Crescat scientia, vita excolatur

[bronze_ribbons]

Highlights from my extended Windy City weekend:

Saw a taping of Wait! Wait! Don't Tell Me. It seemed both lower-energy and higher-consciously-trying-to-be-entertaining than the one I attended two years ago, but it was still a good time (and audience response to the Greenpeace memo was significantly more uproarious during the initial take, alas).

Toured Argonne. Super-duper "nanoscopes" = nifty.

Went to my 15-year college reunion dinner. Most of my former classmates looked fabulous: we geeks age well.

Marched in the alumni processional as far as 59th street, but then peeled off to go prowl around the Quads (I wasn't much for assemblies even when I was a student). Ted Cohen caught me trying one of the doors to Harper and let me in. The library "playpens" (big round carpeted circles large enough for several students to study and snooze in) are gone, so I was feeling a bit wistful-sad over that, but then I walked up one of the tower stairs and there was an index-style inscription painted inside one of its corners that cheered me up:

Lying in ambush
     justice, 144
     kindheartedness, 7

The other reason I skipped Convocation was because I figured the Compton Lecture on string theory would be more interesting. And it was -- I netted some new ideas for poems, and chatted with a delightful older gentleman (speaking with a heavy German or Slavic accent) on some similarities between theoretical physics and creative writing. And the hall was full (100+ in attendance), on a sunny Saturday morning. Ah, my tribe...

Meals: the BYM and I had lunch at the Medici on 57th (stroganoff burger, mmm); dinner at Thai 55 (which was having trouble handling the crowd, so we shared our booth with a local woman who was intent on introducing her niece to the joy of good Thai); and dim sum in Chinatown at the Royal Dragon (total bill for two people before tip: $11.75 -- comprised of tea, fish-and-shrimp shumai, sticky rice with sausage bits wrapped in leaves, sesame-filled mochi, and potstickers, and we were more than full by the time the potstickers arrived; easily the best deal of the weekend). And also drinks (whisky for me, Black-and-Tans for the BYM) at O'Reilly's Daughter, a nice Irish pub in Midway Airport, paired with a gigantic polish with onions (large enough for the two of us to split between us) from the pub next door.

The 20th anniversary/reunion Off-Off Campus show. Best prompt: "Restoration comedy" (the poor guy had to co-improvise a story in that genre). There was also a skit about the Chicago Manual of Style -- personified by a chic redhead with a French accent, who ended up duelling with a pair of earnest-looking lads representing Strunk and White.

Hugged David Bevington at his booksigning. One of the busiest and kindest men alive.

Watched the White Sox lose to the Rangers 10-2. *sigh*

Wandered around the Printer's Row book fair. I was very, very good and purchased only one book (a $1 collection of essays on children's literature); knowing I was going to have to haul anything I purchased up and down numerous El station steps was a very useful deterrent over the entire weekend.

My feelings about my years at the U of C will always be a mix of sadness and elation, I suspect -- I was inept and clueless about so many things back then, and it's bittersweet to be reminded firsthand about missed chances and poor choices each time I go back. Even so, it was still very much the right place for me, and both the College and the city energize me anew when I visit, and the weather this weekend was spectacularly sunny and mild. It was good that we went; it's good to be back home.

Comments

[dichroic.livejournal.com]

That's a good description of my feelings about Penn, as well. I loved my time there and learned a lot in and out of classes - but every time I'm back there or even read an alumni magazine, I see more things I missed.

[slightlymadmom.livejournal.com]

Sounds very cool. I either love or hate reading your entries about food! Right now I'm on a diet, plus there's always the Kosher thing...but eating vicariously has other benefits (like no onion allergy).

I'm glad you had a good time, and that the weather was good.

[mechaieh.livejournal.com]

The list of foods my digestion cannot handle grows ever larger, especially since I'm trying to get serious about getting my immune system into fighting shape (and, by extension, the rest of me, since it's hella hard trying to stay fit when one keeps getting decked by bronchitis and other energy-sapping icks). So, I hear your pain... (and am having boiled brown rice and radishes for breakfast. Not nearly as dire as it sounds -- and I've found that I personally feel a lot better when I have rice instead of breadstuffs first thing -- but at the same time, I miss being able to wolf down leftover pizza and cake with a tall glass of milk without being incapacitated for hours.

[catrinella.livejournal.com]

Oh, how is David? He spoke at Boston alums last year but I did not go. That man is just going to wake up dead someday at 108 and not even realize it.

I have basically the same feelings as you about the quads. It was the right place to learn many hard lessons, if that makes sense. And yet, given the chance? I'd not go back to redo it. (Maybe a little.)

[mechaieh.livejournal.com]

That man is just going to wake up dead someday at 108 and not even realize it.

Isn't that the truth. The BYM and I were riding a trolley later that afternoon and David zipped right past us on his bike.

It was the right place to learn many hard lessons, if that makes sense.

Yes.