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...