I Hate Banks

So, I have to vent quickly because I need to go get a payday loan because my bank stole 173 dollars from me. On some technicality type shit. Ugh... I hate being upset, but Bank of America can officially suck my $%&, anyways, I have come to the conclusion that banks are evil. I seem to have the most problems with banks, and the funny thing is I tried to stay on top of things this time. I get daily reminders of my account balance, but I never noticed the small insignificant negative sign infront of the 136 dollars. I was rudely awakened from this lapse in observation when I tried to by a milkshake from Wendy's and was DENIED.

Well, I have bills to pay so I need to go get this money,
but for now on I think I'm going to just put my money under my mattress like the
good ol days. Dueces.

Welcome Back

Yo, 

Did you miss me? Well, that goes to anyone who has come to expect daily postings and have noticed that for the past week I have not written a thing. Its pretty terrible when I don't have the motivation to write something as simple as a blog post. SMH at myself, but I'm home in Chicago for break and I'm loving it. Who wouldn't love the blistering cold, F'd up drivers, and expensive prices for everything. Well, to be honest I love my city, and for anyone who has not visited please come and bask in the greatness of the Windy City. 

Ok, if we  backtrack a little, we shall travel back to a place called Michigan. This past weekend I was in Michigan with my Brothers. We went to visit my friend Jasmine and our other brother Kyle. It was a lot of fun, We drank, we smoked, and we ate. It was wonderful. There was a small situation regarding Jasmine's boyfriend getting jealous. He almost got his face broke, but me and the Bro's was in a very lenient mood. 

I really can't complain right now, well, yes I can but I won't. I enjoyed the weekend, and now I'm home. Oh, so I finally have a new phone, a Blackberry Curve. I had to pretty much stalk a grown ass man because he had my phone and just now decided to be available to give it to me. Ugh, it was frustrating. I really had to threaten the man. Never again will I endure such a hassle for a phone. Yet, there is some good news; I no longer have to hold my head a certain way for people to hear me talk. Conversations flow so much easier now. :-)

Well, I still haven't written any new poems, but I feel my writer's block starting to dissipate. Hopefully I can get back on the grind soon and come up with more great poems. 

Oh, yesterday me and my friend Tonisha was driving down the street and we saw a man just licking his phone in the car next to us. Like it was a lollipop, and he couldn't get to the Tootsie Roll center. It was hilarious. Well, thats all for now. I hope you come ride this ride again. 

Writer's Block

I have extreme writer's block. I feel so uncreative at the moment, and strongly believe that my muse in on strike. I don't know if she wants a raise, or better benefits, but I need her to come back to her place of employment. She needs to do some serious housekeeping because my mind is a cluttered mass of transient thoughts. Metaphors are running rampant, similes stumbling around, banging on the walls and she's not there to get her workers inline. Well, I was reading one of my old poems and one stood out so I decided to share since I can't write anything worth posting at the moment. Hopefully inspiration hits me over the head soon.

Midnight

The sun sets to give rise to you, 
Hour of creativity and divinity,
Time is overtaken by serenity, 
Thoughts are born anew

Drifting out of mundane reality
Grasping at clouds of effervescence
Sifting through flashing 'scapes of freshness
Awed by the tender state of fragility. 

Dancing twilight transcends
Rambunctious nature of the soul
Devouring all that was trite and old
Blossoms the world without end.

Soothing the beast we intimately knew
freeing the symphony of wind 
Til the time comes when it all ends
Accosted by the morning dew.

Summer Night's Dance

Creation, 
Union of thoughts and action
Rapid heartbeat
Reanimation, 
Chances to touch beauty
Jumping,
All for me
None for him. 
Devouring,
Kissing all you have, 
Rekindling your spark
So deep 
I can feel your heart, 
Simply overpowering
Unison,
of the physical
and mental, 
together grasping at 
more than carnal
creation,
spiritually essential.

As I said in my previous post its caking season. I think this poem embodies that sentiment exactly. Caking is more than physical it's a mental experience too. Experiences that transcend the normal manifestation that attractions may present. I love to be sensual, caressing and holding a woman is one of the best experiences ever. At the moment I'm lacking a caking buddy, but hunting season isn't over, like Eric said we have time. Maybe someone will come around worth our attention. :-)

Why the hell am I not sleep?

Its 7am, but i've been up since about 5am. I'm a blog addict, and not just my own blog. I love what I write, but I love when I find new blogs that can actually hold my attention. I've been up reading and commenting on people's posts, listening to Dedication 3, and thinking about writing a new poem. Thats all the ingredients for a good start to my morning.

I'm glad its Saturday and that I don't have school because I know I probably would use this as an excuse to not go to class. This past week I missed so much class, but I'm still going to try to grind out this 3.0. I need to keep this GPA up. Good grades=Refund Check, and I need to get my car worked on and pay off all my credit card bills.

So I'm doing this post extremely random. Wherever my mind wanders thats where this train ride will go, so don't mind the track changes. 

Where is all the good Saturday morning cartoons? Hey Arnold, Doug, Recess(didn't we all think T.J. was going to become King of the playground?), Darkwing Duck, Bobby's World, Duck Tales, Rocko's Modern Life, Dexter's Laboratory, and so many more. Cartoons in the 90s where the shit. I would wake up at 6am to catch One Saturday Morning, and switch between that and Fox Kids. Damn I miss those days. 

I'm still a big kid. Wait thats an understatement, I'm the epitome of childhood enthusiasm. I love anything animated, and because of the lack of good American cartoons I have crossed the oceanic divide. I have embraced everything Anime related. Movies such as Spirited Away, Howls Moving Castle, and The Castle in the Sky. I love Anime series such as Bleach, Naruto, Full Metal Alchemist, and so many more. I have completed at least 50 anime series  in my life. 

" I got her clothes falling off like the hanger loose" Lil Wayne

Lil Wayne is a ridiculously innovative rapper. I like Dedication 3, but in all honesty Dedication 2 was better. I'm not going to complain that he didn't surpass himself because I know I'm going to put this in the car and blast it forever until Carter 4. Carter 3 was in heavy rotation all summer, and now when I was slowing down on the Weezy rotation he releases this. Great Times!

Its cold outside, and it's officially hunting season. Oh, I'm not outside in the woods sniping Bambi and Thumper, but I realized its "Cakin" season. Its that time of the year when you want to lay around the house with a female and just become extremely enthralled. Absorbing each other's every thought. Feeding on the sensual nature that can take hold of us. Being single is fun at times, but I'm romantic and love having a girlfriend to be close too. Someone who I can have fun just holding while we watch a movie. Someone to keep me warm throughout the night, so I can keep my heater off and save on electricity. Lol

Ok, I've rambled on for long enough. Next post will be more structured, I think. I know I have to write this poem that Eric told me to write. I want to post more poetry, I would post the first chapter of the book I'm writing, but that would be doing to much. Whelp, I'm out. Train has returned to the station. 

Carpe Diem

" Yesterday is history and tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift. That's why it's called the " Present"

That is one of the tightest movie lines ever, courtesy of KungFu Panda. I'm in a good mood. One of those good moods that only a good movie will put me, especially a good animated movie. I'm a big kid at heart. I love Disney movies , and I feel that Pixar and Dreamworks are wonderful. I'm the Disney movie buff that no one wants to play the game Scene It with. 

Today was a good day at work. My kindergarden and first graders where almost kinda sorta behaved. I just bought KungFu Panda today and decided that I would let them watch it. It made the time go by almost to fast, and after that movie I remembered I had my High school Musical DVD in the car. The kids where extremely happy, and I was able to finish my work for class tomorrow.  Yay!

The last couple of days have spawned some unhappy posts, well unhappy for someone like me who's always a bundle of joy. I'm glad to at least have a great disposition right now, and I plan on making it last for as long as possible. I have a lot to look forward to; I go home in 8 days, and finally get to see my friends and family. It'll be great times. 

Well, I'm about to read and relax, get off my train lol. 

Couple's Couplets

Basking in eternal sunshine my eyes clear, 

Waves of the sea, cleanses me of fear

Seeds of the past flourish in my heart,

Souls connect and can no longer be apart

Paths diverge into the void of heartbreak,

Pain that is real and cannot be faked

Eyes are stricken blind with images of you, 

Praying for the day, that we are made anew

Skin on skin radiates euphoria and bliss,

An infinite pleasure, from a subtle kiss

Reincarnation of forgotten beauty, 

Hidden in the folds of life’s cruelty

Cherished cherry blossoms flourish

Love does too, it just has to be nourished.

I tend to write a lot of poems free verse, just writing and implementing line breaks where I see fit, but with this piece I felt the need for structure and thought that couplets would be fun to play with since I rarely use them. Today I'm in a romantic mood. I watched Wall-E and it was great. Well, I think its wonderful that two semi-mute robots can fall in love. Crazy that the robots can somehow break all the barriers that plague their existence and make it work. I mean Eve was an uptown girl from a nice neighborhood, space, and Wall-E was from the bad part of town. He had no proper upbringing, was basically built for a low end job with no chance for advancement. He was the epitome of someone experiencing the glass ceiling affect. Still he worked hard, followed her home, and it was by being himself that he eventually won her over. She had to realize that he truly cared and see what was right before her eyes. 

I wish a lot girls could see what is right in front of them. Today me and my boy was talking about girls in general and how as of right now it seems that the women we know want to do them, and in the process leave behind the men who have their back 100% percent. Now I can't fault that, but I believe that some women feel that a good man will be there when they're ready to come back. Hell No! I'll be damned if I sit around and wait for a woman to come back while she's out doing her to the fullest. I'm a caring, loving, nice individual, but I'm not so love struck that I'm foolish. Waiting for someone who doesn't want you now, but will when they're ready is foolish. A woman will not set me down and pick me up like a child's plaything. I'm to good for that, and am one of the few men I know who don't play games with people's emotions. When I care and love you thats it. No questions to be asked. 

Now I will not be stereotypical and say all women are like that, but some right now that me and my boy know are, and its irritating. Even my ex is like that. Ahhh she thought it was sweet. She hit me the other day on some I love you and miss you type stuff. Saying she miss the friendship, but nope I don't want to be her friend. I can't just be her friend, I would do to much for her, I've done to much for her and I would want more from her than friendship. So for the moment I'm alright with the random spurts of text message conversation. I'm alright with not seeing her, even though she is 10 minutes within driving range. I'll live, because when I was trying to be with her I was slowly dying waiting for her to come around. So I'm done waiting, and she's got me to the point where I'm done trying. 

The sad part is its officially cold and thus caking season has begun. Whelp, I'll be alright. Hope you enjoy the poem. 

Disappointment

" Hope for the best, but expect the worst." 

That little bit of advice doesn't tend to work for me because I'm naturally optimistic. I'm the wide eyed kid who is surprised when things go wrong. My optimistic nature seems to have backfired extremely hard. Now I think I'll embrace pessimism and attempt to delude myself into feeling a sense of foreboding around every corner. At least then when something good happens I can feel extremely overjoyed, unlike this aching feeling of disappointment. 

Today I was informed via a phone call that I was not selected for Co-Chair of the organization I love so much. They could have texted me that B.S. I can honestly say I worked hard, and have been trying to be an outstanding member of the organization. I've made it to every meeting, been at every even, and basically shined throughout the semester. Even though  I did all this and tried so hard, obviously, it wasn't enough. 

I plan to not be bitter about the whole situation; I still love the organization. I will continue to play my role, and try again next year. There's always next year. Well, that's what I'm telling myself right now. Repeating it over and over in my head, and hoping it'll sink in. 

Next year I'll step it up a notch, but for right now disappointment is all I have to hold onto. Thanks for joining me today, please remove all luggage from the compartments and have a nice evening. 

Prolific

Ugh, I'm tired of the prolific pieces. Enough, my life has been rather complicated as of late. Today I had an interview for the Co-Chair position in my organization, United Ambassadors. I have wanted this position since the summer, and all my hard work culminated in me being up until 3am making a powerpoint and budget. Oh, thats not as bad as it sounds, but the sad part is I've been sick all weekend. The type of sick where I just had no desire to leave my bed. 

There were definitely moments when I wanted to quit and let sickness take over, but I decided to persevere since I've already been through the first interview two weeks ago. I'm proud of myself for not quitting, and I really hope I get the position. I think I would do well in a leadership position. 

Well, my day is coming to an end, there's nothing I really want to do. I just watched Boy Meets World on youtube for a while, and now I think I'm going to watch A Knight's Tale on DVD. I feel like being a true bum, and finishing my recuperation from this devastating illness. I don't handle being sick very well, I tend to act rather childish. Does anyone want to come take care of me? I need some soup, a back rub, and someone to watch movies with me. Feel free to just come by. 

Well, its time for me to relax, I'm sure I'll write more later once I have something important to say. So for now the train ride is over. Adios 

Men Cry in the Dark

Men Cry in The Dark is a novel written by Michael Baisden, and is one of my favorite books. All my life I've read pretty much any work of literature that was handed to me. I always hope that the first chapter captivates me and pulls me deeper into the realm of fiction that I so love. Every so often I am fortunate enough to come across a book that touches me, and leaves a lasting impression. These are books that I count amongst my favorites, and the novel by Michael Baisden did just that. 

 

I have always been an emotional type of person. I care for others openly and am not afraid to express my true feelings. I mean why hold back? I don't care about trying to uphold the masculine standard. I feel that it takes real strength to care and love openly. 

 

So why is it that men feel that it is a sign of weakness to cry, that tears are a symbol of feminism and eradicates all aspects of masculinity. Well, to reject those sentiments is to reject our earliest socialization. This is the aspect of our development that was imposed on us by other men, either through family interaction or interaction through our peers outside of a home dynamic. 

 

To be honest I detest the common ideal that it is only alright to break down at certain points in your life. Points of no return such as a death in the family or extreme pain, well, that’s really it. Those are the only guaranteed time that someone would not try to diminish your right to manhood. Oh, crying over a breakup, hard times, or just life in general, that’s a negative. 

 

I often want to cry.  That is the only advantage women have over men - at least they can cry.  ~Jean Rhys

 

To some degree I can say that after thoughtful consideration crying has become more acceptable, yet, not fully engraved within the core of masculine society. I hope that it will become alright for an individual to weep, and release all their pains and sorrows. Bringing to light pain that was always kept in the dark. 

 

 

Tears are the safety valve of the heart when too much pressure is laid on it.  ~Albert Smith

 

Well, this ride is over. I just wanted to discuss that for a moment, and now I'm going back to watching across the universe and reading Greek mythology. Dueces

Tokyo, Paris Remix Squared

Passport, Check

Pass me the passport so I can inject my life with life support
Resuscitate and invigorate my sense of adventure, 
As I venture into unknown terrains, 

a cornucopia of euphoria
Inhaling the tantalizing aroma of versatility, 

Devoid of familiarity, 

I succumb to the void, 
Flailing, 
Helpless to avoid 
the gaping expanse

Tickets, Check

Destination is wonderland and I see the Cheshire Cat, 
Smiling, 
Luring my down the rabbit whole so I can’t turn back
Tea and crumpets with the mad hatter, 
Two options,
Stationary or evolutionary, and I choose the latter

Luggage, Check, 

Crossing into new planes, and when I return I plan to lose my baggage, 
Returning brand new and completely changed, I hope I can manage, 
The kaleidoscope spins and like it, I transform from beginning to end
Well versed in the languages of the world, not verbal reveling in the linguistic, 
Yet,
Mentally futuristic. 

Friends..how many of us have them?

I've been gone for a whole day. I was on a blogging hot streak, at least one post a day, but sadly life got in the way. When problems come my way they come in groups. Usually bringing along one or two friends. So RUDE!!! I hate uninvited guests. So besides me being financially unstable at the moment, I now have a flat tire, and no money to buy a new one. Sucks to be me.

Well, actually it doesn't because when I think about it I have been blessed with great friends. Oh, I could go down the line naming every great person in my life, but I think right now my brothers are the most relevant. When I'm done, they're usually up, hell, even when I'm up they're still up. Right now they are who I turn to when I need help. I usually don't like to call home and bother my mother or grandparents, but I do call my family.

My friends are my family. I have always valued friendship so much that I would give my last to my friends. If I feel that you have my best interest at heart at all times, then there is nothing I would not do to help a friend. I love my brothers soooooo much. They constantly help me when I need them.

I'm happy to have such long lasting friendships, that I know will continue until we 're all old and gray, and walking with a walker. Yet I can't overlook new friendships that may not be as ancient as others. Friends such as the ones I've met in college, or on certain sites like Blogspot( Lizzy).

Some of my best friends now, are ones that I've met in my years since high school. Friends like Eric, Jarrell, Jalisa, and many more. Friends that I feel I will know, love and cherish forever. Oh, and back to Blogspot friends, Lizzy you're great. Especially this morning waking up to the shout out in your post.

Just a while ago Lizzy questioned what could I possibly say about her? Well, I can say alot pertaining to her wonderful sense of humor, her love for things that are not on everyone else's top ten lists, or the way she constantly keeps me wanting to learn more. Well, Lizzy I hope this is enough for right now, I could go on but I don't want your head to get any bigger. Now the question is what could you say about me?

Think.Act.Be

I wrote this post after reading one of my bro Eric's post. It was a refreshing post that you can find here. Eric was the one telling me everyday that I needed to set up a blog, and curse him, now I'm addicted. Well here is the poem that Eric inspired. Hope you enjoy the ride.

I think therefore I am,

Mirrors can only reflect my outward appearance,

But my internal reflection marks my physical disappearance,

And the reappearance of my ethereal existence

Covered in the sweat that comes from persistence

I hunger for my thoughts to define my subsistence.

 

Playing hide and seek with myself,

No teams or partners to help,

Running around in circles,

Chasing my mental health.

 

Actions speak louder than words,

Yet, I want to scream loud so my words are heard

Actions are often fake and hollow

imitations of the truth that only the naïve will swallow

Rather my words speak for themselves,

Tests of authenticity they never fail,

against society’s rules I’ll prevail.

 

I think outside the box,

Reality is a triviality that I refuse to see,

My mind is a truth that the world can’t believe,

An ideal that you are unable to perceive,

A signal your antennae can’t receive.

Yet, society will try only to be deceived.

 

I think with my heart,

 

My third eye is uncanny,

Way of above the norm of the many,

Poets, rappers, writers galore,

Whose work is logical, rational, mainly a bore.

No use of simile or metaphor I find that I need more.

 

More of the mental ambrosia that makes me feel divine,

More of the creative euphoria that makes me feel design,

A work of poetry where words play and creative juices spray.

 

Act out your wildest dreams,

Gone are the days where the world was silent and pristine

Now is the era where silence is no longer serene,

The world is ready for me to use my words as a source to lean,

Going on and on like a Badu song.

 

To be or not to be that is the question

I choose to be and learn life’s lessons,

Shakespeare pointed me in the right direction

Action was the key to Romeo’s resurrection

he died but he succeeded in Juliet’s deflection

So I’ll be active and hope for Hamlets motivation.

 

Be all you can be, smile and model for history,

Not a repeat of past endeavors

But a conundrum a mystery,

Embodiment of a dynasty,

One voice, one body, one mind

Standing the test of time.

First Session

I know today is the day we make history, but yesterday I experienced one of those firsts...you know first as in first kiss, or first.... well you can fill in the blank. Starting at 8pm last night I started recording my first song. My boy Corry, aka Rocket, was in the studio singing and playing with this beat when I walked into the room. It was the Mockingbird beat by Eminem, and it happens to be one of the catchiest beats ever. So our conversation went something like this:

Flowz: Yo Roc lets make a song, NOW!

Rock: You 4real? Lets go!

--Break for writing--

Flowz: I'm done set me up in the booth

I walk into the booth for my first time in life. I thought I was going to be nervous but I actually wasn't. I laid my verse down in a few takes, and had a lot of fun with it. I was dancing around the microphone, acting all cool, and being my normal goofy self. There was not a hint of nervousness; although we learned that since I talk so low all the time next time we do something like this I am definitely going to have to up my volume. 

Corry went into the booth next and spit a hot 16 bars. It was great. He did all the producing too, and singing. Yes, we have him doing his t-pain/chris brown on the track. My bro is extremely talented. He even did the photoshop for the picture of me on here. 

Well, the whole process took about 4-5 hours because his computer is a baby. It couldn't handle all the things we where doing to the track, and it continuously froze on us. We remained dedicated and finished our project, which, I believe turned out great for a random idea, and seeing as it was my first time recording. I learned what I need to improve on if I record anymore songs with him, and still fun. 

I actually plan on putting the song on here once this fool sends it to me as an mp3 file. He gave me a long quicktime file thats about 10mb. I can't even put that on my ipod...UGH!!! Well, I have homework to do, people to vote for, and class to attend. Dueces.

Train Ride

July 10, 2008, 10:08pm

Thats the date I wrote the piece that inspired my blog's URL. I am a poet first and foremost. A writer who uses words to dictate my reality. I was looking at the description in my header and realized I'm not sharing to much of my poetry. I had another poem in mind to share, and even thought of a whole post just for it, but I decided maybe tomorrow would be better. So here's my poem entitled train ride.

All aboard for the midnight train
Destination, nowhere,
Wheels squeal as the train speeds on,
Towards the end of the line.

The track falls into an abyss
And my thoughts tumble after
Flailing helpless against the onslaught of the night,
Mares infused with the need to be released and roam free.

Two minus one equals me,
Yet divided I’m still whole,
What once was one can never be undone
Seeds bloom in the night or with the sun.

I hope you enjoy it as much I enjoyed writing it.

Year of the Gentleman

Is chivalry dead?

I love to see men open doors for women, pull out a lady's chair, or even give a woman his jacket when she's cold. I know it may seem hard, but believe me its the right way to go. Now, I admit I hate being cold, its the worst possible condition to me. I thrive in sweltering heat. I live for the sun, it sustains me, but I would hate to walk with a woman and be warm all the while she's next to me damn near convulsing due to the cold. 

You may be asking where did this all come from, and why am I questioning the morals of my fellow men. The answer is simple. I've been listening to Ne-Yo's new CD, Year of the Gentleman, and I feel that just the title alone touches on a sensitive subject. 

" The age of chivalry is past. Bores have succeeded to dragons" Charles Dickens

I pray that Dickens was wrong, and that men still are men. Meaning that they still value the well being of women, and not just that of their significant others. I can be honest and say that I have in the past been lax in my chivalrous nature, but thankfully I have a mother, and strong female friends who have set me back on the right track. I never want to feel that this world has lost its morals, its character, or its conscience.  

Yes conscience. A conscience is what tells us right from wrong, and without it we would not know that its wrong to enter into a room before a lady. We would not be able to fully appreciate the fact that as men we can accomplish great things in our lifetimes, but without a strong woman then we will inevitably fall. 

" Behind every great man is a strong woman" ?

The above quote was true when it was said and stands true now. I hope to find a woman strong enough to stand behind me, and when I do I will honor and respect her the way she deserves.  Chivalry is not dead because I am alive. I will leave you with this quote, and then once again this train ride must come to an end. 

"Some say that the age of chivalry is past, that the spirit of romance is dead. The age of chivalry is never past, so long as there is a wrong left unredressed on earth. " Charles Kingsley

Lost Passenger

Well, I'm in the mood for a little recreational blogging. Halloween  was, well, interesting.  We had a halloween party at the Boys and Girls club. It was fun. We had all candy, great times. So at the club I started racing one little girl, of course I won. This one race ended up turning into a series of races between me and all the kids. Then some other staff got involved, and it finally culminated with a 5 dollar bet between me and my boss on whether I could beat my friend Jordan, another staff member. 

Now, this is the scenario. 

Jeremiah- ran about 50 races against kids, never losing. 

Jordan- fresh and completely energized.

Jeremiah- extremely cocky, so I agree.

Now the results. 

The first race I won, but they decided they wanted to act like they didn't know where the finish line was, so we had to had to do it again. 

Second race Jordan damn near throws me to the ground in an attempt to body me out the way. I call for a rematch. 

Third race is actually fair, but we tie; although, some kids say I won. It didn't matter after that I no no longer had the energy to run anymore. I'm getting to old for that(21 on December 31st).

It was fun, but I firmly believe if Jordan had decided to run against me when I was fresh and still a bundle of energy it would have been a different ending entirely. 

Ok, so of course my Halloween consisted of more than just the BGC, after work I went to see Saw V with some friends. The movie was great, but my ex-girlfriend was there. Me and her supposedly had squashed all our problems, but we didn't say one word to each other. Not hi, hello, hows it going, we said nothing. It was interesting because we talked to everyone but each other. Then we get home at about 2am and decide to text complaining about why neither one of us spoke, and that it was awkward. She texted me that it bothered her that WE didn't speak to each other, and to be honest it bothered me too, but in my defense, I waved and she didn't see it. 

Well, that was my halloween. It was coo, but I miss the days when Halloween was one of my favorite holidays. Well, next up is Thanksgiving. Thankfully I'll be back home in the wonderful city of Chicago where I belong. Well, I have to read for class, I have a test tomorrow. Feel free to wonder aimlessly around the train, but the conductor has to take a break.