Spent the weekend downstate visiting bluvelvet and roguelibrarian. It may still be Illinois, but it's like a whole other country out there. Gorgeous, yes; full of state parks and natural landmarks and long open stretches of road; home to Bon Appetit's "Best Ribs In America" and what seems like eighteen billion tiny wineries (and I forgot to buy a bottle of the Traminette that I liked so much the last time I tried it, worse luck.) I'm oddly divided about the place, though.
I missed Chicago dreadfully, but found myself wondering what it's be like to live in such a relatively small town. There are still enormous stretches of forests and farmlands; we were driving down a long winding road one night when three deer ran across our path. There's so much of that area I'd like to explore. And I was lulled by the amazing quiet at night, all the glittering stars clearly visible as I sat out on their front porch in a fifty-degree breeze. There's not much to do compared to here, but I think I could bang out a novel in six months if I were less distracted.
I really do feel like I'm south of the Mason-Dixon there, though. Nobody but Southerners would deep-fry pickle slices (and for this, I heartily commend them.)
I missed Chicago dreadfully, but found myself wondering what it's be like to live in such a relatively small town. There are still enormous stretches of forests and farmlands; we were driving down a long winding road one night when three deer ran across our path. There's so much of that area I'd like to explore. And I was lulled by the amazing quiet at night, all the glittering stars clearly visible as I sat out on their front porch in a fifty-degree breeze. There's not much to do compared to here, but I think I could bang out a novel in six months if I were less distracted.
I really do feel like I'm south of the Mason-Dixon there, though. Nobody but Southerners would deep-fry pickle slices (and for this, I heartily commend them.)