You Moved Where?

I was in Cincinnati this past weekend and this is what my sister and I did http://www.purplepeoplebridgeclimb.com Ya, I climbed a bridge. It was the only way to get my sister out of the house of a specific period of time...so we could have her surprise party! Jean LOVED the climb and I have to admit that it was great! Oh, Jean was totally surprised and had NO clue. We told her that the babysitter was coming over and a bunch of us were going to Greek Fest. On the way home she made a comment "I love my kids but I am really happy to go out tonight and be with adults." Opps.

I have a picture of Jean and I ON the bridge but my scanner isn't working...I'll see what is up with all of that later.

Saturday being book group day (for real, this time), I grabbed my camera again and headed out the door. It was a beautiful day, warm in the sun but cool and breezy in the shade. No sign of rain, unlike today.

I tripped over my old printer and I think I broke my toe Thursday night so I was a little worried about how I was going to make it on foot, but it wasn't too bad by yesterday. Luckily, I didn't have to go anywhere on Friday so I could give it a little rest. I'm a little relieved; this would be a bad time for me to have a serious injury, for obvious reasons. I just left a little earlier than usual so I could walk as slowly as I needed to, so I had a nice leisurely walk there and back.

I got to my corner at Roscoe and Broadway to discover the gay pride fairies had performed their annual overnight redecorating:Oh, yeah. Happy Gay Pride Parade Day!

Since there was no game today, I decided to walk down Addison to Southport.Headless Harry says "Hello from Wrigley Field!" (You can see his head in the shadow, at least.)

I don't know if you're familiar with this store, but it's been a landmark of mine since I moved to Chicago. I've always thought it looked like a really cool store. And yet, I've never been inside. Strange, huh?

This time I was able to get a reasonably decent picture of The Music Box, home of many cool movies, The Sound of Music singalong, one of the few places other than church where you can hear live organ music, and the occasional rat.

And that's pretty much how I spent the weekend. How did everyone else spend theirs?

Ok, so the last post was from my "My Cat Hates You" Calendar....this is a picture from the website that I find hysterical!!


Here is another one...... the Caption is: "IT'S PEOPLE!"

This Saturday I set out for the trek to Cafe Avanti on Southport for my book group. It was hot, but there was enough of a breeze that it was fairly cool on the shady side of the street.

On the way out the door I grabbed the little battery-operated mini camera my sister gave me for Christmas. The quality isn't great, but I managed to get a few shots that you should be able to identify.

The giraffe on Elaine Street says hello. I love that this statue is just a couple of blocks from me. When I worked down at UIC I would pass him every day on the way to the bus. Now I only see him every once in a while, like when I'm going to book group.






Next we get to Roscoe and Halsted, where you see the fashionable Beatnix. I wasn't sure how this picture would come out. There are all kinds of rainbow crepe paper thing-ies in the window and all the mannequins are wearing the most lurid-colored speedo-type combinations. I would have taken a picture up close, but they have a sign posted that says "Absolutely No Pictures" and I did't want to get busted!



Summer has definitely arrived on Roscoe Street. They really go all out on this street, especially the further west you go.

And even though it hasn't really been all that hot, all of the flowers looked a little hot and wilted today. I'm sure they'll perk up again once the sun goes away.

This was just one of the many beautiful landscaped yards I passed. It was one of the prettiest.

The lindens are in bloom. Right now the sweet smell surrounds you whenever you walk down a Linden-lined sidewalk.

And finally, we come to Halsted and Addison, and Wrigley Field. I guess there was a game Saturday. Oh yes, and Mary was supposed to be at that game. This picture was taken around 2:30, Mary. Where were you? I hope you weren't too hot at the game.

There were tons of people all around in the street. I would have been really annoyed, but I was there on a mission so it was all ok.


I finally made it to Southport and Waveland. (You would be looking at a picture of the Music Box right now if it had come out ok.) I went in to Cafe Avanti, ordered an iced raspberry herb tea, and sat down to wait for my group.

And waited. And waited. And finally, after about twenty minutes, remembered that we had decided to meet a week later this month so I get to do it all over again next Saturday.

But that's ok. I had a nice rest in the air conditioning and got some good reading in before heading back home.

You know that I am always talking about my sister's evil cat....Chili? On Friday, they all went camping and the cat must have gotten out while they were packing the car. Usually, they are really careful of that. Chili got out. I feel so sorry for my sister. He is out there....somewhere...I am just hoping that he comes to his senses and finds his way home. It just makes me think....if Bert and Felix got out...would they come back? Why wouldn't a cat come back to his home? Does he hold a grudge? Too many kids and not enough cat toys?

This Chili thing just sucks. Jean's 40th birthday is this week too.

Oh, I can't post any more pictures for awhile. My camera bit the dust....well...I dropped it...on concrete. So, just picture the Bohus completed and nicely blocked. It really is pretty...trust me.

Ok Yam, I'm going to take it a little more slowly from here on out so you don't go into withdrawal from seeing too much of your stuff at one time. And if it ever gets to be too much, just say the word and I'll stop until your stuff arrives and you've had more of a chance to settle into your new home.

Here are some more of the things you left with me. The Edward Gorey lunchbox (how cool is that, BTW? I got it and a smaller one at book expo a couple of years ago) makes a perfect home for all the cool cookie cutters I plan to use once it gets cool enough to bake again. Behind the lunch box is an oversized bail-top mason jar that just needs a new rubber ring to make it good for storing a lot of something . . . but what?

And as you can see, the four Ikea storage jars are perfect for my colorful collection of lentils--red, black, and french green. And that's pearled barley hiding behind the red lentils.

One of the challenges of avoiding processed/canned foods and trying to eat healthily is finding containers for all of the different ingredients I have in my pantry. These are not only useful, they're much prettier than the old mayonnaise jars I was using.

And if your eye is really sharp, you will have noticed the blue towel decorating the counter behind everything. It gives my teeny, drab kitchen some much-needed color.

Yesterday I met my friend Bob for coffee and we walked over to the lake behind Roscoe where they built the bird sanctuary. It was hot and sunny, and everything was green and the sky was blue. I really wished I had my camera so I could take some pictures for you. Next time, I promise.

Last night Debi and I worked at the yarn store. Mary's family was having a party for Jason's 40th. It was a fun night for all. Really, I am not being sarcastic. Really. At about 8:30 a Mom and her daughter came in looking for yarn for an afgan. It had to match specific colors and feel, etc. Oh my gosh, such a production. At about 9:30 they left and I really felt that they were satisfied with the choices they made.

So, when Debi and I left...this car was parked next to mine! It is a little hard to see but the back end is held together by just duct tape...even the bumper. It scares me that this thing could even be running...let alone parked near me!! I am just not that getto to use duct tape...oh, wait...that isn't ghetto...that is just white trash...ya, I can relate to white trash. Nevermind.

"Admit it!! You sent that book to Mary!"

Ok, I am just going to vent on the blog and it has NOTHING to do with knitting. Now, if you all were going to send a book to me, what would the most offensive thing you could send? We are talking about a book that would probably make me wonder about our friendship. A book that simple goes to my core. I might even yell! (I did yell but I will tell that story below). Ms. Coulter's book calls Iran-Contra a "brilliant scheme" and the 911 widows "reveling in their status as celebrities and stalked by grief-arazzis. I’ve never seen people enjoying their husbands’ deaths so much." You all know that I knew people in the World Trade Center....I am just offended!

So, last night I get home to find the Ann Coulter's latest trash at my door. I was livid. Here is an article about her book...http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/13227349/ I sent an email to amazon only to get a response that my email address was wrong and they couldn't help me. I have been with Amazon for about 10 years now....with the same email. My biggest mistake was to call them this morning. I got someone who wasn't understanding what I was talking about...they were definately from India...ok, I can excuse that....then he tells me that my Am/Ex card is wrong. I did get a little upset that maybe...just maybe...my account has been compromised. He told me that he would have to have someone else look at the account and it would take a week. I lost it. I asked that the account be frozen during that time. "Oh, we can't do that." "Then, please cancell my account." "Oh, I can't do that either." "Ok, what the Fuc* should I do then?" "Please don't use that language..." Click (I hung up).

So, now I am mad and go online and take all my credit cards off the site and cancell it online. Grrrr. This shouldn't be so hard. But the burning question....who sent this book? Or was it a mistake by Amazon? Amazon won't admit to the mistake....I asked them. I can't believe what poor customer service!!

This is a picture of most of the equipment I got from Yamilett before she left Chicago. Let's see if I can list it all. From left:

Rolling pin
Chopsticks
Silicon spatula
Two springform pans
Two flan pans
Madeiline pan
Sifter
Mortar and pestle
Creme Brulee butane torch
Butane
Whisk
Mini mesh strainer
Larger strainer with holes
Wire rack
Mandolin

I've actually used a lot of it already.

I used the rolling pin for these Poppyseed Spirals I made for an online spice challenge (if you haven't read it yet, the post is here).

I hadn't used a rolling pin in years, and had never really used one that much before, so it was quite a challenge. But all in all, I was pleased with how these came out. They tasted really good, too!

I also used the wire rack to cool these puppies.

I've used the mini mesh strainer countless times already--I'd forgotten that I used to have one in Austin and it's great for many purposes, expecially because I take the shake-holes off of all my spices as soon as I get them home, and it makes a great quick spice shaker. It's also good for straining seeds out of juiced limes and lemons, which I've also done with this one.

The bigger strainer with the cute little holes I've used to strain chicken stock and it worked beautifully. I hate using my other large mesh strainer because the chicken bits get stuck in the mesh and it's hard to clean. This strainer was easy easy easy to clean!

The whisk has been put to use several times to make this vinaigrette. I don't buy salad dressing anymore!

The spatula has flipped its share of pancakes (both regular and whole wheat).

That's it for this batch. I think the Madeiline pan is up to bat next.

Hey, I can send you sock yarn!! How much do you need? I can send it tomorrow from work too. Just went through all my yarn and organized it in the ziploc big bags....here....http://www.ziploc.com/?p=b8

I have a whole bag of sock yarn!! Probably for about 60 socks....so I can send ya some. :) Oh, let me get rid of my stash!!

FINALLY finished the bohus last night. Even stayed up and sewed that thing all together. I am so happy!! I just need to find buttons now.

Oh! My last post I talked about throwing that sweater in the garbage. I should even talk about stuff like that. The next day (6.6.06) I was running out the door to work and threw a bunch of garbage down the shoot. Just grabbed bags and left. The night before I went to Target to get a $100 gift card (for my step nephew) and some wedding decorations (for an attorney I work with..we are decorating her office tomorrow). I threw THOSE away. I couldn't believe it...and realized it when I was about 10 minutes from work (and I was very late). All day long I was pissed off at myself and hoping that the bag would still be there and on top of the garbage bin. Sooo, I got home, found a broom and went into the garbage room....hoping that no one would see me. It was there! I saw the target bag sticking up under another bag. Ya, I did some dumpster diving.

Tim and I used to play this game in the subway...what would get you down on the tracks? Glasses? Your wallet? Keys? I felt I was living the game the other night. That trash bin is gross! When I told Tim he said that a $100.00 gift card wouldn't be enough to go in.

Oh, I can send you beans too! Just let me know what kind. I can send you a care package of beans and sock yarn.

Now that we're up and running, I was going to get started with the Yam Project, but Blogger was down today and I'm putting in quite a bit of time on a different (paying) project so I might not be able to officially start it for a couple of days.

So here's something to keep you from getting too bored:

WHAT HAPPENED IN CHICAGO--JUNE 7, 2006: Daley Wants To Make Chicago Fashionable.

ETA So how'd the Stitch 'n Bitch go?

I just wanted to test this thing out. Woo Hoo! I am so happy we all are doing this. I will have to take some pictures of the Bohus. I haven't had them on my blog because my sister reads it and the sweater is for her 40th birthday at the end of this month. I want to throw that sweater in the garbage!!! I can't stand working on it anymore but I have been plugging away. It HAS to be done by Friday...or else...or maybe I will go postal.

Love, Mary

(I got this here. I hope it means what I think it means)
Last month our good friend Yamilett was torn from our arms and shuffled halfway around the world from Chicago, Illinois, to Hong Kong. What an adventure she and her husband are going to have! How exciting it's going to be for her to learn all about life in a foreign land! What culinary delights she's going to discover! What wonderful new friends she's going to make! How much fun shopping she'll have!

How much we will miss her. :(

Before they left, she and her husband had to get rid of most of their stuff. The week before they were leaving they had a major moving sale. I was fortunate enough to be the recipient of many wonderful tools, gadgets, spices, and foods at the end of the day (so to speak).

And it occurred to me that until Yamilett has settled in enough to have those wonderful adventures, meet those wonderful people, discover those wonderful shops and restaurants, and travel around, she might feel just a wee bit homesick.

So what would be a good way to help Yamilett feel a little less alone over there on the other side of the world?

Why this here blog, of course.

The purpose of this blog is threefold. First, I decided that I have to use every single item I got from Yamilett, so she'll know everything went to a good home. I will document my usage here. Second, I thought we could use this blog to let Yamilett know what's going on here in Chicago, so she won't feel so homesick.

And third, we all want to know how Yamilett is doing in her new life, so I'm hoping she'll stop in and let us know what she's up to every once in a while. (Actually, I hope it's more than every once in a while but I don't want her to feel too much pressure.)

So Yamilett, this blog's for you. I hope you'll enjoy it!