What I'll miss about Fort Wayne

As everybody knows, I'm leaving Fort Wayne to move home to Chicago-finally! But what some may not realize is that I'll really really miss it here. I think Indiana gets a bad rap. Especially from Chicago peeps. People from Chicago, and New York, think where they live is the center of the universe. And anybody or any place that doesn't do things exactly the way they do, is ridiculous. I admit, I'm one of them sometimes. But I hope living in North Carolina and Indiana for the past seven years broke me of some of that. But I digress. Here's a list of things I'll miss about Fort Wayne.

*Separate checks. In Chicago, this never happens. And if you're the person who asks the waiter to separate the checks, you're the cheap asshole. But really, it's SO much easier! And doesn't require the extraordinary difficulty your server will imply. Unless you're with a group that understands it's kosher to split the bill evenly, which is how I was brought up, trouble will ensue. You always have people who don't put in for tax. Or who don't tip as much as the average bear. If you try to split the bill evenly, there's always the cheap-o who's secretly thinking "But I had water and everybody else had a pop. That means I have to pay for their pop. Why should I have to do that???" Here's a secret: order a pop. You're worth it.

*Short commute. It's never taken me more than 15 minutes to get to work. My new job will require a car ride to the Schaumburg train station, a train ride into the city and a bus to the ADA. This will be about an hour 20 each way. I've been told I'll get used to it. "You'll get so much done on the train!" I'm not sure what I need to "get done," but we'll see.

*Cheap drinks. Beers here cost anywhere from $2 to $3.75 depending on how fancy you get. I'll be paying more like $5 a beer in the Chi. And don't get me started on how much my Effen cranberries will cost.

*Restaurants. Despite an outsider's opinion, Fort Wayne has some really great places to eat. I think it has a nice mix of cheap and mid-range places. I'll miss the martinis at Club Soda and the outside patio. The fancy-pants beers at J.K. O'Donnell's (but not the round-the-clock Irish music and 24-hour soccer on TV). The chocolate molten cake at Catablu (which I may indulge in tonight). The gelato and chocolate float at DeBrand's chocolates. The fish taco's at Paula's. I really could go on and on.

*Living alone. I love it. I really really love it. I don't get lonely. I'm not the type of person that needs someone around all the time. When I come home from work, most nights, I don't want to talk to anyone. I like leaving my stuff wherever I want. I like not having to be accountable to anybody. I like things the way I like them.

*My job. The decision to leave Fort Wayne and newspapers was very difficult for me. I've been a reporter for almost seven years. And I love it. I think it's a pretty cool job, and I like that other people think it's cool. Granted, there is a lot of bullshit and very little respect that goes along with my job. But I like informing people about stuff that matters. I believe in the importance of newspapers in a Democratic society. Crap, it's the only job protected by the Constitution. I think people forget that without newspapers, they're not going to do know when shenanigans are happening among local officials. Those same local officials won't be held accountable. People forget there are a lot of crooked people at the helm of THEIR tax dollars. TV news has its purpose too, and I think they do the necessary service of boiling down complicated issues into sound bites for people who will never pick up a newspaper. But it's your newspaper reporters that can dig deeper and provide more detail and analysis. The resurgence of blogs has led people to believe that anybody can be a journalist. You start a blog, and you're a journalist. You don't have to adhere to any type of ethics or fairness or accuracy.

All of that aside, newspapers are going away. Less people are being asked to do more. And more and more and more. For less pay and benefits. I was sick of not making any money. Sick of not saving any money. Tired of working nights and weekends and not knowing when my day off would be that week or being sent home in the middle of the day and told to come back at night because I was "over hours." I was sick of not feeling like a grown-up.

*Friends. This could get really schmoopy really fast. So all I'll say is I've met some of the most intelligent, fun and amazing friends in Fort Wayne. I'm truly blessed.

Turning in his Hoosier card

My cat is from South Hanna Street. Sounds rough right? Kind of. For the Chicago people, lemme put it in perspective. Fort Wayne's southeast side is not as bad as the worst Chicago neighborhoods but a lot rougher than, say, Hanover Park or Streamwood. By far. A lot of poverty. Drugs. Just a shady neighborhood. But that's where the SPCA is, and that's where I met Chachi. He was turned into the SPCA after someone found him and his brother and sister in a paper bag, doused in kerosene.

Next subject.

I originally selected Chachi's brother, because he had a more angelic face (I know what you're thinking-my guy is the most handsome cat you've ever seen, how could there be a cuter kitty?) The SPCA makes you wait a day after you first pick out your animal to make sure it's a decision you really want to make. When I went back the next day, I decided to hold both of the kitty brothers, just to be sure. Chach's brother was cute, but he really had no reaction to me. Chach could not stop purring when he was in my arms. I made a last-minute switch and never regretted it. As the nurse at my vet always says, as she pets his cheek, "She saved you."

Now that I'm moving, Chach is going to have to give up his Indiana residency. He'll have "roommates" for awhile (aka, my parents). His toys won't all be in one place. He'll hopefully stop being a scaredy cat since so many people come in and out of my parents' house. Chach is an odd cat in that he actually likes to travel. He'll sleep in his cat carrier when we're at home. When he's in there, I like to think he's put the "do not disturb" sign up. So he likes being at my parents and exploring and having their attention.

So look out for Chach at the DMV, getting his Illinois state ID. Kitty cats don't drive, silly.