The Parental Visit

Dad and Jody are on their way home, after having spent 3 days and 4 nights in Chicago. The following is how those 3+ days went down, including pictures. Yayy for digital cameras and the ease of sharing electronic files. Oh, technology.

Dad and Jody arrived Tuesday evening, after driving across Iowa and Illinois and dealing with Chicago evening traffic. I had class and was planning on leaving early to meet up with them, but they arrived later than we expected and class was going terribly. I did not want to walk out on my fellow classmates so I stuck it out until we adjourned at 8 pm. The plan at that point was to call Dad and Jody to come over to my place, but I knew they were tired and I felt like surprising them. I hopped on the Blue line, rode it to Clark & Lake, got off and walked about 7 blocks to their hotel and had the front desk staff call their room with the news they had a visitor. Surprise!!!

Rather than walk back to the train and ride it home late at night, I crashed at the hotel Tuesday night. Wednesday we got up, got some breakfast, gathered laundry, and headed to my apartment. Dad and Jody took advantage of my free laundry while we used the oven to bake up the stuffing and dinner rolls for our Thanksgiving dinner. Wednesday was a pretty laid-back day as all three of us took the first chance in a long while to just let go and relax. We spent most of the day at the apartment and the rest of the evening in the hotel talking and laughing and having a generally merry time.

Thursday it was early to rise so as to make the parade. Between getting breakfast, walking to the route, and finding a place to stand so as to see, we missed some of the beginning. Overall, though, I think we saw at least 2/3 of the parade and had a blast. The post prior to this one has more pictures and video. I have a video of the Elmo balloon coming down the street, but it is sideways and I cannot figure out how to rotate it. If anyone knows, please, fill me in!

It's Curious George and the Girl in the Bubble!

Thursday afternoon was spent napping, cooking the rest of our meal in the hotel, and watching really bad football. We all went down early as the excitement of the day, the effects of the cold weather, and the fantastic meal we enjoyed hit us hard.

Friday morning it was again early to rise as we had a lot to do on Dad and Jody's last full day in the city. First thing was to hit the Christkringle Market on Daley Plaza. It opened Friday, but was still battened down when we arrived around 10:30 am. With a quick change of plans we headed one block to the East, popping into Walgreens along the way and ending up at Macy's (formally Marshall Fields of Chicago). Every year the windows along State Street are filled with animated scenes, each telling a part of a story. Last year the story was The Nutcracker. This year, I honestly could not tell you the story; it was an original creation. While the windows were a bit of a disappointment, it was fun to be one the street with hundreds of people and street performers.

Dad being, well, himself, but some overall decent pictures


The Salvation Army Band outside Macy's, Friday, November 28, 2008

We checked out the inside of Macy's as well, seeing the lofted Tiffany ceiling and the 3 1/2 story tall Christmas Tree in the Walnut Room. We did a bit of shopping, taking advantage of the Black Friday sales, before heading back to the hotel. We stopped at Harry Cary's for lunch. Not what we expected, but still very good.

Once we got back to the room we settled in for a bit, giving Jody's knee time to rest. She'd taken a tumble a few day prior and the walking was stressing it. Dad and I left Jody for a few hours while we made a quick trip back to my apartment for Tupperware to package up the leftovers of our Thanksgiving dinner. We also made a quick trip to Whole Foods and Target to get Dad and Jody a few things for the road. Then back to the hotel to pick up Jody for a drive down Michigan Avenue to see the lights.

Once we finished that we parked the car and walked back to Daley Plaza to see the Market. This time everything was open and teeming. We spent a few hours walking among the shops, eating strudel, and enjoying the general joy and good feeling in the air. Someone did try to pick Dad's wallet, but being the city-smart people we are, there was not a wallet there to pick. The wannabe thief, according to Dad, looked surprised when his attempts failed. Yayy! No free lunch for the crooked.

I heard, for the first time in years, the song "Dominic the Donkey" as we were walking around the Market. I had a lot of fun jumping around and singing the "hee haw hee haw"s, much to Dad and Jody's obvious disdain. :) If you want to hear the song go here.

Chicago's VERY large Christmas Tree on Daley Plaza

Part of the Christmas decorations on Daley Plaza

After the Market it was back to Macy's to do a bit more shopping. Once we finished there it was time to go back to the hotel, pack up everything, and get to bed. Friday night was very short as we all got up early so Dad and Jody could get on the road. They got a later start than they had hoped, but overall not too bad. By 9:30 they were on the road and I was back in bed!

And that's that - my Chicago Thanksgiving with Dad and Jody. Fun was had by all with many happy memories created.

The famous Chicago sign on State Street

Dad and Jody are now on their way home, swinging through Denver and Sioux Falls first to see Justin and Grandma, respectively. Apparently there was an issue on Saturday night with a deer as Dad and Jody were driving, but I don't have the details on that. We'll have to wait for Dad to post to find out what happened.

Now I just have two weeks left of school and work before I am off and home for three glorious weeks. Plus, now that Thanksgiving is past, I can openly celebrate the season without angry pilgrims coming after me.

Hope everyone had a happy Thanksgiving!

Love!

~g

Thanksgiving!

Watch a parade - Check!

Take a nap - Check!

Smell turkey and stuffing and rolls and potatoes cooking - Check!

Success!

Let it be known

That at 1:24 am Central Standard Time on Tuesday, November 25, 2008, I officially submitted my first application for employment upon graduation from my master's program.

I just need to collect the remaining two letters of recommendation and put them in the mail.

Whew! Start praying! And crossing fingers.

And with that, I am exhausted and will be going to sleep.

Love!

~g

So busy!

I am cleaning the apartment, doing laundry, finishing homework assignments, and will soon be heading to the gym and then to a group meeting for one of the papers I have due this week. Wowza! Nothing like being under the gun.

I made a grocery run yesterday and now have everything we will need for making Thanksgiving dinner for 3 in a hotel room. The only thing I had difficulty finding was the bone-in turkey breast; I did not expect it to look like a frozen chicken. I asked at the meat counter and the woman gave me a bit of back-talk, "Don't you be telling me there are no bone-in turkey breasts over there!" She walked over to the case with me and showed me both the frozen and non-frozen versions, all the while muttering about how there were plenty of of bone-ins and all I had to do was look. Fun times at the grocery store!

I did find the ice cream that Dad and Jody have recently fallen in love with. I got several pints but have a feeling we may be making a trip back to the store to get more.

The craziness of the semester is almost over, for which I am incredibly thankful. I just need to get through Tuesday evening.

Really, there is not a whole lot going on to write about. Just busy as all get out!

Time to change the laundry!

Love!

~g

Where did the week go?!

Wasn't Sunday just yesterday?

Not much new to report. I am working with my groups to frantically finish term papers that are due next Monday and Tuesday. I am also working on a job application that is due next week. Once Tuesday afternoon hits, though, I am in the clear! Woohoo!

My mystery for the day is trying to track down a student from another university to give her back her U-Pass (the transportation card many universities in the city provide to their students). I found her pass on our campus, even though her school is up on the North side. Attempts to contact her failed, so I'm working with the university to find her, let her know I have her pass, and get it back to her.

Turkey Day one week from today! :)

By the way, Grandma K, I did receive the email you sent me awhile back. It got dropped in my spam filter and took me a bit to find. I am not ignoring you, I promise!

Got to get back to the grind. Love!

~g

PICTURES!

I figured I would upload a few photos depicting recent shenanigans and goings-on.

The ornament that was too heavy for my tree and got hung on the windowsill instead. One of my favorite words.


Also one of my favorite words. This ornament is on the tree and cleverly supported in three areas!


I love stars. Of all of the shapes, symmetric, five-point stars are my absolute favorite. I could have done without all of the glitter, though.


Pretty! I went with red and silver this year.


Still incomplete. I need a tree-topper, but have yet to find one that is not gaudy or too large/small. I am the Goldilocks of tree-toppers. I could go for either a star or an angel, but I know others out there probably have a definitive on what goes on the top of a tree. So what is it? A star or an angel? (Or in Dad and Jody's case, a Father Christmas?)


With lights! And a lovely alley view beyond that!


From Election Day. The stickers I made for myself and others to wear. And two of my student workers proudly showing off their merit of civic participation.


Still snowing!

Love!

~g

Fortuitous

I could wait no longer - my Christmas tree went up this afternoon. I am giving Angela the downstairs until after Thanksgiving, so my tree is filling up the tiny ledge of my window. It is wonderful in all of its three-foot tall, white light, red ribbon, and silver ornament glory.

I finished the tree, talked with Jody for a good 40 minutes (great conversation), got my laundry out of the laundry room, and returned to my desk to continue on the massive amounts of writing I need to do in the next week.

I decided Free Bird radio on Pandora was no longer appropriate, so I switched over to my Peaceful Holidays channel to accompany my tree. Not two minutes later I glance out the window to see the first snowflakes of the season. Had I known I have this kind of power I would have put up my tree a week ago!

Yayy! Love!

~g

Open Letter

Dear Chicagoans and Populations of Nearby Villages and Neighborhoods:

You may have noticed the weather has recently changed from the near-record setting highs to more reasonable, yet still near-recording setting, November temperatures. Your reaction to this change has been quite interesting and may very well be studied by future generations when they take Overreaction 101 during their freshman year of college.

It has been said you have not seen a winter until you experience winter in Chicago. Given my first winter in Chicago was one of the snowiest and coldest in recent history, I can personally vouch for the intensity of the winters, most notably the fabled winds. Given this, one would naturally assume those who reside within the city or nearby suburbs would be rather used to cold weather, precipitation, and wind.

Your reaction to the recent cool-down suggests otherwise. While I agree it is most definitely jacket weather, I rebel against donning boots, hats, scarves, gloves, and full-length winter coats zipped up all the way so as to ward off the extreme 47 degree temperature. Really, people, add three more degrees and all of the sudden you think it is spring and Daisy Duke weather.

Additionally, while it is time to turn on the heat so as to avoid shivering all day and night, the thermostat does not need to be set on tropical temperatures. Wishing you were somewhere warmer and thereby attempting to alter your environment will not magically transport you to that beach in the Caribbean. You chose to live in Chicago and by doing so accepted the idea of four distinct seasons. There is no need for you to consume vast amounts of energy in an attempt to trick your mind into thinking you are somewhere else.

Complaining about the weather will do no good. It is not as if your complaints go on file and Mother Nature alters her practices if she receives enough requests/threats/etc to do so. The Earth rotates on its axis while traveling around the Sun. We are currently tilted away from the Sun and will be experiencing winter until such a time comes that we are once again tilted toward it. Galileo understood this and he did not have the same sophisticated technology we now posses.

Fellow citizens, it is time to accept the fact we have entered into the winter season. Please quiet your complaints, set your thermostat at a reasonable level, and don weather-appropriate clothing. We will be arriving at Spring in approximately 5 months. Thank you very much.

Sincerely,

A Chicago Resident

P.S. On the note of non-outerwear attire, ladies, I do not care which fashion magazine told you sweatpants, Ugg boots, ratty t-shirts, and full makeup/hair/accessories is attractive, but you look like an idiot. You obviously woke up with plenty of time to properly clean and dress yourself (too much time, if your heavily made-up face and teased hair are any indication), yet you insist on dressing as if you are heading to a slumber party. Please outfit yourself with real clothes as soon as possible. Trust me, you will look better and most likely be warmer as well.

Best of

Christmas music: O Holy Night

Household item: Glassware

Baked goods: Chocolate Chip Cookies

Seasons: Spring

Leftovers: Chinese takeout

Traveling: Road trips

Affection: Hugs

Attire: Jeans

Bathroom Cleaner: Tilex

What are your best-ofs?

~g

Cookies!

The really cold weather has finally hit, with strong winds and grey (gray?) blahness up above. We are all bundled up in sweaters and blankets as we do not want to turn on the heat and pay for the gas. Technically, we do have the heat on, but it is set to kick in only when the temperature inside drops below 55 degrees. This ensures we don't freeze in the middle of the night but do not run the heat unnecessarily during the day. We may have to bump the temp up a few degrees, though, as my nose, fingers, and toes are pretty cold.

I am currently cuddled on the couch with a blanket and two kitties. I just finished off a mug of tea and two peanut butter cookies. I was working on a paper earlier when I decided I needed something warm to drink. Went to the kitchen to make some tea and decided I needed baked goods. I had a tube of Pillsbury cookies in the fridge, and wham-bam, twenty minutes later I have cookies! I still prefer cookies from scratch, but Pillsbury does in decent job and works well in a pinch.

Last night Angela and I went to the salon to get our hair cut. Angela also got her hair colored a very nice red/brown while my stylist tried to talk me into "golden hues that will really brighten and highlight your skin." I said no thanks. She persisted. I said no thanks again. She tried the "we can go with non-permanent that will just let you try it out with no commitment." I told her I like my hair color the way it is and already have natural highlights that work with my skin tone. The stylist next to us who was working on Angela chimed in and agreed he really likes my hair the way it is. End of discussion!

Post-salon Angela desperately wanted some sushi, so off to Sushi Loop, despite my rather strong disdain for all things fish. I knew I could get some good fried rice so I wasn't overly opposed to the supper choice. Once there, I decided to girl-up and at least try something. Angela suggested the Loopy, a tuna and jalapeno concoction that is great for first-timers as the tuna is cooked. I ate 4 of the 8 pieces before deciding I had had enough. Definitely not something I will crave in the future, but at least I tried!

The Halloween decorations are down, although the general fall items remain. I have warned Angela my tree will most likely go up within the next two weeks. It's a new tree with new ornaments and I am a child that likes to play with her new toys. Plus I just really love the Christmas season and want time to enjoy my tree before breaking it down and taking it back to Iowa when I go home for Christmas break.

I have settled into writing end-of-semester reports and various other items at work. Nothing too intensive, but writing day in and day out is a bit wearing. Hopefully I can take off some time after Thanksgiving as I am currently owed roughly 2 1/2 weeks of time off. I won't recoup all of it, but it would be nice to have some of it.

I continue to make it to the gym several times a week, although not nearly as much as I had originally planned. I am quite bored with the gym and need to figure out a way to shake up my routine. There are a few cardio machines I have not tried yet. I did recently get up the courage to look like a fool as I tried the rowing machine. I found I liked it, even though it really wears you out!

Life has become pretty quiet for me. I am slowly getting over this sinus stuff. Sarah, I did get some nasal spray that helped the pressure on the front of my face but did not do a lot for the rest of the symptoms. Mom made a call to my doctor and found I still had a valid prescription for antibiotics. The nurse faxed in an extension on the fill-by date so I could pick them up here in Chicago. We most definitely do not want a repeat of last year so I am now on antibiotics and will hopefully be feeling a lot better soon.

My pumpkin finally met its demise in the dumpster. I noticed the day after Halloween it was getting quite gross, and when I came home that night someone had thrown it away. I am assuming it was our landlady, as the landscaping in the courtyard had also been cut back and winterized. So ends the perfect pumpkin of 2008.

Not much else to report. Life goes, and I go along.

Love!

~g

Mindlessness

I seem to be encountering it more and more lately.

It is simple. If you have beliefs you feel strongly enough about that you try to change my beliefs, you need to be able to tell me why you believe that way in the first place. "Because that's what I believe!" is not an acceptable answer.

Ok, done with the passive-aggressive rant. :)

I've been sick lately. There has been a sinus thing going around that I managed to stave off for a month or so but finally got. I am unhappy with my face and sub-dermal systems; they hurt and are gross.

You may have noticed I have been playing with templates lately, similar to my older brother. It started with me asking him how to do one simple thing and grew from there. I think I am finally getting happy with the look.

Tomorrow is a day off (thank goodness!). Routine furnace check at 10 am, gym around 2, and haircut at 6. The haircut is LONG (look at me make a pun!) overdue, and the rest, well, that's just life.

The city continues to operate in a tizzy. Yesterday all the workers at Wendy's were all dancing and singing, "We elected our first black president!" While I shared their enthusiasm, I wanted some food and was not the only customer in line. I waited for about a minute before I finally said, "That's great. I'm happy too and did my part by voting for him. Now, can I order some lunch?" Oh man, if looks could kill....

I do believe today was the last nice day we will have for several months. Temperatures were near 70 degrees all day, but we are dropping about 25 or 30 degrees tonight back to the average November 30s and 40s. Still, we seem to be much better off than the Dakotas! Holy cow!

I am slowly transitioning into Christmas. This week I broke out the music, but only the melodic stuff; no lyrics for me yet. I have also started to put together the list of who gets cards and who gets cards with cookies and who gets actual presents. It's all in an Excel file stored on the my desktop and I am officially a massive dork.

I cannot believe how soon Thanksgiving will be upon us! The visit from Dad and Jody is more and more anticipated.

Time for me to go drug myself up and head to bed. I hope everyone is happy and healthy!

Love!

~g

And so it will be again...

I was struck tonight by the similarities in Obama's speech and a speech written for the same occasion on the TV series "The West Wing".

On election night (for his second term), President Bartlet ended his acceptance speech with the following words:

"To ensure that the promise of the country is the birthright of all the people. We've achieved so much together always believing, always know that America could be made new again and so it was, and so it will be again. God bless you all. God bless the United States of America."

It sounded familiar...

The enormity of this day has not fully hit me. I need time to process everything. Soon I will let you all know what it was like to be in this place on such an historic occasion. While I was not at Grant Park tonight, the city most definitely had an altered energy today.

My sentences are becoming very poorly written. It is time to end this day so I can wake up tomorrow to renewed hope and pride.

"This is our moment. This is our time . . . out of many, we are one . . ." - President Elect Barack Obama

Love!

~g

History

I voted weeks ago by absentee ballot in Iowa. Go me with my fulfillment of my civic rights.

This city is insane today. No other way to describe it.

I made myself (and my student worker) giant "I voted" stickers. Since I did absentee I did not receive a sticker and the city of Chicago does not give out stickers within the city limits. On those points - a) absentee ballots should include stickers and b) The city of Chicago is dumb.

I'll be out in the craziness today. I don't know about being at Grant Park tonight, but I'm definitely checking out the area at some point today. I'm smack dab in the middle of history and I do not plan on missing it.

More to come I'm sure!

Love!

~g