I hope you’re right. The pendulum can be freaking slow. At this point, the planet might smoke out the humans before we recover politically.
Other countries are also dealing with rising anti-democratic far-right crap too. But, if we are going to live in an era of rising fascism, maybe riding it out in a place with gelato shops and cafes on every corner would make it a little less depressing?
Doña Tola on Southport. Cute, vibrant but cozy. Food is great.
Dollars to donuts she asked a friend what’s a good place to suggest that a man would like … and “steakhouse” was what she got.
Since she was fine with your alternative place, be open minded that maybe she wasn’t super familiar, or there are not a lot of steakhouse options in your area?
Also l don’t like sharing side dishes … Morton’s is stupid with that, especially for what you’re paying … and potatoes and typical veggies are so inexpensive for them to source.
Hope it goes well.
I decided in 2016 that a sexist, con man, clearly compromised by foreign debts, and raised by a card carrying klansman was unfit for office. My opinion of Trump hasn’t improved since then.
I’ll never forget or forgive most media & GOP for propping up such a vile piece of shit for their own gains, at the expense of the country.
Since most people have had more than enough exposure to Trump’s shit show, and are tuning out this time around, maybe media will change coverage if they don’t get the ratings and ad dollars as much. But l am not holding my breath.
Same age, same amount of time in this dreaded club, married 20 years to my late husband. Thanks for sharing, I recognize this part of evolving grief as well.
The social world has definitely changed since I met my husband. Online dating didn't exist. Smartphones, social media and apps didn't exist. I'm tech savvy, but I feel lost and intimidated about having to "rebuild" social connections / a life. Society does feel more broken now, which doesn't help.
And also .. I am at the point where I very much do not want the isolation anymore. I hate the isolation.
My husband and I essentially existed in our own bubble, with few family and friends. We were happy. But losing him was like being kicked out of the universe into some unknown twilight zone that I don't recognize. Even the few family/friend relationships I thankfully maintain are different now. Because I'm different now. It is a struggle.
I also work remote, so aside from passing folks on my daily walks, I can go several days without any in-person interactions with another human being. I find myself making more frequent trips to the grocery store just to be around other people. I am starting to try some "safe" group meetups to do some low pressure things that interest me, and maybe I'll try a yoga class or something like that.
I'm just starting to have the courage to try. It isn't easy going out of my comfort zone. But my comfort zone isn't entirely meeting my needs.
Sending hugs.
If you don’t have a car consider areas close to the Brown Line. For your budget, from around Southport to Kimball in particular has a lot of quiet residential areas, but also walkable or bus to more lively streets. Search 60613, 60657, 60640.
Our only source of hydration was our mom’s spit she rubbed on our face to wash off the dirt.
On my local level, I can't even describe it as poor decisions being made (although there are poor decisions too), but it is more paralysis. What we have are passionate, but naive, criticisms without any specific plans for solutions, or even remotely realistic solutions, that could get passed by a city council that is a split between moderates and progressives.
We do a phenomenal job at getting in our own way.
Don't look up data on how GenX is doing with critical thinking / misinformation / radicalization. You'll be super disappointed.
The kids are (mostly) alright. GenX and Boomers ... are not.
I see younger folks as being naive when it comes to understanding that you can't force individuals to think any kind of way. But with dedication and organization, you can work on improving the civic institutions that protect/help everyone for the greater good.
Change is slow and incremental. Even the religious people that I don't agree with, who want theocracy instead of democracy, know political change it is a long haul, and requires dedicated organization and strategy. They had a plan to destroy Roe. Stack the courts with religious extremists posing as "moderate" conservatives during confirmation hearings. Over the 50 years it took them to kill Roe, the public opinion did not sway more in their direction. They didn't care one bit about persuading individuals to change their mind on abortion. Sure, plenty of individuals fight about it online and face-to-face, but that didn't matter at all to the groups organizing that change.
It is amazing our generation was able to get marriage equality rights passed (as fragile as they are), because there were several instances when we could have derailed the whole effort. The left was soooo insistent on making individual people change their minds. As much as I disliked those stupid bakeries not wanting to make "gay wedding cakes" ... it was not the smartest fight to try and force small businesses or churches to stop discriminating. However, the county clerks that would not issue marriage licenses ... those were government offices that needed to comply with the law. That is where the fight is. Protections under the law will exist within civil institutions, not by forcing individuals or churches to change their thinking. That is a losing battle. The institutional change led to the largest shift in public opinion in favor of gay marriage over the past decade. AND also plenty of backlash that we have clearly seen as well. Exhibit A: there are currently 522 anti-LGBTQ bills working their way through statehouses across the country.
And as far as "getting along" with people with opposing views ... these words still are in effect:
"We can disagree and still love each other unless your disagreement is rooted in my oppression and denial of my humanity and right to exist." - James Baldwin
Texas home insurance premiums average around $4k a year, and have 2% deductible on value of the home. So, for example, on a $375k house that's about $7,500 deductible homeowner is responsible for paying on a claim when storm repairs are needed. They have hail storms frequently, and 2023 was record-breaking.
Average premium in Chicago is around $2100, average deductible $1K. We'll have hail storms in the Chicago area maybe 1 or 2 times a year. Tornados / wind damage are increasing here, but still not as high a risk to property as having regular hail storms every month.
People don't realize there are much higher costs in other states like Texas and Florida that are not offset by lower taxes.
7 Natural Wonders:
Montrose Point Bird Sanctuary
Alfred Caldwell Lily Pool
Jackson Park
Riverwalk
Cancer Survivors' Garden
Garfield Park
Lincoln Park
7 Architectural Interior Wonders:
Chicago Cultural Center - Preston Bradley Hall Tiffany Dome and GAR Hall Rotunda and Dome
Rookery Building - lobby and spiral staircase
Chicago Union Station - Great Hall, Founders Room
New Regal Theater / Avalon Theater
Garfield Park Gold Dome Field House
Field Building 135 S. LaSalle St - Art Deco two story lobby
Marquette Building 140 S. Dearborn - lobby mosaic work & "Chicago" windows
To see the white Water Tower building to the left of the black Hancock tower, at that angle, you would need to be in the lake and facing west looking at the skyline, probably around Oak Street vicinity. But, this view does not exist in reality from any direction. For sure not with the large trees, road and car.
A pretty similar look you could get at Olive Park, but minus the car.
Also, those two other tall tan buildings are swapped. The taller one with 4 corner posts is 900 N. Michigan, that is north of Hancock in real life, and should be to the right. The shorter pointy top building is Park Tower, and it is south of both Water Tower and Hancock, so it should be to the left. That building on the far right looks like 340 E Randolph, so that belongs much further south near Millennium Park.
Seems like a composite of buildings. Cool artwork though.
The department store l worked at as a teenager had this song on the playlist loop, heard at least 2-3 times every shift. Did not know the name of the song or band yet, it was about a decade old at the time in the early 90s.
At that time l misheard the lyrics:
“Hi-ho, move Shay.”
Maybe another decade later, l heard it on the radio after a long time not hearing the song. I laughed at myself, still mishearing the lyrics, but thought l heard:
“l know you’ve changed.”
Radio notoriously doesn’t say names of songs … so l am still in the dark.
More years later when lyrics and streaming available online …. song was on a 70s playlist … finally learned it was “time for Cool Change” … Little River Band.
I laughed so hard for a good 10-15 minutes.
Happy:
Cameron - luxury auto sales
Sloane - real estate broker
Ferris - adolescent therapist
Sad:
Cameron - Fentanyl
Sloane - HPV related cervical cancer
Ferris - 150 years in prison for massive Ponzi scheme
I grew up similar. What took me decades to understand is that resilience from neglect did not equal coping skills. My parents withholding / ignoring me and minimizing problems, including serious ones, did not teach me coping skills. It taught me to avoid / bottle up / suffer from unmanaged stress and anxiety.
I eventually hit a wall and got therapy to finally learn coping skills in order to survive terrible loss and trauma that would have ended me.
I agree that the insulation next generations got seems to have been an overcorrection, with the same outcome of not developing coping skills. But, the "walk it off" approach wasn't great either.
Was scrolling forever looking for this. Only 2nd to We Built This City … this song is also nails on a chalkboard.
“Well tonight thank god it’s them instead of you.”
worst … lyrics … ever
I thought l was the only one. Glad I found my shoulder check people.
The only disturbance at the last convention here in 1996 was Al Gore “dancing” the Macarena.
In the same boat. Clinging onto being “in my 40s” for dear life…for a few more months.
I don’t feel my age, and am taking better care of myself both mentally and physically more now than ever. But l am sad about my younger self slipping away. Can’t stop time.
Trying to embrace that how l feel is a state of mind and staying determined to keep active. In my mind l am aging backwards now! LoL
I didn’t ever really care about birthdays, and my late husband didn’t either. We figured, you ignore them so you don’t age, right? I lost him suddenly/unexpectedly 20 months ago. Working through major grief….well it is all consuming for a long while, to say the least.
Then l looked up and 50 is flashing in big lights coming soon. It gives me mixed feelings … guilt for thinking it’s selfish to be freaking out about something that seems so trivial in comparison to losing my husband … and that l still have my life to live, but he doesn’t. I’m grateful to be pretty healthy and feeling young. I just think it would not bother me as much if he was still here, and if l wasn’t going through so much change now. Some days l feel overwhelmed with having to rebuild my life at “this age.”
But l am trying to be optimistic with the perspective that l have about life … how precious and fleeting it is … and it makes me want to live life fully, until the wheels fall off.
I've turned 49 today. I don't know how to feel.
GenX