The Good Dirt

maybe that is the source of the gigantic sucking noise heard this morning as all of my belongings were shuttled out of my home.
all that's left now are dustbunnies, my couch, which is being taken by someone else after we leave, some of our stuff, which we need for the drive and for next week's triathlon and some light training this weekend, our bikes, and me, sitting on the couch with my dog while jim goes to return the cable box.
it's been too busy for me to feel blue, but that is rapidly changing. now, sitting here with my keystrokes echoing in this remarkably big space, i'm turning over what a friend of mine said to me just recently: "It's not fair. i looked at your evite, and there's something like 35 people coming tonight. you built a community around yourself, and now you have to leave it."

shit. i really loved it here.
goodbye, chicago. it's been loads of fun, even when it's been difficult, and even when i thought i wanted to exchange the curiously fine sand and bizarrely unsalted air of lake michigan for the familiar beaches of the eastern seaboard. thanks for having me. i hope i'll see you again soon.

....do you like it? it's OK if you don't; i'm always curious to see what people think.
*i* like it, anyway....
the artist's name is Zsofia Otvos, and she is terrific.

...in chicago.

http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=2789929

1. drink lemonade out of the carton
2. purchase art
3. be sad in the middle of the night for very long over leaving a happy home and place. sigh.

Yesterday, Dan took me out for one last big hurrah in this big city. I'm going to try to not get very melodramatic here, but I've been very slowly coming to the realization that we're leaving this city in which we've both grown so much and realized so many dreams.
For the first time Jim lived in a big city. For the first time I lived in the Midwest. For the first time Jim worked at a job he was insanely passionate about--and I found a not-for-profit cause that I could really get behind. We had friends pop in, and lived in a desirable neighborhood, and down the street from a major American ball park. In many ways, it was a reflection of a type of American dream.
We're off to surburbia in less than a week, and I must confess that my workouts have been suffering as a result of my desire to see many of the things that made me happy here. Friends, of course, take the most time, but I do not begrudge that time. I will just have to work that much harder when I get to New York.
It's become obvious to me that Ironman competition is not to be a repeating part of my life. Although I should refrain from saying so until I've completed the race, I'm all too aware of the things I've given up for the sake of training: I missed participating in a short story competition, for instance, because I was away at a triathlon camp. And although I learned a number of things about myself and improved myself that weekend, I do regret not being able to send in a short story submission.
That's just the least of it, though: I knew this weekend would be crazed with activities; the original schedule was that I had an art opening and a club date on Friday; Saturday I was to get up early and run two hours before meeting Dan for Super Fun Saturday, which was to include lunch, a trip to the Art Institute, drinks at NoMI, dinner at Bistro Zinc, and then another art opening; then I was to get up early this morning and drive out to Barrington to participate in a group ride of 50 miles. Today I was planning on getting home about two; meeting someone who wanted to see our couch at about three; then drinks and a movie with friends later on.
What ended up happening is that I got home at three on Saturday morning, slept in, took the dog for a good, long walk; met Dan; got home at 10:30; sat with my next door neighbors on their porch and chatted for about an hour; slept until 9; read my newspaper; took the dog for a walk and spent more time with my neighbors on their porch, reading the paper and magazines and chatting; and, in general, have had a really nice Sunday. In fact, it's been exactly what I needed.
I noticed around dinner last night that I'd spent some of Super Fun Saturday stressing about whether or not I was going to get home in time to have a good night's sleep before I got up at the crack of dawn to meet some people I didn't know for a ride in a place I wasn't going to miss at all. I also noticed that I didn't feel regretful or worried at all about missing my two-hour run and forgoing it for the chance to see some good friends late into the night on Friday.
Those two distinct reactions told me where my priorites are right now. I stacked my workouts on Friday, anyway, so my legs were pretty well tired. Today I'll do the two-hour run when it gets cooler and when there are fewer morons clogging the path; I'll do my swim and my four-hour ride tomorrow during the morning and the day.
Super-Fun Saturday was awesome. In short, it comprised some good culture and some great conversation; the weather was terrific and I contemplated an art purchase for Jim. I have a bid in for a large acrylic canvas that is a ridiculously good value, although I think Jim might completely freak out if he knew just how big it is.
Oh well. Anyway, I'm happy that I have the chance to take some Chicago art back with me, and I actually quite like the piece I've put the bid in on. I'll post a photo of it if I do get it.
Dan and I were bad documenters of life yesterday: Neither one of us brought a camera. However, I had my camera on my walk this morning, so here are few shots of the neighborhood.
1. Neighborhood fundraising: can you guys see the writing? It says, "One penny for hopscotch," or something like that. I had some change, so I hopescotched twice.
2. I like the moulding on this building.
3. I like the garden in this yard.
4. Sprocket stops for a drink at the Newport Bar and Grill.
5. In both summer and October I've posted photos of this house and the wonders the owners do with their porch just by dint of a few curtains and some nice flowers. Now, it's springtime, and their garden is gorgeous.
6. Hardcore female pedicab driver. Very, very cool.

Yes, yes, I'm sad over leaving. But I'd rather not talk about it.

           

Click here to download:

Super-Fun_Days.zip (9220 KB)

1. Stay up until all hours reading YA/middle-grade fiction. Last night it was _The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole, Aged 13 1/2."
2. Wake up in the middle of the night and stare at the ceiling, pondering whatever book it was. It occurred to me that Adrian Mole might actually be the best example of "Show, don't tell" that I've read in a long, long time. Adrian never tells you anything, really, in this book. Stuff just happens, and you infer what it means from there. But by the end of the book,you've got such a complete picture of Adrian and the people who matter in his life, even if he doesn't, yet. Hmmm. Must read more books like this.
3. Eat waffles in bed. In the middle of the night. After brushing my teeth.
4. Sleep with clean laundry on the bed.
5. Skip workouts.
6. Leave the lights on--all of them--when walking the hound. Argh, oh argh. This does not bode well for our higher-rent abode.

Here are some photos. They are ALL BLURRY. This makes me angry. I suspect this is because the camera was on the wrong setting when I took them. So sad. 

1. My dog apparently prefers walking with strangers to walking with me.
2. Kirsten, "studying" at Delicious Cafe. Rrrright.
3. Tab, actually working. Clearly she is the only one, since I am busy taking photos.
4. Like this one, of the beauty school across the street. I really like the motto and the hand-painted storefront.

That's all for now. I'm going to try and make up for the workout I missed. I hate running. When did I stop liking it? God, I loathe it. I'd better go, before I talk myself out of it.

       

Click here to download:

Things_I_Do_When_Unsupervised.zip (5712 KB)

here's the elevation profile. i think i'm going to need another coupla gears.

this weekend i drove to gorgeous Galena for a long bike ride and to, ostensibly, take part in a training weekend.
it was really fun in parts and really not so much in others. but it was highly useful and i'm really glad i did the 45-and-change ride on saturday. i also learned a lot about swimming, and i think it really has already helped me: i was faster in the pool than i've ever been today, and i felt really really efficient. even when i didn't feel as efficient my times were good.
here are some photos.

1. the drive out to galena was so windy that my bag of "light and airy" cheesy poufs lived up to their name, all over the car floor. i employed the fifteen-second rule and ate them.
2. this is part of the galena area. it is purty.
3. do you SEE the big hill in front of me? yes, yes, that is what the WHOLE RIDE was like. i will ahve to dig up the elevation profile for you.
4. on my way home i drove by kristin's to pick up houndy. i was greeted by this beautiful sight on melrose and paulina. nothing beats chicago in the springtime.
5. i posted a few days ago that i didn't udnerstand why they were building the new addition onto Wrigley. here's the finished product. please, let's slap another logo onto this ballpark. because the fact that it's named Wrigley Field isn't good enough. now we have to stare at this lowly rum (and be reminded of the dorky men who drink it) every time we go by Wrigley. what a pity.
6. we went to the beach this morning. sprocket was happy.
7. it was crowded.
8. today is the day i can say i finally re-used up the wrapping paper that lara used to wrap a gift for me five long years ago. was it five? i bet it was longer than that. hmmm. it is going around a small token for a person i barely know. oh well. any excuse to give a gift!

               

Click here to download:

stuff.zip (10418 KB)