 2014... It seems the big news is that it's cold... everywhere.

On Thursday, my co-workers gave me props for being a Georgia girl who could handle the snow. I took those props - well deserved, I think.

They also told me that this snow isn't necessarily normal... I don't know if I believe that. People seemed pretty normal about things - buses and trains ran, businesses were open, people drove places in the snow. Chicago was it's normal, crazy self.

But Chicago, I think you could take a lesson from this Southern girl about what you should do when it snows like this:

 

Chicago, when the weather is like this, you should:

• Not leave your house except to throw a snowball or two
• Not put on real clothes
• Have a healthy supply of your favorite adult/hot/hot-adult beverage
• Eat all the comfort foods
• Play board games/cards/craft with your living companions
• Nap
• Watch an ungodly amount of your favorite TV show
• NOT LEAVE YOUR HOUSE (this is important)

If you follow all of these rules, you will have the most fantastic of snow days. And listen, even the big, bad Northeast seems to be slowing down due to this storm. Don't you think we could, too??

This guy knows I speak crazy talk. Shut it down? Pssh.

PS - It is somewhat comforting to know that the frantic grocery-store-raid-before-a-winter-storm is not confined to the South. Geesh, it was c-razy when I went today. Here's to a real snow day on Monday... not holding my breath.