On the Beaten Path

I Pity the Fool...and Sometimes the Cubs

Finally!  Before moving into double digit losses in a row, the Cubs broke their streak.  Perhaps it was that the game was shortened by the rain, or perhaps it was the adrenaline still rushing through Wrigley Field after a visit from a favorite of everyone - Mr. T!

Not only do we have him to thank for bringing us "bling" - but we also have him to thank for making our gloomy Memorial Day just a bit brighter.

Big Day for the Courts...Sotomayor In, Gay Marriage Out

Big day in California, and in the US, for the Courts.  Just hours after President Obama announces his pick for a Hispanic woman (the first ever Hispanic and only the fourth ever woman) as the next Supreme Court Justice, the State of California Courts "outted" gay marriage again. 

After watching the news this morning and wrestling my Wall Street Journal on the bus this morning, I can't help but think how sad it is that both of these stories seem to take us a step backwards in the fight against equal rights....and even moreso, seeing individuals for who they are, rather than their skin color, sexual orientation, or other "checkboxes"....

Sotomayor has an extensive list of qualifications, yet the President's selection is being examined closely as many fear she may be too radical or liberal based on her upbringing.  Why is it that the words "Hispanic" and "woman" were thrown around more by Matt Lauer than "qualified" or "competent"?

And after reading 1,000 Twitter comments, comments online, comments on the news - why is it that we hear "marriage is this, not that" and "Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve"?  Why is it always about I am right and you are wrong.  In a world where people are dying from war, violence, and terrorism, shouldn't be we commend individuals that put aside the jeers and the comments and continue to love, simply because they love?

I am challenging myself today to look beyond the surface and see individuals for how they contribute to my life - rather than their skin color, gender, orientation, income, or looks.  Up for the challenge?

Umbrellas - Friend or Foe?

Thanks to our friends Rihanna and Andy Avalos, "umbrella" or "ella, ella, ella" to some, has become one word spoken too often in Chicago during the spring storm season.

But are umbrellas a friend or foe?

As I pulled on my new brown shoes from Aldo, I realized it was probably not the best idea considering the impending monsoon we are expecting today.  Destroyed new shoes or not, an umbrella seemed like a must given Andy's grim forecast.  I grabbed my recently purchased $25 Totes black umbrella and headed for the train. 

As I stand waiting for the Red Line to wisk me to the Loop, it starts to mist, perhaps a drama queen would consider it a "drizzle" but nothing more.  By the time we approached Fullerton, the word was out that rain was coming and the train platform was nothing more than a parking lot for umbrellas.  It was foreshadowing my fateful walk in the Loop just 15 minutes later.

As I departed the Brown Line at Washington and Wells, umbrellas shot up faster than a kid on Christmas morning.  Immediately, I noticed that my umbrella seemed "inadequate".  Why?  Because I was the only one not sporting a 7 foot in diameter golf umbrella. 

Why do men and women, especially the shorter individuals, find it necessary to carry/shield themselves from a few raindrops using an umbrella that could easily fit a family of five under it.  I realized I was going to lose this battle and closed my umbrella.  I hiked it the three blocks to work and perhaps it is because I am pretty lean and was able to dodge the raindrops, but I was basically dry when I walked in. 

I wish I could say the same for my eyes.  They are still watering from the two or three people that wer hosting morning coffee under their umbrella and didn't realize that others were around and subsequently poked me in the face.

I can't help but wonder - do I use an umbrella to shield me from the rain or from other umbrella wielding bandits?

Remember - golf umbrellas are for golf courses, not the city streets during rush hour.

Here are some helpful tips for those that still need to learn a bit of etiquette for umbrella use.  Enjoy!

1. Use the Right Umbrella: Being barely 5 feet 2 inches, can you imagine me walking down the street trying to hold and balance a large golf umbrella? Neither can I! Carry an umbrella that is appropriate for your use and proportionate to your body size. There is no rule saying you can’t own more than one umbrella: a small one for your use alone and a larger version when you are walking together with another person.
   
   
2. Avoid Umbrella Rage: They say it’s a jungle out there on the streets … and rainy days are even worse. Some call it “umbrella rage” as children and adults alike do battle on crowded streets, using their umbrellas as the weapon of choice. Whenever you see another person approaching, tip your umbrella away from them the other person to avoid colliding your umbrellas. Be sensitive to how the metal or plastic points sticking out at every fold may poke someone in the body or, worse, in the eye. Rain or shine, utilize just half the width of the sidewalk when walking in a group, so others can easily pass by. Depending on how wide the sidewalk is no more than two or three people should ever walk abreast.
   
   
3. Learn the Dance of Umbrellas: For a taller person, when you encounter another person using an umbrella, raise your umbrella up so a shorter person may pass by without colliding with your umbrella. Likewise, if you are a shorter person, lower your umbrella closer to your head. The end result is a well choreographed “dance of umbrellas” down the street, each umbrella being raised or lowered in graceful motion, avoiding all conflicts, collisions, and pokes in the eye.
   
   
4. Keep It Closed and Dry Inside: It is customary to close your umbrella before entering a building. Remove any excess water by gently taping the tip of the umbrella in front of the building a couple of times. The first question upon entering should be where you may place the wet umbrella to avoid further dripping. Make use of the carrying case that came with your umbrella, or the disposable plastic bags that many office buildings and stores provide, to cover your wet umbrella while indoors.
   
   
5. Park Umbrellas with Care: Be mindful of where you place your umbrella. If no umbrella stand is provided, set your umbrella upright with the tip on the floor beside you. In trains, planes, and automobiles, lay it on the floor near your feet, not on an empty seat where other people may sit on it or the puddle it leaves behind. Keep your umbrella away from walkways where someone might trip over it.
   
   
6. Carry Cautiously: It continues to amaze me how oblivious people are about the physical space they occupy. When not in use, always hold your umbrella vertically, with the pointed end down. Do not tuck it under your arm horizontally with the ends sticking out ready to stab someone.
   
   
7. Look Both Ways Before You Open: Be mindful of who may be standing nearby when opening your umbrella. Open it with care, noticing whether your umbrella will poke someone.
   
   
8. Just Enjoy Windy Days: When the wind is so strong that your umbrella is in jeopardy of being turned inside out, simply forget it. Tilting your umbrella into the wind only obstructs your forward vision and, more times than not, doesn’t help much, anyway. Rather, brave the elements in a good rain coat with a hood. Try to remember that a little water never hurt anyone (except, of course, the Wicked Witch of the West).

BONUS: Prevent Umbrella Loss: Folks at any lost-and-found department will tell you they have hundreds of unclaimed umbrellas in storage. If you forget your umbrella somewhere, you may have a chance of someone returning it if you tape your telephone number and/or email address to the very top of the umbrella’s main strut above the handle, where it will least likely get wet and come loose.

And on the Seventh Day...

God created Sunday Funday!

Ever since moving to Chicago in 2003, I have noticed that people can't get enough of Sunday Funday.  Perhaps its a more relaxing atmosphere or perhaps its the need to hold onto the weekend before the work week starts. 

Whatever it is, it always sounds much better when you are enjoying drinks on a Sunday and helping a great cause.

Come out Sunday, May 17 from 1:00 - 4:00 p.m. at Fireside Bowl (2648 West Fullerton) and donate $40 to enjoy bowling, draft beer and food.  Money goes to Rainbows.

 

The Heat is On - Marathon Season in Full Swing

The Chicago Marathon has reached its capacity nearly two months after it traditionally closes - perhaps because of the recession, perhaps people are fearful of having no water to drink again. 

This Saturday will be week #4 for the AIDS Foundation's marathon training season and they are still accepting entries and is one of the last ways to run this year's race. 

So far the nearly 600 runners have turned out to be great people with big hearts and fast feet.  I will write throughout the weeks leading up to October 11.  Won't you come along for the ride?

Big News for Big Busts

I am not quite sure what all the hub-bub is about with PlayBoy these days.  While the ChicagoTribune.com changes their news stories quicker than most ladies change shoes, one story keeps popping up lately - PlayBoy to experience "radical changes" - like what, clothes?

http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-biz-playboy-magazine-pla,0,1213400.story

Perhaps it is my lifestyle, but am I the only one out there that is shocked the magazine is still in circulation?

Perhaps they should stick around long enough for Miss California to first voice her opinion and then to drop her clothes.