Last Tuesday I returned home from my visit with Ica. The Tuesday prior to that, I drove down to Wheaton, IL where I spent the evening and morning with my brother and his family. Then early in the afternoon I caught the Metra train into Downtown Chicago. From Oglivie transportation center I walked the three blocks to Union Station where I caught the Amtrak train down to Mattoon, IL. Ica met me at the station, and I joined her for 2 hours at Jackson Avenue Coffee shop in Charleston where she worked for two hours. We went back to her house and I met her beautiful Pitt-bull puppy (well 1.5 year old puppy) Rosalita... or as they call her Lita. Beautiful, sweet, hyper and a little A.D.O.S. I loved her immediately. She has the most beautiful and yet terrifying smile I have ever seen. Ica would say "teeeeeth" and Lita would lift her lip in a smile, showing off all of her beautiful teeth.
Thursday, Ica and I went up to Champagne. We stopped at Borders and I picked up "Return of the King," "Surprised by Joy" and "A Grief Observed" then because we were hungry we went to Steak & Shake for lunch. Man I wish we had them up here. (sad day) I had a bacon steak burger with french fries and cheesy dipping sauce (totally yum) and a chocolate shake. On our way back to Mattoon, we stopped at the outlet mall in Tuscola. There we stopped in at a Dress Barn, where we saw a icy blue raw silk shirtwaist style 50's-ish inspired dress that Ica insisted I try on. So we grabbed the size I usually wear, 18. Well, it was an 18w and was huge on me. So we grabbed the 16w, also too big...finally the sales lady brought over the 14w which fit. Well, she brought over a few other dresses for me to see. And I tried on this lime green shirt dress with a black belt in a 14w. It fit and looked awesome! So I bought it, since I have several weddings to attending/be in this summer.
Thursday night we went to Eastern Illinois University to attend a program put on by "Focus" (the catholic outreach group on campus) called "Greensex" It was intriguing. The speaker was talking about the effects of the artificial estrogen that passes through the sewage system into the water table near Boulder, CO that was having adverse effects on the fish population. The source was from all of the birth control, our bodies cannot absorb it all so it passes through us into the sewage system and thense into the water table. Increasing the female population, depleting the male and causing several trans-gender fish. The speaker went on to talk about the effects and dangers that Birth control on our bodies. Did you know that just by taking birth control you are raising your chances of getting breast cancer by 40%?
For the most part, I just hung out the rest of the time. I went to Church with Ica on Sunday. It was good to worship with her again. After church we picked up Courtney and went to Monical's Pizza for lunch (Yum Monical's!!!) It rained all day Saturday and Sunday so we weren't able to go hiking...but I got a good bit read from "Surprised by Joy" as well as "Return of the King."
Monday morning Ica took me to the station and I took the Amtrak back to Chicago and then the Metra back to Dan & Katie's house. Monday night I drove to Elgin and Judson University, where I met Phill Lambert. He and I drove to meet Annalynn and her friend Ashley Brown at a Pool Hall where we laughed hysterically and played pool terribly (at least everyone but Phill) then we went to Baskin Robins where we sat for probably another hour, talking and laughing. During this time several Judson students came in, several from Phill's building. As we were leaving, one made the comment about Phill being there with 3 women. Apparently he was a freshman. Well, Phill drove me back to Judson and we stood talking for probably another half hour, while security looked at us funny every time they passed and one of the students from Phill's building that we had seen passed us walking back to his dorm...I made it home maybe by 3am.
Tuesday I drove back home, to find out that Dad was in the emergency room from a Kidney stone. On top of this "Mr. Collins" had come to visit, and I was dealing with a lot of thoughtful things.
So, while I was down at Ica's I made a comment that all I did was work and go home. Ica responded that it sounded like her, but I told her that at least she had friends that she could see, where I didn't. To which she offered to let me rent their guest room. So now I am trying to decide what exactly I should do. It wouldn't be until this fall, if I do chose to move down to Mattoon. So I'm trying to be logical and figure this out....
No comments:
Post a Comment