Museum, Roommates, Dancing and the Chicago Wolves

Let's see. On Monday my friend Jenna and I went to the Museum of Science and Industry. We were both laid off of work at about the same time and decided to do something for ourselves and since I had two passes to the museum it seemed perfect for two girls with limited income.

I had never been there. It was fun but I think it is better for kids. The exhibits seemed slightly juvenile for my taste. Plus, I think every school in Chicago had a field trip that day. There was a special exhibit that I had passes for called "Body Worlds". I did not know it before we left but everything in the exhibit was real human bodies. I thought I would be sick but the way they were preserved made them look like plastic models so it wasn't so bad. The only one that made me stop and think was a woman who was 8 months pregnant. It made me wonder what happened to her that she and her baby died before she could give birth.

I got a wheelchair while I was at the museum because it was too much walking for me and I was also unable to get mine into Jenna's car. Long story. Point is, working out is paying off because I was able to get myself up the ramps on my own. (Do I hear applause?) Jenna had a good time pushing me (when I let her). She enjoyed going around corners and going down ramps. She is funny.

On Wednesday two friends from Excueses had reserved the VIP room at a suburban dance club called The Bamboo Room so I went to hang out with them. It was a ton of fun. I didn't dance but had fun laughing at some of the people on the dance floor. The VIP room is upstairs and people on the floor don't realize we can see everything they are doing.

Okay, I was one of 3 straight people at the party. Bobo and his friends told us we had to be gay for the night and I told him I could be as long as I was a gay man in a woman's body. It brought back memories of "The Velvet Goldmine".

Yesterday I had an interview for a week and a half assignment as an Executive Assistant to 3 men one of whom happens to be the owner of the Chicago Wolves. Well, I got the job! I am excited to have some income for a week or so.

Last night, at excueses, I looked up at one TV and saw they were talking about the Chicago Wolves and I saw a man on a private jet and then read the subtitle to see that he was the owner of the Wolves so I had to tell all of my friends there that I am going to be his assistant for a week and will schedule that plane's flights. It's crazy! It's just for a little over a week but how cool is that?

There are 3 old men at Excueses who sing old Doo Wop songs and call themselves the "Wize Guys". They are really funny. So, last night I asked them to sing "Breaking Up is Hard to Do" and they said they would if I sang it with them so I sang lead and we called ourselves "Lady and the Tramps". Before we came up with that name, Brenda suggested "Tracie and her Male Escorts" and I told her no because it sounded like I needed to buy a date and asked what she was trying to imply. She's great.

Today, at 5, I am going to go meet some girls who live about 6 blocks from where I am at now because they need a 3rd roommate. I am considering it because the rent is really really really good. I want to meet them and see the place first. Who knows, it might work out. They go to Willow Creek too.

Later, I will go to Thornwood. I am hoping that Jenna can join me. Usually her boyfriend (rich) and the guys from "the Reef" play poker in Steve's apartment but since Steve has a guest staying with him they might forego tradition. If they are still on for poker, Jenna will come out with me. If not, she will meet Rich at the Reef.

Thornwood and other stuff

I do not think I ever blogged about "Thornwood". That is one of my favorite places to sing now. I think it was Bobbie who first told me about it but it might have been Bobo, which is funny because he doesn't go there much anymore.

Thornwood is just a nice place to go sing. They have karaoke in a room separate from the bar so the drunken displays are minimal. Another thing I like about it is that there is a tight knit group of approximately 9 regulars. There are times when we are the only ones singing all night...and it is nice because all of the singing regulars are GREAT singers. I could sit there all night and listen to everyone sing and never sing a song myself and be happy.

Well, last night a few of us from Thornwood went to another place called Pap's to sing because Maureen, the KJ from Thornwood, was going to run the karaoke at Pap's that night and we wanted to support her. I don't think I will make an effort to get back there anytime soon. It was a strange bar. Now, I admit to going to dive bars to sing but this crowd was just trashy and had no personality. It was wierd.

I had a good long talk with Lola today. I miss her. I'm starting to think I should move back to Philly. I've also been considering New Jersey.

Random Thoughts

Nothing too much going on in Des Plaines for me. I was trying to think of something entertaining to write but I was disappointed at how boring my life has been lately. I cannot even think of something randomly funny to tell you about.

Well, maybe I can. Last night I went to Excueses and a man who had never been there before sang "Secret Agent Man". He did a pretty good job with it. Well, my friend Bobbie commented to me that she thought he was probably a cop and that was probably because she was married to a cop for years and felt she had a sixth sense for those things. So, I told her I would ask him for her. She didn't believe I would. So after he sang he began to walk away and since Carol was closest to where he was I told her to ask him and she thought I was insane and didn't. So I chased him down, the best way a cripple can do, and asked him myself. He looked at me as if I was insane and said, "No". I returned to the table feeling slightly embarrassed. (Yes, I can get embarrassed). It just struck me how weird it was that I did what I did. Carol and Amy could not stop laughing at me (they of course did not know why I approached him with such a stupid question) and Bobbie just shook her head. We all laughed about that for a good 5 minutes. Amy laughed because she could not believe I did it when last week I made her ask some guys if we could sit at their table when we went to Dakota's (a late night dance club) after we left Excueses last week.

I guess they are just beginning to get to know Tracie. And I guess that is a randomly funny story.

The job search is going as well as it can go. It is never easy to look for a job. One of my headhunters called me about a postion she sent my resume to. It is working as an admin for a marketing company. I think that sounds like fun. Also, Bobbie gave my resume to her boss who called me about a postion at their Rosemont office (that is next to O'Hare). They are a corporate Real Estate company and the position is as an admin but they don't want that person to stay an admin. They want them to get their real estate license and become a manager of one of their buildings. It would be a slight pay cut for me but it sounds like a better opportunity for growth within the company. I'm not counting on anything just yet.

Maybe I can just file for bankruptcy and move to Costa Rica.

Life Questions

My life is in the air right now.

I am once again unemployed. The new president at CTRF (where I was working) decided she wanted to bring in her own people, namely her own assistant.
I got a job as an admin working for a place that is TWO traffice lights from where I live but it turned out that they needed me to do clerical stuff where I was on my feet all day long. Needless to say, I am walking with Abel and cannot physically do that. I came home from work in incredible pain everyday. I finally talked to them about it because it was not the job described to me when it was offered. They told me that since I could not do it and there was no way of modifying the job to my physical needs they would have to look for someone who could do it. I hated hearing that because I need a paycheck but I also have to look out for my health. I was also working with a kind of creepy wierd guy. He was really nice just kind of wierd. He mumbled so badly when he talked that it was so hard to understand him and he had one REALLY long pinky finger nail. The rest of his nails were normal sized. I don't usually go around and see how long men keep their finger nails but it is hard not to notice when one is looking like he wants to make some world record.

What they did is probably illegal but it's not worth fighting about it because why would I want to work somewhere where I am not really wanted or else despised.

So now I am looking for work again.

I am also looking for a new place to live. Kate and I decided that our palce is too small for two people and that we are getting on each other's nerves so it would be better for our friendship if one of us moved. I decided that I would move because we are on the 2nd floor of a house and the stairs are difficult at times. The rent is just really good for 2 people. Really good.
I looked at some apartments today and I found a really cute studio that I really really like.
I'm not making a decision yet because I want to know where I am going to work next. If I don't have a job in 3 weeks from yesterday I am going to move back to Philadelphia.

I just have so many questions because life has been hard for me since I moved here. I am wondering if God is trying to teach me something through it becauuse let's face it, my life has never been easy, or if it just means I am meant to be home.

Last night Sarah H. asked me what I was passionate about and it is here in Chicago. I love it here. I love the relationships I have made. There is a lot of social stuff here too. But, I love my family and miss them. My youngest sister and her husband are moving to Bangladesh for at least a year and I would like to be with them before they leave. My grandparents are also getting older. But I am not happy when I am home. I am happy here. But maybe I could be happy there.

I have too many questions and I feel like I have a tight deadline to figure them all out.

I'm Still Here

It has been a while since I posted so I want you to know that I am still here.

I'm still using Abel so I am trying to take it a little easier. I did, however, go out four nights in a rown this past week. I did this because I was trying to support some friends. Probably not the wisest thing but I felt I needed to for my own sanity too. It just feels good to be doing something other than laying in bed when you can't move too well. When you just lie there it is easy to feel worthless and useless to others. It makes sense in my mind.

I think I am going to Philadelphia this coming weekend. I already have my ticket but some stuff came up here that is causing me to wonder if going to visit my family is a good thing right now when I have other stuff that needs attention, but then I also need to get out there to get my other wheelchair (the one Lola gave to me) so my friend, Chris, can have Rupertito back. He needs it for movie making. He was nice enough to give his current movie a break so that I could use Rupertito right now. How did Fernando come up with that name anyway? And why did I choose to keep it?

That's all for now.