Hurray for the east coast. I have had delicious pizza and bagels and thus life is good.

In my last days in Chicago, I managed to have some fun. I had a drink at the Lounge in the John Hancock building. I jumped in Lake Michigan with all my clothes on. I met up with Adrienne for lunch. Adrienne is a high school acquintence of mine whom I’ve known via Onstage tech and decathlon. Adrienne is one of those people whom I’ve always wished I got to know better.

Final thoughts on MAPSS?

Well, it wasn’t the worst way to spend 9 months.

Scene: Chris, trying to convince me that my thesis is not a failure.
Me: Yeah, yeah, whatever. I’ll say it again ‘An MA in 9 months is way more productive than getting knocked up’
Chris: Yeah that only takes a day. Or like, 10 minutes!

Well, I did get a boyfriend this year, so at least I’ve accomplished something
-Sarah

I am not qualified for any job my MA could get me
-Eric

Who is this “Chad” person?
-someone’s thesis advisor

What’s wrong with the people in your program? They always look so depressed
-CIR person

I don’t know anyone who’s said ‘MAPSS was a great experience! I’m so glad I came!’
-the conclusion of last week’s conversation

Damnit, I should have done CIR!
-me

MAPSS lies
-the general consensus

Damn, I’ve written a lot lately. Chalk it up to procrastination. Packing in my overheated apartment is absolutely no fun. It’s far better to sit in front of the fan, or sit in my air-conditioned office. The problem with not being busy is nothing gets done. When I have a million things to get done, I’m like a machine. When I have nothing to do but pack and enjoy my last few days here, I am a useless waste of space.

I have also acquired way too many books between thesis stuff and class materials, which I am hoping I can fit in the car. There is an odd balance of stuff that I took out here that’s not going back, because its going to my brother’s apartment, and stuff I’ve acquired here.

Also, I normally save EVERYTHING. Class notes, print outs of readings, etc. I have an entire filing box full of stuff from my undergrad; all my OCD notes, etc. But I am showing no mercy. I have probably gotten rid of several trees worth of print-outs. It’s kind of freeing. Like it took me about 18 months of thinking about it to even sort through all my undergrad garbage and file it. Now this stuff is gone and I never have to worry about it again. Which makes me think I should throw away all the boxes of stuff that are in my parent’s attic.

Plans for the rest of the week include going to the aquarium, because its free this week and they have penguins, meeting up with Adrienne for lunch, seeing some people on last time, and wishing good riddance to Hyde Park and U Chicago. This is new and different, as the end of anything usually brings on a giant bout of nostalgia, but I’m so done here. I can’t wait to drive away.

So after discussing the logistics of yet another move (blech) it’s official. I’ll be back in New York/Jersey at the end of June. No, I do not have a job or an apartment. However, last time I decided to move to New York I didn’t have either of those things, and it worked out pretty well. 

It’s a weight off my shoulders to know; that’s one less decision to make. It’s the obvious thing to do really — Chicago has never felt quite right.

Getting that rough draft in really confirmed it for me — I’m almost done with what I came here to do, and now I’m ready to go home. 
And as I learned in the final weeks of my final semester at Skidmore and as I saw again in my last few weeks in the city, a lot can happen in a short period of time, especially when you’re living towards an end. 

Now to catch up my IR reading, write one awesome final draft, and get my ass back for the Second-Great-Job-and-Apartment-Search. Actually, properly speaking its the second great job hunt and the third great apartment hunt. And while I’m sure I’ll be cranky in the process (ug, job hunting. In July.) its going to be worth it.

These Are the Last Words I Have to Say/It’s Always Hard to Say Goodbye/But Now It’s Time to Put This Book Away/And That’s the Story of My Life