Winter... in Chicago

January was spent on tender-hooks, waiting to hear about the job. Well, the long and short of it is that I didn't get the job. They said they liked me, and I believe them, but I didn't get it. (So it must not have been all that perfect, right? at least not for me)

But it got me back to Chicago. Home. After traveling for more than a year, it is GOOD to be Home. Even in the winter. Even here. Though by the end of March I was seriously fantasising about Spain, or Italy, or Thailand (they always need English teachers -- and the cost of living is about what I can afford...)

I spent February and March looking for some other job. Something perfect. Because after taking time off and traveling, following my dreams, I want to find a job where I follow my "bliss" as good old Leo says.

The tedium of March was broken by my brother's wedding -- a beautiful ceremony in a tiny church, in a tiny town, in Spain! The family church. Where "Uncle Blue" somehow managed to pack 80 people into a building I thought was filled by 30!

And when I got back there was a message on my phone inviting me to interview at The Zoo. I say it as if there were only one here. Everyone asks, "which zoo?" But to me, there is really only the one. Its the one we went to when I was a kid. Its the one I used to walk past (or through) on my way to and from work. The Zoo. Lincoln Park Zoo.

So life has completed another circle. I'm working with the farm animals. Learning how to groom a horse, milk and feed a cow, handle rabbits and chickens, all that stuff. There are even pigs! My cousins would be so proud of my new found knowledge!

Transitions

I have been reminded, gently, a couple times in the past few weeks that I have been very lax in keeping my blog updated. It feels a bit strange to update a blog about my "trip around the world" when I feel that I am trying to settle down here in Chicago. But I suppose "trips" take many forms. So here goes.

After leaving MA, I spent a week in NYC. Hanging out seeing the sights from a local perspective. I like New York. I think that if I didn't want to live in Chicago, I could be very happy in NYC. Which is very strange considering I have never considered myself a "city girl."

I had a wonderful Christmas with a good friend in DC. It was a bit of an orphan Christmas -- stragglers with family too far away to visit -- sort of like Thanksgiving... Or maybe it was just me. In any case, it was wonderful. Low key, relaxed. Good conversation. Good food (duck and chocolate pie!). Strange and delicious alcohols (my favorites were the plum wine and ice wine). And warm! I love snow. I've missed it for the past couple of years, but it was nice to hang out on the balcony on Christmas day.

A day or so after Christmas I boarded a lovely Greyhound bus and headed south to TN again. It was a bit of an adventure finding the bus station in DC. Well, not finding it so much as navigating the public trans system to get me there in time, but not so far in advance that I waited for hours. I failed. I spent several hours (2 to 3 I think) waiting in line for the bus. But we piled on and all was fine until we got to the transfer spot. We were late. Not by much, but enough. And the incoming bus was late too. And it was crowded. And waking up at 2 in the morning, after traveling since 10:30 or so in the morning (which is when I left to catch the local bus to the DC blue line to the Greyhound station), is never pleasant. Especially when there is a 19 year old boy, who is super friendly and excited about taking his first trip on the bus waiting in the station. I can't malign him too much, however, as it turns out he saved me a great deal of stress. He, in his irresistible, good humored, eager 19-year-old way, convinced me to get on the bus that pulled into the station at 2:30. The bus, that only had room on it for 6 people. The bus where I had to sit waaaaayyyyyy in the back, near the toilets, crammed into a corner with the drunks and the druggies and the stay-up-all-night-and-party bus riders (who actually were a lot of fun -- even in my sleep deprived and cranky humor). I am very grateful to this nameless boy because the bus I would have chosen to wait for, had he not nudged me and said "come-on!," broke down by the side of the road and was not expected in for several more hours after I arrived safely in Knoxville, a mere hour late. Thank You!

So I made it safely home to be greeted by Mom and Ozzy. It was a whirl-wind visit. Only a few days spent packing and un-packing, in eager anticipation of another bus ride back to Chicago, taking photos of art I've done to put together an artistic portfollio, and *JOB INTERVIEW* on the 5th of January. Not only any job, but a job that sounded like it could be Fantastic! A great combination of education and science -- translating Science into English.

I think I'll leave you all in suspence at this point -- It's always good to leave on a clif hanger, right? Tune in to this same blog next time to find out what happened next...

Fall

This fall I spent in Chicago. (I can't seem to get away -- and am now actually, actively trying to return!)

As I was getting ready to leave TN and head north, my sister called and invited me to stay with her and her family for a month or so.

I said yes.

And it was wonderful to be back.

I'm not sure what more to say about it.

I lived with my sister and her family for about 2 months. "Helping out" by taking care of my niece and nephew. It was wonderful to be part of her family. I was also extremely social during those two weeks -- catching up with friends, resuming my old life to some extent (biking everywhere, dancing, volunteering, pot-luck dinners, book reading, stitch&bitch, etc). And it was just enough that it made me realize how much I'd missed it being away. And how much I wanted to return.

My time in Chicago ended on my birthday. Last year I nearly forgot about it. This year, for some reason, I wanted to celebrate it. So, thanks to a kind offer from Chelsea, Noah and Christean, I threw myself a pot-luck party in their house. It was WONDERFUL! Exactly what I wanted. Many of my friends all gathered in one place (though not all at the same time) having a good time visiting with me and with each other. Smile!

Next day I left for Monmouth again, and after a short visit with my friend, I headed to Massachusetts (after an 8-hour layover in the big city!) to visit my Dad and Step-mom.

Life here is very quiet. I've been updating and re-arranging my resume. Practicing writing cover letters. Trying to put together a website (or something) as an electronic portfolio of my artistic abilities, etc. Learning lots about the internet. Dad and I went for a couple of walks in the woods. We hope to clime a mountain, if the weather holds.

Thanksgiving was fun. My parents like to go to the Meeting pot-luck Thanksgiving dinner. And this year there were 70 people (and you thought you had a lot of people at your dinner!). It was great fun. I chatted with a bunch of "nerds" -- all of us reveling in our nerdiness -- and was awarded the title of "The most inappropriate dinner conversationalist" -- intended as a complement and an honor -- when the conversation turned to my rendition of "The case of the mummified pig." (I am happy to share the story with anyone who wants to know. It really isn't that bad.) And after dinner we sang. For several hours. Until it was dark and our voices were horse. Then the next day, Rachel-from-Chicago who has family out here, picked me up and swept me across the state (and gave me my first trip to Cape Cod) and took me dancing. Great fun!

And now it is almost December and I am planning to start moving again. Heading south. To NY and DC and maybe TN. And then? I don't know.

As for getting back to Chicago...

As I was deciding to leave, in the summer of 2005, I got three fortune cookie fortunes in a row (and the only fortune cookies I got that summer) that all seemed to say: "GO!" Very strange. Ironically (and not that I live my life by fortune cookies), at one of my farewell dinners, after giving up my apartment, getting rid of my stuff, and buying a plane ticket out of the city, I got a fourth fortune cookie. This one said: "Stay!"

Now it is a year later (and I haven't checked with the fortune-cookie-teller to see what it suggests) and I am not in Chicago, but I'm working on it.