Big City Nights

I have been living in Chicago for about 15 months, but it hasn't really been *Chicago* until now. A week ago I moved into what will probably be my home for a while, barring any abrupt changes in my life.
For the past year and a few months I've been living in the suburbs of Chicago, in a little place called Glendale Heights. There were lots of people there, but it definitely wasn't the city, as I've discovered in the past week.

I have been in my new house several times before I moved in, and have travelled around the area a bit since I started going to church down the street. But living here is much different, and there are several things I have noticed.

First, there is nowhere to park for extended periods of time. The times I found it most difficult is anytime after about 5 pm. If I come home late, like around 9 or 10 pm, forget finding a spot less than a block away from the house. My first night here I had to park about three blocks away and walk to the house at 3 am.

Second, the parking tickets are much more expensive than in St. Louis. Yesterday I discovered one of the city of Chicago's fine orange envelopes in my windshield wiper. $60.00 in the hole there.

Third, there are people. EVERYWHERE. I found out the hard way that there are certain times not to go to the grocery store...or anywhere for that matter. This should be fun. I don't mind large crowds...except when I am trying to get somewhere or spend time doing anything. Take more than 5 seconds picking out a carton of milk...you're done for.

*Sigh* At least my roommate works at Starbucks and I can get free coffee. That's not the only reason I like him though.

I am still unemployed, but being unemployed has offered me other opportunities, like building bunk beds, building shelves, cleaning EVERYTHING, breaking up concrete, digging holes, driving people around, and buying dressers at Salvation Army (and strapping said dressers down in the back of a pickup truck while being bombarded by hail and wind).

As for my other projects, I have not yet had a chance to do any work on my car. Currently I am looking for a cheap car to be my "experimental vehicle." Not sure where I will keep it, but that is what I have planned.

Keep an eye out for one of my photo/video entries. If I can find a camera, I will be taking pictures and/or video of me doing some maintenance on my car. I am overdue for an oil change, and while doing that I am probably going to be changing the transmission filter and pan gasket, and at some point will be doing a front and rear brake job.