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Dismantled Christmas

Powder

Awoke this morning to another 6 inches of snow. It's still coming down. By my count this is at least the 8th snowfall since Thanksgiving. I've never seen anything quite like it. The weather reporters here have been off base all week: a "major storm" on Tuesday yielded only an inch, whereas last night's "few inches" brought considerably more.

I've always loved the snow, but even this is testing my patience. It does create a remarkable inconvenience, and people just seem edgier.

Which is a shame, because one of the things I like best about the snow is the potential to bring a quiet peacefulness.

About snow, the naturalist Joseph Wood Krutch has said:

"There is no other time when the whole world seems composed of one thing and one thing only."

The pup let me sleep in until sunrise this morning, but still required a walk. So we headed out into the snow. It was quiet still. Only a very few others had yet rallied themselves to begin the task of excavating the sidewalks and the cars parked on the street. The quiet chaos of city life had momentarily been suspended. The neighborhood was bright and the air fresh. Atlas turned primal, sniffing out marking spots, even under the frosty blanket. For 15 minutes I didn't think about my job, or what I was or wasn't doing enough in my acting pursuits, who I was missing or what shopping needed to be done. Just me, the dog, the snow, the neighborhood.

When we got back home, I opened up all the blinds, then made bacon and pancakes from scratch.

Super Broker Shuffle

Thanks to Becky for bringing this to my attention. Be sure to stick around for at least the first two rounds of individual raps.

The sheer dedication it took to pull this off is amazing. I will buy ALL of these products.

Cupboard Maintenance

A little over a year ago, I found an article in Real Simple magazine that listed 10-12 items to have on hand for each food storage area in the kitchen (fridge, freezer, pantry), and while I no longer follow it to a "T", it's still something of a reference point for me when I go shopping--and the reason why I'll always, ALWAYS have a little bacon on hand.

The Times posted a similar article today, all about what to pitch and and what to keep in your pantry. Where Bittman's real strength comes is in the little off-handed recipes he suggests for each recommended substitution. He motivated me to try cooking with white beans tonight (beans, diced onion, garlic, mushrooms, said bacon, chopped basil, olive oil, canned tomato sauce, s&p to taste), which is something I rarely ever do. He also threw out an idea for pasta with a walnut sauce that totally caught my interest. Maybe this weekend?

Give it a glance over and see if you have any inspiration.

The Minimalist - The Latest Must-Haves for the Pantry - NYTimes.com

How Smart Is This Guy?

Reportedly, today's photo op of the living Presidents with the President-elect was all Obama's idea, pitched when he visited Bush at the White House in December.

What do you do when one of the strongest arguments against your appointment (and one with more validity than I'd care to admit) is your lack of experience? You give the world a visual reference point for the word "President" and position yourself in the middle of it. Clever. Scary. We're either going to be walking streets of gold dubloons by the time this guy's done or toiling under the regime of the United States of Obamanation.

Presidents Past, Present and Future - The Caucus Blog - NYTimes.com

Banner Day

I made three new friends on Facebook today. I'm da bomb, as they say in the French.

You may now return to your regularly scheduled lives, already in progress.

(We must learn to celebrate the little things.)

Pop'd Art: Lily Allen's "The Fear"

When the young British neo-soul artists started crossing the pond a few years back, I quickly aligned myself behind Amy Winehouse rather than Lily Allen, partially because I liked Winehouse's sound better, but also because I thought Allen's songs were a little weak.

It appears Lily Allen is about to release a new album, and this is the first single. It skews more to straight-up pop than soul, but the lyrics are witty and sarcastic, a relentless satire of modern values. Listen to the verses (it's amazing she can sing with tongue planted so firmly in cheek) and then the chorus, and try to tell me there's not a smart girl behind this song.

Plus, it doesn't hurt that it's something you can shake your booty to.

Foodie Report

A pretty cool little article about food trends, with a tasty tie-in to the President-elect. Enjoy.
How Caramel Developed a Taste for Salt - NYTimes.com
By KIM SEVERSON

In 2008, salt caramel became one of those rare flavors that works its way from an elite culinary obsession to the American mass market.

Worst Best Man at a Wedding EVER.

I have no idea if this is legit or not, but the thought that it could be cracks me up.

One Year Ago Today

I was 25 pounds heavier. I never ate things like protein powder or soy milk. I couldn't finish a half mile on the treadmill. Yesterday I ran a 7:30 mile.

I lived in St. Louis, with a view of Highway 40 and the Zoo. Today I live in Chicago with a view of the Chicago River. I paid literally half the amount of rent.

I met my pup for the first time, never awoke before 6:30, and had no idea little dogs could provide massive enjoyment.

I wasn't on Facebook, and lived in ignorance of how many people had kids, were still in my hometown, or had moved away to interesting places.

I was doing community theater in Clayton, not walking the halls of Second City in the footsteps of Belushi, Farley, Fey, Poehler, and so many others.

I had never voted for a Democrat in the presidential election.

I had about the same amount of money in my bank accounts, but more debt, and WAY more in my 401k.

I never rode public transportation.

I welcomed in the New Year with my closest friends in a single-family home in Maplewood. I passed last night on the 7th floor of a West Loop high-rise with virtual strangers (who were nonetheless awesomely friendly).

I was still single, and just about as okay with it.

I wore different shoes, walked on different rugs, and sat on a different couch. I ate off the same dishes, drove the same car, and listened to the same iPod.

I had never been the victim of a natural disaster, and had certainly never received assistance from FEMA.

IKEA was still exotic, not the building on the other side of the parking lot at work.

I had never fired a handgun.

I had never had a Bloody Mary. Mmmmm....Bloody Mary. Weekend cannot come soon enough.

I had dinner with my extended family once a week, but we said less than we do in our weekly phone calls now.

I attended church about as often as I do now, which is to say not as much as I should. Especially for a guy with a seminary degree.

The hair. I'm not even going to open that can of worms.

I was complacent, bored, and restless. Today I am terrified, thankful, and eager. I'm not entirely sure I am in a better place than I was a year ago. I miss my family and friends, and have NO IDEA where my career path is headed right now. But I'm glad I took some chances, I feel like I've grown up some, and have certainly enjoyed a lot about Chicago. Especially in the summer. Sidewalk cafes. The dog beach. People watching in Wicker Park. Scooter! Decided lack of weekly snowfalls, sub-zero wind chills, and nightmare street parking. Forget New Year's resolutions...I just need to make it to May.

Post-Holiday Post

Just rolled back in from StL, and am happy to report that the visit was a good one, and more relaxing than I could ever have anticipated. This is in spite of 10-person three state caravan with extended family right in the middle. But everyone got along well, we enjoyed our time with said family in Indiana, and, to my pure joy, we even went, en masse, to a movie on Christmas Day. "Marley and Me". Tears. Laughs. Pooches. Good times.

Below are some pics. Most from our visit to my grandfather's farm. A few subjecting my beloved pooch to abject humiliation.

I've been thinking a lot about the New Year. I'm not one normally to set resolutions, although it was about this time last year that I got serious about the Chicago move, and here we are a year and about 300 miles later. Before the holiday, I met Redd and Double B for dinner, and we got to the topic of the New Year. Redd isn't so much into resolutions as she is "themes", for example "Take More Chances", which has thus far been my mantra for this move. It has me thinking, praying even about what next year's theme might be. I'm open to input.

I hope the holidays were peaceful and refreshing to you as well. May the new year bring you generous blessings.

NYTimes.com: In Illinois, a Virtual Expectation of Corruption

I had been looking for something appropriate to post about the whole Blagojevich scandal as it has broken this week.

The most entertaining thing for me is just how relieved most people are to have an excuse to get rid of the guy. I've not heard a sympathetic word in his favor. It turns out that a friend from Second City went to school with the now Mrs. B, and says that the Patty Blagojevich from the transcripts is not too far removed from the teenage version. Some generally nasty pieces of work.

Anyway, below is a link to an article in today's New York Times, which provides a great context for the history and extent of corruption in Illinois politics.

---------------------

December 14, 2008

In Illinois, a Virtual Expectation of Corruption By KATE ZERNIKE

Residents of Illinois have had a tradition of accepting corruption among their politicians, even expecting it

Back At It

I'm sorry that I lost momentum on this blog through the fall. Normally my favorite season, this one was a little rough, with the flood, then some job issues and some other personal stuff. Nothing major, but my mood bottomed out nonetheless and lost the oomph! to do anything above and beyond getting through each day.

Things are little more settled now and I'm feeling better, hence the flurry of updates. They go back to Halloween, so that's worth something, right?

To make up, here's a picture of Jessica Simpson, pop singer and reality TV star. Turns out she has a new perfume (because we all want to smell like desperation?), and was in town doing a personal appearance to promote it. She got more squeals than Santa. No kidding.

Signs of Christmas in Chicago

My Christmas tree. Still digging the white. Looks awesome during the day. This is my only Christmas decoration this year, which is odd for me. After all the craziness of the fall, I wanted as little drama as possible, including that I create for myself. Note that all of my favorite ornaments survived the flood, while my tree skirt was among the losses.

Santa's house at the Christmasmarkt in Daley Plaza downtown. Note the massive tree behind, and, to the left of the left turret on the house, you can see the Picasso sculpture.

The Christmasmarkt was pretty great. It's done in collaboration with the Germany board of tourism, and most of the booths are manned by actual Germans who fly over for the holidays (waaa?). They sell traditional handicrafts and foodstuffs, including roasted chestnuts, bratwursts, and grogg (spiced wine) in commemorative mugs.

One of the main halls at the 8-floor Macy's, formerly Marshall Field's, downtown. Crowded, yes, but the epitome of the Christmas department store experience. If you dig such things, it's worth it for the trip at least once.

For many Chicagoians, it isn't Christmas until you've had lunch under the massive Christmas tree in the Walnut Room of Macy's/Marshall's on the 7th floor. There was a 3-hour wait when I went (and no, I didn't get a table, opting instead for a quick coffee from the nearby food court). I took the elevator up, then the escalators back down, which is when I ran across Jessica Simpson.

Christmas tree lot near Second City, underneath the new seasonal Coca-Cola ads. Christmas! Improv! Coke! Merry Christmas to me!

First Snow!

My first snowfall in Chicago arrived in mid-November, while I was making my way home from a movie ('Slumdog Millionaire'-check it out). It only lasted about two hours, and quickly melted away. We've subsequently had our second and third snowstorms, one of which I drove through on my way home from Thanksgiving.

Poochkin

Between the riot walk, a late start to the evening, and a shared bottle of wine, I was left with a pair of uncarved pumpkins from Halloween. These became a point of fascination for Atlas, who especially enjoyed chewing on the rough stems. I would be watching TV and hear him sneaking over, where he would mount them and gnaw away for a few seconds before jumping off and running away. For months I have been feeding him a spoonful of canned pumpkin with his food each day (for digestive assistance), so maybe he thought he'd hit some sort of smorgasbord.

Halloweeners

It's not much of an overstatement to say that Chicagoians go crazy over Halloween, unlike anything I've ever seen. Almost every building on my block sported some sort of decoration, and many had very extensive yard displays with sound effects, etc. Even downtown, there were two full weekends of Chicagoween celebration, officially sanctioned by the city with performers and food stalls.

I marked the holiday by surviving a riot. Literally. A friend had come over to split a bottle of wine and order some takeout. We decided to walk Lawrence for a few blocks and pick one of the Korean places, but soon after setting out noticed that the streets were unusually hectic. Taxi cabs were honking their horns, and drivers leaning out of their windows yelling. After a few more minutes we noticed that eggs were flying through the air. And on the sidewalks were groups of teenagers, some in costume, some not, and all of them antagonizing anyone who walked by.

I want to take a minute to reiterate that this is very unusal for my neighborhood. I'd not seen anything like it, nor anything since. In an anthropology class I slept through in college, I remember reading an article that posited that Halloween served an important cultural role, as it was the one night of the year when all social norms could be upset, and more importantly, that children became the leaders of that revolt, while in their everyday lives they were expected to be more submissive. Very interesting in theory, a little spooky to experience as an unexpected demographic minority carrying $25 worth of Korean BBQ.

Argyle Avenue Philosopher

A month removed from the flood. I've been in the new apartment for just about a week, all of the tubs are unpacked, pots and pans washed and rewashed. Miraculously, all of my fish survived, once again in spite of tremendous neglect.

For those who hadn't heard, I qualified for FEMA assistance money, which has largely gone toward replacing home goods so far. It was a healthy sum, and I still have over a grand left.

I'll post new pics of the new place eventually. I like it. The bedrooms are much bigger and the layout is better for two people. I traded "three steps down" for "three flights up", the latter being something I swore I would never do once I got the dog. But we're adjusting. I swear Atlas has pooped out sooner of a night than what he used to (PTL!). And he's totally smitten with the great beast of a Great Dane that lives next door.

The flood business has been great for meeting neighbors, both within the building and on the street. I now have an extra set of keys swapped with my friend Ann Upstairs (literally, that's what I have in my cellphone for her name, even though she now lives downstairs from me) and couple of offers for pet-sitting when the need arises.

I guess I had my first hint that life was getting back to normal on the drive home from work today. Previously in a near-constant state of preoccupation (where will I live? how long until vacation? where can I find a 3'x3' ottoman for under $200?), I was pleasantly surprised on my way home by an "only in Chicago" moment.

The El Blue line runs right down the middle of the highway I take to and from work each day. I was approaching my exit, a train passing me in the opposite direction. In classic Chicago El fashion, the cars were unadorned ribs of steel and plates of glass. Above in the skies, a front had been moving in and dark, wild curls of blue-grey clouds contrasted against a treeline of yellow-red autumn colors. For just a few moments, while the train passed in front of all this, it caught the light from the sun setting on the western horizon and blazed gold.

It was a type of collage unlike any I can remember seeing for some time: huge in its scope, industry and creation rubbing against each other, mundane in one sense, and entirely contemporary in another. It reminded me that this is why I live here now, to see things I can't see anywhere else, become someone only this good hard place can make me. Take a chance, get burned (or soaked, as the case may be) and let the act of putting it all back together, fearfully, prayerfully, teach me where I need to go next.

I've told people that I can't remember feeling so lonely as I did that first night after evacuating the flooded neighborhood, sleepless on a borrowed air matress in a partially rehabbed apartment, unsure of where I was going to living that next day, what of my beloved "things" I had lost, what the next step would or should be. A month later, I've never been so aware of my desire and need for connection, nor of my own ability to buckle down and survive, keep life afloat by alternate measures of sheer self will and total surrender. That may not mean much in the posh bougie life I live most days. But I know it's there.

Starbukked!

My brain just isn't right sometimes.

This morning I had the following conversation with myself FOR THE SECOND TIME this month:

Boundless Optimism Andy: "Running ahead of schedule this morning. Maybe stop for a beverage?"

Grumpy Morning Andy: "Whatever, sure, it's only money. What do you want?"

BOA: "Something cold?"

GMA:"What are you, stupid? Definitely cold."

BOA: "More coffee-y, more creamy, or more fruity?"

GMA: "Ugh. No coffee. Juice is empty carbs. I guess creamy."

BOA: "So, cold, and creamy. Flavored?"

GMA: "A little, but nothing obnoxious, or not. Something like an iced latte, without the espresso, and with no syrup."

BOA: "You mean, like, a glass of milk?"

GMA: "I guess so. Does Starbucks do that? What about Dunkin?"

BOA: "I'm pretty sure you can pick that up at the deli in the lobby for, like, 89 cents."

GMA: --------

BOA: "You're mad now because you're embarrassed. Don't shut me out!"

GMA: "Just keep your eyes on the road."

Son of Lincoln

It's official. I am an Illinois resident.

The Friday before The Flood, I had taken the day off for my Second City conservatory audition (did I mention I got in? :). Since I have been scootering around illegally (read: on an expired Missouri permit), I had set aside the morning to brave the Chicago DMV to get my Illinois Class L license (motorbikes under 150cc).

I was nervous. Like most sane people I hate the DMV, and I'd only been to those in the suburbs.

I'm out of energy for eloquence tonight, so I'll be precise:

1) The DMV was A) Massive, B) Clean, C) Very Well Organized, and D) Staffed By Genuinely Helpful People.

2) I was forced to surrender my Missouri license, take the Illinois driver's exam on the fly without any advanced study, and get my Illinois license before they would agree to scooter me.

When the nice lady at Station 17 told me the above, I told her I was concerned that I might fail the test. She said to me, "Honey, the only people that fail it are those that don't speak English." Which was kind of cool, because I think all women who work at the DMV should start every sentence with "Honey...", but was kind of sucky because it set a standard of which I was terrified of falling short. And also a little bit xenophobic. But just a little. And, after all, everyone's a rittle bit lacist.

So, I passed, and got my license and my scooter permit. I would post a picture, but the Man Mane was not having a good day. I look a little like Lorenzo Lamas.

The other good that came out of this was that I am now registered to vote up here. I'm glad I got that taken care of prior to the flood, because I can see that as being one of those things that I let fall by the wayside while I'm doing other life-y stuff.

Flood Pictures

I am in my second "temporary" placement via my property managers, and the good news is that not only am I back in the neighborhood I know, but I also have stolen internet! Or rather, a generous neighbor with a strong enough signal and no security. Hooray.

This means I can finally post some pictures of the flood and it's aftermath for you. The pictures in the second post show the waters at the highest I saw them. Based on the watermarks on the wall, it appears that overnight it got much higher--3 to 3 1/2 feet in total. Fortunately, I didn't have to wade around in that!

More Pictures

Flood Update

I had all sorts of good stuff built up waiting for posting...my parents visited over Labor Day weekend and we had a GREAT time; I found a nice Saturday green market closer to home, where I lost my camera, bought a new one, and had my old one returned to me; I got cast in a workshop production here, which will be meeting through the fall; and, I just found out, I was ACCEPTED INTO THE SECOND CITY CONSERVATORY PROGRAM!

Unfortunately, as most all of you know, bigger news has happened.

On Saturday, September 13, 2008, my neighborhood, Albany Park, was deluged with a combination of leftover Hurrican Ike storms and a slow moving cold front. This resulted in about 24 hours of solid rain, which flooded first the nearby Chicago River, then the adjacent sewers, and ultimately the streets, yards, and sublevels of the buildings on my block. This includes my garden apartment.

48 hours later, here are the facts. My apartment has been ruined. A lost some personal property, namely bigger items like sofas, tables, etc. I also lost some personal memorabilia, including a box of pictures and souveneirs representing the years 1996 back through middle school. My renter's insurance has no clause for flooding, so I have no means of recompense.

But I am safe. Atlas is safe. Many very important and valued objects were unharmed. My property manager has been extremely gracious, taking me into his home for cleanup, then temporarily housing me in a different unit while a permanent solution arises. There is a possibility I could be housed permanently again by the end of the week. In spite of the fact that I was sloshing around in sewage and river water in sandals in 50 degree weather with pre-existing cold, I have not developed pneumonia or any other acute ailments (although I did swing by an urgent care center today, just to rule out Hep A exposure, thankyouverymuch Lisie).

I have been overwhelmed by support from back home and among short-time friends here. I already have offers from co-workers for extra furniture. Caring messages and prayers have been abundant, and in my shock and uncertainity I have certainly felt a blanket of grace and protection.

I have been trying this afternoon to post pictures, but I have to use my cell phone as a modem, and I am afraid the connection is too slow for photo uploads. Hang tight, as I hope to have this remedied in the next couple of days.

Meanwhile, thanks again for your support. Let me know if there are any questions I can answer for you.

Much love,

Andy (and Atlas)