See You When I See You

Lately I've been doing a lot less blogging that usual, partly because of the advent of Facebook and Twitter. Also, the world is changing, and I'm changing with it. My obligations and priorities are shifting. I'm getting more opportunities to do different kinds of things, and making clearer choices about what to invest my time in. I've also been slowing down to deal with some health issues - nothing life-threatening but still serious. This seems like more of a time for doing and less for reflecting.

Things are so crazy right now. We're still mired in this stupid, horrible war. Military suicides are skyrocketing. We've dug ourselves into a deep hole. The economy is a mess. We have a long, tough road ahead and a lot of serious challenges to step up to.

While oil companies are making plenty of money, the United States Postal Service is so broke it might have to cut out one day of mail delivery. That's like finding out they're going to move Sunday morning Mass to Tuesday mornings at the American Legion.

Jobless rates in Illinois are so high, there aren't enough people in the unemployment office to answer the phones. Almost 65,000 people called Monday, and over 57,000 on Tuesday.

A 14-year old kid successfully faked being a Chicago cop. The police spokesman described the situation using the unfortunate phrase "we dodged a bullet."

Not to mention Blagojevich, who, the day we unanimously kicked him out of office, told us (the people of Illinois) that he loves us now more than ever.

Hmm...I'm not really coming up with a nice wrap-up sentence for this post. I guess I'm just acknowledging that things are changing, and so am I. Blog atcha later!

(Also, at least one thing will always be true. Cute things rule. Photo from Cute Overload.)

Don't Stop 'Till You Get Enough

Whoa, that last post was my 1500th entry in Bella Rossa! I had no idea. And I have hardly blogged at all in the last ten days. That has never happened. Okay, so I'm still super busy. What's going on? Well, apparently I'm becoming a filmmaker, for one thing. Lots of exciting news. Will catch up soon.

But first, a cheer for some of my comedy homies and valued friends:

Returning friends I had the pleasure of sharing the stage with last night at the Lodge. Comedy best friends. People who invite me over for a comedians' Thanksgiving. Comedian friends who are so wowed by my editing work that it makes me take myself seriously as a filmmaker.

My adored niece and creative partner in crime, soon to be my roommate. (Our home is going to become a hangout and focal point of Chicago comedy and creativity, wait 'till you see!)

My office friends (sorry, no links), and people like the very sweet Bridget Fitzgerald, who keep popping up to see me onstage, even when I'm head-to-toe red blotches and talking so fast I finish my jokes two minutes early.

My new friends, who are soon to figure heavily in my creative development and production (get lots of sleep, Nellie!).

My co-producer Dan, currently swimming in a river of creative, marital, and reproductive bliss with his beautiful wife Victoria.

And cheers for smokin' hot, crazy smart, very funny boys (okay, "boy") who have let me grab and fondle them in private moments and in public as well. Oh, you didn't go to ChUC last Tuesday? Then you don't know what I'm talking about. That's okay. He knows who he is.

And, apropos of absolutely nothing, here's a 40 second video of a slow-moving train gliding through a market in Bangkok, and then the shopkeepers flipping down awnings and pushing out cars of wares seconds after the train has passed. It's so beautiful it looks choreographed.

Winter's On Its Way

The cats are all over me all night. I keep the window cracked at night because I love the cold, and the girls (see Calpurnia at left, on my boobs despite me trying to nudge her off with my MacBook), are crazy with the snuggling. It'd like to think it's love, but I know it's mostly body temperature maintenance.

My asthma is exercise-induced and triggered by cold dry air, so my exhilarating, sometimes reckless bike runs through dark Chicago streets are punctuated with wracking coughs. But biking gives me that adrenaline rush I cannot live without, so I'm getting out as much as I can.

I'm tough but I'm delicate. My skin sensitivities are in full swing. My sun allergy is less of an issue, but hot showers make me break out in what look like second degree burns. I've even started getting waxed to spare myself ten more minutes shaving in the shower every day.

I moisturize all day long. Every night before bed I slather myself one last time in yummy-smelling lotion and slip into the softest jammies and bedsheets known to humankind. What can I say? I'm a tomboy but I'm still a girl. This time of year, I'm all about being touched by soft things. Give me a cashmere sweater and flannel sheets and I'll be your best friend forever.