(Forget) February

thank you for voting, 2/22/11
Originally uploaded by mod as hell

It IS over. Isn't it? Easily the worst month for me, personally, I've had in a long, long time (2010 overall still was worse, since this blog hasn't recovered from it yet). Not just that there's one unresolved situation that started the month off badly and gnawed at me every day (if considerably less so by the past week), but...well, other frustrating things, many of them having to do with Chicago, the kinds of stories I've wanted to talk about to get this beyond a personal blog and be respectable again.

Such as: the election! This photo is a quick shorthand for the lousy month (and my timing isn't completely bad, since 2/28 was the day of the big reveal of the identity of the @MayorEmanuel Twitter. I trust you can find plenty about it elsewhere). At least I voted...

Oh hey, it's Valentine's Day

Valentine's decorated Thrift (Salvation Army, S. Western)
Originally uploaded by katherine of chicago

At least I know I haven't posted this photo here before, since I only posted it on Flickr a few days ago (it's from 2010, hence the lack of mountains of snow). And if there's anyone reading this blog who somehow hasn't seen my "What nerds do for Valentine's Day" candy hearts image, just search that on Flickr.

I am on the verge of writing a real post again and a serious one and it'll be about Valentines and self-improvement and such, and late but I don't really care...I'm trying to be in a good enough mood to write something a bit depressing, if that makes sense (i.e., never write while crying).

Today wasn't terrible: I had some fun on the internet. I know that's not what's supposed to make me happy, but it's about all I've got right now, so...Waking up to hit 500 Twitter followers for the first time, and as promised when I reached that number, changing my icon temporarily to a mildly racy photo of myself (uh, this was timed very awkwardly for Valentine's Day). I found out someone had first tried Jeppson's Malort on a previous V-Day and coined the term "Malortiversary," to the delight of several. (My own first experience with said beverage was at a party in summer 2010.)

I had my first bike ride of a couple-miles-plus round-trip in a while, and went to a usual haunt (New Wave Coffee), fueling myself to work on the aforementioned personal piece but right then they started blasting very obnoxious (at least under circumstances of wanting relative quiet for introspection and contemplation and all) music loudly. (Also, I had their delicious breakfast sandwich for the first time--an online friend had it the first time he visited NWC, and I was sitting at the table we'd sat at, and we're not in touch much but right as I sat there he texted me about another Chicago visit. Eeerie!) Even better, I got my bike back in the garage for the first time since before the blizzard!

And then I should have gone out, but bought Berghoff and Goose Island beer at the nearby store instead, and I'm debating the other piece and writing this for now. Hoping all of you had a good Valentine's Day.

This is 2011.

buried garage, Humboldt Park
Originally uploaded by katherine of chicago

It appears every time I try to re-commit to this blog I fail more spectacularly, so I'll make no promises now. Just...hey, happy no-longer-new year! Thank you to anyone who supported me and my work in 2010. I am definitely interested in finally getting this blog to be more of a place for photoessays and travelogues than the random personal stuff and isolated photos I've been doing.

I've made progress on the computer issues, I've had some good experiences in the past few months, but right now things are very challenging, and besides the functioning computer setup I need to commit myself to getting a roommate, a job, and I guess, a therapist. (Any assistance greatly welcome, through email or social media since apparently this blog only attracts spam comments, I've been told.) There's a heavy essay delving more deeply into all this I've been afraid to write and afraid to post, but I can't avoid it forever.

But at least today, a week after the 2011 Blizzard, I got my bicycle back and working. (I walked about three miles round-trip just before and as the blizzard hit to retrieve my bicycle from a CTA station and leave it at a store to get a flat fixed.) Even a few blocks in the brutal cold was exhilarating (it'd be better if the brakes functioned better; not much room for error when the streets are full of slush.) Alas, the garage still looks essentially like this photo. You can find a small (well it is right now, because I was only able to post photos taken with the camera on my new smartphone) set on Flickr.