Mister Fuzzybottoms goes to and then leaves from Omaha

Our first view of Omaha from the train (night fall disallowed pictures from the train). Omaha is a very large city. However, as large as it is, it feels very rural. Part of that is due to where we stayed. A quaint apartment complex on the north side of town.

We stopped by a local watering hole, Hereon Haven.

And viewed some urban art. 

Join us tomorrow when Mr. Fuzzybottoms celebrates Mardi Gras

The phone rings. I lift it to my ear.

 "hello." it was Marcus. his baritone voice falters in the phone. drunk. again, "hello?"

"hey."

a pause. long. I begin to speak, he cuts me off. "hey, sorry, am i bothering you?" I reply no. across the couch my cat, Mugen, stretches and turns on his belly. I reach a palm out to pet him. "Can i ask you something?" Marcus asks. Unusual, as he almost always inquires about me whenever he calls. Mugen trots over my lap. he pushes against my phone before jumping down. He did always like Marcus. I reply yeah.

"I wanted to know," he begins. "...i was wondering..." I can hear the ice rattle in the glass in his hand. "I get that we're no longer romantically involved. I understand that it never worked out. But that night... Valentines day. when i came over and we watched movies all night long." his voice cracks "I guess - I mean... don't you ever think about us? Like, when we were intimate? I mean, it was valentines' day. I was alone, you were alone, i just thought it would be natural." a pause. then more confidently, "I just need some closure. I like you, and you like me" it was true "we're not in love - least no more." also true. "wasn't i fun?  Am I not attractive? did we not enjoy each other once? I don't want to sound like a desperate x lover. And I tell myself over and over that we're done. that I don't want to be close to you. no offence. but, like, we're s'posed to be friends, right? just tell me that you don't lay awake at night on occasion and think of me carnally. that you don't even like me that i'm weird and awkward and a silly boy with too little pride and not enough ..." the flick of a light and a hiss of a cigarette. I can almost taste the buttery ash on his breath. "or tell me that you do still feel for me. in some small way. That your heart was torn. That we were too different. two different people. tell me something!"

I don't know what to say. I can't even think. "I..."

"Nevermind. I don't want to know." he exhales, "I think... I think if i didn't know then, I don't want to know now. it... perhaps its better this way. sorry to bother you." then "I hope you are well."

I wish I could say something. I wish I would. perhaps it's better this way. perhaps it's better this way.

Mister Fuzzybottoms Rides the Train

More like Mr Fuzzybottoms waits ...forever! You know, I like riding trains, I really do. However, the inordinate amount of time spent simply waiting... waiting... waiting is too much. Here we are waiting at the platform in Cleveland.

"Attention, 49 Lakeshore Limited is now arriving from New York." At long last the old engine drags itself into the station. It's sleek deisel hum is far removed from my romanced notions - no great steel beast belching steam to carry us along. Seated and stowed we sit in the dark morning. The warmth of cabin is welcome relief from the windy Cleveland night. A conductor collects our tickets.Outside the City of Rock stands quietly. Soon both were memories. 

A brief stop in Toledo

 Amtrak: breakfast on rail

 Pictured here, Chicago platform #20. 49 Lakeshore Limited Arriving on time. Thanks for the miles!

Chicago's grand Union Station! It is an amalgam of pre-war design and modernization through the ages. Yet still it retained the artistry so ingrained in American buildings. I've never been to New York's Grand Central. If ever there was a comparison, i suppose that wood be it. Union Station is an ingeniously designed hub. commuter rails on the northside platforms and long distance rail transit on the other. A mecca of buses and cabs roam the streets over head. Not much time in the breath-taking underworks. lanes of concrete docks running parallel to the tracks. Empty. if not for the crowds of passengers and marked periodically by columns rising like cement trees. we shuffled, stiff legged between heavy breathing beast. the hiss of pneumatics and the hum of diesel engines.

 We camped at this bar, Snuggery, while we waited... waited... waited. I'll say this, Chicago has it all over Cleveland on train platforms!

Mr. Fuzzybottoms packs his bags

Suddenly, I've found myself with an over abundance of time. At first I ate, slept and quite generally descended into hedonistic delight. An adventure to take!

Leaving Cleveland via early morning train. Westward. Then to the unknown.

Truthfully, it's less interesting than that; we'll travel day and night across the roaring tracks to first Chicago and finally Omaha where good friends and family will take us in with mostly open arms. Not much to say right now. The bags are packed and we're leaving today (in 5 hours!) 

Honorable mentions

I was doing some furthering my education research today. And I was just so impressed with Vermont College of Fine Art's website that I wished to promote them.
VCFA website
If you're thinking of a MFA, check em out.
Also, their Facebook, if you're into that sorta thing