The Piles Grow!

The real reason I got a blog? Because my previous procrastination method of watching Lost on Hulu ended when I finished Season 5. (Okay, it didn’t really end completely, but the episodes on itunes cost $2.99 so I don’t watch eight per day anymore .) Basically this is a way to put off packing. I’m getting there. The pile of boxes is growing and smaller piles are sprouting up in other places. The big hurdle comes tomorrow. Every time I walk out back to throw stuff in the trash I take a second to visualize myself somehow backing a U-Haul truck from the alley into a parking space. And then I think, What if there isn’t an empty space tomorrow?!?!! And I get a little panicky. Never fear. If I have to make a 17-point turn I will get that truck in a spot. Unless there is no spot. In which case I will knock on every door in my building until I find someone I can bribe into moving their car. Fingers crossed.

A Fingerprinting U.S. Photo 125 S. Clark

The FBI can now run my background check. I went down to some building on Clark and got my fingerprints taken, and now have two snazzy official cards to mail to the FBI. I also stopped by the post office while I was downtown and filled out my mail forwarding form. All I’ve been doing this last week is filling out forms and applications and questionnaires. I spent 45 minutes this morning filling out a health insurance application. Applied to UNC Charlotte’s grad school yesterday. Tomorrow I have to fill out a cover letter and send it to the FBI with my fingerprints. I’d rather be doing my taxes. Speaking of, the state of Illinois sent me my $40 tax refund today…I’ll be sure not to spend it all in one place.

Beige Russian

Got a lot of packing done, so I took a break to work on a painting I’m trying to finish up before I head out. A little Matisyahu, brush in one hand, drink in the other. Should anyone be curious, Captain Morgan makes a passable substitute for vodka in a white Russian (Beige Russian?). In other news, tomorrow I will be heading to some building on Clark in the Loop and paying $9 to get my fingerprints taken so I can send them to the FBI.

Last Tuesday in Chicago

I’m not really the blogging type, but enough people have asked me to keep them updated after I leave Chicago that I thought it might actually be worthwhile.

The last week or two have been a series of ‘lasts.’ Last day at the nature museum, last day at work, last day at church, last day teaching sunday school (at least I got a nice picture of my class). Now it’s gotten to just be my last Sunday in Chicago, my last Monday in Chicago, last Tuesday, and will continue thusly tomorrow with Wednesday. I’m not much good with the ends of things.

But as much as endings suck, I feel good about my move. And I don’t really believe that whole parts of your life really ever end as permanently or completely as it sometimes feels like they do. Everything I’ve gained the past two years is still with me, and the relationships I’ve formed here will change of course, but I’m not moving to the moon. I have made great friends, and enjoyed a incredible city for almost two years. And if Charlotte doesn’t live up to that, I leave. No harm no foul. But I am finally starting to trust that God has better plans for me than I do, so I’m pretty excited to find out what they are.

There’s a sacred harp tune we sang on Sunday that I’ve always loved, and that’s been playing through my head the last two days. The one verse goes like this:

Why do we then indulge our Fears,
Suspicions and Complaints?
Is he a God, and shall his Grace
Grow weary of his saints?