Causing Accidents News Brief

It's time for our top headlines: I went to Millennium Park to eat my sandwich today (whole wheat, havarti cheese, and cajun smoked turkey breast). I hadn't been there yet, and went to the much hyped bean. It was pretty cool. I'll have to look around more later I believe. It was too hot to do any real walking. Sweating in corporate attire is so gauche.

In the entertainment segment: I'm reading Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World by Murakami. I just came across a great passage. The protaganist just had his house broken into by a near-giant and a near-midget. They are all talking over beer and cigarettes...a bit of the passage is as follows:

I shut up and drank my beer.

"And a free piece of advice," Junior offered. "Anybody over thirty-five really oughta kick the beer habit. Beer's for college students or people doing physical labor. Gives you a paunch. No class at all."

Great advice. I drank my beer.

As for weather: I hate when its hot for days, and your apartment soaks in the heat. Then when it cools off outside, which it is now, your place takes way longer to cool down again. Maybe I'll sleep outside. And fuck me for deciding to leave my bike locked outside. It is soaked now. I'm too lazy to go retrieve it. Maybe later.

And in the feats of strength/off beat/filler news category: Audrey peed and pooped at the EXACT SAME TIME today. I've never ever seen a dog do that. Is she a God? Perhaps. Did she just really have to crap? More plausible answer.

And in the what the fuck am I thinking/business sense category: I got asked to take on a major ALA committee, as the Chair. I had told myself I was taking a year off from that stuff, but I do not know how to say no. So here I go again, and this time its way more work and way more resonsibility. I feel as if I'm being groomed or something. ALA president? Only time will tell.

I am Consumer

I need to chronicle the limited amounts of media I've been consumming.

Books:
I just got my library card today, so I haven't read anything new since I moved. I checked out Murakami's Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World today. I have no doubts I'll love it. Murakami really can't do any wrong. If you know of one of his works I shouldn't read, let me know. That is a challenge.

Music:

I've been stuck listening to the same three albums on repeat: One A.M. Radio's The Hum of the Electric Air, Now It's Overhead's Fall Back Open, and the Robocop Kraus' They think they are... One of these things is not like the other! The first two really bum me out, but I can't stop listening because they are so good. The third is to kick me back into high times. I could use some new music. Not sure what I'm looking for though. Really clean music, minimal grittiness. The new Belle and Sebastian is pretty interesting. Minimal grit of course!

Movies:

I re-joined netflix, and have been watching Herzog films I haven't yet seen. Re-watched the White Diamond a few days ago. That is my favorite Herzog doc, mostly due to Red Beard's awesomeness. I haven't returned it yet, I need to watch it a few more times.

I also saw the Squid and the Whale, some Herzog shorts, Eraserhead, and Romance.

Television:

With no cable, I'm stuck getting DVDs. I've decided to take on Lost. I've seen the first 8 episodes of the first season. Its very uh...accessable, easy watching. Good for killing time, and keeps me interested. I'll stick with it. I'm no fangirl giddy whack about it.

I've been watching a lot of PBS cooking shows.

I went three weeks

I was able to go three weeks without cable. Now that I have a job, the cable is arriving! Not only that, but I got a DVR! I have joined the 21st century. Amazing! I feel that by living alone it will be nice to have so much television. I'm not ashamed to admit my love for tv. I love it! So I can't wait. UPDATE: Guess I'll be waiting three more weeks...installation is a bitch!

Last night JP and Joe came over to watch the White Diamond and drink beer. We stayed up too late and I was really tired today. It was nice to just stay home though.

Today was highly productive. I had a planned parenthood appointment this morning. Some guy in the waiting room struck up a conversation with me, which is (in my opinion) totally inappropriate for Planned Parenthood. He asked me about riding my bike, about how he was supposed to be in Vegas, his engaged friend who has a girl on the side, and on and on and on. It was really uncomfortable. For all he knew I was there to get an abortion and was having a mental breakdown or something, not there just for some pills. You do NOT talk at a planned parenthood.

Then I biked to Target to return the curtain rods that were the wrong size. I also put on my bike rack, although its not totally correct. The mounting bars interfere with the back breaks. I looked at other peoples bikes today and don't understand why mine is different. Maybe I'll take it into a bike shop. Then I walked Audrey for an hour to wear her out. It worked! After all that excitement, I took a nap and chilled. Hung out with a friend in the early evening, then went to the Hideout and sat around. Got sort of bored, and went home.

Tomorrow I plan on going to the public library and getting a library card, and perhaps buying more paint to finish my room on Memorial Day. However with the heat, painting may be a bad idea. I also really want to barbeque!

I love living here. I feel reborn.

At least I don't have to wear hose.

Temping, even if its "skilled labor," makes me feel like Claire in season five of Six Feet Under. Getting dress code emails with very strange rules is a first for me. You academic employees have it so easy, I never realized how easy I had it! Oh well, the job isn't too bad and its money. Can't complain!

Wait, yes I can! Man I'm tired! And Audrey so far has peed as soon as I let her out of her cage, she can't hold it that long! I'll have to hire a dog walker. My neighbor recommended me one, but I really don't want to spend the money right now. Maybe I'll try to box train Audrey again.

Also, the train ride to and from work is sort of soul crushing. You look around at 8 a.m. and its all people just like you-dressed in "business casual," tired, blank, all heading off to toil away. I hope some of them do what they do because they love it. I'm sure some do.

Start date got moved!

My start date at my new temp job got moved up to Thursday. Yikes! I have a lot to do to prepare. I'm really nervous about leaving audrey in her cage all day. I haven't made up her special room yet where she will chill all day, so I hope things go ok. She's never had to stay home all day because Jake and I had opposite schedules.

It'll be nice to get a pay check. I had to do some amazing financial feats to be able to pay rent for June, including getting a cash advance from my credit card (this will be the death of me when the interest hits).

Dog info, aka most boring post ever

Audrey has a few different types of collars and leads, and she acts very different when she has on each one. She has one of those gentle leader harnesses, that runs right under her front arm pits, and the leash connects at the front. When she wears that she becomes very submissive and very pleasant. She doesn't go after dogs, bikes, people, anything with it on. However it requires that she walks right next to me (which is actually the right way for a dog to walk). Since I have no yard, I like to let her use the retractable leash for some more adventure on a walk. However, she becomes very aggressive and rude on that leash. I'm going to switch to only the easy walk now because Audrey needs some better training. It may upset me momentarily but it must be done.

Also, last night I decided she needed to sleep in her kennel. Since we got her she has been waking up at 7 am and decides to bite me and jump all over me until I wake up. She also barks whenever she hears anything at all. I figured kicking her out of the bed and making her sleep in her kennel will help re-establish who is in control in our relationship.

I've also had to be very proactive at her barking during the daytime, and its hard work. I constantly have to drop what I'm doing and grab her, and its results in me never being able to get comfortable in whatever I'm doing.

So the goal of the summer is to get Audrey back under control. One positive is that she has become very friendly to visitors since we moved here, which is the opposite of SF. I'm not sure why she is so relaxed with people coming over.

This post brought to you by the Dog Whisperer on Oprah today.

Another weekend

Friday I went to Schuba's to see an acquaintence's show. I played my first ever round of Erotic Photo Hunt, and was blown away by the amazing photos. Pretty standard night out.

Saturday was really busy. I went to JP's renegade craft fair at the Empty Bottle, painted about half of my living room, went to dinner with 6 other girls, and then karaoked. Dinner was a lot of fun, and the margaritas were super strong! The bar was great too, and we ended up at Ed's house watching robocop until 4 a.m. Poor Audrey, she probably thought I had died I had been gone for so long.

Sunday I went to the Cub/Sox game. We had seats in the shade and it was freezing! Very uncomfortable, but the game was fun. There were...6...home runs? Five? I wanted to see a brawl break out on the field, but unfortunately the players kept their cool this time.

Then in the evening I watched three short films by Herzog, and they were all good. I remember Herzog talking about the cattle auctioneers (How Much Wood Would a Woodchuck Chuck) in Stroszek, and some of them appeared in this short film. That short was a little slow, but the other two (The Great Ecstasy of Sculpter Steiner and La Soufriere) were great. La Soufriere had some similarities to White Diamond, and it made me want to see that again right away. That short could have lasted another hour and would have still captivated me. It was wonderful.

Kristin wins the funniest phrase award

Kristin re: my new 'hood: "It looks like 227 but in Chicago!"

SO TRUE.

Breillat's Romance

I watched Catherine Breillat's Romance this morning. The only other Breillat film I have seen is Fat Girl, which I liked much better than Romance. The female protagonist in Romance was really pathetic. I'm assuming that was the point (I haven't watched the commentary yet), but I had great difficulty watching her waste away for some schmuck man and essentially fuck other guys just to get back at him for not screwing her. I believe Breillat would say she was owning her sexuality, but she seemed a complete mental slave to her boyfriend which resulted in taking out her frustration in sex she didn't really want. Her constant "I am nothing more than a gaping hole, I have to hate the men I fuck" was definitely not owning her sexuality, and I only felt pity on this person.

Plus many artistic aspects of the film were so painfully transparent, such as the wearing of all white until she starts the bondage bit and breaks out the bright red dress. I mean really, does Breillat think her audience is so dense that she needs to use some lame color scheme to signify a character development? Give me some credit!

Despite these problems, the film was ok. Slow in some points, but had some good monologue that left me thinking. Some of the sex scenes were good, others were atrocious. Those French and their sex scenes.

no money, mo' problems

Wow I'm broke. That's really all I can say. WOW.

employed, for now.

I got a job, down in the Loop, setting up a financial corporations records department. Soul sucking, but it pays and is at least a little closer to archival work than academia. And it will last at least through the summer, so I have steady money for awhile. This was great news.

Also great news, my cousin Kristin is randomly in town this weekend! We already met up once, and I'm going to see her again tomorrow. Good times!!

Not sure what I'm doing tonight yet. Last night I met up with a friend from HS, then watched hours and hours of Lost at Steve's house. I think I'll watch more, they were good. Some bad acting, but its good lazy Sunday viewing.

I have one week left of unemployment before the job starts. I'll have to live it up by being lazy and sleeping in. Unfortunately I'll have to buy some corporate wear. Barf.

Well...

Causing Accidents has just reached new heights of fool-itude!

Birthday 2

Nick was kind enough to get dinner with me (and pay!) at a mexican place by his house. I ate way too much and wanted to explode! Then we went to the beachwood, this bar that is pretty centrally located for all my friends. I was pleasantly surprised at the turnout for a Wednesday. Again my friends make me all sappy with their support of my move to Chicago. I also got some funny voice mails from out of town friends as well, and some interesting text messages.

I got the call back for the 2nd interview, and will be going in tomorrow. Here's to hoping I have a job soon!

Birthday

I'm 25 today. Had a job interview in the morning, lunch with some friends, and have just sat around since then. I was supposed to get a call back this afternoon to set up the 2nd interview and didn't get it, which is a little troubling. My birthday is pretty uneventful so far. I guess thats what happens as you get older - your birthdays get more boring.

I'll be hitting up a bar with friends tonight, but not sure what I'm doing about dinner yet. I really don't want to eat dinner on my birthday alone, that would be pretty depressing. Also, theres a big ole thunderstorm going on right now. Chicago weather hates me so far.

I went to a new mexican place last night, and a pitcher of margaritas was only 12 bucks! Good deal, I will return. Its far from my house though, so I'm not sure how often I can go. Have to hit up people with cars I guess.

I also moved my bed (with help!) into the other room last night so it could go up against a wall. I slept in it for the first time last night, and did ok. It took me a long time to fall asleep, but once I was out I was definitely out.

sidenote: whoa hail!?

biking update

I rode my bike around Chicago for the first time today. Dear god, compared to San Francisco this place is CAKE. No hills, no shifting gears, lots of bike lanes. It was really easy. I purchased a rear wheel bike rack and a bag for it so I can get groceries. I'm looking forward to not having a car for awhile, and just using my bike. It is going to be a big adjustment to have to go to the store every few days instead of every few weeks. However there is a grocery store just a five minute bike ride away, so it won't be too bad. The winter, however, will be like squirrel herding mode in my apartment when I am forced buy dozens of cans of black beans, rice by the barrel, and 100 cereal boxes due to the snow. Until then I'm looking forward to riding my bike around.

My apartment still reeks of cat, I wish I knew how to get rid of it. I've vacuumed and cleaned a million times! Febreze only takes you so far. I hate cats.

movies

I've seen people who have been able to put their netflix queue on their blogs, anyone know how to do that?

I watched Eraserhead last night. I really need to get a dvd player, watching movies on my laptop just ain't right. The volume is too low and it makes me think I'm on the internet. Up next from netflix is The Great Ecstasy of the Sculpter Steiner... by Herzog and Catherine Breillat's Romance. I'm trying to catch up on my Herzog films, but don't want to overdo it by only getting those.

Audrey has been shaking nonstop since we got here, and I'm not sure if she's cold or just being strange. She's been getting fed well, getting some exercise, and has been hanging with me way more than usual so she should be ok. Also she won't stop barking at anyone that walks by the window, or walks through the hallway. That needs to stop right away, as it happens at all hours of the day/night. Hopefully she'll calm down, but I fear this is going to be her status quo. At our old place she only barked when the other dog, Olive, came by and not when general humans walked through. I thought it would be that way here.

standard update

Friday's Smooth Music Night was fun. I met a bunch of people I've only heard about, so that was good. The best part was meeing a guy who worked on the set of R Kelly's Trapped in the Closet!!! I grilled him for at least an hour on what that was like, and if he thinks R Kelly is guilty. It was great.

Today I watched the Squid and the Whale. While the movie was very well done, it hit a little too close to home to me. I had trouble watching several scenes, as I remember the exact same scenarios happening when my parents got divorced. There were many Ice Storm type moments as well, and they were done in a tasteful way.

Later, I went to the Hideout to see my friend's band, May or May Not, play. I haven't seen them since last June, and was very impressed. I didn't have any money, had a slight headache, and just wasn't in the greatest of moods so I took off as soon as they finished. Had a nice walk home with JP, and here I set watching Guns, Germs, and Steel on PBS.

Tomorrow is another day in which I don't know what to do. Have some errands I guess. I realized I need to switch the layout of my apartment. I have the bedroom and the extra room all wrong, and need to swap them. That will take an extra hand though, so it may have to wait.

One thing thats slightly annoying is people asking me if I have a job yet, or interviews etc. I understand these are just small talk topics, and very obvious things to ask someone who just moved but it hurts saying no. Also, its hard to explain the snail-pace of the academic librarian hiring process without boring someone to death. At least I'm getting the question out of the way now, when I've only been here 6 days and its "normal" to be unemployed.

Almost totally settled

The cable modem is here! Its disgusting, but I feel so much more "at home" now that I have the internet. I joined netflix again today. Add me to your friends list please so I can see what people are watching and add it to my queue.

My friend Joe came over last night to help build a bookcase and a dresser. The bookcase came in two boxes from IKEA, and I'm an idiot, and guess what? I brought home two diff colors of "wood"!! Whoops! So the exterior is birch and the interior is nearly black. It looks very 80s Toyko style. I'll paint the outside some day in some nice color. I also picked up some paint for the walls, which are currently lavender. So now everything is unpacked, and the only thing I have to buy is a cart for the kitchen.

For some reason I haven't been able to sleep in my bed. I've found that I feel safer, more relaxed on the couch in front of the television. The sound of the tv helps me relax.

This weekend I'm going to Steve's Smooth Music dj set on Friday, and seeing May or May Not on Saturday night. Its amazing to have a social life. I've done something with friends every day since I've been here! Thats exactly what I wanted, so I'm happy its working out. My friends have been calling me and checking up on me, inviting me out to cool things, and in general being incredible people. I love them, and they make me all smooooshy.

Chicago, I have Arrived.

I made it to Chicago Sunday night. I don't have the internet at my house until Thursday, so I've been going a bit crazy. I've been busy, so that helps. Monday JP and I went to ikea, where I spent lots o money to furnish my new place. Then I hit up Target and did more damage for kitchen goods. My apartment is overrun in boxes, and I'm a bit overwhelmed with it all. That night I needed to get out of my place, and got some mexican food. It was no Puerto, but I enjoyed it regardless. I'll just have to erase the memory of my fave mexcian places (including Netties!) out of my mind and start anew.

Yesterday I did another Target trip, a grocery trip, and went to a White Sox game with Miller. The game was fun, and lots of good homers and various baseball enjoyments occured. Some funny people sat near us, who only had two beers and were raging drunk. Then some old guy and his kid, who took turns smoking cigarettes downstairs, would interject comments into our conversation occassionally. Good thing what they said was really funny.

Today I have to return the minivan that I have come to love and hate. Then I will spend the day working on my place, and hopefully finding something social to do at night. Have no fear though, once the cable modem arrives on Thursday I'll return to my reclusive state.

So onto the less practical stuff. Sunday night I totally freaked out when I got to my place. I was exhausted from driving over 30 hours to get here, and the magnitude of what I did (moved across the country to live alone) finally hit me. I had a few minutes of regrets/what the hell have I done thoughts, and fell apart. It didn't help that I had no furniture, and there are wierd gnats all over my apartment, or that the girl who moved out totally didn't clean the place and I hate dirt unless its my own mess. Plus Audrey was very upset/stressed so I felt awful for her and what I had done to her. She wouldn't come out of her kennel! But now shes cheery again, and has been nice to the people she's met so far.

As long as I have stuff to do, even if its building furniture, I'm ok. Its late at night when I have no internet, no roommate, and nothing to do that I get a bit freaky. Last night I slept on the couch because when I slept on my bed the night before I got almost no sleep for some reason. It was too quite and unsettled I guess. At least on the couch I can watch television while I'm sleeping for some background noise.

I got a call for a job interview, but the job doesn't sound all the great (pays well), and is in a far out suburb. I'll go anyway, I just checked my bank account and credit card account and wanted to die a slow death.

the van has arrived

The lovely Dodge Caravan (see Kev-it truly is a grand caravan!) is in the garage. I had no troubles getting it, and they didn't charge me extra for being 24 for a mere two more weeks. Awesome! The back seats fold down, which was something I was really hoping for. The only drawback of the van is theres no way for me to put a bike rack on it, so I'm going to have to dismantle my bike and find a way to shove it in the van with all my other stuff. So I'm loading it up, eating lots of peanut butter cups because I have no clean spoons for cereal, and watching television.

Driving the van is an experience, since its so big compared to my old corolla. Thankfully, the interstate is nice and straight, so I won't have too many troubles.

I'm so excited, so optimistic.

worries

I think Sunday night is going to be scary. I'll be in my new apartment, with no television, no furniture, no nothing. Hopefully I can steal wireless from a neighbor that night, so I won't be so lonely. Also the electricity company seems to believe that my address is bogus, so who knows if I'll have power. Anyone own candles? I know there will at least be a chair, small table, and coffee maker there since I bought those from the previous tenant. I can set up my own cafe for the night. Maybe I can con someone into keeping me company for awhile, although I doubt it due to Monday being a real-world work day.

I haven't lived alone in three years. I think it will take some getting used to. Also, although from what I've heard the neighborhood is safe, and I have guard-dog Audrey, I'm still a little nervous about moving into a first floor apartment again.

I'm also a bit nervous that Audrey will totally freak out, and miss her home, and be cranky or get sick or something equally time consuming and heart breaking.

Last wednesday in SF

Less than two days. Sort of mind-blowing. I sold CDs at Amoeba today, and got 80 bucks! That was nice. And there was minimal judgement by the lady who bought them. That guy from Brian Jonestown Massacre was there, thank god I didn't get him as my buyer. He's so goofy and freaks me out!

Today was what I will crassly call "carpet and drapes" day- haircut and bikini wax. I hope to find some good people in Chicago, but you never know! I'll miss my stylist, Jeremy, he's so damn funny. All we talked about today was how their apprentice relapsed and is in "the program" and major gossip. Then the owner showed me his tatoo, in the shape of a necklace, that says DADDY really big on it. Total bear! It was great. I'll be sure to make an appointment there if I'm ever in town again.

Tonight is my last night with Patricia and Juan, and our top model experience. This will be very very sad.

Tomorrow I have to BART down to SFO and pick up the minivan. I'm hoping nothing goes wrong - like that Seinfeld episode where they simply don't have a car for you. I'm also hoping the van fits into our parking space in the garage so I can pack it up in advance.

I can't believe I'm moving. I am amazingly not concerned about anything - about having no money or no job - I'm just confident everything will work out. I feel so great. Cheeseball!

couches

I don't understand why couches are so ugly. Some look ok, but I can't afford those. I'm scouring craigslist right now for a nonugly couch, and its just not possible. Whats with the hideous patterns that get used on couches? I just want a very plain, minimally textured, moderately modern (but some retro would be ok!), not 1000 pound couch. Apparently this is not possible.

Everytime I say or think the word couch, I remember a conversation I used to have with Mumm about how our grandparents called them davenports. Maybe I'd yield better results if I searched craigslist for davenport. Or perhaps sofa, setee, lounger, chaise...

I extended my van rental so I could have an extra day to run errands with it around Chicago. If you want to experience the joy of the minivan, I have it until next Wednesday morning. However, experiencing that joy also involves manual labor of lifting crap into and out of it. Freedom ain't free.

Audrey has been passed out all day. I guess the beach and a trip to the vet (some thermometer up the butt and bordatella shot action) really knocked her out. Poor girl.

packing

I finally began packing about an hour ago. I've moved so many times that I understand how much time it will take for me to pack, and wait until the last minute to do so. Nothing is getting shipped or taken via third party, so my packing skills need to be minimal. If anything, most of the work will be in throwing away old junk. I've been very good about not keeping things, so even this won't be too bad. Hopefully everything will fit in the awesome minivan I'm picking up on Thursday.

Last night was my going away dinner with Letty, Isobelle, Victor, Juan and Patricia. We went to Osha Thai on Valencia, and it was very good. They brought me a cake and SF memorabilia. I got sad, I love those guys! I'll see them again though.

We went to Fort Funston one last time today, so Audrey could see the beach. Here are some photos: