see as i saw

In the midst of a rain/snow, trekking down the sidewalk, head down, this texture caught my eye.  I got a few strange looks as I pulled out my phone and photographed the corner of a doorway multiple times.  Small price to pay for an "ooh!" moment in an otherwise cold and dreary atmosphere.

It's no secret that I've been craving travel and an injection of the thrill that comes from new places.  Unfortunately there are still many restless months ahead of me.  So I had to go with plan B, seeking new places on a more micro level.

I decided to go with the path of least resistance, hop a northbound #22 bus, and visit a little Chicagoan slice of Sweden.  Andersonville.  I've heard a few people in recent weeks extolling how cute it is with it's independent shops and neighborhood-y vibe.

After browsing the non-corporate options for coffe, I chose an unassuming cafe with a section of floor pillows with low tables and foreign currencies stapled to the pillars.  I thought about hanging around to people watch, but a storm was brewing and I wanted to wander a bit.

I ducked in a store here and there.  Peeked into windows and at menus for bars and restaurants that opened at later hours.  Amused myself with an eclectic and disarrayed collection of antiques and misfit odds & ends.

As I wandered out of my short exploratory jaunt, a rain storm threw me into the arms of Gap.  The reverie of novel adventure was broken and as the storm ceased, I walked out with a bag of goods and aimed my feet in the direction of my warm and comfortable couch.  It was a nice mini adventure to get my synapses firing and my curiosity piqued.  Unfortunately it's not likely to satisfy my craving beyond 24 hours, but that's okay.  I'd be more worried if the craving went away.

Your efforts are not always rewarded.  Your expectations are not always met.  People don't always treat you as they'd want to be treated.  And it's difficult not to hang your head, scowl, yell or engage somehow within the reactionary spectrum.

So you throw yourself into yoga.  You read a book.  You stay home for a solo Friday night and try to recoup your sanity.  Maybe you eat a little chocolate.  Or even a lot.  You take a long walk, gulping in the fresh air.  You remind yourself to breathe in, breathe out, and keep on going.

I ran across a meme today that said, "I miss being the age when I thought I would have my act together by the time I was the age I am now".  Sounds about right.  I'm convinced that there's no such thing as grown up, only constant growing up.

Technically, I've successfully closed my first week of life back in the Loop.  No, it's not Friday.  Yes, I have the option to work from home on Fridays.  I haven't quite decided what I'm most excited  about with this option.

Sleeping later.  Working in pajamas.  Having a personal Skype session during lunch.  Not having to pack a lunch.  Windows open and fresh air.  No commuting.  Going for a run whenever I'm ready.

That last one is kind of key, at least tomorrow.  Although I was walking many miles every day in New York, in my Chicago adjustment phase I've only managed to run once this week.  And there are way too many opportunities to eat when you work in an office with three men and your company supplies food.

In other good news, apparently there's a gym in the basement of our building (directly below my photo's vantage point) and all tenants have access.  It's so easy to let myself hibernate in the winter, because I'm not particularly fond of winter runs...or paying for overpriced gym memberships.  With such convenience of just going to the basement, I assume that I can be at least moderately successful in maintaining a workout schedule.

Instead of going straight to my hotel room after work, I have a tendency to wander.  Today I made my way over to Chelsea Market, which seems to be popular among both the tourist and resident types.  I'm not a huge foodie, but from what I could gather this place is chock full of gourmet and specialty food stands and marketplaces.  I snagged a brownie for a $1.50 and called it a day.

My main interest, per usual, was taking in my surroundings and finding photo ops.  Since the market is housed in a renovated warehouse space, there was definitely a uniquely modern and historic mix of styles.  Ah, yes, contrast.

Many thanks to Yelp for existing and allowing me to find small, hole-in-the-wall joints to buy a NY cheddar grilled cheese and avocado sandwich.  And if my brownie and grilled cheese weren't enough, my hotel bar was offering $4 glasses of pinot noir for happy hour.


So despite being in NYC, where prices can be notoriously high, I managed to piece together a delightful concoction of comfort foods (and drink) for $13.50.  Not too shabby.


Plans are already under way for my Saturday wander.  I'm thinking it will be an Uptown kind of day, since I've really only ever spent time in Midtown or Downtown.

P.S. Despite my NYC love affair, I'm feeling homesick for Chicago.  I miss my friends.  And making my own dinner at home.  And my pillow, I can't wait to get back to my pillow.

 Having a full-time poses a potential to halt some of the practices and routines that I've developed in the past eight months. Conversely, having a job allows me to return to several things that were sacrificed in my sans paycheck days.

One of the missions that I want to focus on adopting permanently is being open-minded. That means trying new things and saying yes to opportunities and possibilities. You never know where a path will lead you or the things you will learn by taking that chance.

Taking this job was a chance, although a calculated one. Spending two weeks in New York, a highly unfamiliar city, is an experience. Going to the US Open, even alone and only for 35 minutes of a match, was an irreplaceable opportunity.

These are considerable 'yes' situations, but they don't eliminate the need to focus on expanding my day-to-day life. In fact, while the big events may be more newsworthy, the tweaks to daily life are forging my character and leading me to the big events.

Today I dipped my toes in the water. (This is an intended pun, are you ready for it?) I tried sushi. When in New York, and the company supplies you with a risk-free catered opportunity, might as well.

Then, of course, there's the common (yet still slightly frightening) concept of injecting myself into situations where I meet new people. Group endeavors still tend to leave me people watching from the outskirts, but I make an effort to incorporate those situations on occasion. What I'm getting better at is one-on-ones, whether it's small talk with a stranger, meeting up with a friend of a friend, or playing tour guide for my brother's boss.

Yes, I managed to fit a month's worth of belongings into a carry-on bag and a personal item in January.  But I was going to Costa Rica, where no one knew or cared if I wore the same swimsuit and shorts every day.  Now I'm attempting to pack within the same restraints for two weeks in New York, including nine days in the office.

The hints of the cooler climes ahead have begun.  With that, in the midwest, wafts in the ambiance of college football.  There are certain days when I walk outside and can practically smell it in the air; regardless of what city street I'm walking down, my mind is transported to Saturday walks to Spartan Stadium down Shaw Lane.

This feeling hits me every year in the weeks preceding the season opener and in those years I've always had the feeling that I'm not the only one.

Chicago is a melting pot of relocated alumni; clearly a large chunk of the ratio leans toward the Big Ten, but there are myriad universities represented.  As September looms and the weather starts to turn, there's a noticeable uptick in university apparel.

Everyone seems to be representing their school more prominently when football season is on the horizon.  It just gets me even more revved up.

Last year was the first season since I enrolled at MSU that I didn't make it to a football game.  Truly unacceptable.  The plan is to make it to at least one game this season, the only problem being a significant hike in ticket prices thanks to Coach Dantonio's success with the program.

After several rounds of literature from the best of all time lists, my mind needed a cool down lap.  I found some fictional light reading; I might even go as far as calling it chick lit.  Not a standard in my reading practices.  To make things even more unusual, one of the main characters had my name...and somehow her life path looked eerily similar to mine in several ways.

Parents want what's best for you, but they can also get anxious when you're talking a path or stance they don't understand.  That's why I'm not surprised by the consistent advice and coaxing that I receive in regards to my next move in life.

The resounding message has been, "Just try things and see what sticks."  Translation: apply for a lot of jobs, go on interviews, then decide if it's right for you.  The problem is that I have a sneaking suspicion that the right role for me may be one that I don't even know exists.  So the traditional seek and apply method is likely to continue leading me to the same opportunities that I've moved away from.

This is why I'm about to employ some multi-tasking.  My natural element has never been large groups of people that I don't know.  Although I've become more at ease with it during the first phase of my career, it's still one of those areas that I have to push outside of the comfort zone.  So I've started seeking out opportunities to volunteer or events to attend where there is a high likelihood of being surrounded by similar-minded people.  The added value is the possibility of encountering new ideas and roles that a traditional job search would never uncover.

And, of course, there's always that old adage of "It's not what you know, it's who you know".  I can't foresee a downside to knowing more people.

This is going to be short and to the point. And I'll tell you why. You know how people will say they need a vacation to recover from their vacation? I bet there's a high likelihood that anyone reading has said or thought the same thing. (Maybe it was a wish for more weekend to recover from your weekend.)

That's how I feel after the past four days. It wasn't really a vacation, but it was still an event. With my brother and his girlfriend in town from Texas, activities and gatherings never ceased. We had plentiful food, drink and fun...but I think we would all like to hibernate for a couple of days now. Does this mean we're all old?