You know it's something when you get off a bus to do community service and the person who leads you towards where the site is calls you "brave" for walking and taking public transit to the area; the area in question is 69th Street and Ashland.
Today was the Clean & Green Citywide clean-up day all across Chicago and I have an internship with 'Imagine Englewood if...' a non-profit organization on the South Side of Chicago that helps the youth of that area by providing resources, mentors, a safe place to go after school, and lead poisoning evaluations; the Englewood area has the highest concentration of lead poisoning in the nation. For my paid internship I go down there and help by doing whatever the boss needs me to do. Often, I make databases, type up rosters, work on the websites, and I've even taught a class early in the year on Radio Broadcasting.
On Wednesday my boss asked what I was doing Saturday (today). I moaned a "Nothing, why?" The subject was brought up about the Clean-Up and I glumly said I would.Waking up early on a Saturday wasn't what I had been hoping for though.
My alarm was set for 7:50am...at about 3:45am the same morning, giving me about 4 hours to sleep. I actually woke up around 7:34 and decided to turn off my alarm before I got up completely. The next thing I remember it's 8:30 and then I fell asleep again and woke up at 9:06. Each minute I looked at the clock I would keep thinking, one more minute. I finally got up at 9:15 and put on some old pants and my green RHC shirt.
From there it was the normal travel, except I took the red line down to 63rd and took the 63rd bus to Ashland, where I took that bus back North to 60th Street. I met a few people and cleaned up. Got a call from my boss at 11 and said I was in the wrong spot, she picked me up and took me to 68th where I helped out another group for about 15min before they gave up. I still had some business at the other location so I ran from 69th to 60th Street which on Google maps amounts to 1.1 miles. So I got my workout in at least. On my run I had some catcalls, it was unnerving. It's happened a lot when I've went to work. Since I had never been around Ashland that far Southwest I really had to be aware; I am what the one guy called me I guess, "brave."
One awesome thing though is that I got to ride the green line back to Roosevelt. The green line is very scenic and I recommend everyone at least go down and back; it's not like you have to leave the platform at Ashland.
So, anyways...that was experience today. I did some cleaning and I got paid for it. But I'm really tired now.
Post Note:
I was listening to my iPod on my way to the site and I was waiting for the 63rd bus. This homeless guy saw me and gave me a list of his favorite music. So random. But kinda cool too. They are:
The Best of Yaz
BeeGee's- Number Ones
D Train- Looking For, "Keep on"
Keyshia Cole- Rec, Sad and Lonely
“You are more in touch with the world of tech today, so see if you can get your old computer working again -- or look for a good deal on a new one. You should be able to come out ahead.”
-My horoscope for the day
Lazy days are good. Lazy but relatively productive days are even better. I ended up having the latter yesterday. Worked on my Performance class paper due Thursday and reviewed for my History of Broadcasting exam tomorrow while working on and off for ‘Imagine Englewood if.’ (I also watched ROCKY III)
For those that don’t know, I have a job on the South Side of Chicago off of 69th and travel down there once or twice a week depending on my schedule. I am an intern and do whatever they need me to do, most of the time it’s typing up databases, organizing events, and teaching workshops on anything from improvisational comedy to radio. It’s an alright job but it takes me an hour to get from home in Lincoln Park all the way to 69th. It is no fun at all.
Tonight I have to work, but I’m going to try and get out early so I can see the Neo-futurists perform at my school. I know it’s a stretch to leave work just for that reason, but if being a Neo is something I really want to do in the future, or be a performer in general, it’d be nice to be able to talk with them about what it’s like; the ones that I have talked to are all really nice and down to Earth people. I look up to them, they’re so cool!
I’m applying to travel to France to teach English even though my French is terrible, go figure. The only thing is it is a lot of work to get all the materials together and then pay for the plane ticket and other fees. At least room and board is included and you only have to work 15 hours a week. It would really allow me to concentrate on my writing without anyone who speaks the language around to talk to; it’d be my own little artist’s colony. I think I will end up doing it; I just have to try and find the time to pool everything together.
Today I have a practice interview with my advisor in the Career Center. The Career Center is amazing like that.
Other than that it’s History of Broadcasting and then work (maybe the Neo’s?). We’ll see. Then homework of the stuff I didn’t finish last night. I actually went to bed around 11! My gosh!
As far as my horoscope, my old computer is back in PoHo and I don’t think I’ll be able to get that going, though it does have some CCR music I’ve been wanting to get for a while (love me some CCR). The only other thing I can think of when looking at the horoscope is an iPad, which I’ve decided completely against, it wasn’t like I was going to buy one anyway, but for sure now there’s not a chance of me getting it. Also, if I have to go out looking for a good price on a computer, something is dreadfully wrong. My laptop better not kick the bucket or I’m blaming astrology.com
If you’re wondering why I use my horoscope as a focus, it’s because I like to compare it to my everyday life. My 2010 prediction is strangely accurate so far. I love that Nostradamus effect.
For further reading on Eric Ruelle’s future, please see:http://www.astrology.com/2010-yearly-horoscope/2-d-hy-2010_leo?play_horoscope=1
And I will play along by telling you about how most of that stuff actually matches up to what I have planned this year. 2010 has been kicking 2009’s ass so far.
Eventually I plan to branch out and have this be more musings, poems, and stories rather than actual events but for now this seems to be working well enough. If you are reading this now, comment this blog. If you want, let me know what you want me to talk about, and I will. Follow me too! I always feel awkward following people I don’t necessarily know so if more people do it then it will make me feel better about doing it hahaha.
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