Fore!

Oye. I shoulda stayed in New York, I'm telling you. Yesterday, I'm in my car, driving along doing errands, minding my own business. I'm driving near a golf course, and all of a sudden, a golf ball comes flying out of nowhere and - I am sure you can guess - hits my car. Thunk. Thank god it didn't hit the windshield, but it did create a big old honking dent right in front. My dad suggested I go to the police station to file some kind of accident report - even if nothing happens, it will at least alert the golf course that there's a problem with their idiot golfers creating havoc on innocently driving people. So, okay, I head to MGPD, who promptly tell me that the side of the street in question is not in their jurisdiction. WHich is completely bizarre, but whatever. They send me to Glenview. The cops there tell me the same thing, and send me to the village of Golf. I go there and nobody is home (it's a really small place). So I called their non emergency number and they direct me to the forest preserve police and say they'll send somebody over.

Which would be fine, except I had volunteered to help out at Joffrey's Summer Intensive Showcase, and had to be downtown by 12 (our police station extravaganza happened at like 10:30. Finally we went to the actual !@#$*%& golf course and they couldn't tell us what to do either. I had to leave, and hauled it downtown. Had no sooner parked the car when the forest preserve guy called my cell and took my report on the phone.

Geez. So that was my Saturday. Last Saturday was much more fun....

How About a Poem?

My mom's spending her days working summer school and found this poem from "The Song Shoots Out of My Mouth" by Jaime Adoff.
It's called "Diva" and for some reason, mom thought I'd like it. Maybe it reminded her of somebody (actually, a few somebodies) that we know... It's arrayed on the page in a more interesting way than this, but you get the idea, I think....

Diva

She is the
undisputed Queen of everything. Her walk says it all.
She's earned every note, every ounce of gold, and platinum
albums sold.
So many number one songs, not enough fingers, toes, and thumbs
to count them all.
Her grace walks onstage before she does.
We wait, anticipate. Wonder from this side
what it would be like to be her. To be up there looking at us.
What does she think about?
The place goes dark. The storm before the calm.
Then without warning:
THE SONG
flows
out of her mouth.
Like a waterfall in slow motion.
A magic potion
poured slow and easy on the ears.
Then, just when you think it's safe to sit, the riffs come raining down.
On my head, no soul umbrella, instead I let the song soak, deep and long. Filling me
up with everything she has, everything she's lived, everything she is.
Her voice brings me close to tears.
I sing along and move, she is all about the groove.
I watch, as each note shakes hands with every fan.
Thanking
loving
kissing
hugging.
What's hers
is mine, is ours.
Her power
is
her voice
is
her soul
singing
to me
in this seat.

She is the
Diva.

indecision 2007

To go or not to go??? I know I've been racking up the cool points, but still....

photographic evidence...

Of Ms. Fleming and her plate... I can tell, you were having serious doubts about me with that story, weren't you? Oh no, I can hear you all saying, no more double tall lattes for HER.... But really, I don't think you can make this stuff up... She really is one in a million and she took this whole plate escapade with extraordinarily good grace. None of that, uh oh, here come those nutters again (at least, if she thinks that, she is VERY good at hiding it!)

What is a "Tony Blake Moment"?

So in my Gypsy post, I mentioned that it was a good thing they'd cleared Patti's plate and stuff or else we would have had a "Tony Blake Moment". I thought I'd clarify.

Several years ago, some of my British friends, and members of my Renee Fleming group (the Beautiful Voice, or TBV)were going to tour the Royal Opera House in London. The tour was closed and so they ended up going to the cafeteria for a sit down and a snack. They had a similar Close Encounter with Diva Kind. They became aware that Ms. Fleming was sitting in the cafeteria as well. She was as wonderful as ever, and went over to say hello to them, because she recognized them from seeing them before. After she left, my friends did as we did, and went to the table, sat in Renee's chair, etc. And Tony, well, he asked the server if he might have Renee's plate. The server said sure, but he'd get him a clean one. Tony said no and said he wanted that one, and they let him have it. So he took it home, you know and there you have it.

But stick with me, my story gets better. A year or so later, a number of us met up in New York to see Renee in La Traviata. My friend Jen and I thought it would be very very funny if we got a similar plate and had all of us sign it. She also sent it to Renee, told her the story, and asked if she would sign the plate, too. Imagine our delight when the plate was returned to Jen, with Renee's signature smack in the middle. We presented it to Tony who was, in his words "gobsmacked." We all then signed another plate which we gave to Renee.

To her immense credit, Renee was such a great sport about the whole thing. She seemed to understand that taking plates was not something any of us did on a regular basis.

That remains one of my favorite Renee stories. I wonder if she still has that plate??

by the way...

I did some other stuff this weekend aside from seeing Gypsy (but not much).
Friday, I headed downtown to do a little shopping at the South Street Seaport and see Cara. I was also really tempted to see the Body World exhibit they had at the Seaport, y'know, those bodies that they do some kind of weird procedure with and then pose them around? But it was SO expensive, and I skipped it. Had a manicure instead. Much less graphic and gross. I have some pictures from downtown, it was SUCH a beautiful day, but you will just have to use your imagination for now, till I can get them up here.

It was fun seeing Cara, my roommate in college for 4 years, now a high-powered attorney living on Wall Street. Seriously. Right on Wall Street. Anyway. We went for sushi near her place and spent the whole afternoon catching up. I went back to the hotel to change before I went back to City Center. Did the stage door afterwards and then went to a little place around the corner to have some food, as I'd only bolted a sandwich and some ring-dings at the hotel before the show. For some reason, I had a hard time getting a cab after that, so I walked to Columbus Circle to try and get one there. Was a little tempted by the Harry Potterpalooza that was going on, and it was almost midnight. I was very close to going to check out the festivities, but I was SO exhausted, I went to the hotel and went to sleep instead.

I DID get the book, the next morning in Lincoln Center. I finished it Sunday on the plane. And, can I just say: I was (SO) right about a certain plot development??? HAHAHA. JK Rowling, you are an evil genius (and since I totally called something, does that make ME an evil genius as well?? I think so!).

Okay, okay, moving on.....

New York, New York...

What can I say that has not already been said (with considerable flair and totally fabulous photos)here here and here ??

At first, it seemed as though the elements were conspiring against me: the night before I left for New York, we had crazy electrical storms, and storms on the east coast would almost certainly mean delays at LaGuardia. The morning newsman reassured me, though, that flights were taking off from O'Hare on time, so off I went. Takeoff was delayed about an hour, but we arrived only half an hour later than the original landing time (we apparently "made up time in the air" although I am not even going to pretend I know how we did that). On the ground, I found my bag (always pays to flirt with the curbside check in guy AND give him a good tip!) and took a gypsy cab to my hotel. Oh, wait, that sounds strange - what I mean to say is it was a perfectly legal yellow cab, but it had an ad for Gypsy with Patti glaring out over the traffic on top of it. That was the cab in the queue that showed up for me. I took that as a sign.

My excitement over that night's performance took over - I unpacked my stuff in my cute little hotel room, then had to bust outta there. I started walking, just to be out, just to do something with all the energy. I didn't really intend to do this, but I walked all the way to City Center (from 79th St and Columbus to 55th between 6th and 7th.

I stopped to pick up my ticket. I gave the box office person my card and id and I wish I could have seen my own face when they pushed the ticket over to me. I must have looked like I'd died and gone to heaven or something, because the box office person said how happy I looked to have it in my hot little hand. "Well," sez I, "I came from Chicago to see the show this week." The box office lady and her manager looked at me. Finally, she spoke in an astounded way. "You came from Chicago?? To see Patti LuPone?" Like she was completely unable to fathom that someone would do such a thing.

Uh, yeah. I surely did. Several times, in fact, the first of which was Thursday night. That was the best seat I'd bought, row CC, seat 113 (Sarah's lucky seat number!). Friday it was row A, all the way far right, Saturday it was D111 (behind an Ugly Betty cast member and her boyfriend with an abnormally large head that was a serious obstruction to my view of center stage. They would also cuddle from time to time and she'd put her head on his shoulder, etc, which also obstructed my view considerably.)

I could go on & on & on about what I thought about the performance, but I won't - all I can say is that I knew I was gonna love it, and of course, I did. I will also say what I wrote as a note to myself directly following the performance - if I was stuck on a desert island with only Patti singing Gypsy for company, and those chocolate tarts from Bombon Cafe, I'd....well, I'd be gigantic, but I'd be happy, happy, happy. Patti was tremendous, as I knew she would be - funny, fierce, flirty (and words that begin with other letters, too). I also loved Boyd Gaines as Herbie. I'd been disappointed with the one we'd had at Ravinia last year. Couldn't sing to save his life, bless him. Boyd, though, CAN sing. He was Bobby on the first recording of Company I'd ever heard (tying with Raul Esparza for the Favorite Bobby crown, I think) and I was so used to hearing his voice as Bobby, it took me a little while to realize Herbie was NOT going to suddenly bust out with "Dammit, Rose, IIIIII'mmmmm Reaaaaadyyyy! I'mmmm reeaaaadyy nowwww! Marry me a little..." etc.

Oh, but the best night by far was Saturday night. I think that was the strongest night of the 3 I saw, although they were all pretty amazing. That night, we had a little Ravinia Reunion - Kari, Sarah, Bob, Gator and myself were joined by Zsally. We waited by the stage door to be graced by the Divine Presence (and we did not wait in vain!) and headed off in the direction of a lovely little establishment where our Cruise Director (Sarah) had made a post-show reservation. I think we all would have been happy with the evening if it had closed like this - great show, a little wine, some french fries and conversation....

But we got a little added bonus for our evening. We were seated and pouring over the wine list and menus, trying to decide what to have. Bob suddenly nudged Kari and said something to her, then instructed Gator to turn around. I did too, 'cuz I'm nosy, and who had come sweeping in and was now sitting merely feet away from us?

Go on, guess. Although you probably don't need to. Yup, it was Patti. A certain giddiness descended on our table - and this was before any wine had been served, mind you. We played it cool (kind of) and I think we were (mostly) successful. There was a lot of loud laughter as we drank our wine and ate our foie gras and french fries. Bob bravely snapped a quick flash-less shot on his phone camera. And then, inspiration struck (actually, I think it was Kari) - and the two of them went off and had the waiter bring Patti a drink. See? Playing it cool, expressing our love & gratitude & then leaving the diva to her martini in peace. It doesn't get any better than that, I'm tellin' ya.

Ah, so anyway. She and her friends left before we did, allowing us to sit back there and talk about her (ha!). More wine was drunk, photos freely taken (including a few of us sitting in her chair... it's a good thing they'd cleared her plate and stuff, or else we may have had a Tony Blake moment...) . They closed the little room partition on us, so we were having our very own private party back there. It was fun times. Finally, we sloshed out and spent a little more time outside. Then we all piled into a taxi and split the fare uptown (I've always wanted to say "let's split a cab uptown" like they do on Seinfeld. Don't ask me why. Easily amused, I guess.)

More to come, and pictures, too!!

My bags are packed, I've got my act...

I'll be back Sunday night with a FULL report!

* I think I rather frightened the "men in my life" at lunch today, when it came up that I was going to be seeing Gypsy three nights in a row. It seems I have recaptured my title of "Office Fruitcake" - which is staggering, considering I've only been here since April. I was kind of hoping to hold off on reclaiming the crown for a while...

(did you really think I could resist?)

So, I COULD talk about the arctic, sub-zero conditions here on 13, that require me to bring two sweaters to work, despite it being in the 80s outside. Or, I could speculate about the "creative differences" that drove Mandy Patinkin to leave Criminal Minds. Or, oooh, I could tell you about my sudden, inexplicable desire to buy tickets to a certain Chicago Fire game in October (okay, not so inexplicable - of course I want to go when they are playing the LA Galaxy, so I can goggle at David Beckham). I could also talk about how much I want to be DONE with the !@#&$*% thesis already, or contemplate the deep and mystical question: Serverus Snape - Friend or Foe surrounding the release of the next Harry Potter book.

I could do any of those things, but I'm NOT GOING TO. HA. I'm going to put up another picture of Ms. Patti and tell you all once again how excited I am about Gypsy. Did you really think I would be able to shut up about it for any length of time?

Not. A. Chance.

wild about harry....

I will shut up about Gypsy for a while (you'll be hearing plenty about it after I actually see it, and you know mere words are not enough to even begin to describe my excitement....) and talk about Harry Potter instead. I saw Order of the Phoenix on Sunday morning (showing you what a complete and total heathen I am... no church for me on Sunday mornings...). The audience was full of kids, of course, so I was a little worried, but as soon as the film started rolling, there was not a peep out of anybody.

The film is a who's who of who is great in the world of British acting: Richard Griffiths, Ralph Fiennes, Alan Rickman, Gary Oldman, Maggie Smith, Jason Isaacs, Michael Gambon, Robbie Coltrane, and Emma Thompson were all back as recurring characters, along with our teenage trio (Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint). New to the cast, in another bout of truly inspired casting (Rickman as Snape is so perfect it gives me chills every time he opens his mouth, and Kenneth Branagh as Gilderoy Lockhart in an earlier film... Perfect, perfect, perfect) for this film are Imelda Staunton (so, so evil as Delores Umbridge) and Helena Bonham Carter as released Death Eater Bellatrix Lestrange.

Let's see.... the books are so wonderful, and have the ability to draw the reader in so vividly, creating a mental picture of all these magical places, it is hard for me to imagine how the filmmakers even got started at bringing these to life. But they do a really good job. The castle and grounds are mostly how I would imagine them to be.

Of course, there just isn't room in a 2 hour movie to cover everything in the book, but the highlights are hit and hit pretty well. There were only a few things in the movie that were changed, and they didn't bother me (too much). As part of the series, I think it was very well done. Roger Ebert reviewed the film in the Sun Times and totally missed the point, I think. He hoped the other films would not be as dark (HAHAHA. Hello??) and wondered where the joy of Harry had gone. If you've been following along at all, the boy doesn't have a whole lot to be joyful about, Roge.... But anyway.

So. As part of the series, yes, 2 thumbs up. I don't know how the movie would stand by itself - if someone was coming new to the series I don't know if they'd quite get it, without seeing the other movies or at least reading the source material. It is very clearly a transitional movie, creating more questions than it answers. But it did its job well, and was a nice way to spend a Sunday morning.

I don't think I can express to you....

How excited I am about Gypsy next week (this is NOT just the caffeine talking, kids!)
Go here and look (just LOOK!) at the pics of the opening night party and curtain calls.

How will I contain myself??

Just 9 more days... and everything will be coming up roses...

this time for me!!

j*pointe

Really nifty blog action here that goes behind the scenes at Chicago's top ballet company!

arts&crafts

I wish I was as skilled at knitting as Emily, but I am telling you now, it will be a cold day in hell before I ever do anything as nifty as her new lace project. Honestly. I can't even purl yet.

This does not prevent me from having many different projects going, all in various stages of progress:

- the blanket: it's all knit stitch and it looks really cool actually, but there's something about sitting around in no air conditioning (long story, I won't bore you) in 90 degree heat with a whole bunch of wool on your lap). I am hoping to finish it soon though.

- the ribbon yarn scarf: since I started knitting, using the ribbon yarn was my goal, since I am in love with it. I have 3 varieties of ribbon yarn. One black and white, almost done. One rainbow, started, then forgot how to cast off and it totally fell apart. One pink, started, but I don't like how it looks, and am on the fence on what to do about it.

- other: I have a pink kind of raggedy looking yarn that I've been working on since February. It fell off the needles after I took it to NYC so I had to start again, and haven't finished....

Other than that, I haven't done any crafting at all. I've moved away from the scrapbooking - although I did make a really nifty mini album for a friend of mine for her birthday. It's probably because I've been out of here for so long. I'm not spending all my money on crap, I'm spending it on her instead. Oh, and shoes. That's more fun than scrap mania any day....

the reading list...

Two new great reads I finished recently:

The Bullfighter Checks Her Makeup: My Encounters with Extraordinary People by Susan Orlean: a bunch of short profiles of interesting people - a female bullfighter in Spain, Silly Billy the Clown (and his clowning empire in NYC), Tonya Harding's fan club (this was right after the Nancy Kerrigan thing), a show dog (boxer), the 80s singer Tiffany, designer Bill Blass ... She makes all of their stories interesting. In one case, I wanted to know what else happened to these people, and was actually googling them to see what else I could find out.

As the Romans Do: An American Family's Italian Odyssey by Allan Epstein. I found this on my shelf when I was cleaning. I'd bought it but apparently never read it (sometimes it's just like Christmas in my room, I swear). It was written right before the Jubilee in 2000, which is when I was there. The author is American, but fell in love with Rome and moved his family there. He talks about Roman culture from an outsider's insider perspective (because he's in the community, but yet outside it, if that makes sense?) I loved Rome when I was there, it was our home base since that is where Loyola's beautiful campus is. I wish I had read this before I'd gone...

Of course, all other reading has been suspended currently as I have devoted all my free moments to re-reading all of the Harry Potter books so I am entirely prepared for the release of #7. I have one pre-ordered here, of course, but I will be in New York on the actual day, so I might just have to get a copy there.... who knows? It would be great (if heavy) plane reading.

I am at the end of book 5, (Order of the Phoenix). I am kind of putting off finishing it, because I know what happens (and I won't say, in case you haven't read it) and I somehow apparently think that if I don't read it, it won't happen. Hmmm. Major avoidance issues. All of the books after Goblet of Fire have made me cry (so maybe I don't want to be in public when I read book 7?)

Wheee! Wireless!

Yes, ladeez and jellyspoons, it's finally happened! I have wireless highspeed internet! I have now officially joined the 21st century. (About damn time, I hear you all saying. I know, I know).

But let me share a few things with you that I learned today:

1. Those "Geniuses" at the Apple store aren't really Geniuses (one of them gave me really bad advice today)
2. When in doubt, call Tech Support! That is what I had to do. And there was a lovely person on the other end of the phone, who I think was in Canada and she helped me through it all. Hooray!

Just Gimme the Degree, Already!

I visited my thesis advisor yesterday (walked about 10 blocks from here to school, to the post office, then back here... at least I am getting my exercise!) and good news, kids, I'm almost done with this thing!

He made notes on my draft which he said was "very good work" and "you should be very proud of this." Soooo, I have to make the suggested edits (which really are more stylistic than content. Stuff like how to use block quotes and elipses correctly. I admit, I am free and easy with my punctuation. I like using the elipsis and dashes in a way that is not prescribed in the Turabian guide.) Then, I have to send revised copy back to him and my committee members (if I can track them down, that is) have them give their comments, and then.... I schedule an oral presentation with them. Voila! Bob is my uncle. (Well, actually, Bob is not my uncle. I know only 2 people named Bob and neither of them are related to me. I have uncles by the name of Tony, Frank, Paul, Joe, Steve, Bill and Sam. But no Roberts or Bobs. But I digress.)

Personally I think that they should just give me the degree - I have, after all, passed the biggest test there is - getting a job in my chosen field - actually doing the arts management. That has to be a better display of my talents than writing a paper, don't you think?

Cat Photo!

This is my kitty boy, Start (his sister's name is Finish. Photo of her soon to come)

morton grove daze...

For as long as I can remember I've done the same thing on the 4th of July, with two exceptions (2000, when I was in Germany with Heidi and Cara and last year, when I was in NYC with Sarah): walked to the local parade (and sat in the same spot for, oh, I don't know, like 25 years?), had family bbq (sometimes also a friend's bbq) then carnival and fireworks in Harrer Park.

The collective experience is known in our little village as "Morton Grove Days" and is fairly popular around town. The carnival lasts for 4 or 5 days, and is set up in the American Legion parking lot. When I was growing up, it was the tilt-a-whirl, ferris wheel and other rides that had my attention. Now that I am grown up, I have started to think about the safety rides that get set up in a parking lot by a bunch of long haired scraggly "carnies" who take every chance they get to leer at you - thus the main attraction has become the Beer Garden (and I don't even drink beer).

The fireworks display is fun, but is definitely that of a small town - they shoot the things off one by one and have a really big finish, so that it goes something like this:

Poof.
Crowd: Ooooh
Poof.
Crowd: Ahhhh.
POP!
Crowd: EEK!
Poof!
Crowd: oooh
PoofSizzle!POP!POP!POP!Poof!
Crowd: Ahhh... (etc)

We used to drive to the park for the fireworks, and set up blankets and chairs in the back of the El Camino. Then they closed the parking lot so no one could park there (Morton Grove crowd control) and so we started walking instead.

I didn't go last night to see the fireworks - instead, I stayed at home, stretched out on the floor and watched the Macy's show from NYC, did all the ooohing and ahhing etc. It was almost like being there.

New York State of Mind

In 18 more days, I'll be going to New York to see her do this and I am very much looking forward to it.

Here's the plan:

July 19 Gypsy!
July 20 Gypsy (I KNOW. But I couldn't help myself!)
July 21 Possibly Grey Gardens
AND THEN Gypsy!
July 22 home
July 23 work
July 24 misery
July 25 DTs

Don't have anything else planned until August whenever - then will see Patti & Audra together at Ravinia. Then I will be in a severe state of continued diva withdrawal for a prolonged amount of time (unless you count Angela G in La Boheme at Lyric in October, and I really wasn't). Will see Renee in Traviata in Chicago in January, but other than that...

Did someone say 'Pizza Fest'?

Yes, that's right - I went to 2 street food festivals in one weekend. Although personally, I think calling this thing a 'Fest' was a big of an overstatement. It was a parking lot and half a closed off street in Lincoln Park (at Fullerton and Racine). I went with my friends, not because we had an overwhelming desire to eat a lot of pizza (in fact, one of my friends doesn't even LIKE pizza) but to see Will Hoge's band perform. I first saw Will a few years back when he opened for Edwin McCain (this is when I was still spendnig all my money on SRO shows at the House of Blues, etc) and again on The Rock Boat. He does rock music, mainly, and he endeared himself to me with his song "Hey Mr. President (Anyone But You)" released during the last election. (A catchy little ditty with the refrain of: "Anyone but you would be just fine, anyone but you can have this vote of mine... I don't believe what you say is true, so I'm gonna vote for anyone but you...").

I used to go to concerts all the time and see similar singer songwriters, but as Ive found other
people to spend all my money on, I haven't been to a rock show for a while.

You know how, a few posts ago when I said I wished I was the sort of person who listened to jazz, played Scrabble, read the Wall Street Journal, watched CNN, etc? It occurred to me that I am closer to the 'sitting-at-Ravinia-listening-to-jazz' person than I am the 'standing-in-front-of-the-speaker-at-a-street-festival-concert' person. Watching everyone sloshing beer all over the place, inhaling smoke fumes, standing around, as I say, in front of the speaker, just isn't my idea of a good time any more. (Oh, no. Surely the Wall Street Journal can't be far behind?)

It's too bad, too, because I LOVED listening to the band play. That and catching up with my friends was the best part of the evening (and watching Will walk off into the sunset with a gaggle of giggling groupies was also pretty entertaining. Ah, the rock 'n roll lifestyle)

And maybe it's because we went on the last day of the 'fest' and were near closing time, but the pizza pickings were also pretty slim. I counted only a few food booths (and for a city known for its pizza, to have 2 offerings at this so-called 'pizza fest'?? How pathetic is that??)I had a limp slice of pepperoni pizza and some fried macaroni and cheese (!!) We ended up going back to the burbs for a late dinner that did not involve pizza or fried food of any kind....

I think this also fills my street festival quota for a few years. If anybody needs me, I'll be at Ravinia...

Street Closures, Crowds & Lots of Food....

So, I decided since I am half a block's walk away from Boul Mich (GRR. I hate when people call it that. Forget I called it that, okay? Strike it from the record.)
Right, so I'm really close to Michigan Avenue, and thought it might be fun to check out the Taste of Chicago at lunch Friday afternoon, since we get out early in the summer. Honestly. It seemed like a good idea at the time. But the second I got there, I almost turned around and went to McDonald's. Because, here's the thing, I really really hate people. Like, a lot. I don't know where it came from, but just suddenly, I have a very low tolerance for people doing stupid things. And the Taste of Chicago is Ground Zero for crazy shit and crowds.

For those of you not familiar with the Taste, it's a big festival held in and around Grant Park (closing off all kinds of streets for about 2 weeks - thank GOD I am not driving to 13!) and many area restaurants set up booths and people come and stuff their faces with all kinds of great food. Also, the 4th of July fireworks (which we have on the 3rd - wacky Chicagoans!) happen down there, so it's loads of fun times. I used to go with my parents every year, and I just remember it being a fun summertime tradition. I didn't remember it being so crowded, or my being annoyed by people or anything, so I don't know if it got more crowded or if I just notice it more now.

At any rate, I didn't turn back and go to McDonald's, but I did stuff my face with an enormous amount of junk in a very short period of time. Here's the breakdown:

Arrival 1:30
Walk around. See nothing very exciting, other than a giant inflatable piece of cheese for kids to jump around on (part of a promotion for the movie Ratatoille - or however the hell you spell it). Obtain tickets.

Decide to just eat whatever looks good, so get a taste portion (half slice) of Eli's cheesecake topped with chocolate (mmmmm.)

Wander around. Lots of food - typical stuff: corn on the cob, pizza, hot dogs, ice creams, italian ices, etc. Lots of things on sticks - pickle on a stick, ice cream on a stick (seriously). Things like hot wings, turkey legs, turtle soup. Eventually, I got a piece of tilapia with a dill rum sauce. Also delish.

Walk some more. Dodge foolish people walking too slow, or stopping randomly in the middle of the already crowded street. I need more patience, I guess. Stopped at Connie's pizza for a taste portion of a meatball sandwich (2 meatballs - 3 tickets). I walk some more, and am just not in the mood for any of the stuff I see.

Move onto a side to avoid the crowd and come upon the Chicago Chocolate Factory. This is a no-brainer, I get some gigantic chocolate covered strawberries - real melty milk chocolate on top. Messy, but good. Have to go and wash my hands at a little portable sink outside the Oui Oui (ha!) porta potties.

Want a soda, but don't have enough tickets. Stop for more. Get a soda, but now have to use up the rest of the tickets. Stop at Tuscany for some fried ravioli. Walk. Eat. Drink Diet Pepsi. Have about 7 tickets left. Don't want to stay much longer, as have had enough - food, folks and fun. Wanted to get the Original Rainbow Cone (TM) but the !@#*$& thing was 8 tickets. Walk around some more, looking for some other food stuff to catch my eye. See it: real Italian gelato!!! And it used up all my tickets! So I got some, and headed off to Columbia. It was, oh about 2:15.

So yeah. Lots of food and walking. I have to work on Tuesday, and I am not looking forward to the fireworks crowd down there. I am not planning to hang around. I'll have a better spot watching them from home on tv. Our fireworks display in town is on the actual fourth.

by the way...

For any potential power couple type applicants, even though The Oracle of Starbucks (found at http://www.buttafly.com/starbucks/index.php - for some reason my linky thing isn't working right and I can't really be bothered to figure out why.)

Personality type: High Maintenance
You pride yourself on being assertive and direct; everyone else thinks you're bossy and arrogant. You're constantly running your mouth about topics that only you would find interesting. Your capacity for wasting other people's time is limitless. Your friends find you intolerable, that's why they're plotting to kill you. Also drinks: Water. Bottled, chilled, with four ice cubes, a twist of lemon, in a crystal glass. Can also be found at: Trendy martini bars

I swear, I've never been to a martini bar in my life.....

(thanks, by the way to litwit - just follow the link over there, okay? for pointing me in the direction of the great, caffeinated oracle...)

Right, okay....

Here I am - in the city. Anyone wanna be the other half of a 'power couple'??



'Power Couples' Meet in Cities, Study Finds
LiveScience Staff
LiveScience.com
More than half of all "power couples," in which both spouses are college graduates, live in large metropolitan areas. Researchers have long assumed the couples migrate to the cities.
Instead, single college graduates tend to move to cities, where they meet and marry.
That's the conclusion of a study released today by the Journal of Labor Economics.
In 1970, 39 percent of power couples lived in metropolitan areas with at least two million residents. By 1990 the figure grew to 50 percent.
“We find that power couples are not more likely to migrate to the largest metropolitan areas and are no less likely than other couples to migrate from such areas once they are there,” write the researchers.
The study, based on 4,800 families, was done by Janice Compton at the University of Manitoba and Robert A. Pollak of Washington University and National Bureau of Economic Research.
The researches also found that couples in which only the man has a college degree are far more likely to move to a metropolitan area than couples in which only the woman has a college degree.

Wheeee!

I had fully intended yesterday to be a lazy Sunday, doing nothing much in particular. A little blogging, reading, talking to the cats, etc. I thought it would be a good idea to go over to the Apple Store and talk to a genius about their products (I have been dithering over the decision to buy a new computer for several months now - I had pretty much decided it was going to be a Mac, but was not able to commit. There's gotta be a message there somewhere, I think... but I am not sure what it is...).

Well, I am sure you know where this is heading. I am very suggestable. The helpful Apple type person showed me the Mac Book and all its features and I decided to just go for it. I also got all sorts of other stuff - a student discount (woohoo! I am still technically a Columbia student. Have to finish that damn thesis...), a free printer AND a new iPod.... woohoo!

All I need now is my high speed. It's coming.....

Serenity Now!

Yoga in the middle of Times Square - gotta love it.
(from www.nytimes.com)

It's a good thing I'm not in East Hampton...

I'm wearing these today and you know they can get you for wearing red shoes on a Thursday... and all that sort of thing...

I don't know whether you know that. I mean, do you know that?

(I've been listening to Grey Gardens, can you tell?)

One more thing...

I got the cutest necklace at the art fair over the weekend. Go and check out the stuff at Pretty Theory

They had the cutest purses made from old books (it took us the longest time to realize that they were not just books sitting there!) and jewelry made from "vintage, retro and modern" materials (the piece i have is mainly metal, but I also really loved a necklace that had old buttons on it).

Anyway, the girls there were SO nice and didn't mind the dither twins trying on their stuff and basically being indecisive. (Indecisive? Moi?)

Metablogification

That is: Blogging about Blogging.
It is the one year Blogiversary for Life on 13 nee The World Inside My Head.

You are all free to have a cold one on me!

Ahhh, the weekend!

Pretty much the perfect weekend (except for the heat and humidity... 90 degrees in the shade. Chicago in the summertime. Oye).

Saturday:
Breakfast at Dixie Kitchen (eggs, bacon, cheesy grits AND the best beignets on earth)
A train ride to Custer's Last Stand (a street fair in Evanston that happens to be on Custer Street - not some weirdo re-enactment of the Battle of the Little Bighorn.) I went a little nutso with the buying - jewelry of course. Some really pretty pieces that I am so very happy with.

Lunch in the air conditioning and long talks with a good friend. Back home for a few hours. BBQ dinner and then dragged mom to the CSO for Verdi's Requiem. (more on this later).

Sunday:
Sleep in!
Washed the car for Dad for Father's Day (and washed mine too)
Did some shopping
Sat down for some crafting while watching Renee Fleming in Eugene Onegin (about time, channel 11!)
Dinner at home with the family.

This week is going to be a busy one - so if you don't hear from me for a while, send a posse to see if I've made it through, ok?

i love my iPod

Really, it's my best friend as a commuter. Sometimes, when I don't feel like making any decisions, I let the iPod choose the music that I listen to on my train ride.

This is what it chose for me on my ride home this afternoon:

Kids (Kylie Minogue/Robbie Williams)
The Sweetest Thing (U2)
An Innocent Man (Billy Joel)
Clocks (Coldplay)
I Will (The Beatles)
Rhythm of Life (Edwin McCain)
A Man and A Woman (U2)
Dreamers (Sister Hazel)
Somewhere (Renee Fleming)
Just a Girl (No Doubt)

It seems like it was on a rock n' roll kick this afternoon, maybe knowing I was feeling happy, relaxed and groovy on my early release Friday! It seemed to be having a thing for U2, since it kicked out 2 selections from my U2 catalogue today. The other day, it really wanted me to listen to "South Side" (Moby and Gwen Stefani). It shuffled that into the playlist twice!

Anybody going to this?

and does anybody want to take me?? I can't afford tickets to this extravaganza starring the Tony-award winning (and New Trier HS Alumna) Christine Ebersole

I Wanna Move to New York!!

What a panel of hotness. Drool.....

Drama Desk Honors Cerveris, Esparza, Lennix and Schreiber at June 15 Luncheon
By Andrew Gans
15 Jun 2007


Men for all Seasons — The Art of Acting in a Show is the title of the Drama Desk's June 15 Special Summer Luncheon Panel, which pays tribute to the leading men of the New York stage.

The event, which begins at 11:45 AM and ends at 2:30 PM, is being held at Sardi's and includes the participation of panel members Michael Cerveris, Raul Esparza, Harry Lennix and Liev Schreiber. USA Today theatre critic Elysa Gardner moderates.

Michael Cerveris is currently on Broadway in Love/Musik; Raul Esparza can be seen in the revival of Company; Harry Lennix heads the cast of the final August Wilson play, Radio Golf; and Liev Schreiber stars in the Broadway bow of Talk Radio.

Reservations for Drama Desk members are $35; a limited number of reservations, priced at $45, are available for non-members. For reservations call (212) 787-7020 or e-mail wolf@wolfentertainmentguide.com (specify preference for salmon, chicken or pasta).

Sardi's is located in Manhattan at 234 West 44th Street

Mmm, bacon

I would not have thought it was possible to combine chocolate and bacon, but those crazy kids at Vosges found a way!



Honestly? It's not too bad. Kind of... crunchy. You can hardly even taste the bacon.

i'm alive!

My former boss used to leave me messages when he was traveling "Just wanted to call and let you know I'm alive!" which always amused me no end. Fiscal year ends on June 30, and we've been hectic up here trying to tie up loose ends and having a number of year end meetings. Really really close together. And I have coordinated, prepared materials, attended and taken notes at almost all of them. But I'm here. I'm alive and blogging.

Have a SUPER early meeting tomorrow (for which I will have to take the 6:14 train. 6:14!) and then have to figure out how to make it thru the rest of the day without falling asleep. I have my first trip to Ravinia for the season to look forward to tomorrow (yay!) which marks the start of "Pattipalooza 2007" I am not going out there tonight because it was too complicated to figure out how to get there and back from here, no one else wanted to go with me, and I have that !@#$&%* early meeting tomorrow. So, anyway.

Not much more to say than that, so I will share my current reading list. I have a nice loooong train ride twice a day and have been doing more reading.

Here's what I've read lately:
1. Knitting Under the Influence (Claire LaZebnik). Fiction. Was one of those annoying books where the plot was so obvious and not terribly well-written, and yet I couldn't put it down.

2. Rococo (Adriana Trigiani) I have a thing for books with unusual names. Past ones I've picked up just because I like the title have included: Rock 'n Roll Babes from Outer Space, Voodoo River, Watermelon, and (my favorite) The Unexpected Salami. Anyway. I picked this one up because I 'Rococo' is one of my favorite art terms (along with chiaroscuro) and I also like the author's name. This one is a great read - about an Italian-American family in Jersey. I don't think you need to be an Italian American to read it, but it helps.... I didn't want the book to end, I just wanted to know everything about these characters. If it was a movie, I know a great, talented Italian-American actress who can play the main character's sister (it's so perfect, it's spooky).

3. Anybody Out There? (Marian Keyes) I.Love.Marian.Keyes. This is one of her best ones ever.

4. Johnny and the Bomb (Terry Pratchett) I love Terry too. He can be enjoyed on many levels. This one is not a Discworld book, but part of the Johnny Maxwell trilogy. I've only just started this one.

5. If Nobody Speaks of Remarkable Things (Jon McGregor). Just started this one, too. Am fascinated by the style.

6. The Watchman (Robert Crais). I am in love with Joe Pike. Too bad he is a fictional character.
I've been telling my mom for years how great Robert Crais is, and she hasn't believed me. She picked this one up and is convinced. Ha!

now i *really* want some pie

I took myself to see a movie today. I could not bring myself to see "Pirates" or "Spiderman" (I have newly acquired issues about paying my hard earned money to see unnecessary sequels. I loved the first Pirates and hated the 2nd. This one is longer (is that possible??) and more of same. As much as I love Johnny, Orlando, et al, I can't do it. Strangely though, I do really want to see Ocean's 13. Also an unnecessary sequel, but spending $$ on a movie with George Clooney, Brad Pitt and Matt Damon together always seems like a worthy investment...)

Yeah. So I decided to go and see Waitress. I never really watched Felicity, so I didn't have much of an idea about Keri Russell. We were just talking about the movie at lunch one day and I was curious about it. Keri plays Jenna, a waitress in a roadside diner - somewhere southern. They all seem to have accents and call each other 'hon' etc, but I am not sure where they are. Doesn't matter. She is stuck in a marriage and a life she hates and then, to make matters worse, she finds out she's pregnant. She doesn't want the baby, but is going to keep it. She starts hiding money so she can leave her husband, Earl, but that doesn't quite work out. She has an affair with her (married) doctor (played by Nathan Fillion of Firefly fame. I didn't know he was in this, but seeing him was an added bonus!) who is the total opposite of Earl - cute, funny, all that stuff. She gabs with her two waitress friends (one who dates a guy named "Okie" who espouses spontaneous poetry), befriends the cantankerous owner of the diner (Andy Griffith), and bakes completely amazing pies with names like "I-Hate-My-Husband Pie" and the on-screen making of which was enough to make my mouth water. Especially the very sexy and intimate scene where she's showing Doctor McYummy how to make a pie.

Waitress is funny, cute, kind of predictable (there were 2 plot points I could see coming from miles away) and there is of course a happy ending - but it was a nice way to spend a Sunday afternoon. I liked all of the actors very much, and my sweet tooth liked the pies... Too bad there is no such thing as smell-o-vision (or taste-o-vision?)

The only bad moment had nothing to do with the movie itself - 3 old ladies came wandering into the theater by mistake, about 5 minutes or so before the end of the movie.

"OH NO! THIS IS THE WRONG THEATER!" one exclaimed. They then stood in the (open) doorway, talking loudly to each other. "IS THIS THE WAITRESS?" "YES, BUT IT HASN'T ENDED YET." "WELL, I'M GOING TO WATCH IT. JUST DON'T LOOK." Maybe they were all going deaf? I am not sure. They got the idea that the rest of us maybe wanted to hear what happened during the last five minutes of the film when the whole theater shushed them.
"WE'RE MAKING A LOT OF NOISE!" one of them told her friends. They were shushed again and then they decided to wait outside.

Geez. I hate people.
Anyway. I wonder if anywhere around here delivers pie?

And the winner is...

First, I want to apologize to whoever it was that called me last night between 8 and 10 central. I was watching Apolo & Julianne kick some boy band butt on Dancing with the Stars and I let the machine pick up. But I still love you. Please call me back. :)

Loved the dancing, hated all the montage-y crap that they filled an hour with. Who cares about Kelly Monaco? Everyone knows John won the first season anyway!!

And please, ABC, fire Samantha Harris. She's annoying and quite possibly the worst interviewer ever. Give her job to John Ratzenberger. Or Jimmy Kimmel's parking lot security guard.

Cuz We Know What's Good...

American Idol has been dead to me since last year (although I can't seem to get away from it. I still know who the finalists are and I know who Sanjaya is too. Damn them!)

Still, it seems my home state is following my one-woman crusade to end American Idol's 15 minutes of fame:

By the way, Illinois people don't care about "Idol" so much. The list of states where people are Yahoo-ing "Idol" is topped by Hawaii, Washington, Arizona, Alabama and Maine. Big Illinois is nowhere to be found.


(from an article on Yahoo!)

the 17-year itch

Oh, god. Supposedly, the Midwest is going to be swarmed by cicadas. These big, ugly creepy crawlies come out every 17 years, mate and then die. They are harmless, but loud and, as I say, ugly.

I don't do well with bugs. I don't care if they are outside or inside, or doing good things (like people say spiders do). They creep me out. My favorite bug story, which I will share and then leave this yukky topic, is from when I was in Italy a few years ago. I spent a summer abroad at Loyola, my alma mater. We have a campus there, and I was "taking class" but fortunately, the 2 teachers I had were as delighted to be in Rome as I was. I took Italian Literature and Italian 102 and the classes were easy-peasy. Our dorm building is in Monte Mario (where Giuseppe Benetton lives)and is a very simple building. No AC or heat (not too brilliant in June when we were there) no screens on the windows. Our room was sparsely furnished and got no breeze whatsoever. We had an old fashioned wooden shade on our window and usually slept with the shade up and the door open.

We had a computer lab - maybe 20 computers in an L shaped room. Huge windows at our back. One night, Cara and I were on the "good" computer (so called because we could access the AOL instant messenger on it, but none of the others. This is how we "talked" with our families. This was 2000, and the IM programs were not as widely used as they are now.)

Anyway. We're sitting at the computer and gabbing away and suddenly I hear a kind of plopping sound. The kind something airborne makes when it comes through the open window and lands. On the floor was this gigantically ugly bug. It was an Italian bug, and unrecognizeable to me, except that it was huge. "Oh my god," sez I. "That thing is disgusting." Cara told me to go and get the porter. "YOU go get the porter," I said back, but she didn't want to lose the spot at the computer. Damn! So I got up and picked my way around this thing. It was big and black and the size of my fist. The porters over at Loyola were not so good with the English. Only one of them was able to communicate fluently with the students, and he was not on duty when I approached the desk. I got up there and managed to say "C'é un.... bug? Molto grande!!" He didn't understand. One of my fellow students made a not-quite-under-his breath comment about stepping on it with my foot, but hello? I was wearing flip flops and not about to step on this thing. I got the idea across to the porter (god only knows how...) He gave me a sympathetic look like, "silly girl!" grabbed some paper towels, scooped the thing up, and threw it away.

It is kind of sad that this is one of my most vibrant memories of being in Rome... that and climbing to the top of il duomo in Florence (and the 5 gelatos we had after), and visiting LaScala in Milan....

She's Coming...

19 days, 13 hours and 30 minutes, I will see her do this
here

Tyra, Tyra, Tyra....

Girl! What were you thinking? Eliminating Renee (aka NeNe) in favor of Jaslene and Natasha??? Please!!!! I loved the Cha Cha Diva Jas (shout out to my Chi-town home girl and all that) but Renee did the best commercial, she was completely gorgeous and funny, and had the most going for her out of everyone. She could have walked circles around those two on the runway at Sass and Bide. I can't believe that after all the to-do about Dani's accent 2 cycles ago that nobody had issues with the fact that the final 2 could barely string a coherent sentence together. If the judges watched the episodes, they'd hear Jaslene's extremely crappy grammar and diction. For a good laugh, I will tune into the Tyra show and watch Natasha be a correspondent. Give me a break.

Overall, this cycle was a little disappointing. The judges, while certainly not as useless as, say, American Idol, never have any helpful advice for the girls. How can you improve if you don't have any clear direction? Remember, these girls are in model boot camp. They don't know what they're doing. And please, please, please, lose the Twig and make Mr. J a judge. He sees the girls all the time. He can tell you who's a diva on set, who's doing what, who's learning and who isn't. Give them challenges where they can actually learn something. (I do like though, that the public has no say in who wins. These are the people who made Taylor Hicks American Idol and Dubya the President.) We don't know what makes a top model. You guys do. Keep it that way.

Next Cycle, pick some girls with a little spark, okay? Watching the photo shoot with past contestants reminded us that the show used to be lots of bitchy fun - the fainting chick, Kim "11 more to go" Bree "bitch stole my granola bars" and Jade etc. Those girls had personality and modeling skills. And please, no more kumbaya Tyra as Dr. Phil moments. The episode where the girls aired their grievances and TB helped Renee get in touch with her feelings was just crap. No psychobabble. More Nigel Barker.

Tony's!

Tony Nominations were announced today. I have only actually seen 2 nominated shows (Company and Grey Gardens)and of course I am not as invested in it this year as I was last year, but that's okay. The awards will be announced on June 10th. I will have to get caught up on shows on my trip in July (there's about a day in that weekend when I am not seeing Gypsy.... for now...)

just my luck...

Friday afternoon: I have made my 20 minute dash to the train station and have carefully chosen a seat. I take out my very important reading material (The 100 Most Beautiful issue of People) and am settling in for my trip home when.... dun dun dun... the World's Worst Mother and her little bratty child (mentioned in an earlier post) come into my car and sit...wait for it.... directly across from me! I could NOT believe it when they sat down there and by that time, it was too late for me to move somewhere else. Instead, I pulled out my iPod (which remains my best friend on these train trips! Best purchase I ever made. Seriously.) and put on some soothing music (a little Renee, a little Patti... ahhh).

For a while I thought it would be okay. They were sitting with a friend of the mom's and the adults were chatting and giving the kid swigs from a bottle of Pepsi (I wasn't allowed to have pop until I got to high school. Okay, maybe that's an exageration - but not by much! Now of course, I can't get through the day without a coffee in the morning and a diet coke at lunch. I fail to see the logic in giving a 3 year old lots and lots of pop. Maybe it's b/c I am not a parent?)

The adults talked and completely ignored the kid. He started yelling to get their attention. Nada. So, he threw himself on the floor, crawled under the seat and started climbing around on the seat behind them - and all over this other passenger with her laptop. The passenger behind me muttered something semi-under her breath like, 'don't pay any attention to him, or anything.' The climbed on lady was nicer about it than I would have been. The mom didn't even apologize to her. She kind of got up and tried to get the kid to sit down, but she didn't do much. She should have gone over and picked him up, but she didn't want to interrupt her conversation. The kid wandered off and went to the upper level of the train where he climbed around up there and dangled himself over the side. Do you think the mom paid any attention then?? She did not. But she could see she was annoying people, so she packed up their stuff, got the kid and left the car. Why discipline the kid and improve the behavior when you can go off to another carriage and annoy different people??

Oooh, it bothers me so much. You can't be angry with the child, because he's too young to know any better. But it's just startling the lack of respect for other people from the 2 adults who were with him. He's going to grow up thinking it's okay to do whatever because there were just no boundaries.

Have I mentioned lately how I am never having children?

thanks, mom

...for bringing me into the world...for teaching me the difference between right and wrong and imparting important values and lessons to live by (i.e "cuteness counts" "don't run in heels" etc)...for reading to me when I was a kid...for teaching me to knit (several times) and not giving up on me when I got impatient with it...for listening to me talk/grumble/whine/bitch/moan about work/friends/school...for always being there when I needed her the most...for making a mean spaghetti sauce....for our morning coffee breaks...for being my email buddy...for playing Pavarotti for me when I was growing up....for being my opera buddy...for always being willing to take in a concert from Luis Miguel, to Andrea Bocelli, to Patti LuPone, Renee Fleming, Cecelia Bartoli, Audra McDonald...for having a sense of humor...for being kind and generous...for loving cake...for being a shopping 'bad influence'... for not killing me when I am in hypochondriac drama queen mode...for saying "take that job or I'll kick your ass!"

for all this and more than I can say here - thanks mom, and Happy Mother's Day

trainspotting

So. I'm a commuter now. It's a whole new world for me. The people I see on public transportation in Chicago are so much less exciting than the people Sarah sees out and about in NYC, but I've already had some great train adventures on my rides to 13.

This week - on 2 separate rides home, I've seen 2 guys sit down, kick back and... open cans of beer. On the train. Is it me, or is that a little weird? You can't wait half an hour before starting happy hour?

Mostly, the commuters are quiet, business types. They are reading newspapers, listening to music, typing on computers. Some are on the phone (don't get me started). But mostly, they keep to themselves, they are polite and they are quiet. Yesterday, I'm on the earlier train home and I decided to sit on the upper level. I must have felt something in my bones.... right where I would have sat were 2 ladies (take note: 2 adults) and a little boy. He was (oh gawd, I'm so bad at this) maybe 4? For a while, he was sitting (not very quietly, but whatever) with his grandmother. I think he was eating something. For the rest of the ride, he ran around the car, up and down the steps, yelling and playing and being a noisy child. All this time, neither adult attempted to make him sit down, be quiet and stop getting in the way of passengers who wanted to get out (one lady hit the kid in the head with her bag - on accident - as she tried to go around him to leave the car). The grandmother asked him a few times to come and sit with her, but he didn't and that was apparently okay with them. I could see my fellow passengers kind of looking and being quietly annoyed. But nobody said anything. If I'd been down there with them, I probably would have done the usual loud sighing, eye rolling and muttering comments under my breath. No worries though, I said not a thing - just vowed to never ever have children.

Why do people think everyone else needs to be entertained by their child? It's not cute okay? All I wanted was a nice quiet relaxing trip home and I ended up with a big headache. What a brat. Thank god that's not my regular train. They got off at my stop, too so there is a chance I can see them around town. Can't wait.

On a happier note. Sometimes, I bring my knitting along and knit on the train. One afternoon, I was working on (what else?) a scarf, and the conductor stopped to chat with me about it. So did another lady as she was getting off. Something about knitting just draws people together. When I was knitting on the way to NYC in February, I made many new friends on the flight, just talking about knitting.

Getting to 13

When I accepted this new position, there are a few things I gave up - namely, a nice, convenient, safe (for the most part) 15 to 20 minute drive to the office, a parking spot in a covered garage, and a 2 block walk to the office.

Because driving downtown every day would just pretty much SUCK, I turned to public transportation. And this is where getting to 13 is not as nice or convenient. I have 2 options.

1. Metra. There is a station in the MG and the train goes straight to Union Station. It takes half an hour to get downtown. From Union Station, I walk about 20 minutes to the office. This is currently the option of choice. It's great now, but in the winter I may go for...

2. CTA. Otherwise known as the 'EL' Yellow line from home to Howard St. Station. Purple line "Express" (hahaha) all the way downtown. Stop about a block and a half from work. This takes forever. Afternoon trains are mucho crowded and noisy. I hardly ever get a seat until we're well out of the Loop. EL trains are S.L.O.W. and are much skeezier than Metra trains. It all kind of balances out though - taking the EL keeps me on the train longer, but lets me off close by. The Metra has a shorter ride, but I am doing all that walking.

Oh well. At least I'm getting my cardio.....

Calling All Gen-Xers... (and Gen Next-Ers)

Some of my former colleagues are taking part in a panel discussion at the North Park Symposium next week, concerning the giving/volunteering patterns of those in Gen X and Gen Next(I always called it Y, but whatever).

If you have a few minutes, go here and fill it out. It's 12 questions and totally anonymous.

My Achy Breaky Heart...

Golly gosh, I hadn't given Billy Ray Cyrus a single thought since we line danced to his song "Achy Breaky Heart" in eighth grade (I think I can still do the dance, actually. A little scary, huh?). But then he appeared on Dancing with the Stars this season (my number 2 pop culture guilty pleasure, right after ANTM). Believe me, I had my doubts. I mean, the man danced a cha-cha to a song called "I want my mullet back" - it looked like he was going to be this season's Master P (for fans of the show, you will know - this is not a good thing). Every single dance he did - waltz, jive, mambo, tango looked exactly the same. On several occasions, he just made stuff up.

So the man can't really dance. And yet, he stayed on the show. He almost made it to the semi-finals. He made his poor partner, Karina (who almost won the contest last year, with Mario Lopez) CRY. But somehow, he managed to win the crowd over with his aw-shucks southern charm and his personality (and can I just say? he's pretty cute, too!) He endured comments from the judges "deliciously awful" "that was crap" "the crowd is addicted to you" and, perhaps my favorite from Bruno Tonioli "you're like a crazy bear that got lost in the swamp" - who knew they danced? And yeah, okay. To be fair, he was pretty crap. But I think the show will miss him.

I am kind of bummed he's off the show (even though really, it was no surprise. And before you ask, no, I didn't vote. For anyone. I haven't voted all season.) I mean, he was entertaining, if nothing else. And we will forever be deprived of seeing his freestyle routine.

But, as someone once told me "life goes on" (no, it wasn't John, Paul, George, Ringo or Patti) and I am now throwing all of my support to Apolo.

party time!

Last night was the closing night party. We had it www.onesixtyblue.com I was debating whether or not I should go - I was sure I'd get lost (and I did! But thank god for this)
and of course, there is the eternal question of what the heck to wear.... but I went, I mingled with my peeps, met some new and lovely people, and best of all, had some completely fabulous food.

Now I get to say I've been to onesixty blue, and really, what more could a person ask for?

Got home at a decent hour and worked on my knitting. I am still just doing squares - mostly scarves. Have a bit of difficulty though since a) it's spring time, and scarves aren't really necessary and 2.) I only have the one neck. But oh well. I have moved on to different kinds of yarn (ribbons for the summer months) and I have started work on a blanket (which, of course, is a R.E.A.L.L.Y big scarf). Knitting goals are to learn to purl (anybody have any purling advice for a lefty?) and to do something other than squares...

new look, new name, new blog!

Well, well, well. Long time, no blog. I've been a little busy.
First, to explain the changes- the title reflects the ushering in of a new era. My new job takes me out of Evanston and puts me right in the heart of downtown Chicago. A swanky office location between State and Michigan Av --- but on the 13th floor. If I was a superstitious person, I'd say it was a sign. But I am not and although I hate elevators, I kind of like being on the 13th floor. A lot of buildings around here just go from 12 to 14, because of the perception that 13 is unlucky. I think it's been pretty lucky for me so far. But this is just my second week here, so I guess it is too soon to tell?

There will be some other changes around here, too. With my lovely tax return, I am going to get a new computer at home (and HIGH SPEED!!!yeeehaaaa!) and will do many fun and blogtacular things with it.

they really, really like me...

Today is my last day with The A Team. It's sad, and it's weird. My desk is totally clean and empty. My personal effects and mountains of crap have been cleared off or taken home. There are no extraneous pairs of shoes under my desk anymore and, ONE email in my in box. This never happens.

Since my move has some political undertones, I was not expecting them to throw me a party. But I got one. Cake, and a card and people hugging me and telling me how much they will miss me. I will miss them, too.

I always feel like I am not very memorable. I mean, come on, in high school, people always called me "Nicole" because I looked kinda like a friend of mine - we're both petite, blonde, and wore glasses. That's about all. But I got cut slips when she was absent. Our counselor did it. Our homeroom teacher did it. The man saw us for four years! And she never got called by my name, I was always called by hers. It's enough to give a person a complex. (and THEN, when I get emails from candidates with their resumes, they call me 'Karen.' Lovely name. It's just not MY name. And it blows my mind because the respond to name is RIGHT ON THE ADVERTISEMENT. And yet. Dear Karen.... Where is the attention to detail? HUH? Definite points off there.... But I appear to be rambling. ANYWAY).

And then something like this happens, where I don't think people think much about me at all, and it turns out that they DO, and some of them think pretty nice things, too! It's weird. I've had 5 and a half good years here, but I'm ready to keep going.

Happy Birthday, Patti!

Today is The Patti's Birthday!

(I will have a few cold ones in her honor....)

Ravinia Tickets!

Ravinia tickets went on sale today. Either they've finally worked the bugs out of their system, or it pays to shop online at 8:00 in the morning - I got my tickets right away.

Patti in "To Hell and Back" on June 6 (the Martin - so will not have to pick locusts out of my picnic on the lawn) and Patti with Audra in August.


Woohoo!!! Looks like there will be a Pattipalooza 2007 this summer. Now all I need to do is find some performances of Renee's to get to.... otherwise I won't be seeing her until January.... and that just will not do!

The A Team By the Numbers

My time here with "The A Team" - (current employer, name changed to protect the "innocent") is drawing to a close. I am starting a new job next week!

5 1/2 years...
2 offices
4 cubicles (one in skokie, 3 in evanston)
4 regional managers
2 presidents
2 CEOs
2 cars to get to work (sniff! edge, RIP!)
nearly 100 clients served
1 company name change
3 titles
over 1 million words written
1 assistant
3 "moms"
2 retreats off site
0 "kumbaya moments" around a campfire (thank god!)

This was my first job out of college. I interviewed for a summer internship. I was offered a full time position. Since I had not been able to find a teaching job, and the idea of subbing 2nd grade gym did not at all appeal, I took it. I knew nothing about the field The A Team does business in - but I learned. I was in awe of Mr. A our founder, who started the company over 20 years ago from the trunk of his car. I had the chance to learn from the best, from people who feel called to help others, who are genuinely good. For all the issues we've had, it really feels like a family here. Leaving was not an easy decision for me to make, but I really feel it's the best move for me to make at this time. I'm ready. I'm sad to go, but excited for this new opportunity - it's in the arts, with a HUGELY prestigious organization in this city. It's a big chance and I had to take it. (Aside from that, my grandmother threatened to kick my ass if I didn't take the job! Seriously!)

So goodbye, A Team. I'll miss your wit & wisdom & professionalism. Keep on keeping on, and I will make you all proud.

Happy Pattiversary! (tomorrow!)

After vacations,it is always rather hard for me to return to reality. Especially after I took the Rock Boat cruises, it was always like What? I have to work now? But I want to be able to roll out of bed and laze by the pool/go to a rockin' concert/eat lots of lovely lovely food and not have to pay.... etc. When I'm back, I like to play "at this time last week I was..." and relive the fun times, until people tell me to shut the !@*#($* up already.

Well, I was going through some photographs on my camera, and I realized that at this time last year, I was in New York City. Not only did I go to the Met and see Renee the Magnificent in Manon and hang around with my group members whom I love like family, including Mims and Iris from London, two incredibly fabulous people brought me to Sweeney Todd for the first (and not the last) time. It was my first (and not the last) time seeing The Patti. I don't know what it is about her, but she's fierce (in a good, and kind of scary way). I don't think my lovely friends knew they'd create such a monster, but alas, it is so. I have A Second Diva.

Thanks, guys!!! I will have a Pattiversary cupcake in your honor (or maybe a Pattiversary cocktail... or two... or six?)

I wonder where I will be at this time.... next year....

i wasn't done...

Blogger was being cranky. More pics. Enjoy.

Old West street

Goofy self-portraits, the mark of the lone traveler....

my brain is full.....

Wisteria Lane!

Wow, you can trade your child up for a better model at Universal!!

Shrek Stuff!!

Can't think any more. Here are some more pictures from my trip to sunny CA (WAHHH! It is SNOWING here today! Where's spring??) & my day at Universal...

Slow News Day?

Dude. My parents TOTALLY missed the boat by not naming ME 'Metallica'

Couple fights to name baby 'Metallica' (from Yahoo! News)

Metallica may be a cool name for a heavy metal band, but a Swedish couple is struggling to convince officials it is also suitable for a baby girl.
Michael and Karolina Tomaro are locked in a court battle with Swedish authorities, which rejected their application to name their six-month-old child after the legendary rock band.
"It suits her," Karolina Tomaro, 27, said Tuesday of the name. "She's decisive and she knows what she wants."
Although little Metallica has already been baptized, the Swedish National Tax Board refused to register the name, saying it was associated with both the rock group and the word "metal."
Tomaro said the official handling the case also called the name "ugly."
The couple was backed by the County Administrative Court in Goteborg, which ruled on March 13 that there was no reason to block the name. It also noted that there already is a woman in Sweden with Metallica as a middle name.
The tax agency appealed to a higher court, frustrating the family's foreign travel plans.
"We've had to cancel trips and can't get anywhere because we can't get her a passport without an approved name," Tomaro said.

when did my life become an episode of 'the office'?

"culture audits" and "value awards" gee whiz, can "diversity day" and camp fire kumbayas be far behind?

So much for "Everyone here is extremely gruntled."

For Your Viewing Pleasure...

Some pics from my LA Trip...

Yes, MAM

I always kind of thought "writing a thesis" was one of those things that happened to other people - kind of like winning the lottery, getting a speeding ticket, catching the plague, etc. In my head, the writing of such a scholarly document was done by geeky students in turtlenecks, slaving away at all hours, on their LIFE WORK, hunched over a computer in Starbucks, with a constant flow of caffeine being fed to them with an iv tube.

But now.... it's ME. I am officially "Writing My Thesis" after much research, some interviews and much sending of drafts to an advisor on sabbatical. I am spending most of my weekends getting the thing done. Oye. I love to write, but this is not so much writing as it is TORTURE. I had built it up so much in my head (with the geeky turtleneck, Life Work, hunched over a computer scenario) that it got to feel pretty scary. Now that I am writing it, it's not so bad. I really want it done. I mean REALLY. The original goal I quoted by advisor last year was June. My first concept was much larger in scope, and it's really changed a lot from my original idea. We are going to try and stay on that timeline, so I am slaving away this weekend to have some more material to send off to the advisor (last time, it took 3 emails before he responded from the beach or whereever he is taking sabbatical). Hopefully, by next week I can do some analyzing and concluding, than lots and lots of revising and tweaking.

Wish me luck. Support is always welcome (in the form of chocolate, encouragement, rah rahs or cash.) If you don't hear from me in a few days, call in the National Guard, as I may have passed out from my caffeine drip....

Time to Play....

Ever wonder what you would look like as a chocolate candy? Go here and turn yourself into an M&M!

Hold Yer Hats and Hallelujah....

I got my Gypsy tickets!!!

(and I think it's gonna be a L.O.N.G. 5 months...)

cosi fan tutte...

Friday night was the last opera of the season for me, and it was Cosi. Mom & I got all dolled up and headed down to Lyric. It was a fun one to see, with beautiful music (if not as memorable as some of Mozart's other operas) but there were some recognizeable pieces and beautiful, beautiful duets and ensembles. Ahhhh, Mozart.

The cast was not "big name" but it was quality: Ryan Center (GAHHH!! It sounded SO MUCH BETTER to call it "Lyric Opera Center of American Artists"!) alums Erin Wall and Lauren McNese as Fiordiligi and Dorabella, Eric Cutler and Opera Hunk Extraordinary, Nathan Gunn as the boys, Nuccia Focile as Despina and Sir Thomas Allen as Don Alfonso. All of them solid. Good actors. Sounded like a dream when they all sang together.

The production was updated tp a resort in 1914. That made for a pretty, modern, set design scheme (at one point, a sheer curtain at the back of the stage swept aside to reveal a beachscape - lots of brightly colored umbrellas clustered around. the supernumeraries were kept busy bustling around in the background in crisp red uniforms, and in two cases, old fashioned striped bathing costumes) and stunning period costumes. It did make it kind of hard to believe that 20th century people would fall for the lame plot twists. As Despina says "These girls are so stupid!" and they were. I mean, honestly. "Let's put on false moustaches - they'll NEVER recognize us then!" Not even clever Despina saw through the boys' disguises. So the plot was one of the more goofy ones in the operatic repertoire, but really, it hardly mattered. Everything was put together so well, love more or less conquered all, and the curtain went down on another great season at Lyric.

Already have my subscription for next year sorted out - Renee in Traviata!!! YES! Oh, and some other stuff, too.....

Happy Feet

I've finally made good on my threat to take up tap dancing. With my snazzy new shoes from Bloch NY, I have been tapping away every Tuesday night. I've had three classes so far and I guess I am doing pretty good for never having strapped on tap shoes before in my entire adult life.* I have not fallen down or made a total fool of myself (good thing, too, because the studio has closed circuit tv in the rehearsal rooms so that the people in the lobby can watch what's going on... yikes!) It takes me a while to get everything from my brain down to my feet, and to remember the steps.... In actuality, I think I am the tap dancing equivalent of Billy Ray Cyrus on Dancing with the Stars last night.... So I guess we will see how long this goes on...but for now I am having fun!

* My mom claims I had lessons when I was really litttle, like 4. She remembers more about them than I do, so I don't think they really count.

Gypsy!!!

Sweet fancy moses.... I got in this morning and was innocently checking my email, when I see these GREAT HEADLINES. Looks like I am New York bound again.... In July!

Opera Hunkaliciousness...

Tonight: Nathan Gunn in Cosi Fan Tutte at Lyric Opera of Chicago!

Lost in the Spiderweb...

Actually, I'm still in shock after coming home to 28 degrees and snow after having been in sunny and glorious LA where it was in the 80s all weekend. I was wearing a t-shirt! No coat! In March! Didja ever????

Okay, so here goes. With visions of polar bears (from the Lyric production I'd seen almost 10 years ago) dancing in my head, I took off for LA with mild trepidation. I hadn't originally planned on going out there at all, thinking it would be too close to my NY trip to Onegin. I didn't know if I could afford it, get the time off, etc. but workplace insanity and the chill of Chicago in February, along with the need for anoter Diva Fix, made me change my mind and book tickets to Mahagonny.

I saw it Thursday night and was in the 3rd row, left side. (Sunday I was in the 5th row, on the right side) Perfect stage views both times. Thursday I somehow ended up in the middle of a couple (no idea how that happened, but they were quite rude about it and the female half of the couple kept turning her head and hitting me with her hair! the guy told off someone unwrapping candy too loudly - in the middle of the opera - he turned and went, "Are you KIDDING me?" out loud to her. Making more noise than the candy wrapper, but you know, whatever.).

Anyway. I went with, as I say, mild trepidation and low expectations. I went to watch Patti and Audra and they did not disappoint me. I thought both of them looked completely divine and sounded wonderful. This was my first time seeing Audra in a non-concert setting, and she was tremendous. She so fully inhabited the role, and had some of the best music (most notably, "Alabama Song"). Patti had some really entertaining stage business (god, is she funny) and I thought she did well with the music, although at times, I could tell when she was putting in the effort to get to the notes - the music sits high in her range. It wasn't Sweeney, obviously, where she was just able to throw herself into the character. But as I said, they were both the reason I had gone to see Mahagonny, and in that way I was not disappointed.

It is a hard piece to engage in - Weil and Brecht really wanted to get the audience thinking about the piece - so the messages are very very very strong ("the freedom i found with money is not freedom," reveals Jimmy). at the end of the first act, the whole cast is on stage nazi saluting, and playing in the background is one of the hitler rallies with everyone yelling sieg heil, etc. as the lights came up, the whole audience was kind of like, what the ---?? on sunday, i think everyone was a little more into it. at the end, as mahagonny is collapsing in on itself under the weight of its own lawlessness and corruption, they all stand on a bare stage and sing "nothing you can do can help a dead man..." one of them holds a triangular folded American flag and the last line is "nothing can help him or you or us now..." Made me feel like going and starting a revolution, or something.

I could talk about Mahagonny for ever, just different things I observed, etc, but that's the over all impression. Without Patti, I would not have voluntarily gone to see it (which proves, I will see my divas do just about anything!) but I am glad I made the trip.