Another Walk Home Day completed. Every week, I something different...or at least differentLY.
I came to a pond near Lincoln Park Zoo and spotted a collection of pointy little aquatic arrows like a geometric landscape frozen into the water. But it's September and there is no ice. Then I heard it...the honking of a gaggle of geese leaving a wake as they cruised determinedly (sp?) toward some park visitors that maybe? had some food??
A bit later, I came across the tiniest of dirt beaches on which lay perfect granite statues, only feathered. Some ducks sat flat on the dirt but most stood completely motionless on one foot with their bill tucked neatly under one wing, SLEEPING! How incredible!
As I got closer to home, I noticed that shadows had long ago shaded my path and a cool breeze had kicked up. The days were getting shorter.
I don't plan to discontinue my WHDs, but the calendar may call for changes.
I can A) leave work earlier; or B) walk faster or, dare I say it? RUN; or C) shorten my WHD.
Since work is getting busier, leaving earlier is a "no can do. " As for B, I walk pretty fast to begin with (as most of my friends and ex-boyfriends will attest to) and running??? I do not runn* unless someone is chasing me...and they're armed! (*it should be a four-letter word).
So that leaves me with C, shortening my WHD. I'm thinking I could cut about 30 minutes off by taking a bus or L train to the north end of the loop. It's cheating, I know, and not as much exercise. And I'll miss daydreaming over the gorgeous stone mansions just south of North Avenue.
We'll see.
Friday, September 16, 2005
Do I need this?
I met a guy, actually two guys, while I was at the Cubs game the other night. One wanted my complete attention and the other wanted my money.
No, I wasn't robbed.
At least I don't think I was. Okay, on second thought, I probably was.
The first guy I'll called the Unfan, walked past me in the ballpark, but stopped and came back. I was sitting in the first row of the aisle next to a bunch of empty seats. He asked if they were taken (what is this, a movie theatre?) and I said that I didn't know. He sat down two seats from me and started talking to me and NEVER STOPPED!
His name is Matt and he's at the game because a friend of his gave him these tickets at the last minute. Does he go to a lot of games? No. He doesn't really think of it (his words). He doesn't really like to watch games. He then proceeded to tell me that his favorite baseball player was Roberto Clemente (what? when you were about 2?, I was thinking)
That's when I stopped listening.
Attention male sports event spectators!!! If a woman is attending a sporting event alone, she is probably a big fan of that sport and WANTS TO WATCH THE GAME so shut the F up!
After the fourth inning, I really had to go to the loo, so I excused myself, saying "bathroom break" and did just that. Of course, I didn't come back to my seat, instead searching out a Wrigley Field employee who allowed me to sit closer to homeplate (since it wasn't a sellout).
Whew!
After the game, things got really weird. While walking home, I met an East Coast guy who told me that he was supposed to get a ride to the airport from a friend of a friend, but that guy got arrested and his car is impounded (with Bahston guy's luggage, wallet and cell phone in it). He needs $12 to get this guy bailed out because the jailee has $82 and bail is $100.
As I write this, I'm thinking it was a scam. God is getting back at me for delaying my contribution to the Katrina recovery. (There are so many ways to contribute, I'm trying to decide whether to just give $$ or volunteer at the Red Cross or what.)
Anyway, this guy used my cell phone to call the friend who set up the ride (and leave him a nasty message about his situation). And yes, I did check the number and got a pre-recorded message about the party not being available. Totally suspicious.
Okay, yes I did give this idiot some $$ (not much) and directions to the Belmont/Western police station (where the jailee was supposedly being held).
Oh, and Bahston guy told me he just signed a rental agreement in the highrise across the street from me and is moving to Chicago to open a bar in Wrigleyville. He asked me to write down my name and cell phone number so he can call me and return the money. Yeah, right!
Great, just what we need...more bars in Wrigleyville and more men with no common sense...or even worse, more scam artists!
If this is what's out there on the singles scene, maybe my mom was right: I should've become a nun!
No, I wasn't robbed.
At least I don't think I was. Okay, on second thought, I probably was.
The first guy I'll called the Unfan, walked past me in the ballpark, but stopped and came back. I was sitting in the first row of the aisle next to a bunch of empty seats. He asked if they were taken (what is this, a movie theatre?) and I said that I didn't know. He sat down two seats from me and started talking to me and NEVER STOPPED!
His name is Matt and he's at the game because a friend of his gave him these tickets at the last minute. Does he go to a lot of games? No. He doesn't really think of it (his words). He doesn't really like to watch games. He then proceeded to tell me that his favorite baseball player was Roberto Clemente (what? when you were about 2?, I was thinking)
That's when I stopped listening.
Attention male sports event spectators!!! If a woman is attending a sporting event alone, she is probably a big fan of that sport and WANTS TO WATCH THE GAME so shut the F up!
After the fourth inning, I really had to go to the loo, so I excused myself, saying "bathroom break" and did just that. Of course, I didn't come back to my seat, instead searching out a Wrigley Field employee who allowed me to sit closer to homeplate (since it wasn't a sellout).
Whew!
After the game, things got really weird. While walking home, I met an East Coast guy who told me that he was supposed to get a ride to the airport from a friend of a friend, but that guy got arrested and his car is impounded (with Bahston guy's luggage, wallet and cell phone in it). He needs $12 to get this guy bailed out because the jailee has $82 and bail is $100.
As I write this, I'm thinking it was a scam. God is getting back at me for delaying my contribution to the Katrina recovery. (There are so many ways to contribute, I'm trying to decide whether to just give $$ or volunteer at the Red Cross or what.)
Anyway, this guy used my cell phone to call the friend who set up the ride (and leave him a nasty message about his situation). And yes, I did check the number and got a pre-recorded message about the party not being available. Totally suspicious.
Okay, yes I did give this idiot some $$ (not much) and directions to the Belmont/Western police station (where the jailee was supposedly being held).
Oh, and Bahston guy told me he just signed a rental agreement in the highrise across the street from me and is moving to Chicago to open a bar in Wrigleyville. He asked me to write down my name and cell phone number so he can call me and return the money. Yeah, right!
Great, just what we need...more bars in Wrigleyville and more men with no common sense...or even worse, more scam artists!
If this is what's out there on the singles scene, maybe my mom was right: I should've become a nun!
Tuesday, September 13, 2005
Phrase of the day
Here's the situation: two new people work in our office and, little by little, they are screwing with everyone's work; calling external contractors who have already been called; telling longtime colleagues how to do their jobs; creating conference schedules that already exist - - you get the picture.
I'm calling it "blind polka."
Toes will be stepped on, bruising will occur. The best thing to do is stay out of their way and wait until they get tired of the dance and sit down.
I'm calling it "blind polka."
Toes will be stepped on, bruising will occur. The best thing to do is stay out of their way and wait until they get tired of the dance and sit down.
Sunday, September 11, 2005
Grab and go
Today is September 11 and I don't know anyone who needs to be reminded of what this day means to Americans. Watching the TV movies showing the collapse of the Twin Towers and the destruction at the Pentagon makes one think of what's important. Thousands of people left for work in the morning, just like any other day. But they never came home.
For more than a week now, we've been hearing the stories of the evacuees from Hurricane Katrina. People in Louisiana and Mississippi left behind their clothes, family photos, all of their wordly belongings and even their beloved family pets to escape the water and save their lives.
If my life were being threatened by wind, water, fire or manmade hostilities, what would I take with me?
What would you take?
For more than a week now, we've been hearing the stories of the evacuees from Hurricane Katrina. People in Louisiana and Mississippi left behind their clothes, family photos, all of their wordly belongings and even their beloved family pets to escape the water and save their lives.
If my life were being threatened by wind, water, fire or manmade hostilities, what would I take with me?
What would you take?
A change in the air
What is it about a change of seasons that makes a person want to change other things??
Of course, I recognize that it's normal for me to get antsy at this time of year; the school kids are buying supplies and new clothes and preparing for a new school year; the level of busy-ness at work escalates; and I finalize plans for my annual birthday trip.
But this year, with a lot of help from HGTV (Home and Garden television, for those out-of-US folks), I've been planning some remodeling. Okay, let's be honest: I've been "planning" to remodel my 1950s-era bathroom for the entire three years that I've lived in my condo. Until lately, this "planning" has been entirely confined to the small, crowded space between my ears. But this weekend, I actually went out to price a new tub, sink, shower doors, etc.
I have one thing to say: AAARRRRGGGHHH!!!
Those people that know me will not be at all surprised to discover that pretty much everything that I liked was the MOST EXPENSIVE item available! i.e. the tub is $1200, the shower door(s) is $1900 (plus $350 for nickel finish instead of chrome), the sink.....okay, don't even get me started on sinks!
Did I mention that my bathroom is the smallest bathroom known to man? I call it the "mini pee."
I haven't even given much thought to tile, although I'm leaning toward only tiling the tub area and leaving the rest of the walls for paint.
After hearing how much I would be spending on this tiny space, I was offered the services of an interior designer...for free! Something for free? OMG, I think I'll faint! The designer's job is to provide ideas to the homeowner.
Um, well, I've never really been short of ideas. For example, instead of a regular bathroom door, I'd like to put in a pocket door (slides into the wall) and install a 6-inch deep cabinet into the behind-the-door space. Of course, the cabinet would have to be custom-made. $$$
I've got some info on a guy who should be able to do the work for me. (He's a young Polish guy with a strange name, but he answers to "Jimmy.") A friend of mine had her bathroom remodeled by this guy and he was done in 2 weeks. I'll have to check my calendar...for next spring, I think.
I took notes on manufacturers and style names so now it's up to me to find better prices and if there is one thing I am good at, it's getting the most for my money!
Oh, and if all goes well, my bedroom is next on the schedule. How does yellow walls, a white ceiling and bamboo wood floors sound? I'm going for a summer beach house look.
Wish me luck!!
Of course, I recognize that it's normal for me to get antsy at this time of year; the school kids are buying supplies and new clothes and preparing for a new school year; the level of busy-ness at work escalates; and I finalize plans for my annual birthday trip.
But this year, with a lot of help from HGTV (Home and Garden television, for those out-of-US folks), I've been planning some remodeling. Okay, let's be honest: I've been "planning" to remodel my 1950s-era bathroom for the entire three years that I've lived in my condo. Until lately, this "planning" has been entirely confined to the small, crowded space between my ears. But this weekend, I actually went out to price a new tub, sink, shower doors, etc.
I have one thing to say: AAARRRRGGGHHH!!!
Those people that know me will not be at all surprised to discover that pretty much everything that I liked was the MOST EXPENSIVE item available! i.e. the tub is $1200, the shower door(s) is $1900 (plus $350 for nickel finish instead of chrome), the sink.....okay, don't even get me started on sinks!
Did I mention that my bathroom is the smallest bathroom known to man? I call it the "mini pee."
I haven't even given much thought to tile, although I'm leaning toward only tiling the tub area and leaving the rest of the walls for paint.
After hearing how much I would be spending on this tiny space, I was offered the services of an interior designer...for free! Something for free? OMG, I think I'll faint! The designer's job is to provide ideas to the homeowner.
Um, well, I've never really been short of ideas. For example, instead of a regular bathroom door, I'd like to put in a pocket door (slides into the wall) and install a 6-inch deep cabinet into the behind-the-door space. Of course, the cabinet would have to be custom-made. $$$
I've got some info on a guy who should be able to do the work for me. (He's a young Polish guy with a strange name, but he answers to "Jimmy.") A friend of mine had her bathroom remodeled by this guy and he was done in 2 weeks. I'll have to check my calendar...for next spring, I think.
I took notes on manufacturers and style names so now it's up to me to find better prices and if there is one thing I am good at, it's getting the most for my money!
Oh, and if all goes well, my bedroom is next on the schedule. How does yellow walls, a white ceiling and bamboo wood floors sound? I'm going for a summer beach house look.
Wish me luck!!
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