Seasons Change

Never fails right? When the seasons change, (well at least for those of us that have a distinct four seasons) we all tend to get that weird feeling. Change is on the horizon. I'm unable to describe it. And events in our lives unfold and create new paths and we look back to past years and reflect. I'm convinced of the mind-body connection and what thoughts you harvest have, in some way-shape-or-form, an impact on your reality and the outcome of your life. Quantum physics and Buddhism and other schools of thought support such theories. Face it people, the mind is a very powerful thing. We don't even use but a small percentage of it. I won't get all deep down the specifics of all of that because I have before. But I feel it. I feel the change, but this time I have a feeling it's a bigger change for me. I mean, yea, duh, I'm leaving the country for three months. One could consider that a big change in and of itself. But it's more than that. And being the tried and true Capricorn female that I am....although it has gotten a LOT easier over the years to ride the wave, go with the flow, what have you, it still feels weird and I'm anxious of the outcome. I used to fear the outcome....but now, I'm anxious in a good way. Like a kid waiting for Santa to come. Eager anticipation. Impatient anticipation. I'm ready to get on with the next phase of my life. I could sit here and try to speculate what that looks like, or what I WANT it to look like, and that's important to put those thoughts out there...but that's only half the battle. The other half is being proactive and doing it. Can't wait to see what experiences I will have in C.R. Who knows, maybe I have to fulfill some life destiny in Costa Rica or just get back to calm...living in a big city is anything but calm, not that I'm complaining...chaos and confusion are good friends of mine. But calm is something I need right now. Hopefully I'll find my mentor in a field where I finally decide that's what I want to do with my life. Because I have so many ideas of what I want to do....some people don't have any clue, I have too many clues. lol. Here I go speculating again. It's what I do best. What I am sure of is my willingness and fearlessness to do the unthinkable. Be fearless. Blaze trails. I already manage to do things that most people consider outlandish. But I am willing to stop at nothing to get what I want. But first I have to decide what I want, which is the hardest part of all. Anyway...I'm feeling a bit emo today. Life's most important issues on my mind. Family, friends, love, nature, blah blah blah.

Enough seriousness already! SO, I got my ticket and the date is November 5th. I'm lame and haven't written since I got laid off. This is a repetitive cycle, me saying I'm going to write more and then not writing. I've had so many wonderful experiences this summer too! Alas, I will try harder because I'm really trying to push my goals to success and also try to at least moderate some bad habits I've got. I had a really good time this weekend with my sister and Karl and Mel n J and Vanessa and Tavo and T, someone I met through some crazy fucked up in a good way 6 degrees of separation. And Angela! ha ha. Love love love family and friends to the point it makes me sentimental. ha ha. I'll post some pics when I get the chance. And I gotta post some pics of the T.J.'s Michigan trip with the wifey. Those cats are pretty awesome too. Much luv!

Anything With Bacon

The man wanted anything with bacon for his birthday. Really, that was his response when I asked him what he wanted me to bring. He said "Anything with bacon". So I gave him what he wanted and as usual (not to sound immodest...) it was a success. Asparagus wrapped in bacon baked in the oven for 20 minutes. I'm sorry I don't have pictures to encourage salivation or grumbling stomachs. ;)

I'm watching the Mad Men series right now. It ties into my personal studies at the moment. I can't believe I came this close to entering the world of mass consumption via public relations and advertising. I'm not going to evolve into an extremist of the sort...you know, the ones that give up their life of living on the radar, those who are brave enough to completely erase government propaganda, media control of the mind, and leave the societal systems that were created over the time span of humanity...no I'm an American born and raised in the 20th/21st century. What I'm good for is being conscious of the lies we are fed on a daily basis and to basically talk about them. Because lord knows I can't give up everything I know about myself. That's an interesting statement though. If anyone is reading this and you still know me in 20 years and you remember this at all....ask me if I know myself to be the same person I was in 2009. ha ha. Anyway...Mad Men, for what it's worth, allows me to peek inside the past. I would die if I had to be a housewife in the 50's. I'm certain I would have been the single girl shacking up with the unhappily married men. And really, the whole advertising industry...what does that mean? I get it that people created this monster of consumption through this industry that was created called advertising. So how do we create a paradigm shift around media and advertising? I don't want to take down the industry. Or picket the big guys. Just asking for a paradigm shift around the industry and the public's perception. Is that too much to ask?

Calling All Language Nerds.....

Whew. That was some hiatus there. Three weeks have flown by. That's how long I've been unemployed and it feels like I haven't had the time to sit down and delve into some "Staci" projects, one of them being blogging. Needless to say it's been on my mind. A lot of things have been on my mind, which is not in the least bit unusual. All in all, having the opportunity to spend my days the way I want to spend them has been nothing short of comfort for my soul. Yesterday I spent all day at the beach with someone I have known for a long time but just recently ran into about a month ago. He and I had a pretty enjoyable 8 or so hours. (Not ALL at the beach...lol.) I forgot what the pulse of the city felt like. Riding public transportation and being amongst the strange and colorful characters of a big city, even though I live here, I kinda felt like a tourist. I used to get in my car, drive to work, work with two people, come home and hang out or talk to my people. Anyway...it was a a fun and entertaining social scenario. We took lots of notes. he he. I took some pictures. After the jump....

As for the language nerds....I am trying to find out if Sanskrit is one of the oldest languages. I know ultimately it's somewhat theory but I'm curious to know the scientific theory. What irks me is that when I do some research on google the only pages that I get from my query are those of answer.com or hubpages.com or yahooanswers....blah blah blah. Thank you but no, I don't want the uneducated opinion of a bunch of commoners (no offense, I'm a commoner as well when it comes to topics of discussion that I haven't been schooled on.) Anyway....I've been stubmling across a language called Tamil that some people are saying is the oldest language. I had never even heard of it. Ok. Unfortunately that's all I've got today. I continue to promise to beef up my blog. As in fill it with more quality and substance. Don't lose hope (blogwise) on me yet! Still working on that "structure" in my life to blog once a day, do my Spanish lessons daily, go to the gym, check some things off my list and plan my journey to Costa Rica. I'm such the procrastinator, I haven't even bought my ticket yet. Grrrrr.....Ok, I'm off to Great America!

Chilean Goodies!

In the spirit of cultural exchange, my friend Sara, whom I met because I stumbled upon her expat blog about her daily life in Santiago, Chile, sent me a package of goodies! I sent her a bunch of chocolates and stuff she missed and well, I got some really cool stuff. Tidbit of random information.....we share the same birthday. Yep, Januaary 9th. Which makes her cool right off the bat! lol. Thanks Sara! You can find her blog at http://whatsarasays.blogspot.com/


Items in the picture:

Ambrosos Gomitas (sp?) which are gummy dolphins; Merquen (spicy stuff, or the only spice); drink packet mixes which I have yet to try (update when I do); Carezza Chocolate bar; Sahne-Nusse chocolate bar; Tuaregs which I believe are coconut and chocolate; Capri chocolate bar (which I have already devoured); and in the front the beautiful beautiful jewelry that I LOVE! I'm not sure what the red ones are on the left but they are very very cool, and the bracelet in the middle is Lapis Lazuli, a Chilean stone and the silver ones are Mapuche, a Chilean indigenous group. I pray to the jewelry gods that I don't lose any! Thanks again SARA! I hope to make it to Chile in the next year!

Fancy Pants BBQ and Salsa in Humboldt Park

For your viewing pleasure. Sunday M had a "Fancy Pants BBQ" in Humboldt Park and it was QUITE lovely. It was just as it sounds. We wore dresses and the boys dressed their best and the spread of food and spirits was pretty, gourmet, fancy and honestly, reminiscent of a Vanity Fair photo shoot. You know how I love Humboldt Park and could go on and on.....but I won't this time. I've inundated you with far too many words today. I think I'll wait till tomorrow to share the Femi Kuti experience with you. Anyway.....not only did we have a BBQ BUT I ventured on down to the Puerto Rican and Cuban salsa ensemble. A group of Latin American men assemble a speaker, background music and a five piece or so salsa band EVERY day in the summertime and just jam out, drawing a decent crowd. I love that 60647 is a hispanic hood. I might "look" like the stereotypical juera, but Facebook told me I'm Latina and I believe (what do I term Facebook? It? Them?) it! ha ha ha. Anyway....yea, I'm a juera living in the hood. And I love it. Oh and after the pics and video I've posted my recipe for the most amazing potato salad I've ever had (and served at the BBQ).





G and K (?) posing for the photo shoot....ha ha.

VIDEO:


Fancy Pants Potato Salad Recipe:
SERVES 4 -6

INGREDIENTS:
* 2 cups potatoes, diced, cooked and drained
* 4 slices cooked bacon, crumbled
* 1/2 cup celery, diced
* 1/4 cup green pepper or red pepper, diced
* 1/4 cup onion, diced
* 1 tablespoon dill relish
* 2 teaspoons dill weed or dill seeds

Dressing

* 1/4 cup mayonnaise
* 1 tablespoon ketchup
* 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
* 1 tablespoon worcestershire sauce
* 1/2 teaspoon salt
* 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
* 1 teaspoon sugar

Directions

1. Cook potatoes.
2. Combine in large bowl,potatos,bacon crumbles, celery,onion,green or red
peppers, dill relish.
3. Add dillweed or dill seeds and stir well.
4. In a small bowl combine mayonnaise,ketchup,chili powder,worcheshire
sauce,salt, black pepper and sugar. Stir well.
5. Pour dressing over potatoes and stir to combine.
6. Chill 30 minutes to 1 hour before serving.

National 40 Oz. Week

Ok Ok Ok....so this is only at one restaurant in Chicago and it started on Monday. I've scolded myself twice now on the timeliness of the news and events I report on my blog. But I'm posting it anyway....to encourage the blog "triggers" (similar to the triggers that kept me in the daily "work" habit. Always remember, human beings: creatures of habit.) Oh and, well you know I'm a festive supporter and hobbyist of the occasional 40 oz. beer habit, because of what it stands for, and well, because I like beer! This is an article that was posted on www.thrillist.com/chicago

National 40oz Week
June 29-July 5 at the Fifty/50, 2047 W Division St, btw Damen and Hoyne; Wicker Park; 773.489.5050


Often by the time official recognition comes it's long overdue: it took 18 years after his tragic assassination for MLK to get a holiday, and secretaries struggled with hateful oppression for decades before Russell Stover negotiated a day of coconut-filled reparations. Finally giving the most economical of beverages its day (or week) in the sun, National 40oz Week.

Starting tonight and running seven days strong at the Fifty-50, National 40oz Week's a celebration of the 40's special place in American culture, commemorating everyone from those who've fallen in the hood to those whose taped hands helped them fall in their hoodies. Each night rocks a different $5 40oz selection (Olde English, St. Ides, Big Bear, etc) along with other malt liquor-themed discounts and tomfoolery. Some highlights:

Colt 45 'Works Every Time' Launch Party: Scoop up gratis Colt 45 merch Monday while you gorge on half-priced wings, pulled pork sandwiches, and the jalapeno/habanero "Hell Burger", which comes with a side of studying for the GMATs.

Four Courses to Freedom 40oz Dinner: On Wednesday night 25 bucks gets you four courses (stuffed mushrooms, cheese fries, fried chicken, baby back ribs w/cornbread) painstakingly paired with four different 40oz pours selected by a real live sommelier, 'cause how else would you know what to pair with the earthy, oaky notes of '09 King Cobra?

Cubs vs 40oz party: The first inning of Friday's Cubs-Brewers game will be spiced up with Jameson-spiked shots of Mickey's while the rest will feature $6 Mickey's Irish Car Bombs and a 6pm showing of Rocky, after which the Mickey's (and Mickey) will have you ready to eat lightning and crap thunder, but hopefully not until you get home.

Appropriately, they're wrapping things up Sunday with Schlitz Hangover Day, helping you rebound from exercising all your freedoms with $8 Schlitz-infused "Wobble Stopper" bloodies and half-priced biscuits and gravy w/ thick-cut maple-glazed bacon, meaning the only hateful oppression you'll struggle under is having to go into work the next day.

Let the endless Saturdays begin.........

I swear I knew damn well it was Wednesday yesterday. And the day before that was Tuesday. But all day Tuesday I was telling people in public to have a good weekend. What an asshole right? *shame* It was the same on Wednesday. Every day is becoming a Saturday ALREADY? Has it been THAT easy for me to slide right into the non-working world after being at my job for TWELVE years? Particularly since I'm known to be the structured-know-where-my-next-paycheck-is-coming-from type of person (always refer back to the erratic non-static quixotic neurotic if in doubt). I'm not all that worried about it though. Maybe because I DO know where my next paycheck is coming from. (Good ole' State of Illinois). Or maybe it's because I FINALLY recognized that change is good and when it happens it's time to just move on and continue forward and try something new. I'm thinking it's a combination of the three. Has anyone else lost their job of long time recently with the economic downturn? Switched careers as a result? What was your experience? New job? My goal in the end is to NOT return to the 9-5, M-F, office job located outside of my home. If I have to do bookkeeping 40 hours a month from home and work as a bartender three days a week for 10 hours (yes, outside of home, but not in an office 9-5 M-F) or nanny 3 days a week or pimp my cats out to a cat calendar......whatever it takes to NOT slave to the clock and live my life for me.....I'm going to try REALLY hard to find it. If anyone knows of any good professions or jobs that have worked for themselves or friends that are at home jobs....PLEASE let me know. Oh and there are several job descriptions that have caught my eye as of recently that I'm interested in pursuing or finding out more about: Search Engine Optimization and Search Engine Marketing; grant writing; social media writer; hmmmmm a few others but I can't recall them at the top of my head lying in bed at 10 a.m. BUT my dilemma lies in the fact that every job I see posted for these career paths require extensive experience. How does one gain experience in a field where everyone wants an experienced employee? What ever happened to training? How do I gain experience?

On celebrating my new found freedom, I went to see Femi Kuti yesterday at Ravinia. I'm going to post this in a separate posting. I think I'm learning my style of blogging. I think I like to keep topics separate so as not to overload the reader. What do you guys think? Is that a good idea or does it really matter?