I’m here in this familiar not so familiar spot to me in my beloved city of Chicago to write this little addendum. I’m spending my New Year’s here. I want to see how cold could Chicago really be and holy shit balls it is really cold. One can only be outside in short bursts or they must be power walking to keep warm.

My addendum to my yearly diatribe. It struck me last night that I left out some major aspects that happened in the past year. They don’t really affect me, but they did happen.

One of them was the death of my aunt’s husband, who I’ve always called my uncle. He passed away from lung cancer. It came as a surprise to me because his family kept it hidden to all of us until it was time. I understand why they want to do that, it’s such an Asian way, but still, I was a little surprised by it.

My mom called me and I called my cousin to find out what happened. A week later, he passed. It was sudden to me, but I guess with his family, it wasn’t. I went to his funeral and will be attending his memorial again this year. It’s the right thing to do. You do that for family.

I visited his family during Thanksgiving and I’m glad to see that most everyone is doing well and I hope that our relationship will grow stronger in the years to come.

* * *

Another thing that happened this year was the moving of a few of our regional office to Regus spaces. Portland, Chicago, and Denver were affected.

The moved sucked, moving to a shared Regus space. It’s not fun and it’s not a good environment. Hopefully things will change and things will change for the better, especially the Chicago office since they are bringing in a lot of money and will need more people.

That’s one of the reason why I was able to travel so much this year, because of the move. I had to travel for work and I was out in Chicago twice before my final third time here, now, for fun.

So, let’s just hope that everything goes better in the new year with work and with my family.

2015. Bring it on.

* * *

It’s New Year’s Eve here in the cold cold cold windy city. It’s fucking cold and I don’t think I’m fully equipped for this weather, even though I did layer up and for the most part I am warm. I just have to be inside or keep moving.

Such a beautiful city. I’m here for another full day and leaving bright and early the next day, the 2nd.

I think I’ll be spending it by myself, as it should be, but I’ll be open to other things.

I really don’t have much planned since the whole trip was based on the premise to just see how cold the weather is and whether it is something that I can do, live here.

Right now, the jury’s out, but it is leaning towards the yes side, if this is the worst that the city has to offer.

It’s cold, but not blistering cold. It’s very survivable if one is prepared.

It’s just the outliers that one has to be prepared for, the polar vortex and the snowpocalypse. That’s the thing that I’m worried about, the irrational weather.

I know that I’ll have to make a few decisions this coming year, and moving maybe one of them. I’m not sure yet. I know that I’ll be coming back later this summer for my Route 66 road trip with my brother. Let’s see how things play out.

Worse comes to worse, Chicago will always be here. It seems I have made my decision to be single for the time being and for the foreseeable future, so nothing to be tying me down in LA.

Options. Let’s keep my life open to possibilities.

* * *

Sitting here, just trying to think of what to write, trying to put off thinking about my creative writing, I feel blessed. I feel fortunate. I feel happy with my life.

I’m here in my favorite city, spending the New Year’s by myself, living like I would live anywhere else. I’m fortunate to have the ability and the freedom to do it. I’m going to live it up, the way I live things up, which is very quietly, and just be.

I sure don’t take my freedom for granted. I hold onto it and exercise it daily. It’s my life. I’m in control of it.

* * *

I’m trying to picture how my life would be when I live here. I’m sure in the day-to-day, it’ll be no different than how it is back in LA. I’ll work, come home and then be with my pets. I’ll then go out whenever I feel like it and that’s it. Life.

Simple.

Void of any interaction and drama.

Life like LA, but I’ll be in this beautiful gorgeous walking city.

Decisions. Choices.

It’ll always be here.

We shall see.

White canvas.

The future is uncertain and that is exciting.