Chicago again, buying less things this time, eating out more, and helping a dear friend move out of her studio apartment and into her boyfriend's place for real.

Wandering around downtown today, calling my grandma, I learned my (older and second) cousin Keith has severe pneumonia and a recent heart attack. Dear friend Karen's dad has chest pain and is in the hospital in Austrailia, v. far away. Chests, I implore you to loosen and calm yourselves. Loosen and calm.

I think winter might be here. Or on its way. Autumn, at least. Not that you Midwesterners didn't know that already.