Signs I Find Amusing

From a swimming beach in Evanston:



From a local bookstore:



From an Evanston park:

A Summer Walk

The last few weekends have seen me on a five-mile trek up to a really pretty little park on Northwestern's campus. This park has a beautiful view of the city skyline, and the edges by the water are lined with big rocks that various members of the senior class from each year paint with different quotes, declarations of love, or just cool art. While the weekdays have left something to be desired in terms of the weather, the weekends have been just gorgeous. We haven't had much of a summer, but it's been that cool sunny autumnal weather that is perfect for long walks with a camera in hand. This time I decided to take you with me. So, in order of appearance on my walk, here are the snapshots I took today.

Glory Days

Last night I got together with a couple friends I hadn't seen since college. Elizabeth Roberts (formerly Bradford--she's on my right) and Kristina Schmitt (formerly Kleiber--on my left) were fellow English majors and Writing Center co-workers. We had a blast at Marquette being literary nerds together. :) [Side note: It's absolutely ridiculous how short I am and how obvious it is in that picture!] Elizabeth has since moved to London, where her husband is from, but was in town for her sister's wedding and organized a little shin dig at this bar in Lincoln Park that looks like it was plucked right out of Wisconsin. It had moose heads, antler chandeliers, and all kinds of Wisconsin beer. I felt like I was right back in school again. After hanging out at that bar until everyone else at the get together had left, Kristina, Elizabeth, Will (Elizabeth's husband), and I moved on to Clarke's--a funky little diner a few blocks away. I managed to not make it home until 2:30 am--unheard for me lately (I'm old and lame, what can I say?)! I had a really fun time catching up with old friends and hope we don't go this long again without seeing each other. :)

Scary turtle who was obviously traumatized when it died...

Deer antler chandelier

She Made It!

This is Lenora Clare:

And this is the birthday cake I made for her:

Welcome to the world, little one. It's a wild and crazy ride.

Birth Day

         As I write this, I am sitting on the couch at my friend Erin's house baking a birthday cake and taking care of her dog while she has a baby. As in, she is at the hospital this very second and this new little life will be coming into the world at any moment. Erin and I met at my last job, where we both worked for several years. We bonded over stories of our dogs, along with editing woes, and have remained friends even though neither one of us works there anymore. 

         A few weeks ago, as Erin approached her due date, I was put on-call to take care of Tilly (the dog) and the Fishes (Erin's husband's pets). We've joked that "Tilly and the Fishes" would make a terrific name for a band. They're certainly entertaining enough. 

         Last night at about 6, I got a call from Erin saying she had gone into labor around 3, but the contractions were still pretty far apart--to far for going to the hospital yet. However, I should be ready to take care of The Band soon. Three hours later I got a call from Erin's husband, Tom, saying they were off to the hospital and could I come let Tilly out in the morning? 

          I've never been close enough to a friend who is having a baby, both friendship-wise and geographically, that I got to help out or even SEE the baby until it was several months old. I didn't sleep very well last night because I kept waking up and wondering if she was here yet (it's a girl!) and how Erin was doing. 

         This morning, I went over and did my Tilly duties and then went to work, where I checked my phone so often I'm surprised I got anything done. Finally, at 1 I got another call from Tom saying Erin was still in labor--the baby hadn't been born yet. Sigh. The waiting game continues. 

         All around, this house is ready for a baby. There are cribs, pack n' plays, big bouncy balls, toys, little tiny hats, a baby book, and bottles all washed and ready to go. There's an air of anticipation and I can't tell if it's because of all of the baby things around or if it's emanating from me (or both). In a day or two, a brand new little peanut will be carried through that door and Tilly and the Fishes will have a new bandmate.   

         Until then, these teensy diapers and I wait with bated breath. 

Recommendation

If you haven't read the memoir One Child by Torey Hayden, you should. It's both heartbreaking and wonderful.

Favorite Show

While I hate to admit it, I've become a bit of a reality TV junky. Ok, a big reality TV junkie. In my own defense, I don't watch those horrid dating shows like "The Bachelor" or "More to Love," nor can I stand the shows featuring washed up G-list "celebrities" like "The Surreal Life" or "A Shot at Love with Tila Tequila." Blech. Just by typing the names of those shows I feel like I've somehow violated the integrity of this blog...

I do, however, love the documentary-style shows, such as "Ace of Cakes," "L.A. Ink," "Unwrapped," and "Deadliest Catch," and I also like the competition shows that either motivate me ("Biggest Loser") or are just pure entertainment ("Project Runway," which I'm starting to watch for the first time this season). By far my favorite show, however, and not just in the reality TV category, is "So You Think You Can Dance." I know, I know, it has a ridiculous title and is just begging to be made fun of, but I'm telling you, when this show is on I can't take my eyes off the screen. I like that it showcases ALL kinds of dance, from ballroom to Latin, swing to krump, ballet to Bollywood. It also shows ordinary people who are trying to make it in the world of dance, unlike "Dancing with the Stars" (another show featuring washed-out "celebrities"). These people are SERIOUSLY talented dancers. Some of them have been training since they were tykes, and some for only a few years. All of them are outstanding and they make the show something I truly look forward to every week.

In honor of the show staring it's sixth season on September 9, here are my all time favorite routines from the past four seasons in no particular order (I didn't start watching until Season 2...gotta go back and rent that first season!). Yes, there are a lot of them, but part of the reason I'm doing this post is so I can catalogue all of my faves in one place. Enjoy!

Lacy and Cameron: Contemporary


Katee and Joshua: Bollywood


Jamie and Hok: Pop Jazz (Hummingbird and Flower)


Chelsea and Mark: Hip Hop


Katee and Joshua: Hip Hop


Kayla and Kupono: Contemporary


Neil and Sabra: Jazz


Katee and Twitch: Contemporary


Kherington and Twitch: Viennese Waltz


Kherington and Twitch: Broadway


Katee and Will: Broadway


Courtney and Mark: Contemporary


Jeanine and Philip: Hip Hop


Travis and Heidi: Contemporary


Caitlin and Jason: Bollywood


Karla and Jonathan: Contemporary


Karla and Jonathan: Cha Cha


Kayla and Max: Salsa


Evan and Randi: Hip Hop


Evan and Randi: Jazz


Courtney and Joshua: Hip Hop


Courtney and Gev: Contemporary


Chelsie and Twitch: Hip Hop


Season 5 Top 16: Group Number


Brandon and Janette: Argentine Tango

Place This in the "Completely Random" Category

This guy was there to greet me on my walk home today...

I don't know either.

Extreme Makeover, Hair Edition

I met my good friend Ann at work nearly two years ago. When I first met her, her hair was about shoulder length. Ever since that time she's been growing it out in an effort to donate it to Locks of Love, a charity that makes wigs out of real hair for cancer patients. It's taken quite a while, but yesterday she finally went in and had it chopped off...all ten inches of it.

Here is what Ann looked like yesterday at work:

And here is what she looked like today at work:

Did you notice how she's not really giving a full smile in the picture from yesterday? That's because you always have to look kind of sad in the before picture, like your life sucks and won't it be great when you can transform your whole world with a simple hair cut???

When she came home after cutting her hair, she expected Owen, her three-year-old to either not recognize her or at least say something wild. He didn't even blink an eye.

The girl is a rock star.