Miscellaneous

First and foremost, if you go to the Chicago Reader online, and go to the Critics' Choices page of Theater, you will see a lovely review of "Ghost Stories". Should be a fun, packed to the brim theater weekend!

Secondly, it is rainy. Again. Why does Chicago fall inevitably come with a smack-down of icky? It's cold, and dark, and gosh darn it, I just want to stay under my comforter in the morning. This whole business about getting up is just ridiculous.
There is so much potential in a Chicago fall, and there are about two days each year when we see the beautiful low-70's, with the leaves changing color, and we KNOW that fall is gorgeous. And then, boom! The harsh reality of rain, cold, and "where on earth did I leave my mittens last April?" hits. The only redemptive feature of this entire season are those two perfect days. Which is why fall is my favorite season. Those two fabulous days. And because of football, and my birthday. Other than that, it's pretty much a wash.

Recently, I've been daydreaming about how I will spend my free time when "Ghost Stories" is over. I will be full to the brim with social engagements, but other than that (and catching up on movies and TV shows!), I've only to focus on my homework. I find myself praying for the middle of December, when my school semester will be over, and I will be able to take a break, right before the dreaded "working less than full time because I'm at an internship for several days a week" time pops in around January. I'm about ready to be done with this grad school thing and I'm not even halfway in, really. It's going well and everything (knocking down a 4.0 as we speak...pause for one moment while I pat myself on the back), but it's really a bummer when you have to earn less money because of it!

In other news, my professor told us yesterday that raising a child from birth to age 17 costs an estimated $350,000 per child. Mental Note: Why have they not calculated until age 18, when they are a legal adult? How much do they cost for that year from 17-18? Maybe it's millions because of their addiction to Abercrombie, so the government doesn't want to scare us. Mental Note, part 2: Be thankful have decided not to have children. Mental Note, part 3: If mind changes, make sure to be wealthy. Mental Note, part 4: One child is enough, right?? Siblings are overrated.

It's best not to look at children as a financial expense, but it does stun the mind, doesn't it? Perhaps better not to think about it too hard. Also interesting, we're the only country in the world that taxes you for having children. Many other countries provide an allowance for each child, essentially giving you money to raise your child. Mental Note, part 5: If mind changes and become pregnant, move to nice, kid-subsidizing country. I could learn to speak Swahili.

Really, I could.