Dear Bridge Beat Readers,
I’m still alive. I’m still breathing. It’s been over a month so I should hop on this train to blog town. Sorry readers, for my lag in updates. I feel like I hit my funny bone on the corner of winter and trying-to-make-a-living. It’s left my typing hands numb and my thought dexterity severely lacking. Is this what people call “writer’s block”? I’ve had it before, but much like a cold, it changes its strain every year so that I can always catch it. This writer’s block cold left me in the drippy grip of thoughtlessness. But with the idea of spring on the horizon, I feel I can write again. Albeit weakly.
Here’s a quick update:
- Sir Opti and I are looking for another apartment so I can fulfill my dream of getting a dog while simultaneously fulfilling my nightmare of imagining myself living in a space that is covered in someone else’s filth. My feelings haven’t changed much about renting since our first hunt in 2008.
- Because of the search I have a new empathy for condo owners. If they can’t sell their condo but had to move out, it is incredibly difficult to rent out their unit. Condo associations, in order to discourage renters in their building, charge an exorbitant amount of “fees” to have people simply move in and move out of the unit. One condo charged an extra $600 to move in and $600 to move out in addition to a $600 moving deposit for when you move in and $600 for moving out. That’s $2,400 in addition to first month’s rent and a deposit. Sorry condo owner, your association or you is on crack if you think you’re going to get a renter in that unit. This is why, in the world of buying real estate I’m a con”don’t”. But in the city, you don’t have much of a choice. Speaking of…
- Ada still calls me on a regular basis to see if I want to move into their house so we can save “all that money you’re throwing away on rent” to buy a house of our own in the suburbs where – according to Ada- schools are better for children, life is more affordable, parking is better and Dairy Queens are abundant. (I agree with her thought on the last one. If I ever move to the suburbs where my city friends gawk and judge, I’ll simply say two words: Oreo Blizzard.)
"Little boxes on a hillside, Little boxes filled with Dairy Queen"
- I’m still doing freelance work and building a professional site for my services. More on that to come once I have it situated. But since I’m constantly battling perfectionism, it might not be up for awhile, until I think the site is perfect.
First problem: Trying to build a webpage with ideas that come from paper. So archaic.
- I just visited Austin, Texas for the first time.
This picture is relevant because the sign says "Texas" and that's me, The Bridge and I'm in "Texas".
I learned a few things:
a. I really like Austin
And I love skinny jeans. My childhood memories of nothing but slim-fit jeans still linger.
b. Music is to Austin as Improv is to Chicago
c. Chicago is a good music scene but for the reason that it’s a hosting city for great talent to come through.
d. Even though I’m taking improv classes again, I really miss singing ( in places other than my car and apartment).
- Sir Opti turned 31 yesterday. He has gray hair on his temples. It gives him a distinguised look. He had some shots of Jameson, which also gave him a distinguished look:
Shhhh, he's dreaming about updating his OS.
- I started wearing powder and blush. I’ve never worn powder and blush in the make-up ritual of my life. I’m not sure what it means. I just thought you should know that, readers. I owe you that much.
- My 30th birthday, while 5 months away still looms over me as I sit with a self-imposed renegade career path, trail blazing my way through this funny thing called life. Ten years ago I thought I’d be in really well-pressed suits with manageable but high dry cleaning bills, a condo in a high-rise and a “career” that was neatly packaged so whenever someone asked me what I did, I could push my well-wrapped career of a distinguished nature across the table of conversation. They would process the packaged idea and understand who I am, no further questions asked. But it doesn’t always work out the way.
Funny thing is, I like nice suits but I prefer to wear a combination of cotton-blended shirts with jeans, my cowboy boots and my belt-buckle.
You thought I was kidding about the belt buckle. Well Jim and I don't kid about belt buckles.
I don’t want to own a condo (for reasons previously noted). As for a career, we are more than how we make our money. But since money is so closely associated with our identities, that’s a difficult idea to unravel. It has been for me. And for other’s as well.
When it comes down to it, I just had to ask myself, The Bridge, in this time and space: what do you want?
A: To write this post…. and for you to follow me on Twitter.
It’s short-sighted I know, so stay tuned for other discoveries and stories on The Bridge Beat, where hilarity meets sincerity in an unobtrusive clarity.
I just made that up.
I’m just that good.
Thanks for reading, readers. You are my favorite.
Occasionally Yours,
The Bridge
