Day 21 - Epicurian App

I rode my bike to Hyde Park and Indiana looking for a thrift store. Instead I found some suspicious characters and another bad lead from yelp. At least it was nice outside and the route home involved a trek through the trails of Washington Park. I was going to drive to another thrift store in Hyde Park, but I couldn't find that either. I wound up at the grocery store. After that I took a nap, did some laundry, and cleaned the kitchen. I found a new app for my iPhone, it's called Epicurian. With it I can get recipes on demand and generate shopping lists based what's in your cabinet, how experienced of a cook you are, or what you feel like eating. This app led me to makes seared chicken with a tomato sauté with rice and lima beans, it was delicious. I spent the rest of the night reading and relaxing, tomorrow is going to be a big day.

Day 20 - Let the Rain Pour Down

I had great plans to check out the Chicago History Museum today but some laziness got a hold on me. I wound up spending the morning and early afternoon dozing in and out of sleep. Lauren and I watched The Blind Side, Flipped and episodes of Basketball Wives. We spent commercials talking and getting to know each other better, and after 19 days of discussing her disappointing love life, she finally asked me about mine. I summarized my three transformative relationships with the following statements....

Bachelor #1 - I loved him, he loved someone else
Bachelor #2 - He liked me, I was not ready for him
Bachelor #3 - I liked him, he played me

You all can guess who these lucky bastards were. At any rate, I felt a little exposed, so I took a little walk. It rained in the morning but it looked like the sky was cleared up and the temperature was cool. When I got back Lauren decided to go to Border's to use her gift card, I invited myself to join her. Since she works at the downtown campus of Northwestern, she can get covered parking near the Magnificent Mile for free all the time. After parking, we took the bus to the South Loop for Borders. Then we got some Garrett's popcorn, a Chicago classic. We waited in line for 40 minutes to cheese flavored mixed with caramel flavored popcorn. It was good, a little rich for me, I can only eat a little bit at a time. Then we took the bus back uptown to check out Nike Town and The Gap. When we were leaving the Gap, the rain started. Everyone was crowded at the entrance trying to wait out the down pour...not us. We tied up our hair and our bags as best as possible, and made a run for it. It was fun at first, and then it was cold, damp clothes and cool breezes are not a good mix. I love that Lauren was not too prissy for the rain, I think that we will continue to get along.

Ola came over later with some Nigerian food, it was alright. I had a long and thoroughly entertaining conversation with my dear sister (I'm still waiting on that list of 25). Finished up the night with the latest episode of True Blood, nothing to complain about on this side of the Mississippi.

Day 19 - The Big Easy

I took the Admiral out for a spin today. I biked to the 57th Street Beach. It was overcast but still pretty warm. I rode around the lakefront a little further, found a bench and read a little bit of my book. I'm reading Susana Clarke's "Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell", although it is science fiction and very long, I am determined to finish it. After awhile I went to find something to eat. On 55th and Cornell, I saw a brunch special at the Big Easy restaurant. I ordered catfish, scrambled eggs and roasted potatoes. I ate all by myself, just listening to other people's conversations and watching people walk by. A highlight were these honey covered, raisin filled ho cakes that preceded my meal, very delicious. Next I rode to Powell's bookstore on 57th. I spent two hours in this amazing place. As soon as I thought I had browsed all of the shelves, I saw a door, went through it and there was another room, twice as big as the first. Books about Photography, Chicago, Greek History, literary critiques, anything you could think of. Then I saw a staircase, I go downstairs and they have all the discount books, manga books, science fiction, and travel books. One drawback is that they want you to buy and leave, there are no comfy chairs and well lit corners in Powell's bookstore. I was sitting on step stools and leaning on bookshelves to flip through books. After that I rode home, it was a nice break in the monotony. I've got the Admiral's lock up procedure down to a science.

Day 18 - Seven Ten Lanes

If anyone comes to visit me, we will take a stroll down to the Seven Ten Lanes bowling alley/bar/restaurant and game room. There is something for everyone. Lauren, Ola and I went down there tonight. We played two games, I came in third on both. We had two rounds of drinks. Then walked ourselves on home. I felt like my buzz was wasted, no one to flirt or dance with. That's alright, soon enough I'll find some fun single girls to go out with. I spent the day reading my book, watching Forrest Gump and cleaning the kitchen. I did go out for a few hours, searching for work clothes. I found a Burlington Coat Factory and a Marshall's close to my place, so my goal was achieved.

Day 17 - The Green Line

Although I went to the Newberry Library today, traveling on the trains and buses were more memorable. The Newberry Library is located near the Gold Coast neighborhood of Chicago. It is an independently funded library that is open to the public. Their collection consists of materials related to history and the humanities. Anyone can do research there, you just have to present your reasons and the topic of your research. They get alot of individuals doing genealogy research. I took the tour, which consisted of a senior citizen who told the story of Walter Newberry and looked like she was going to fall asleep, after every 2-3 sentences. She also walked us around and showed us how the building has changed over time and where the different departments were. It's a neat place, I might go back to check out their collection on Chicago history.

On my way there, I took the commuter train to the Randolph Street station (across the street from Millennium Park). The Randolph station looked like an airport terminal, with the restaurants and bright lights and clean public restrooms. It was a hub for connecting to bus and train lines in the city. From there I had to take the Red line to Chicago Ave, and walk to the library. I had a few hours to kill before the tour, so I had some lunch at the Corner Bakery and window shopped at the Water Tower mall. To get home, I had to take the Red Line to Roosevelt, then the Green Line to Garfield, and the #55 bus to my street. I had been avoiding the Green Line because my roommate said it was dangerous, but I have come to think that she might have been a bit dramatic. Granted, people get shot in Chicago. A lot of these crimes happen on the Southside. The Green Line runs through the Southside. However, plenty of good people live on the Southside and ride the Green Line, plus I was giving it a try at 4:30 in the afternoon, hopefully the hoodlums are still at home. At any rate, the ride was fine. I overheard an intense, multi-generational debate about the impact of prison on Black males and their communities. These men were breaking it down, so that it could forever and consistently be broke. The "man" was in the business of "mind control" and they pay millions of dollars to imprison or keep "the proud black man" down. I think they are starting a book club, starting with the Malcolm X biography, and meeting on the train again next week.

Day 16 - Inside is for the Birds

I am constantly battling the impulse to go outside and explore. On one hand, I'm in Chicago, why am I watching Judge Judy? On the other hand, I need to be on the computer, researching jobs and following up with inquiries on archives. I need to sit my happy ass at home, this is not a vacation. So, I spent the morning cleaning the condo, responding to emails and taking a quick walk to the grocery store. I spent the afternoon taking a nap, writing more emails and making a spaghetti dinner. I caught Dinner for Schmucks, this may be the dumbest movie ever created. If you haven't seen it, consider yourself blessed. In the evening I watched two episodes of America's Next Top Model and researched various repositories in Chicago. There is a Bronzeville Historical Society where they are collecting oral histories of Black people who moved to Chicago from southern states in the 50's and 60's. That might be a cool project to get involved with. A email and a phone call from two of my favorite mentor/friends really brightened the day. I am in constant need of positive reinforcement, anything confirming that I didn't trade broccoli for peas, I'm here for something better, like rainbow sherbet ice cream!

Day 15 - Today's word, J-O-B

Today I had a an interview at The University of Chicago Bookstore. This bookstore is an affiliate of Barnes and Noble, and even though it has all the textbooks, its got a pretty nice general book section. Thank you Scottsdale Public Library for giving me all kinds of insight to reader's advisory. Erin, the assistant manager, was very friendly. We interviewed in a walkway, she asked me a few generic questions, she answered a phone call during the interview, and told me I was overdressed (for a regular work day). These are the highlights of course. I'm starting out as a part-timer in the "book" department, after she checks out my references. Victory, put it in a bottle and sell it to your friends!