broken streak

I hate to write an entry and lose my streak of pretending like I don't have a blog, but alas, time moves on & I need to make changes. And as graduation approaches - I come to a realization. I need a job. So since we are not planted anywhere so I might get a regular teaching job (and the fact I secretly hate teaching- no offense to Bubs who I will eternally respect and admire for being good at it/liking it) I have been looking for a job.

That was probably the worst idea I've ever had. Over spring break I contacted someone who I thought would be a pleasing retired old fella to help "spring clean" at $8/hour. It seemed like a good rate, that is, until I got into the 4th hour of pine needle raking. You see, that was after I was prancing on top of his roof with a rope tied around me, sweeping the pine needles off. As dangerous as it was, I thought it was fun. I didn't know at that point I would be raking the needles up after I pushed them off. Oh my nieve ways are always my downfall.

Anyways, I don't mean to complain... however I do want to clear up one crucial item. Cleaning chimneys IS NOTHING like they show on Mary Poppins. Unless of course if by using brushes they really meant using a 20 foot rope with 40-50lbs of chains at the end, and by dancing and singing they mean crowched into the top of the chimney and choking on carcinogenic dust - THEN YES- its just like on Mary Poppins.

But on the bright side I think I got a job with a man who prunes trees. He doesn't believe in bucket trucks or machinery so he repels in the tree. All I do for now is watch him from the ground, pass up tools to him, and read propoganda he wrote about being a vegetarian and a hippie. Just kidding, but not really.

The picture at the top is what I will look like at my new job.

Windy City

I spent a few days with some of my friends in Chicago. We did a pretty good job of packing in the sights and sounds. One of the most impressive things is that despite not being any sort of video game player, I ended up the champ in both Tiger Woods Golf, and whatever the NBA basketball game is called.

I also was able to go on the world's fastest elevator to the top of the Hancock building. The poor man's Sears tower. I looked across Lake Michigan and saw Michigan City, my former mission area. We then looked down upon a helicopter hovering over traffic.
We got caught in some wind and some snow, but were still able to pretty much own the city. We bought a city pass, it had 5 activities for $50, so we had those activities going for us. Second City comedy club didn't disappoint, neither did the deep dish pizza, or the art museum. I saw that painting that is on the cover of the old Masterpiece board game, turns out is was painted by Rembrandt. Who knew?

Last night Rachel and I really treated ourselves. We drove about 40 minutes west, out to Helmer, and enjoyed a famous Helmerburger. It is in a town without even a stop light, and it is the best hamburger in the world. If you are lucky you will have one.