Chicago

Just got back from Chicago! My sister bought me some cheap next-day tickets for a 10-day trip. It was awesome, because I couldn’t stand the boredom at home any longer…

Things we did:

– the modern exhibit at the Institute of Art…they’ve built a new wing and a bridge for public access (the architecture in Chicago is always fascinating)

– the comic stand-up show “Nice Jewish Girls Gone Bad”, including crass jokes and burlesque, ridiculously funny

– the farmer’s market…we bought little tomatoes and made spaghetti with tomato sauce

– the zoo! very close to the apartment

– singing songs on the guitar…for days without end…

– “Cat and Mouse Convention” concert

– a gelato party! her friend had concocted a lot of new flavors in the last couple of months, in preparation for opening her gelato shop in Hawaii

– a dance party in a bar…never again will I drink whisky

– running along the river, doing falun gong (finally I don’t feel like a rock)

– exploring Lincoln Park (where she lives) and Wicker Park, a hipster neighborhood

– the movie “Julie and Julia”

– a Labor Day barbecue at the beach, an intense game of Bagg

– jazz festival at Grant Park, pic-a-nicking, happy hour

– a showing of E.T. in the park at night, with the doggies!

– laundry and the creepy laundry room

It’s been a great vacation…I love Chicago during the summer, the lake, the open spaces, the buildings, the free events, the parks… It’s a fabulous city. Just got back to the wind and rain in Philadelphia, and another week left til I go back to Spain.

Rant rant

NYTimes Complaint Box

I love reading the complaint box section of the New York Times. And then reading the millions of comments that follow. You get some interesting insight into what New Yorkers are thinking and their sense of morale. I’m just so surprised by how angry and curmudgeonly a lot of the commentators are. I especially like the comments on this one because of the reknowned zoned-out-ness of subway riders in the city — a peculiar New York brand of preoccupation that doesn’t seem to exist in other cities. I LIKE it.

I also really liked last week’s, about unexpected “inappropriate art” while wandering into a museum with your kids: Adult Art
People do need to get a grip; the comments say it all.

Blarrr…

Well here I am. At home, doing practically nothing, playing the guitar, watching episodes of Aida, reading the news, watching my cats as they sleep…

It seems as if more than a month has passed since I’ve come back from Spain. I already have my visa sorted out from the Consulate General, and we’ve already celebrated my birthday, I’ve already gotten pretty drunk in New York and spent enough time with my family and friends. I wish there were more to do in Philly, but I actually don’t even wanna be in the city with all this heat… I’m a homebody without transport.

I’m proud to have learned to play the guitar at least better than the last time. I have a small repertoire of songs (all covers, ahem) that I’m trying to improve for my grand debut…the audience consisting of my sister and parents.

I’m also reading more here and there…Greek mythology, National Geographic issues, poetry, my old journals, Shakespeare, etc…and writing more, playing with pastels…

It’s too hot. I’m going to do more of nothing.