The Good, The Bad, and the Orange Paper

A “transition”, Google tells me in one definition is, “the process or a period of changing from one state or condition to another” and some synonyms are, “change, passage, move, transformation, conversion, metamorphosis, segue, shift, leap, progression, flux, etc.” These are all very true and I feel as though that word completely encapsulates the experience that this move to Chicago is, one big, ol’ transition. Well, Google, I have a couple of words that I would add; homesickness, hope, joy, struggle, opportunity, excitement, emotional and FaceTime. I know that that last one is a bit of a stretch, but when you are making up your own definition, I feel like certain liberties can be taken. Thank goodness for FaceTime, the “up the nose view” and all.

The animals are going through a bit of an emotional roller coaster as well. One second, they could be lying next to one another (not too close, but calmly) and then the next, Nuit's hunting instincts come out and poor Layla gets swatted. I have to say, I was documenting this hoping for a very different result that ended with them sharing the animal bed, but clearly, we're not there yet. Following this photo I put Nuit in a separate room for a break, because yes, I sometimes get confused that these animals are not children, and then no sooner had I closed the door, Layla was lying right outside of it. She clearly bounces back quickly. Also, she still has both of her eyes for those of you cringing while looking at this, because I know I was when it happened.

If you weren't cringing yet, maybe this will get you, actually it probably did for me more than you, but let's just pretend so this transition (because Google told me there is more than one kind) makes sense. Ok, so the story behind this lovely piece of orange paper is this...we were on the hunt for a house plant to live in this big planter that Scott owns. Let me just quickly segue by saying that I owed him this plant as an apology for having a minor over reaction to the fact that we were taking the planter with us, because I apparently didn't think it was going to fit in the moving truck, or something like that. I know, the stress of moving made me a very rational person. Needless to say, we were up in the north end of Chicago at this adorable little plant store called, Sprout Home. For anyone that loves plants of all shapes and sizes, this is the place for you. It has everything from the most trendy terrariums to the timeless hanging planters. I was instantly in love. After a lot of searching, and a few succulents later, we found a sturdy, leafy ficus that seemed perfect. The lovely people there (because an adorable plant store wouldn't be adorable without friendly plant people) helped us gather our goodies and we walked back out to the car. This is where you may start to cringe. After loading up the plants, I noticed this big, nasty orange paper staring at me from the other side of the windshield. I thought that I had done a great job finding a nice, shady spot, but apparently this very perfect spot was on a "residents only" street. Rats. Another lesson learned in city living, this time the hard way, always check for signs. I guess there has to be a first time for everything. I will add, that this came just days after a quick celebratory mention to Scott that we hadn't gotten one yet. What was I thinking? Don't press your luck, the ticket gods will hear you feeling smug and make sure to change that fast. Lesson learned.

No transition needed here, because check out that model train! After a week of resume writing, I needed a break from the walls of our apartment, while I biasly feel they are the most adorable around, I was beginning to get a bit stir crazy. Through my job searching, I had seen a few positions open at The Museum of Science and Industry. I decided it wouldn't make any sense applying before going, so I filled up my water bottle (the first tip for any museum trip, bring your own water) and walked, yup, because it is right down the street, to the museum. After recovering from the awe of the exterior of the building, I navigated my through to the ticket line. I had bought my tickets online and wasn't sure where to go, so I figured that was a good starting point. Well, it turns out that I have another museum going tip for you. Definitely buy your tickets online, because not only do you save a couple of dollars, but you don't have to wait in the ticket line at all, you get to go right in. This is probably obvious to many, but this blog is all about honesty, so I was the person waiting in line when I didn't need to, but hey, now I have saved that from happening to you. Right, back to the trains. All I can say is, wow. The whole time I was looking at them I was thinking about how my younger brother would have gone crazy (and probably still would) over this. Also, I wanted to fly home, collect all of my previous students and immediately bring them back so they could run around in awe like I was. I took so many pictures, check my soon-to-be-created Facebook album, but none of them really do the place justice. I couldn't even get the whole train display in the picture and believe me, I tried, it is just so massive. I mean, look how little those people are AND there is a plane overhead that you can walk in. There also is an entire storm exhibit with interactive stations to learn about the world and it's weather. Another exhibit was all about the human body and development and then downstairs there is an actual submarine from WWII. I could go on and on. It is a really neat place and I can't wait to return!
I actually ended up back, but outside the museum, just a couple of days later on a bike ride. In all the hustle of moving and settling, Scott and I didn't have eclipse glasses. After a failed attempt at getting them over the weekend, Scott did some more research on other places we may be able to get some. He learned that the local parks were going to be giving them away the day of. I almost said that I wasn't going to be able to get them, because I needed to be getting work done, but then realized how ridiculous I was being, how often do eclipses come around? Well, it turns out that there will be another in 2024 and it will be a complete eclipse over Vermont, so I know I will be there for that. Anyway, one of the parks is at a beach not far from here, so the plan was that I would bike, maybe jump in Lake Michigan, and see if I could get a couple pair of glasses to bring to Scott's work so that we could see the eclipse on his lunch break. Well, it turns out that is just what I was able to do. I met a nice man at 63rd Street Beach who was handing them out, cooled off in the water and then decided I would use some of the time I had until needing to meet Scott to find this garden that I had read about on Pinterest. A 6 minute, well 10 after a couple of wrong turns, bike ride later and I was looking at this very serene spot. I couldn't believe that this was in the city and not far from my house! A very selfish part of me doesn't want to tell anyone about where it is, but then I remember that I learned about it from Pinterest, so the word is already out. This idyllic little garden is in Jackson Park, directly south of The Museum of Science and Industry. It is also my new favorite place and one I will go to whenever the "very rational and emotionally stable" me is missing, I have a feeling I will be able to find her there.