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.