George and Linda

Here's a section of a story I am currently working on. It is a fictional story about a man named George and a woman named Linda, who have been married for almost 60 years. Let me know what you think:

Poems I Found--Part 2

(2)

Time is an illusive adversary.

It creeps and sneaks while you cannot see.

And when it decides it is finally necessary,

it attacks you with endless glee.

It takes what you thought could not be taken,

what you thought to be your pride and joy.

And when it's done with you, you'll feel forsaken

for the whole of you it loved to destroy.

The moments you thought would last forever,

and the memories you gained through the years.

Those ties with the past, time will sever

and leave you on your knees in tears.

But those knees will soon start hurting

and all the bones in your body will crack.

At this point you cling to that yearning

for a youth you will never get back.

So now you can think that time has beat you.

You can think it's completely won.

But then, if you believe that that is true,

the entirety of you is gone.

Time may take away your beauty,

and the strength you had when young.

But it cannot take away your duty,

to the person you were all along.

Poems I Found--Part 1

Poems I found in an old French notebook of mine...

(1)

Today I will have an adventure,

I will surely see something new.

As to what type, I'm not quite sure,

but I'll see something seen by few.

When I rise I prepare for my expedition.

I make sure to pack water and bread.

Of course I take a compass for direction,

and my coat the color of red.

After all the essentials are packed-

and my list double-checked-

I make sure the house is locked,

and step closer to the adventure ahead.

Midnight Rendezvous

The following isn't really a short story. And if it is, I suppose it is probably one of the shortest. It is, however, the beginning of a new venture I am trying out. Look forward to more literary pieces, as well as much more involvement in the site! Though I am busy with school, I decided I need to remember all the other activities that help me relax and enjoy myself! Hope you guy like it. Make sure to comment and let me know what you think.

Ventures Into the Kitchen--Making Sushi

As the title says, I made sushi today! Thanks to the lady at Cooking With Dog (if you haven't checked it out yet, I highly recommend it! Very entertaining and useful) I found a nice recipe. I even made a rice ball with the small amount of rice I had left over.

Hiking At Moraine Hills

So I did it! I actually managed to get away for a bit this weekend. And I'm sitting here, with a foot cut from the dirt and rubbing in my shoe, and a farmers tan I'm actually quite satisfied with. Leaving the suburbs to go to back to nature is as necessary as leaving the suburbs and going to the city. Sometimes, we all just need a change of pace--a change in scenery. I didn't get to see any animals, or birds for that matter. Next time, I'll try find a place that's far more "raw" than the one we went to today.

Reflections--Living for Yourself

It is inevitable, that the fate of all living creatures is death. Perhaps a rather “pessimistic” way of thinking about it is that the moment we are born, we begin dying. We perceive that the older we become, the more life we have—for the limitations that come with being an infant no longer apply. However, the reality is that though we are creating more neuron connections and we are learning, and our bone mass increases, our cells—at some point—will simply begin to die. The strength in our bones will diminish, and tasks we were so easily capable of achieving when we were younger suddenly become chores or impossibilities.  At this point we have lost brain cells, especially thanks the rather idiotic decisions we have chosen to make over the years. Or joints become less limber, our sight withers, and our skin inevitably sags. It would be delusional to believe that our youth will go on forever. And at some point we must all come to terms with our eminent end.

My Ventures into the Kitchen

So I watched an interesting documentary last night Food Beware: A French Organic Revolution and I realized the importance of making things from scratch. These days, everything seems to come in a container already packaged for us, with who knows what ingredients and chemicals added for the sake of preservation. And though my family has been into organic foods for a couple years now, there are several things we were accustomed to buying already made. Some products are probably impossible for us to make ourselves, such as keeping chicken or fish--meats in general. But others, such as breads, jams, and vegetables, are certainly something that can be taken care of at home or locally.

The Microscopic World of Corals | UnderH2O | PBS Digital Studios

The world keeps moving forward and it is ever-changing, and science continues to push ahead in directions we were not aware years ago that we could go. I think it's important for individuals in all fields of study to be relatively aware of what is going on in the world of science and engineering, because it is likely that those findings will affect every one of us.

Following the River

I came across this park by the Streeterville "neighborhood"--if that's what you call them, I'm not actually sure. Anyway, I actually love fountains; I think they bring such a nice break to concrete scenery. Which is why I tend to dislike this modern designs. For me, the design seems a bit cold and unattractive, and the color simply adds to the blandness of the skyscrapers. Can you tell I'm not a huge fan of a lot of modern design concepts?

A Visit to the Bahai Temple

Here is the second set of pictures! On Sunday, we made a quick trip to the Bahai Temple, since it is such a beautiful building and my mom wanted to show it to my brother and his wife. The detail in the design of the temple is exquisite, with signs from all religions carved onto the entrance. According to the pamphlet, the Bahai faith believes that all religions worship the same god, and that they should be unified. There's also a bit about striving for world peace and for equality in the sexes and colors. Whether or not one agrees with their mission, we must give credit to the beauty in the building itself.

There are no pictures allowed inside, but here are some shots from the outside and from some of the surrounding area.

The Road North

I have been neglecting the site. This weekend was rather hectic and eventful and while I have been meaning to post all the pictures from the mini trips we made, I admit all sorts of other distractions get in the way. But here they are! This trip was to Madison, WI. We decided to go up to Madison for the farmers market--which according to my mom is the most amazing one she has been too--but apparently the main attraction was an art fair. And when we did eventually find the farmers, they were packing up and ready to go. Either way, it was a nice little adventure!

Island Paradise

Whenever you travel, you have to keep your mind open to new experiences and possibilities. It is likely that you will meet people with different customs, ideas; as well as eat foods you are not used to eating, and weather you are not used to enduring. However, it is those differences that make travel beautiful and exciting. If we wanted the same experience, we would simply stay home.

There is a lot of criticism of Cuba from people who dislike its government and its politics. You will hear bad things from foreigners and from some Cubans themselves. However, visiting Cuba for me isn't about the politics. It's about the family I still have there and the inevitable adventures that ensue from traveling there.

Remembering Paris

Roses Are Red

The Road South

Here's to dreaming of road trips past and future:

A More "European" Chicago

I came across the Instituto Cervantes again, and decided this time to go ahead and see what was inside. They have Spanish classes, and apparently once a week they hold a book club which apparently meets every 6 to 7 days, and I am seriously considering joining!

The Find--LaSalle Street

Took another route to the train station today. Chicago was relatively foggy all day, and it started clearing up around the time I was getting ready to leave. I wish I could have taken a picture with my phone, but I admit I was a bit embarrassed about taking a picture in front of the other people.

Still, on my way back I stopped by this coffee shopped called appropriately: Coffee Shoppe. I took, quite quickly and embarrassedly, some pictures of the interior. But unfortunately they turned out a bit blurry. I also realized, after having eaten my muffin and drank my espresso, that I hadn't taken a proper picture. Which means I'll have to stop by again soon and take some proper pictures!

The Road Less Travelled

Or at least for you, anyway.

Today, after work, I took a different route to the train station. My summer internship is by the Navy Pier, and I always choose to walk to Ogilvie for the sake of exercise and because it truly is an enjoyable time. Well, today I chose to go down Dearborn from the the Water Tower, and it was such a good choice! There were several new stores I'd never seen and since I took it at a comfortable pace, I got to take in all the different sites.

A Day in Navy Pier

It's been really hectic around here, and my house has been busier than ever! Which, for this case, is a good thing. However, I didn't have time to share some pictures I took after work, when I walked over to the Navy Pier. The morning (Wednesday) had been really crappy with thunderstorms and some rain, but it eventually cleared up and it was a wonderful day to be outside and enjoy the nice weather. Enjoy the shots I took!

Poem--An Oath

No matter how hard or bitter the day;
no matter how old--wrinkled or gray.
Being kind and happy and free,
is above all else, important to me.
Through the trials of being an adult,
the endless sorrow I'll bring to a halt.
For I will maintain, forever and ever,
a childhood innocence that will never be severed.

To Far Off Places

"I dreamed of getting in my car and driving off. I can't quite say where it was that I was going, but I knew that it had to be somewhere beyond that horizon. I didn't want to be known where I was going. All I wanted was to free myself from the shackles of my current existence and I wanted to be engulfed by the warmth and quietness of the universe. I wanted to be there, where the trees were growing; where very Earth was moving--shifting.

Burning the Midnight Oil--on Saturday

Summer 2011