Road to Somewhere

Well, here I am, back in Banner Elk. It's beautiful. If I gotta be somewhere, this is my choice. I'll always love you Chicago, but sometimes you just gotta move on. I'll start a new blog soon. Suggestions on a name? Somewhere is Here? Mountain Roads?
Anyhow, feel free to leave messages here, cause they forward to my email. Peace to you and yours.

This is the first day that I have been unemployed in nearly two years. It feels scary and unsecure. Thats all, just wanted to share.

I need to finish packing. My dad will get here next Friday, and I don't have one box done yet. The last week has seen me at the zoo, at the bar, on the couch, and even briefly at work, but not packing.
Moving south was what I really want to do, but leaving is never easy for me. I hate packing my stuff away. I really also hate the transient feeling of not really having a place of my own. Sure, being at home with Dad for a couple weeks will be nice, but I haven't lived at home since my father married his new wife, Karen. She is nice and we get along, but it is their house now and not mine. I am always welcome, but I don't need to step on anyone's toes, especially those of the people who support me the most.
MB has applied for my job, and it looks like due to Tom's total lack of other applications, she will be working my job after I leave. A strange twist indeed.

My favortive thing about living here the past two years has certainly been the nightlife. I was never one to really go out more than a couple nights a week until I moved here.
I have seen some excellent shows at Martyr's, which is just a few blocks from my apartment. Cake and Railroad Earth were probably my favorite shows there. Although Jump! was good, and I am seeing the Asylum Street Spankers there tonight. If you ever get a chance to see a good show there, do it.
Of course I saw a few awesome shows at the House of Blues as well. Yonder was there with Todd Snider for two nights in October. I also saw Keb' Mo' there and NMAS. Although the sound quality and bands are always good there, the staff and overpriced drinks are almost not worth it. 4$ PBR is not a special, and give me back Jupiter!
On the complete opposite side of the spectrum from HOB is the Hideout. It is a classic dive bar with no frills. Getting there is no snap, unless you are driving, hence the name. Great bands love the Hideout for its intimate feel and its heavy drinking patrons. Seeing the Siderunners here on Friday nights is a treat. Sound quality usually is not an issue because of the small space, and your PBRs are much more reasonably priced. It recently made it into Stuff magazine's Dive Bar Hall of Fame, whatever that is worth.
Of course, I enjoyed my time at IO, and performing with Charlie Don't Surf around town. Although, I have become a bit disillusioned with the whole improv scene here in Chicago, I still apprecaite the great shows and classes that I have seen or experienced here.
The Cell was better than Wrigley too. I mean the food, the view, and the game was better. You can't beat the history of Wrigley unless its the Stadium in the Bronx.

I'll post more recent happenings soon...stay tuned!

Alright kids, Justin has just over three weeks left in the big city. I thought now would be an excellent time to reflect on all the awesome stuff that I have experienced here in the windy city. Today I want to thank the people who have made my time here a great experience.

First of all, I have to thank Heather, my co-worker and friend, who helps me make it through many intolerable days at the office. I already knew Sarah, but having her here in Chicago has been awesome. We have grown together here. Rich, Sarah's b/f probably doesn't know how much I appreciate him being a friend to me. Leslie Link has supported my work in improv like no one else. Support without judgement is rare. MB and I have enjoyed alot of good time together, going to shows and just hanging out. Anyone you can have fun with doing your laundry together is pretty special. Tim left me to go to Australia right when I felt like we were really becoming good friends, but I enjoyed the short time we got to chill outside of improv classes and rehearsals. Todd gives me someone to drink with, and reminds me who I am. That is always helpful. Liz Allen helped my improv excell to new levels, and also made me realize that improv is everywhere, even if it is biggest in Chicago.

I miss the ones that are gone already, and I will surely miss the rest of you when I am gone. Thanks for being a positive force in my life.

Next on Road to Somewhere: Chi-town-ville Places

I used to worry alot more. Then I realized that its generally pointless. Planning is good, but worrying? Nope, it never really helps.
I've never gone hungry, although I have been without the means to buy food before. I have never been without a place to sleep, although I have been without a place of my own. I have never gone without friends, although I have felt alone before.
It is a faith thing for me now. If I trust that things will turn out okay for me, then they usually will. This is not to say that they will turn out the way I want them, cause they probably won't. If I am open to all of the worlds many options, though, then I realize that my plans are very narrow minded. Some of the best times in my life, I never envisioned before the exact moment was upon me.
I now live in this faith. I don't know what is happening exactly, but I know that whatever happens it will be okay. Hell, it might even be better than okay, but I won't ask for too much.

I know I have been less than regular about posting lately, but I have been pretty busy at work, and I don't want much to do with the computer when I get home from work on days like that.
Not much new going on lately though, so you haven't been missing out on much.
I put my one month notice in today at the office. Only one of my two supervisors was in, and the executive director was also out, so it probably won't really be noticed until Monday or Tuesday depending on when they decide to come in. Slackers.
I have been talking more to my dad about thel logistics of my move back across the Mason-Dixon line. He thinks we can fit all of my crap into a big enterprise rental conversion van. I know my Jeep would blow up if I tried to make it pull anything. It wouldn't be much use to me then, so I guess the van may be a good alternative to a u-haul truck, which would be bigger than I need for all of my stuff. Can't I just burn it all and get new stuff later?
There is a big movie shoot going on downtown here in Chicago. The streets of Wabash and Van Buren are lined with production trucks and trailers. A big group of people were gathered outside of Keanu's trailer with camera phones in hand waiting for him to come out. I laughed loudly at how silly they all looked to me and got more than a few menacing glances. Come on now, who has the time to come downtown and stand around outside of a trailor waiting to take a picture of someone you don't really know, and who doesn't care to meet you? America.