So, I've been back in Illinois for a week now. And it's been, well....dreary. But, I've still been able to do the things I love.
I hung out in the city with my broski in hipster Wicker Park, visiting one of my favorite bookstores and vegetarian restaurants. Did some rock climbing (in a gym of course...there are no real rocks here), went swing dancing and did the Charleston all night long. AND...I only spent 12 dollars the whole day. rock climbing and swing dancing...$12 plus free good company!
And because today is the first nice day, I have set up my slack line in the backyard and I've been listening to Jonsi as I read and slack line...not at the same time. That would be impressive: reading on the slack line.

Moving around so much leaves me confident that no matter where I am, not only do I have my forever constant companions of books and music (to play and listen to), but there are always people everywhere lonely and in need of a friend that I could be if I so choose.

Tomorrow I'm headed northward for a Wilderness First Responder class at the tip of Wisconsin. I'm excited to learn something I know nearly nothing about. This past week I've been learning from books and such, but it will be nice to have a teacher around to help me out and answer my questions for a little while. I'll spend the next 9 days there, then I'll be back in the midwest for one more week before I head back west!

Reading: "Mountaineering: the Freedom of the Hills" and Huston Smith's "The World's Religions" (excellent book. if religion, philosophy and theology interest you...as they should considering you are human...you should give this book a try)
Listening to: Jonsi "Around Us"