Finding the chink in the armor

Recently, I began a 9 week contract as a reception/admin. Right down there with Data Monkey, receptionist is one of my least favorite jobs. Office minion, with its diverse odd jobs and errand-running is preferable. Even exec admin is better because for doing largely the same thing as reception/admin, you get paid more because you deal with bigger personalities.

A day as a receptionist is LONG. Not even because I have so many things to receive (phone calls, faxes, deliveries), but rather because I spend the better part of 8 hours trying to look productive or at least prevent myself from face-plowing into the keyboard from mind-numbing ennui. My number 1 task to combat this: web surfing. I know, I read trash. But it's easy enough to tear myself away from for phone calls. I don't care if I lose my place.

Unfortunately, my company is one of those that blocks EVERYTHING. Even random stuff. So email is out. (This is really unfortunate). Most entertainment/gossip/puzzle/blog/music sites are out. Most of the things that reliably keep me occupied are out. But I can do all the internet-shopping I could possibly want (which is not really at all my thing.) And if I felt my web junk-food consumption was interfering with my "office productivity", I wouldn't use it. Given that I don't really do anything, it's not exactly cutting into my productivity. And this poses a conundrum. Because by requesting access to anti-productivity sites, I alert them to the fact that I don't do much. But the fact of the matter is there isn't much for me TO do. Other than surf the web between calls, waiting for something to do. This could be a very long summer. I guess I can't complain. There is air conditioning, and I can read a book. But it still sucks. So I am taking any suggestions (books, ways to subvert, subtle work-friendly ways to amuse myself).

However, I am already discovering the little chinks in the armor. How to circumvent the system in little ways. Like blogging via Google Docs.

Tomorrow I start flying solo, as the woman I am replacing finally gets to start her maternity leave. It is a bit awkward, because I am naturally eager to do stuff, and especially so for women who are lugging small children in utero. But I don't want to treat her like she can't. It's a delicate balance. But it's good that she's leaving, because she has serious placenta-brain. Which kinda messes with my learning curve. So instead of surfing the web, I surf the learning curve.

Invasion of Insects

The city is all abuzz in anticipation of the Great Cicada Emergence. Their 17-year cicadas are due out any day now. And some are materializing in the 'burbs. (Check out this nifty map.) And the zoo animals are ecstatic, because cicadas are like candy that is secretly good for you. I can't wait for them to show up in the City. Because I love cicadas. They crack me up. Big, dumb, ugly, and prone to make people wig out. I specifically remember cicadas at my first holy communion. Clinging to veils and white dresses, to the infinite horror of most of the girls and their parents. I just grabbed them by the wings and flung them elsewhere.

Until the cicadas show up, I am stuck with an ant problem in my room. It's a pain to try and stash every crumb of food. Because they are even excited about individually foiled-wrapped granola bars. And apparently the city has bigger infestation problems, because I can't find ant traps anywhere. Instead, I got fed up. Moved the granola bars after shaking them out and putting them in gladware. Then I hosed down any ants I saw with the bleach-based bathroom cleaner. It was satisfying. We'll see how long this lasts.

on iTunes: "More Than This" - 10,000 Maniacs

BBQ

Chicago knows how to do up a holiday right. Call up all your friends, organize social event that casually takes up the entire leisurely day. Roll home when it gets dark.

And now that it is approaching summer, it is even better! Instead of shuffling between bars in layers, or waiting outside to be buzzed up, you are chilling on a deck, sipping a pale beer (Spring Ale, Corona).

Memorial Day is THE day to BBQ. A note. In Chicago, barbeque is a verb. Which is funny to me, because in the east, barbeque is a noun. And oh how I miss it. I have been crazy-craving some Pee Wee's. The wonderful pulled pork with amazing tangy tomato-based sauce. Topped with slaw. With sides of the richest macaroni & cheese, and mashed potatoes that are "delivered daily by angels."

Instead, I enjoyed some hamburgers and hot dogs grilled over charcoal. Ah. Since I got up today, I have smelled grills all day. Various kinds of smoke and meat, all of it drool-worthy. People poured out onto the curb, down stairs. Chilling on patios, around the grill. I got an invite to a BBQ that started on a nice tucked-away roof deck with a ton of food and snippets of overlapping conversation. It then moved inside to the hardwood floor and pushed-aside couches for the dancing. Almost everyone at the party danced, so we all took turns. I was the only person who knew non-Latin.


Watching the routines and dancing made me miss it. It reminded me of some of our ballroom parties my junior year, including one involving collard greens.

I also learned that deviled eggs are perfect. Easy enough that even I can make them. Not super time-consuming or expensive. Can be made in advanced. And everyone, including little kids like them. Woo!

And after that phenomenal intro to summer, I get to work for the next 12 days straight. *sigh*

on iTunes: "Mamma Mia" - ABBA

My new favorite food

Yesterday was pretty quiet. Variations on the theme of walk/read. I walked around Lincoln Park; I plunked down and read my book. I walked back to the house; I read my book. I walked to Trader Joe's. And here the cycle was disturbed.

I discovered the most amazing food! Trader Joe's Chinese Mustard Flavored Won Ton Chips. And hot damn are they good. Like fried won tons without the greasiness. The mustard flavor without the sinus-clearing spiciness. Walked the 2 miles home eating until I finally had to call someone to distract my hand from the bag to which it was magnetically attracted. And I found a dollar on the ground, which exactly covered my snack-splurge!

Also high-up on my new food discoveries: the carne asada tacos I had at 4AM. After some preparty, a trip to Burwood Tap where we knew the bartender, some Guitar Hero (I rock!), we had worked up an appetite. So we all made a field trip over to the 24-hr taqueria a couple blocks from Kallisti's. And subsequently mauled some Mexican. Excellent!

on iTunes: "Voodoo People" - Prodigy

Pictures

(This cracked me up.
Mostly because these ribbons have gotten out of hand.)

Painfully quiet weekend. So have some new pix on flickr.

on iTunes: "Smooth" - Santana

Observations of a temp

In no particular order:

• $11/hr jobs have the best food in the kitchen.
• $12/hr jobs are the quietest.
• I will not wear a suit for any less than $14/hr.
• People who think they are important are a pain. People who really are important are nice.
• No one does full-on professional anymore for anything other than special occasions.
• I have been in an office that involved a fooz-ball table. The entry way also looked like something out of Space Mountain.
• The trick = always appear confident that you can do whatever they throw at you. It probably isn't as hard as they think it is.
• Charm gets you everywhere. Especially on the phone.
• Do not go out drinking before you have an assignment on a any floor above 6. The tiered/express elevators will not be kind to you or your hangover.
• When in doubt, wear black and/or white.

Disgruntled Director

On Tuesday night, I went over to Bailiwick for their New Directors' Festival. Specifically, a Virginia friend of mine was having a show of his produced. And being a new director, I want to support others.

The three one-acts were interesting, tackling issues of identity with varying levels of subtlety. However, I was so frustrated it was hard to appreciate the evening as entertainment. Looking over the program, I saw a bunch of familiar names. Including the former VG intern with more work than she can handle. Which begs the question what does she have that I don't? I saw another director who used his VG internship to sit in on 3 rehearsals and build sets.

It's really frustrating because I applied to participate in all of these festivals, but none of them give me the time of day even though I have a solid directing resume. But these other people keep getting the call? And it's not like what I saw was any better than what I could do.

So on one hand, I feel guilty for not doing more theatre while in Chicago. But if no one could be bothered to work with me as anything other than a parking meter maid or ASM, why should I bother? My time is better used in other ways.

On top of it, I got a parking ticket because of really deceptive signage. Erg.

on iTunes: "Elephant Bones" - That Handsome Devil

My summer vacation

I have been treating the past couple of days like my mini summer vacation before I start working full time+ next week. Enjoying the free time, nice weather, the city.

(where I started - from the pedestrian bridge)

Today, I slept in, made pancakes, and moseyed over to the North Avenue Beach. I had visions of lounging on my Virgin blanket, catching some rays, listening to the lake. Instead, I realised that the sand is super hot, the water is super cold (even in the shallow areas it made my ankles hurt, but I did try). And the win was kicking sand up Mummy-style. So as fast as I made camp, I rolled it up and headed back to the park. And the park was nice, but no beach. I camped out there. Because wind blowing over you is nice. Wind blowing sand over you is less nice. But exfoliating!

(where I ended up - from my blanket)

Other than loafing, I have been fighting with Quicken. Specifically how to make the numbers look less like they do and more like how I want/need them to. I haven't made the nut for the month, and it is making me nervous. And trying to deal with banks for student loans just makes me grumpy. No one has all the information, everyone wants my SSN, and Wachovia just wants to sell me a private loan, without being able to explain why it would be better than a govt. loan. Grr.

And apparently my Oust fan thinks I'm smelly, because it keeps running.... So maybe after a shower, I can backblog a bit.

on iTunes: "Voodoo People" - Prodigy

Dirty Little Secrets

• I have an irrational fear of being run over by a parked truck.
• I do MySpace mostly to stroke my ego.
• I recently had waffles with a side of pancakes. After eating a plate of pasta for dinner.

The truck thing is almost justified. Because I have had to scurry in front of trucks backed up to the Hospital dock, which is on an incline. And it's just unnerving. But if I am killed due to being hit by a parked truck, it's totally going on the headstone. If I don't die "Eating Little Debbie" (choking on a Swiss Cake Roll isn't a wholly bad way to go either).

Whenever I log on to MySpace, there is usually at least one message from some guy telling me how beautiful I am. How awesome! I never reply, I just keep all the messages for the bad hair/fat days.

And as for the carb loading: Yo soy vaca.

on iTunes: "Chelsea Dagger" - The Fratellis

Chicago House

Last night I got my first real taste of genuine Chicago House.

Ended up at a birthday party at Darkroom in Ukrainian Village. It's probably my favorite bar/club that I have been to in town. The bar was done up in black & red, with some photos under the lit bar and above the cushy booths. The lighting was low, but not dark. The walls were not covered in sports paraphernalia. And the people were great. Once the party got started, there was a nice diverse crowd. Various ages, ethnicities. Not a homogeneous crowd of Trixies and Chads, or hipsters, or whatnot. Everyone was there to have a good time, polite, dancing. It was not a "scene". And the music was awesome.

The music didn't stop all night, with DJ Lego spinning, varying from Diva to Latin, with a consistent Chicago bass-beat. I was informed that they were playing some classic Chicago House tunes and beat. And I loved it. No hip-hop/rap crap. Just a constantly danceable sound.

on the Tube: Coupling UK

the Real Estate scene

My Saturday gig has a total of 3 offices. I work in the smallest one - Lincoln Park. Their bigger offices are up in Evanston and Wilmette. And in the past couple of days, I have been training to pinch-hit for any of the PSP offices.

The timing couldn't be better since the temp scene has been eerily quiet. Which means I have copious free time and a nagging desperation to make the nut for the month. So I didn't mind driving, or basically relearning stuff I already knew from my Saturday job.

While I like the activity of Evanston, I still enjoy LP. And the biggest thing recommending the Wilmette location is the fact that it is around the corner from Leonidas. And it has a discount!!!

However, having read The Old Neighborhood, I am starting to take issue with the whole real estate thing. Ray Suarez makes a compelling argument that real estate agents basically facilitated the segregation and ghettoization of American cities by steering their clients to single-color neighborhoods, which caused a trickle-down negative impact.

Working in a tony neighborhood of Chicago for a group centered in the wealthy and white North Shore Suburbs doesn't help. All of the agents are white. All of the clients are white. And none of the properties are much further south of River North. While PSP was not in existence during the major suburban migration of the 60s, I still have qualms.

I need to stop reading and thinking if I plan on making any money or at least keeping a job without feeling dirty.

on Pandora: "It's True" - The Mysteries of Life

Evanston is really pretty

Somehow, I have been here for 9 months, but the only city I have been to in Illinois is Chicago. Today, I had to go up to Evanston to work at the main office for my Saturday job. And I barely noticed the 45 minute drive to get there.

It doesn't hurt that I got to drive up LSD. Waiting at the Fullerton light to get on, I saw the trees glowing bright green, and the sun glistening off the lake. As I drove past Diversey harbor I saw all the boats neatly tied and bobbing.

Evanston is filled with neat, tree-lined streets, brick, ivy and interesting (huge) houses. Varying from colonnades to craftsmen houses. Now I know why all of these properties I type up are millions of dollars. And now I know where they are! It screams homey academic suburb. It makes me think fond thoughts of the PhD program at Northwestern. Near the city, but quieter and pretty.

on the tube: ER (haven't gotten up to change the channel.)

Ego boost

There are about 4 people in the world who realise what an awesome admin I can be. And today I got to work for one of them.

I have worked with JLL a couple times before. And I apparently made their day just by being there and doing my job as only I can do. I really like working there, because there is enough going on to keep me entertained (even if it is joking with the boss). Apparently I spoiled them, mostly because they don't like the regular person. (Neither do many other people, since everyone seemed really happy to see me, even the grumpy engineers.)

In addition to a good gig, I felt cute all day after getting a haircut yesterday. Although I felt like I was cheating on my regular stylist by going to the same salon but different person to cut my hair.

Tomorrow I go back to my unemployed ways, complete with t-shirt and goofy hair.

Ding Dong the Witch is Dead

It's like finding the extra present under the tree:

Jerry Falwell is dead!

Everybody do a happy dance. Ideally to disco.

Gas rant

I have blogged in detail about the "wonders" of the CTA. While I had been dubious of buses in my previous travels, I have developed a certain appreciation. You never have to walk far for a bus. You are going to wait for any kind of transit. However, I would never take a bus in a place I didn't know.

Also, I have noticed that during commuting hours, the proportion of women to men is huge. However, during off-hours, I do see more guys on the bus. All the guys I know use the train, even though construction makes the train pretty inefficient.

However, I am still a big fan of public transit. Especially in the face of rising gas prices, greenhouse gases and global temperatures. My inner hippie comes out. I try to walk whenever possible, but if I need to get somewhere, I try to take public transit.

Besides being better for the planet, I can't afford gas. In Chicago, the price is around $3.69 in LP, $3.49 elsewhere. That's ridiculous! And the trick is that people still pay it! Oh, there is more bitching and moaning, but the reason prices continue to rise, ahead of schedule, is because the market allows it. The email boycotts won't work, because it doesn't reduce consumption, just reschedules it. After Hurricane Katrina, people panicked at the thought of $3 gas. They began driving more mindfully. SUV sales plummeted; carpooling increased; and people just fought the spike in price. Shortly after, prices fell again. (this article seems to notice the same things I do)

Relatively speaking, the US doesn't pay very much. Britain pays crazy money. Then again, they also use those taxes to fund socialized medicine. And maybe if we refused to pay this much for oil-based fuel, we would actually pursue viable alternatives, as was all the talk after Katrina.

If you don't put up with high gas prices, you won't have to. Because prices will fall. Stop falling for it. Stop sponsoring corporate greed and technological laziness.

BackBlog: Architecture tour

To take advantage of a day off and some pretty weather, I headed downtown for an architecture tour. I took the Historic Skyscraper tour in the fall. And the Architecture of Commerce and Culture tour sounded pretty cool. Covering a very small area (Michigan to State between Adams and Washington), we looked at both interiors and exteriors of buildings that were artfully created by some of the commercial powerhouses of early 20th century Chicago.The first stop of the tour was Palmer House. Which is magnificent and personally ironic, since it was the first landmark I saw when I first came to Chicago last year. Looked at the Sullivan and Reliance buildings, peeked at the inner details of the Marshall Fields building (don't call it Macy's lest you be cut by a loyal local.) Looked around the Chicago Cultural Center. Ended up in Millennium Park. The big theme was that commercial giants like to use their money to beautify the city. All I could hear was Cheese Fiend's comment about a palace in Munich: "The room Bill Gates will never build." But it does make me want to take the Millennium Park tour.
more pix on flickr.

on iTunes: "Sad Songs and Waltzes" - Cake

Looptopia

Conceptually brilliant. In reality - not fabulous.

Looptopia was an experiment, trying to replicate the arts festival vibe of White Nights around the world. Scatter a variety of different events (dance, live music, performance & installation art, DJs, exhibits, etc) in all sorts of venues within a small, walkable area. Run from 5PM to sunrise. Capitalize on all the people getting off work in the Loop.

I met up with Kallisti to check out the events. I really wanted to see the Redmoon stuff, but they didn't start up until 8PM. In the meantime, I was excite to walk around, absorb some free culture and festival energy, generally support Looptopia. Usually the Loop empties in the evenings, especially Fridays, so it was exciting to see people still walking around.

Unfortunately, the weather really wasn't cooperating. Instead of a mild May evening, it was downright chilly 55, with big gusty winds that had me ready to cling to more permanent objects lest I get blown down Madison. This decreased the general patience with less-than-perfectly thought-out events. Putting breakdancers on the pavement and then hoping the crowd can see their floor work? Restricting Midnight Circus to a rickety stage? But I am not the only one who was underwhelmed. Ended up bailing pretty early.

I will say the coolest thing was the dock-dance party. Tucked under the Sullivan building within site and earshot of the Palmer House was a great "found space" where they put up a variety of DJs, complete with projections and lighting. It had a great gritty aura, got you out of the wind, and was generally cool. There were even amateur breakers! I was happy to see girls on the floor, even if they lacked the theatrics.

on iTunes: "Heartbreaker" - Pat Benatar

Nights out

Having a social life, or even things to color my iCal with make me happy.

Wednesday night was this season's last Trivia Nite at Galway Arms. Which is probably a good thing, since Kallisti and I got SCHOOLED by them damn Moops. I almost missed a Roman history question (which would have sent me to Classics Majors Hell). Boffed on the Gaugin question (I could see the painting, I could give you a brief bio in art history context, but I couldn't pull the name.) Kallisti was shamed with a couple Chicago sports questions. But there was beer to cushion that fall from grace.

Last night, I walked over to Webster Place to meet one of the interns to resume our movies. But since nothing looked super-amazing at El Landmark, we caught Spiderman 3. Which was fun in a blockbuster sort of way. The blatant jingoism was less pleasant (there was wincing and hiding). And I saw the trailer for Julie Taymor's new movie, which I am super-excited about. My favorite director and some of my favorite music!! But the walk home was fun. Met another stage manager. Discussed what goes on your resume, and what quietly does not. Caught up on who is hooking up with who. Standard and fun.

I'm going for the hat-trick tonight = Looptopia!!

on iTunes: "On the Verge" - La Tigre

Dada

(Duchamp, L.H.O.O.Q., 1919)

Tonight, Chicago is trying a bold arts-festival experiment - Looptopia. I think Montreal is the only other city that has ever done anything like this. And the Trib has a nice "guide" to events. Which include a description of Soiree Dada. Admitted, Dada is a strange art movement, but the blurb pretty much laughs at it as alien, meaning that if anyone who read it actually goes, they will be pointing and laughing, instead of just taking in the experience. And what really burns my butt (even more than the judgmental) is the incorrect accusation that Dada led to World War I. It was an artistic response to the mindless destruction!!!! ARGH! Dada is an interesting, deliciously bizarre movement. Don't pin the Great War on it.

(Duchamp's Fountain, 1917 - the subversion of the ordinary)

I should not be as riled up about this as I am. Maybe it's the insidious art-bashing. Or maybe it's the basic lack of research. Maybe it's the caffeine kicking in too quickly.

Shedding the corporate

My exec asst gig finished up today. I took great delight in stripping off my layers of corporate to catch a bus in tank tops and flipflops.

But corporate is not all bad. I did my very best impression of corporate as I ran errands in the Loop via cabs. So I slid in the back, gave my my intersection, and jumped on my cell. I felt pretty cool. Wasn't in my suit today, but I was definitely in corporate minion wear - sober, conservative, generic. It's weird, because my natural MO is jeans, sneaks, and bus pass.

Incidentally, why is it that the women:men ratio is so high on buses? Like on my bus home, there were 9 women to every man. Where are the guys? Are they just too good for the bus? If these girls can get dolled up in pointed stilettos, power suits and huge designer bags and commute on the bus, what is the problem with guys?

on the tube: Scrubs

My kind of commute

After an agonizingly quiet day at my exec assistant gig, I was released early (maybe it was good behavior). On one hand, this meant I had a fighting chance of actually getting on the first bus that came by (I regularly have to let 2 buses pass because there isn't enough room for a chihuahua, let alone me and the green bag.) But since it was so unbelievably gorgeous, I just started walking. And ended up walking the 3+ miles home.

Part of the way up Dearborn, I realised that I could be by the water instead of just pounding pavement, so I headed east (and out of my way) to get to the Lake. I was impressed by the number of people out before 5 on a Monday. And they didn't all look like tourists. Maybe they were clever locals who were "sick" today. There were bikers, hacky-sackers, and a sad 80s reject. Like suddenly understood the expression "kick your ass into next year". Because looking at this aging "rocker" with his bleached blonde curly mullet, no shirt, trying desperately to grab someone's attention as he posed by his cheesy red and immaculate Ferrari, I got the distinct impression someone knocked this tool's ass into the next milennium.

It was fun finding the sun between the shadows of the buildings, which do cool things to the look of the lake. And I saved bus fare!

on iTunes: "Jetsetter" - Morningwood

Intelligent Design of Jenny Chow

(I'm like stupid hungry. If I get distracted, it's because I had to run back down to the kitchen)

Collaboraction is a very exciting, vital theatre group in Chicago. While it is very theatre-based, Collaboraction likes to integrate multi-media. So a show like Intelligent Design of Jenny Chow is a perfect match.

It's a brand-new play that attracted alot of attentions and accolades. It had its premiere in the same festival that Mr. Marmalade did at South Coast Rep.

The premise is a 22-year old adopted Chinese girl must adjust to her world, having been spoiled by the safety and comfort of her computer. She is OCD and agoraphobic, but desperate to find her birth mother in China. And Jennifer finds a unique solution - she designs an android alternate. But in the process of developing her cyber reality, she alienates her real reality.

The production was awesome. High-energy, exciting, funny. Well-acted strong script that really maximized the space. And I think everyone in the primarily female-audience related to parts of Jennifer.

This is an extension of a very successful run. I actually had looked into being their ASM, but had scheduling conflicts. And I am adding this to the list of To-Do shows.

on iTunes: "Peanut Butter Jelly Time" - DJ Chipman (shut up, i like it)

No-brainer

Why would you get Domino's "Chicago-Style Pizza" when you could walk 2 blocks down and get the real deal? In case the inaccurate labeling wasn't enough, the sheer quality disparity of "greasy cardboard" versus "mountain of cheesy goodness" should inspire you to take those few extra steps.

Can you tell I'm hungry?

on Pandora: "Shot Gun" - Red Monroe

Executive Worker Bee

After the un-fun of my last gig, I am working with a new agency. They promptly found me a couple days of work as an executive assistant.

On one hand, this is great. I need the work. It's neither reception nor data entry. And it pays more than my usual rate. On the other, I'm a suit. Or rather a suit's minion.

In general, I hate wearing my suit. I feel so stiff and fake. And it's usually a harbinger of a shitty day. Yesterday was pretty rough. Each executive is very particular, especially regarding their phone calls. I have never seen a message book actually used until now.

Fortunately, today went much better. I ditched the suit in favor of something professional, black, generic. And my supervisor discovered how good I am at running errands and internet research. So I generally avoid the phones, opting for the other "useful" things. After 2 days, I am still screwing up, but figuring out slowly.

on the tube: Cars

PS. Welcome to the world Atlee June!

Jamming the "home" button

"Home" is a fuzzy concept for me. Probably because it has changed so many times in the past few months, it's hard to keep it still/same for long enough. And if home is George Carlin's "place for my stuff", I am living all over the place!

NoVA, where I grew up, hasn't been "home" for a very long time. I haven't lived there in years; I kind of grew out of it; and more importantly, I found more personally relevant places. Almost instantly, Williamsburg became home. It was a safe place I could be unapologetically myself with people who were doing the same. The big sign that said "College of William and Mary" right before exit 238 always inspired a great sigh of relief. (Shame they changed it for the Quadricentennial.)

Then, I moved to Charlottesville. And I loved it there. I had great people around me, a "real job", pretty surroundings, a kitty to put me to bed, access to yummy food, and a "groove". So leaving Charlottesville was one of the hardest things I ever had to do. It taught me all about the concept "homesick" which I never really understood.

But after months in Chicago, finally feeling like I have figured the city out, and generally loving the city in the spring, things have gotten a bit muddled again. My favorite bed is my Chicago bed. I think in terms of Chicago time and accessibility (it will take me at least 30 minutes to get anywhere, but I am only 30 minutes from ANYTHING). I noticed this when I started traveling to/from Chicago for grad adventures. Because driving back from wherever I keep feeling a certain "Ah" when I see signs for Chicago. And I get excited when I cross the Skyway and see the little sign that says "Welcome to Chicago", with the skyline shortly after. Closely related to the excitement I felt the first time I crossed in.

And how cool is it that I don't have to mapquest my way into the city! That I know how to get "home". That I know alternate ways to get "home". Like my favorite - LSD! But that its own entry!

on the tube: ER (set in Chicago!)

All-day Athens

It was a long, mostly-productive day.

It began well, with a waffle from the complimentary breakfast! Totally hit the spot as I started making apartment phone calls. Painlessly checked out before my 10AM meeting with my advisor. I knew this was going well when I found a parking space right in front of the building.

The doctor is young, energetic (almost hyper). He showed me around the building, the campus, and a quick walk down Court Street. It was a chill conversation. I found out about his goals for the program, a little about the other MA (Southern female, more design-oriented). I expressed my interest in dramaturging Spring's Awakening, and tango research. I will be leading theatre history discussions (eek!) It occurred to me that he reminds me very much of Capt. Flying Toaster. On caff-EINE!

(in the historic quad looking towards Court & Union Sts)

Spent the rest of the afternoon running around looking at countless apartments. I saw some very nice ones. One dire dump. And a lot in the middle. I found 2 I like, 1 I could live with. Unfortunately, one agency is rather laissez-faire about showings. Pretty much they give you a list of availabilities and a map. You knock on the door and hope they believe your story about just wanting to look at the place. Most people were confused but let me in. They were pretty informative. I met a contraband puppy, a vampire-med student, and a couple of good-ole-boys.

Within a day, I had a very rough lay of the land. I could get around, just not super-efficiently. It was hot, but the place smelled so nice. When I arrived on Monday night, I noticed the mildly muddy spring smell in all the blue moonlight (in contrast to the amber of city lights). Walking around Court Street, I could smell patchouli (love me some hippies).

Around 4.30, all the places had closed. I was feeling a little boggled, so I was pretty happy to roll out of town. The 7 hour drive was not that bad in either direction. There were enough changes of route to keep me interested. But I am now coveting a FM transmitter for my iPod, since my CDs were boring me. And my windshield was covered in bug spatter. Like I had to stop every couple hundred miles just to clean it off. So after scrubbing it down with the squeegie, I had a constellation of dead bugs instead of spatter. Must wash car.

(I saw alot of this in the past couple of days.
Please note dead bugs.)

I couldn't really figure out what I wanted. I attributed this to being kinda bored and subjected to variations on the theme of "fast food". And I finally hit the spot with a double fudge chocolate chip milkshake from Steak & Shake. Ah. And there was like no traffic to contend with on the Dan Ryan!

Now to settle on an apartment, apply for loans, scare up some furniture...

Athens

I literally just rolled in from my whirlwind trip to Athens. I'm still processing and in dire need of a shower and stretch.

Highlights/objectives achieved:
1. Met with mentor
2. Walked around OU and Athens
3. Looked at apartments

Personal revelations:
1. My fascination with smells.
2. Jamming the "home" button.
3. All I want for Christmas is quarters.

The bottomline: I like OU. Athens is pretty, hippy, and a nice place to live for a year. I am looking forward to the program, with a healthy dose of "oh crap what have I just signed up for".

Will expound in greater detail when I am clean, and my butt is not a knot.

on iTunes: "Wir Tanzen Im 4-Eck" - Stereo Total