After twelve grueling hours, through a torrential rain (and getting most of my luggage soaked) and without food for a while, I finally returned to the US. Currently, I write in the Windy City, also known officially as The City of Chicago. The 67 degrees Fahrenheit hardly even qualifies as late spring weather. Let’s just say that upon coming to Chicago, I have acquired:
- a cough
- a need to dig through my wet luggage to bust out the slightly soggy jeans over shorts
- inclination to hide under the covers (during the summer, you hide on top of the covers. The mere fact that you are in bed shields you from the world.)
- craving for long sleeves (not available from my luggage)
- lethargy
- ORGANIC ALMONDS, STRAWBERRIES AND CHERRIES (I had strawberries and cherries for dinner – how pleasant!)
- … and the list goes on.
Surprisingly, I think I’m OK with jet lag. I have a mild headache, but I’m alert enough. I’ve read up to page three-hundred-something in Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell, but I left The Silmarillion at home. I wonder how much time I’m going to have to actually read at my own leisure (that means, text books aren’t counted as relaxed reading.)
An interesting note related to reading is what I’ve been using as bookmarks (They magically disappear, do they not?). I’ve been using the friendship bracelets I’ve made. When well made, friendship bracelets end up being sturdy but not too voluminous, so it’s a perfect substitute to the paper ones that I seem to always end up losing. (This summer, I tragically lost my Die Muik by Klimt bookmark. :() I advocate the making of friendship bracelets because a) it’s fun, b) it’s cheap to do, c) repetitive hand motion not only enhances brain function (especially good for the elderly) and d) de-stresses your brain e) it’s pretty! and f) quick project. So, instead of buying bookmarks, you can make your own!
We’re staying at Naperville right now, and I do believe it’s quite a pretty and quaint little place. I, of course, checked out the library, the little stores and the cafés. While I’m not entirely sure of their food selection (which translates to I didn’t find any exciting gelaterias), but the library is quite pleasant. They had a eclectic nonfiction section (I didn’t get as far as the fiction section.) and seemed to have a nice audio selection as well. A little complaint I had, though not only on Nichols Library, was the amount of AC that was on. First off, going from a hot weather to extreme cold isn’t healthy for your body (everyone catches a cold during autumn). Secondly, it’s a waste of money and energy to just have the AC on as much. Thirdly, it’s summer. Why does everyone complain about the cold and when summer starts, everyone reverts to the cold? I know it’s nice to have a rest from extreme heat, but it’s not even eighty degrees. Take a nap with your cat on the lawn and just enjoy the warmth while it lasts.
Tomorrow we head down to school. Let’s just say that Indiana isn’t known for cute little shops, but corn and, uh, more corn… at least, corn’s readily available for Thanksgiving.
