welcome to chicago

a building on columbia's campus caught fire tuesday.  it has been abandoned for a while, but at one time it was something to be admired.  i was working across the street in the computer lab when it started.  we saw fire trucks, and we all started to smell like a campfire.  when i got off an hour later, adam and i checked it out.  the building was quite on fire, but it looked like they had it under control.  i walked on.  in the past few days, i've learned a lot about that building.  it was built by louis sullivan, if you're not familiar with mr. sullivan, perhaps you've heard of the kid that used to work for him named frank lloyd wright.  it was a steak house, too.  a good one, apparently.  but i walked by that place every day thinking, "man, homeless people are definately in there."  turns out, there was actually a crew cutting scrap metal inside with torches.  it caught fire again today, and the street it is on is now a "fall zone" because the believe it's coming down pretty soon.  this is tedious because that section of wabash contains the kfc/pizza hut, dunkin' donuts/baskin robbins, subway, harold's fried chicken,  and sushi resturant.  these are pretty much the only restaurants on our campus.  'tis a dark day.

it rains every day now.  rain may be too strong of a word.  it is wet every day.  that may be more accurate.  you don't feel drops hitting you, and you don't run from it because it's never strong; but when you get home, you're somehow soaked.  i've begun to actually wear shoes.  and sweaters.  and jackets.  and beanies.  and scarves, and sometimes gloves.  and soon enough, boots. 

the other day, kimmy and i watched the chicago marathon.  y'know, the one where the winner fell at the finish line and busted his head open?  when we saw him, he and six or seven other african men were way way way out in front of the rest of the pack.  this was the eight point six mile mark.  we were there for two hours and it was fridgid.  we were both unprepared for the cold, and we pretty much died.  we saw super heroes, mike ditka (who kinda is a super hero up here), a knight, thing #1, thing #2, a businessman, and a guy named gavin.  i yelled, "my name's gavin, too" at him.  i yelled a lot, actually.  we had a good time, and it was a reminder that i live in a huge city, and huge events happen here.

tonight, a columbia professor attended rehearsal.  at the end, she told us that she didn't have any specific criticisms for the actors.  i smiled a little smile.  then rob told me i was awesome tonight.  i smiled a little bit more.  sheldon comes next week.  taylor and marissa have decided i'm going to a theatre halloween party with them tomorrow night.  which...well...ha.  the production is coming along, and i'm ready to perform for an audience again.

i wish i updated my vox more.  but my internet sucks.  and i hate work because i'm always so busy now.  what, with the crunchgear, the homework, the learning of lines, and the actual work that i do in the lab.  and, besides, the journal is of the past.

i have tickets for wilco, and sean lennon.  i'm probably going to see madlib, peanut butter wolf, and j-rocc on saturday.

welcome to chicago, you old soul.  it's time you arrived.