I just hopped off the bus at the start of my errands yesterday and walked into the branch library right at the bus stop, went up to the second floor and voted. It took maybe 15 minutes ( Read more... )

Many years ago, in the days when I would hop on a plane at the drop of a hat, I went to Paris for nine days.  Being, among other things, an art/art history student, I was struck by the quality of the light in the Isle de France -- a key, I think, to the amazing luminosity of Impressionist landscapes.  The light seems to bestow absolute clarity on ( Read more... )

So just at the moment I hit the power button on my laptop, I heard this horrible noise and thought "That's it -- I'm screwed!"

A fire engine on the street outside was honking at another driver.

Timing is everything.

Cloudy most of the day, so I didn't go out except for one short errand. Did manage to get another light in the living room (finally) -- had to put up a wall-mounted lamp, since I had one, but it helps a lot. At some point I'm going to have to deal with the extension cord -- I got a 20' extension because eventually it has to go down to the ( Read more... )

So, another one of those nights when the new neighbors across the hall, whom I have christened the "Decibels," were at it loud and clear -- Thursday last, as a matter of fact.  I finally, at about 10:45, stuck my head out the door, where the woman was sitting up against the wall right next to my door talking on her cell phone (probably because the ( Read more... )

Nickelback, "Don' Ever Let It End" from Here and Now. I guess it's only to be expected -- I've been listening to Linkin Park (Recharged, their new remix album, and a real dud) and Moby (Innocents, and pretty interesting) for days now. I guess I needed a break ( Read more... )

It rained all morning, although it was fairly mild -- around sixty ( Read more... )

I just came in from the back yard, where I had an encounter with a pair of raccoons. They came in from the neighbor's yard, first one, then the second. The first walked to the stair leading down into the yard proper and just stood there and stared at me, then went down for a drink from the pool (which is full of dead leaves because it hasn't been ( Read more... )

Is almost upon us.  Yesterday, during my peregrinations around the city, I found myself waiting for the bus across from a bar plastered with shamrocks and a sign that said "St. Patrick's Day is for everyone -- spend it here."  The name of the place is La Cantina.

I guess it really is for everyone.

that is not the windiest corner in Chicago?

And who decided that buses get to run whenever they feel like it?