Sprrr...Spra...Spriii...

Something is happening. Chicagoans have started to shed their winter coats or at least their winter pusses. Though there aren't any blossoms or blooms to speak of there's an energy in the air that can only mean one thing - SPRING! Regular old, once begrudged residents are now actually stopping and conversing in the streets! They say please and excuse me and ask about the time. Being a New Yorker I still have to ignore them, but I appreciate the shift in personality. There is a bug, for sure, and it is catchy.

I've been quickly absorbed into my third quarter of school (what's that? Yes. MORE than half way done! YIKES). Moving away from the hard news of the downtown news room, I now get to indulge in long format writing and art criticism. For the art class we are going to see a ballet rehearsal and the symphony (such a hard life)! For the long form class I have chosen something that fits perfectly with this soon-to-be blissful weather - community gardens. It's a little bare now but there's potential for serious cuteness.

But more exciting than the reporting is that I had a visitor! Yes, it was a delight. We did a high-octane tour de Chicago food, specifically centered around the peskily cute cupcake. There are cupcake places galore! They are very hard to escape.

I dragged dear visitor down to the South Side of Chicago, where my community garden is located, and we bopped around the University of Chicago and did a minor stalk of Obama's house.

We thought these shake down signs meant that we could have a casual stroll by his front door if only they give us a little pat down.


Sadly, no. The talkative officer trapped in her patrol car told us that his empty house is blocked off and don't you dare try to step past my drivers side door and me oh my you should see it when he's here! We believed her and crossed the street to take some far away shots.


After living alone for, what is it now, eight months or so? I realized quickly with lovely visitor that I have gotten very comfortable hanging in my apartment straight up nudey or at least pantless. I had to reign it in and it took some reminding.

It might be nearly 60 degrees and sunny outside but this wee j-stu's gotta a pape to write. There are worse things.

xoxoL