Category Archives: chicago

2:1. 4/7/8. 3–4–5.

Posted on March 26, 2020 by jyourist

The previous blog, “Breathe”, was about 2:1 breathing as a good way to deal with stress and a variety of other ramped-up symptoms like insomnia, high blood pressure, and some digestive distress. A friend emailed me that she has been … Continue reading →

Posted in chicago, health, history, memoir | Tagged , , , , , | 5 Comments

Walking in the cemetery

Posted on October 10, 2016 by jyourist

We have always lived near cemeteries. First near Graceland and now Cavalry, not too far from Rosehill. In fact, part of my graduate thesis was about the necropolis at Rosehill being such a perfect reflection of the living metropolis of … Continue reading →

Posted in aging, cemetery, chicago, death, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Patricia Barber

Posted on July 12, 2016 by jyourist

Last night, JB and I went to the Green Mill to hear Patricia Barber. Barber plays there nearly every Monday night, when she isn’t on tour or working at her Michigan home. The Green Mill is Al Capone’s old hangout … Continue reading →

Posted in chicago, jazz, music | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

La Dulceria Mexicana…

Posted on April 13, 2016 by jyourist

…five blocks from our house.

Posted in chicago, photography, politics | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Trying to save our souls

Posted on March 27, 2016 by jyourist

On our way to Lorca’s Blood Wedding, we came across someone trying to save our souls.

Posted in chicago, christianity, photography, religion, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

“Yes, the dogs are loose.”

Posted on November 16, 2014 by jyourist

Jane Byrne died last Friday (1933-2014). She was the first and only female mayor of Chicago, lasting for only a term 1979-1983, replaced by Chicago’s only black mayor, Harold Washington. Though she ran as a reformer, she was trained in the … Continue reading →

Posted in chicago, politics | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

“Do Everything”

Posted on December 28, 2013 by jyourist

Today we toured the F.E.W. distillery in Evanston. Though the name refers to crafting small batches of whiskey, rye, and gin, the name is also the initials of Frances Elizabeth Willard, president of the Women’s Christian Temperance Union from 1879-1898, … Continue reading →

Posted in activism, chicago, social justice | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Buddhas in the ‘hood

Posted on August 2, 2013 by jyourist

Indira Freitas Johnson has carried out a new public works arts project, in collaboration with Ten Thousand Ripples, which embodies her belief in tolerance and dialogue, peace and communication. She has made 100 castings of a partial Buddha head and placed … Continue reading →

Posted in art, artist, Buddha, chicago, compassion, peace | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

The rabbi in Pullman

Posted on March 7, 2013 by jyourist

The Pullman debates were today. Listening to my students, working in characters in groups of two or three, as George Pullman (dressed in tails), Attorney General Olney (in a proper beard and a suit accompanied with a light saber), Governor Altgeld, … Continue reading →

Posted in chicago, labor, union | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

For a minute or two a primary source made Bobby Franks come alive

Posted on February 20, 2013 by jyourist

Yesterday, a parent came in to class to share some primary sources he had acquired. Since we are in the middle of our research project this seemed an awesome “show and tell,” especially because the items he was going to … Continue reading →

Posted in capital punishment, chicago, crime, history | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments