Though we’ve been in Hyde Park for some time, Liz and I haven’t really explored much of the nearby University of Chicago. After work, we decided to go for a little trek – and to see if we could find “that duck pond” that we’ve heard about.
A small display of stuffed animals and Hulk gloves. I like to imagine the car and the stuffed animals all belong to the same person.
Going down a path in the Nichols Park Wildflower Meadow.
Our walks have someone gone along the same routes, though we’re trying to vary things up a bit. I used to really prefer the same routes, back when we were running on a semi-regular basis. But for walks? I’m not so OCD that I want the same path every day.
Liz made an observation earlier in the week that we aren’t getting much exercise at all. And I tried to give a thumbs-up in agreement, but that felt like too much effort so I just nodded instead.
There were more folks out and about today, which was nice – but the park wasn’t overly crowded. People kept their distance, and there seemed to be the standard mix of those with and without masks (most folks who were moving had masks on, and most who were settled in place did not).
Liz and I had a house day today. The weather was fantastic, and while Liz worked outside I was on the inside clearing up a lot of the front office.
During these moments, a University of Chicago bus usually goes by. And for the last few weeks, whenever I can peek into the bus itself… it seems like it’s totally empty.
It’s not much of a view at all, but I want to have some photos of this time. To look back and have some documentation of our experiences during the outbreak. I have a growing fear that seems to get validated with each day, that we will be looking to isolate ourselves well into April and beyond.
It did feel a bit eerie to me. Like we were at the very start of a zombie movie, where the main characters look around and realize just how few people there are walking around.
I don’t subscribe to a lot of YouTube channels, but I’ve been following Vox primarily for videos made by the amazingly awesome Estelle Cawell. This one, focusing on the Peacock wicker chair, starts with music and album covers… but goes on a surprising historical journey.
We got glasses of chai, glasses of hot cider, there was chili available, and we also got cookies! And at one point, my neighbor Mark came over with a bottle of scotch (and some plastic shot glasses in his pocket).
We were talking about politics some time ago, and Bob mentioned to me how a very specific speech left a strong impression on him. It was a speech that Jesse Jackson gave, when he was running for President back in the 80’s. Bob explained to me how profoundly that speech changed his way of thinking. It was a big deal, and really shaped how he then started to look at the world.
The fog added a sense of uncertainty to things: our commute was familiar, but slightly off.
After work tonight, we met up with our neighbors Betsy and Michael for dinner. We had made plans a few weeks ago to hang out at Ascione, a restaurant that recently opened in Hyde Park.