Leftovers Anyone?

We had an office warming party on Wednesday for our board, staff, volunteers, etc. It went over fairly well. We had everything donated from the appetizers to the drinks. I'm glad it's over though, so I don't have to receive any more emails about who so-and-so wants invited and why, and what font the evite should be in, and directions for parking, and frustrations about locked doors and posting the event on congresspeople's websites (because I'm SURE they don't have anything else going on....). But, people did leave a variety of things behind...

1 case of non-alcoholic beer- who even drinks this stuff?
1 opened bottle of tea
1 opened bottle of sparkling water
1 vase of about-to-die yellow flowers
1 bowling pin topped beer lid opener
1 LARGE pink ball with the phrase 'Hope you have a BALL at the new place" on it (along with stamps for postage)
1 empty sign up sheet for 'People who are new to Porchlight'
1 empty platter that used to have sandwiches
1 case of Miller Lite
1 half-eaten vegetable tray

I blame my need to make this list on the fact that I've been sick for the past few days and my head is still a little fuzzy. I can't seem to focus on anything and especially not grants...so instead I'm making a mental inventory and deciding which things I should try to haul on the train.

Definitely the Miller Lite. Maybe the large pink ball.

Black Thumb

This morning as I was getting off the train, I noticed a dorky-looking boy standing with his mom. He was probably 10 or 12, had red hair and freckles. His glasses were about 50 times too big for his face and he had an aquarium tank full of plants (not the spiders I was expecting)! He had a light on top, so I could see some cacti and other green looking ones. Yep, that's how much I know about plants- spiky ones are cacti and everything else classifies as 'other green looking ones.'

Little did he know, the dorky girl passing him on the platform was ALSO carrying plants! But I had mine in a large tote, so that nothing but the crispy tops of the leaves were showing. I was transporting them to my office, because (much to my disapproval) there is a florescent light that stays on all the time here. Originally I bought the plants thinking, "These lucky plants- they're going to have a home." Sadly, after I bought them and trecked the 20 minute walk from Home Depot to my house they had already died! They were those kind that are "tropical" and need "lots of sunshine and water." Too high maintenance for me. So they've been drooping in my windowsill at the apartment.

I thought I would try this one last-ditch effort to revive them. But if it doesn't work, then goodbye to my plant growing days. So much for wanting to start a community garden in my neighborhood....I can't even keep a plant alive!

Moose?

So I applied to be a dog-walker for the weekends. Sadly, most places only want someone during the week and during the day (which makes sense for walking dogs, I suppose). But I did have one interview over the phone yesterday. It was one of the most bizarre interviews I think I'll ever have.

Q: If you walked into an apartment, and the dog had pooped everywhere- and I mean EVERYWHERE- what would you do?

A: Uh, well...I uh....well....I'd probably clean it up. *Then I thought, but some people think dogs are kids.* And I'd probably call their owner and then discipline them in the way the owner and I had talked about. You'd want to deal with it right away, so they wouldn't be confused about the punishment, if there is one....uh....yeah.

Q: So, we have this huge black lab. Over a hundred pounds. His name is Moose. And he's REALLY stubborn. If you were walking him, and he didn't want to go, what would you do?

A: Well, since I'm a pretty small girl, this has happened to me a lot when walking dogs (a lot meaning like twice in my life). I'd probably let him wander a bit, but then when it was time to go, give him a tug and say "Come Mousse!" in my stern voice. *Then remembering the child/dog association again* But not too hard or anything- just so they know who's boss.

I was tempted to say something like, "I'd probably kick him in the face" for laughs, but then figured they wouldn't laugh with me! I was also in the middle of the pepper isle in the grocery store, so that might've sounded a little harsh.

By far my favorite interview in Chicago so far....

Macy's

I went to the Chicago Macy's today for the first time. It had been a long day at work (long meaning dramatic) and instead of fuming around, I thought a walk would be good. My co-worker Quekan needed to return something to Macy's, so we decided to go.

I rode up and down the glass elevator, sifted through the sale racks, smelled oddly shaped bars of soap, and mozied around 9 floors of things I didn't need. But then, at the lower level, there was something AMAZING. A piano area!

If I were to sell my car, I could buy a piano. Granted, not a Steinway or anything....but a nice, shiny beautiful-sounding piano. It would bring joy to my heart and annoyance to my neighbors....

Worth it?

Oh Chicago Traffic

Usually I don't drive my car. In fact, I don't drive it often enough that almost EVERY time I use my car, someone has left a "We Buy Junk Cars" poster or a "I'll buy your car as is. Call me. -Paul" note somewhere on it.

But yesterday I had to drive out to the suburbs for a few meetings for work. The day started out well. I met with a few people from cool organizations. I talked with a pastor for 2 hours, almost quit my job to help him with his vision for his congregation (not really, but he was very compelling), and was given homemade jam and a recipe book.

The bad part started when I tried to go home. A blizzard decided to begin and the 35 minute drive back to the city turned into a 3 1/2 hour journey of semis and honking and mini-vans swerving in and out of traffic on a one-way bridge. People get crazy around here when it snows (apparently).

Needless to say, I went home, cuddled up in some sweats, made myself some tea and curry and swore to NEVER DRIVE AGAIN. Well, until my next meeting in the suburbs...tomorrow.....

My latest (and most sad) discoveries:

1. Coffee-Mate

The first ingredient: Corn Syrup Solids

Does anyone even want to know what that is?


2. The person that stole my bag also got my SS Card. Half of my belongings were found on the CTA bus (I found out from the cop I'm hounding), none of which were important- used up gift cards and the check card that has already been replaced. So now I'm told I'll need to pay some company monthly to make sure my identity isn't stolen. Right.


3. It costs $2.00 to rent bowling shoes for a night here, compared to the $0.50 per night in Chanute.


4. People tell me the sky is supposed to actually remain the same shade of gray for the next 3 months that it has been the past few weeks.


BUT these discoveries won't get the best of me. Why? 2 reasons: one of my favorite people is visiting this weekend AND I get to go home in a week! Woohoo Kansas!

Joining the Culture of Indifference- Well, On the Train Anyway

I haven't been listening to music on the train. I saw this sketch once of people on the train- all of different races, ages and gender- sitting next to each other. They all had earphones in, and under the sketch it read: Our Culture of Indifference.

So, I decided that I would be the one not listening to music. Always available to meet someone, talk, read or just enjoy the ride. However, in the months that I've lived here- I'm pretty sure I've never talked to anyone on the morning train. You just don't. Everyone is focused and in their business casual mode- not to be thrown off by a conversation.

Today I thought I would try listening to music with the rest of them. Instead of feeling the isolation from humanity that I predicted (yes I'm a bit dramatic- but I am reading 1984), I found myself bobbing my head back and forth, tapping my foot, walking to the beat- either slow and paced or quick and confident- and discovering a slight skip in my step. I don't even like the Shins and I listened to an entire cd, and somehow feel ready for the day!

I'm thinking maybe this is just because I have never done it. The emotional high after the never-ending denial. So I'm trying it the entire week. I'll let you know how it goes.