Friday, January 21, 2005
Because It's Cold As Hell!
It's colder than a whore iin church outside! I should be used to this now, but I still can't get ready for the Chicago winters after all this time. Even colder are the people, who are cold all year around except for a few days in July in August. We do warm up, but because our seasons go from artic to hell then back again, everyone has an attitude.
Take for instance my commute this morning. Now I admit I should have a fare card, but that's beside the point. So my train is coming and after putting in all my coins to proceed through the turnstile, I rush through as soon as the last coin is dropped in. I immediately fly up the stairs screaming "hold the train!" because being the fool that I am, I thought my hollers of wait would register to the wonderfully accommodating driver. Instead, we lock eyes as I make it to the last step at the top of the platform and she looks like she can't possibly open the train doors for me. And seeing as though the train hadn't pulled out yet, I felt I had a shot, right? Wrong! Ole girl politely pulled out of the station not giving a fuck that I was standing right at the door about ten seconds before the train pulled out. Thank you CTA Green Line...I am blue still, hours later, from enduring the bonecrushing cold whipping my ass as I smoked a cigarette on the nonsmoking platform (yes, I didn't have my gloves on which is why my hands are now rebelling as I type). She was cold, indeed, as only a Chi-town woman can be.
The beauty of the moment happened after I finally boarded the next train (which was five minutes late) and got to the next stop remembering that I had my computer bag with me before I made it up the stairs in time to be snubbed America's Top Model-style by the train lady. Where the hell is my laptop? The one I don't own, the one from my job with the faulty zip drive...yes, people, I had left it at the turnstile downstairs because I had to free both my hands to meticulously drop each and every coin down that blood-sucking fare box! So, I had to get off the train and luckily, a train going back south was not far behind. Would you believe that because the ticket agents know me (I've given them Christmas cards and received a few allowances to go through the handicapped turnstile-which is always broken), one who had seen me earlier held it for me. "Baby, I was gon' pawn this, but you know I lovez me some u!"
Needless to say, as cold as this city is...there are still some warm folks out there.
...meetings all day...gotta get going, but I'll be back. I have a few theories on love, but I must consult with Donny Hathaway & Roberta Flack before I share them (this means that I have to get off work, go get a pint of Evan Williams and sing the hell out of "When Love Has Grown" a few times before I can muster up the right language...after all, I vowed no more cynicism in 2005).
I close this post this afternoon imploring everyone (or anyone...friends, family, didn't you get the email telling you all to read my shit?) to contemplate Donny and Roberta as they professed in "You Are My Heaven":
If someone tries to tell you
that I do not love you
tell them they must be out of their
minds...
Take for instance my commute this morning. Now I admit I should have a fare card, but that's beside the point. So my train is coming and after putting in all my coins to proceed through the turnstile, I rush through as soon as the last coin is dropped in. I immediately fly up the stairs screaming "hold the train!" because being the fool that I am, I thought my hollers of wait would register to the wonderfully accommodating driver. Instead, we lock eyes as I make it to the last step at the top of the platform and she looks like she can't possibly open the train doors for me. And seeing as though the train hadn't pulled out yet, I felt I had a shot, right? Wrong! Ole girl politely pulled out of the station not giving a fuck that I was standing right at the door about ten seconds before the train pulled out. Thank you CTA Green Line...I am blue still, hours later, from enduring the bonecrushing cold whipping my ass as I smoked a cigarette on the nonsmoking platform (yes, I didn't have my gloves on which is why my hands are now rebelling as I type). She was cold, indeed, as only a Chi-town woman can be.
The beauty of the moment happened after I finally boarded the next train (which was five minutes late) and got to the next stop remembering that I had my computer bag with me before I made it up the stairs in time to be snubbed America's Top Model-style by the train lady. Where the hell is my laptop? The one I don't own, the one from my job with the faulty zip drive...yes, people, I had left it at the turnstile downstairs because I had to free both my hands to meticulously drop each and every coin down that blood-sucking fare box! So, I had to get off the train and luckily, a train going back south was not far behind. Would you believe that because the ticket agents know me (I've given them Christmas cards and received a few allowances to go through the handicapped turnstile-which is always broken), one who had seen me earlier held it for me. "Baby, I was gon' pawn this, but you know I lovez me some u!"
Needless to say, as cold as this city is...there are still some warm folks out there.
...meetings all day...gotta get going, but I'll be back. I have a few theories on love, but I must consult with Donny Hathaway & Roberta Flack before I share them (this means that I have to get off work, go get a pint of Evan Williams and sing the hell out of "When Love Has Grown" a few times before I can muster up the right language...after all, I vowed no more cynicism in 2005).
I close this post this afternoon imploring everyone (or anyone...friends, family, didn't you get the email telling you all to read my shit?) to contemplate Donny and Roberta as they professed in "You Are My Heaven":
If someone tries to tell you
that I do not love you
tell them they must be out of their
minds...
# posted by Fool That I Am : 1:50 PM
