retroactively 10

Ahoy,

Now that the last day of school has passed, and summer is safely on the horizon, I want to make sure I get these notes to my 10 yr old self and all the 10 yr olds out there (of my 2 readers, I imagine none that frequent this blog are 10).

With the impending electronic age, I want to express the alarm I feel for the age at which it is appropriate to play. The digital natives (a term I learned from the RRS the one time I was listening) I'm noticing are spending their days and nights plugged in. I am saddened by this because as a kid, I think I had a lot of fun running around outside and I think that is the kind of childhood that every child should continue to engage in. There are only so many opportunities in your life you will have to play without abandon. There is nothing like meeting your friends or making new ones at the neighborhood park. There is nothing like exploring and discovering your own backyard. There is certainly nothing like good ol' fashionded summer competition to see who is the fastest or can hold their breath the longest. Especially in Chicago, summer, I feel, is the epitome of childhood.

I remember the beckoning of summer every year as my knees turned up scraped in every manner. I remember the smell of chlorine and sunblock that lingered on my darkened skin even though I had scrubbed with a sponge. I remember staying out until the sun was down and greeting the fireflies as my mother continued to call us in for dinner. My memories of a childhood spent with nothing to do but have fun I hope are not a relic of times gone by, a facet of a different generation that did not make it into the next.

It's strange to me that 10 yr olds today will spend the summer playing computer games and video games on devices that require batteries or electricity, just as they had throughout the rest of the year - even in the winter. It's strange to me that parents would trade physical activity that only summer can afford for the safety and comfort of electronic entertainment. It's strange to me that kids will spend their summer indoors and clean. A childhood well spent, to me, will always include getting dirty, and being so physically tired that you are asleep before your head hits the pillow. I would hope that 10 yr olds continue to play, and I would hope that if you see a 10 yr old - you tell him to go outside and play. Childhood is a magical time, not only in a world seen through a screen.

perceptively impish,
jt

weekend that wasn't mine

Ahoy,

A's long time high school friend visited us this past weekend. For the first time in a long time apparently, so A pulled out all the stops for her.

Friday morning, he collected his friend from the airport and we proceeded to get food at Amandine. I had an awful sandwich plagued by horseradish. Not my best decision. We decided to tote our guest around downtown by foot. A lot of people would not expect to walk in LA as much as we did that day.  Also, LA has a train (pause for resounding gasping). I got my usual 32 oz horchata, and he got a mountain of meat because it was the end of the day and everyone was being particularly generous at Grand Central Market. We sat atop the roof at The Perch. The view is not nearly as impressive as in Chicago, but I guess I'll take it. At Grand Park, nobody wanted to dip their toes in the fountain. I was surprised because I couldn't get my friends out of there when I showed them. We ended the day at Daikokuya and Ozero while the RRS and I sat like hood ornaments amidst a super gossip/gabfest between our guest and another high school friend we met. I would rather have been climbing, and I truly believe our absence would not have been felt.

On Saturday the guest and companion previously mentioned wanted to go to the beach. I will be the first to admit going to the beach during the day is last on my list of things to do. I would rather be climbing, which is what happened. Afterwards, we got to munch on rice balls, which I'm always delighted with. Always. Plus we caught happy hour at areal, as if we are not indulgent enough. On the way to dinner at the L&E Oyster Bar, we got ice cream sandwiches at Milk. We tried and failed to watch a second movie, but noticed it was sold out probably because we tried to watch it during normal-people hours and not past-your-bedtime hours. So I guess we could have been more indulgent. But really, so glad I avoided the beach and the art museum that day. I'm just dodging them left and right!

Sunday brunch was at this French place nearby, which I will not name because it was not worth it. The folks who met us there were hungover and looking to cure it by drinking more before heading off. We spent the afternoon driving around. Driving around is my least favorite thing to do. Of all time. Had I been warned, I would have run for the hills like the plague was coming. Dinner was at sugarfish in Brentwood, against A's apprehension because he thinks the one in Santa Monica is the best one even though he's never been to any of the other ones. Heads up: you need a kid to get a bowl of rice. Sometimes I really do think kids get to have all the fun.


On Monday, I went with our guest downtown to for lunch at Bottega Louie. The Last Bookstore was the last stop before we headed back to Culver City to gawk at the graffiti and await the return of the RRS. The highlight of my day, nay, weekend was meeting Benjamin Mach from Project Runway at the airport as we dropped off our guest. Everyone is always so much taller than me. It's amazing, but I guess it's pretty easy to be taller than me. He's a super nice guy.


dastardly dismissed,
jt

superman

Ahoy,

Much to my delight, the RRS took Friday off in preparation for his friend visiting. This opened up the schedule so we could go to yoga Thursday night because we were both feeling especially sadistic. He looked quite upset for some moments there. Immediately after yoga, we ran around the streets of Santa Monica looking for a restaurant that was open. You should all note that the places around there close at a disappointingly early hour. So we left without getting food. And we were running so late for the movie that we didn't have time to get food. This always happens whenever I let him be in charge of feeding us. I shudder to think of how he would feed the children.

I ran across the street before he could even turn off the car. I had changed into my superhero uniform. Supergirl, and rocket scientist in tow, I swished my cape back and asked the guys at the counter what movie we wanted to see. Do you need to ask? We got a giant thing of overpriced popcorn and walked in just as the movie started. Perfect timing.

I sat back and swooned for 2 hours. I'm sure RRS did too, but he'll never admit to it.

cosmically charmed,
jt

to the east bay and back

Ahoy,

We drove up to the East Bay this weekend to visit RRS's family. We were also returning their car that he was borrowing because his old car was breaking down every month. Fine piece of mechanical invention that was. Traffic was breezy up until it was not. We crawled on the grapevine for a good half hour around an 18 wheeler that had tipped over onto its side. Never seen that before. We stopped off at the Tejon Ranch stop to get In 'n Out for dinner because we are just so health conscious. I drove the latter end of the trip, and I will freely admit that there is nothing that scares me like pushing 90 on any road, no less roads that are dark and hilly. It also happend to be the night before his final project was due so once we got up there, he promptly chugged some espresso to stay up through the night.

While he blasted game time music with all the lights on, I rolled around in and out of sleep. I also got an excellent opportunity to read a significant chunk of my book that was due at the library on Monday. The following day, we had a late lunch with his family that also turned out to be a very late surprise birthday celebration for the RRS. Dinner took place at Picaro in San Francisco. The paella there was excellent that evening. Though I'd been there with the family once before, they had been there numerous times and noted that the paella was the best they've had there so far. We couldn't get enough of the bread and dipping sauce, that looked like a red pepper garlic aioli. The RRS had been falling asleep everywhere by this point, so we ended the night with ice cream and headed for bed.

The next day was father's day. Birthdays and father's day celebrations are a facet of American culture that my family has yet to adopt, so it's always strange to me when other folks make a hubbub of these things. My only acknowledgement of these things in the history of my life was when teachers forced us to make cards at school. The RRS and I began the day by hopping out to pick up some things from the grocery store, Peet's coffee to fuel his addiction, and doughnut holes for my addiction. We ate a late lunch at his house and got delivered to the megabus stop in West Oakland.

I'd ridden megabus tons of times while I lived on the East Coast, but only recently has megabus returned to California. We prepared snacks and entertainment for the 7 hour (!!!) ride back to LA. Never had I taken a megabus trip this long on the East Coast. Even when we drive, it takes 5-6 hours and I'm still dying. The trip went without incident. We stopped at a rest stop that had McDonald's, In 'n Out, and a bunch of other options, but those were the only ones I was interested in because I am just so health conscious. The bus driver was pretty cool and funny, and got us to LA safe and sound around midnight. Just in time for us to catch the LA Metro back to Culver City.

feverishly contianed,
jt

flying first class

Ahoy,

As a small person that has flown many times on my own, I started to notice a trend in who would sit next to me. I've always coveted the window seat because I never grew out of the phase where kids like to look out the window. I see it all the time when I ride the train, bus, etc. Kids run in and scramble to the window seat and peer joyously out the window. Sometimes, the train runs underground and all they see is black - but they remain delighted (because their active imaginations, that the rest of us grown-ups have discarded, are imagining). For me, the window seat is gold in the hierarchy of transportation comfort and luxury.

I would often find myself sandwiched against the window because the person sitting next to me has decided to also occupy half my seat. My beloved window seat is not nearly as enjoyable now that I've become targeted a "small person that will not need my whole seat, nor infringe on your seat, thus is practically an invitation for you to use the space I'm not." Every time I select a window seat now, it's like playing the lottery - will I get my whole seat? will a large person take the middle seat and take half my seat? will the middle seat be empty? I have to seriously consider if I feel like having my personal space (that I have paid for) be invaded by some large person (who has not paid for my seat) or if I want to sacrifice the views for a guaranteed more spacious feeling aisle seat.

I am not claustrophobic, but thinking about all the times I've had the fortune to be squeezed into my seat - my blood pressure goes up just a touch. But being a small person, I do understand that flying is probably much more comfortable for me than for larger folks. My seat is far more spacious, my knees don't knock on the seat in front of me. It's true, I don't take up much space - flying anytime in any seat is pretty much my equivalent of first class, while others have to pay extra for as much extra space as I have. However, this does not constitute as an invitation to sit next to me.

Just because I'm small does not mean you can occupy my space. You'll be surprised at just how much space I can take up too. Sometimes the smallest things can take up the most space.

desperately swollen,
jt

birfday weekend

Ahoy,

I noticed late in life that my brother's and my birthdays fall on each other's half birthdays. Not like I ever needed an excuse to plan his birthday parties and invite my friends. This year, my mom, cousin A, and I drove to visit him in Madison for an early birthday celebration. His 23rd birthday! After 21, the numbers all mush together probably until your quarter century, but any year he survives as my brother is something to be impressed with.

My mission to drag my kid cousin along was looking questionable at first, but anytime you pull the "scaredy-cat" threat on a 10 year old guarantees a fast track to "Yes, I'll do it!" So that's how we ended up kidnapping my cousin to go on a 3.5 hour car ride to Madison and ditching his science group (for probably what is his final project). But having 2 college degrees under my belt, 4th grade doesn't really seem like a very important blip on an educational record.

We spent Saturday at the zoo and arboretum in Madison. After having been to a $1 zoo in Croatia, all other zoos seem like paradise in comparison. I'm sure there are all sorts of obscenities happening behind the scenes at zoos and captive life in general, but I don't feel like now is the appropriate time to impart such a degree of skepticism in his young eyes. We kept our eyes peeled for animals on the move, roaring tigers, and things to climb on. Though I'm beyond the appropriate age to be acting like a child, I'll still take any excuse to act like a child. K and I probably behaved more like a 10 year olds than A did.

On Sunday, in our typical spur of the moment (read: chronically indecisive) fashion made it to the Verona town parade. Verona, being an excruciatingly small town, pulled everyone out of their house for this event. There are probably fewer residents than students in our CPS high school. Half the town was probably in the parade, and the other half was watching. But this event was a great excuse to give out free promotional wares to people you know already (this place is probably so small that everybody knows everybody) and throw out candy by the gallon to every child. Even the dentist was giving out candy. I'm pretty sure you can get more candy here than from a full night of trick-or-treating.

We made another tour of the Epic campus, which is always fun for me. And shared some ice cream cake and sparkling juice with my brother to top off his most low-key birthday yet, although I'm sure he would have liked more video games. I guess all the hubbub on his birthday was always more my doing and his ability to not fight me on it (read: ignore me).

yay for brothers,
jt

fruit pride

Ahoy,

I realize that it's rare when I find myself in the same place, at the same time for more than a year. How many events can I really count on myself to be a repeat customer? I didn't even realize the Veggie Pride parade was happening again until N alerted me. Having already been to the very first Chicago Veggie Pride Parade, I couldn't pass up on the opportunity to see and be seen at the 2nd annual Veggie Pride Parade.

2012

During my days at Berkeley, although I did engage in the activist front (because, really, who can avoid that at Cal?), I realized that protesting is not a past-time I could be passionate about. Certain parts of this parade did feel like a protest with people chanting anti-meat slogans. But my favorite shout-out was "Eat your vegetables." I feel like anytime there is a gathering like this, there is more than likely going to be some degree of green-washing to convince you to convince other people to change their lifestyle. So Berkeley. 

2013

But it's always fun to wear a costume. I think this enthusiasm stems from my lack of Halloween costumes growing up. I must be compensating for years of fun lost. The parade route this year was bigger, and I can't be sure, but they must have more people in the parade too. Mayor Emanuel even declared the day veggie pride day!

plumpily zesty,

jt

Looking for Chicago: wonky weather

Ahoy,

There are certain things about summers in Chicago that are lustworthy. For me, it's mostly the spirit of summer as it approaches and how the city takes on a new vibrancy. Other things like the heat, humidity, mosquito bites, sunburns, etc. are by-products that I have just come to accept. But during this in-between time, when summer has yet to get a firm grip on the streets of this city - I love the menopausal mood swings the weather goes through..

I really think weather is the most exciting thing and I love when I get to experience all of it in a brief period of time. I love the brisk and refreshing breeze when the mercury dipped two weeks ago, and then the thunderstorms that came with those characteristic hot and humid summer days. And now we have returned back to cooler temperatures, a welcome relief from the humidity. There are so many different types of clouds that dance across the sky, and they all have such dimension. They all tell such different stories, and I want to hear all of them. There are many things I welcome about summer, and many things I do not, but the variety is really what I live for. Weather is just so exciting. I hope it happens to you.

I love that Chicago is a place that anticipates, hopes for, and welcomes change - in more ways than one.

briskly afettered,
jt

almost summer

Ahoy,

In my scramble to shift things around this past week, I found myself flying on Memorial Day weekend. This did wonders for my rate coming home to Chicago on Saturday. But that's all said and done now, I shan't dwell on the many dollars I've given to Southwest Airlines, so many dollars.

I needed to be back by Sunday for Bike the Drive. I had convinced my brother to do it with me also, which is not that hard to do because he is used to a life led under my command. But really, he's my favorite, and I needed to jam as much fun into our weekend as I possibly could. I ran over to wake him up before 7am on a Sunday. He's my brother, so he has to play with me. We dressed as the Flash and Supergirl because we are still kids and our parents weren't awake to tell us we couldn't. In the quiet of morning we rode out to Jackson and Columbus, and got on Lake Shore Drive with all the other bikes and no cars. It was glorious, magnificent, stupendous, all colors of the rainbow and other ones that didn't exist. K even said it was worth getting up before 7am. We got on the kiddie climbing wall because this is the only climbing I'll get until I return to CA. He and I were the only ones in costume; there should be more costumes. You would think there would be more costumes.

Mommy had prepared our usual Sunday breakfast and we ate with regular gusto for a Sunday morning, which was not very gusty. My friend N came over to pick us up for a trip to the Illinois Beach State Park. In a packed car, we got to the beach on a gusty, overcast day (although it was sunny during our ride). I know she said hike, but this was all so flat - it really was just walking around. I'd never been on a "hike" so flat, so that was a new experience. I didn't know they came like that. The prairie must have recently been part of a prescribed burn because there were a lot of charred looking trees and ground. It evoked the atmosphere of a Lemony Snicket novel. We briefly flew a kite, but it wasn't windy enough to get super exciting. And we got to the car just as it started to rain. N gave us door to door service, which I'm always grateful for.

K and I had to make dinner with our long, lost childhood friend. It was an excellent evening of reminiscing and awe as she clearly has the skills in speaking to our elders that we long ago discarded.

K and I wrapped up our weekend showing each other our favorite tv shows that we think the other should watch. TV consumed much of our lives growing up; it continues to do so.

heartily adrift,
jt