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.

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!