nicole @nicole@myna.social

It’s a lifelong art project, being a bad Japanese student. I’m really good at it.

Back in California, where the food isn’t quite as sumptuous, but there’s a little dō who jumps for joy when she sees me.

I may or may not have basically danced all the way from the bar back to my airbnb last night while listening to Future Nostalgia. I blame the sport peppers in my Vesper.

Tonight is my last night in Chicago. I’ve avoided it for two weeks, but, if only for old times’ sake, I think I have to have a PBR.

🫣

Also, a weak michelada. 😩

Today’s Chicago lunch was sourced from Big Star, a fairly well-regarded local institution.

I’m an absolute snob when it comes to Mexican food. Color me Not Impressed. I’ve had better; I’ve had better in Chicago; I’ve had better in Chicago on this trip.

@EmilyEnough Oh, this happens to me all the time. 😂

Okay, time to shower, walk to the panaderia, buy some coffee and marranitos (Mexican gingerbread pigs—a favorite), turn my phone off, and commit to a day of overwhelmingly difficult work. 🥳

@JenWojcik Did they ball the sport points? Or is it scoring the point balls? Or maybe pointing the ball scores?

Had a lovely day of walking ten miles, eating three breakfasts, and doing the irl reenactment of my coming out for friends I could only reach by text two years ago.

Also, my company’s performance cycle, but that didn’t fit in the fun-shaped hole.

@rooster@chaosfem.tw @nerdybutcute And this was the reminder I needed to go poke my company’s benefits person to ask my insurer why I’m on my third month of waiting for them to process a pre-approved FFS claim. Thank you!

Today’s Chicago dinner was a spicy minced pork pie that I carried out from Chiya-Chai. Oh my goddess, I could eat this every week.

@Natasha_Jay 💕 Fabulous dress; fabulous fit! You look amaze!

Today’s Chicago fast-breaker is Bang Bang Pie and Biscuits. Very much a yum.

@SleepyCatten Very upset to hear this. Watching now as so many states here try to roll everything back to where it was, I can’t be surprised that it might never have changed elsewhere.

I find these practices horrific and degrading. And I am always surprised at how desperately a super-majority wants to gate access to services that literally have nothing to do with them, and, at their core, are fundamentally about affirmation—a core human kindness.

I’m being super talkative today. ☺️ Mostly because this is the first day I’ve had entirely to myself in a couple of years.

😳

I only just realized the truth of that as I wrote it.