Hodge Podge

Not the greatest quality photo (and I won't tell you I took it with my phone while driving) but here is part of the Chicago skyline. I have been in the windy city for about two weeks. And I understand exactly why it is called the windy city. I decided to drive to church on Sunday (20 minute walk/5 minute drive) because as I started walking I could not control my umbrella and thought I was going to pull a Mary Poppins. And I'm typically a pretty tough cookie... So just imagine that wind.

My internship is pretty cool. Tomorrow I get to attend an IEP meeting at a Chicago Public School district elementary school. The case is super sad. I'm glad that I haven't had to live with learning disabilities or mental disorders or physical impairments. I just have to keep realizing that the work I'm doing is really going to change people's lives. It's a little scattered right now because there is so much work and only 5 people to do it. The other interns for my department come on Monday. So hopefully I'll have the ropes by then.

So by some people I've been told that I live in the good part of town, by others, I've been told that I live in the bad part of town. Honestly, I don't think that my particular street is super bad. However, I did feel a little uneasy driving into the neighborhood. But you have to remember that I came from Provo, where the diversity is someone from Boise rather than Pocatello, Idaho because it's so worldly there... However today, I saw a group of 5 white guys, college aged, walking down my street. I got scared all of a sudden. What are white people doing on my street? They must be investment bankers or something, so we've got to run very far in the opposite direction. But in all seriousness, don't worry about me. I feel very safe. I smile and wave at all the people. I haven't pet the dogs yet. (That's much easier with a toddler present). I'm enjoying my little area.

A completely unrelated thought. I received the BEST compliment last week. I was hanging out with my two friends from high school just walking around the Loop. My one friend, who has been my friend for 17 years said, "Mel, you're one of a kind." I hesitated for a minute, feigning offense. And she said very seriously, "No, I genuinely mean that. You are very unique. You are the most interesting person I have ever met. I love that we can have conversations from silly things to very deep and complex things and it doesn't matter because you always bring something to the conversation. I'm never bored with you." That definitely made my day. (week, month, year, etc) When you think you're pretty quirky and you try to shy away to minimize it (and it doesn't work), someone just turns around and gives you the greatest compliment. I truly appreciate the great people in my life. I have amazing friends.

I think that some people in my new branch are realizing my quirkiness. I've made a few friends, but the branch is pretty small and still going to dwindle because UChicago gets out in 2 or 3 weeks, so people will be going home or moving on after the quarter. It did make me smile when I told someone that I went to BYU and she asked me where that was. :) The little joys in life. However, I'm already known as a "brutal" dodgeball player. Just to let everyone know, I never even won.

I'm trying to decide if I should join the a league for ultimate frisbee for the summer. It's twice a week for 10 weeks. I'm going to have to miss the last two weeks and it's $70. Also, at this point I don't really have a "buddy" to sign up with so it would be me going solo, but maybe an opportunity to meet some people in my community. Thoughts?