bikepsychobabble's Open Salon Blog

in the jaws of the beast

Sat, 19 May 2012 00:05:15 -0400

It's finally here - NATO summit weekend. I wasn't sure how I'd feel when it arrived, but now it's crystal clear: fear.

My husband is one of many Chicago police officers assigned to McCormick Place - site of this weekend's NATO summit. He'll be working 12 hour days, facing unknown threats. In order to avoid provoking a hostile reaction, the police superintendent gave the order that the majority of officers will be in "soft" gear - just as they would be on the streets on an average night. No riot helmets, shields or other protective gear.

This order stands in spite of the fact that stashes of bottles filled with urine and feces have been found at property owned or rented by protesters, and a group was arrested yesterday while preparing Molotov cocktails, in a room filled with other weapons.

I've heard from a police source that traders outside the Board of Trade were hit by plastic bags of shit on Wednesday and Thursday. I won't comment on how I feel about the choice of targets, but nobody deserves to be pelted with shit.

Between the huge loss hitting many businesses, nonprofits and hourly employees because the logistics and threats of this circus forced them to close, and the enormous burden on local residents, I keep asking myself why anyone in city government thought it was a good idea to have this event here.

We're facing significant security restrictions on our commuter trains. Lake Shore Drive and other major roads are closed near the summit site. The lakefront is locked down within a 1.5 mile radius. Most of the museums are closed.

As far as I'm concerned, the era for having such an event in a major city ended a while ago. Didn't we learn from Toronto and Seattle? Why didn't they have this at a secure location like Camp David?

I'd like to see everyone get through this weekend safe and uninjured - protesters, police, bystanders, and attendeees at the summit. Right now I don't feel confident that's going to happen. I'd love to get to Monday night and be proven wrong on that.

For now, we're in the jaws of the beast. I can only hope it will let us go without leaving major scars.

three years

Sat, 14 Apr 2012 04:04:59 -0400

Has it been three years already since I first took the plunge and joined you?

At times it feels like mere months rather than years. At other times, it feels like a lifetime ago. I was still at the old job then, hanging out with Stim and trying to survive the trials and tribulations of office dysfunction.

Thanks for all the laughs and great times and for all the thought provoking work. I've enjoyed sharing the OS experience with all the friends I've met here.

Who knows where I'll be 3 years from now? Hopefully we'll still have a good circle of friends here at OS. Here's to another fine year.

a small miracle

Wed, 11 Apr 2012 23:04:00 -0400

A few weeks ago, I heard something from a friend that was one of the best gifts I could get: the news that he's getting a kidney transplant. Paul has been one of my best friends for years. He's also suffered a lot of health issues during that time. For years, he had a lot of odd symptoms that defied a thorough diagnosis.

Two years ago, he was feeling bad enough to make an appointment with his doctor, who promptly sent him to the ER. To make it worse, this was just after he'd been laid off from his job. He was admitted to the hospital and had many medical tests over the course of a few days. Diagnosis: kidney failure. The problem runs in his family.

His first dialysis treatments made him feel better than he'd been in a few years. Unfortunately, between the dialysis schedule and still feeling less than 100%, getting and keeping a regular full-time job was not a viable option. He was able to get disability status and has done some independent part-time work since then.

A mutual friend, Gretchen, got tested and was found to be a compatible donor. She is of German heritage. Paul jokes about learning German and eating sauerkraut to show his appreciation for his new lifeline.

They've both been through a few rounds of pre-op tests, and the big day is set for this Friday. Whatever healing thoughts and prayers you can offer are welcome.

I'd also like to send a big THANK YOU to our friend Gretchen and others like her who choose to be living donors and give others a chance at a longer healthier life.

lovely day

Tue, 13 Mar 2012 08:03:12 -0400

We've been enjoying an incredible weather week, to continue the trend of unusually warm weather. Sandhill cranes are migrating early.

Crocuses are blooming. We're expecting t-shirt and shorts weather today.

Nothing profound to say. Just celebrating a lovely day.

planning a Chicago OS meet-up

Mon, 27 Feb 2012 16:02:12 -0500

It's been a while since we've had any Chicago-area OS meet-ups. Recently I've had an exchange with a few folks about remedying that situation. I was thinking of hosting a potluck barbecue and offering an optional pre-BBQ bike tour of our bike friendly, photogenic neighborhood. This could also include a visit to a fine old local ice cream shop.

I'm considering the first weekend in June, to coincide with the 57th St. Art Fair. Would you be interested?