Sunday, 11.2.2008
i wanted to start a new blog for a year. my goal is to write at least once a week from this November until at least next November. hence, the title being 52 weeks. i am stealing the idea from a book i just checked out of the library.
yes! i said the library! i finally got my very first library card.
i accompanied my boyfriend to the Harold Washington Library this afternoon. he had to study and i had absolutely nothing else to do, so why not FINALLY get a library card? its something i've wanted to get since i moved to the city TWO YEARS ago! i can't believe the entire time i lived practically next door to the HWL and never once stepped foot inside or bothered to get the library card.
when i was little, my grandparents had Homewood library cards and so i never really needed to get one in Orland because i'd just have my grandparents get books for me. then, when my grandparents passed away, i wanted to get my own in Orland, but they have some crazy fees for those of us who live in the unincorporated Orland parts, instead of the actual Village of Orland Park. so i just never bothered. also, i could always utilize the college library before. but now that i have graduated AND have all this free time, it was about damn time to get one.
i have to say, the HWL is outstanding and massive. i had no idea there were so many floors. yes, it looks big from the outside, but inside it seems even bigger.
i checked out two books.
365 Days by Julie Doucet

it is a diary/graphic novel combined. so far i am 1/4th of the way through because i started reading it while Will was studying. i love the way she draws and makes fun of her drawings in little notes right next to them. i've been reading a lot of Jeffrey Brown's novels, and decided to find another author with the same "small press" feel. this woman lives in Montreal. Jeff Brown is from Chicago, though. i think i like him so much because he mentions things i'm already familiar with. 365 Days has immediately inspired me to start keeping a diary again, albeit weekly instead of daily, and in blog form rather than by hand with a comic feel....

the other book i got was
Dogrun by Arthur Nersessian. i've only read two other books he's written, yet often cite him as a favorite author, so i figure in order to make sure this is true, i ought to read a few more of his novels. this one seems short so i'm sure i can tackle this no problem within the three week time limit the library lets books be checked out for.
after being at the library for a good 4 hours, we walked to Graham Crackers, a comic book store so Will could pick up some comics he was looking for. then we both seemed to notice how incredibly hungry we were and decided on getting Italian food. i called Sarah (my roommate) to look up the address of a place Will's only had take out from, but she didn't answer. so then i called my dad. and it took him probably 15 min to do something it would've taken Sarah 5 min to do. and he didn't even do exactly what i asked, but i thanked him for trying. we ended up winging it and finding it. it was called Oggi Trattoria . it's in West Town on Grand Ave. and it was probably the best (fairly priced) Italian food i've had since Cupino's closed in Lemont. i paid because Will bought us dinner last night, and it ended up only being $29.
i really need a job so i can keep eating to the degree i am accustomed. i don't want to have to always budget my meals or feel bad for spending a little more for a good meal. still waiting to hear from WLS about getting that 2nd interview....