Yard of the Bach House

Just around the corner from us sits a beautiful front yard with an ugly house. Sorry Frank, you're just not my type. That's Frank Lloyd Wright no less. And of course the house is a city landmark.
The plaque in front reads:

"One of the last of Wright's small urban houses, the Bach house combines elements of the Prairie style with a compact plan well suited for an interior lot. The inward orientation of the house ensures the privacy of its residence and reflects Wright's idea of the importance of family life. Designated a Chicago Landmark on September 28, 1977."

I love how they call it small and compact.

Cinderella

As we walked past a laundromat last evening a wall of kid art caught my eye. I imagine the kids sit at the table near this window and draw while they wait with parents for the spin cycle to end. What I never imagined was that the art of MY childhood could so easily be reproduced. This Cinderella taped up on the wall is the spitting image of so very many Cinderellas that I drew with sharpened crayons and clean white paper. This Cinderella, like all of MY Cinderellas, sports lopsided sleeves and wonkey arms, but always, always perfect hair and makeup. (Because if those were messed up, wadding the paper and pitching it to the floor was in line). I loved Cinderella like she were my own flesh and blood and I drew Cinderella more than anything else because I knew that I too would one day marry a prince with shoulder pads, go places in a pumpkin, and live in that blue castle at Disney World. I think that the repeated drawing was more of a meditation really, a goal setting exercise for myself. But now I see that nope, I'm not whimsical and unique, there are others doing this meditation. I don't still have a glass slipper out there somewhere. That wasn't fairy dust in that Crayola glitter jar. And Max is never going to talk to me or make me a dress. Drat.

It was sunny once in Chicago today

Even though I managed to capture this sideways and it appears all digital, look at how the sun comes in the window off the lake in the morning.

Roadside Shrine (no not everything in Nebraska is shaped like a barn)

This is a nice sunny shrine sitting in the hills that hover over the interstate on the way to the Omaha airport. It has running water under the tiles of the floor. In some places you can dip your hand into openings in the floor and touch the little river. Now I know another thing to add to my list of things I want in the house we buy.

Grandpa and the boys

We had a surprise gathering in Firth, Nebraska today (parent's 30th anniversary). Neighbors, friends, and offspring gathered, but these two little hams stole the show (and many hearts).

Poor Blokey

So here is the flyer my friend Meghan had to make up as she gets ready to depart Nebraska for an apartment in Philly. This dog is seriously the sweetest thing. If anyone is interested or knows anyone who might be interested, let me know.

On April 24

We hit an all time low on chicagodays30.blogspot.com

"There's pansies, that's for thoughts"

It's Shakespeare's birthday today. (Or at least this is the traditional celebration.) I read once of a gardener who only planted and grew things mentioned in the works of Shakespeare ~ violets, rosemary, pansies, daffodils, iris, pinks, roses, pomegranate. I imagine a beautiful back yard where people wear hair garland, sit long, feed each other fruit and drink love potions. But for now I have two clamp-on flower boxes and $4 wine from Trader Joe's. Ain't no thang.

Oh blue...

It looks so much better with green.


Even just the very beginnings of green.
The beginnings of trampled city park green.

Passover Seder

We were honored to be guests at Adam and Cristin's family Seder last night. Besides enjoying a laid-back and delicious meal, I learned loads about the tradition and celebration of Passover. Here's what I now know about the Seder Plate, which is placed on the table with six foods that are symbolically important in telling the story of the Exodus from Egypt.
















1. Maror (bitter herbs/horseradish)-this symbolizes the bitterness of slavery.
2. Haroset (yummy mix of chopped apples, cinnamon, walnuts and wine)-this symbolizes the mortar used by the Jewish slaves in constructions for the Egyptions.
3. Karpas (Parsley)- this is dipped into salt water (symbolic of tears) and eaten to symbolize the hardships and meager nourishment the slaves endured.
4. Z'roa (roasted lamb shankbone) symbolizing the Paschal lamb that was offered up in the Temple in Jerusalem.
5. Beitzah (boiled egg)- this represents the holiday offering brought in the days of the Temple and is also a symbol for the mourning over the destruction and loss of the Temple.
6. Matzo (unleavened bread)-symbolizing the bread taken before it had time to rise as the Jews fled Egypt.

Schadenfreude

Besides seeing Stacy last night, we saw some live comedy at a beloved spot called Gallery Cabaret. The comedy was indeed funny (I, frankly, was surprised by how much I laughed) and it will be making its way up to Rogers Park in a couple of weeks. Comedy night may need to happen again.

Stacy

Folks, this is Stacy. Stacy, though she went to Notre Dame, is part of the extended Wash U family. Over the past few years we've come to know Stacy as a friendly and adventuresome young lass. Proof of adventuresomeness: She and Chris (one of Eric's old college friends) just got back from Alaska after dogsledding and attending a wedding in an igloo. And speaking of dogs, when Eric and I went to Mexico last year Stacy came to stay with Max for a week. He loved Stacy so much that he wouldn't let her sleep in past sunrise and mourned her leaving when we came back. (He stood out in the park and looked for her everywhere.) What I personally appreciate about Stacy is her love of a good quality chocolate malt. I too have this love. So much so that I am willing to sneak malts, for both Stacy and I, into a movie theater inside of my purse. And when I pause to find that my cell phone is floating in a purse-full of foamy malted dairy product, I'm not the least bit phased. I also enjoy that Stacy is the first person to tell me that I am not insane for liking to run to music that most people nap to (Iron and Wine, Elvis singing gospel). She too runs to mellow tunes. Stacy has also recently been kind enough to let me subject her to my tell-me-your-five-favorite-things request. And here they are:
1. Avacados
2. Puppies (to her all dogs are puppies)
3. Eighteenth Century/Romantic/Victorian Literature
4. Outdoor Activities (Hiking/biking/dogsledding)
5. Postcards

Training Wheels

So sweet that I needed to eat something salty after taking this pic.

North Shore

Tonight we were feeling old and grumpy about crowds so we headed north to the sleepy storefront theater in Wilmette. We were the youngest people there by about 40 years. But sometimes that's how we like our Friday nights. Quiet, slow, and with a side of pureed carrots. Free of hoodlum shenanigans.

Good Mail Day

I'm old fashioned and like to hold in my very own hands the actual cd and liner notes of the musicians that I really like. Today a box of new music came to me as a result of my feeling that I needed to rotate the cds in my car (my favorite place to listen up). Anyhow, I thought I'd pass on that She and Him (Zooey Deschanel and M. Ward) Volume One is so very good. It kicks, rules, and rocks. Because I agree with her and because I couldn't say it better than my friend Allison, I'll let you read her review on Daytrotter.

And then finally one day

you put your snow boots away.

Vegging

We've hit the couch and can't get off. I'm too busy watching Roswell to blog tonight. Sometimes there is nothing more important than finding out if Max can find a ship to return him to his home planet to save his illegitimate alien son.

Coming of Age

In an attempt to get our condo on the market to sell, we've been spiffing up the place. Really our only goal so far has been to make it appear that two grownups live here. So that maybe grownups will want to buy the place. I remember a couple of years ago, on the very same day, Eric bought his first suit coat and I bought my first purse (you know like grown women carry? With a matching wallet and such?). Well today, kids, I bought shams, a throw pillow for the bed, and matching (matching being the key here) pillow cases and sheets. I can't even begin to tell you how mature and smug this makes me feel. Not to mention that I think the only time I've used the word "sham" has been incorrectly and interchangeably with scam and shame. "What a sham!"
World, watch out. Jackie Kennedy Onassis may not hold first place for classiness much longer. I've got a bed skirt.

Cardinal

It's supposed to be a good omen to see a cardinal. Even better if you see it with someone you love. But run when you see a raven. And then spit twice.

I don't know where I get these things. Someone read me too many books when I was a child.

Head of Femur

Last night we ventured out to Schubas Tavern to hear the band Head of Femur. It was a release party for their new album Great Plains (which sports a purple Chimney Rock majesty on the cover). I know a couple of the band members from Lincoln, Nebraska, Pius X High School to be exact, but that's not why I kept my square self out until 1:00 am to listen. They truly rock. I like to believe that I would have stumbled upon this band aside from the hometown draw. They are inventive and unusual yet give a 60s pop loving girl something to shake her shoes to. Personally, I think this Great Plains is their best yet. I liked hearing the whole album live at Schubas here in Chicago on a cold April night but it also took me home to Nebraska in some way. I imagine wanting that album playing in my car on a Friday night years ago as I drive with friends so far and long on "A" Street that we end up in a field of winter wheat. And when most people would flip around and drive home, we would stay right there, stick our heads out the windows and try to identify satellites roaming through the stars.
Yeah, Great Plains should have been playing. It would have been out of this world.

Raindrops on roses

Whiskers on kittens

Expression

I've heard before that dogs can actually show emotion through facial features/expressions. You know, smile. Give this dog a nice day, a sandy beach, and a tennis ball, and I believe in it. A radiant (dog) smile.

Fungi Fun Facts

I read this article about a guy who does mushroom research. I know, a.) I'm a geek and b.) there are better things to do than read about how someone read about mushrooms. But did you know that the "mycelial" network that produces mushrooms can, like, send messages from one end to the other? "How are things down there? Ten-four." "Good. Over." Wild.
Wilder: some good use of the scientific method in Japan found that you can train a slime mold to move through a maze to reach a feast of oats at the end. The first time the slime mold traveled through the maze it just grew every which way until it found the oats, but later, in the same maze, the darn little slime mold grew right to the oats. Science non-fiction kids, science non-fiction.

More Evidence

That spring really is trying to be here.

Oh and...

...someone I know has started a blog.

Bumps in the flight.

The flight back to Chicago was bumpy today. And who likes that, right? It reminds you that you are thousands of feet up in the sky inside of thousands of pounds of metal. It doesn't even seem possible, even this many years after walking on the moon. So add to the feet and the metal and the bumps, the fact that I think air travel is a media hoax, ;) and I do start to get a little nervous.
I saw this Bright Eyes music video once. And I thought of it today.

Window

From an old church in Axtell, Nebraska.

We Walked Today

In Nebraska. My dad calls it "God's Country."

Wide Open Spaces

It's nice to step outside in Nebraska and see the sky, the whole sky and nothing but the sky.

My Nephews

My dad sent this photo today to make certain we hurried home to Nebraska this weekend. And let me tell you, I've already looked into flights for tonight and thought for a while about hitchhiking. I can hardly stand that our flight isn't until tomorrow morning. Those cheeks need kissin'.

Only the Carpenters could sing about a day like this

Lotta slow, dreary traffic today. It's like no one's ever seen rain fall from the sky.

One by Emily

Tell all the Truth but tell it slant-
Success in Circuit lies
Too bright for our infirm Delight
The Truth's superb surprise
As lightning to the Children eased
With explanation kind
The Truth must dazzle gradually
Or every man be blind-

E. Dickinson

April Fools' Day

This has traditionally been a fun and obnoxious day for my family. And it's good to know that I can get them all the way from Chicago. Today my parents and brothers will be getting phone calls for the couch, stove, refrigerator, electric skillet and (free) poodle to a good home, that I have posted for them on craigslist. It's not hard to find photos to post either. Thank you world wide web for bringing us all together.