An Act of Discipline

I initially envisioned this blog as being a daily record of one or two of the important things I learned. In theory a very grand and laudable goal, it was also a commitment to do nothing. Obviously, if I don't learn anything "important" in any one day, I don't want to post for fear of allowing standards to fall. On the other hand, in a period of slow reader interaction, posting more often will keep the buzz going.

Well, the biggest thing I discovered is that it takes a lot more commitment and more to say than I do to keep the flow going.

But I think that I can increase the things I have to write about if I experience more than I have of late. I need to just take the time to think of onee or two things to say every day. Even more important, I have to make sure it actually gets done.

Click

I have been taking more pictures lately. I shot about 100 or so this weekend. I don't have them online yet because I'm taking the time to crop and clean them up a bit before posting. After all, I am a professional, having earned a heart-stopping $7.77 last year.

It has done a lot for my peace of mind. Paying attention to the immediacy of the world within my sight has kept me centered. I plan on doing a lot more shooting this summer and researching what it takes to show. I'd like to think I can at least double my earnings this year.

Then I'll go pro.

Attack of the Overly Aggressive Squirrel

In the city, it's all about the rats and the squirrels in the cold time and, in the warmth of summer, we add pigeons to the mix. Cats tend to be kept in doors. There's an occasional dog, although in my neighborhood they tend to be very tiny dogs, loud and frisky and actually sometimes smaller than the rats and squirrels.

The point of all this is that the wildlife around here isn't all that wild.

So it was with a great deaal of surprise that I was walking down Barry this morning and I came upon a squirrel, squatting right in the middle of the sidewalk chattering at a woman who had apparently been halted in her steps by the sudden challenge of the fierce squirrel. Suddenly, the squirrel charged. It took off running directly at the woman. She dashed across the street, panic writ large on her face. The squirrel followed her as far as the street, and then paused.

The squirrel sniffed the air and then slowly turned its head in my direction. I was a good half block away, but damned if I was going to take my chances against this fierce urban rodent. I crossed the street and left the squirrel to his turf.

I'm thinking I should start carrying a weapon to protect myself from wild animals.

Just a Thought

One of the relatively few advantages to being on my own is that I can eat all I want of certain foods that I didn't eat much of when I was married. Lox. Onions. I'm eating onions on almost everything now. I haven't had much eggplant yet, but the time is coming. Parmesan. Caponata. Baba ghanouj.

I wonder if I could finish a side of lox before it goes bad.

Welcome, Spring

I have spent the last several days walking around, doing errands, wrapping up my class, just enjoying the weather. The runners are wearing fewer layers, skirts are getting shorter, coats are getting left at home.  The sun is shining. Two boats are in the harbor.

Spring is on its way at last.

Five Bucks

The sun is shining, a slight breeze is blowing off the lake and it's in the upper 50s or lower 60s. Springtime has finally come back to Chicago. The weather forecast is for it to get into the upper 80s tomorrow and humid as a sauna. But today we have a beautiful day.

I walked around the neighborhood, did a little shopping. I browsed the used record store for fun. (I'm not in the market for vinyl right now, but I hope to be soon.)

I stopped in at Stella's Diner, my local joint, just to get the flavor of the day. A bowl of soup and a fresh roll, a Diet Coke and a few words with friendly faces. Five dollars is not a lot to keep yourself anchored in your community.

Have a good weekend.

When You Get Out of Bed, Put Some Clothes On

I have decided something needs to be done. To all the jokers out there wearing flannel pyjama pants out to the bars, to run errands, to dinner, etc., I have one thing to say.

Put some fucking pants on, you douchebag.

Pyjama pants are the zubaz of the 21st Century. That's right, Trixie, you may think you're totally cute, but you just look like some white trash Joey Buttafuoco with tits.