My baby Ruby is almost 6 months old. She has completely changed the way I view the planet. Which in some ways makes me feel more selfish for our own well being as a family unit, but less selfish about my own interests. I care more about what will happen for her than for what interests me so I am becoming more intentionally committed to making the hood better place for her to grow up in. Which means I have to figure out concrete and lasting ways to make this neighborhood rock. I am going to leave this pocket of alt culture world that we have created to embrace a wider community civic engagement phase of my life. I feel like a parent.
Since September way too much has transpired: Lumpen 115, Proximity 008, Select Media Festival, bunch of art shows, Co-Prosperity School; Three months of running and programming Maria’s and it feels like two years have gone by. My arm/shoulder is killing me every day. I sleep poorly. I am a little overworked, and realize i am going to have to trim the fat. Which means I am gonna drop one issue a year of Proximity, so that it comes out biannually. Am also trying not to work at the bar during the day so I can chill more with the family. I now know firsthand that owning/running a bar is a time consuming and delicate balancing act and have a lot of empathy for restaurant/bar owners everywhere. Despite the suckiness of running a business and the resulting mental and physical pain, I am proud of the fact that we made an incredibly awesome little neighborhood joint. I work with great people: my family and friends. We are trying hard to make the bar a nice community joint for non douchebags and we have succeeded on making it a place that we want to hang at.
I owe massive thanks to everyone that has collaborated and helped us get through the past 6 months of frantic and hectic work production and craziness. Thank u guys..
Ahead:
Going to revive the Easy Listener and make greater plans for 2011. It includes a giant art fair for alt spaces for Version>011 in late April and a possible commercial off-space fair during art Chicago. A new Lumpen is due in January, a new Art Guide Chicago and a new Proximity in April, a food festival is being planned in Bridgeport and the massive Re-imagining Bridgeport neighborhood community project will be created. The new year will also find us brewing beers and I have a goal of releasing a Lumpen Proletariat IPA to celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the magazine. God I am old.
Someone bring me some Ritalin. Or please massage my shoulders when u see me.
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