Will I ever get bored in Chicago?

This last week and a half has been absolutely fabulous in Chicago! This is a great time of year in the city as there are several fun and exciting things to do as summer closes and fall is ushered in once again. Last weekend I participated in a walk for HIV/AIDS that I had learned about through an HIV/AIDS family camp I volunteered at during the summer. It was a lot of fun and a great way to reconnect with some of my counselor friends while raising awareness about the AIDS pandemic. Last weekend I also explored Greek town for dinner, checked out the Celtic festival in Grant Park (yay for kilts), and joined a group of fellow CS-ers for a night of poetry at the Green Mill Lounge. I would definitely suggest the Green Mill Lounge to anyone. It is one of Al Capone’s old speakeasies, a comfortable (albeit slightly dusty) joint with the greatest poetry jamming I’ve ever been exposed to (actually, it was my first ever poetry jam… but I will return).

Activity at my internship continues to be going strong. St. Sabina/Catholic Charities is a hopping place and I am enjoying interacting with clients. This week I have been focusing more on “Befriend-a-Family,” my leading project of the semester. “Befriend-a-Family” is a program that pairs families we serve with families of St. Sabina’s sister church, Our Lady of Perpetual Help, on the north side. The benefactors will assist our clients for the holidays of Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter, and I get to be a part of it! Currently I am working hard to compile a list of possible candidates for the program and scheduling days when they can come in to fill out all of the appropriate paperwork. It is not without its frustrations but I know it will be a rewarding experience after it gets a little more underway.

With this weekend came some more CTA drama. “They” (whoever they are) shut down the red line for the entire weekend! They can’t block the main artery of the city! How would they feel if their life supply was severed?! This was very traumatic as I am trying hard to convey. The red line construction somewhat compromised the weekend’s happenings, but there remained plenty of fun things to do. My boyfriend and I went to a “Best of” show of Second City. Not only were the tickets incredibly reasonable (thank you ‘Hot Tix’) but the show was hilarious! Saturday night also marked the event of Chicago Semester’s Progressive Dinner. Several students in the building opened up their apartments for relaxed socialization over tantalizing appetizers, delicious main dishes, or dazzling desserts. It is an official Chicago Semester event and was a great opportunity to connect with some fellow students that I do not see regularly throughout the week. Mmmmm….

Oh, I could go on and on…but alas I must retreat to the place I call sleep. Perhaps I shall dream of poetry and Christmas…