Caution: Hot

Seeing as this is the 4th consecutive day that I've burnt my tongue on my morning coffee, I felt it necessary to post this little blurb that I wrote a few months back.

Also, song of the day: Hear You Me by Jimmy Eat World
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Brf9BUC0xnw&feature=related

Enjoy, kids...

In the midst of a bad case of the Mondays on the train this morning, I found myself pondering the "Caution: HOT" message on my coffee cup and started to laugh. It was one of those moments when something clicks and you're not sure why something so strange has brought you a moment of clarity.

I bought my coffee with the expectation that it was going to be hot and fully aware that I should wait a few short minutes before I consumed my caffeine heaven, but what did I do? I drank the coffee. I burned my tongue. I do this often. In fact, nearly every time I buy coffee I sip it before it's sip-able. Why don't I just take the "Caution: HOT" reminder to heart and avoid a scalded tongue?

This seemingly insignificant experience made me realize that life is one giant cup of scalding hot coffee. In a world full of high expectations, constant communication and the overwhelming need to succeed paired with the constant fear of failure, it seems nearly impossible to take a step back and recognize the purpose in ones daily motions. There will always be people who take the "caution" signs to heart and those that will cross boundaries and risk getting burned. I find a strange comfort in the fact that I'm the latter.

Risk a burnt tongue. Be exceptional.

Welcome, Fall.

Ahhhh, fall.

A season full of trench coats, orange leaves, fleece, hot apple cider & women wearing scarves for decoration rather than to provide warmth.

This morning marked one of the first chilly mornings in Chicago. Transition seasons are a funny thing in this city. Nobody seems to know how the hell to dress. I, for one, don't find it that difficult. Is it difficult? Someone please tell me.

I stood next to a woman at the bus stop who was wearing a down coat with her hood up, arms crossed and shivering as if we were standing @ the bow of a boat on an Alaskan cruise. On the flip side, I sat behind a girl wearing a strapless dress and sandals... not to mention her giant "I look like a bug" sunglasses even though it was so cloudy out this morning that the sun may as well have not existed. Too judgemental? Whoops.

Moving on...

Song on repeat for my 30 minute bus ride: After Tonight by Justin Nozuka
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hgGkJez6pcM

This probably wasn't worth writing an article over... but it's funny nonetheless:
http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=news/health&id=7021003

Prairie Chicken.

For the record, I wanted the URL for this blog to be prairiechicken.blogspot. Unfortunately, "this URL is already in use" ... really?

Anyways...

I've spent a good portion of 2009 wondering where the last 25 years of my life went. On September 11th this year, I expressed to my dad how strange it was that I could remember something from 8 years ago so vividly and that 8 years ago I wouldn't have been able to remember anything from 8 years ago. His wise words (via text message, mind you) in response to my thoughts thus became the inspiration for this blog:

"Welcome to the world of the aging. Life accelerates like a prairie chicken running from a brush fire."

I really have no idea how to blog, what to write, or if anyone will even care, but I'm hoping this will serve as a way to capture a portion of my life. I imagine that the nature of my posts will be random. However, if you know me, this shouldn't be too surprising.

I've been told to ensure that this blog isn't censored so "the whole world knows who these crazy lunatics are that you interact with on a daily basis." I'm certain that the previously quoted lunatic along with all you others reading this will be the source of many of my posts.

Happy reading.