The Joke's on YOU Mr. Bag Stealer

You just robbed one of the poorest white girls in Chicago. Good one.

So, somehow, in the 2 minutes that I got up from my desk to walk 2 doors down, pee, wash my hands, and walk back, someone stole my bag from inside our office at our desk. This is the 3rd time this has happened. They always take our bags, travel to the 1st floor, run down the long corridor behind the mailroom and then dump the leftovers in the trashcan. So luckily, I got my bag, 2 books, CTA pass, carmex, leftover rice and GPS back. But they did succeed in stealing my wallet, including my family pictures, a receipt from Spain, my first hunting license, check cards that can't be accessed without pin numbers and (sadly) my Kansas driver's license. They also stole my co-workers camera, my bobbie pins, and the keys to our office and building....

I'm sure they were disappointed.

I called the police to report what happened (for the 3rd time) and I was half expecting some sort of CSI crime investigation. I mean, I have the bag- can't they search for fingerprints or something and discover that it's the man working next door, or the cleaning guy, or the guy that's always walking buy smiling at me? AND, of course, that he's "Wanted" in 6 other states. But no, they told me we should try to set up a camera or something....that he hopes we "nail that guy". Thanks Mr. Policeman- for nothing. Lame.

So now, I've discovered that I don't have the paperwork to get a DL here in Illinois- and they have no sympathy for people who've been robbed...it is, after all, Chicago. And either way, you still need documents X,Y, AND Z. Sorry.

Now, I'm suspicious of everyone. It had to have been someone watching to see when we left....so maybe on this floor...or someone who knows that I pee everyday before I eat my peanut butter and jelly sandwich...

Wanted: Band Members

Well, it's been snowing here. And if my camera wasn't lame and broken, there would be beautiful pictures posted below. But alas, no camera = no pictures.....

Today I decided to start a band. I don't care what instrument I get to play or what kind of music we create. As long as it's honest and compelling. I forgot my CDs and had to listen to the radio all the way to Downers Grove and back again- and it was awful. The Christian station was even worse. SO- as Ghandi would have it- I've decided to BE the change I want to see in the world and start a band.

Any takers? :)

One Man's Mission to Promote Peace

I read Three Cups of Tea awhile ago, but never posted about it. I didn't want to read it, because it seemed like everyone on the train was reading it- and I'm SO not about trendy.....hehe....but I got over it and LOVED it. Read it- it'll change your life.

I liked Mortenson's way of telling the story. Very straightforward, very practical, non-political. It is very compelling, a quick read and will give you a hope for peace in the middle of the "war against terrorism."

There was one chapter in the book that was fairly political, because he was in Afghanistan during 9/11. These exerpts are from that chapter, so if they overwhelm you, know that this is the only section of the book like this:

Mortenson talked of the tribal traditions that attended conflict in the region- the way warring parties held a jirga before doing battle, to discuss how many losses they were willing to accept, since the victors were expected to care for the widows and orphans of the rivals they have vanquished. 'People in that part of the world are used to death and violence,’ Mortenson said. ‘And if you tell them, ‘We’re sorry your father died, but he died a martyr so Afghanistan could be free,’ and if you offer them compensation and honor their sacrifice, I think people will support us, even now. But the worst thing you can do is what we’re doing- ignoring the victims. To call them ‘collateral damage’ and not even try to count the numbers of the dead. Because to ignore them is to deny they ever existed, and there is no greater insult in the Islamic world. For that, we will never be forgiven.’

'…as best as I can tell, we’ve launched 114 Tomahawk cruise missiles into Afghanistan so far. Now take the cost of one of those missiles tipped with a Raytheon guidance system, which I think is about $840,000. For that much money, you could build dozens of schools that could provide tens of thousands of students with a balanced nonextremist education over the course of a generation. Which do you think will make us more secure?'

I Heart Friday!

Exciting things from today:

Our phone lines have been down all week (so I've been sending BILLIONS of emails) and today !8! AT&T vans were parked on our block outside. Yesterday they said that a cable just got wet. Somehow, I'm thinking it's something more involved than that.....

I watched this with no sound and learned how I would tie a scarf if I were a beautiful, stupid boy model.

I read Writers on Writing during my lunch break and am going to a live reading tonight after work. If I don't become a writer this week, I probably never will!

Oscar, the maintenance guy for the building, came in our office for like an hour and put up plastic over our windows. [Anything different is exciting, ok?]

I discovered that Jewel has Sushi! I probably shouldn't ever justify buying it, but I figure maybe someday- if I'm having one of those days- I'll splurge on the $6 container of California Rolls!

AND- I'm officially planning another lazy weekend. The weather is supposed to be terrible- 40 degrees and raining both Saturday and Sunday- so movies, tea and books here I come!

Cute Little Kid Video

Who doesn't love cute kid videos?

Proud To Be An American...Finally

Yes, my co-worker Susan (who took this picture) really was this close!






This feeling of pride is due to 2 wonderful people: Obama and my sister Amanda.

President Obama, because I think he actually will bring about change. If not through his policies, through his ability to awaken the American people again to who we want to be...and what we need to do to get there. I can actually see myself living in this country again and working hard to help people come together. YES WE CAN!!!

Amanda, because she drove all the way back to Kansas just to vote. To make her voice heard. And to do what she thought was right- even though every else told her she was wrong. And I think that's really cool....And we can learn a lot from people like her!

Here's to the Hope and Change of 2009!

I love my life...

It's true. The past few weeks have been stressful, long and exhausting. But now, today, I am SO happy because:

This past weekend my new favorite person visited me.
Tomorrow I will be in Grant Park when Obama accepts his nomination for president.
Tonight I'm eating Jambalaya for dinner and *hopefully* starting a new book.
Election day I get to do what I thought my job was going to be all along: collecting stories from everyday people who are struggling with their health care.
AND- this evening I will be baking something from scratch!