Dear Mr. CTA

Oh, I'm sorry, you said what?

You're telling me that I should allow at least 1.5 hours to get to work and 2 hours to get home from work?

You're telling me that there will be a slim to none chance that I will ever get a seat while I'm riding the train for an hour at a time?

You're telling me that you're going to take even more of my money away from me and give me nothing in return?

You're calling yourself a "rapid" transit system?

FUCK YOU.

You've already made my commute long enough with slow-downs thanks to tracks that are in poor condition, switching problems, and/or track signal problems.

It's time for me to get out of Chicago. It's time for me to find a job in a different area of the city. It's time for me to move to a different neighborhood. It's time for me to starting riding a bike everywhere that I need to go.

2007

2006 has come and gone, but I'm sure you all noticed that. I spent the evening alone, with a giant pan of lasagna, and a delicious pear and chocolate cake that I converted from a metric recipe that our old friend Lorenzo passed on to me. I watched a terrible movie, The Last Kiss, and then watched some old episodes of Grey's Anatomy. It was extremely satisfying, and probably the best New Year's Eve that I've had since 2000, and definitely much better than the disaster that took place last year. I took a peek at my post at the opening of 2006 to see what my thoughts were at that point. Looks like the usual year of ups and downs, no? I have to say that 2006 was definitely better than 2005. For the most part, I had tons of fun this last year. I mean, come on, I traveled the world, gave up reality and stability, learned some good farming techniques, told my old job to go to hell, met some really awesome people, got a new job (too bad it's incredibly boring), and took a vacation that seemed like a page out of someone's dreams. I really can't think of anything too terrible that happened to me in 2006, save for the time that I spent mending a trampoline net for a bunch of spoiled kids, when I should have been planting carrots or something.

I'm not going to make resolutions or anything of the like for 2007 because I just don't do that kind of thing. Here are the things that I am working towards and looking forward to in the upcoming year:

- Getting a new job (my interview went really, really well a couple of weeks ago)
- My trip to India in April (or sooner)

That's pretty much it, other than spending time with the people that I enjoy spending time with, but that's something that I always try to do.

Thanks for reading, thanks for commenting, thanks for thinking of me. I've included some pictures that represent my life in 2006.

Irish

Irish pub + Irish bartender + Irish beer + Irish music + Chicago = good times. Thanks Jennifer for rescuing me from an office holiday party and providing me with multiple hours of fun. We will have a standing date until I leave the country.

Strawberries

Do you see these strawberries? Those are the damned strawberries that I planted for three entire days straight, alone and cold, on the top of a windy hill in County Clare, Ireland back in late March. Not to mention, the care that I had to give to each individual plant to "keep them happy" in the following weeks. I was relegated to planting strawberries on the hill when I injured my wrist the week prior. It was an easy enough task, just very mundane. The first day was met with a steady rain and wind. We had laid down black plastic over the ground to keep the weeds down (seeing as though we couldn't use any herbicide, being an organic farm and all). The downfall of the black plastic is the fact that when it rains, the water just pools up in the uneven spots of the earth. This didn't make for much fun for me, seeing as though I was kneeling on the ground while planting the strawberries, and the water slowly seeped into my work boots, not to mention soaked my knees, and every inch of fabric in my pants and socks from waist to toe. Oh yeah, and don't forget that it was raining, so come time to come in for lunch, I was soaked from head to toe. Robin saw me and said "well, if it isn't...Miss Wet!" I told him that I felt like a drowned cat and went upstairs to change my clothes and probably felt like crying. It was one of the lowest days that I had back in County Clare. The following days weren't all that great, seeing as though I was still stuck on "Strawberry Hill" alone, but at least the weather improved. It had warmed up enough on the second day to wake up the bees that were housed mere feet away from me in the strawberry patch. In the middle of the day, at the height of warmth, they were really buzzing, but didn't bother me much. I also brought a flat board with me, so I could sit on that, instead of the wet plastic filled with little pools of water. There were times where I would take a break, and lay down on the wooden board, and just stare up at the blue sky and the wispy clouds, feeling the sun's warmth my face. I would listen to the sheep and lambs bleating. The sheep were annoying, but those little lambs were too damn cute. I also listened to the wind coming through the trees in the small forest next to me, and hear the screams of what I assumed was a wild pig, which sometimes sounds like a woman screaming. The birds were chirping and the bees were buzzing. It became satisfyingly solitary. I had all the time in the day to sit alone and contemplate for hours on end. What did I think about? My family. What I was doing with my life. What I wanted to change in my life. My friends, and how much they meant to me. Trips to Spain and other places in Europe. What travels I would hope to take in the following year to visit people. Self-inventory, so to speak. I had a few revelations on that hill, and some of them I've carried through on.

I can close my eyes today, and see everything that I saw there on top of that hill and hear the sounds. I often wish that I was back on that farm again. For all of the low times, there was so much satisfaction that I got out of the days that I spent there. It definitely felt like a home to me, complete with family. If I could do it all over again, I definitely would, in a heartbeat. I wish I could be there tomorrow, in fact.

Anyway, back to those strawberries. When the farmer talked about those strawberries, you could see the euros in his eyes! I could have cared less about them. Miserable, miserable strawberries! At least I now know that people were able to enjoy them and reap the benefits of my labor.

I just asked the hardest question and had the toughest conversation in my life so far. It's not over yet. I don't feel well. Why do I have to be one of those "glass half empty" people?

Things

1.) I am still in love with WOXY, today has been a superb "Request the X" day.

2.) I think I've gone a couple of weeks without eating bacon or a hot dog. Prepare for the world to come to an end.

3.) It's too damn cold outside.

4.) I've decided not to put up a Christmas tree this year. Why? Because I don't feel like looking at it until March, like I did last year. I am also thinking about forgoing the Christmas cards as well.

5.) I've gotten really lazy about washing the dishes, and have resorted to using paper plates, and making sandwiches that require little or no cutlery, since I am out of or running dangerously close to out of the real stuff. I think I see a pattern arising between points 4 and 5, because I also have a pile of laundry on the floor similar to last year's.

6.) I am tremendously bored with my job, and have been thinking about not showing up one day and saying "You know, I just don't think this is the right fit for me."

7.) I now have enough money saved up to buy a plane ticket to India in the spring. Now, I need to nail down the specific two weeks I'll be spending there in April or May. Any suggestions?

8.) I have secured a meeting with an HR Recruiter to discuss job opportunities in India with the Target Corporation.

9.) I wish I had my farmer physique back.

10.) If you think that Gnarls Barkley's "Crazy" is even remotely close to your top 20 songs of 2006, I can no longer be your friend or acquaintance, and you obviously did not spend time in Europe between the months of March and May, and heard it every time the radio was on, no matter the station, no matter the location. The same probably goes for the U.S. between the months of June and September, but I wouldn't know. Thank God I have non-commercial radio choices in America!

HOT DAMN!!

Today was a good day of election result news. It's been a while since I've felt so excited by an election (probably since we were all on pins and needles back in 2000). It gives me a feeling of hope, hope for change. Change number one has already occurred, and in a big way. The Secretary of Defense, Donald Rumsfeld, has announced his resignation. Earlier this morning, I was listening to "Mr. You're on Fire Mr." by The Liars, and all I could think about was G.W. and his bunch, and what a gaggle of liars they are, and how I wished all of them were running around with their pants on fire. About an hour later, the news broke that one of the biggest liars was stepping down. We were met with a press conference, featuring the bumbling idiot, Georgie, acting like his normal stuttering asshole self, and saying things like "we took a thumpin'" Since this was bigger than normal news, I really, REALLY, had to fight the temptation to turn off his voice. But I "stayed the course" - BARF!! Anyway, America showed up in the millions to vote out the people that were making this country unbearable, and put more pressure on the ones that are running things to listen to what the people are saying. Oh yeah, and not to mention, actually challenge the President when he decides that it's convenient to ignore or change the law.

I read this quote from Abraham Lincoln today:

"Any people anywhere, being inclined and having the power, have the right to rise up, and shake off the existing government... "

Now, if only we could show up in the millions to make a very public and organized stand against the rest of the Georgie administration, including their clown leader, and throw them the hell off the hill.

My dad once said a funny thing: "I've never voted for the president, but I've voted in every election." And followed it up with "Voting is the most important right that we have." Thank you everyone out there who showed up with a voice and a vote, it's the only thing we can do to try to make a difference. It doesn't matter which way you vote, you are still expressing your own opinion about how YOU want things run. This time, it turned out for the better, fortunately, and now hopefully we will see something different coming to us in the near future.

The Look of a Thief

Do I look like I'm up to something?

Tonight, I was coerced into a justifiable "dine and dash" at a very mediocre national chain restaurant. The funny thing is that it was master-minded by a birthday girl and mother of two. Things were made simpler by removing the husband and the two kids from the table first. Then, my dear friend, whom I love more than my own body, basically up and said let's get the hell out of here, and her sister and I followed suit, in a bit of a rush. So rushed, in fact, that I practically shoved the five year old out the door. I must say that it was exhilarating, I don't think I've done anything that deviant for a great while. We laughed heartily upon exit of the parking lot. Oh Canuck Pirate, the things you get me into!

Hello Again My Old Friend!

A few weeks ago, I said goodbye to an old friend. Now my old friend is back. WOXY.com has been resurrected AGAIN my friends! That's right, the world of music is spinning on the axis in the right direction for me again. Like a crush that just won't go away, WOXY has resurfaced, and I lust for it all over again. At 10:10 AM today, I was graced with its presence thanks to the kind folks over at lala.com, who saw the gem that WOXY holds in the music world, and took a jump. They came in, struck a deal, and now it's a happy family. If you haven't checked out lala, you should, especially if you have some cds that you want to liquidate, and in return get some new cool music for yourself. AND, you should definitely go over to woxy.com, tune in, and listen for a good while. You will not be disappointed. If I find out that you haven't been there, and listened, I will hunt you down, tie you to a chair, and press "play" on your computer. That's what I would like to call a promise full of threats.

BAM!!! KICK OUT THE JAMS, MOTHERFUCKERS!!

Edit: Damn, five hours later, it's been like one big dance party. This station makes me so excited that I just want to scream. When I am an old woman, I hope that I'm still listening to this station. I am in love over and over...

The Week in Review

I've had a pretty busy week:

Last weekend, I made a trip up to Door County, Wisconsin for a friend's wedding. Door County was quaint, serves good breakfast and overpriced hotel rooms. I wish I would have had a little more time to enjoy the area, especially the northern end of Lake Michigan and Peninsula State Park. The bride and groom opted for a pig roast for their guests. It was absolutely delicious, and I really wish that more people had huge parties that warranted an entire pig for everyone to enjoy, even if it does scare little kids...


On Tuesday, I went to see my old pretend boyfriend, Sufjan Stevens, perform. Last year, he and his entourage were dressed as cheerleaders and did onstage cheers, and a human pyramid, and primarily performed songs from the Illinoise album. This time around, he and his bandmates donned butterfly wings (color bird wings for Sufjan), and put on an amazingly beautiful performance with songs from almost all of his albums. He had six violin players, two cellists, a trombone player, two trumpeteers, and then a percussionist, and two jacks-of-many trades. He reminded me how nice the banjo sounds in a couple of songs, and delighted the crowd with a new piece that really rocks out unexpectedly at the end. I hope I get the chance to see it performed again live someday.

On Saturday, I made my first trip into the lovely state of Michigan for another wedding, and yet another overpriced hotel room. Although it rained during the outdoor ceremony, the words were meaningful and heartfelt. The reception was a lot of fun, and us late partiers thoroughly enjoyed ourselves, especially with the open bar. I love going to the weddings of close friends, it always feels like you're with extended family, and everyone has such a good time. We danced and drank the night away. I caught the bouquet for the umpteenth time, and for the first time, actually had to participate in the tradition of the lucky bachelor who caught the bride's garter getting the opportunity to slip it on my leg. I'm looking forward to pictures of that specific event, I'm sure they're fantastic... In the meantime, you can catch myself and said bachelor, my favorite Ohirish sisters, and me and the bride below.