Part time jobs

Warning: This post contains slightly strong language.

Some fucked up shit happens in Chicago every day (so much for the self censoring). This time it has happened to someone I know. Of course the version I got was much more detailed, but since it's not my story to tell I won't divulge any more than the article lays out for you here. The short of it is the teachers in this school (my friend included) will be receiving their last paychecks on Friday. Bam. That's it. No warning, no preparation. Just a big fuck you from the charter school system. So if anyone knows of a good, relaxing, non stressful part time summer job that needs to be filled in the Chicago vicinity please feel free to let me know. Or if you have a connection with a school in the area that won't fuck it's teachers over - that would also be helpful.

I can't even imagine what it is like to not have a paycheck when I am legally employed. I've heard of these stories, even had friends that worked in slightly shady situations where paychecks were less than dependable, but never have I lived through it myself. Every job I've had it has been as regular as the sun rising that I would receive a paycheck every other week, or the first and the fifteenth, or whatever schedule the structure determined. I've never worked a job based on commission - the closest I've been is waitressing, but even then I got my $2.34 an hour (though after taxes it often wasn't worth it to pay the $5 fee to cash at the bank across the street if you didn't have an account somewhere else). It boggles my mind in a way that I can't begin to grasp, and I don't like that.

The logical, idea forming side of my brain has to believe that a plan will be worked out. Concessions will be made and lives may be altered for the next few months, but in the end she will make it. Thank god it's summer and the idea of walking places is not so formidable. The other side of me, the side that is ruled by my heart and my emotions though is wrecked. That side just doesn't understand how crazy, fucked up shit like this happens to good people. People who go out and try and make a difference in this crazy fucked up world.

So, I've had my rant - mini as it may be. Thanks for reading/listening and again, if you have a dog that needs walking or some other gig that you know of, feel free to let me know and I will pass along the information.

Might as well still be up north

With the weather the way it is in Chicago today, I feel as though I might as well of stayed in the north woods of Wisconsin. But alas, all vacations must come to an end at some point - unless you're one of those people whose whole lives are wonderful and every day feels like a vacation, in that case you can go "bleep" yourselves (trying to do a little self censoring, not sure how it's working so far).

The trip was great. Relaxing and filled with beer and whiskey, just the way camping is supposed to be in my humble opinion. The only thing I regret is racing back to the city (though sitting out the hail storm protected by my mothers mini van as opposed to a tarp Sunday afternoon was well worth it). I scored more points than ever in the horseshoe tournament on Sunday - I think next year I will have to schedule a departure date of Monday so I can stay and see how far my luck can take me. I brought 4 books, of which I read none (though I did pick up one my brother brought and paged through that for a bit). I got a bit of a t-shirt burn pattern going on, but nothing that won't fade in a few days time. All in all, well worth it.

Now I'm back, wandering around my apartment while the rest of the world works around me. I may have to finally do those dishes that are still staring at me from before my departure but not before I sneak in an afternoon showing tomorrow of Indiana Jones.

Hope everyone had a nice, warm, holiday weekend.

Not doing the dishes

I'm headed out for a much needed vacation that includes the ancient art of cleansing the mind, body, and soul through whiskey and camping. It's going to be great. I postponed my departure date thinking I could squeeze in a few more tasks before I settled into my oh so comfortable bus seat to home. I'm almost finished packing. I've had a nice little dance party while flattening my hair and listening to Ani, Panic at the Disco, Elvis, and Tufts Beeelzebubs. I watched some Oprah. I am embracing the vacation spirit. I am not doing the dishes in my sink. Not making the bed. Not picking up the clothes that didn't make the cut. My one resignation? I will try and take the garbage out as I head for the train (though this week it's mostly empty beer bottles).

Hope everyone has a great holiday weekend doing whatever it is they do to celebrate whatever the reason is we always get this Monday off in May. I'm going to go get flung.

Living life one word at a time

Sometimes you just have to let go of conventional thinking and play outside the box. Even in the small things in life, oh say like Scrabble, you just have to ignore the rules and make it up as you go along. That folks is what I seem to be doing these days. And this is the photographic proof of it.

It's missing the top row, but you get the idea. My favorites? Sunked, Sqat, and Jizz with the blank tile that turned Tune into Tunez. Too bad we didn't keep score, would have been interesting.

100 posts

According to my sign in page I currently have 99 posts...I wonder if that counts the dozen or so drafts that I never got back to? Either way "Happy 100 to me!"

The madness of my life is over for now and thank you to everyone who put up with me this past month while work was getting crazier and crazier. We did a smashing job and now I have time to breathe again, in fact I did such a stellar job that the boss let me take today off - and I'm going to use it the best of my ability. It's going to be in the 70's today here in the windy city and the brief outing I had this morning to forage for coffee from the deliciously staffed Beans and Bagels on Rockwell proved to be delightfully warm out at 9 am. I have since come home, dragged out my picnic blanket from the back of the closet and will be venturing out around noon for some Wells park lounging and reading. It's going to be great.

The weather is warming up which always puts me in better mood - the adventures of the past 24 hours haven't hurt either. Sorry folks, no sordid details on the blog on this one, I learned my lesson the hard way last time. Plus this is so far from conventional, regular, or typical that there really is not much to say except yes, that is a big old smile you see on my face.

The world around me? Let's see, Edwards has come out for Obama but the rumor is his wife hasn't (though since I haven't had time to read an article longer than 2 paragraphs long I'm not sure how much validity that rumor has). And honestly when I heard the news I wasn't too impressed - this election season has sucked the life out of me and I just want it to be done with an end result of McCain losing. California has overturned the gay marriage ban - which is about damn time, I have no room in my heart, ideology or belief structure for a culture that writes into its laws a ban on love based on the gender of the individuals involved, it's just fucking stupid. The polar bear has been moved to the endangered species list and the Tribune ran an article on Thursday with the saddest/most adorable picture of said polar bear on the front page. I wish I would have remembered to clip it and hang it on the fridge (those of us without kids have to improvise refrigerator art).

Coming up - my favorite camping trip of the year, Spring Fling, complete with bloody mary church service on Sunday, horseshoe tournaments, and late night whiskey. A girls night out with some of my favorite former co-workers. The formation of a kickball league in which I plan on sitting on the sidelines with a book and witty commentary. Public Enemy reuniting for the Pitchfork festival (please someone say they will go to this with me!). Half day Friday's for the summer. My best friend from high schools 30th birthday. A possible trip to Atlantic City (which I learned you can't actually fly to oddly enough, the closest Expedia.com can get me is somewhere in Pennsylvania and then I have to rent a car). My 2 year anniversary in Chicago which I believe necessitates a party or a new tattoo, or both.

I'm off to enjoy the sunshine - hope everyone else is having a fantastic day (and I also hope you all go see Iron Man, trust me it's worth it)

Overheard

Taken from Overheard in New York...

Ah, the Buckeye State
Brooklyn family court employee: What's your daughter's name?
Mother: Chicago.
Brooklyn family court employee: Like the state?
Mother: Yes.

--Brooklyn Family Court

Something came in the mail today

So my something came today, see here if you don't know what I'm talking about. The envelope was a small cd mailer which I ripped opened excitedly to find the weirdest thing I've seen all week.

Inside was a ring which upon closer inspection contained a digital watch in the face of it. Bursting out laughing at the gumball machine looking trinket I was amazed to see a Fossil tag attached to it. According to the tag it is a Philippe Starck piece created with Fossil and supposedly retailed originally for $135! (though is marked down to $67.59 in red ink). I tried it on and it fits somewhere between my ring and pinky finger and is ridiculously large. I tried looking for it online and found no record of it on the Fossil page, but did find this picture - mine looks like the one on the right but my new watch is red not green.

With the week I've had I would say that is was totally worth the $10 to have the laugh I did today at my mailbox. I might even try it again sometime.

(Oh and I've finished Burning Chrome and read The Invisible Man by H.G. Wells and Letter to a Christian Nation by Sam Harris, and seen Iron Man at the theater - which is fantastic in case you were wondering - since the last time I've blogged. I have just been way to busy for updates)

Something!

Through reading one of my favorite blogs I learned about the something store. Basically the idea is I pay $10 and they ship me something random in 5-7 days. It might be the coolest thing I've seen all week (though I was just introduced to the stuff white people like that definitely needs more exploration and comes in a close second). So of course at the end of my lunch hour I had to give it a try. I will keep you posted on how it turns out.