Bloomington Brain Dump: 5109177 & 1840000460
okay, so bloomington. i landed here, completely fried. the numbers… 5109177 and 1840000460. i don't even know what they are, but they felt important somehow. maybe a code? a secret message from the universe? probably just airport gate numbers.
the weather? i just checked and it’s… a gentle chill, almost a sigh in the air. definitely a crisp autumn vibe. they’re saying highs are going to hit around 9°C, which is a steal, honestly. feels like 7.91 though, gotta layer. the sky is this weird sort of washed-out blue, like someone forgot to charge their filter.
this whole trip feels… unplanned. i usually meticulously plan everything, color-coded spreadsheets and all, but this was a last-minute whim. booked a flight, found a studio apartment through Airbnb, and just… showed up. weird, right? i'm usually a control freak.
friends told me to check out the *Kirkwood Arboretum, apparently it's a good place to wander if you’re feeling overwhelmed. someone told me that the best apple cider donuts in town are at Bloomington Bread Company - a solid recommendation, apparently. didn't hear anything good about the Bluebird Nightclub though. someone warned me about sticky floors and overpriced drinks.
The neighbors are… interesting. a mix of students, professors, and folks who seem to be permanently lost in thought. the air is thick with the scent of pumpkin spice lattes and old books. i saw a guy juggling chainsaws on the corner - probably just a performance art thing. this city is full of surprises. Indiana University really permeates everything. i’m seeing IU gear everywhere.
I’m thinking of checking out the local farmer’s market tomorrow. i heard they have amazing homemade jams. and maybe i’ll try to find a decent coffee shop. seriously, i need caffeine. i’ve been bouncing between places, reading reviews on Yelp and looking at blogs about hidden gems. Visit Bloomington seems like a good place to start researching things.
Right now, though... i’m just trying to soak it all in. the quiet moments, the unexpected encounters, the feeling of being utterly, gloriously lost. it’s good to be away from the routine, even if it’s a little chaotic. i’m considering a hike in Brown County State Park if the weather holds. or maybe just wander along the Monroe River*. AllTrails has some decent suggestions for hiking trails.
TripAdvisor is also helpful for finding things to do.
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