life's boxes

B is on his way to Fiji and my goal this next week is to finish unpacking the boxes (pictured here are just a few of the many). The real issue is finding a space for everything. It seems we have a serious counter crisis. Today though was my day off.

After riding out to Midway on the train (and back) I decided to finally partake of one of the free concerts in the park. There is a reason they are free, is all I can say.

I made myself a PB&J, grabbed my blanket and headed out. The plan was to meet up with some of the GSB students. I arrived about two minutes early, couldn't find anyone, and figured, as space was getting tight I should just go park myself down.

Truly it is a nice idea in theory. In reality it is like sitting in a giant picnic table that just happens to have music in the background. Most people were chatting as the performance went on. It was odd.

Also there seems to be some confusion over whether or not alcohol is allowed. The email I received about the event said no. But there was a sign saying "no alcohol beyond this point" seeming to indicate that once you left the grass area you couldn't have an open container. Someone snuck in a dog too.

I don't know why rule breakers bother me so much. To some degree I am sure it is I have a problem with people who seem to adopt the attitude "my shit smells better than yours." I really want to go up to some of these folks and tell them the next time they are in the bathroom, they really need to take a good whiff and get a clue. But I know it is more than that.

I know it is part of what stresses me out when driving about this city I am trying to call home. It bothers me when taxi drivers decide to just stop in a tow zone to let little old ladies out. Or when pedestrians decide that the red hand means jump in the street. Or when people beep at you for not running over said pedestrians that have just jumped into the street as you try to make a turn.

I don't always like the rules. Heck, I have been known to make fun of them sometimes. But for the most part I follow them. I understand that there is a reason (usually that you don't get yourself killed) for them.

In the end I decided to leave early. I felt odd sitting there all by myself on my blanket. It was getting a bit chilly, and the mosquitoes were starting to bite. Plus I figured mass chaos would ensue once the music stopped and everyone tried to make his or her way back home.