You are currently browsing the archives for September, 2005.
(Sufjan Stevens style)
Oh Computer, you served me well
3 dorms, 6 moves, one house
4 years
We all knew this would come someday
Your hard drive fails, your lights grow dim
the painful noise draws us in
The suffering, the suffering…
The memories of papers writ
the hallowed halls of poetry
the pictures taken in memory
Oh Computer,
what have I done?
An E-Machine,
a keyboard true,
a hard drive fails,
screen dark now
this, the sad tale.
Oh Computer, you rescued me
from lonely nights of misery
I tried my best
I tried all day
to keep you alive
to have you stay.
Burnham Plaza Theatre
826 S. Wabash Street, Chicago, IL
Status: Closed
Screens: Multiplex (5 Screen)
Architect: Robert C. Berlin
The YMCA Hotel opened in 1915, located on Wabash Street in the South Loop, designed by architect Robert C. Berlin. Eleven years later, Berlin designed an addition to the hotel, in a similar style to his original.
In 1988, the building was converted over to mixed residential and retail use, including a multiplex theater, originally operated by Cineplex Odeon. The former hotel building was renamed the Burnham Plaza around this time.
After it was closed by the Meridian chain in 2000, the Burnham Plaza Theatre was reopened by the Village Theatres chain, showing first-run features, but at bargain prices.
The Burnham Plaza closed for good in September 2005. The building is scheduled to be converted into medical offices.
Source.
This was the cheapest theater in the area, and was always empty so you never had to search for a seat. It was also very close to us, and parking was easy at night. *sigh*
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Chase Cafe
7301 N. Sheridan, Chicago IL
Status: Closed
Located in the very large lobby of a Roger’s Park apartment building, this all-ages venue offers a section for eating that serves soups, sandwiches and salads, along with espresso and coffee. Patrons lounge on couches and chairs near a fireplace, but wander into another section and you’ll find a cyber cafe/copy shop/computer lab (complete with CD duplicators and a brand spankin’ new color copier…forget Kinko’s). Make your way to the next section and you’ll find a pool table and a gift shop before entering the largest area, where you’ll find a ballroom whose stage features live music and improv theater. Expect to mingle with artsy locals and hippie types eager to sample something healthy from the juice bar.
Source.
This was my freshman year hangout. It is where I started overcoming stage fright and made some very dear friends. I loved Tuesday night open mic.
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Zorba’s Diner
Status: Being renovated
Apparently under new management and being remodeled, and is NOT closed as previously thought. At least ONE of my college hangouts is not disappearing. whew! But I wonder if it will ever be the same…
I danced around helium balloons
laughing as they brushed around me
in circles, wind-carried.
I felt the rain
on a different day
it went to my head…
oh, last night
you should have seen me.
I need to get back
to the real me
the one who laughs without
inhibition or thought
how long has it been since
you really saw me?
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I love Chicago, I really do. Thursday night:
Sunday!
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What is in the news?
School
Baha’i events
school projects
occasional work
school-related events
Thoughts of autumn, Halloween, the job search, interpersonal interaction, scarves, chocolate, roomate switches, travel, and parties invade my mind. All of the people that I know and keep in contact with, and forget to be in contact with. Whenever people ask what is new, I don’t really know what to say. Things are always happening, I’m just not sure I want to explain it all, haha!
Went to the Sufjan Stevens concert, the first show I’ve been to in at least a year, if not more. I am not sure if I have digested it completely. I had such a sense of joy and calm afterwards…the music, Sufjan’s voice, the vibe of the show itself. yeah. I think that is as far as I can go with words.
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I beseech Thee, O my Lord, by that Remembrance of Thee through which all things have been raised to life, and through which all faces have been made to shine, not to frustrate the hopes I have set on the things Thou dost possess. Cause me, then, by Thy mercy, to enter beneath Thy shadow that shadoweth all things.
Be Thou, O my Lord, my sole Desire, my Goal, mine only Hope, my constant Aim, my Habitation and my Sanctuary. Let the object of mine ardent quest be Thy most resplendent, Thine adorable, and ever-blessed Beauty. I implore Thee, O my Lord, by whatsoever is of Thee, to send, from the right hand of Thy might, that which will exalt Thy loved ones and abase Thine enemies.
No God is there beside Thee, Thou alone art my Beloved in this world and in the world which is to come. Thou alone art the Desire of all them that have recognized Thee.
Praised be God, the Lord of the worlds.
-Baha’u'llah
This is such a beautiful mask
with smiles and laughter trimming the edges
Such a delicate creation, all wrapped in
words covering things unsaid.
Wanting something to hold on to,
but masks take me back.
I’m the last to admit
even to you…
and I’ll never say
all the things I wanted to.
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Such a strange universe I find myself in, at the moment. The first hints of panic-inducing tests and learning about detachment in a very real way. Feeling as though the other things were just quizzes. Fascinating.
1:00 am is a lonely time in the world.
Maybe I need to curl up with a good book. hmm…
I went to work this morning on my bike. I work in the Loop. Those of you who have had the blessing of driving/biking in this part of town know that it can get crazy, especially at rush hour.
I could have taken the bus, but I am trying to take advantage of the fleeting warm weather, so I hopped on my bike (after fixing the chain, which had come off and tangled in the gears). There are 4.32 miles of city streets to attain my destination.
I don’t look like a touristy biker. I have my jeans rolled up, bike gloves on, and a messenger bag slung ’round my shoulder. I look tough (honestly!), and I’m perfectly willing to slam a hand down on the hood of your car if your bumper is trying to get fresh with my bike. I’ve done this at least 3 times this summer. I figure the car can take it, and my body can’t. Simple self-preservation.
For the most part, Chicago drivers respect bikers, mostly because they don’t have a choice. We’re everywhere, and you don’t want to invoke the wrath of the biker gods. 
But you’ve got those few who seem hell-bent on taking city streets at 45 miles an hour with no concern for those of us who do not have a V8 engine and metal surrounding us.
I had a bus honk vociferously at me, and at least 3 taxis protest my presence on the road. Well, I’m trying my best to stay out of the way, haha. I find it especially amusing when pedestrians get a look of terror on their faces as I zoom past. I’ve never come close to hitting a person on foot, and I’m not planning on starting now.
The best part of the day so far was going about 15 mph over the river on the bridge. On my right was the south loop with the morning fog/smog burning off, to my left the skyscrapers towering gold and silver glory. Phenomenal.
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Also, please see my recent article in One Magazine. That is all.
Everyone has their own learning styles. And it also varies by topic. For instance, when I do research on something Baha’i Faith-related, I dive in, compile everything in a Word document, and then read over later. With business, I take notes as I read and make outlines.
The last 4 years of university have taught me some important things about my learning style. I actually pay attention when the professor engages the students in conversation and talks about real-world cases. I prefer to study with other people (even if we’re studying different materials).
The interesting phenomenon at my school (and maybe this is reserved to the business majors) is that people do not study together. I’ve had very few opportunities to form study groups. It is a commuter school, and most people work part/full-time jobs, so this is all understandable, but frustrating nonetheless.
On another note, many of my management professors insist that we dress professionally for our presentations. I have no argument against it, I think it is a good idea. It is easy to tell who the business students are on campus because we’re all walking around in snazzy suits and button-down shirts. It is almost like a uniform.
Speaking of presentations, I’m going to give one in 15 minutes. We’re gonna rock that joint. um yeah. 
Hello, 22, how are you?
I’m just fine
writing a rhyme
when all I want to do is party.
I’m leaving home
but I won’t be alone
I’m going to eat something tasty!
(Forgive the horrible poetry, I just woke up and am trying to get out the door.)
I danced like a maniac last night at the conference. Today has promising things on the horizon.
I want to write now
with words that escape my last breath
before I sleep
can I speak about the rain that came
to wash away these doubts
in rivers
and bridges
flooding over each place in the world.
In one place too much
in another not enough.
I will speak about those loved safe
just a dot on the map
in geologic time
but happy nonetheless.
my heart can’t take this in
reading and seeing
is too much to believe
I live in a place with sirens
as the wind in trees
what trees?
but this is not something I know.
I will be at work tomorrow.
wanting my someday-children
to have a world to explore
if we don’t destroy it now.
