Cristin

So this here is Cristin. It's sort of wild how we got to know her. Back over a year ago, when we were living in Washington DC, we weren't quite ready to come home to Chicago and decided to extend our stay. We couldn't stay in corporate housing any longer and thus, we turned to Craigslist.

Cristin's ad for the apartment:
"1br - Perfect 1 Bedroom Available Immediately
A furnished one bedroom is available for immediate rent in a luxury South Arlington garden apartment community. Apartment was completely gutted and renovated last year. Appointed with new carpets, appliances, and cherry cabinets. Washer, dryer and dishwasher in unit. Brand new pool and gym in community. Free shuttle to Pentagon City Metro (about 1 mile). Apartment is fully furnished including appliances, housewares and linens. Ideal for professionals seeking a furnished corporate apartment."

My ad for us (cracks me up now, sounds like a personal):
"Hello,
My husband and I are a young professional couple looking for a furnished place for feb, march and april. We have a trained, docile and quiet dog. Is this a potential for this rental? If so, we would like to stop and see the place. Thank you for your
help!
Jessica"

Lo and behold, we rented the place as Cristin left DC for the lovely neighborhood or Rogers Park in the fabulous city of Chicago. And today, after Cristin kindly returning to us a stack of mail, we are neighbors and friends.

Knowing her first as a gracious "landlord" and now as a bright and funny gal, a calm and collected bride-to-be, and a newly appointed consultant in the city of Chicago (rather, at long last, than in the land of Canada) I am excited at the potential for seeing her around more often.

And last but not least, her five favorite things:
1. Macaroni and cheese
2. An unexpected snow day/free day
3. Good design
4. Reading in the bathtub
5. Thanksgiving

No chicks

I checked up on my swan today. I also got a glimpse of the enormous eggs she's sitting on but when I pulled out the camera, she snuggled in tight. I know, I know. It's her job. And she's lovely, but those eggs are so cool looking in that big nest, I was really hoping for a photo. Ah, well. I'll check back in a couple weeks.

Ain't she sweet?

This is my new old bike. We took her twelve miles last night and she didn't disappoint. Hello summer.

Mitch

And now I will introduce you to Mitch-a friend from Nebraska just recently moved to the fine city of Chicago. Today Mitch helped me score a used bike at the noon bike sale at Working Bikes. To show my gratitude for his getting filthy dirty helping me load the (heavy) bike into my car, I bought him a $2 tostada. I hope he still likes me. Anyhow, Mitch is one in a million. I think that the fact that he would lipsync on youtube with a paper bag puppet says worlds more than I could ever write. (And says that youtube needs a more hearty filter.)

And though I couldn't be sure of which he was being sarcastic about and which he wasn't, I'll post the five favorite things he gave me.
1. Snow days
2. Laughing
3. Pay day
4. The yearly McDonalds Monopoly promotion
5. Finding worthwhile bargains

Welcome to Chicago Mitch!

More work than a workout

Pretty much the only time I successfully complete a pilates workout in the luxury of my own home is when Max is on a long walk with Eric or at the groomer. Whenever I pull out the pilates mat, Max is perfectly comfortable on one end before the other is even rolled out. He thinks that the mat is some wonderful gesture, some special treat entirely just for him. There is no doubt in his mind that he belongs there. If ever I actually get him pushed off, he stands above me sniffing my ear or takes the chin tuck to signal a wrestling move.

Gasp!

Often, when driving along Western Avenue, I've wondered what this building with all the faces in the window is. I'm still not sure I know who the faces are but at long last I've looked up the "CPC" from the banner and found a cool looking printmaking studio. I've looked into buying equipment for doing etchings in the past (not that I'd know the first thing about using any of it) but soon remembered that we don't even have room in the condo for a new pair of shoes. So what a find! I'll report back if I ever take a class but when the summer inevitably gets away from me, and it turns cold again and I start to whine, someone, please remind me that I need to take a class here. Many thanks.

NOTE: Since first posting this, several people have informed me that the faces in the windows are Chicagoans who have died in Iraq.

Food

You know how it is when you finally get over the flu and then you're back 75% then 90% and then finally one day you're back 100%? Well today was that day. I suddenly remembered how good it feels to be healthy. I gained back my full appetite and then some. All that eating I was unable to do finally came around today and demanded a new way of doing things. Eric took this photo after I pulled the car over and "tried out a new ice cream joint." (And, unfortunately, I forgot to take other photos today, so this is it folks.)