chicagodads

Say it isn’t so…

A new skate park to be opened shortly near our house was noted for vandalism by some concerned local citizens.

With no disrespect, tagging happens. At least it’s not a gang issue. Nor is it private or even business property being hit up by graffitti artists.

Here’s some history of graffitti art in Chicago.

“Just Don’t ” by garryknight via Flickr

On my other site, Left Cheek, I bi-weekly compiled a Links We Like to Link to list - somewhat as a way to clear my windows cache as a way to clear my head. Felt it was long overdue for a massive one, but since most of these were specifically Chicago and/or Dad-driven, thought this might be the most appreciative spot for this list. It’s long, so I’ll keep the verbage short.

Daley’s gift-horse isn’t to be looked at in the gift-mouth. Or, logged.

CPS coaches are put on a tight leash. (Paddling? Seriously? I knew some of these cats were OC, but I never really thought it was systemic. Maybe they should consider paying coaches like they do in the ‘burbs, though.)

ED Hirsch on validity of multiple-choice testing, but at a concentrating on so-called grade-level skills. I still don’t buy it. Too much time and effort wasted teaching kids how to fill in some bubbles. Try telling a youth how this will lead them to a well-adjusted life as an adult, and all you can say is, “Well, you won’t have to do this again.”

And the lone Republican candidate in the 5th Congressional District (the one formerly staffed by Blago, Rostenkowski, and Rahm Emanuel.), I think she takes the spewing cake of hate, revile, and disgust all for herself.

$250 million state insurance to guarantee against Chicago 2016 Olympics . Can you hear the Charlie Brown moan leave my gutterals? Arrghh!!

And finally, in the spirit of the blarney stone, kudos to this south side neighborhood for closing the St. Paddy’s Parade (mostly because of knuckleheads like this guy ) and downsizing festivities to put focus back on families, heritage and children .

I may have spoken too soon or too late.

It appears that Chicago is at the bottom of the list of the four likely hosts of the 2016 Olympics. To some, that is good news. That would mean, ostensibly, that there are no more excuses for needlessly and riskily wasting lavish swashes of limited funds on a temporary sporting event seven years removed from us. It would mean that there is no more justification for displacement of entire populations (which is just unheard of in Chicago. Right? Right?). That maybe sports inside Chicago schools can actually get some well-needed funds.

The bad news is that that bit of good news isn’t so good. Turns out that the difference between all three candidates in this poll is only three points, and that the competition is so stiff, that “first place could end up last place and last place first place.” So, in other words, there’s even more reason to ratchet up the heat in City Hall. And maybe Daley will use this as leverage to convince President Obama to help support and fund these games.

What a tangled, effing web.

* Chicago Skyline at Night - Sept 3, 2008 by –Mike– via Flickr

Chicago has been gearing up to host the Olympics for a bit now. Early next month, we are expected to be on our best behavior as the International Olympic Committee is staking out our city to see how prepared we are to smoothly take in all of these visitors and games.

So it begins.

Somehow, we’re expected to believe that the Olympics will bring in tons of revenue but not cost us anything in the long or short-run. The new Olympic Village being built out of the ashes of Reese Hospital will eventually be bought out by developers and sold as condos and taxpayers will get all of their credited money back (Of course, that was a ridiculous idea even before the housing bust, which has changed the way we plan for and pay for housing for the indefinite future).

And now monies are being diverted (as one would expect) to pay for repaving the area around Jefferson Park (the primary location of the projected games) while schools and hospitals are shutting down , there’s a long-standing (or, rather, not-standing) sinkhole (a bit unrelated, because it’s in Des Plaines, but sink holes are dangerous for our finest and our infrastructure) and the list goes on and on.

Yeah, it’s a big sinkhole. Here’s to hoping we never get the go-ahead from the IOC.

My wife’s parents picked up the babe on Thursday and were to drop her off on Sunday morning. The wife was to leave for a church leadership retreat on Friday evening and return late Saturday afternoon. I had to work a brief stint on Saturday morning. And Saturday was my birthday. So, you know what all of that led to, right? That’s right, a slew of unhealthy eating (not that I don’t eat unhealthily enough, but now all the gloves were off, so to say).

Jennie took me out on Thursday, officially beginning the weekend. I had wanted to go to nearby Hot Doug’s for a long time, but alas, they are closed by 4pm every day. However, since I had a clamoring for some American food (but not so-called comfort food like meat loaf & mac & cheese) for the last week, I opted to go to the delicious - and unfortunately unpopulated - Honey1 BBQ . Honey1 has been widely critically praised as being among the best barbeque in the city , certainly in the North Side. That night, we tried the pulled-pork. The sauce was - true to form - sweet and tangy and the meat was good. But not quite as delicious or delicate as the usual ribtips. My regret is that they may be underappreciated in a majority White and Latino neighborhood (with prices a hike up from similar, and busier, spots I’ve been to in the West Side).

On Friday, I decided to leave my work-study area and make the trek to Hot Doug’s . Since it was 2 o’clock by the time I got to the spot, I figured I missed the lunch rush. I may have, but the line was still out the door and around the block. Fridays and Saturdays, it turns out, the popular duck-fat french fries draws the rabid masses. And I could see why, after my hour + of waiting in line, the stuff was like coronary-lining crack. Oh, and the snappy taste of a Chicago-style hot dog. Oh, just one and my week-long thirst for the unmistakable yet unidentifiable was quenched. I saved most of the fries and the other dog for my wife (I foolishly thought I’d need more. I would, but not there) but I was so tempted to finish them off at home.

The wife wasn’t so thrilled with the idea of the place, though. But I did make at least one blogger-friend jealous.

Saturday evening was a retreat at home, away from people. Not a bad move for introverts.

Sunday evening was Dye family mainstay Borinquen. According to legend, the jibarito sandwich was birthed here after the proprietor read an article about a restaurant in Puerto Rico where they served sandwiches with smashed plaintains instead of bread. Smother the plaintains in butter and garlic, and slather lettuce, tomato, and cheese (basic American sliced, usually) over your meat of choice (my favorite has been the steak, but since that’s not been living up to expectation, the much juicier lechon - soft, roasted pork rolling off the sandwich - has been the go-to lately) and you’ve got yourself a sandwich ! Another critical favorite, this time shared with a small selection of fam and friends.

And, that was about it… The next day Jen & I shared ice cream cake with some friends from our church. I’m about a year now closer to a heart attack. And that’s the Chicago way to celebrate birthdays!

That’s how I recalled standing in for an in-school suspension room when I substitute taught at a school on the North Side of Chicago. A school not far from where my wife lived for a few years before she left the country. A school near where a teenager was fatally shot the other day - the 26th Chicago Public School student shot in this school year.

That’s as many students as were shot all of last school year, when citywide violence against young people was all the newspapers could talk about. The Chicago Sun-Times reports, “At this time in 2008, 19 students had been killed. In 2007, 18 were dead by March 11… The Sun-Times reported this week that 508 students had been shot from Sept. 2007 through Dec. 2008.”

This right after a student in a West Side school stabs his bully with a pair of scissors during a conflict resolution meeting.

I must admit I was wrong. The school didn’t measure up to what I’d seen as being a “bad” school. The neighborhood, compared to Humboldt Park or much of Logan Square, didn’t seem to be in dire need of a social overhaul or a bunch of Hugs for Troubled Thugs-type programs. But everybody hurts, and violence can happen anywhere: small towns in Alabama or a high school in Germany.

This is a systemic problem. It needs systemic solutions. Not just a hero, tons of them. Neighborhoods full of fathers and mothers and churches and mosques and synagogues and non-profits and teachers and administrators and counselors and cafeteria workers and accountants and line cooks and law clerks and construction workers and carpenters and butchers and candlestick makers and community activists and police all joining up to be good neighbors. We all need to be heroes. We owe it to this next generation to not abandon them in their hour of need.

Affordable housing’s become all the rage in Chicago recently. As in, some people get angry about it. They feel that since they put a lot of money down for their property under the auspices that it is an “upcoming” neighborhood, that setting aside new buildings for low-income families means that the undeserving get to steal a piece of the retail pie. Meanwhile, those who just invested a lot of money into the fledgling area are losing their investment, or so some would have them believe.

First off, just a wee bit of education: Affordable housing is not giving away space to lazy, worthless, freeloading individuals or families. Everybody who applies for affordable housing needs to have steady income. They are already contributing members of society. Second, just because they do not make as much money as some others does not mean that they should be pushed and shoved at the whim of greedy people who can afford to buy and sell houses as if they were dealing in bread.

But then the opponent of affordable housing must further be asked: What of the people who have put down family and history and community and business in this area and have invested in it for decades? What if they worked their tails off day-after-day to just be able to get by, just to pay rent or mortgage and have barely enough money left over for essentials? What happens when they are forced out of their living arrangements because the area around them is moving in such a rate that they (or their landlords) cannot afford to keep up with, say, the new taxes on their property. So, owners are forced to sell their properties or up their rents and all of a sudden, a whole slew of people are looking for housing that they can afford and that has the type of infrastructure that is needed for their families.

So, what these hard-working families are left with are a volatile cocktail of any of the following options:

• Live even closer to the edge of financial ruin by pulling money out of a safety-net (retirement savings, college savings, insurance, car, etc.)
• Pull oldest children out of school so that they can earn extra money for family.
• Move to an area where it is difficult or impossible to get to present, living-wage jobs.
• Move to an area without social, societal, and scholastic infrastructure.
• Declare bankruptcy and default on loans.
• Become homeless. Which also may happen as a result of the items listed above over time.

I’ve had the responsibility and shared in the burden of seeing many of my students, friends and their families wrestle with these realities. What’s more, any of the above puts more burden on the community and society. A homeless family is primarily concerned about getting basic needs met now, for instance. Contributing to society is not a practical option by the way, Time magazine just ran an article on how 1 out of 50 children is now homeless . That includes a more than 20% jump of Chicago Public Schools students in the last three years that are deemed homeless - with total numbers well above the national average). Bankruptcy and financial ruin means less money. Kids being pulled out of college, high school and sometimes grade school may be necessary in the short-run, but is economically disastrous in the long-haul. Also, when families are cast out of their neighborhoods to other areas, existing school buildings lose students. As they lose students, they lose finances and function (this is happening at an incredible rate here in Logan Square). Soon, the schools have to close down. In the meantime, the new neighborhoods that the families are thrown into do not have the resources to school all of the new children. So, while the one school is being torn down, new schools - and social networks - are going to have to be built in entirely different areas. Not only does this not make financial sense, it doesn’t make ecological sense.

Save the planet, support affordable housing.

And, if you live in or around Logan Square neighborhood in Chicago, come Wednesday at 6pm to Funston Elementary School (one of those schools affected, by the way) on Armitage to voice your support for affordable housing, specifically for the Zapata Apartments. See previous post for more information on this one.

There is going to be a public meeting with Alderman Rey Colon at Funston Elementary School this Wednesday to discuss the future of a group of affordable apartments for rent around West Armitage Avenue. The Zapata Apartments are to be four multi-apartment buildings (totaling 75 rental units in all) on presently vacant lots with three properties between the blocks of 3200 West - 3500 West Armitage and the fourth (still under negotiation) at the block of 3700 Cortland.

The Logan Square Neighborhood Association and Bickerdike Redevelopment Corporation have teamed up together and are working with the city to create this feasible project to keep families in the neighborhoods at a reasonable and sustainable rate for all.

Now, here’s the beauty of it: the economics. The LSNA and BRC expect to creat 87 jobs and generate $6,500,000 in income and $2,500,000 in tax revenue.. Now, of course, that’s just in the building of the homes (which, unlike a lot of other new buildings around these parts, can actually be filled.) Furthermore, these spaces would be rented out to working families making between $20,000 to 44,000 a year, so there are many other, sustainable economic benefits in raising these buildings (not to mention some environmental, etc.) that I’d like to hit on tomorrow through Wednesday.

The meeting is at 6pm at Funston Elementary School, 2010 N. Central Park.  See you there!

How do you define success in education?

The way I see it, if you leave out of a classroom (or wherever the learning is taking place) wanting to know more about what you have learned, if you desire to continue that learning throughout your lifetime, if you, in essence, become more curious about a study or area of study as a result of schooling, then your education was a success.

Just a short story, shared from the perspective of one of my best friends.  (I’ll try to do her justice, although the words are from memory, so there’s a lot of meshing around in my head.)

I hated history; didn’t understand it. Never really knew much about history until recently. I went to Catholic school growing up - at first. And whenever time came for us to study history, they would have us reading outloud from the textbook. Each student would sit there, terrified and waiting for their turn. And then we would read our little passage, and then the next person would read. That was our education. He would give us a short quiz at the end of the class to make sure we were listening, and then that’s it. So I hated school and really hated history.

I wanted to get out and go to a public school. My parents were raised up having to go to public school and they wanted the best for us, so they tried really hard and sacrificed to get us into the private school, but it wasn’t working for me. I begged and begged and begged my parents to take me out, but they were sure it was good for me. Then I just started dropping grades; I guess I was so frustrated that my grades suffered dramatically. So then they pulled me out.

Even after she went off to public schools and university, she was so tainted by her experience in history that she never really studied it. It is only now that she is showing a general (albeit deep and wide) respect and admiration for the study.

Now, I understand that there are many success stories in the realm of private education, but I drag out this story to illustrate my point, I utterly believe that we should continue to look for the best options for our children (and for the larger world in which they inhabit) and I think that to assume that one way is naturally better than another is toxic.

What are your thoughts, impressions? And further, how would you define a successful education?

Sounds fascinating, eh?

And then you consider that this being Chicago, not so cool. Our political system is in complete disarray, so no politicians can be trusted. We do not have the space to create a real Olympic Village, so an entire neighborhood will be displaced. To be replaced with a $1 billion temporary housing village and temporary stadiums. The village, they tell us, will be bought out by an as yet unnamed (because no one wants to commit to it) developer who will convert it to condos, etc. And the temporary stadiums? Well, good thing that they’re only temporary because we don’t have enough green space as it is.

Did I mention that this plan is hinged on displacing an entire neighborhood? I guess that’s not such a big deal to the proponents of the plan because it’s only a black neighborhood anyway, so why should it bother us, right?

Great article at the Chicago Reader.  Tell all your friends and peeps.

Oh, and don’t forget the $10.5 million to be spent on a mascot. Can’t wait to see what loopy/sexually-frustrated creature will arise as a result of this!

Energy, health care, education. There’s a lot to be said as a parent about any of these main points of the president’s speech last night. But, since we’re on the topic of education right now and since I wanted to hit this point anyway, I noticed that under Obama’s talk of education reform, he hinted at “expand(ing) our commitment to charter schools.” I was not aware that the federal government has a commitment to charter schools in the first place, but with former Chicago Public Schools chief Arne Duncan now in charge of the Department of Education (and a $100 million bonus), I guess that shouldn’t surprise me.

This is an observation I have from talking to many parents and interested parties in Chicago: the assumption is that a charter school is necessarily a good or bad thing. Now, for proponents of public education, because of the way that charter schools are set up, they may be a bit dangerous, and certainly a threat to funding. But, if the districts and the nation were as dedicated to quality education for all as they like us to think that they are, it shouldn’t be a problem. For the time-being though, I’m going to concentrate on shorter-term issues rather than meta- and structural issues.

A charter school is primarily a different way of governing school. A group will come to a school district and say that they want to run a school (or a few). This group may anywhere down the line from a for-profit company interested in education to a rag-tag group of dissatisfied educators (I know of one such in a south-side neighborhood). Often this group has a driving philosophy and several ideas of how to practice schooling that are different than how they see the district performs and views schooling. The views could be anywhere as distinct as a sense of maintaining ethnic pride (much how the Catholic schools started in the 19th C.), to a return to a strict adherence to ‘classic’ education, to specialized mini-schools based on professional options, to running a 4-12 grade college-prep school (under the notion that a 9-12 grade prep school leaves too much time to gap in certain schooling areas). The district allows these associations to run a school  (usually a “failing” school or vacant campus) with public money under that group’s charter (including budget, philosophy, rules, etc.) of how they will run the school.

Now, because of the way budgets are set up in most school districts - especially Chicago’s - each school gets a certain amount of funding related to how many students they bring in on a typical day. So if another school opens up across the way from yours and then you are forced to compete with that other school, but your hands are tied behind your back as to how you may compete (as most brand-new schools now secure grants to get them brand-new equipment and as charter schools pay their teachers less so that they can spend more on equipment), well, guess who may win in the short-run?

That is the essence of what a charter school is. And, as you can probably guess, the concept of charter schools is only as good as each local charter school is. A charter school for a charter’s school sake is not necessarily a good thing, and in fact, can be dangerous. At the very least, with our child(ren), we will take the issue of whether to send her/them to a charter or non-charter school on a case-by-case basis.

I was raised in the city. I wish I could say that I always felt home here, but that isn’t true. I wanted to live in the ‘burbs during my teen years. I wish I could say that it was always easy living in the city, but that wouldn’t be true either. I also wish that I could tell you and certainly my daughter that I have always felt safe here, but I’d be lying through my locks.

My brothers and I grew up and habituated in some dangerous neighborhoods (understood of in terms of plenty of poverty, gangs, drug-dealing, homelessness, etc.), but I’ve been fortunate enough to not really have to face much personal violence. Been the victim of a string of burglaries during my teens, never really had to deal with gangs (perhaps it was the whole geekery and/or the church-boy thingy, but they just left me alone), got mugged once (considering the places I’ve been and the hours I’ve been down them, it seems to me that the odds are better getting struck by lightning), a couple attempted and bungled pick-pockets (though I did become the victim of poaching once, it wasn’t in Chicago).

All to say, I turned out all right. But, I understand that not everybody feels as nonchalant about being near such circumstances, especially when it’s your kids on the line.

But I also know a little about the— shall we call it, seedy underbelly of growing up in gated communities. The drugs might be sold, for example, in the inner city, but that isn’t necessarily their end destination. Then there’s the suicide rate, and this general (but perhaps unquantifiable) feeling of angst, meaninglessness, and boredom that young ones feel - which is why so many of them move to the Big City at first chance, only to return to the ‘burbs (or extend the suburbs into exurbia) once they have children.

Which finally brings us to our point (I so don’t like to beat around the bush…): one of the primary decisions on where a child attends school literally centers on the location of the household. Many of those who can afford to relocate so that their children can attend the best schools do so. Even those that I know that could not afford to pack up and move packed up and sent their child to a relative who lived in a preferable district or neighborhood.

“Let’s Go To Work Boys” by Senor Codo via Flickr.

The reasons for moving are myriad: the cost of raising a family in the city is prohibitive for some (as I imagine it would be in New York, or if one was looking to own in Chicago, especially in a nicer neighborhood); others have carefully gauged all factors (I know a father that got out a very intricate spreadsheet and mathematically mapped it all out); some are worried about their children not fitting in a particular location (where there are few others like them, or too many like them); perceived or real notions of superiority of education based on empirical, intangible or imagined factors (I have some friends that I love dearly leave the city under the notion that any public school in any suburban zone is preferable to any public school in Chicago. I tried to convince them of the foolishness of that decision, and that was before I became a teacher/advocate. I am even more convinced now that they were wrong); cultural issues (for us, this is a paramount reason to stay in the city. We want our daughter to be able to understand that the world is filled with people who do not necessarily look or act like us, and that that is both a good thing to know and a good tool to have); and, finally, to be honest, safety issues.

But I’d like to know what you think: Have you chosen a route, did you regret it, will you choose, have you given it much thought, etc, etc.?

1) New Wave Cafe. It’s big for a brand new coffeeshop, first off. My wife and I were comparing it to two other coffee institutions (well, at least in this ChicagoDad’s world) Letizia’s Natural Bakery and Cafe (one of the first in Ukranian Village and my normal home away from home when I lived, worked and worshiped there) and Starbucks (previous to this opening, one of the only spots open for coffee - if you include Dunkin’ Donuts - in Logan Square). When I say that it’s big , I mean compared to, say Letizia’s which literally started as a take-out spot and then gradually upped itself until it used two spaces plus the outdoor cafe (in the spring to late fall) to accomodate its patrons there for the deelish natural baked yummies (fresh muffins were to die for! and totally worth the 2 bucks). Later, it morphed into a wine eatery, but, oh well. They still served Intelligentsia Coffee (some of our finest roast here in Chicago) and wonderful paninis, pizza blocks and cranberry cookies. But I think the difference in this regard is that Logan Square has long been ready for a cafe to act as a sort of cultural center. Add the new wave (read: 80s) kitsch , the not-too-loud music, the nice staff, the fine Metropolis roast (so much of a relief after Starbuck’s bitter roast. I’ve had two cups so far of their coffee and not once had the urge to spit it out), and the fact that there’s plenty of open space to chit-chat or work/study, I think this may be my new spot. Did I mention I had a blondie with bacon in it? WOW! Nice, huh? [Edit: So, apparently, some friends and readers informed me that 1) bacon is interspersed in various baked goods at New Wave and the menu changes constantly and 2) bacon in baked goods is become quite the vogue fashion - and therefore unfashionable - throughout Culinary World.]

The downside is that although it’s fairly close, it’s not that close.  It’s about a mile away, though if I need to, the bus and train are both kiddy-corner and a direct stop in front of my place.

2) The other spot we’ve been to recently (for a kind of neighborhood association mixer) is a nueva Mexicana BYOB called La Estrella Negra . As you can probably tell from its name (the Black Star ), it’s got kind of a quirky, dark theme - actually a Dia de la Muerte theme all over the place. The decor (including paintings displayed prominently not just on the walls but also the tabletops) is whimsically self-decorated by the multi-talented owner (who also plays in a band that sometimes performs there, apparently) and friends.

I thought the food was a bit pricey and the service a bit slow, but the La 25 tacos de pollo we ended up leaving with (we could only stay shortly as it was cutting into the baby’s sleep time) were quite delicious and featured - of course - bacon strips. Not sure that paying 10 bucks for three tacos is desirable (especially if you wait almost an hour for them), but I think the place has some promise as an ocassional spot. Especially if they find intriguing things to do with bacon.

Hey all. Sorry I haven’t been blogging recently. I like to think that we actually got some momentum going and then…  POOF! up I go.

But the truth is I got sick, the baby got sick, and my computer is down again. So regular blogging became less of a responsibility and sleep became more of a responsibility. I like sleep (and I think I need more and more of it), so I’m not going to disagree.

For the near future, I would love to do a series on schooling. In Chicago especially, we are inundated with questions - almost daily it seems - of whether we should send our kids to a local public school, magnet school, charter school, private school, or go out to the suburbs or home school. I see why one would prefer one option over another, but I sometimes wonder if we don’t closely investigate if one general option (say, suburban schools) is always better than an alternative option (say, city schools) when research and experience tells me that a) is never always better than b). And there’s a bunch of other questions that I’m just starting to wrestle with as a young parent. But that’s for a later time. I would love some feedback on that.

Shortly, however, I want to talk about a couple new spots I’ve had the opportunity to visit this last week in my own little neighborhood, and where bacon was a feature (at least in my experience).

Until then, I got some cleanin’ and daddyin’ to do.

So, apparently, I may have spoken too soon. It seems that Rolan Burris did talk to Blagojevich (or, in this case, his proxy, also named Blagojevich, Rob Blagojevich. Try saying that Happy-Potted-Hippopotamus line eight times fast.) about financial aid before accepting the Senate appointment . Talks of Burris doing fund-raising for the then-governor broke down because of gathering heat, apparently. And now the Illinois legislature seems to actually be in a silent tizzy about this all.

And I could see why they’d want to keep their mouths shut. It is embarrassing to the entire state and it could lead to further investigations, as long as the spotlight’s on Illinois (and not just Chicago this time). Let’s hope that this cheap sweater gets unraveled.

I pray that you are enjoying your Valentines Day the way it was meant to be enjoyed - at a White Castle .

Apparently, it’s a regular, annual thing at some locations. Yes. Yumm.

If you made the reservations in time (and there may be time out in the West Coast - but I doubt that they have what you crave out there) you get a preferred table (complete with a candle and tablecloth) and a staff member to wait on you like at a real restaurant!

And, the slider is referred to as a Greeseball Royale…

Shortly after I woke up yesterday my wife told me about an opportunity to meet up with a few of the other mothers and from our church and their little ones at the zoo.* The feisty weather reached a peak somewhere in the 60’s I believe. It was pretty windy, but miraculously, Jocelyn’s hair was pretty relaxed throughout. Wish mine was that cool and forgiving. I mean, after all, she uses my conditioner.

I like Lincoln Park Zoo. It’s been a while since I’ve gone, so everything seems so much smaller. Not that I’ve gotten taller - I don’t think - but it may have been a dozen years and a hundred pounds ago. There is much to remember and enjoy about our innumerable trips to the bayside and free zoo. It’s no San Diego Zoo nor even Brookfield Zoo, but it has its little cozy glories, such as the rental paddleboats. And, did I mention that it’s free. As in, absolutely free. And the fact that it’s fairly accessible by public transit. Personally, Joss and I got there in just a few minutes by taking the Armitage Avenue bus east for a few miles. This bus doesn’t run all night (although I believe and am happy to report that it seems that they’re finally extending the hours. It used to shut down at very unpredictable times around 6 or 7pm), but then again, neither does the zoo.

.

I was very glad that we got to go and meet up with the other families. Kind of bummed that I didn’t think earlier to take more pictures. Amused (and a bit worn-out from the chasing) that she was way more into the tons of other kids than into any silly cockatoo or wild African dogs, oftentimes leaving her own pack to hang and run around with other strangers.

*This was actually the first of our two very impromptu trips yesterday. Both times it almost came as a shock that my job is primarily taking care of Jocelyn now. Not that they should apologize, but maybe they should read this blog . Also, there was another article I read yesterday that ties into that. We should get into it tomorrow.

I missed this one. It’s not particularly potent or insightful, but it’s funny and a little bit removed, safe.

The great meltdown is slightly fascinating, if that makes any sense. I got to observe it first hand while trying to navigate Joss’s stroller down Milwaukee Ave (and in front of quite a few vacant lots, but more on that later). The streets, certainly the main streets have already been plowed through, have abundant problems there - meteorite-sized cracked concrete and asphalt holes as a result of the heavy snow and even heavier plowing. But we were mostly staying on the sidewalks. And not that everything is faulty, (for instance, we had a lot of snow build-up and most days were well below freezing, so there is bound to be plenty of running and even still water), but some thoughts did occur to me during our jaunt.

1. It’s dirty out there. A lot of it unintentional pollution, dirt from tires and exhaust trapped in the snow. Maybe there is little to be done about that. But there was also a lot of litter, cig butts, bottles, wrappers, a bunch of crude, nasty stuff everywhere. People, please, who cleans up your crap? Nobody! Your mamas don’t live outside. I would add that down my stretch of Milwaukee (Particularly from Western/Armitage to California), we are lacking in public waste cans (which are normally provided for by the local Chamber of Commerce or other concerned local businesses), but even still. I can’t recall the amount of times I’ve seen people litter within feet, inches even, of a perfectly usable trashcan. At the very least, have some pride in your city and yourself. Even more so, think of the misquitos attracted to the still water caused by drain blockage.
2. Speaking of local businesses…  A lot of the property is being run-down. For whatever reason that is/may be (and I know that not all of it is tied to the current problems with the economy, but rather a wanting to see things redeveloped in a different fashion), people still own the property. People who own the property, even when they are making no money currently off of the property are still in charge of taking care of the property and its surroundings. Which means, shovel the sidewalks! Many of us are aware of the ridiculous laws in Chicago concerning sidewalk care*, but you still have a civic duty to take care of your own image and prospective clients, don’t you? Not to mention the community for which you are a part of, even if just tangentially? There were about three times during our trip that we had to share the street with cars and other pedestrians because we couldn’t navigate on the sidewalk - there was too much ice left over. And, that goes for you too, Logan Boulevard property owners. If your house or property is worth several hundreds of thousands (if not millions) of dollars, then why can’t you pay some kid or homeless person $5-10 once a week or so to shovel out your walkway? Consider it your own economic stimulus package. Thank you for your patriotism.
3. Enjoy the day. It’s a lovely day of grace.

* Apparently, if someone falls in front of your property as a result of inclement weather (ice, say) and you did some work on it since the last snowfall (shovel and/or salt), then you are liable. If they fall and you personally left it untouched, you are not liable. I know: Stupid, stupid, stupid!

But it was sufficiently warm for a muffin trip and an outing to the library.

The ladies at the Dunkin Donuts were so smitten with her that they offered her a couple munchkins. Such is the hard life of a little princess…

Pic courtesy Shoddy Camphone.