an arctic wasteland

It might just be the winter dragging on, but I'm liking this city less and less everyday. I drag my fee through filthy snow and nearly break my neck on ice that buildings do not see if to chip off their steps. The EL takes twice as long to get anywhere due to ice on the rails and extreme track reconstruction because they didn't build it right the first time.

In my efforts to get back in shape I've been trying to ride my bike everywhere. Half of the lake shore bike path is "ride at your own risk." Everyday I bike to work I do so at the risk of falling into the lake because the city won't even salt the path south of Oak street [bullshit]. God forbid I ride through the loop, that's a death trap if I ever saw one. If I had a bullet for every cabbie that's nearly run me over...

My favorites are the rich lawyer/doctor/dentist's wives stepping out of their Mercedes/Audi/BMWs in fur coats on North Michigan avenue that disregard who their door will hit/maim/kill when opened. I screamed at one lady as I skided to a hault and nearly ran her over. I hope she has heart problems now.

Tom was talking yesterday about moving out to Montana into a house. "You, me, and Josh can have a porch and a dog and a huge yard where we can see mountains and stars." Oh, to live in a house again! To be able to walk around at all hours and not have crotchity neighbors bang on the ceiling when I play music at a perfectly reasonable level at night. Why did he have to say that? Now all I can think of is the view from my room, what I'll name the dog, and the color of the porch swing. I miss being able to see the stars at night. I miss fresh air and quiet open spaces. I can't take the din of screaming and drunken banter of college students from the street below my window.

All I can see is this:


In reality all I get is this:



why?