I am going to focus the next few weeks on the Olympics. Why? October 2 in the morning in Copenhagen the International Olympic Committee (IOC) will meet to decide who will have the honor of hosting the 2016 Summer Olympics. Maybe I have never had a close interest in the cities that were voted on before, but I have been following this process ever since Chicago was picked in 2007 to be the United States' city to bid for the olympics. I love the Olympics, the sports are what it is about but the planning and design and attention that it attracts beyond the sports is also what I find fascinating.
Once the winning city gets the nod to host the games they have seven short years to transform into the capital of sports. They will host the world for a brief time, the whole world watching, hoping their athletes win. The city must make their transportation systems run smoothly, the hotel rooms will be packed, the city-wide concerts and nightly celebrations will be precisely timed and planned. This is the time for that City to show the world how they can party and host the greatest sporting event ever. Yes we all arent into ping pong or ribbon dance gymnastics, but someone in the world is and I think that is what is great about the Olympics.
Now on to Chicago. My last post was about WHY I think Chicago should win the Olympics. Today the IOC posted their repots on each city. In April of this year, a 13 member delegation from the IOC came to each city to listen to the bid teams, tour the venues and mingle with celebrities to lobby for their city's right to host. I skimmed the report this morning and well, no city really stands out as THE city to win. I think it's a great synopsis of what each city has to offer, their style for hosting and the general analysis of each essential component to their bid (Security, Transport, Venues, etc).
What I do think is interesting is that while Chicago has their challenges and the IOC has some concerns (sponsorship, transportation plans, etc), Rio has the biggest issues especially concerning safety and transportation. Rio is going to have to do a huge transformation of their city to host the games. The IOC is naturally concerned about displacement of slums, gentrification, and the guarantee that all venues and transport systems proposed can be built on time. The lack of good quality hotel rooms and the fact that they can't guarantee the use of cruise ships docked in the harbor for hotel space is a concern as well. Chicago has the rooms, we have the security and we wont be displacing people. We have a unique chance to fix the things that are wrong with our transport system, yet we dont have to build a brand new one. 6 of the 10 major Olympic sponsors are US corporations, sponsorships will not be a problem.
Tokyo's government just changed hands for the first time since the 1950's. while the new prime minister has voiced support for the games and they have the financial backing of their government, Citizen popularity is low in support. The IOC also found fault in their venues (apparently they listed a few venues as "built" and they havent been built yet...). Their lackluster public voice will be a big factor I think in their loss.
Madrid, well, all i have to say is Yawn. Their bid has been kind of boring from the beginning. I applaud them on education and legacy efforts, making the games an educational experience for their youth and really focusing on how to continue the Olympic spirit in their city and nation post olympics. However, it's just a boring bid. No real wow factor to it. They lost to London for the 2012 bid, and I think this is their last real effort to go for it again, why not think outside the box and do something spectacular? Hire a better PR firm to really get the word out there and say that the london games are not the same as a spanish games? Evoke Barcelona, the games that most people point as the beginning of the modern movement of the Olympics in terms of urban planning, design and spectacle. Does anyone NOT remember the archer shooting the arrow into the cauldron? AWE. SOME. Second to that is the Sydney games where the runner throws the torch into the water and the cauldron rises up out of that, pretty neat.
Anyways, Chicago i think will win in the end. They will blow people out of the water in Copenhagen, Obama will appear and share his love about Chicago and the world will cheer in August 2016 when we open the summer games in Chicago. Fingers crossed for October!
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Hiatus
Call it what you will, but the last few months have been busy. When I last wrote here, I just got hired at the City of Evanston as their new general planner. Things have been busy. I was quickly thrust into the life of City Government. Working on a federal grant worth 40 million dollars puts a lot of eyes on you at once!
Beyond work, which I am sure my readers would like to move from, I have been active this summer. The trips to the family lakehouse in Angola, Indiana, attending the numerous street festivals in Chicago, a trip to Denver, a trip to Toronto and the countless evenings just running around the city have kept me busy.
But enough about my personal life. This blog is about Chicago, urban planning/design and all things in between. This summer has been a busy one for Chicago. The city and region are in the final stages of competition for the 2016 Summer olympic games. We are going against, Rio, Tokyo, and Madrid for this honor and it seems the drama never stops. Insiders getting sweet deals on land near potential venues, the City taking the tab for the games, tearing down what some feel are historic buildings, the list goes on.
My postion on the Games is that Chicago is the clear winner. Yes we dont have some shiny new transit system or a new stadium like the Birds nest and yes there are a host of other problems that the money could be spent on instead of the games. Lets think larger here though, Chicago gets to be in a club of cities that hosted the largest peaceful gathering of individuals at one time. We get to be part of the Olympic Movement, one that strives for unity through sports. Chicago and the US will find a way to make our transit system sparkle again and to get the venues built properly, we have the best engineers, architects and designers in the world if we can't do it no one can. Will the finances work out EXACTLY like they say they will in the Bid Book? probably not, but I can guarantee you that Chicago wont create a city strife with White elephant venues like Athens or Beijing, we are too pragmatic here. Chicago is the ONLY bid in this running that is truly integrating the games into the entire city. There is no distant remote olympic village like in Rio, we arent building a massive new island like Tokyo (northerly island is relatively small compared to the one that Tokyo is using) and yet we are still finding room to build new venues and not rely on just old ones that have been there for decades like Madrid is.
Stretched and woven into the long green park system that is the Chicago lakefront, people in lincoln park can walk out their front door and enjoy world class tennis competitions, residents of Washington park can gather the night of the opening ceremonies and witness history, condo dwellers in the loop and south loop can venture lakeside to see a variety of sports - all within walking distance. No need to drive or fly anywhere to see these events, they are here to see US. We are the host, Chicagoans love to party and why not invite the world to it. Let there be some congestion and crowds, the more the merrier!
Will there be congestion? Probably, I cant really say. I can say from those that were at the Atlanta games that traffic was LIGHTER due to the fact that most locals stayed away from downtown. I also know that any event ticket you purchase includes a CTA pass so the need for a car should be greatly dimished. Start saving your PTO time now, take the two+ weeks off and go have fun in your own city. Should you be lucky to rent out your apartment, home or condo, I encourage you to find a place to stay in the city, bunk up witha friend if you need to and enjoy the events that are taking place here. Take your time, show up early if you need to, after all you are on vacation!
Lastly my argument for the Olympics in Chicago is that the world needs Chicago to have the Olympics. Not that we are the center of the universe (yet) but with 11.5 percent unemployment, the games in Chicago will put Chicagoans back to work for the next seven years. The billions of dollars in Olympic investment and side private development will help spur the midwestern economy and hopefully pull the US economy out of the slumps for the next few years, helping other economies get back on track. Is this a guarantee? no, but it couldnt hurt right?
The Olympics in Chicago will let the world know what we already know, that this is a great place to be. It will put the city on a level that it should be in recognition, spur tourism and help move beyond the image of gangsters and crazy governors (though i suspect the opening ceremony will consist of one or two songs from Chicago the musical followed with an hour long house music jam session, but one can only dream at this point...)
So in my book, I welcome the Olympians, their fans and their pocketbooks. Lets get to work on the greatest party Chicago has ever held!
Enjoy your week, and safe travels!
With you,
C
Beyond work, which I am sure my readers would like to move from, I have been active this summer. The trips to the family lakehouse in Angola, Indiana, attending the numerous street festivals in Chicago, a trip to Denver, a trip to Toronto and the countless evenings just running around the city have kept me busy.
But enough about my personal life. This blog is about Chicago, urban planning/design and all things in between. This summer has been a busy one for Chicago. The city and region are in the final stages of competition for the 2016 Summer olympic games. We are going against, Rio, Tokyo, and Madrid for this honor and it seems the drama never stops. Insiders getting sweet deals on land near potential venues, the City taking the tab for the games, tearing down what some feel are historic buildings, the list goes on.
My postion on the Games is that Chicago is the clear winner. Yes we dont have some shiny new transit system or a new stadium like the Birds nest and yes there are a host of other problems that the money could be spent on instead of the games. Lets think larger here though, Chicago gets to be in a club of cities that hosted the largest peaceful gathering of individuals at one time. We get to be part of the Olympic Movement, one that strives for unity through sports. Chicago and the US will find a way to make our transit system sparkle again and to get the venues built properly, we have the best engineers, architects and designers in the world if we can't do it no one can. Will the finances work out EXACTLY like they say they will in the Bid Book? probably not, but I can guarantee you that Chicago wont create a city strife with White elephant venues like Athens or Beijing, we are too pragmatic here. Chicago is the ONLY bid in this running that is truly integrating the games into the entire city. There is no distant remote olympic village like in Rio, we arent building a massive new island like Tokyo (northerly island is relatively small compared to the one that Tokyo is using) and yet we are still finding room to build new venues and not rely on just old ones that have been there for decades like Madrid is.
Stretched and woven into the long green park system that is the Chicago lakefront, people in lincoln park can walk out their front door and enjoy world class tennis competitions, residents of Washington park can gather the night of the opening ceremonies and witness history, condo dwellers in the loop and south loop can venture lakeside to see a variety of sports - all within walking distance. No need to drive or fly anywhere to see these events, they are here to see US. We are the host, Chicagoans love to party and why not invite the world to it. Let there be some congestion and crowds, the more the merrier!
Will there be congestion? Probably, I cant really say. I can say from those that were at the Atlanta games that traffic was LIGHTER due to the fact that most locals stayed away from downtown. I also know that any event ticket you purchase includes a CTA pass so the need for a car should be greatly dimished. Start saving your PTO time now, take the two+ weeks off and go have fun in your own city. Should you be lucky to rent out your apartment, home or condo, I encourage you to find a place to stay in the city, bunk up witha friend if you need to and enjoy the events that are taking place here. Take your time, show up early if you need to, after all you are on vacation!
Lastly my argument for the Olympics in Chicago is that the world needs Chicago to have the Olympics. Not that we are the center of the universe (yet) but with 11.5 percent unemployment, the games in Chicago will put Chicagoans back to work for the next seven years. The billions of dollars in Olympic investment and side private development will help spur the midwestern economy and hopefully pull the US economy out of the slumps for the next few years, helping other economies get back on track. Is this a guarantee? no, but it couldnt hurt right?
The Olympics in Chicago will let the world know what we already know, that this is a great place to be. It will put the city on a level that it should be in recognition, spur tourism and help move beyond the image of gangsters and crazy governors (though i suspect the opening ceremony will consist of one or two songs from Chicago the musical followed with an hour long house music jam session, but one can only dream at this point...)
So in my book, I welcome the Olympians, their fans and their pocketbooks. Lets get to work on the greatest party Chicago has ever held!
Enjoy your week, and safe travels!
With you,
C
Saturday, May 30, 2009
This Week.
So i was writing this long winded "me" blog (yes i realize a blog is essentially about me but this was more than usual about me) when my internet at the starbucks wouldnt work. Thankfully I decided not to publish that awful article and instead talk about the previous week.
The past six months of being unemployed made me forget the ritual that is commuting here in Chicago. Every morning, Monday through Friday, millions of hard working Chicagoans strap on their messanger bag (or in my case backpack), stop by their local coffee shop for an injection of caffine and maybe a breakfast item (I enjoy an iced coffee and the occasional bagel, but trying to be a healthier eater so protein bar and banana for me) and then wind their way to their favorite bus stop or el station to head into work. Then the adventure begins. Will my train/bus be on time? what's the traffic like on the LSD (applies to buses only, LSD= Lake Shore Drive) Will I get a seat? Also the unknowns will happen, like say a homeless person sitting next you in your business suit (or a rich lady in a fur coat in the winter, that's my favorite scene) Or a methhead chatting on his phone with his friend on how to get more drugs from the state to fulfill their habits (true story...)
The commute can either be a dreadful experience or a fun game, depending on how you look at it and your attitude towards public transit. If you just roll with the punches and take your eyes off your ipod/iphone/blackberry/newspaper for a while and look at your surroundings you can watch a parade of humanity entering/exiting your train to the Loop - in my case in the opposite direct to Evanston. It can be a great way to start the day or end the day.
So I started this ritual again. It is something I have to get used to as I have not had a steady schedule for the last six months, but I am slowly getting over that. I find comfort in the routine of going to work, grabbing my cup of joe and a copy of the RedEye (a free newspaper that is basically 20 percent AP news articles, 30 percent ads for lincoln park and wrigleyville bars and 50 percent celebrity gossip, I MUST know what the people from the Hills are doing these days!) and settling in for my 30 min ride on the El.
On another note, this weekend kicks off several street festivals across the City. Most noteable is May Fest in Lincoln Square. I am told it is Germanfest in May so I plan on checking it out on Sunday this weekend and grab a beer, brat and maybe some local band on stage. Chicagoans get out and enjoy the city, and other readers of this blog I encourage you to explore something about where you live, post a comment here if you want to talk about what you like about your city in the summer.
With you always,
Craig
The past six months of being unemployed made me forget the ritual that is commuting here in Chicago. Every morning, Monday through Friday, millions of hard working Chicagoans strap on their messanger bag (or in my case backpack), stop by their local coffee shop for an injection of caffine and maybe a breakfast item (I enjoy an iced coffee and the occasional bagel, but trying to be a healthier eater so protein bar and banana for me) and then wind their way to their favorite bus stop or el station to head into work. Then the adventure begins. Will my train/bus be on time? what's the traffic like on the LSD (applies to buses only, LSD= Lake Shore Drive) Will I get a seat? Also the unknowns will happen, like say a homeless person sitting next you in your business suit (or a rich lady in a fur coat in the winter, that's my favorite scene) Or a methhead chatting on his phone with his friend on how to get more drugs from the state to fulfill their habits (true story...)
The commute can either be a dreadful experience or a fun game, depending on how you look at it and your attitude towards public transit. If you just roll with the punches and take your eyes off your ipod/iphone/blackberry/newspaper for a while and look at your surroundings you can watch a parade of humanity entering/exiting your train to the Loop - in my case in the opposite direct to Evanston. It can be a great way to start the day or end the day.
So I started this ritual again. It is something I have to get used to as I have not had a steady schedule for the last six months, but I am slowly getting over that. I find comfort in the routine of going to work, grabbing my cup of joe and a copy of the RedEye (a free newspaper that is basically 20 percent AP news articles, 30 percent ads for lincoln park and wrigleyville bars and 50 percent celebrity gossip, I MUST know what the people from the Hills are doing these days!) and settling in for my 30 min ride on the El.
On another note, this weekend kicks off several street festivals across the City. Most noteable is May Fest in Lincoln Square. I am told it is Germanfest in May so I plan on checking it out on Sunday this weekend and grab a beer, brat and maybe some local band on stage. Chicagoans get out and enjoy the city, and other readers of this blog I encourage you to explore something about where you live, post a comment here if you want to talk about what you like about your city in the summer.
With you always,
Craig
Monday, May 25, 2009
The Official Start of Summer
The end of May is an exciting time. This is the time of the year the days are consistently warmer, you notice the sun is staying up longer and the blossoms of spring fade to the warm shades of green that signal summer is beginning. Nature isnt the only cue that I get that summer has begun. Driving home from the lakehouse today, I was cruising along Lake Shore Drive and noticed the beach houses are open, lifeguard stands are up and the harbors are crowded with a parade of boats ranging from the dingy to the yachts signal summer has arrived in Chicago.
Soon hot humid days will allow us the convenient excuse to drop everything and cool off at the beach. Ice cream at 1 in the afternoon will be a relief to the sweltering sun and we will be wishing for the cooler days of fall. Under the relief of old trees in the various neighborhoods, neighbors will be assembling to enjoy a block party or a backyard bbq filling the air with that wonderful smell of raw flesh meeting hot coals. Summer is a great time of the year (well every time of the year in Chicago is good, they all have their bad parts too). This summer I would like to make sure I enjoy the outdoors on the weekends I am here (the other weekends will be spent at the lakehouse...). I want to hit a couple of block parties too, enjoy bands outside the way God intended and I would like to attend something at the Pritzker Pavillion this summer too.
Whew! summer is going to be busy, but fun, so come join in the festivities, only a few more months before fall and then winter set in and we are all dreaming of the sweaty days of august!
Thank you to those that serve to protect my freedom and this country, Happy Memorial Day! My respect for the armed services is always high, today especially!
With you ,
Craig
Soon hot humid days will allow us the convenient excuse to drop everything and cool off at the beach. Ice cream at 1 in the afternoon will be a relief to the sweltering sun and we will be wishing for the cooler days of fall. Under the relief of old trees in the various neighborhoods, neighbors will be assembling to enjoy a block party or a backyard bbq filling the air with that wonderful smell of raw flesh meeting hot coals. Summer is a great time of the year (well every time of the year in Chicago is good, they all have their bad parts too). This summer I would like to make sure I enjoy the outdoors on the weekends I am here (the other weekends will be spent at the lakehouse...). I want to hit a couple of block parties too, enjoy bands outside the way God intended and I would like to attend something at the Pritzker Pavillion this summer too.
Whew! summer is going to be busy, but fun, so come join in the festivities, only a few more months before fall and then winter set in and we are all dreaming of the sweaty days of august!
Thank you to those that serve to protect my freedom and this country, Happy Memorial Day! My respect for the armed services is always high, today especially!
With you ,
Craig
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Back to the Grind.
So Monday was my first day at work. After sleeping oh about an hour total Sunday night, I got out of bed, shaved, showered and headed out the door to my first commute in 6 months. This commute was different. Heading in the opposite direction than most of Chicago, my commute is a quick 20-30 minutes by CTA train to the North. My quiet empty CTA car was a welcome sight in the morning sun. Clear skies and sunshine greeted me on my first day to work.
Switching trains at the Howard station, I soon arrived to Evanston City Hall. The mountain of paperwork they gave me 10 days prior was filled out, so HR was a breeze then it was off to my floor. Evanston Civic Center is an old Catholic girls school, so while it sounds nice and historicy, in reality it creates a lot of chaos for a government. So my office space is a little 7'x9' space carved out of a larger room that is the community development department. I get a window and all that goes with an office, desk, chair, guest chair and drafting table. File cabinet and shelves are there for added decor. This is my space, and it's organized. The most organized office in city hall as far as I can tell! The former General Planner was very meticulous I have a big order to fill in that department, so I am at a good start as it is, lets hope it doesnt get too wild on my part!
I settled into my new space as good as I could (dropped bag, found pen and paper, logged onto computer...) and then was paraded around the city hall to meet every person in every department. Let me say, everyone I have met at the City is super nice, but I will not remember their names, heck I dont even remember my secretary's name (the department shares a secretary...) right now, hopefully i will get that down this week...
Anyways, the job is good, it's slow right now, but I think I will do great in Evanston, I have to remember this job is a job that doesnt have a timeline, the last person was there 6 years... I can build a career out of this one and slow down a bit. The slowing down part is the hard part!
With you,
Craig
Switching trains at the Howard station, I soon arrived to Evanston City Hall. The mountain of paperwork they gave me 10 days prior was filled out, so HR was a breeze then it was off to my floor. Evanston Civic Center is an old Catholic girls school, so while it sounds nice and historicy, in reality it creates a lot of chaos for a government. So my office space is a little 7'x9' space carved out of a larger room that is the community development department. I get a window and all that goes with an office, desk, chair, guest chair and drafting table. File cabinet and shelves are there for added decor. This is my space, and it's organized. The most organized office in city hall as far as I can tell! The former General Planner was very meticulous I have a big order to fill in that department, so I am at a good start as it is, lets hope it doesnt get too wild on my part!
I settled into my new space as good as I could (dropped bag, found pen and paper, logged onto computer...) and then was paraded around the city hall to meet every person in every department. Let me say, everyone I have met at the City is super nice, but I will not remember their names, heck I dont even remember my secretary's name (the department shares a secretary...) right now, hopefully i will get that down this week...
Anyways, the job is good, it's slow right now, but I think I will do great in Evanston, I have to remember this job is a job that doesnt have a timeline, the last person was there 6 years... I can build a career out of this one and slow down a bit. The slowing down part is the hard part!
With you,
Craig
Sunday, May 17, 2009
Whats in a Neighborhood?
Andersonville, Edgewater, Lakeview, Rogers Park, Albany Park, Wicker Park. The list goes on and on in the City of Chicago. Carved out of the 77 wards in Chicago, the 228 defined neighborhoods might as well be their own village or town, their name alone sounds like it. I often will be talking to a friend and mention I'm in oh say Andersonville, and they think I went out of town for the weekend.
Truth be told, the history of Chicago's neighborhoods has a lot to do with segregation. Chicago was a melting pot of settlers during the great immigration in the early 20th Century. So little settlements within the city were built, catering to the ethnicity of that particular area. To this day we have Chinatown, Little Italy, Ukrainian Village, Little Vietnam, etc. The neighborhood mix may be different today but the neighborhood seems to be keeping their heritage in the forefront.
I bring this up today as I sit in the Starbucks in Andersonville. I have been spending a lot of time in this commercial district lately because it has great restaurants and shops and is near my house, within walking distance at least. Originally a Swedish settlement on Chicago's far north side, Andersonville is this great collection of locally owned restaurants and shops that while some would say is trendy, I feel is more genuine than some of the other "trendy" neighborhoods in the city. There is still a presence of Andersonville's history. The American Swedish Museum has a big location along Clark Street, with their water tower painted as the Swedish Flag. There is a Swedish deli and variety of restaurants that serve the ever popular winter beverage Glogg, a hot mulled wine that I find repulsive but Chicagoans love because it warms and intoxicates at the same time, a much needed feeling during the bitter cold winters here.
And so my neighborhood exploration of Chicago begins in familiar territory. Andersonville is a must stop for those coming to the City that want to see true Chicago. Favorite restaurants include Tapas Las Ramblas, Hama Matsu, Ann Sathers (for their famous delicious, insulin-required cinnamon rolls), Reza's for their authentic presentation of Mediterranean food and the Hopleaf with their vast selection and knowledge of Belgium beer and delicious Belgium food.
There is something for everyone in Andersonville, and on a sunny mild May Sunday it's a good day to explore Clark Street and all that it has to offer.
With you,
C
Truth be told, the history of Chicago's neighborhoods has a lot to do with segregation. Chicago was a melting pot of settlers during the great immigration in the early 20th Century. So little settlements within the city were built, catering to the ethnicity of that particular area. To this day we have Chinatown, Little Italy, Ukrainian Village, Little Vietnam, etc. The neighborhood mix may be different today but the neighborhood seems to be keeping their heritage in the forefront.
I bring this up today as I sit in the Starbucks in Andersonville. I have been spending a lot of time in this commercial district lately because it has great restaurants and shops and is near my house, within walking distance at least. Originally a Swedish settlement on Chicago's far north side, Andersonville is this great collection of locally owned restaurants and shops that while some would say is trendy, I feel is more genuine than some of the other "trendy" neighborhoods in the city. There is still a presence of Andersonville's history. The American Swedish Museum has a big location along Clark Street, with their water tower painted as the Swedish Flag. There is a Swedish deli and variety of restaurants that serve the ever popular winter beverage Glogg, a hot mulled wine that I find repulsive but Chicagoans love because it warms and intoxicates at the same time, a much needed feeling during the bitter cold winters here.
And so my neighborhood exploration of Chicago begins in familiar territory. Andersonville is a must stop for those coming to the City that want to see true Chicago. Favorite restaurants include Tapas Las Ramblas, Hama Matsu, Ann Sathers (for their famous delicious, insulin-required cinnamon rolls), Reza's for their authentic presentation of Mediterranean food and the Hopleaf with their vast selection and knowledge of Belgium beer and delicious Belgium food.
There is something for everyone in Andersonville, and on a sunny mild May Sunday it's a good day to explore Clark Street and all that it has to offer.
With you,
C
Friday, May 15, 2009
The Last Day
Well the time has come. My time has been served, I am ready to join the working world again! During this time I have been able to assess my spending habits, pay down debt and create a new budget to live on. It has been lean times for the most part, but I am lucky to have those around me that supported me in my time of need. Whether it was the occasional dinner or staying in with me to hang out because I didn't have the money to go out on the town, I found out who my true friends were during this time and it has not been forgotten.
While it is not the most ideal situation, and I was depressed about being laid off, gained weight, etc; I feel that this was a way of me really being able to step back, access my life and see where i really wanted to go. The door was open, I could do whatever I wanted and I feel in the end landing the job at the City of Evanston was the best thing to happen thus far. I am able to have a career I can grow into while being able to take time to focus on me personally. The last nine years I was so concerned about getting the best grade or getting into the right program or finding the right job and then working as hard as I could at that job so that my career was set. Well that paid off for sure, I have had some amazing experiences in the last 9 years, but I never really took the time out for me. Focusing my life on health - both mentally and physically - and becoming better at my hobbies, namely rugby are what I want right now in my life. I will be able to accomplish this now. Yes I could of been doing all of this while I was laid off but lets be honest, my mind was racing on the uncertainty of my life and well I just kind of shut down and revert to comfort zones like ice cream and fast food when that happened.
So Monday is a new day a new era in my life. I have a new job a new apartment and a new attitude about my career and how it affects the way I live. I am returning to old habits, ones that I cultured in Denver, going to the gym, losing weight, getting fit and healthy. Eating well, reducing my drinking and being active 5-6 days a week (this doesn't involve the gym but being out and running or biking or throwing the rugby ball around count as active too) are things I am incorporating back into my life. No cable in the house, heck even no internet helps that too. Summer is the good time to bring all of these habits back and get ready for the fall/winter.
It is fitting the last day of unemployment is rainy. It was a rainy/snowy day the day I was furloughed, triggering the last six months of searching. I look forward to what the next few months and years bring, and I hope you all will join me on my journey through the discovery of Chicago and through the travels I take outside the city. Thank you all for reading my blog this week and stay tuned for more adventures. I am enjoying my last day of unemployment, reflecting, relaxing and preparing for the work week ahead.
With you always,
C
While it is not the most ideal situation, and I was depressed about being laid off, gained weight, etc; I feel that this was a way of me really being able to step back, access my life and see where i really wanted to go. The door was open, I could do whatever I wanted and I feel in the end landing the job at the City of Evanston was the best thing to happen thus far. I am able to have a career I can grow into while being able to take time to focus on me personally. The last nine years I was so concerned about getting the best grade or getting into the right program or finding the right job and then working as hard as I could at that job so that my career was set. Well that paid off for sure, I have had some amazing experiences in the last 9 years, but I never really took the time out for me. Focusing my life on health - both mentally and physically - and becoming better at my hobbies, namely rugby are what I want right now in my life. I will be able to accomplish this now. Yes I could of been doing all of this while I was laid off but lets be honest, my mind was racing on the uncertainty of my life and well I just kind of shut down and revert to comfort zones like ice cream and fast food when that happened.
So Monday is a new day a new era in my life. I have a new job a new apartment and a new attitude about my career and how it affects the way I live. I am returning to old habits, ones that I cultured in Denver, going to the gym, losing weight, getting fit and healthy. Eating well, reducing my drinking and being active 5-6 days a week (this doesn't involve the gym but being out and running or biking or throwing the rugby ball around count as active too) are things I am incorporating back into my life. No cable in the house, heck even no internet helps that too. Summer is the good time to bring all of these habits back and get ready for the fall/winter.
It is fitting the last day of unemployment is rainy. It was a rainy/snowy day the day I was furloughed, triggering the last six months of searching. I look forward to what the next few months and years bring, and I hope you all will join me on my journey through the discovery of Chicago and through the travels I take outside the city. Thank you all for reading my blog this week and stay tuned for more adventures. I am enjoying my last day of unemployment, reflecting, relaxing and preparing for the work week ahead.
With you always,
C
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