So, here I am. I’m just about heading to bed, but I missed blogging over here all weekend. I don’t know that I had anything earth-shattering to say, but whatever. It would have been nice to say it.
I’m in my traveling day funk. I imagine it will be better tomorrow. I’m going to see an old friend I haven’t seen in years. That will be nice. The Butcher let me borrow his camera, too, so I’ll try to remember to take some pictures.
My hotel looks out over Grant Park, supposedly. It’s right across the street, but I have to lay my head up against the window and look out, because my window overlooks 11th Street.
Ah well. I do have a pretty cool old building to look at.
I’ve just been thinking about how I want to spend my upcoming uteseta. I talked to Mack and he’s going to let me come up there and sit out on his farm, which is really kind of him. But that’s where my mind is–get through all this so I can do that. I don’t mean that I won’t enjoy seeing friends; I will. But I’ve just been thinking about what I will bring and how I will set up and wondering what it will be like and putting my heart there.
I guess it’s the other stuff. The unbloggable stuff that’s become more difficult.
I just don’t want a repeat of Jacksonville.
That was really hard on me.
I guess that was obvious.
Tiny Cat Pants 
I don’t know what happened in Jacksonville, but I can say that I understand that helpless feeling that goes along with feeling out of sorts.
I hope your week in Chicago goes well and that your time at the cabin heals your soul and moves you forward to a place where you want to be.
Around here, we have been doing a lot talking about how Monday-Thursday is the last hump to get over or through (though we’d prefer over) before we get to where we want to be (the actual doing of the marriage and the wedding and not the planning – planning is fun but it ain’t no doing)so there has been a lot of “hang in there”, “be tough”, “everything’s going to be fine”, and “we’re almost there” so I can hear that same kind of thing in you wanting to get through the travel and avoid a Jacksonville. I will be sending many strongly worded thoughts (and I’ll ask the Mathlete to do so too) that you get through what you need to get through, there will be some fun and good things on the way, and that the uteseta on the farm (how awesome – yay Mack) is everything you need and want it to be.
You are part of all that we can’t wait to get here, even the Mathlete even though you’ve only met each other for a few minutes. I think I’ve told him the story about our Nashville to Memphis round trip that summer and the night we met enough that I think he feels like he was there for both of them. Of course, give us a call if you need anything or even if you don’t. We aren’t exactly local, but we are a local toll call instead of actual long distance, so that’s got to count for something.
Have fun seeing your old friend today – another old friend and a new friend are psyched to see you on Friday!
I love Chicago. The Art Institute gives me chills (good ones) because of the wonder inside the halls.
On another note..I give, what’s a uteseta? I know I’m going to feel like a dork for not knowing this but my curiousity has overcome my fear of not appearing like I know what the hell I’m talking about.
You can think of the coming week as events that will whet your appetite for, and increase your appreciation of, the uteseta. I don’t mean in an “all the doings are about me” way, but in an “as I participate in these good things they prepare me for what I’m looking forward to” kind of way. Or, alternatively, you could be having a week of utter frivolity before you get serious with yourself. But either way, don’t just endure it — enjoy it.
I don’t know what a uteseta is either, and I’m too lazy to look it up.
But you get to see Millenium Park! I don’t think the face fountains are probably on yet, but there is much more to see, and t’s absolutely amazing. I hope you have a nice week!
P.S. to the SuperG: What happened to your website? Some person named Rimon is there now and talking about home improvement topics.
Thank you John & Peggasus, I wanted to ask what a uteseta was, but I was embarrassed to ask…
B, glad to know you’ll get a retreat. I’m looking forward to one in the near future, as well. Perhaps Mack can read you poetry and play you some Steely Dan during your uteseta. ;)
Think a cross between a spiritual retreat and a vision quest in which one seeks guidance and knowledge from one’s ancestors. A multi-night solo engagement in ritual introspection that cleanses one’s spirit and reconnects the devotee to spiritual power.
It’s a Norse thang.
Bridgett, I totally should have had you explain it to Mack. He was all “You want to come to my house and get naked? What?” I still feel like I did a crappy job explaining it to him. But at least I think he understands now that I don’t want to frolic in his fields naked.
I’m excited. I’ve never done it outside, just because doing it outside in town has a host of drawbacks, and so I’m curious to see if it’s different.