Chicago Days: Postcards to Those Who Live Elsewhere

2011-08-02T14:56:00.001-05:00

Kids!

Forget the telegram!

2011-06-06T16:15:00.001-05:00

Blows my mind to get to Skype people across the world. Especially my brother in Afghanistan. I think my writing friends who served in WWII might be a little jealous. ;)

2011-06-01T13:38:00.000-05:00

Front yard picnic with Charlie.

2011-05-25T17:28:00.000-05:00

Little antique store with the poodle inside
Sometimes I go there when I need to hide
And I finger the tea towels and slow down my stride
'Til there's no brooch unheld, no hat I've not tried

2011-05-23T16:24:00.000-05:00

My dog can breakdance.

iphone

2011-05-20T15:34:00.002-05:00

So...getting an iPhone kinda makes me want to start blogging again. You know, just now and then. And take fake vintage photos of my real lilacs.

Love it:

2011-02-04T18:31:00.003-06:00

Snow Ice Cream
(also known as Acid Rain Delight)

The old Huls family secret recipe
2 eggs
1.5 cups of sugar
3 Tbs vanilla
2 cans of condensed milk
Add snow to taste

Snowpocalypse 2011

2011-02-02T18:00:00.002-06:00

Love it:

2011-01-16T11:43:00.002-06:00

Taking advantage of the grieving and getting awesome retro dishes dirt cheap at estate sales.

Love it:

2010-11-14T23:26:00.002-06:00

Baking cakes with Noah.

Love it:

2010-11-04T08:42:00.002-05:00

The birdhouse my sister gave me. The birds Love It too!

Love it:

2010-10-27T22:00:00.002-05:00

Today I had this exact conversation with an awesome five-and-a-half-year-old I know:

"I'm a little bit of a vegetarian," she informed me.
"Oh yeah?" I said.
"Well yeah. I like vegetarian bread and I don't like chicken and mostacholi."
"I see. So how did you become a little bit of a vegetarian?"
"A horsefly bit me."

Love it:

2010-10-14T21:28:00.003-05:00

This soup! Green curry broth. Instead of tofu and yuba skins I used rice noodles and dropped in a couple eggs. Either way it will warm your soul.

Love it:

2010-09-24T21:51:00.002-05:00

Today I fell madly in love with Stephen Colbert.

Love it (so much):

2010-09-21T19:54:00.005-05:00

Seattle!

Love it:

2010-09-16T22:34:00.002-05:00

Vintage cop cars.

Love it:

2010-09-15T19:34:00.004-05:00

Chicago during sunset.

Love it:

2010-09-14T14:31:00.002-05:00

Chicago during sunrise.

Love it:

2010-09-13T22:39:00.004-05:00

People who can run miles upon miles and live to tell about it...

Love it:

2010-09-09T12:06:00.002-05:00

Food with faces. (And faces with food.)

Love it:

2010-09-06T00:30:00.002-05:00

Dinner in the back yard. I'm far too informal (immature) to have an actual (grown up) dinner party. But stick the table in the back yard and it cuts any kind of formal out of the dinner party. Even better when it drizzles and you have to haul it all into the garage and eat lasagna right next to the recycling. Love it.

Love it:

2010-09-04T14:22:00.005-05:00

I think today I start Project Love It. Where I simply take note of little daily delights. It seems like a fall thing to do. And it's starting to seem like fall.

So. Today. I love how much happiness Nebraska College Football brings Eric. He's got our colors flying high and an extra bounce in his step. Love it.

Happy Day of Birth!

2010-08-29T09:40:00.002-05:00

This is what Eric looked like in his last few moments of being 31. This is also what it would have looked like if we (Jason) took the photo in 1969 with the John S lens. I COVET the hipstamatic iphone ap. Which in turn (finally) makes me covet the iphone.

A Fork in the Road

2010-08-26T14:26:00.004-05:00

2010-08-15T20:59:00.005-05:00

We visited the old neighborhood last night for some good hearty theater. Eric doesn't miss it in the least, but I always feel a pang of love and nostalgia (is it too early for that?) when we are in the 49th ward. It has so very much character. Edgebrook is lovely in all its own ways but I sometimes miss having something surprising around most corners.

2010-08-12T13:59:00.002-05:00

This morning I opened the back door to let Max out and there sat Miss White-tail looking back at me. I got the feeling she had been napping there. (Thankfully I shut the door again before Max caught wind. Wouldn't have been pretty.)

2010-08-08T14:09:00.001-05:00

2010-08-03T17:43:00.002-05:00

LK!!!

2010-07-29T17:03:00.001-05:00

2010-07-28T10:08:00.001-05:00

I miss my sister!

Larry Love

2010-07-24T13:45:00.002-05:00

Delights

2010-07-22T10:54:00.002-05:00

1. My friend Tom came through town the other day and we unintentionally got a snapshot nearly identical to a photo of us from about 18 years ago. (I'll have to find the original and scan it in.) (Ha! Like that will happen.) 2. Yesterday I told Katie to go get some shoes on and she came back with Eric's and the slyest of smiles. 3. We drove past a restaurant called 'Booby's' (the owner's nickname) and seeing the sign made Katie laugh so hard that we had to go back to eat dinner there the next night.

Sweet Mandy B's

2010-07-20T16:29:00.003-05:00

It doesn't get much better than chocolate cupcakes with green frosting.

(Unless of course it's the nail parlor that has green polish and nail artists who all use the phrase 'How are you honey?' Makes my day.)

Katie!

2010-07-19T15:25:00.002-05:00

I've got my sister in town and we had our own personal salon day with our friend Amy. Rock and roll!

I keep forgetting!

2010-07-14T10:10:00.002-05:00

To post this picture I took a couple weeks ago. (I've been a little distracted from the ol' blog.) This cute little guy is so photogenic!

4th of July Parade

2010-07-05T15:24:00.002-05:00

Harvest

2010-07-01T20:40:00.000-05:00

School of Rock

2010-06-29T16:14:00.003-05:00

Not just a Jack Black movie, folks. A real place where my cousin Walker goes to high school. He's the wicked awesome base player.

2010-06-27T15:14:00.003-05:00

I've taken up nature photography as of late. In Edgebrook, wildlife abounds. This was a little strange though. The flamingos seemed a bit of a distance from their natural habitat (Menards) and didn't seem to be flustered when I approached with the camera. We think what we might have here are flamingos in heat (it's a humid 85 degrees).

2010-06-26T22:46:00.002-05:00

Tried to make two waffles with enough batter for six. Twern't pretty.

Godspell

2010-06-24T17:06:00.004-05:00

I keep forgetting to use my blog shamelessly plug Godspell. Come and see!

Tix are $12 for adults and $6 for kids (12 and younger). And word to the wise, the church basement (aka community theater) is freezing. Wear something warmish.

2010-06-21T22:04:00.002-05:00

Someone once told me that deer are very sophisticated and clever. All I know is that today when I came outside and this one spotted me, it ran to hide behind this tree.

Man at the Music Box

2010-06-19T23:30:00.001-05:00

A Petunia Grows in Chicago

2010-06-19T08:58:00.001-05:00

You're Invited: Huls Family Vacation Slideshow

2010-06-16T12:26:00.007-05:00

Favorites: Max back seat driving. The House from 'A Christmas Story' just sitting right there in Cleveland. A drive-in movie in one of the quaintest cutest towns I've ever driven though in my life (Wadsworth, OH). The highlights of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Museum (for me) were Jimi Hendrix's childhood drawings of football players, Jim Morrison's boy scout uniform and a telegram Otis Redding wrote his wife about how much he missed her (not long before his plane crashed) (I know, sad).

Cleveland Today

2010-06-14T20:18:00.002-05:00

We decided to take a random road trip to Cleveland to see the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (which was pretty awesome). I forgot that cord that snags the photos from my camera and sticks them on my computer. But I had to tell you that I just got done eating a grilled cheese with peppers and peanut butter. They really have their sh*t together here.

2010-06-10T21:30:00.002-05:00

It was great to have my brother Drew around this week! Even though I was very confused at Miller Park last night. Go Brewers! (I like the Brewers) er...go Cubs! (Because, well, you know...) Or (with almost all of the Cubs fans who abandoned their seats and were watching the tvs at the concession stands) Go Blackhawks! It was a queer sporting event. All I knew for sure was Go Chorizo!!!! (Came in dead last.)

Chocolate Cravings/Age calculator

2010-06-08T14:34:00.006-05:00

The following was forwarded to me by my mom. And even though I would probably have picked a number higher than ten for # 1, # 2 remedied things. ;) Kinda fun!

1. First of all, pick the number of times a week that you would like to have chocolate (more than once but less than 10)

2. Multiply this number by 2 (just to be bold)

3. Add 5

4. Multiply it by 50 -- I'll wait while you get the calculator

5. If you have already had your birthday this year add 1760 ..
If you haven't, add 1759..

6... Now subtract the four digit year that you were born.

You should have a three digit number

The first digit of this was your original number
(i.e., how many times you want to have chocolate each week).

The next two numbers are YOUR AGE! (Oh YES, they are!!!!!)

2010-06-07T21:39:00.002-05:00

She & Him showed their pretty faces at Millennium Park tonight. Even though nobody could see their pretty faces, they sounded like heaven.

2010-06-05T23:07:00.004-05:00

After reading the high praise and firm recommendation in Time Out Chicago (which we've recently become subscribers to-making us truly official Chicagoans) we drove all the way to Forrest Park to see The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas. And what fun! It's a wild Texan 1970s musical dealing in love, singin', disappointment and butt shots. If you're around Chicago in June get yourself a general admission seat. (We ran into this Barbie at the ticket booth).

Old married couple

2010-06-03T19:49:00.003-05:00

Today~

Eric: Man, what a nice day.
Jessie: It's a little chilly.

The other day~

Jessie: It's awesome outside!
Eric: It's so hot!

That about sums things up with us. But somewhere in there we balance out nicely.

Cricut

2010-06-02T21:21:00.004-05:00

I forgot to introduce you to Wilma. She's a fictional character but a largely autobiographical photo blogger fictional character. I made her with the help of Eric's mom on her Cricut machine. Scrapbooker cardmaker crafty friends, you WANT one of these machines. SO fun!!! The website describes this wonder as a "personal electronic cutter." But really. It's a way of life.

Niece and Nephews Fix (CUTENESS ALERT)

2010-05-31T18:44:00.006-05:00

Yesterday, in Firth, Nebraska, we had a day long camp out with tents, fishing, smores around a bonfire and most importantly my niece and three nephews. (There was also an unofficial dog water flinging contest.)

Haymarket Farmer's Market

2010-05-29T23:17:00.006-05:00

One of my very favorite places on earth is still right here in my hometown of Lincoln, Nebraska. The Farmer's Market is still the best one I've ever attended. I can eavesdrop on farmers giving advice, grab a cup of joe at my beloved The Mill and then waltz around buying jam and dried tomatoes and a banana wrapped and fried in a wanton. And then go back for another one of those wanton bananas.

2010-05-28T17:04:00.002-05:00

It was so very fun to see everyone at Jack's party. (He's the one with the tattoo on his butt.)

2010-05-26T20:35:00.000-05:00

2010-05-25T13:21:00.002-05:00

So. I think I'm hereby declaring that I am stepping down from blogging every single day. I imagine I'll still be doing it a few times a week since it's still pretty fun for me, but as we are headed to Nebraska today, I think this is as a good a place as any to back off a bit (the internet in rural NE is slow and achy). I'll see you around.

2010-05-24T20:02:00.000-05:00

2010-05-23T23:54:00.000-05:00

2010-05-22T23:40:00.003-05:00

We camped out at the drive-in movie theater tonight. I forgot my camera but there was a boy and his dad lying on the hood of their car next to us and I listened as the dad told the boy that we once sent men to the moon. The boy could hardly believe it.
"Why?"
"Because the president said 'we should go to the moon' and so they went to the moon."
"How'd they get all the way up there?"
"In a rocket ship."
Silence and awe. Then, "Where'd they get a rocket ship?"
A little more silence. "Florida."
Then the boy became concerned about alligators. But, while it lasted, it was awesome to hear the story told like a fairy tale.

Writing on the Wall

2010-05-21T20:56:00.002-05:00

I think I might need to start collecting bathroom wall writings. In 3000 years these will be our hieroglyphics. Wait. Scratch that collecting idea. I just need to start a movement to get people to run around writing more clever things on bathroom walls. It will be called Operation Hey Far in the Future Archeologists! We Were So Much More Than Jealous Daters, Gangsters, and Drunk Ladies With Sharpies in Our Purses! Wait. We should totally mess with them and write things like "I can't believe my tail fell off!" and "Fiberglass is my favorite food!" and "Since when did we start wearing clothes to funerals!?!? Stop the Madness!" Ahhh yes. Fridays find me deliriously tired.

Tiny Magnets, Ladies and Gentlemen

2010-05-20T23:05:00.004-05:00

2010-05-19T18:20:00.002-05:00

I love the way the grass smells when it's bright and hot with sun.

It makes me want to high-five God.

It makes me come undone.

It makes me think I'd win a race if I'd just begin to run.

It makes me want to stand in place until it's actually fun.

2010-05-18T22:48:00.001-05:00

Sorry. Still catching up on Lost. Later yo.

Making up for Lost Time

2010-05-17T21:22:00.002-05:00

We suddenly realized that we had four episodes of Lost to catch up on before the big day on Sunday. Eric, myself and our small horse of a dog are all curled up on the futon in the office watching the episodes online. So I'd better quit messin' around with this blogging stuff. We have some serious work to do.

10K Champs!

2010-05-16T19:49:00.002-05:00

I would have posted an actual photo from the race but they were way too fast for the camera. I couldn't catch them on film.

Baby onions! (On our farm.)

2010-05-15T20:20:00.004-05:00

2010-05-14T22:54:00.002-05:00

On a cool day, throw these things into a crockpot (low, 8-10 hours):

1 1/4 cup dried lentils
1 large sweet potato
1 Jar spaghetti sauce
1 red bell pepper
1 large potato
1 onion
2 cloves garlic
3 cups water

When you're about to eat it, drizzle some olive oil and hot sauce on top. Yummo!

2010-05-13T21:48:00.000-05:00

2010-05-12T18:16:00.001-05:00

Charlie shopping at the Logan Square food co-op. (He likes the Kamut Puffs. And lemons.)

2010-05-11T22:26:00.002-05:00

Just getting back from a Godspell rehearsal. Brain is shutting down. No good for blogging.

2010-05-10T08:36:00.002-05:00

For some reason, I loved this sketch on Sesame Street when I was a kid. I think it's fair to say that Lena Horne helped teach me to not be shy. :) Farwell to the lovely Lena!

Tree Peony

2010-05-09T21:22:00.000-05:00

2010-05-08T22:57:00.002-05:00

Somehow (well the Haitian rum sent home with me by the missionaries didn't help) our sophisticated game of four point pitch turned into a rabid spoons tournament.

2010-05-07T20:51:00.001-05:00

This will blow your mind. (Thanks Allison!)

2010-05-06T21:16:00.002-05:00

I thought Your Snappy Shop would make a cool black and white photo but sort of missed and caught the Irving Park bus on my photo-taking tail. Chicago is very photogenic. It hardly even has to try.

Tablecloth Poetry

2010-05-05T20:43:00.004-05:00

There once was a man with a large red sombrero.

He sold his pal burrow for some spending dinero.

Now he sits in the grass, you can still hear him cry "Oh!"

For he now has no ride to Fiesta Cinco de Mayo.

2010-05-04T21:54:00.000-05:00

The Secret

2010-05-03T21:31:00.003-05:00

I haven't read the book, but I did see part of the movie and it made me roll my eyes so hard that I stretched ligaments (mostly at claims that you can cure your own diseases and cancers if you will it hard enough...um...bothersome). Anyhow, one of Eric's coworkers discovered this awesome review of The Secret written on Amazon. It's the first one, but you'll have to scroll down to enjoy!

We're farmers!

2010-05-02T18:27:00.003-05:00

We're now farming onions and peppers on Avenue Nonow.

2010-05-01T21:47:00.003-05:00

This was tagged on the facebooks today. I had to steal it (thanks Anne:)). I miss my niece and nephews!

2010-04-30T22:17:00.002-05:00

I now live on Avenue Nonow North. I love vandalism when it has a sense of humor.

2010-04-29T21:20:00.000-05:00

2010-04-28T21:36:00.002-05:00

The ride home from a much needed grooming. He wouldn't look at me the whole ride, but that's okay. It's the profile I love. What a handsome devil.

2010-04-27T15:15:00.002-05:00

My mom totally reminded me of the great thing called Skype (how quickly we throw away the novelties of our lives...) when I wanted to see her newly remodeled kitchen. It's a beauty. And I think my mom missed her ballet calling.

2010-04-26T19:11:00.002-05:00

You've probably seen things like this before, but a lady from the choir sent these church bulletin typos and "bloopers" out in an e-mail. They crack me up. So I share:

The sermon this morning: 'Jesus Walks on the Water.'
The sermon tonight: 'Searching for Jesus.'

Don't let worry kill you off - let the Church help.

At the evening service tonight, the sermon topic
will be 'What Is Hell?'
Come early and listen to our choir practice.

The ladies of the Church have cast off clothing
of every kind. They may be seen in the
basement on Friday afternoon.

This evening at 7 PM there will be a hymn
singing in the park across from the Church.
Bring a blanket and come prepared to sin.

Ladies Bible Study will be held Thursday morning
at 10 AM. All ladies are invited to lunch in the
Fellowship Hall after the B. S. is done.

Low Self Esteem Support Group will meet
Thursday at 7 PM. Please use the back door.

2010-04-25T20:05:00.002-05:00

It seems as though Eric found his inner Taiwanese cook. He made a mean dish of Chiang Mai noodles with chicken. We have a new goal of making our way through a cookbook of authentic regional recipes of Taiwan that my mom gave me. Eric really did steal the show though. All I did was chop the scallions.

2010-04-24T14:28:00.002-05:00

I blame the tulips.

2010-04-23T21:38:00.002-05:00

Gorgeous tulips on an overcast day...it's too bad that when I see these colors I always think Mc Donald's. I've been craving nuggets ever since my walk with Max.

Parking in Chicago

2010-04-22T21:03:00.003-05:00

I'm thinking I need a sign on my car that says "Emergency Blood Transport." Or just a big red "DO NOT TOW" stenciled on.

Guilty Pleasure

2010-04-21T19:42:00.001-05:00

Train

2010-04-20T20:44:00.002-05:00

Roses are red
Ice cream ain't free
Wes and Anne
You're as sweet as could be.

(We found a gift certificate that you sent Eric for his birthday a couple years ago! So tonight we had a date at Cold Stone on you.) :)

2010-04-19T18:13:00.000-05:00

2010-04-18T19:59:00.000-05:00

Something about a man and his garage. Warms my heart.

He Walks!

2010-04-17T20:21:00.002-05:00

We actually got to witness him find his footing today. He just went from baby to boy right in front of our eyes!

2010-04-16T20:44:00.003-05:00

I call this one "Jessie Tries to Take a Photo of the Moon and Venus (I think that's Venus) While Eric Pulls Her Out of the Way of a Car." It's a long title, I know, but some art needs a little explanation.

2010-04-15T21:28:00.000-05:00

2010-04-14T17:19:00.002-05:00

Sarah, sister-in-law extraordinaire, has gotten to be a part of this recent hilarity in Spokane: One day one of her co-workers walked in from his morning commute clearly distraught because he had run over a squirrel with his bike. Then this showed up in the paper. And then this did. Oh...the comedy. (And may the little guy RIP.)

2010-04-13T23:27:00.001-05:00

We have an AWESOME cast for Godspell!

2010-04-12T22:13:00.000-05:00