Eugenio's Blog!

I have safely arrived in Iowa City after a couple days of absolute mannerism misery in Chicago. I am seriously going through some Southern with-drawl [pun very much intended].

I left Raleigh bright and early Tuesday morning. To save some cash, I decided to make the trek back to Chicago without an overnight sleep. All in all, it was a lot better than I expected. Time really flies when you’re in the company of Alan Jackson and Brad Paisley.

I was about to break down and cry after paying the tolls on the Chicago Skyway off Interstate 90. It wasn’t because of the tolls themselves, but rather because of the workers at the tolls . . .

While paying tolls on the West Virginia turnpike, I was greeted with fresh smiles, a pleasant “Good Morning, sir, how are you doing?” and a genuine “Where are you off to today, sir?” In Chicago, none of the toll workers even looked me in the eye . . . it was incredibly disheartening. How could people in one part of the country seem to have a genuine concern for me, while some people a mere 600 miles west not even look me in the eye with basic human dignity?

I was so frustrated that today while eating out in Iowa City, I didn’t even bother trying to order sweet tea, black eyed peas, or banana pudding. These things just aren’t here. Wearing my Carolina hoodie all day helped me cope with this displacement feeling, but it is hard . . .

:: This one’s for the girls
Who’ve ever had a broken heart
Who’ve wished upon a shooting star
You’re beautiful the way you are ::

Martina McBride, This One’s For the Girls

As some of you may know, I found my summer housemate through Craig's List . . . it has worked out rather nicely. Ever since, I have recommended Craig's List to people looking for friends, apartments, jobs, events, etc.

Someone recently posted the following in the "strictly platonic" section of Raleigh's Craig's List:

"I know many of you are as lonely as I am. I am a white woman in Lillington isolated and lonely. Are you lonely too? Are you a white female too? It doesn't matter because I am the type to likes all races, even Korean, asian and men and woman, old and young."

This woman must be really desperate for friends . . . I mean, even Koreans can apply.

Good grief.