I know where things are
On the agenda for today are two things: First will be a brief re-cap of my Halloween party. Second will be a not so brief explanation of why I like Chicago.
1. Our party went well. Very well. Not so well that our keg wasn't killed. Which is all right, I guess, since that means that tonight we'll have a pizza party. Like we're in middle school. Here is a list of things that you probably missed (since you probably weren't at my party):
- someone got muddy footprints in Armand's bath tub. Don't know how/why/when.
- sangria filled with booze-soaked fruit
- birthday cake with orange frosting
- atmospheric lighting
- good times, good times
Man, my party sounds kind of boring when I put it like that. Guess you just had to be there. Oops, wait, you weren't. Maybe next time.
2. Why I like Chicago, by Dan McCormick
I first came to Chicago in Fall of '98. To go to school at the University of Chicago. You know, "where the end of the world began", "where fun comes to die", "where the squirrels are more agressive than the guys". And so on. That was 5 years ago. I am now in my sixth year. Granted, I spent most summers elsewhere, and I was in Rome for 10 weeks, too. So, like, total time here is closer to 4 years. But let's not get caught up on the details.
Before Chicago, I lived in Boston, Chapel Hill (North Carolina) and Columbia (Maryland). I was born in Boston and was there for 6 years, so, in some ways, that doesn't even count. When there were talks of a Chicago/Boston World Series, my mom was like, so who would you root for? And I was like, duh, Chicago. But that never happened, and so my heart was never conflicted. Or at least, I never had to think about being conflicted.
But then we moved to North Carolina. I should say I lived in both Durham and Chapel Hill, since that would be accurate, and far be it from me to lie about anything. I was in Durham for one year, when I attended first grade, and then we moved to Chapel Hill where I lived for... 7 years. Through middle school. Then we moved again, to Columbia, Maryland. That is a delightful little town that I can talk about for ages. I lived there for 4 solid years, and then I'd summer there while in school. Since clearly Columbia is a summer resort town. No, rather, I just couldn't swing staying in Chicago. And the one summer i did stay in Chicago, I was miserable.
But then, after Columbia, to Chicago I came. And I haven't left yet. I don't quite know why, either. I mean, you graduate, and then you go... do anything you want, because us graduates are the smartest people ever and the world is our oyster. Right. Part of it, really, I just didn't want to go back to Columbia. Which is hard - I have a lot of really great friends there, not to mention the family. And maybe a lot of my motivation was based on me trying to avoid the family. But also, like, what would I do there? I don't have a car, or even the knowledge of how to drive one, I'll be honest, so I'm more or less stuck to living in cities. And Baltimore? No thank you. I probably could have done D.C., but you know, I didn't. There was more at work that an interest in avoiding the Baltimore/D.C. area. I did have a genuine interest in being in Chicago, too.
I was here for 4 years while in school. And I came from that knowing very, very little about this city. Mainly because I never went out and did much of anything outside of campus. So, come graduation time, I just wasn't satisfied, I guess, with my time in Chicago. Chicago, by the way, is the second or third largest city in America and it's a big deal to live here. And what could I take away? Not enough. So I wanted to stay, and live here. Really live here, and not just take classes and sleep. Also, Chicago has a very nice public transportation system, which I would need.
And I knew a lot of people that were going to stay around Chicago, people that I don't think I was ready to write off and never see again. Though, like, I've remained in contact with high school friends, so it's not impossible to think that the same wouldn't have happened with my college friends, too. But, still, I wanted to stick around. I wanted to be "in the know" with Chicago.
So I spend the summer home after I graduate, and then I go to Chicago. No place to stay, except at friends' houses, and with no job lined up. Come january, I get a job, meet up with Armand, move in with him, and voila! Dan is back in Chicago. Now, I've talked about what has happened since I got that job, so I won't repeat that now. Read through the archives for more information.
But what I will say is that since coming to Chicago, again, since I graduated, I have come to know it so much better, I think. I know where things are, for one thing. Last night, someone asked me for directions to a movie theatre. And I could tell him without hesitation. I know where 600 N. Michigan is. Granted, that's a real easy one. But, also, people at work are often like, where is so and so? And I know. I can tell them. You want a Best Buy? I can tell you. You want a costume shop? I know. You want a place for tapas? I know several. I can get places, too. I know how to make CTA work for me.
And it's a great feeling to know where things are and how to get there. I love it. And the longer I end up staying, the more I have to ask, "What Next?" My one plan, foreign service, would take me away from Chicago. And while I want to travel and all, I like Chicago. Maybe I just want to stay here for ever and ever, and make it my real, bonafide home. But what do I do so that I can do that? Make labels forever? Graduate on to be a Paralegal? I mean, I could do that, but do I want to? No, I don't think so.
So is it cooking school? God, that's more of a hobby for me, honestly. I don't think I could ever do it in real life. Sure, if I win the lottery, maybe. But in the meantime, I don't think so. But then, what else? What do I do with my life? And do I want to stay in Chicago?
Alas, I can't answer that now, and I hope that you'll forgive me. i am all right with being stagnant right now, with not knowing what my next step is. After all, that's how I am able to actually enjoy this city. Will I ever move away from Hyde Park? God I hope so. God, my future. What a crap idea to think about. It'll happen, in the end, whether I want it to or not. So yeah, this whole thing really didn't go anywhere. I guess it's just kind of stagnant, like me.
-dan
PS - I should mention, too, my number one reason for liking Chicago. After all, that's kind of what I promised I would talk about. There's a chocolate factory up the river in Chicago, and more often than not, you can smell the fruits of their labor throughout downtown. So, like I'm going home, and there it is: the smell of fresh backed chocolate chip cookies. And, like, brownies, and hot chocolate, and every other damn fine and wonderful chocolate related smell you can think of. And that's just how the city smells, and that's great. Fan-fucking-tastic, and, yeah, I just love it. That's what I love most about Chicago.
email me
On the agenda for today are two things: First will be a brief re-cap of my Halloween party. Second will be a not so brief explanation of why I like Chicago.
1. Our party went well. Very well. Not so well that our keg wasn't killed. Which is all right, I guess, since that means that tonight we'll have a pizza party. Like we're in middle school. Here is a list of things that you probably missed (since you probably weren't at my party):
- someone got muddy footprints in Armand's bath tub. Don't know how/why/when.
- sangria filled with booze-soaked fruit
- birthday cake with orange frosting
- atmospheric lighting
- good times, good times
Man, my party sounds kind of boring when I put it like that. Guess you just had to be there. Oops, wait, you weren't. Maybe next time.
2. Why I like Chicago, by Dan McCormick
I first came to Chicago in Fall of '98. To go to school at the University of Chicago. You know, "where the end of the world began", "where fun comes to die", "where the squirrels are more agressive than the guys". And so on. That was 5 years ago. I am now in my sixth year. Granted, I spent most summers elsewhere, and I was in Rome for 10 weeks, too. So, like, total time here is closer to 4 years. But let's not get caught up on the details.
Before Chicago, I lived in Boston, Chapel Hill (North Carolina) and Columbia (Maryland). I was born in Boston and was there for 6 years, so, in some ways, that doesn't even count. When there were talks of a Chicago/Boston World Series, my mom was like, so who would you root for? And I was like, duh, Chicago. But that never happened, and so my heart was never conflicted. Or at least, I never had to think about being conflicted.
But then we moved to North Carolina. I should say I lived in both Durham and Chapel Hill, since that would be accurate, and far be it from me to lie about anything. I was in Durham for one year, when I attended first grade, and then we moved to Chapel Hill where I lived for... 7 years. Through middle school. Then we moved again, to Columbia, Maryland. That is a delightful little town that I can talk about for ages. I lived there for 4 solid years, and then I'd summer there while in school. Since clearly Columbia is a summer resort town. No, rather, I just couldn't swing staying in Chicago. And the one summer i did stay in Chicago, I was miserable.
But then, after Columbia, to Chicago I came. And I haven't left yet. I don't quite know why, either. I mean, you graduate, and then you go... do anything you want, because us graduates are the smartest people ever and the world is our oyster. Right. Part of it, really, I just didn't want to go back to Columbia. Which is hard - I have a lot of really great friends there, not to mention the family. And maybe a lot of my motivation was based on me trying to avoid the family. But also, like, what would I do there? I don't have a car, or even the knowledge of how to drive one, I'll be honest, so I'm more or less stuck to living in cities. And Baltimore? No thank you. I probably could have done D.C., but you know, I didn't. There was more at work that an interest in avoiding the Baltimore/D.C. area. I did have a genuine interest in being in Chicago, too.
I was here for 4 years while in school. And I came from that knowing very, very little about this city. Mainly because I never went out and did much of anything outside of campus. So, come graduation time, I just wasn't satisfied, I guess, with my time in Chicago. Chicago, by the way, is the second or third largest city in America and it's a big deal to live here. And what could I take away? Not enough. So I wanted to stay, and live here. Really live here, and not just take classes and sleep. Also, Chicago has a very nice public transportation system, which I would need.
And I knew a lot of people that were going to stay around Chicago, people that I don't think I was ready to write off and never see again. Though, like, I've remained in contact with high school friends, so it's not impossible to think that the same wouldn't have happened with my college friends, too. But, still, I wanted to stick around. I wanted to be "in the know" with Chicago.
So I spend the summer home after I graduate, and then I go to Chicago. No place to stay, except at friends' houses, and with no job lined up. Come january, I get a job, meet up with Armand, move in with him, and voila! Dan is back in Chicago. Now, I've talked about what has happened since I got that job, so I won't repeat that now. Read through the archives for more information.
But what I will say is that since coming to Chicago, again, since I graduated, I have come to know it so much better, I think. I know where things are, for one thing. Last night, someone asked me for directions to a movie theatre. And I could tell him without hesitation. I know where 600 N. Michigan is. Granted, that's a real easy one. But, also, people at work are often like, where is so and so? And I know. I can tell them. You want a Best Buy? I can tell you. You want a costume shop? I know. You want a place for tapas? I know several. I can get places, too. I know how to make CTA work for me.
And it's a great feeling to know where things are and how to get there. I love it. And the longer I end up staying, the more I have to ask, "What Next?" My one plan, foreign service, would take me away from Chicago. And while I want to travel and all, I like Chicago. Maybe I just want to stay here for ever and ever, and make it my real, bonafide home. But what do I do so that I can do that? Make labels forever? Graduate on to be a Paralegal? I mean, I could do that, but do I want to? No, I don't think so.
So is it cooking school? God, that's more of a hobby for me, honestly. I don't think I could ever do it in real life. Sure, if I win the lottery, maybe. But in the meantime, I don't think so. But then, what else? What do I do with my life? And do I want to stay in Chicago?
Alas, I can't answer that now, and I hope that you'll forgive me. i am all right with being stagnant right now, with not knowing what my next step is. After all, that's how I am able to actually enjoy this city. Will I ever move away from Hyde Park? God I hope so. God, my future. What a crap idea to think about. It'll happen, in the end, whether I want it to or not. So yeah, this whole thing really didn't go anywhere. I guess it's just kind of stagnant, like me.
-dan
PS - I should mention, too, my number one reason for liking Chicago. After all, that's kind of what I promised I would talk about. There's a chocolate factory up the river in Chicago, and more often than not, you can smell the fruits of their labor throughout downtown. So, like I'm going home, and there it is: the smell of fresh backed chocolate chip cookies. And, like, brownies, and hot chocolate, and every other damn fine and wonderful chocolate related smell you can think of. And that's just how the city smells, and that's great. Fan-fucking-tastic, and, yeah, I just love it. That's what I love most about Chicago.
email me
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