observations & aesthetics

Chicago.

PHOTOS
What I see.
all pictures in this section are mine.
- Walking to work.
- Places I have been.
- Where I call home.
- Nature.
Hi Ann, I see you’ve put a lot of work into your page. I loved your incorporation of the Emmerson…
Great job this semester Ann, I like how the final site is looking!
Hi Ann, I can’t believe I didn’t realize this was down here until now. I read all of the updates,…
Hi Ann, Five days off sounds amazing! I know what you mean about feeling like you need to DO SOMETHING…
Hi Ann, I see you’ve put a lot of work into your page. I loved your incorporation of the Emmerson…
16 responses to “Home”
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Yes! I wanted to comment on your Lake Michigan picture last week! The sky looks like its digitally created, maybe even blurry… It’s a cool contrast with the sharpness of the waves. I didn’t see the no diving sign before, and it adds to the picture. Not sure I’d want to swim in that spot even if I was allowed. Seems risky against the rocks.
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I’m really enjoying the photos and aesthetic of your blog. The tiger lilies were such a nice touch, something that exists in juxtaposition to the urban area surrounding them. I’m looking forward to seeing how your blog changes over time.
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Hi, Ann I actually just went to lake Michigan for the first time last weekend and it was beautiful. I loved it I didn’t go to Argyle though the pictures you posted do a great job of encompassing the beauty of this lake
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Hi Ann,
I love the way you are setting up your page. The colors and fonts speak to what your are wanting to convey. Like you there are many sides of me that people see and it’s rare to see them all. Also I think it is so important to take the time for yourself when you wake up. I like to get my coffee, stretch and just be there. You have a great outlook to want to jump into each day! That will help you go far!!LikeLike
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Ann,
I love the layout of your site. The combination of your photography and the color scheme makes for a ‘serene’ visiting experience.
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(Replying to About Me) Love the Emerson quote. I enjoyed reading about how you like to start your day. I can ONLY start my day with coffee. I wish I was able to sit still in the morning and appreciate what the day has to offer but I have to get up and go ASAP or I’ll fall back asleep.
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Kind of awkward my replies seem to be back-to-back (at least on my computer?) but, whatever right?
Replying to your Staycation content. I can relate to the need for solitude… I’ve always identified as shy, even though I’m out in public most of my free time working, studying, or running errands. It may be hard for my family to understand when I just need to shut myself in my room for a bit…pull the curtain down, and turn on some ambient lighting.
If you’re anything like me, we give so much of ourselves to the world, and need that time to self care and recover. I appreciate you sharing about your personal life. It seems full and thoughtful. Great update and addition. I hope the staycation went well. ( I got a little behind on school too )
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Hi, Ann! I was just reading about your staycation! It’s fortuitous that you did end up with time off, because it sounds like you’re someone who takes on a lot at once which can be overwhelming even for someone who is really adept at handling multiple tasks. What stood out to me is that you mentioned finishing a Murakami novel. Which is it? I’m a huge fan! I can’t decide if Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World is my favorite or Kafka on the Shore. There’s something about his writing that just draws me in, most probably because I’m also a fan of his influences (Franz Kafka and Raymond Chandler). I find it fascinating how much of himself makes it into his books, as he always writes about lemon drops and Cutty Sark.
Also, I think it’s probably healthier to focus on enjoying nature and the seasons than reflecting on social media. I honestly haven’t looked back once I dropped off of it. It makes for better mental health, I think. Less stress worrying about what’s going on in social media, especially with so many posts masquerading as news. Thanks for posting, Ann!
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Hi Ann,
I see you’ve put a lot of work into your page. I loved your incorporation of the Emmerson quote, and the photos you’ve got on here are beautiful! I am jealous of your staycation 🙂LikeLike
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Hi Ann,
Five days off sounds amazing! I know what you mean about feeling like you need to DO SOMETHING when you have a little extra time, but we really do undervalue taking time for restoration. Sometimes just doing nothing is the best thing you can do for yourself, right?
And hard agree- alone time is the best.
I hope you feel like your time away from work helped you feel well positioned to keep going. Thanks for sharing with us.
LikeLike
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Hi Ann,
I can’t believe I didn’t realize this was down here until now.
I read all of the updates, including the part about binge-watching. I’m the same way; I can’t binge something I’ve never seen before. I can only do that with shows I’ve already seen. I find this to be even more rewarding because I’m rediscovering what it was I liked about a show in the first place.
But I can’t do it for something new. It would be like signing up for a new class, then doing all of my homework in the first week. Would it save me time? Sure. Would I actually learn anything? Not as much as if I took my time with it.
I’m glad I got the chance to comment on your blog before the end of class. Have fun in the Fall!
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Great job this semester Ann, I like how the final site is looking!
LikeLike
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Hi Ann,
I see you’ve put a lot of work into your page. I loved your incorporation of the Emmerson quote, and the photos you’ve got on here are beautiful! I am jealous of your staycation 🙂LikeLike
ABOUT ME
I am Ann.
You might see me every day, but you probably only see one part of the mosaic that is my life. There’s Student Ann, Wrigley Field Ann, Punch Bowl Ann, Travel Team Ann, Comedy Ann. Home Ann that does laundry and makes food. The Ann strangers see on the train.
It’s hard work to balance all of what I have going on. But if I stay organized, it can be okay. I have this whiteboard with blank days of the week that I’m obsessed with. I update it daily.
I take time at the beginning of the day to just have coffee. Check the headlines & IG & my horoscope. Like, I’m going to do all the things, but not for a minute. Morning is my favorite time of day. Everything is new & I want to jump into it. Get as much done before I have to go to one job or the other.


Lake Michigan, Chicago, Argyle Street Beach
Walking to Work. July, 2022
Red Tiger Lillies
Almost there
Sometimes I Rant.
So I honestly have nothing against Nascar or racing. But there’s a place to do it. A racetrack. I hear there’s a few good ones already in place. You know what is not a racetrack? Downtown Chicago. It might feel like it sometimes in the back of my Uber, but it’s really not.
Our brilliant leaders in City Hall have decided to bring Nascar to the streets of Chicago next July. I don’t know why we need this. I just see it as a disruption to those to need to access those streets and areas for work and home. The only drag race I ever need outside my door involves RuPaul.

Drag racing as already a problem in this city. We’re also one of the most violent cites in the world. So let’s bring this sort of crazy racing energy to downtown when it’s already hot and crowded during the 4th of July.
Staycation 2022
I meant to go out & do things, but…
I also haven’t felt like leaving the house. I am content to stay in. I have to deal with people all day long, no matter which job I go to. I ride public transportation with a lot of other people. Then I live in a building with a lot more people. Some of them are really bad at things like riding elevators or using a shared laundry room. There are no people in my apartment. It’s nice here.
As much as it would be great to get a very overdue mani/pedi & go see some fish swim around at the aquarium (my two big plans) for my Five Days Off In A Row, I feel like I can go do that when I’m already supposed to go out & just make it happen. Like just go out really early when I’m working at night & just Go Already.
Time to catch up.
I accidentally wound up with almost a week off between both jobs, which doesn’t normally happen. I usually have zero days off. I started to try to fill that time with work like I normally do, but this time I said No. Just take the days. I’ve gotten behind in school, & I need to get back on track. My lack of natural aptitude is making me have to redo everything, but I’m starting to get it.
I’ve also been making actual meals, potting my new succulents from Leaf & Clay, & finally finished my Murakami novel. Going about my day doing little things in my apartment here & there. Listening to the summer sounds & keeping my windows open. Not partying, not binge-watching, not keeping up with socials. Not keeping on a particular schedule, but rising early because I like to.
Solitude is Underrated
I’m not exactly anti-social. I have friends & I like to go out & do things. I’m even going to a comedy thing tonight. I’m just okay with being alone most of the time. I’ve lived with roommates & boyfriends, but I prefer my own space. I don’t have to deal with any mess or drama or random weird food. I don’t wake up to strangers in my kitchen. I can only survive dealing with people (which is what I do) with the balance of solitude.
Explanation of Style
I started with the template named Marl. I was drawn to its clean, open feel. I’ve kept the original colors, the deep sea and the off-white. Marl’s purpose was selling, & I am not so I deleted those functions. The ceramic dishes Marl sold were actually really nice. Earth-toned and large, like what you would use to serve fancy food in a casual setting.
I used my own images, as much as I liked the bowls. I enjoy photography & art–creating my own & appreciating of what others create. I’ve always been drawn to Japan & am always learning new words & facts on IG. I decided on that print for the first image since it went well with the site colors & it represents my love for Japan.
I see fun things & pretty things, so I often photograph them. I included some on my page as well.
I like the colors because they are cool, yet comforting. They remind me of the beach. I love to visit & think about the ocean. I’ve only seen the Atlantic, never the Pacific. I’ve also lived next to two Great Lakes now, Erie & Michigan.
I was writing about my font & realized that I wanted to change it altogether. I was doing Fira Sans, which is related to Comic Sans, & I was starting to notice that more & more. I switched over to Garamond with a brief flirtation with Helvetica. I like the cleanness of Helvetica & its Neue, but they didn’t fit.
I prefer serif fonts. They resemble books & I like the vintage feel. I love Georgia, so I like Garamond.
Rabbit Ears
Yes, I have rabbit ears plugged into my digital tv. Of course I have a streaming device & apps–paid, free, & shared. I don’t have Netflix anymore, but I don’t mind Stranger Things spoilers. Go ahead.
I’ve been watching Hulu the most. I don’t have much time for watching anything these days, & the idea of binge-watching makes me itchy. I don’t like to be in the front of the tube for hours like that. I like to put on one or sometimes two episodes of Bob’s Burgers while I eat & decompress from work. They’re fun, they’re familiar, & I don’t have to be glued to the screen so I don’t miss something. I can do dishes & take out the trash. I realized there are 5 episodes from the current season that I haven’t seen yet. I am saving them for when I do want to pay attention. I have a number of shows like that. We all do.
I don’t bother firing up the Apple TV all the time, though. I’m not looking to Watch something or build a particular mood. Like, I’m one of those people who put on a certain movie or something to go with a mood or aesthetic I’m into that day. No, I just want the background. A white noise or just a visual instead of an inert screen. Then I’m clicking on the broadcast channels. I like to have MeTV on in the early mornings when I’m first up & about. I have the sound on really low while I’m drinking my first cup of coffee & getting myself & my house “awake”. My reward for getting up at 6 is cartoons. I don’t always get rewarded, but it helps. Then it’s Leave it to Beaver, then Perry Mason. This last one I’ll actually watch sometimes. I like stories & the black & white & the sights of vintage LA. Then it’s Matlock & I mute it. I like the 80s look of it, however.
Bittersweet
It’s hot & verdant with summer for the longest time, & one day everything is different out of nowhere. The breeze is cool in the mornings & after the sun is down. I’ve been wearing hoodies again. We take down racks of tank tops at work & replace them with zip-ups for night games. I enjoy the slight change in the season. It’s still summer, just a different variety of summer. The sky is the clearest blue, but the Tiger Lillies are gone. Now I see purple Morning Glory vines on the iron fences along the sidewalk.
It’s not time for Halloween yet. It can stay off my Insta feeds until October. I am dreading the Pumpkin Spice invasion. I like it, but it doesn’t need to be in everything & it doesn’t have to happen earlier every year. Don’t get me started on Christmas. I hate being bombarded by the holidays. They become less enjoyable that way.
I just like to enjoy things in their time. Let’s have Christmas stuff for like three weeks in December & put it away & start the new year clear of that clutter. Right now let’s just appreciate the first change in the air. Hot showers hit different, as do blankets. Don’t be afraid to let August be August. The long warm days bookended with hints of chill. New semester creeping into the edges & fresh notebooks waiting patiently. Taking that last opportunity for vacation.
Thank You for your kind comments
I have enjoyed reading the nice words that everyone has written this semester. It means a lot that people have noticed this. I have decided to continue with this blog. I am very encouraged by everyone.
I hope you will continue, too. A lot of this class has been discovering a different voice & I hope you have a good journey.
To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment
Ralph Waldo Emerson
16 responses to “Home”
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Yes! I wanted to comment on your Lake Michigan picture last week! The sky looks like its digitally created, maybe even blurry… It’s a cool contrast with the sharpness of the waves. I didn’t see the no diving sign before, and it adds to the picture. Not sure I’d want to swim in that spot even if I was allowed. Seems risky against the rocks.
LikeLike
-
I’m really enjoying the photos and aesthetic of your blog. The tiger lilies were such a nice touch, something that exists in juxtaposition to the urban area surrounding them. I’m looking forward to seeing how your blog changes over time.
LikeLike
-
Hi, Ann I actually just went to lake Michigan for the first time last weekend and it was beautiful. I loved it I didn’t go to Argyle though the pictures you posted do a great job of encompassing the beauty of this lake
LikeLike
-
Hi Ann,
I love the way you are setting up your page. The colors and fonts speak to what your are wanting to convey. Like you there are many sides of me that people see and it’s rare to see them all. Also I think it is so important to take the time for yourself when you wake up. I like to get my coffee, stretch and just be there. You have a great outlook to want to jump into each day! That will help you go far!!LikeLike
-
Ann,
I love the layout of your site. The combination of your photography and the color scheme makes for a ‘serene’ visiting experience.
LikeLike
-
(Replying to About Me) Love the Emerson quote. I enjoyed reading about how you like to start your day. I can ONLY start my day with coffee. I wish I was able to sit still in the morning and appreciate what the day has to offer but I have to get up and go ASAP or I’ll fall back asleep.
LikeLike
-
Kind of awkward my replies seem to be back-to-back (at least on my computer?) but, whatever right?
Replying to your Staycation content. I can relate to the need for solitude… I’ve always identified as shy, even though I’m out in public most of my free time working, studying, or running errands. It may be hard for my family to understand when I just need to shut myself in my room for a bit…pull the curtain down, and turn on some ambient lighting.
If you’re anything like me, we give so much of ourselves to the world, and need that time to self care and recover. I appreciate you sharing about your personal life. It seems full and thoughtful. Great update and addition. I hope the staycation went well. ( I got a little behind on school too )
LikeLike
-
Hi, Ann! I was just reading about your staycation! It’s fortuitous that you did end up with time off, because it sounds like you’re someone who takes on a lot at once which can be overwhelming even for someone who is really adept at handling multiple tasks. What stood out to me is that you mentioned finishing a Murakami novel. Which is it? I’m a huge fan! I can’t decide if Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World is my favorite or Kafka on the Shore. There’s something about his writing that just draws me in, most probably because I’m also a fan of his influences (Franz Kafka and Raymond Chandler). I find it fascinating how much of himself makes it into his books, as he always writes about lemon drops and Cutty Sark.
Also, I think it’s probably healthier to focus on enjoying nature and the seasons than reflecting on social media. I honestly haven’t looked back once I dropped off of it. It makes for better mental health, I think. Less stress worrying about what’s going on in social media, especially with so many posts masquerading as news. Thanks for posting, Ann!
LikeLike
-
Hi Ann,
I see you’ve put a lot of work into your page. I loved your incorporation of the Emmerson quote, and the photos you’ve got on here are beautiful! I am jealous of your staycation 🙂LikeLike
-
Hi Ann,
Five days off sounds amazing! I know what you mean about feeling like you need to DO SOMETHING when you have a little extra time, but we really do undervalue taking time for restoration. Sometimes just doing nothing is the best thing you can do for yourself, right?
And hard agree- alone time is the best.
I hope you feel like your time away from work helped you feel well positioned to keep going. Thanks for sharing with us.
LikeLike
-
Hi Ann,
I can’t believe I didn’t realize this was down here until now.
I read all of the updates, including the part about binge-watching. I’m the same way; I can’t binge something I’ve never seen before. I can only do that with shows I’ve already seen. I find this to be even more rewarding because I’m rediscovering what it was I liked about a show in the first place.
But I can’t do it for something new. It would be like signing up for a new class, then doing all of my homework in the first week. Would it save me time? Sure. Would I actually learn anything? Not as much as if I took my time with it.
I’m glad I got the chance to comment on your blog before the end of class. Have fun in the Fall!
LikeLike
-
Great job this semester Ann, I like how the final site is looking!
LikeLike
-
Hi Ann,
I see you’ve put a lot of work into your page. I loved your incorporation of the Emmerson quote, and the photos you’ve got on here are beautiful! I am jealous of your staycation 🙂LikeLike
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