There is some event going on over on the baseball fields. I hear drums and shouting. There is the wind screaming into my window and the roar of the highway 3 blocks away. Cars drive by on the street with windows open and bass thumping, and when the sun feels like it, it might just peek out from behind the clouds, granting us sunlight for a brief moment.

Every 15 minutes a bus goes by. “Number 8 Halsted, to 79th…” I can hear the announcement from my window, and then the bus squeals as it pulls out. The garbage truck backs up to the trash door of the dorms, beeping as it goes.

My roommate is washing dishes, mostly because I usually forget to wash them and she is kind enough to take over. The steady rushing sound of water fills the apartment and mixes in with other noises.

The wind chime that a friend sent me from Malaysia hangs by the window and sings when a gust blows in. Now rock music comes in from the fields and clashes with the chime.

Sometimes I miss the quiet, the sound of birds and the wind in trees instead of between buildings. But I really like knowing that the world is alive.

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I hope everyone has a wonderful 9th Day of Ridvan. It begins at sunset today and ends at sunset tomorrow. I have no live plants at my apartment, so I had to make do.

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Even after living in the Chicago area for nearly 13 years, after guiding at the House of Worship since I was 8 years old, after spending hours there for Holy Days, events, or just hanging out with my friends and family, I think I don’t appreciate this building enough. It is not only the physical shell, but the spiritual signficance. I can’t wait to see everything when they are done with the restoration.

This weekend was National Convention…good times. I’m a bit sleep deprived, but thats how it goes.

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Sign
It is a sign from the Divine, he said
A mysterious smile at the corner of his mouth
Something falling randomly
Taking hold and taking shape
Twisted gently and broken down
Something given from the hand of fate
Built up slowly from nothing
Or perhaps the first spark was there
When a smile was given and, unaware
Both souls knew, though far away
That this was something to pursue
So often we hide from truths we see
But here, the truth was in front of me
Not so close that I had to
Close my eyes to find it
Not so far to make me deny it
I am here now to stay
Simply because of that end-summer day

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I looked into my (now empty) fridge, and realized that I had to cook this chicken breast. I decided to make something up. It turned out pretty well, I think!

Soy Sauce & Peanut Butter
Garlic, chopped finely
salt
pepper
1 tablespoon butter
a pinch of basil
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1/8 cup soy sauce
4 tablespoons peanut butter (the smooth kind)
Sugar snap pea pods or something similar (1 small pkg)

make some rice to put it over.

In a small saucepan, melt butter. Saute garlic, then pour in soy sauce and peanut butter (you can heat the peanut butter a bit before in the microwave to make it easier to mix). Mix until blended on low, then pour in lemon juice. Stir, take off the heat immediately.

In a small pot, boil water, put pea pods in. Cook for 5 minutes, no more. Make sure they don’t get overcooked and soggy. Drain.

In a large pan, pour some vegetable oil, heat on medium. Put chicken slices in, cook for a few minutes. Pour sauce in, mix. Add 1 cup water, stir. Put top on, checking every few minutes and stir to mix everything together. Be careful that the peanut butter doesn’t burn. When the chicken is nearly done, put the pea pods in and cook on low for 10 minutes.

Eat over rice!

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A piece of advice: never start a paper 4 days before it is due. Especially when it is 12-15 pages long. hmph.

To take a break from pulling out my hair over how to compare 3 target companies when I’ve only been able to interview 2 of them, I played with some photo effects. Whee!

(me on the left, Carmen on the right)

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I love when the wind comes from the north, bringing with it the sweet smell of chocolate. There is a chocolate factory just a few miles north of the University, and when the wind is just right I can catch a whiff of it as I walk down the street.

yum.

When I cut open my left index finger years ago, my parents went and bought me chocolate. The one I remember best was the Toblerone bar they handed me…my finger was in stitches and a splint, but man, did that chocolate taste good!

A note for the unaware: Baha’i Distribution. Oh yes, you can buy Baha’i books online in the USA now!

(at a diner after Feast…)

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Today as I walked to the CCC (the union), there was a protest in full swing. On one side were the pro-lifers (Honk Once for Life), and on the other were the pro-choice folks (Honk Twice for Choice). I was on the phone, and had to not only dodge buses, cars, and other pedestrians like I normally do, but also the protestors with their signs. The cops looked bored and so did some of the protestors. I wish I had my camera.

The conference this weekend was a huge success. I want to thank EVERYONE who helped, and especially the other members of the Chicago Baha’i Youth Desk.

(poster design by Andrew. awesome, huh?)

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