Artwork on the Commute.

I used to commute on the Brown Line from Western to the Merchandise Mart a few years back, well...quite a few years back. Passing by this art installation was always one of my favorite parts of the journey. Such a simple work of art, but quite powerful at the same time. Well done to whoever came up with this idea and brought it to fruition. I should Google it and find out everything there is to know about it, but I don't really care about that at this point. Sometimes it's better to just admire something for what it is, rather than finding out everything about it.

I don't take the Brown line all that often anymore, but every now and again, I do, and it's always a nice surprise when the train rumbles on by whatever building it is that this very large piece of printing is installed on. 

As an aside, and I know I should stay out of this sort of thing on this here, fun for you to read blog, but I don't feel like it, so... 

Does anyone else find it interesting that Jack Kevorkian and Ronald Reagan are listed right next to each other? Too bad Jack Kevorkian wasn't by Reagan's bedside back in...oh, say...1979, helping to administer a warm, beautiful, lethal dose of go off to see Jesus now my friend. 

Oh well. Can't have everything.

Regardless, we still have this majestic piece of artwork.

That's not so bad. 

Weekend Whatevers...

One day, when I actually learn how to use grammar correctly, I'll stop using so many ellipses in my writing, but that day is not today and it will not be tomorrow.

Perhaps I should have given my notice the other day. I worked eight hours on Saturday and eight hours again today, and I'm kind of beat. This massive job for (insert giant corporation that everyone has heard of here) has finally come to fruition as far as my overtime is concerned, and I've been asked to work weekends through the end of July. That's not to say there won't be a day off every once in a while, but to be honest, I don't really know if that's going to happen. I wasn't really looking forward to this summer anyway. That's a lie, sort of, but there's also a good amount of truth to it. I'm trying to gear myself up for this blatant abuse of my labor, but I'm not really doing a very good job at it.

Part of me wants it for the money, but the other, lazier part of me, doesn't really want it all. At this point, the money part seems to be winning out, but the lazier part is really kind of annoyed at the money part. I have never in my life worked that many days in a row, and I probably won't have to when all is said and done, but that's what I'm planning on. At least it's only through July. I'll still have August to enjoy the sunshine and warmth, hopefully. If we get another one of these shit summers that don't actually happen, I'll be disappointed if I miss the nice days. But I don't know what's going to happen, so I'm not too worried about it at this point. My debt free plan by the end of the year will be happy for the overtime, I know that much. I still may not meet that goal, but I'll be a hell of a lot closer than I would have been without the overtime.

That's called progress, my friends.

Go Blackhawks! One!

I shaved my inadvertent Stanley Cup beard tonight. I didn't shave it off, just trimmed it, as I couldn't take the scratchiness discomfort on my neck. It already feels much better. I haven't actually watched any of the Hawks playoff games or Stanley Cup games so far this year. Part of that is not having cable. Part of it is working too much. Part of it is that my Blackhawks playoff watching buddy has moved. Part of it is not wanting to go to the bar to watch, as my roommates don't go to the bars too often, and I didn't really want to go by myself. However, I've asked my roommate Greg and our mutual, good friend Jay to go tomorrow night. It's fun to watch and it would be a shame to miss out on what I predict will be a Stanley Cup victory tomorrow night. That's right. I'm calling it right here on this blog! The Blackhawks will be Champions tomorrow night! Not many people have the balls to make that kind of bold, off the cuff, type of prediction, but I do. I have those balls. Fair weather fans are the greatest at making stupid comments and predictions.

Also I found these awesome shades on Friday night. Looks like I'm set for whatever will be left of my summer. Also, looks like these shades will be taking me places...hardy, har har!

Nothing like a lame joke to end this blog and your weekend. Enjoy yourselves my friends!

I'm Grateful...

My sister gave me some advice tonight to sit down and write out all the things I'm grateful for in life. I sort of scoffed at the idea when she sent it, as I already do that on a daily basis, but usually it's in the morning not too long after I wake up. I have the Gratitude! app on my phone. You write down a few things you are grateful for and then you hit the done button and up pops a nice message of inspiration. It's a good way to start my day. Usually helps to put me in a decent frame of mind before I go about with the majority of my day.

Today was a bit more difficult though. I did my best to start the day off right, but the circumstances of the day slowly wore away my good intentions. It's just one of those days, I suppose. Actually, it's not just one of those days. It's a day that seems as if it should have had a different outcome, a different plan, a different result. Should have, could have, right?

Anyway, so I was going to write down a list of things I'm grateful for in life, but then I realized that would probably be pretty boring, so I'll just type out a few of them and expand on why I'm grateful for them. That's not to say it still won't be boring, but perhaps slightly less boring than just a list.

I'm grateful for my roommates. 
When I moved into this place, I had never met any of them. They had no idea who I was or whether I'd be a good roommate, but they were nothing but gracious in welcoming me into their home. I'm not always the easiest person to get to know, so it was a bit awkward for a while, but it wasn't too long before we all figured it out and realized there was much fun to be had in this space. Good people recognize good people. That's not to say we're not all dumb every now and again, but the good parts trump the dumb parts. Thanks Greg, Rhom, Jen, and Bob.

I'm grateful for this avocado I will eat tomorrow. 
I feel as if I've sort of taken the avocado for granted over the years. I love guacamole, but I sort of dismissed it over the years, as I was tired of paying $6 for guacamole and only getting enough to eat half the serving of chips. Actually, I'm still bitter about that, but I've been buying them at the store and incorporating their soft, green deliciousness into my diet for the past few months and it's been nothing but pure happiness for my taste buds. I wonder if Jesus ever ate an avocado. I'll have to google that picture of the last supper to see if there's a bowl of guac on there somewhere. Maybe it won't be there as that was probably served as an appetizer while all those disciples were milling around making small talk. Regardless, I'm thankful for my avocado.

I'm grateful for this painting that I found today. 

I have no idea who this is, but as soon as I glanced upon it, I knew I needed to have it. Not unlike all the teen girls back in 1986 who too easily relinquished their tattered, flimsy veneer of innocence for a (most likely) disappointing quickie on the tour bus. It probably made for a great story when they got back to high school, but that skank label, once applied, is not easily removed.

Anyone know who this guy might be? The painting...and I had my roommate Alex verify that it is indeed a painting...is signed on the back by Lisa (last name I will not reveal) and it's dated 1986. I was in sixth grade back then. This guy was probably on his sixth shot of penicillin for his chronic case of syphillis.

Anyway, I'm grateful for finding this painting.

And I'm grateful for all the good times I've had the honor of sharing with all of you over the years. Life sucks sometimes, and it definitely did today, but it's always helpful to take a few steps back in order to appreciate all the good that also happens to us. Sometimes it's appreciating another person. Sometimes it's appreciating a passing smile. Sometimes it's having just enough laundry detergent to finish that last load of dirty clothes. Sometimes it's just nothing in particular...just soaking in the moment.

And sometimes, you just have to thank your sister Jennifer for helping you out when you need it.

Thanks, Jennifer. Love you!

Quick Fortune

I bought some Chinese food a few weeks back and I received two fortune cookies for my effort. Personally I would have preferred at least one more, but I don't own the restaurant and I didn't specify that preference when I placed the order, so I really can't be choosy about how many fortune cookies they casually throw in the bag. Hours later, after consuming a good portion of that chinese food, I decided to eat one of the two cookies. I didn't just grab the first one I saw, I contemplated the decision and then finally carefully chose one of the cookies to eat and read. I always completely eat the cookie before I read the fortune. This is what the fortune had to tell me...

Let someone know how special they are to you. 

I posted a photo of it on Instagram, so I think I took care of letting whoever needed to know how special they were to me, know just how special they were to me through the magic of a slightly blurry photograph. Perhaps many people needed to know this, I have no idea. It's really neither here nor there at this point. You're all special to me in some sort of way that is unique to you and no one else. Well also unique to me I guess. I hope, maybe? Perhaps not. 

I opened up the other fortune cookie tonight. 

Let your hook be always cast. In the pool where you least expect it, will be fish. 

Interesting. 

I'm trying to remember the last time I was in a pool, but I'm drawing a blank. Anyway, there must have been a hell of a lot of fish in there, which is probably not all that sanitary or normal for most pools, but they must have been in there, otherwise this fortune is complete horseshit. 

And I can't believe that. 

Actually, I do remember the last time I was in a pool. It was last summer at some pool on the Northwest side of Chicago. I jumped off the high dive, which scared the crap out of me. I did it once and then decided that was good enough. Sometimes you have to take a chance and jump into the pool even though you have no interest in looking down to see what's below. I didn't want to look, but I did. I jumped anyway, mostly because I was next in line and would have looked like a complete pussy if I hung my head and walked backwards towards the ladder. But I wanted to jump, I just didn't want to look first.

I still don't want to look.

But I guess I have to. 

Decisions...Decisions...

I had a long, monotonous day at work today. Printing can be rather monotonous and routing can be even more monotonous sometimes. It's just the nature of the business. I do like my job. I like the people there. I like the culture. I like the work ethic of helping out wherever and whenever it's needed. I like the fact that salespeople and owners pitch in and help out when it's needed. And I'm not talking about giving advice or helping production for a half hour here and there. I'm talking about them spending a good portion of the day taping up boxes so the job gets out on time. I appreciate that sort of effort. It's nice to see it from just about everyone in the company, including myself. I've spent many days, when I don't have to print things on the press, taping up boxes, or applying easels to the back of a thousand pieces of foam-cor so that DeVry University and Minor League Baseball can get their message out to where they want it. And very rarely, so far, has it bothered me. Headphones, podcasts and music help out with that, but if everyone didn't help out, it wouldn't be nearly as easy to endure. It's often mindless, repetitive work, that would normally drive me mad, but it hasn't.

WIT! Whatever It Takes, as I was taught at an old company that certainly did not have this kind of pervasive work ethic. You can't force this sort of thing down the throats of your employees if you don't also back it up by doing it yourself. It's not a mantra at this company, it's how everyone goes about their business. If I need help with something and ask, I get the help I need. If someone needs help with something, I help them with it. Do I always show up with a smiley face, ready to do the best I can. Of course not, but it's a lot easier here than at just about every other job I've ever had.

Printing isn't the most exciting job in the world, but I think most jobs are like that. If you don't love what you do, it's going to pretty much be the same thing time and time again and over and over again and you're going to end up despising waking up for work at some point or another. Do I love printing? Not necessarily. Do I have to love it? Probably not. Do I appreciate how much work it is to create something for a client, regardless of the fact that almost no one knows a damn thing about printing, even though they encounter it constantly throughout every single day of their existence? I do. It's a means to an end at this point, but it's nice to work for a company that makes it much easier to enjoy the work. I put in 25 hours of overtime last week, which I haven't done in many, many years, if ever. It made for a nice paycheck and it was nice to pay off more of my debt (40% knocked off in the past four months by the end of June), but it wasn't all that awesome working Saturday and Sunday and then working three 12 hour shifts during the week. Waking up at 5:00 am is not something I can do easily. The bike ride to work was a lot faster without the traffic though. Funny thing is, I've only worked three weekend days in the five months I've been at this job, and they've all been spent running equipment that I wasn't hired to run. It's a good thing to learn new tasks.

So my decision is that I'm going to give my notice tomorrow.

I'm moving on.

I'm selling most of my possessions and I'm going to hop on the next freight car heading West. It's time for a bit of adventure. I'm in the process of cashing out my 401K. I'll pay off the rest of my debt and then I'm outta this place. I don't belong in Chicago anymore. It's lost it's luster. Or lustre, if you prefer that spelling. I know, I know, it's a completely different definition with that spelling, but it's a printing term, so I threw it in here for fun. This hasn't been an easy decision, but I gotta do what I gotta do. Armed with my ancient laptop and my camera and some clothes and my iPod, I'll be just fine. I'll make my own way into the distance and I'll be sure to let you all know about it from time to time. Change has never been easy for me, as you probably know from the past few months, but embracing change is what I need to do. Accepting it just doesn't cut it anymore. Take big leaps and risks...blah, blah, blah...you know the tune, but it's time. Leaving my friends and family and the most exciting, youthful Cubs team I've ever known isn't going to be easy. FYI, I've got some Cubs tickets for sale. I don't know where I'm going or where I'm going to end up, but I'll figure it out and I'll be more content with life along the way. This is long overdue.

I turned down a free My Morning Jacket ticket from one of my best friends in the whole wide world today. The show is tomorrow night. I've seen them numerous times and they are great live, but I need to get some things done back at the homestead. And now, my brother Dan just texted me about going to see the Pixies and Robert Plant tomorrow night. I'm contemplating it, as the Pixies are pretty fucking great and I haven't seen them in quite a while. And yes, I prefer the solo work of Frank Black to the Pixies, but that work is just an extension of what came before, and what came before was some of the most influential, original music to be created since Warrant released Cherry Pie back in the 80's. How can I pass this up?

Decisions...decisions....

I'm not quitting my job. I'm not moving. All of that was lies. I'm just trying to decide whether I should go to the Pixies show tomorrow night. Sorry I lied to you. Fortunately, all the stuff about work was true. I'll be back there tomorrow and hopefully I'll be there for quite a while. I can work on the things I need to do to be happy and still have this job at the same time. Just have to organize my time a bit more to make it all fit in. We all have the same amount of time each day, right? Spending it on the things we need to spend it on is the key. I'd like to say I lost that insight, but I'm not sure I ever had it in the first place. I'm trying to discover it now. I'm trying to put it into practice. I'm trying to appreciate each moment as it occurs or at least just take it for what it is with the realization that I'm the one that gives those moments whatever truth I want to give them. I'm the one who decides how to process everything that happens in this lifetime. I'm the only one who can flip the switch from negative to at least neutral and preferably positive.

So many decisions to make along the way as each moment appears.

Chicago...At Least a Small Portion of It.

I used to see this view whenever I walked out my bedroom door onto the back porch when I lived over there on Chicago Avenue. I actually had three doors in my bedroom, not counting the closet doors. This was the only door that led to the outside though, and the only door that led to this sort of view.

I didn't attempt to photograph the skyline all too often, but obviously I did that night. Took out my camera and tripod and made the effort to find something decent through the lens. You can be the judge of whether or not I was successful.

And yes, I've manipulated this photo a bit, well quite a bit, but that's what life is all about. Manipulating things until you get it to where you want it to be. Manipulating doesn't have such a great reputation, but when you manipulate things in order to grow as a person, the meaning changes to some extent and it's not such a bad thing....assuming you're not harming anyone else. And quite frankly, all I did was jack up the contrast a bit, sharpen it, and reduce the saturation to zero, so really that's not all that much manipulation. Believe me, I've seen much worse, and I'll probably be writing about it soon enough if I decide to write a blog about what I've seen on Instagram.

Anyway, first blog of June, 2015. I've been busy. There will be more, but I thought I'd start it off with an easy one.