Simple Life - Running uphill and Dancing out of the Cornfields

Oh the simple life.....slow indeed. I decided I was going to see about enjoying the festivities of quad cities. See what I am missing out on in the Midwest. So I head on downtown for the Bix7. It's the summertime. Who doesn't love a festival? Technically there is a race associated with it but that's Saturday morning and involves running uphill. I'm not in alignment or agreement with running or uphill activities. The closest I've come is watching the price is right. Now the yodeling is stuck in my head. Anyway I've digressed. Back to the festivities. Let me check go the crowd, right? I wonder how the parking is going to be? Oh well the joys of Iowa. It took me about seven minutes to drive there and another 85 seconds to find parking. Whoo-hoo! We are in business. So I walked through the entire festival in one hour. That is 60 minutes. And I walked throug twice. I stopped at the roasted corn for spot and a jewelry vendor. It started to sprinkle but even the rain was nice. I swear....SWEAH I didn't get wet. Saw a beautiful Black family ....first born son on the mechanical bull having a ball. There was a band playing though and teens strolling about in a non menacing manner and roasted corn and food truck fare. Just a simple small town festival. Aaaaaand I was out.

The I drove through an endless sea of corn...again to Chicago,...well Lombard was where I laid my head for the night. But after picking up a package (shouts to Amtrak shipping and the helpful customer service I encountered) I went to check out the magnificent mile. Ran up on (not upon) a dance party. Old school Chicago house. 'Twas fun! I was bopping but my dance heart belongs to 2  live crew and Jam Pony express. But I felt the love!!! All ages (mostly 40 - 55) all races (mostly Black) but all LOVE!! It was nice to see folks out with the kids and they have these dance parties all summer and a different genre weekly!! I took myself out to dinner afterwards and sat outside and ran into 3 dudes....2 of which had on the same outfit as me! Who knew a red T-shirt and cammo cargo shorts were the official uniform of kewl kids. Now this experience was different than the good ole Bix what with having to park in an expensive garage or having to risk a ticket but the energy...it was just citified and rhythmic! Well worth sailing through that corn sea.

Sunday morning I  went to a Lincoln Avenue festival to support in namesake where I grew up. It was meh but everyone was still Midwest friendly. My main focus was to hit up Batter and Berries but alas I had sleep for brunch and I stopped by a spot for some fish tacos that was friendly and decent but the sea was calling so I sailed back to Iowa.


Cornfield of the week:

Cobs of corn consumed in the last 7 days: 4

First Week in Paradise....

Well I suppose a week in paradise would be nice but I spent my last 7 in Iowa/Western Illinois.
We all need a (temporary thank God) change, right?I think I may have gone too far though.

What I was thinking was I will get some peace and quiet! My upstairs neighbor doesn't know that someone indeed lives downstairs and doesn't like to be awakened at 3:30 am by someone pounding on the floor. Parking issues. Sirens all the damn time. Crazies on the Metro. I wanted to get away and not have to pay.

At any rate, I figured there wouldn't be any distractions here so I could get my life in order and develop a routine and healthy eating (because the produce out here is not to be trifled with. Midwest = the best!) and exercise regiment.

I knew it would be slow and I knew it would be cornfields. I had no idea the vastness of the exponenitally infinity like amount of both. No brown folks.....bunch of cornfields ...no Black folks...bunch of cornfields...and my commute is just as long as back in the DMV....and through bunch of cornfields. And I have a Prius. Step on the gas and I swear the car smirks at me. SMIRKS. Then it looks at the corn stalks like can you believe her?

What do I get for my troubles: plenty of time and opportunity.
I'm bout to make up some goals...accomplish some goals and forget some goals as well!

Reading....avoiding Facebook.....weight loss.....reaching out to call  old people I would normally not think about talking to friends with all this spare time.....playing Songpop..........playing words with friends....sleeping and learning in this country town not to do too damn much. Because that is what I do back home daily: too damn much.

And oh yeah...professional development "jobby" type reasons as well...since they are paying!

Iowa Excitement of the week: I missed the entrance to my job one day. I know you're jealous of my 007 like traveling experiences!

Cornfield of the week:

Cobs of corn consumed in the last 7 days: 3