My Favorite Smells

What a beautiful night, walked out of Facets movie theater on Fullerton. 62 degrees, street crowded with cars, taxis, and j-walking pedestrians. The colors glimmering on the freshly wet asphalt. The smell of a misty spring evening rain. One of my favorite smells.

Here is a list of my other favorite smells: freshly lit cigarette, stale beer in a tavern, hiacynth, the Lincoln Park Conservatory, my son's soft cheeks, coffee roasting from a factory on Elston and Webster, Big Red gum, Cool Water perfume for Women, a newly published book, new carpet, newly painted room, cilantro, dentist's office (cloves), leather, moth balls, wintermint, gasoline, Murphy's Oil, pine trees, pipe smoke.

Best shots of the Trump Tower

New buildings are changing the skyline everyday. The Aqua, The Legacy, 300 N. Lasalle, One Museum Place, and the Trump Tower have changed the skyline forever. The Trump Tower is practically done and it's spire and it's top are tastefully done, the best parts of the tower. I do have a love hate relationship with the tower.
Worst shots of the tower: from the river, Navy Pier, the Kennedy. Best shots of the tower: along the Dan Ryan,heading north from Sox Park, when the road curves west; looking south on Rush street, standing on the platform of the El at Randolph and Wabash.

Best Shot of Chicago

Yesterday I went to the History Fair with my students. After, I turned off 31st street onto some street that is parrallel to the Dan Ryan Expressway and the railroad tracks, trying to get on I-94. I got the best perspective of the Trump Tower (which I hate), in fact taking this road north and getting onto the Dan Ryan,I got the best shot of the skyline,period. The south view of the skyline where the Dan Ryan turns left provides the most nuanced view of the buildings and their interplay with each other than any other perspective I've come across. No picture though, you have to check it out yourself.

32 years old

I know a person that was overweight and went to meet a personal trainer, after much analysis they determined that although he was 28 years old, he had the body of a 38 year old. Over the course of a year and a half, although 30 years old, he had gotten his body to that of a 24 year old. In the past two years I have done the same, lost wieght I mean, but I'm pretty sure I have the body of a 32 year old, because in fact I am 32 years old today, it's my birthday.
I am beginning to notice aches and pains, and a faint wrinkles on my brow and corners of my eyes. I am also noticing that I am sounding and thinking more like an old codger. I am constantly trying to instruct my kid and others about the right way of doing things, I dont want kids on my lawn, I dont like them playing football on the street because they might hit my car, and I complain if the nieghbors if their too loud.
I'll tell you this, I have no idea what these next few years have to hold. I never imaginged life past 25 years old, so I kinda have been on auto pilot. I have a baby girl on the way. I don't have any dreams for myself, my family. Kinda sad. Its time to dream again.