Summer in September

I really do believe that shifting my summer chronology has drastically improved my summer attitude. A few years ago, I decided that after years of rainy Memorial Days and crap-tastic weather in the beginning of June, that I was going to remove June entirely from any summer expectations, and give September a shot at being a summer month instead of June.

I know that the summer solstice is June 21 or thereabouts. But, my expectation of summer, for many years, was that the summer weather would fall in June/July/August.

Well, I've know completely bailed on you June--you are, in my mind now, month of June, late Spring. And that opens it up for you, lovely lovely September, a great opportunity to show your sunny way into my heart.

And this weekend was a summer weekend, indeed. In my ongoing quest to embrace Chicago, I took a paddle ride up the Chicago river, starting at Melrose almost all the way to Foster. And a group of friends went, too. Thank you all so much for coming, by the way--so fun. Anywho, we paddled past many duck families, a large flock of geese, a blue heron and a dead animal that was identified by others as either a racoon, a beaver or a rabbit--but was dead and floating in our river path. I was in a single kayak, and I simply refused to look at it so as not to besmirch the trance the Chicago River had cast on me.

Going under the Wilson bridge, I had stumbled into a Chicago movie scene location that if I had seen in the movie theatre I would have wished I could be in, but there I was, in it and watching two el trains fly by on the bridge above.

Stinky onion? Not Friday night.

Highly recommended---5 out of 5 paddles. And moving on forward, I decree September to be my new summer.

Quick hello to my brother Paul, (who I don't think has read this lately) but anyway, thanks for taking me kayaking all those times!
And tell Olivia to call me.

Faire, glorious Faire

What a lovely weekend you've served up, Chicago. First there was Friday, with a day off filled with roofdeck sunshine, stocking up at the grocery store and lovely hot dogs at Huey's. And not just dogs, but Chili Cheese dogs, with the onions, please.

Then, a stroll down to the Playground from Andersonville, filled with NPR nerd gossip and drunken cubs fans from the burbs. Show and drinks after, then late night viewing of Silence of the Lambs.

Saturday was coffee and buckwheat pancakes, a little bit of box moving next door as Lis and Jarrad arrived, laundry and even a little walk to get a cute outfit for dinner. Then, guac, hummus, cheese and beer-graitas on the deck with the sun setting behind us. Thai food at Thai Pastry and then back to the deck for the end of the evening.

Today was the renaissance faire, and it was like a movie set of what a renaissance faire should be---light filtering through the trees as we watched the jugglers and munched on cheese fritters. Sniffers drove the jeep, so summer sun just bled on us the whole way there and home. I even wore a gypsy skirt to try to fit in with the wenches and what-not. Lovely, lovely weekend and there's still one more day off.

Well-played, Chicago, well-played.

Behind the scenes these is a lot going on. I'm carefully crafting plans to enjoy the summer to the fullest, shifting towards a delightful fall and trying to follow good inspiration for future endeavors.

THis all sounds vague: but there's no real update or ironic observation right now to report.

Amy and I are totally cruising on the new play, work is busy but good, and I've been doing some improv, too.
I celebrated both Amy and Lis' birthday this week---it was really fun, including a long night of hanging out at two different beer gardens.

I ready Harry Potter in a day and really liked it. My friend Tim was planning to stretch it out to a chapter a day so it would last longer. I decided to just re-read it a bunch.

It's been hot.

I went to Lollapalooza and saw Modest Mouse, that crazy Amy Winehouse, Iggy Pop, and Pearl Jam. That's quite a festival, that Lolla--they run a super-tight ship.

Andy and I are back in purge mode and our office is almost complete. It's pretty sweet and much less trashy, now that we have matching Ikea birch furniture.

Oh! If you live in Chicago, I can't recommend enough the "Impress these Apes" show on Thursday nights at IO (Formerly Improv Olympic). It's a talent show, among many other things. It's so so great...go see it and see what you think.

Signing off, ironic comment,

Becky

Tan Camp

Thursday, July 19, 2007

I saw a bunch of old friends this week, and again and again, they commented on the tan. In fact, one friend even said “I keep looking over at you and thinking….is that really Becky?”

Another friend said I should keep wearing white to show the contrast and my old boss said I must have brought the sunshine home with me from the cruise.

I fear I’m getting a little tan-obsessed…but having a tan is almost like having a baby or a dog—it’s an icebreaker, especially when I’ve been pale for so long.

And since many of these people are also seeing my co-worker/longtime friend Lauri, who is 8 months pregnant, it’s nice to bring something to the conversation.

Crew to Crew

Wednesday, July 18, 2007

I finally got to see Homer Monday night. I was in my work top and summer pj shorts, doing laundry when he and Andy burst into our front door, bristling with enthusiasm to go out. So, I put on some jeans, they changed from their show clothes and we headed out.

Only today, when he called to say hi did we remember that the first place we went after last seeing each other in Crew Bar on the Spirit was……Crew.

This Crew in Chicago is a gay sports bar, and the drinks cost a lot more then $1/bottle.

But when I’m there, I get to hang out with Andy, Cyndi, Paul and many more Chicago-based friends.

But man, I miss being able to walk down 7 flights of stairs to get to Crew Bar and not having to work in the morning.

Three times denied

Sunday, July 14, 2007
Rural Michigan--tan-ied
I headed up to Pinckney, Michigan, to get some face time with a friend’s new baby, hang out on her deck and play with her kids. Amy P and I headed out together and had a very relaxing time.

My friend, Jenn, has known me since high school. I was high on the many tan comments I had gotten since my return, and faithful readers will know that I’ve been working to keep the tan. Jenn, never once mentioned my tan, though she’s seen me pale every summer since the late 80s.

I finally asked her if she noticed my tan—and she said not so much. I then jerked down my t-shirt to wow her with my shoulder tan and she remained non-plussed. Amy even asked her privately, “You don’t think Becky is really tan?” Jenn denied me for a third time. She is my tanning Judas. Or is that Simon?

Back to life...back to reality

Tuesday, July 3, 2007
Back to work again.
After 5 months of not working in an office, I’m back to a desk job.

As desk jobs go, this is a really good one. The commute is easier then I remembered, I really dig my workmates and they were nice enough to take me back after the cruise.

But, my favorite thing is being downtown again in the summer. I’m right on the river, across from the Wrigley Building and next to the Tribune Tower.

It’s been lovely this week, and lovely to be back in the action.

Even if my tan is fading.