Family members favor the Muppets

Written by Abi Humber Tuesday, 29 November 2011 16:04

Although I’m not quite old enough to remember the debut of TV’s “The Muppet Show” and its regular programming, I have seen “A Muppet Christmas Carol,” “Muppet Treasure Island” and “Sesame Street” episodes countless times throughout my childhood. And, after going to see the new Muppet movie twice in the past week, I think I have a fairly solid understanding of the Muppets and their various personalities.

As I tend to do with most movies and television shows over which I become temporarily obsessed, I daydream about which characters are most like the people in my life.

So far, this has happened with “Lost,” “Weeds,” “The OC,” and, most recently “30 Rock.” Much to my dismay, I am realizing that my...

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‘Becoming’ is adapting to life in new ways

Written by Abi Humber Tuesday, 08 November 2011 15:59

o become: “to emerge into existence.”

I close my eyes. I see a soft pink flower bud, suddenly unfolding, now bright pink as it turns its face to the sun. Blooming, emerging into existence. Becoming.

This picture suggests that act of becoming “happens” in a single moment. We’ve been hard at work long before our efforts reveal themselves. And then! We “arrive” in an instant. Blink, and you’ve missed it.

While that might make sense in some circumstances, I like to think of my “becoming” as more of a lifelong emergence into the woman I hope to someday be. Sure, there are small moments of blooming that mark themselves milestones along the way, but I’m not sure I will ever be fully bloomed.

And I’m perfectly OK with...

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Reality of junior year hasn’t met expectations

Written by Abi Humber Tuesday, 01 November 2011 15:37

My junior year of college began with an overwhelming amount of excitement.

I ended August in Massachu­setts, where I took a 40-hour mediation-training course. I learned so much, which was exciting in about a hundred different ways.

I carried that energy home to Chicago, where I was excited about being an upperclassman and finally feeling like a “real” part of the university.

There was an attitude of excitement surrounding my new “big-girl” (off-campus) apartment, where I looked forward to living a more independent life and entertaining friends in a beautiful space.

There was excitement around my class schedule, which appeared to be full of material that would be directly applicable to my intended career path.

I’m not...

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Chicago bankers’ protest is for your benefit, too

Written by Abi Humber Tuesday, 11 October 2011 14:36

“THE PEOPLE! UNITED! WILL NEVER BE DEFEATED!”

“BANKS GOT BAILED OUT, WE GOT SOLD OUT!”

“SHOW ME WHAT DEMOCRACY LOOKS LIKE—THIS IS WHAT DEMOCRACY LOOKS LIKE!”

“WE! ARE! THE 99 PERCENT!”

Hundreds of Chicagoans, myself included, exercised our right to public protest outside the downtown Hyatt on Monday, where the Mortgage Bankers Association was holding its annual conference.

Inside the corporate castle were some of the people responsible for deciding how housing finances are distributed—their practices are leaving millions of Americans unable to afford their mortgages.

In addition to the unfair banking processes that plague America, the super-rich haven’t been paying fair taxes on the money they make. This makes...

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