[ life:revisited 2010 + 1 ]

So I have had some funny times in Wrigleyville/Chicago/IL/the world as I know it. Some have been funny ha-ha, others funny-strange. Recently especially, and I know I have effectively jinxed myself, but oh well, I'm sure that will just add more shenanigans to my life. So here we go. My job, well, my boss and I didn't(still may not) really get along, because he made me feel like an idiot, and didn't ever seem to pay me on time. That coupled with crazy commutes, made me start sending the old res' around for a new occupation. But now, I have a company Blackberry, laptop, and now he is joking with me and being cool. All this seemingly without any change from me. Now I may be speaking too soon, and he may go back to being the raging dickhead he was when I first started, but I think I am finally on his good side, because hey, who doesn't love me? :) Also, this past week, me and the girrly were walking down the street, skipping and singing, dropping daisies from our pockets(aka walking back from Walgreens with Milk, Drano, and mouthwash in the sweltering heat), and some crazy crackhead walking down the street with a backpack and no shirt gets like right in my face and stares at me. So naturally, I just get in his face and glare right back, and not move. He then bolts off around me, laughing and talking again. After we started walking again I thought for a moment, for those who have seen me in one of my "Destroy all humans" modes after drinking a fifth of Jack with a Jaegerbomb chaser, what I would have done in that situation if I had been knocking a few back. So then I was in the middle of that thought process, thinking what I would have used to cut up the body parts so Gil Grissom wouldn't be knocking on my door, and I stopped, and I was very proud of myself. Why you ask? Because of my behavior. I didn't decide to paint the street with this poor man's blood, yet I did not back down and showed no fear. I smiled internally, and I mentally put the bandsaw away. Hopefully the dude did get hit by a car later or something. This was a pleasant change for me. Maybe this means I am finally out of the stupid drunk stage I had run into so many times before. Or maybe I was just lucky that time. Just goes to show you, that sometimes chaos just happens right in front of you, like some type of controlled expolosion of the odd and uneasy. Its kind of like that feeling you get when you see a car accident. Its that worried about the people/scared just because/thankful its not you dropping feeling feeling in your stomach. And we need that from time to time, just to keep us honest. Well thats about it, time to get in the shower, and see what downtown wants to show me today. Maybe that lady singing about her drug habits in front of Wendy's, trying to sell free newspapers will be singing something different.

[Insert witty and/or poignant comment here]

[Laughter]

Yep, I was wrong, someone call Guinness. I was actually incorrect about something, and it was because I didn't listen to my gut. I'll get to that in a sec. Things have been going.....interestingly at the job, just because I learn so much about complete support/consulting every second. Like today, for example. When I showed up, there was nothing, and darkness covered the face of the deep. But I said "Let there be network." And there was network, and I saw that it was fucked up at first, and I needed to fix it, but after that, I saw that it was good. So I created hosts on that network, and configured them so they could see eachother and my network, and I saw that was also good. So the short of it is, I actually created something that multiple people will rely on for their business, and it fucking works. Pretty neat. That's what makes this job stressful, because between me and the bosses, we are the ones that are the support. Thats it, other than some technical reps for other companies. So the people I work with are pretty damn smart, and I thought I was a wizz kid. That was the first thing I was wrong about.

The second thing, and the most important, was that I wasn't going to enjoy the city. I finally found, when I was walking down Fullerton to my bank, that I knew where I was going, and I knew where I was in the world. Not like I had some personal epiphany, I just saw a map in my mind's eye, and I knew where I was, and where I was going. That was neat, and also this past weekend I saw John Digweed at Crobar. It was truly the best set I have ever heard, and that is a lot. James Lauer and Chloe Harris, they were all just fucking on, and they tore the house down. But my point is, that I actually enjoy this city now. I get it, and I am not leaving, its way to fucking cool. So thats about it for this post, I am crazy busy, but I will try to post more often. TO all my fans, I love ya. :P

Yep, the move to Chicago is complete, we are nestled in our cool 1 bed flat, which happens to be a block from Wrigley, and I start work tomorrow. It blows my mind how busy this city is. I haven't moved anywhere in 8 years, and getting used to certain aspects of the city is going to be hard. For example, driving into the city at 8pm on a Saturday night, when a huge outdoor festival is happening next friggin door and I have to drive for 2 hours to find parking. That burned. And this city can be a big money sink as well, but every place I have gone so far has been fun, and my stereotype of people being aggressive and angry are somewhat unfounded. In fact, everyone I have ran into has been extremely nice to me, so that is a shock.

The most interesting part of city life so far is Public Transportation. You can get anywhere by combination of bus, el, and on foot. The CTA must have rocket scientists on call 24 hours a day, and it can get complicated, but its frigging amazing. It's weird never really having to use a car very much, when all my life I am used to having a car. Its just....different. I haven't had much time even in this week off to actually explore the city, just because of trying to get utilities taken care of, old bills, DMV trips, blah blah blah, that I have been looking forward just to relax in the apartment for a few hours about now. There is also an abundance of crazy shops and places to eat and explore, and they are all pretty damn delicious. And the nightlife is outstanding, anywhere you wanna go is here. Wanna go sit in the shadows at a local pub? Done. Wanna go listen to DJ A, and then want to kill the people that mess with her sound levels? Done. Wanna go see some frat-tastic action and have some beer poured on ya? Done. :) So all in all I am optimistic, and I think that this place will begin to grow on me as soon as I can grow a sense of direction and find good parking :) More to come, trust me.

Yeah. To say things have been busy and hectic, is a frigging understatement. Chicago looms over me. Kinda like going to college feeling, ya know? I am excited to see and do new things, but figuring out how to get around, and learning the 'climate' of the city will be difficult. Couple that with trying to find my replacement for my job, going on interviews for new jobs in the city (and only finding stuff I 'kinda' like), cleaning and packing the old place, trying to find people to help us move our junk, makes me feel like X_X.

Don't get me wrong. **This means you girlly** I am more excited about seeing new places and getting a fresh start than you realize. It's the transition that is the painful part, and it friggin hurts. I know in hindsight this will all seem trivial, and we will look back and laugh as people do, but until then, I am allowed to be a little annoyed. It will be nice to sleep in our new place, and relax in a new setting. Working and playing in a new environment that is unbelievably massive. I will be the first to admit, I am a little intimidated by the city. I hail from something in-between a suburb and a rural town, with big buildings and farms not too far apart, and seeing the astounding ability of people to live in such close quarters, and take public transportation is going to be a change for me. That and learning where the hell everything is. So as you can see, my lack of posts is not totally from my burnt out mind, but from my hectic situation as well. On a good note, most of the old haus is packed, and I finally made it into the WoW guild I wanted, [Silent Legion] on Hellscream (US). Great group of people, and I'm sure nothing good will come of me being a member :) That's about it for now, I'm sure something will anger me in the future, so look for new posts.

Yeah much to most of your chagrin, I have not perished in a large fire or anything. I've just been super busy, and rather uninspired. Although this has been the longest run in ahwile I have not been inspired to write, I'm sure I'll think of something this week, or maybe even later today.

So, I recently got a speeding ticket, w00t. I was on my way to Culvers for a Butterburger Apocalypse, and I was going 45 in a 30 in a big intersection. Looked over to my right down a small street, and there was the fuzz. As I flew by, I knew, I was fucked, and that feeling is the worst in the world, because in that instant, you know that you are gonna have to deal with the cops. So he pulls out, hits the lights, and I pull into a nice parking lot, to make it easier for the five-oh to read me my rights. And then tase me. Because I like that.

The first thing Mr. Tibbs tells me is that I am on video, so my immediate mental response is to turn around and wave 'Hi Mom!', but I didn't. He asks me how fast I thought I was going, and I told him what everybody tells the cops, like 5-7 mph lower then what I was actually hurtling down the boulevard at. That way you just look stupid, and not like the liar you are. He told me I was doing 46 in a 30, so I said 'ok', because you don't argue with firearms. He then asks for my license and insurance. Here's where my little party goes south. A little backstory, I have had a speeding ticket.....just about every year I have had my license. But I have went to the class, a.k.a. Satan's asshole after buffalo wings, so the ticket wouldn't go on my record. So I figured I was good this time, just another 4 hrs of wanting to hang myself with a cordless phone. Or so I thought.

I get out my license, only to get hit with a mental flashback of earlier this week...... of me throwing out my old insurance card, and NOT getting the new one from inside the house. FUCK. So I act like I am looking around for something that doesn't exist to make me look more pitiful, so maybe he will take it easy on me. I tell him I can't find it, and he goes into SUPER POLICE ROBOT MODE. In his best Robocop voice, he tells me that I now have a mandatory court date to show my proof of insurance(which is on my fucking counter) to a judge, or pay 200 bones. He then writes me the other ticket for 45 in a 30, which I find out you cannot take the class for. Wunderbar. So he writes me the tickets, takes my license(which I am sure has a special reserve box in the Law and Justice Center), and gives me a fucking form that he wants me to send in to the state asking me how the traffic violation stop was performed, and if it was satisfactory. I have not yet sent in this form, because I need to confer with my colleagues over a few pints the best way for me to fill out this piece of toilet tissue.

I respect the police, and I know I was doing something wrong, that I am cool with. But a friggin survey on how the traffic stop was performed? I mean, tell me if its just me, but aren't they kind of asking for abuse here? Well, when I get my response figured out, I will post it for posterity's sake. L8r.

P.S. The dancers are taking a break, they are here Mondays and Wednesdays, don't forget to tip your waitress.

For your viewing pleasure, the Life:Revisited Dancers!!!