Pack light.
Ever since my admissions advisor for UI-Chicago said "hopefully that chemistry you are taking will qualify as a prereq for O-Chem" Ive been having mild panic attacks that it wont qualify and I will be screwed into taking general chem as well. Which means A-that throws off my timeline which has no space for error. And B--for real who wants to do that? Thats a solid year of a math/science. Yick!
So I went to the website for the the city colleges of Chicago since thats where Id take the class next summer if I get into the program.
And this was the description under organic:
Fundamentals of organic chemistry, orbital and structural theory, aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons, alkyl halides, structural isomerism, introduction to functional groups, nomenclature, stereochemistry, reaction mechanisms, resonance theory, spectroscopy, basic organic laboratory techniques including synthesis, purification, characterization, and analysis. Writing assignments are part of the course.
That sounds awful. Aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons?
The good news is I either need Gen Chem or consent of a chairperson. Im cute. I can get consent. Im certain.
The beginning
Last week I was driving to my Chem class up in Marin. I was crossing the Golden Gate bridge and the fog had blown out that day and it was clear and beautiful. Really when its sunny here the views cant be beat. So I was looking back at San Francisco, at Alcatraz and the Presidio and Coit Tower and I had my first "this is something I'll miss when I leave" moment. Although please note that I only think like that when I am driving OUT of San Francisco into somewhere else with more trees and less concrete. But still. Its important to document it because there are so many days I curse this city in general.
I also had another when I dropped Beckysan off on Sunday night after our run along the Great Highway and brief pop in to some Irish Bakery (with Baileys Irish Cream scones...get involved).
A few months before I was leaving Japan I started having nostalgic, why-I'll-miss-Japania moments and now looking back, I do remember the bad but I remember it all fondly. So Im hoping this is a positive step and that my last 9 months in the Bay area will be much more positive than my first 9. BTW Ive been here over a year now. 14 months to be exact. Weird.
Stumptown Beerfest und BBQ cookoff
Last weekend some friends from college flew out from Texas and we drove up to beautiful Guerneville to check out a beer and BBQ festival. It was kind of like being in Texas: hot, on a river, with finger-lickin-good BBQ and lots of beer and some live music.
From left to right: Rudolph, Bridget, Me, Miranda, Dre.
Afterwards we camped at this place with a giant lumber jack...good for photos.
This was where we had dinner and where I got food poisoning. Awesome.
And sunset in the Russian River Valley. All in all it was great time--minus the barfing outside the tent. Now that was just unpleasant.
School days
I love the first day of school. I get a high off of it. Its nerdy. Im aware. But I started my chemistry class last night and I was so excited...to learn about elements...in 6 weeks Im certain I will feel differently.
Tonight is my first anatomy class. That one I expect to love.
Side note--every time I leave San Francisco Im sad to return. And Ive been leaving for:
vacation
class
entertainment purposes
basically I work here and I sleep here. And when my lease is up Im thinking about eliminating the latter of the two.
And Im not sorry because the sun never rises in San Francisco. It appears out of nowhere at noon. And never in the neighborhood I work in.
And the fine mist covering the entire city every morning brings out smells that remind me how rampant public urination is here.
I walked into work this morning like a zombie because its eternally gray.
Fake sports
This is what Bill Bellamy said this morning about why badminton shouldnt be an Olympic sport:
You can play for 4 hours and go to the club and you wont even be funky.
Infatuation avec photographica.
Welcome to
Fascination with all things blue in this city including but not limited to the sky and the trains.
Walking path in Lincoln Park. Magnificent.
Swan paddle boats at the Lincoln Park Zoo.
Skyline from Lake Michigan.
These chimney/smokestack whatevers ended up in half my photos. I kind of love this one.
Art in Grant Park by the lake. As an aside, it started raining right after I took this. I stood under a tree. It sounds lame but the sound and the smells and the wet made me so happy.
Self explanatory.
More art in the park.
The bean + one.
Not just a tourist trap. Actually impressive.
Emily and I at the water tower--one of the only structures to survive the Chicago Fire.
Martinis at the Signature Lounge in the Hancock Building.
Nobody tells you the best view is from the women's restroom...
On the train at 515am to the Chicago Distance Classic.
Because of extreme train delays, we didnt get to the race until 6:45. The race started at 6:30. We were both in a full on sprint to the start line when the announcer said--ok 30 seconds until the last wave starts. I cannot believe my luck. Thanks Emily for rising at 430 in the morning and also carrying around my bag I chucked to make it to the start line. Oh and for that chocolate cake donut afterwards. num nums. This was the best and the easiest half marathon Ive run. All along the lake. I only limped a little afterwards.
Em at Buckingham Fountain. Oh my god the colors.
Corn Cob building from the architecture tour on the Chicago River. Check out that sky.
Then we crashed. Only to awaken later (myself ravenously hungry) and make our way to this hot dog place where people are supposed to be mean to you. They werent. But the cheddar fries... Wrigley Field. Cubbies won.
And Lake Michigan yesterday. Beautiful. I was sad to leave and debated sending for my things.
Infatuation.
Ok Chicago is amazing. Amazing in a way that I looked up the requirements for the nursing program at Univ. of Illinois, Chicago and realized I can apply and this made me most happy. Even though I suspect my mother hates this city as she continually mentions "sure sure its great, but not in winter, never in winter, you will regret the winters Shibbie!"
I'll hand it to the Mid-Westerners, they are the best people in the country. And last night whilst waiting for the train I was told I am the most beautiful white woman ever. I mean come on, thats hard to beat.
Stories and photos later on the lovely Lake Michigan, the blue blue sky, the fact that I arrived at the Chicago Distance Classic 15 minutes late and was literally the last person in line to begin the race.
