No matter how crappy I feel, looking at my bookshelf all stocked with books makes me feel better. It is so full of possibility.

I am comforted by how small the world is. The cashier at Zara today was best friends with a girl who lives on my block in STP. Weird!

P.S. I love Chicago and miss Madison and why can't I be everywhere at once??

June 6

The grocery store by my apartment is amazing. Sabra hummus: $2. Peaches: .59/lb. Blackberries 99c. Plus I bought guava juice and could have gotten cactus leaves if I was truly feeling adventurous.

Today, I have a real appreciation for how sad I feel. I can't believe how much I've come to love this place.

Best part of today so far: picking up the keys to my new apartment.

In spite of it all

I am really determined to do this every day, it's kind of a personal challenge. Sooo...

Yesterday: This one was hard to come up with, given the events of yesterday (another setback and frantically searching for a place to live). But I can honestly say that it was a great feeling when I zoned out and almost missed my train stop, because that means that I'm comfortable enough on the train not to be completely alert. Which also means it took me less than 24 hours to get comfortable with the El. Just 3 lines, but still. Go me.

Today: Being reminded of why I'm here in the first place. In many ways this has been the week from hell. Physically and emotionally draining, fast paced, etc. But I went to see Endgame at Steppenwolf tonight (the first thing I've done all week that I really wanted to do just for myself), and I was truly impressed. And it made me check in with myself and think about how what I'm coming here for is to do work like that. It's a good refocusing. Necessary.

Things are going to be okay. I like it here.

A good feeling: REAL exhaustion. Between the almost-all-nighter packing last night, the four hour bus ride, and navigating the city of Chicago by train for the first time (all alone), I am thoroughly spent. It would be a better feeling if I didn't have to get up at 7 tomorrow morning, but hey...