Tag: Chicago

Chicago, Argentina (part 1)

Chicago, Argentina (part 1)
I love getting a new idea. I love the magic of that initial spark. I’ll be walking Crash, taking a shower, sitting at my laptop, and something will just click. Oh! What if I wrote about this!  It’s hard for me to say, “I came up with the idea,” because the idea came up to me. At... Read more »
By Chris O'Brien,
April 13, 2020 at 7:26 am • 

From blog to book: "Here or There" is here!

From blog to book: "Here or There" is here!
Writing a book is a daunting task. The thought of stringing together 200-300+ pages can be a little bit nauseating. It’s like saying, “I’m going to run a marathon,” or, “I’m finally going to clean out the storage unit.” One way to tackle this large of a project is by using the “sneak attack” method.... Read more »
By Chris O'Brien,
December 16, 2019 at 8:40 am • 

The computer room

The computer room
The Living Room is the main showcase piece of any house. Your best chairs, best couch. Living rooms give off the impression that your family comes home, turns on Mozart, and reads from the great Russian novels. No spills, no swears, not even a bad thought has ever taken place in the Living Room. And so when... Read more »
By Chris O'Brien,
November 25, 2019 at 7:26 am • 
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Chicago Public Library replaces overdue fines with subtle guilt trips

Chicago Public Library replaces overdue fines with subtle guilt trips
A few weeks ago, the Chicago Public Library announced they were getting rid of overdue fees. The initiative came from Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s office as a way to remove barriers for all Chicagoans to use their local CPL branch. Overall, I think the idea makes a lot of sense. The same $10 overdue fee carries a different... Read more »
By Chris O'Brien,
October 21, 2019 at 7:19 am • 

I'm in love with Chicago AND Northern Michigan (part 4/finale)

I'm in love with Chicago AND Northern Michigan (part 4/finale)
Ashley and I have a healthy TV truce. I have basketball. She has The Bachelor. When either one of these shows are on, the remote control is off-limits. And it works because we’re both secretly invested in each other’s show. What happens every time at the end of The Bachelor (or Bachelorette) is the main character will be in love with two... Read more »
By Chris O'Brien,
October 7, 2019 at 7:27 am • 

Chicago: The who, the why, and the where (part 3 of "I'm in love with Chicago AND Northern Michigan)

Chicago: The who, the why, and the where (part 3 of "I'm in love with Chicago AND Northern Michigan)
I moved to Chicago on August 1st, 2012. I was three months out of college and had no idea what I was going to do for a living or how I was going to make it all work. My overall strategy: Eh, it’ll all work itself out. What I knew: I wanted to be with Ashley and I... Read more »
By Chris O'Brien,
September 30, 2019 at 7:00 am • 
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I'm in love with Chicago AND Northern Michigan (part 1)

I'm in love with Chicago AND Northern Michigan (part 1)
Every year, I fall into a Chicago rut. I think we all do. It usually happens some time in the middle of winter or during the spring winter “expansion pack” that runs from late March through Memorial Day. The Chicago rut can last anywhere from an afternoon to an entire month. The rut is when everything starts... Read more »
By Chris O'Brien,
September 16, 2019 at 7:20 am • 

Please, take this idea: Traffic Jam and the Push-up Jar

They say you should never shop for groceries when you’re hungry. I think the same warning should apply when writing the “Please, Take this Idea” series. Today I have two food-inspired “appetizers” that I’m combining into one idea feast the same way I used to do at Applebee’s with buffalo wings and mozzarella cheese sticks. The first idea is... Read more »
By Chris O'Brien,
April 29, 2019 at 7:37 am • 

Direct Primary Care: Guest Post by Dr. Alex Lickerman, Founder and CEO of Imagine MD

I remember sitting in the waiting room for an annual physical. There were four or five people around me reading People Magazines from three years ago. The person behind the counter would answer a phone call, schedule a time with a patient, hang up, and then immediately the phone would ring again. The image I remember... Read more »
By Chris O'Brien,
February 4, 2019 at 10:41 am • 
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But maybe "living in the moment" is overrated (part 3)

I loved college. But I struggled a lot my freshman year. I love the show Friday Night Lights. But they did go a little off the rails in Season 2. And I loved high school, especially senior year when it felt like nothing could go wrong. But there was that three-day stomach bug after I consumed two chili... Read more »
By Chris O'Brien,
October 29, 2018 at 7:30 am •