There were a couple of novelties associated with this past Saturday night's viewing of the show, both of which were highly positive. The first was the context: I was on a first date with a promising 32-year-old who recently moved to Chicago. We met for brunch at Cafe Ba-Ba-Reeba that morning, and, four hours later, when our scintillating conversation veered into MMA territory, I announced that I would be heading to a hitherto unexplored sports bar (the second favorable aspect I alluded to) on... read more

I lapped up my amaretto sour like water given to a marathon runner in the Mojave Desert.

The night roared with annoyance--but not from me. Cascading chilly drops were welcomed atop the dome of my umbrella, the mobile yurt of romance and mystery in an iron-clad October evening.

The dancers in the studio directly across the street are creating quite a visual feast for my appreciation only. The windows of the studio are all fogged up; the glass is opaque, dreamlike. The silhouettes of th... read more

I'm embarking upon day three of being officially divorced. My court appearance on October 16 was Kafakaesque, to be sure, but mercifully brief. When I stepped outside I marvelled at the little Halloween village constructed in Daley Plaza; even the waters of the fountain were dyed blood red. I love Chicago! Life is good, and is getting even better! Happy Diwali, everyone! Happy Halloween! Cheers to the Ancestors enthroned upon the bones of our collective wisdom: Ase, Ase, Ase!!

Funny how the stressed-out mind operates. There I was, ten minutes ago, scurrying down the hall to present my supervisor with the draft of a tedious document that she'd been eagerly awaiting all day (she's going on vacation to Italy tomorrow, the lucky Leo lady!). Writing deadlines suck, especially when you're going through an acrimonious divorce and you find it hard to keep your focus on the job.

And yet... it occurred to me, as I retrieved my print-out from the behemoth Canon machine aro... read more