Random bits from the week.
1. Last Sunday at the end of my American Lit class we were discussing gambling (since it was part of a theme of a short story we read). I learned that in Russia there are gambling machines (I would imagine like ones inside bars or slot machines) in the ruralest of places - like the vending machines one can find in the middle of a tea field in Japan. The conversation turned to illegal activity and I told my students about how my friends and I would under-age drink in fields around my home town. They laughed at the fact we had to go to such lengths to drink. This lead our conversation down a path towards other illegal behavior and someone in the class said, "I hate how in the U.S. you can't take alcohol with you to a park and drink it." Then 3 other students piped in claiming that it WAS fine to drink in public - as long as the bottle you were drinking out of was covered by a brown paper bag. I asked them why they thought this was true and I they told me they have seen it many times in parks around Chicago. I asked them if families were doing this and they said no, it was usually just some guy. I explained that following what a homeless person does is not always a good idea. Then one of the dissenters chimed in saying they have seen African-American's doing it all the time on TV shows and in movies. After much laughing and assurance I think they finally understood that I was right and they were not!! Oh the innocence of foreigners!!
3. On Wednesday night I talked with my elder on the phone for 2.5 hours. It was a great conversation and extremely uplifting in the ways hearing how great you are from one of your siblings can only uplift. Many things were discussed, including the greatness of our family and how everyone in the family feels I've always belonged here in Chicago and how everything is going to work out for me. After the marathon call I messaged with my younger for a minute which was nice so all in all it was a very brotherly Wednesday evening, which was long overdue.
4. On Thursday the weather was SO nice that I felt inspired to go so something outside and asked to borrow Sally's bike and got a friend to go for a ride with me. This friend doesn't have a car and bikes as his main mode of transport. I haven't been on a bike in about 2 years or more. Long story short I ended up biking about 11 miles in one evening (with a dinner break in between) and yes I feel like I was thrown about like a rag doll for 15 minutes by a giant, aka fought crime all night. Can't believe I did it and if I can get a comfy enough seat I may consider buying a bike.
5. This morning I decided the only thing I could do when I awoke was to take a long bath to try and make my body movable. I drew the bath and was about to get in when I noted that Walter, my cat roommate, was on the edge of the tub looking very precarious. Before I could snatch him up exactly what I thought was going to happen did; Walter's lower half of his body slid right into the water. He made no noise and didn't thrash but the look on his face sent me into a fit of hysterical laughter and at the same time made me feel so bad for the idiot. I toweled him off as best as I could and as soon as I sent him on the ground he shot out of there so fast he sent a spray of water up at me from behind.
3. On Wednesday night I talked with my elder on the phone for 2.5 hours. It was a great conversation and extremely uplifting in the ways hearing how great you are from one of your siblings can only uplift. Many things were discussed, including the greatness of our family and how everyone in the family feels I've always belonged here in Chicago and how everything is going to work out for me. After the marathon call I messaged with my younger for a minute which was nice so all in all it was a very brotherly Wednesday evening, which was long overdue.
4. On Thursday the weather was SO nice that I felt inspired to go so something outside and asked to borrow Sally's bike and got a friend to go for a ride with me. This friend doesn't have a car and bikes as his main mode of transport. I haven't been on a bike in about 2 years or more. Long story short I ended up biking about 11 miles in one evening (with a dinner break in between) and yes I feel like I was thrown about like a rag doll for 15 minutes by a giant, aka fought crime all night. Can't believe I did it and if I can get a comfy enough seat I may consider buying a bike.
5. This morning I decided the only thing I could do when I awoke was to take a long bath to try and make my body movable. I drew the bath and was about to get in when I noted that Walter, my cat roommate, was on the edge of the tub looking very precarious. Before I could snatch him up exactly what I thought was going to happen did; Walter's lower half of his body slid right into the water. He made no noise and didn't thrash but the look on his face sent me into a fit of hysterical laughter and at the same time made me feel so bad for the idiot. I toweled him off as best as I could and as soon as I sent him on the ground he shot out of there so fast he sent a spray of water up at me from behind.