Miss Single USA

Garden (R)Evolution - Viva los Veggies!

2011-09-29T18:24:00.000-05:00

When I moved into the Rose Cottage PNW, I acquired a very large garden space. I didn't have much chance to give a go at gardening last summer, so the garden grew pretty wild for quite a long time. It's a bit overwhelming to have so much space and no real idea of what to do with it besides tear it all up.
Nearly all my friends here have amazing gardens and yards and if I'm going to have these people over for garden parties, I need to have a functioning garden. So, that's what I did - I tore up nearly everything minus the rosemary bush, the yaku princess rhododendron, the sage and the lavender bush. And then I planted everything that sounded either delicious or fun.


My grass garden and sad lavender plant, September 2010

A much more manageable space, May 2011

Watering the kale, radishes and sage

Popcorn and Garden Girl


Elephant Garlic - notice pen for scale.

Zucchini

Carrots, Beets, Onions and peas

Spider feasting on mummified honey bees in the lavender. Nature!

Hope you enjoyed the little garden tour!!

Outdoor space

2011-08-10T17:38:00.001-05:00

Wow, it's been a while since I posted anything here. You can all rest assured that I've been busy and not just holed up in my little crazy lady cottage library. The winter was good to me with lots of travel and lots of work. And after nearly 4 months of constant travel (Feb - early May), I've been relaxing and learning what my life in Oregon really looks like.

Today, it looked like this.

A few months ago, I read this post in Apartment Therapy all about an open air work space. Since it's summer and the rain has stopped (in theory), I decided to give it a try. I don't have a spare shed to convert into anything like this, but I do have a table and a big doug fir that provides plenty of shade so I can still see my computer screen. I'm still trying to figure out a few kinks (like power cords), but overall, I'm really happy with my outdoor office.

In other news, I am very excited about my corn. Stay tuned for a garden update.

A gal without a plan...

2011-01-12T00:13:00.002-06:00

I had planned to write this blog post while on the plane from EUG to NYC. I had planned to work at PK's inaugural Poker Night Fundraiser, meet with some good friends and then catch the train up to Montpelier for a long MLK weekend "off grid" with AMO on her mountain. Unfortunately, because of the blizzard that is hitting the east, my flights to NY were cancelled and therefore all that I had planned is no longer relevant. I find myself a woman without a plan for the next 10 days. What to do?! What to do?!

This is going to be the longest stretch that I've been in Eugene since the summer - definitely the longest stretch since I moved into my little cottage. I have high hopes for these next ten days - visions of refinishing tables, rearranging furniture, sewing curtains, hula hooping, running, dancing, manicures, baking lots of goodies, etc. I don't feel like I've given my little cottage the attention that it deserves. It's due time to make plans.

I've made the best of my change in travel plans so far. Last night, I met up with the gang to watch the BCS championship and drink rum punch. I made duck-shaped sugar cookies to share (because, of course, it was a pot luck party). C & E gave me a ride over to the party and while I was walking over to their place for said ride, I passed a lot of happy, excited people walking down the street. It was a good game, but in the end, the Ducks could not pull off a win. Oh, well, Ducks. Maybe next year. I shall eat the leftover cookies and remember the good times.

Today was a super productive day. An early morning work call and then some coffee and sugar cookie breakfast. I made a conscious effort at the end of 2010 to cut back on my coffee intake and this was my first work day coffee in a long time. WOW! I can't believe how great I felt all day long. And so productive! I even crossed off a few things on my never ending to-do list, including buying a waterproof purse.

This weekend also starts my 1/2 marathon training for the Eugene 1/2 marathon in March. My goal is to finish the race in 2:15. It's good to have goals.

Well, my east coast and mid west friends, I hope you all stay warm these next few days. I'll see you in a few months.

City of Eugene, who wants to go out dancing?

Spiders, Snowshoes and Swans - updated with photo link

2011-01-10T01:54:00.004-06:00

Happy New Year, everyone. I hope that so far 2011 is treating you all very well. My 2010 ended on a very high note with a December filled with a lot of happy moments with family and friends. I went back to Chicago for the last 2 weeks of the year and was once again fortunate enough to stay with kat at my old digs on sunnyside! It's so nice to be able to go back to Chicago and more or less pick up where I left off. Kat has taken excellent care of the place and always makes me feel right at home while I'm there. I hope the apt is bringing her lots of luck. It was always a good time living on the sunnyside.

During my trip back to the mid-west, I realized that most of my family and friends have no point of reference as to what my life is like out here in Oregon. I should probably blog more and give everyone an idea of what I'm doing out here. For now, you can all rest assured that I'm doing fine. I have friends. It's not ALWAYS raining. I signed up for a hula hoop dance class that starts in two weeks. There's no need to worry.

This weekend, I tried out two new things that are rather typical of the PNW - I threw a pot-luck dinner party and I went snowshoeing.

I love throwing parties, but there's always something that happens at the last minute that makes me lose my mind. For my last party, I realized only 15 minutes before everyone was due to arrive that I had zero toilet paper in the house. Oops! This time, i sat down at the table about an hour before go-time and noticed that there were a few spiders crawling on the table. I scrubbed down and brought inside a few chairs from outside so that I could have seats enough for everyone at the table, and apparently I neglected to scrub the underside of the seats... where there were a bunch of spiders' nests! So, 45 minutes before the guests arrived, I was outside in my galoshes in the rain scrubbing the seats with vinnegar and salt water. The evening turned out to be a big success and I fed my landlord enough bourbon that he agreed to replace the horrible carpeting in my front room this summer, but I wonder if I'll ever throw a party without any sort of last minute incident. Knowing me, probably not.

Then at 8:45am the following morning, Chandra picked me up for a showshoeing hike to Diamond Falls. I had never gone snowshoeing before, but I picked it up fairly easily. The falls were amazing with huge ice masses formed along the sides. I forgot my camera, but will update this post with photos as soon as I can. (Here's an updated photo link, courtesy of Chandra. Also, can someone show me how to edit things so i can cross them out in text? I can't figure it out.) I will be going snowshoeing again soon. That's for sure. The evening was spent zoning out and listening to the new Grinderman LP on repeat. I can't seem to get enough Nick Cave after watching latest Harry Potter movie.

Today, I played cards and dice with Patrick and then met up with Chandra and Eric for pizza and Black Swan. The movie was quite disturbing, but I loved it.

I also learned some sad news today that Debbie F, a good friend of the organization I work for, passed away today from pneumonia. She was a joy to know and I'm glad that I had the awesome opportunity to travel with her to both Russia and Ukraine for work. In hearing the news today about her death, I couldn't help but think of the first time I met her. Debbie was an artist in residence on the Voyage on the Volga - my first work trip to Russia. It was an exhausting fundraising trip during the white nights, and some of the women on the trip were rather horrible to deal with (thankfully, none of these women are still associated with the organization). The first night, after an ugly shrew of a woman yelled at me about the bathroom conditions (like I could change the fact that the sink also doubled as a shower), Debbie found me crying in the hallway. She and her friends hurried me into her room, fed me a granola bar, let me cry my eyes out, and then told me stories until I was in good enough spirits to continue on with the evening. She was my cheerleader for the rest of the trip and I'll always be grateful to her for that. My thoughts go out to Debbie's friends and family.

So, in the spirit of cheerleading, I hope all of you readers have a great week. I'm sending you lots of love from my little cottage in Eugene. Go team! And Go Ducks!

Cheers, Friends!

2010-11-16T18:59:00.003-06:00

Wine Tasting Party - Nov 2009. (from Fuzzy's flickr set)

It's official. I'm throwing my 1st party at the new cottage in Eugene. It's just going to be a small affair, but I'm very excited. I'm curious how my party will be received by my pals out here. It's a wine tasting party - a common theme for my parties back in Chicago. I'm sure it will all be fine. Afterall... Wine + Friends + My House = good times had by all. A lot of us are also running a 10k or 5k the next morning, so we'll see how that goes. I'm not expecting a PR for the race, but possibly a PR for the party. We shall see. Anything is possible! Last time I threw a wine tasting, two people drank a glass of the swill for such goods as a box of nerds, 4.25 in US Currency, a free cat treat coupon and a few pieces of gum. Like I said, good times had by all.

I returned to Eugene yesterday after a week of travel to Belarus. It was a very long journey and very exhausting. However, very much worth it. I spend a lot of my work time skyping with my colleagues in Russia and Ukraine and it was really great to work with everyone face to face. I also had the opportunity to practice my Russian and learned a few new phrases. My favorite new phrase - Я люблю Вас. (pronounciation: Yellow Blue Bus) It means "I love you."

It's been a very busy fall with lots of travel. 2 weeks in Chicago, 1 weekend in Detroit, 2 weeks in NYC, and then this last international trip. I also fell down my stairs and fractured my tailbone two weeks ago, which totally sucks, but at least the urgent care gave me some nice drugs for the plane ride to Belarus. I'm looking forward to staying in Eugene for a while, or at least until the christmas holidays bring me back to the midwest.

Tonight I'm heading over to C & E's for a Twin Peaks pot luck night. So many parties out here are pot lucks. I find it really odd. I'm going to bring donuts and a positive attitude. I really love Twin Peaks.

I wonder what a tv series would be like if it was written and directed by Jim Jarmusch...

Cottage Living

2010-09-14T17:11:00.003-05:00

These last few weeks have been spent slowly getting settled into my cottage and making it my own space. It's a super cute little place with a redwood tree and a madrone tree and a fig tree in the front yard. I also have a garden and spent a good portion of Saturday staring at all the plants and asking them "what are you?" I love the fact that I live in a cottage - it makes me feel very single and fancy. I also have a washer and dryer INSIDE THE HOUSE!!! For the first time in my adult life I don't have to leave my living space to do laundry. Like I said - Fancy!

I had a small taste of PNW rain a few weeks ago. After weeks of hot, hot summer, I woke up to cold, cold rain. In true city gal fashion, I rallied against the elements by riding my bike to the office in a mini skirt, heels, tights and my leather jacket. I was wet and frozen by the end of the ride, but at least my pride was still intact. I know I'll have to buy some sort of rain gear if I want to continue riding my bike during the next few months... and I'll also have to get over the fact that most rain gear is very ugly. Ah... a new transition to look forward to. Work is taking me to NYC next weekend - I'm hoping to hit up some hipster bike shops and see what kind of 4-season women's bike pants they carry. If anyone has any suggestions - please send them my way!

Team Laser Cats! (Thanks for the photo, Coach!)

In other news, Chandra and I ran the Eugene Women's 1/2 marathon over Labor Day weekend! Team Laser Cats Rocked it! Afterwards, we went wine tasting with our friends Chris and M who also ran the race with Chris' mom who was visiting from SoCal.

I've been making more of an effort lately to go out and meet people in Eugene. You never know who you'll meet out here. I met a slug queen, got to talk with a famous singer, and also drove an electric car. This guy also came by the office to say hi last week.

Bike Fashion

2010-08-09T17:11:00.005-05:00

Photo from The Sartorialist, July 8, 2010

Pinky the Bike arrives in Eugene this week. I've been getting around town on a borrowed bike from Eugene Modern Monkey that I've dubbed "The Cicada." And The Cicada and I have gotten along really well, but I am very excited to have my pink bike back. In honor of Pinky's upcoming arrival, Erica sent me the blurry photo below from our first office fashion photo shoot. The garments were gifts from one of PK's donors. We also had matching backpacks.

PK Fashion, Summer, 2007

Did you have a good fair?

2010-07-22T16:55:00.003-05:00

That's what people have been asking each other here in Eugene for the last week and a half. The fair that they speak of is the Oregon Country Fair. It's a big thing out here. I was supposed to go to the fair with C and E about 5 years ago, but unfortunately, my flight was canceled and I never made it in. So, C and I decided we'd head out there this year.

I'm not quite sure how to describe the fair - there are lots of people there letting their freak flags fly high. Lots of people in costumes and faerie wings. People on stilts. Acrobats. Good food. Community building areas. Environmentalist areas. Energy areas. There's no booze or drugs allowed at the fair, but luckily we ran into a friend who helped us spike our watermelon and mint juice cocktails. It's a lot to take in.

I have a few other photos on my flickr page if you are hungry for more.

Storm the bastille

2010-07-18T23:30:00.005-05:00

In Chicago, I love love loved going out with friends for Bastille Day! It was an easy excuse to go out and have a good time - drinking wine or late night coffee, we always found time to do something a bit French. I was hoping that there would be something going on in Eugene for the 14th of July, but nope. So, I created my own little garden soiree in honor of Bastille Day and invited friends over for French goodies.

le menu

salud!

The most useful French phrase for the evening - Je fouillerai dans votre bourse et je cracherai dans votre visage!! (I'm going to go through your purse and spit in your face.) Zut Alors!

In other news, one of my new pass times is shooing a young buck out of the backyard. It comes in through a hole in the fence and likes to eat the garden goodies. C & E have named him Bucky. He's big and his antlers frighten me. Other encounters with nature include a big garter snake that the cat presented to me as a gift. Scared the crap out of me - I screamed and ran in the house to find E so he could take care of it. I also saw a raccoon family going for a little stroll down the street on a bike ride.

All in all, things are going great here in Eugene. This is my kind of town.

Finally, I am having these posts imported into facebook notes, but there seems to be a week delay or so. If you want to get more up to the minute blog posts from me, please feel free to subscribe to my blog. the web address is http://misssingleusa.blogspot.com.

That's it for now, hope you all have a great week.

Things I have learned thus far in my journey

2010-07-04T01:04:00.003-05:00

To get sudafed d from the pharmacy, you need a prescription from a doctor.
Market of Choice (a store similar to Whole Foods) does not carry blue jello.
Everclear is kept in the back room at the liquor store. You need to ask for it.

Reading that over, it sounds like my 1st day in Eugene is one of total debauchery. Do not worry. I'm just in the process of making blue and red jello shots for a 4th of July party tomorrow and I can feel a stuffy nose coming along. Everything is fine. No need to worry.

4 Days Left in Chicago

2010-06-25T10:46:00.001-05:00

Life is getting very exciting. I’ve accomplished A LOT in the last month and am now in the home stretch. Most of the apartment has been packed. I had one last visit to the cottage and said goodbye to my parents. I also ran 8.7 miles from my apartment to my office last week. It was nuts. This is happening. It’s real.

My goal for going out every night came to a halt yesterday, but I had a very adventurous afternoon, so I think it still counts. Tonight is Theivery Corporation show at the Congress Theater, tomorrow is my stand-up and probably a going away party afterwards and then dancing it up at some gay club (it is pride wknd afterall!) and then the Pride parade on Sunday. It’s a good thing I don’t really sleep.

For those of you in Chicago, I’ll be back in October. If I don’t see you before the great road trip west, I’ll see you when I’m back in town for meetings. For those of you in Eugene, I’ll see you all soon!!!!!! YAYAYAYAY!!!!

So, what’s in store for me this week? Monday is the last day of packing and moving my futon into the PK office so I can have a place to stay when I’m back in town. Tuesday is the big move date – the moving pod comes in the morning and I pick up the rental car in the afternoon. Once everything is loaded, it’s go time.

Chandra and I are driving cross country together and we’re thinking it will take us 4 nights.

1^st stop: Baxter, IA to visit with Family Friends on the farm. I’m super excited. This is where I learned my sharp shooter abilities and how to ride a motorcycle. Lots of fun memories. And also lots of stories of young, reckless Shannon getting hurt – running into electrical fences on three wheelers, getting crushed by three wheelers, etc.

2^nd stop: Cheyanne, WY or somewhere around there. I hope to see some bison. There’s no real reason for going here except that we’ll need to sleep somewhere.

3^rd stop: Near Salt Lake City, UT. Chandra has some family there, so we’ll stay with them.

4^th stop: Portland.

And then on the morning of the 3^rd, we will ride into Eugene and I’ll get a start on my new life by running a 10k on the morning of the 4th… and maybe prospecting for gold. That’s what they do out west, right?

I’ll try to post more notes on my adventures once I’m settled and will post some photos along the way on my twitter page. I haven’t quite figured out how to post things remotely on the facebooks.

Ok, my friends. I think that’s it. Eugene friends, I’ll see you very soon. Chicago friends, I’ll miss you all and please come visit me soon… and I’ll see you in October. Hugs to all of you!

Sleep is for the weak – Saying Goodbye to Chicago Part 2

2010-06-09T13:10:00.003-05:00

Things are starting to fall into place now. I’ve kept up with my goal so far and have been out EVERY night this week. In theory, life will be calmer and more restful out in Eugene. Thank god, because I’m going to be in need of some major relaxation if I’m going to keep up with this schedule.

The highlights so far –

Spa Day – Ladies, how many of you have been to thousand waves spa? What a great place. Erica and I went there on Friday for a belated birthday celebration and spent 3 hours in the whirlpool, sauna, steam room and relaxation room. Afterwards, I was so blissed-out that I thought it was a good idea to get a tattoo. The tattoo that I picked out was a little out of my price range, so I passed. Probably for the best. I’m still tattoo-less for now.

After Spa Day, I met up with a friend and we rode our bikes to Bar Deville – another very fun place. The back room had lots of Louis XIV style furniture and a DJ was spinning some Peter Gabriel when we walked in. There’s also a pool table. What’s not to love. My favorite part of the evening was the 3:30am bike ride home. The city is so awesome and quiet in the middle of the night. It’s really something special.

Saturday? What happened on Saturday? House parties and more bike riding.

Sunday was the apartment sale and a Hawks win. Both very exciting. I still have quite a few things left in the sale, if you’re interested in stopping by this weekend. Just let me know. I won’t be more than a quick bike ride away during the day. The fancy martini glasses are still up for grabs. You just need to come over and claim them.

Other highlights for this week so far included:
She & Him at Millenium Park – so cute and sweet it made me a little sick.

The Violet Hour – It reminded me of the Volga Restaurant in Delhi. So much velvet. So Dark. I think I would really like it if I was in Delhi.

Danny’s – A quick beer and I ran into a make-out prospect. I will have to go back there. There was no time to talk because we were off to…

Huck Finn Donuts at 11:30pm last night – so cute and sweet, but it did not make me sick because there was coffee.

The rest of the week includes a Sox game, a dance (dance) party (party), more packing, THE KATES at 8pm on Friday at the BookCellar, old town art fair, lit fest and lots of other fun things that I’m sure I’m forgetting about. It’s in my calendar. It’s on google.

Also, if you're in town on June 26th, I have my final performance with The Kates that evening at the Book Cellar.

Finally, since I’m going to the Sox game today, I thought I’d wear my Paul Konerko shirt. It NEVER fails that when I wear this shirt some middle aged man tries to impress me with his knowledge of batting averages. If Tracey wears her Jenks shirt to the game, we’ll be quite the force to be reckoned with.

The End of an Era - Saying Goodby to Chicago Part 1

2010-06-03T11:17:00.004-05:00

For the last 6 months, I have been preparing for a big big move - to Eugene, OR. Everyone keeps asking me, "Why Eugene Oregon?" So, I'll just go ahead and answer it for you. It's a really nice place and I've wanted to move there for some time but never did because I couldn't find a job. When I got back from the trip in January, I told my boss that I wanted to move and asked if I could work remotely. She said we could make it work. Boom! It was that easy! My move date is June 29. That's the story.

The last few months have been spent tying up all loose ends in Chicago and preparing for the great move out west. I'm very excited. Last weekend was my last day at the Book Cellar, where I've worked part-time (on and off) for the last 5 years. It's the end of an era and the beginning of a new adventure.

I've set a few goals for these last few weeks that I'm in Chicago:
1) Pack up my apartment. This is pretty obvious. I'm sorting and packing and taking stock of all the possessions I've accumulated in the last 10 years I've lived here. there will be an apartment "sale" this Sunday at my place. I say "sale" because I'm hoping people will just come over and take the stuff that I'd otherwise donate. It's nice stuff and needs a good home. There will be pitchers of margaritas. If you want to stop by, let me know and I'll give you the details.

2) Go out as much as possible. I'd like to visit all the breweries in Chicago and a few bars. Who's with me? So far, I've been to Revolution Brewery 2x this week. What a fantastic place. Going out is my reward for spending a few hours every night packing. I'd like to hit up a Sox Game, the SC etc show, Violet Hour, Danny's, Neo, Big Star, Green Mill and all places inbetween. I don't really sleep anyway!

3) Makeout with a cute rockabilly man. Preferably one with glasses.

So that's that. The Shannon Rose Funtimes Express will be leaving the station soon. Get on board while you can. Let's search out an adventure.

Book Celling for the People

2010-03-11T18:17:00.010-06:00

I just got word that I'll be performing this month with the Kates. This will be my 3rd performance with them, and I'm very excited. It will probably be a typical Shannon Rose story - maybe about bull riding or maybe about dating. Only time will tell.

It's been 5 years since I first started working at the Book Cellar. And a fun 5 years it has been. I love talking about books and wine with my community. Luckily, the store also attracts a good staff who are a very warm and creative folk. (Except one - my nemesis. You know who you are.) But that's another story for another time. For someone who works so hard during the day, it's nice to come to a place where I can remember that work is not my life. It's my fun job.

There's always something going on here, which is good for me. Most authors from our reading like to say that we are an author's book store. I think that's because we have writers on staff and we also sell beer. Last week, we hosted what was later to be referred to as "Dudefest." I'm learning that a lot of authors are dudes... and these dudes like to drink beer and Bourbon. There are also a good number of witty wine-drinking female authors nearby. The two groups mix well, usually.

We also host a slew of book clubs, including our store's own book club which meets the first Wednesday of the month. Tonight, the Sierra Club Book Club is meeting in our cafe. It brings in not only the environmentally conscious, but also occasionally some kooky conspiracy theorists. I find it refreshing to know these friends are nearby. There are also reading series throughout the month and the spectacular all-female stand-up comedy troupe , The Kates! It's a good time.

The Sierra club book club has started wrapping things up, so I should probably sign off for now.

Remember, dear readers - Books makes you smart. Wine keeps you sane.

Erica's Desktop

2010-02-09T10:27:00.005-06:00

Erica is out of town for the next week dealing with issues back in Vicksburg, so it's just me in the office. It's also a very busy time, so I asked Erica to leave her computer on and all her current projects open and then I could access them without any problems. First thing this morning, I had to get on to her computer and check a few things and this is what greeted me.

Have a safe trip, Erica. I miss you!

Also, I will post more about my trip to Oregon. Please stay tuned.

6 cats, 1 rooster and a wacky old hippie

2010-01-11T23:10:00.003-06:00

Hello trusted readers, I'm back in Eugene on my yearly pilgrimage. C is sitting on the couch with me blogging, so I thought that I would as well.

So far, here's what I've been up to -

After leaving Chicago in a blizzard on Thursday afternoon, I spent the night and Friday afternoon in Portland. The plan was to go snoeshoeing on Friday morning, but the rain put a damper on that. Oh, well. As they say in Bull Durham - "Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose, and sometimes... it rains. Think about it." Instead we went wine tasting and it was awesome. If you're ever in the Dundee area, I strongly suggest checking out Vista Hills. It's a great place and had a great energy about it. We left with lots of wine and big smiles on our faces.

Other highlights from the trip so far include a "beyond the valley of the dolls" party. Roger Ebert wrote the movie. I don't think I can accurately describe it... nor do I want to try. If you've seen it, let me know so we can discuss.

Today, C and E had to work so I spent the day pretty much entertaining myself. I went for a long walk, saw 6 cats, a rooster and had a weird old hippie man growl at me. A typical afternoon for Eugene, I guess.

Oh, and C & E are now the proud owners/parents of a cat. She's adorable. I asked her to take notes for me during a webinar today, but like a typical cat, she thought she'd take a nap instead.

Happy New Year to All!

2009-12-31T09:50:00.003-06:00

Best wishes for a Happy and Healthy 2010. Let's make it a good one.

Feminist Graffiti

2009-09-02T11:02:00.001-05:00

mural @ arteleku, gipuzkoa, originally uploaded by Placida.

In heaven, there will be jetskis...

2009-07-23T15:36:00.003-05:00

I just got a phone call from my dad which went something like this...

Me: Hi there
Don: Hi
Me: How are you?
Don: Good, Good... I have a question for you. Are you ready?
Me : Oh, god.
Me: Yeah. What's going on?
Don: Do you know where the jetski key is?
Me: No. On the jet ski? In the cottage? At Don Wilson's House?
Don: He said he didn't have it, but I think he does. I'm going to break into his cottage.

I wonder if when I'm retired I'll break into my friends' houses looking for keys to jetskis. Probably.

A Rose Colored Roadtrip, 2009

2009-07-07T13:31:00.006-05:00

I'm getting ready to embark on my first solo road trip. I leave Chicago on Thursday afternoon for the cottage for an evening of waterskiing and visiting with my parents. Then my plan is to drive the full way from the cottage to Montpelier in one stretch, but I might break it up into two days depending on weather. Here's the proposed route. Any suggestions of where to eat or places to stay along my stretch of Kings Hwy 401 are greatly apprecaited!

View Rose Colored Road Trip 2009 in a larger map

Mutton Chops Are Not Attractive

2009-06-09T16:35:00.001-05:00

I don’t know what got into me, but I decided to give online dating another go. Why I thought that this time would be more successful, I’m not really sure. I think I was just bored and wanted to see what kind of men Chicago was offering to the busy professional single woman. Who knows.

First, I was certain that a traditional match site was not for me. Those commercials for online matching sites are so enticing, though. And I blame them (combined with the change in seasons) for this whole delusional adventure. The ads show people at fun diners or in beautiful loft apartments enjoying each other’s company, laughing and making witty comments about not wearing clothes to bed. I watch these ads and I think, “I want to find someone who I like that much and who I can afford better clothes and a better apartment with.” And then I hear these thoughts and give myself a mental slap across the face. Though I would like a better apartment and nicer clothes, I’ll continue to appreciate my park-view vintage apt, eat at excellent coffee shops and wear the stylish clothes that I already own. Thank you very much.

In the end, I decided that it might be fun to stumble upon a summer romance and online dating is very convenient. So, I filled out an ad at a free Chicago-based newspaper site and thought I’d see what kind of prospects are still looking for love on the internet.

Most responses were fine guys, but not especially interesting. A recently divorced exboyfriend even said hi to me on there. But finally, I received a response from someone a bit more my type. After e-mailing back and forth, I learned that he was an IT guy, had a rather urban style to him, seemed somewhat politically minded, and he wrote in the flowery language of the hippies. And he was taller than me. This was enough for me to want to meet him. So we set a date for drinks at the Irish pub down the block.

My date arrived at the bar sporting HUGE reddish mutton chops that protruded about 2 inches or so from his cheeks (which were not present in any of the photos he had posted) and a long goatish soul patch.

What kind of man thinks that this look is attractive? Not one that I am interested in. I can handle beards or even sideburns, but these chops just pissed me off.

We stayed and had a few drinks together (I gave him the benefit of the doubt – maybe his personality could shine though all that unattractive facial hair) and I was friendly and tried to give him as many opportunities to convince me that he was worth seeing again. At one point, he wagged his tongue at me ala Gene Simmons. At another, he described himself as an “anti-consumerist.” This was not the man for me. He walked me home and we parted amicably.

Thought this summer has not yet brought any romance my way, I’m still having a blast. Besides, who knows what sort of fun I’ll stumble upon once the weather starts heating up...

Oh how I love the library!

2009-04-23T11:18:00.007-05:00

I've been very excited lately about the Library's new Imagine Design Compete poster competition. And the 30 finalists are now posted up on Flickr!! As I live across the street from one of the larger branches of the CPL and I keep an online queue of books and music on cpl.org, I feel very emotionally invested in this competition. The finalists this year are all really great and I like quite a few of them. Today, I'm feeling especially fond of this one.

You can view all the 30 finalists here on flickr - Top 30 Finalists.

In other news, I'm trying out the online dating scene again. So far, not many prospects. We'll see what happens. People have also been telling me, no so subtly either, that they have male friends with cute friends for me. Who knows - maybe this summer will have some romance in it afterall!

Fridge Art

2009-03-22T23:55:00.003-05:00

I had hoped to blog tonight, but the evening got away from me somehow. Most of my free time has been spent cooking lately, so instead of a proper blog post, here is a photo of some kitchen art.

Heart breaker... Jet setter...

2009-03-06T16:44:00.002-06:00

Hello my friends! It’s been a long time since I last wrote. It’s been a busy few months. Here’s a quick catch up:

On Halloween, I met a very nice young man and we dated for a few months. He was tall, very handsome and an excellent dancer. I thought that I liked him quite a bit. Then, he read his poetry for me and sang me some songs that he wrote. They were not good. At all. But because I liked him, I kept my mouth somewhat shut about that. I told him that his writing was just not my taste. He told me that he was “destined for greatness” (his words) and was hurt that I didn’t believe in him or see this greatness in him. He cried. The next morning I woke up to a self portrait that he drew – naked, headless, with bloody stumps for feet and tearing his chest open with bloody hands to show a bloody heart. I broke up with him. He cried more… and then I had my Chicago PD connection buy me some mace. It's pink and girly.

I am now adding “bad poets” to my list of people who I absolutely cannot date. It’s for the best.

Overall, life has been very good and I’m feeling really happy. I took a short trip to Oregon last month, which was great. Per usual, there was lots of silly fun involved. Lots of good wine. Lots of good food. Lots of good bourbon. Spontaneous dancing in hats. No sales tax. And most importantly, lots of good times with Chandra and Monkey, and Robin and Ass Badass, and new friends Jeremy and Erin. It was great. The main reason for the trip was to see Andrew Bird perform in Portland. And the Bird did not disappoint.

A week after coming home from Oregon, I was off to NYC for work’s annual benefit. The benefit was very very successful this year and we raised a fairly good amount, considering the current economic situation. I apologize to my friends in New York for not calling you. This visit was very busy with preparing for the benefit and meetings that I didn’t have much time for fun. However, I made sure to take full advantage of the minimal time I did have for fun. This included a trip on the subway down to Katz’s deli for a delicious corned beef sandwich on Tuesday night and also a visit to Pravda for some vodka and conversation after the benefit on Wednesday (where I successfully drank a ½ bottle of Imperial Russian vodka and was without hangover in the morning)!

My relationship with New York is very odd. I love New Yorkers. I think they are great. I love New York establishments. I love the lions at the library. I HATE walking around New York or trying to get anywhere. Not because of the traffic, but because everything is just so dense and big. New York has a huge presence and it’s hard not to feel the city bearing down on me. I feel claustrophobic whenever I’m outside and I don’t like having that feeling. I’ll stick to the Midwest for now.

So, now I’m back in Chicago. I have been worrying about work and the benefit since the beginning of the year that I’m not quite sure what to fill my mind with now. This weekend is going to be busy with birthday parties, dance performances and the Watchmen at the IMAX. But tonight! Tonight, I am treating myself to a massage and a lovely thai food dinner. Mmmm…..

Impress These Apes - the midway point

2008-10-16T11:47:00.002-05:00

Since, Impress These Apes is at it's halfway mark in the run, I realized that I was way overdue for a blog post about the show. The cast is all crazy talented and I'm so happy to be a part of the production. The breakdown of the show is fairly simple, there are 8 contestants who have a different performance challenge each week and are then judged by 3 hyper intelligent apes from the future. At the end of the 8 week run, the contestant with the most points wins lots of money and a grab bag of groovy prizes. It's like American Idol, but with Apes as judges and the contestants aren't elimated.

What I like most about the show is that it really shows the diversity in comedy and performance within the Chicago community. It gives a good balance between improv and script performance and it's all about fun. And winning. My position in the show is one of two contestant liasions. So, I spend the week checking in with contestants to make sure that they get their questions answered and to coordinate any sort of specific tech needs that they have for that week's challenge. I also run around backstage before the show and during intermission making sure everyone has what they need.

This past Monday, I was completely blown away by the performances. The challenge was live band karaoke and it was a whole lot of fun. Below are the three top scored performers in the competition. Who knows what will happen next week (Dance challenge, yo!), but regardless, I now have a new favorite version of Into the Mystic.

Enjoy the videos and if you're local, please come see the show! Mondays at 8pm at the Lakeshore Theater.

Seth Dodson - 1st Place

Leigh Vandiver - 2nd Place

Alan Metoskie - 3rd Place

Preparing for the debate

2008-09-26T21:07:00.001-05:00

Thanks, Robin for the button!

I'm on the bus

2008-09-07T21:03:00.003-05:00

Last week, I went on my yearly pilgrimage to Eugene, Oregon and I think it was one of the best vacations I've had there. I noticed numerous times during the week that my face was hurting from laughing and smiling so much. The vacation started out great with me getting a free flight voucher... and being rerouted to Eugene via Portland which got me in an hour earlier than originally scheduled. YAY! Chandra picked me up and we went back to the house to drop off my luggage in my apt. Chandra and Monkey have a studio apartment next to their house which is where I stay when I come to visit. After watching Obama's speech, we went out for some cajun food and jazz. Delish. After dinner, we went back to the house and Robin and Patrick came over. Chandra made sangria and we caught up on each others lives. This was my 8th visit or so out there and it is slowly starting to feel like an extension of my home. I know my way around fairly well and have my favorite haunts and have really good friends there.

On Friday, Chandra, Monks and I embarked on my yearly wine tasting tour. First we stopped and went for a beautiful walk along the river trying to spot an eagle's next that was in the trees nearby. Next, it was off to king estate for some tasty lunch! Here's a photo of the largest and most delicious oysters I've ever had!

Then it was off to sweet cheeks for truffles and bubbles. Our plans were to have a relaxing evening and then wake up early on Saturday for an adventurous day of climbing a mountain and then driving to the coast and trying to find a place to stay in Yachats. At dinner that night, we brought up our plans to Robin and Patrick which inspired Patrick to check and see if his family's cabin in Yachats was open - AND IT WAS!!! The plans to climb a mountain were scrapped and we decided to spend our Labor Day weekend relaxing at the cabin! And then we rocked the night away with with Rock Band.

The trip to the coast was great. We spent the first night eating at one of my favorite places - the Drift Inn - and walking through the tide pools next to the cabin.
It's not very often that I get to see starfish and sea anemones!
We went back to the cabin that night and played a rousing game of telephone pictionary. The rest of the weekend was spent doing much of the same. We went for a hike on Sunday morning through some old growth forest and watched tv and played games back at the cabin. While watching a new documentary DVD about Hunter S. Thompson, we were treated to the sight of a doe and her fawn walking through the front yard. I also learned how to play cribbage and I swam in the pacific ocean.
Friends

Going to Oregon is always like a little reset button for me. It helps me put my life back in perspective. Most times I feel very much at peace returning home, but this year I was very agitated. I'm in need of a change. Maybe that change will be packing up and moving to the Pacific Northwest. We shall see what life brings. For now, I will enjoy this glass of Pinot Gris and toast to my friends far away. I miss you already!

I hope to see you soon, Kesey!

Thanks, Erica!

2008-08-15T10:36:00.002-05:00

This postcard was waiting for me on my keyboard when I came into the office this morning. It made my day!

My mind feels great!

2008-08-11T00:03:00.004-05:00

The past week has been very mentally stimulating for me. First off, the last two shows of Lollapalooza were great! You can check out all my photos on my flickr photostream. Of the Saturday and Sunday shows, I was most impressed with Broken Social Scene, The Octopus Project, and NIN. The festival was huge this year. Here's a photo of Michigan and Balbo after Saturday's Rage Against the Machine set. This photo was taken for me by a nice guy who was standing on the roof of a van.

I also got a new kitty! I'll post photos of her later, but she's Estelle's daughter and looks just like her.

Then this Thursday, I was able to hang out with my good friends Chandra and Monkey who were visiting from Oregon. They were visiting because King Crimson was on tour and stopping for a 3 night run at the Park West. Look - Monkey is famous! (You might have to scroll down a little, but keep looking for his photo! YAY!) Thursday night was spent at the concert and Friday was spent doing the touristy thing with Chandra, Monks and Alex who is a great Brit and also is a part of the King Crimson gang... though I'm still not quite sure how he fits in. He might be their plumber. :) Overall, a great time with great company! The rest of the weekend was spent trying to catch up with Book Club and finish reading Faulkner's Go Down Moses.

This weekend also marked my 8 year anniversary of moving to Chicago. As part of that, I'm working on a 365 day photo project. Here's the first photo - taken with my cellphone. Do you like my new glasses?

And now it's time for bed. Oh! But before I turn in, Congrats to the Blewt! gang for a great 4-year run of Don't Spit the Water. You are all wonderfully talented!

Lolla Thoughts - Day One

2008-08-02T09:05:00.002-05:00

Yesterday was the opening of Lollapalooza in Chicago. This was my second year and so far, I think it was already better than last year. After waiting in a line longer than any I saw last year, I finally made it into the grounds around 1pm and immediately made it over to meet Charles and Gina at the Parlor Mob who were playing at the BMI stage. They played a solid rock set. If you're a fan of Zeppelin in or White Stripes, I suggest checking them out. The BMI stage is probably my favorite stage so far because it is 100% in the shade and it has the lake a backdrop. Beautiful. Unfortunately, my photos of this set did not turn out because of the shade. Oh, well. Still, Parlor Mob was very good.

From there, I went to Perry's Stage which is a new dj stage and tent that was added this year specifically for dj sets and DANCING. I saw the Holy F*ck dj set which was great up until the last 5 minutes or so when they started playing old 50's music. It just didn't blend well with the rest of everything else.

Outside of Perry's Stage

Holy F*ck Dj Set

From there, I was hoping to meet up with Tracey at the Black Keys who were playing at the Bud Lite stage. This stage had no shade and was huge. I was totally overwhelmed with the heat so decided to head back over to the BMI stage to see Black Joe Lewis and the Honeybears. And let me say, I am very glad I did. What an excellent musician. Also, great song titles such as "Bitch, I love you." I am also fairly certain that it was Black Joe Lewis who inspired David Pompeii's character of Honey Bear in the Second City, etc. show "Yellow Cab of Courage." Here are some photos of Black Joe and his guitarist, who I thought was cute and had a nice guitar... if you know what I mean. wink wink.

Black Joe Lewis

Honeybears Guitarist

After that set, Tracey and I visited the great selections of food stands where I ate some asian chicken on a stick. Then we went to meet up with friends of Tracey's who had set up base camp for Radiohead. They were positioned between the Myspace stage and AT&T stage so I got to see Block Party, Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks, and the headliner RADIOHEAD!!! I could do a whole blog post dedicated to Radiohead, but will suffice to just post some photos for now. I need to get showered and ready to head down to grant park shortly. I'm trying to catch the Witchcraft set at noon.

Block Party

Malkmus and the Jick

AND MY FAVORITE BAND OF ALL TIME... RADIOHEAD!!!!

Balanced Life

2008-07-28T19:34:00.004-05:00

I have been trying to establish some sort of balance in my life between love, work and play. When I first moved to Chicago, I never thought that I would ever want to fit "work" into that balance, but somehow my job has weaseled its way into being a major priority for me. I also find this balance difficult because there's just SOOO much stuff that I am always wanting to try and get involved in. I don't sit still very well and my mind is even more difficult to still. I want to do everything, but I know that I can't and that in order to accomplish my goals at the level I wish to accomplish them, I need to make choices that favor the direction of my life. I read this poem about a little over a year ago in Amy Krouse Rosenthal's book Encyclopedia of an Ordinary Life and I can't help but think about it from time to time when life gets just too overwhelming.

You Want a Social Life, With Friends
Poem by Kenneth Koch

You want a social life, with friends
A pssionate love life as well
To work hard every day. What's true
Is of these three you may have two
And two can pay you dividends
But never may have three

There isn't time enough, my friends -
Though dawn begins, yet midnight ends -
To find the time to have love, work and friends.
Michelangelo had feeling
for Vittoria and Ceiling
But did he go to parties at day's end?

Homer nightly went to banquets
Wrote all day but had no lockets
Bright with pictures of his Girl.
I know one who loves and parties
And has done so since his thirties
But writes hardly anything at all.

In One Word

2008-07-14T16:18:00.003-05:00

You. Can. Only. Type. One. Word.
Not as easy as you might think.

1. Where is your cell phone? purse
2. Describe your boyfriend/girlfriend? nonexistent
3. Your hair? red
4. Your mother? nurturing
5. Your father? fun
6. Your favourite item? art
7. Your dream last night? deep
8. Your favourite drink? tea
9. Your dream car? mustang
10. The room you are in? office
11. Your ex? drugged
12. Your fear? birds
13. What do you want to be in 10 years? wealthier
14. Who did you hang out with last night? maureen
15. What you’re not? stupid
19. The last thing you did? lunched
20. What are you wearing? outfit
22. Your favourite book? fiction
23. The last thing you ate? sandwich
24. Your life? good
25. Your mood? adventurous
26. Your friends? plentiful
27. What are you thinking about right now? home
28. Your car? Pinky
29. What are you doing at the moment? preparing
30. Your summer? beginning
31. Your relationship status? content
32. What is on your tv? cable
33. When is the last time you laughed? hours
34. Last time you cried? afternoon
35. School? done

Copy. Paste. Answer. Questions.

from Fuzzy

Dirty Thirty

2008-05-08T19:56:00.002-05:00

That’s right, my friends. I am 30 years old and I feel great. The new apartment is wonderful and I’ve really enjoyed living across the street from a major city park. My front window faces a baseball diamond so every day I get to watch at least one baseball game. It’s rather wonderful. Living without a dishwasher has also made me realized how well I had it at the old house. I really dislike washing dishes. However, I live above a bar with $5 martini special on Thursdays. I had three cosmos in about an hour and a half last week before heading down to Mr. Gang’s house for Lost. Apparently, I was “very talkative” that evening. It all balances out.

In continuing with the re-emergence of “men from my past” theme that I’ve been on lately, I want to spend some time talking about Chuck Klosterman. No, I’ve never dated or hooked up with our favorite nerd, but I’ve hooked up with a couple men who remind me of him. Earlier last month when I was in NYC, I picked up his book Killing Yourself to Live at the airport when I found myself at the airport without a book to read. I forgot how much I love his writing. About 4 years ago, I read his book Sex, Drugs and Cocoa Puffs and I love his wit, his appreciation of music and pop-culture and his love of sports. On of the first things that my old roommate ever said to me was that I held the title of queen of the nerds. If that is so, then I think that Chuck Klosterman is my king. I plan on picking up Fargo Rock City from the Library across the street next week.

I don’t have any photos of Chuck, but I think that he would appreciate this photo of Thom Yorke.

In other news, I’m still busy with work but I’m not feeling so stressed about it. I honestly think living in my new place has a lot to do with it. One of my favorite things so far that happened here was two weeks ago when I was working from home. Around 11am, a bus pulled up and a group of mentally retarded adults piled out. They were ready to play baseball. It was a very happy game of baseball, but their skills were way lacking. And at one point, a woman in the group decided to sing the national anthem so everyone stopped playing and sat down to listen. It was really sweet.

Finally, I read today about all the fighting that is taking place in Beirut and I’m really worried about my friend Maureen who is living there now. Please think good thoughts and send any prayers/vibes her way.

Circles

2008-04-21T16:27:00.003-05:00

Friday morning around 4:30am, Chicago experienced an earthquake. It shook me awake in my bed. It was crazy shit and unlike anything I've ever experienced before. I'm not sure what this means, but I'm ready. Maybe it is time to shake things up a bit.

Monumental events are upon us my dear friends. I am turning 30 in less than 3 weeks. Since a time like this invokes additional time spent in self-reflection, I have become really involved in getting myself back to center and at the same time taking a moment or two to assess the hows and whys of my current life. It's like I'm being haunted by my past. Specifically in regards to my ex-love interests.

Exhibit A - Mr. Cox

My original cassanova. He likes to talk to girls and snuggle at the grand hotel. He wears pachouli and traveled to see the Dalai lama last weekend.

Nice headboard.

Overall, life has been very busy. Project Kesher just finished our annual fundraiser that took place last Thursday in NYC. It was a fantastic event. Hands down the best event yet. Things are going well there and I have also taken on a second job again at the Book Cellar. Happily, I will be working more and drinking more free wine. Life is filled right now with blasts from my past. I will do my best to keep you informed.

God and Birds

2008-01-29T21:13:00.000-06:00

"God shits on our plan!"

That was a text message that I received yesterday from la Kat. I was having a day full of missed connections in my brain (I hate it when my brain forgets how to communicate my thoughts to me). I have been working very long hours lately and yesterday I just couldn't pull my shit together. As I posted earlier, I'm trying to reduce the amount that I stress about work and I guess that my brain has taken this to task and completely ceases to function in work-mode after 5pm. Not good, since I haven't been leaving the office until nearly 6 latey. Anyway, yesterday after work, and after having to make a mad dash to a fedex/kinkos before the final pickup time, I thought I would pamper myself to an impromptu dinner with La Kat at La Creperie (since I was unintentionally in that neighborhood because of the mad dash). La Creperie is closed on Mondays. God shits on my plan.

Then today, a bird shit on my messenger bag. It's supposedly very good luck if a bird shits on you - did you know that? Me neither. I guess I need to sell my fucking Italian villa or something. Whatever. I don't buy it. If anything out of the ordinary lucky happens to me, I'll let you know.

Between you and me, I like the idea of God shits on my plans than bird shits on my messenger bag. My plans are a lot easier to clean up and they probably weren't that great to begin with.

A Happy New Year!

2008-01-06T22:57:00.000-06:00

I kissed a stingray last Wednesday. So far, a good start to 2008.

Last week, my cousins, aunt, uncle, sister and I went on a 5-day Caribbean cruise! I haven't spent this much time with my cousins or my aunt and uncle in a very long time and it was an amazing experience. Lately, I feel like I have forgotten how important my family is to me and this trip helped to re-establish that awesome family bond between all of us. I think that the free champagne helped a lot as well.

I'm moving into 2008 with one major goal and three sub-goals. I'm not one for resolutions, but I like goals. The major goal for 2008 is (drum roll, please), to reduce the amount of stress in my life. I'm starting to realize that I worry too much about stupid shit (like men and work) and it really takes away from my every day enjoyment of life. The three sub-goals are as follows: start wearing a watch again, seek therapy, and become more involved in art.

Of all the goals, seeking therapy is something that I was against for many years in my life. I've always subscribed to the notion that since my parents never needed therapy, so why would I? My answer to this question is that my parents did not grow up in the world that I grew up in - this fast-paced, work-focused, global environment that I have tried to immerse myself in since I was 14. Trying to change the world for the better is stressful work, and I think I need something to help me figure out a new balance.

The goal that I'm most excited about (besides the overall idea of being less stressed out) is becoming more involved in artistic ventures. I love the beauty of art and though I myself am not a very visually artistic person, I work very well in creative and artistic environments (except when dealing with photographers). I have also become very interested in Peter Max's art work lately. Peter Max really balances the aspects of idealism within the reality that we live in. A lot of his works are highly political and yet still convey the strong and simple theme of love. I also think he's an excellent portrait artist. Here's a photo of me and a piece of his that I am very enamored with titled, "New Horizon."

As for wearing a watch, well, we'll see how long it lasts.

And now there are dishes to be washed, followed by some reading and hopefully sweet dreams. Best wishes to all of you for a beautiful and healthy 2008!

Go Bra-less! (A Christmas Post...)

2007-12-25T21:09:00.000-06:00

Ah Christmas. I love it. I have a lot of Christmas decorations that I hang all over the apartment and I bake cookies for pretty much the entire month of December. I also made another batch of my super special moonshine, which I think is better than the last batch. What I like most about Christmas is that this is the time of year I get to reconnect with friends and family from far and wide. Christmas is my reset button that brings me back to center.

One friend in particular who I get to see every Christmas time is my friend Bill, who I have known since high school. When we met, I was a sassy teenage violist and he was a really nice and funny french horn player. I nearly ruined his career that summer by bashing in his lip and we've been friends ever since. When Bill comes to Chicago we always reminisce and I think of the summer we met, which was also the summer of my first feminist act. At the age of 15, I had decided that I was fed up with wearing a bra and I tried to wear one as little as possible that summer. I also carved "GO BRA-LESS!" on my cabin wall by my bunk, which lasted for about 10 years according to the last report I heard. It started my own personal movement against bras. And in honor of Bill's visit, i went through this entire extended holiday weekend feeling free and loose.

And another fun fact about Bill - About three years ago, when I was on my way out with my new friends, the Gizicki Sisters, Bill called me. When I said his last name out loud, the Gizickis freaked out. Their mother used to babysit for him after school when they were growing up AND Bill's mom was their 6th grade teacher (or something equally mind blowing like that). Crazy, huh? Welcome to my life.

Merry Christmas, everyone! Love to all! And to all a good night!

Gravinus has returned

2007-12-10T22:25:00.000-06:00

On Friday evening around 9pm, my doorbell rang. Twice. I was baking cookies at the time and did not bother to get the door. The next morning, I found a mangy, green teddybear in a zip lock bag at my doorstep. There was a note in the bag indicating that the bear thought that he belonged at my house.

Gravinus has returned.

It is time to reflect (and drink the beer before it goes bad).

The Chistmas Cactus Has Started to Bloom

2007-12-05T22:58:00.000-06:00

When I moved in with the Gizickis two summers ago, I acquired a Christmas cactus. Becky’s ex boyfriend had given it to her as a Christmas gift (or something) and the plant was looking horrible. In the past year and a half, I have spent a lot of time and energy to bring this plant back to a healthy blooming state. Though I know that the plant has a lot of bad beak-up karma all over it, I have become very emotionally attached with this plant now. And it always blooms at the best time possible.

This week has been a shit week. The father of a very dear friend passed away on Sunday evening and my thoughts have been with her and her family. I have also reached the beginning of peak audit season and the kickoff of push to the annual NYC fundraiser for work (which brings in a good chunk of our yearly budget revenue). I’m going a little nutty. So, the beauty of the Christmas cactus blooms is really helping to make things a little more bearable.

And do not worry, not all is bad. Last night, my friend Kat (a fellow scarlet haired vixen) and I went for our regular dinner at La Creperie. This is my favorite restaurant in Chicago and Kat and I got to learn a little more about our favorite snarky waiter (also a red head). Today, I finished my first draft of a grant proposal that I have been working on. In a couple weeks, my good friend Bill from NYC will be in town visiting and we’ll go out for our yearly Chicago dinner. I also think that I might have convinced Becky that we need to have cable. It’s miserable in Chicago in the winter (did I mention that there’s 6” of snow outside?!) and I am getting nauseous at the idea of leaving the house and braving the cold for anything other than crepes and pernod.

So there you have it my friends. If you want me to leave the house, you will need to bribe me with crepes and pernod.

And now, it’s time to say goodnight. I am exhausted.

The Rose Thanksgiving

2007-11-24T16:34:00.001-06:00

I write this to you while riding the train back to Chicago from my Thanksgiving adventures. Thursday morning, Tracey, her friend Amy and I all made a trek to Michigan for turkey with the Rose Family. Amy is a frequent dinner guest for Thanksgiving and I'm very happy she was able to come to Michigan with us this year. For the past 15 years or so, Thanksgiving has always been in Chicago at my sister's house (minus one or two trips to Iowa for skeet shooting). This year, we decided to scrap tradition and eat the bird at my parents house!

There were thirteen of us total at my parent's house - and we all sat at one table. Can you guess where I get my love for entertaining? My mom went all out per usual with turkey, pork tendeloin, greenbean casseriole, mashed potatoes, squash, sweet potatoes, and lots of delicious appetizers including her famous cheeseball and some shrimp. Amy brought her famous cranberries, and my aunt Diane brought her excellent cornbread casserole. And most importantly, my cousins and my parents made pegnalada - my favorite sicilian dessert!! I made pizzelles and also brought in some baked cheese that I bought at the green city market a couple weeks ago. (Like many other ecologically conscious Chicagoians, the Green City Market is one of my favorite things about this city!) It was great to spend a day catching up with family and enjoying such wonderful treats! I wonder if the reason my family gets along as well as it does is because we always eat good food when we're together.

After everyone left and we cleaned up and ate again (round 3, ding!), we watched The Royal Tenenbaums which is my favorite movie. I've always felt a close affinity to Margot Tenenbaum - I think it's the eyeliner and the fur coat.

Tracey and Amy left on Friday after a lunch at Leo's Cony Island where I ate a delicious cony combo. I try to be a pretty healthy eater for the most part, but I am weak when it comes to a cony dog. I was supposed to go back with Tracey and Amy, but I decided to extend my stay and visit my friends Tara and Nat and their new beautiful and wonderful 11-day old baby, Bela! Spending time with Bela almost gave me baby pangs. Almost. I think I should learn to take care of a cat first.

Finally, on Friday evening we went over to my aunt and uncle's house for cards. They were babysitting when we arrived and I caught the last thirty minutes of Shrek the Third. The Barracuda part at the end was my favorite, especially since my uncle could not believe that characters were literally burning their bras in cartoon movies now. I explained to him that yes, even cartoon princesses now are empowered, strong women.

Anyway, happy thanksgiving wishes to all of you. Cheers to full stomachs, new babies, drinking and love!

Guess who has a new macbook?

2007-11-20T22:06:00.000-06:00

Me! I have a new macbook! And she's great. Her name is Gracie. For those wondering, she seems to be getting along fine with Doris.

I apologize, dear reader, for this huge delay in my posts. What do you think of the new layout? The name is "Ms. Moto." I have a new goal to improve my writing and my web design skills, so I'll be more diligent with future posts. I also think that I need to start making the internet work for me, rather than just using it as a source of entertainment. I want to promote friends when they do great things and I will keep all of you diligent readers (and hopefully new readers) updated on all the cool shit that I tend to stumble into.

For now, it's time to say Good Night, Gracie.