Special Shoes for a Special Birthday

Friday, May 7th, 2010

Today I am wearing a really special pair of shoes. They’re not strappy sandals or brightly colored peep toes or even Tall Girl shoes. No. These shoes are a completely foreign concept…they’re comfortable and supportive and built for wear and tear. These shoes are what I plan to wear when I turn 30! next month, when [...]

City Driving

Wednesday, May 5th, 2010

Anyone who’s ever driven in a city knows there are two ways of driving: the way you were taught in Drivers Ed, and the way you learned to effectively get around when there are approximately 2 million other people moving about at the same time. You learn the bob and weave, learn to use turn lanes and [...]

Change of Lat[t]itude

Friday, March 26th, 2010

I broke away from the tourist trap photo line to the entrance fee counter and customs, then whisked over to baggage claim where my suitcase was the third onto the conveyer belt, and finally plowed through the flurry of men grabbing at my paperwork and bag in an attempt to gain a tip or a [...]

Damn The Man

Thursday, February 25th, 2010

Each morning, I stand at the bus stop. Twenty minutes later, when the bus finally arrives, I board and a sea of black greets me. Black wool pea coats and puffer down jackets. Black berets and black gloves. Black dress shoes and ballet flats and knee high boots in black tights. Black trouser pants and [...]

The Essential Art of Bus Seat Selection

Monday, January 25th, 2010

After five years in this city, I find myself  no better at bus seat selection. I get flustered and dismayed that everyone is looking at me and my mind is screaming “HURRY UP get out of everyone else’s way!” I board the bus, scan my card with a hello to the driver, and briskly approach the [...]

Ticket to Somewhere, Anywhere, Else But Here

Friday, December 4th, 2009

Every work week I’m at Union Station to catch the Metra to the suburbs. Most of the time, I mindlessly force my way through the crowds of incoming commuters, shove my way down the stairs, and board my train. This morning I wondered, what if I didn’t? What if instead of getting on the local [...]

Bitten By the Handbag Bug

Wednesday, July 22nd, 2009

I’m in love, I’m in love! And I don’t care who knows about it! Internets, I tell you, I have my sights set on one thing and one thing in particular. We first set eyes upon one another, so to speak, one lazy afternoon on the eastbound 152. There I sat in the back of [...]