My own little tropical getaway...

Last night as I was getting ready to leave work I got a call from a friend. "Whatcha doin'? Wanna' go to Hala Kahiki tonight?" I'm almost always up for a trip to the magical place called Hala Kahiki.

(No, really, you should check one of those links)

Here's their drink list. They call it a menu - but there are only drinks on it. No food is served with the exception of the pretzels. They do serve ice cream drinks. I suppose those could be construed as meal-like. As well as a variety of other things. Sadly, I did not choose well with the drinks. Who knew an apricot daiquiri could taste quite that bad? Or that the server could be that unaware and, quite frankly, bad? But we soldiered on, sure that better times would follow. It was quite difficult...
The next thing I new it was 10:30 and time to go.
Then I got home(ish) and drove around for hand-to-God 45 minutes at least looking for parking.
Eesh...

Honestly

You incredibly good-looking men that take classes where I work.
Stop it with your tight shirts and your unusual, but rather becoming, ethnic garb and your beautiful olive skin and big eyes and muscles.
You are very distracting.

Hellz Yeah!

Click to embiggen.

Everyone chair dance with me!

Spam Bots

Sorry, word verification is back on.
I hate it.
But I hate spam bots more.

Don't know what this means

Sunday I was hanging out with some friends. We had partaken in some Chinese food earlier, and then a meeting and some child watching. Afterwards there were several fortune cookies left over. Some people love the fortune cookie. I am not one of those people. The cookie has about the taste of the paper fortune inside of it. They are not worth the effort of eating. Except that the fortunes can be interesting. But yesterday at the urging of my friends I went through the effort of opening up the cellophane and breaking the cookie open to find...


Nothing.



Clearly, I have no fortune because I have no future.

The Fates have cut my thread.


That, or the factory just missed my cookie.

Flenker!'s Five Questions for Friday which suspiciously sounds like five things friday which i gave up a long time ago

1. If you could learn to play only one song on the guitar, which song would that be?
This is a hard question. I don’t know if I can answer it very satisfactorily. Right now I’m not such a fabulous guitar player. Not even competent, honestly. So I would be happy to play one song really well – it wouldn’t even matter what song that was. (See how uninformed about the guitar world I am? I can’t even think of a kick-ass guitar part song that I would want to learn to suitably impress people) But, hopefully, I’ll soon be competent enough on a lot of songs to be comfortable enough to play in front of people. And then play and sing at the same time. I think I’ve got the singing thing down already.

2. What sort of office supply would you like to be, if you had to be an office supply?
Office supplies… I have to confess, walking through Office Max is almost like a holy experience for me. Writing instruments are very important to me. I like refillable pens with real nibs. You can change the cartridge color and they are classy. I like this pen very much. Also this one as a back up and a bit of homage to my alma matter.

3. You are in charge of an ice cream factory. What flavors do you develop?
A cinnamon chili chocolate chip in vanilla (but not French vanilla). I had an excellent coconut curry ice cream a month or two ago so that’s already been done. Probably something with raspberries, blueberries, strawberries, more along the lines of a sorbet. Maybe with a little pie crust in there. That would be quite nice I think.

4. If you had to choose attending a sporting event at one of the Chicago venues (Soldier Field, Wrigley Field, US Cellular Park, or the United Center), which would it be, and who would be playing?
I think I saw this question off in the distance. ;) Well, neither of the baseball stadiums. I’ve been to both, although I was at the Cell for a college recruitment event, not a game. Actually, now that I think about it, we had a recruitment event at Wrigley too… I have endured an actual baseball game at Wrigley (baseball is, unless it’s the playoffs, mind numbing to me - sorry Flenker!). But a crosstown classic could be a lot of fun. That’s really the only imaginable scenario in which I would subject myself to a baseball game again. That or a good group of people that I really, really, really wanted to spend time with.

So… I would very much like to see the Chicago Machine play. Except they don’t seem to play at any of those venues listed above. They play here. Which, I suppose, is technically, a Chicago venue. My second thought was the Chicago Fire – our soccer team. Because soccer players are hott. However the Fire seem to play at the same venue as the Machine. So I would also be up for a good Bears game, especially since the remodeling of the stadium. On a not really cold day. Playing a team that kind of sucked because I want to see some scoring and winning on my team's part. (No, I’m not picky. Why do you ask?)

5. What is your all-time favorite movie quote?
"Hahlo, my name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die."

Thanks Flenker! Much harder questions than they initially appear to be. I think this is the part where I'm supposed to say if you want to play leave a comment and I'll send you five questions. So, yeah, do that. And I'll try to come up with five questions for you. Or you can come up with five things that you've always wanted to be asked and then answer them all on your own. Or not.

Relief

I think I've got some backup coming in soon for my office.

Thank the Lord!

I was here until 8 last night trying to get some things done.

Borderlands

I'm having a hard time with boundaries these days. Mostly with work and other parts of life.

Any suggestions on how to handle some of these things?

A student in the program I work for lives in my new neighborhood. She wants to have me and another student over for drinks. I'm sensing dangerous territory if it becomes too widely known that I socialize with the students in my program.

As it is, the person that I've spent the most time with lately, partly because of the move, partly because of crazy life situations, mostly because she's awesome, is a student (soon to graduate) at my school. I think I can make it through another six weeks before she is no longer a student and I don't have to feel like I need to censor myself and she herself.

How much I interact with our adjunct instructors outside of work. Hard because there might be some discussion of their teaching methods or whatnot and I'll be privy to that information. I'm also the person who types up their evaluations. Yeah. Also, I feel pressure sometimes from them regarding course offerings and getting more time in the classroom. I would like to pretend that I don't have much to do with this (who teaches what class) but I have a voice in my office just as much as others do and I can use it, particularly if I am perturbed with an instructor. But that whole "I could really use the money" thing pisses me off sometimes and makes me wonder why they are hanging out with me.

Also, outside interaction with my co-workers. Some of it is the same as the above. Truthfully, I will not spend time with people that I don't think are doing a good job. I just don't have time to spend it with people I don't like, I spend enough time with them already on the job. But beyond that, with folks that I enjoy being around at work, is there a line there? Last night I had a lovely time having dinner with a co-worker and his very large family. And they were a bright spot in north Chicago when I was thinking about moving up here. His youngest played with me and had me read him a book and wanted to show me his toys.

Help!

Refreshed

Y'all, the scary, estrogen-filled, brown-haired weekend was fabulous.

Really.

So good for my heart and my sense of direction in some things.

This weekend was a retreat for women involved in worship music in Vineyard churches in the region. Lots of guitars, lots of drums, and a room full of like minded women.

Firstly, one of my friends, the one who got me to go, who helped pay for me to go, who made it pretty much impossible for me to not not go, insisted on finding me a ride. So even as I prepared to leave in my car and called to tell her so, she was finagling a ride for me with someone. That someone with whom I rode was a lovely woman from Iowa who graduated from Northwestern a couple years ago. And stayed in Chicago to do the same sort of fellowship that initially brought me to Chicago. It seemed like this incredibly serendipitous meeting. Or, you know, God. And we chatted and it was great. And a lovely way to start the weekend.

Secondly, when I first got there someone said "Oh, you're the only one from (insert_church_name_here)" Indeed, I was. There was one other woman there who was also there without others from her church. And I said, "Yeah, but I know some of these people because I used to go to their church but left" And then a conversation ensued regarding why I felt like I should leave. Which, y'all, I was pretty reluctant to have this conversation because the whole talking about the old church thing is not really a comfortable thing and I try to be careful about what I say because, "Hi, Old Pastor that reads my blog sometimes!" And I still love lots of people that still go to the old church and it was a really, really good place for me to be for a long time. And, that whole talking bad about people/institutions. I have a feeling it could come along a bite me in the ass, quite frankly.

But a lot of what I said resonated with her a lot. And made her feel more comfortable about where she is at and what she is doing at the moment. Which is awesome, and, again, God.

When the pack from the old church got there I was particularly drawn into conversation with one woman who I didn't know very well. We shared some of where we are with things and it was a good conversation and in the end she prayed for me and it was really powerful. And, that, of course, was God.

The talks were not sophisticated but they were Good. Good in the way that simple, common sense messages are Good and True. The panel regarding women in worship was excellent. The workshop that I went to was perfect for me. I'll be building up the callouses on my fingertips more so that my guitar playing is better.

And really, when your heart is in the music and there are musicians and singers and worshippers in the room, there is not much better. Sometimes I would just have to stop and listen to the voices and the instruments because it was just amazing. Worshipping the King around the throne is going to be awesome!

Wish you were here...

Weekend Warrior

Soonish, about an hour from now, I head for the hills of Illinois. Well, I head for a town about two hours southwest of here that was named for my alma mater. They even have the tigers as their mascot. I drove through there once before and saw it on a flatbed trailer.

But here's the deal. My car. Not so great right now. So I'm hoping two hours isn't too strenuous for it.

Also? It's a retreat with about 40 women. You gynophobes out there understand the fear in my heart, do you not?

But they're not girly girls for the most part. Generally speaking, from those I know that are going, they're not the scary type. OK. There are a few. And? There will be plenty of people from my old church and they'll be wondering where I've been. That will suck. But there will also be friends.

Another part of added weirdness is that last night I was all ready to dye my hair to red. So that I could be cool. For these women. I don't know if you understand how twisted this seems in my mind. But when I realized why I was doing it I thought better of it. Yes, some of these chicks I might have a girl-crush on with their fabulous voices and talent oozing out of them. Except I don't need to impress them with fun red hair.

I'll dye my hair red for me.

Some other time.

So I've got my guitar, I've got my pillow, and I've got my laptop, and my Bible. And I've got my brown hair.

If you don't hear from me for a week or so, send out a search party.

Painful

Today is a fall day with green leaves sprouting rather than turning fiery.
It was hard to come inside, away from the sun and blue, blue sky.

Somewhere there's a bed I can sleep in...

Y'all, I'm tired.

I worked very hard to get two loads of laundry done last night. I love a freshly made bed with sheets and comforter that smell April fresh. Apparently the cats do too. They were quite happy to snuggle with me last night. Or perhaps it was because I had the window open and the fan going and it was rather cool last night.

I also have jeans to wear again. I think they were all in the dirty laundry pile. And underwear. Hooray for clean underwear!

Another great thing about my apartment, beyond the stairwell entry ways, both front and back, that continually get propped open? Is that last night someone, directly below my window, was smoking a little mota and the fan was propelling it in to my apartment, right to where I was sitting on my only comfortable chair for now. I sat there for a while watching TV waiting for my clothes to dry. Then I had some Doritos.

I think I'm getting used to the train. I've slept (perhaps I use that term a little too loosely) without earplugs the past two nights. Last night was worse than the night before. I kept waking up and kicking the cats as I rolled over. 4:30 is a pretty vivid memory this morning. I don't like 4:30 much.

The actual art...

I shot some photos before my batteries died this morning.

Here are my apples. My brother did three. My mom did two. I did one.Here on the bottom is my most recent acquisition. I saw it at Minty's and she was sweet enough to give it to me. Now above this painting ...
is one of the coolest gifts I have ever gotten from my mother. And I've gotten quite a few. She was working on a family history book for my Abuelita to be given out at Christmas that particular year. My mom's own project was for her side of the family. So that is my high school senior photo at the end (wasn't I hott?), my mom one in, her mom on the bottom, her father on the top, and then their mother's and their mother's mother. Got it? Anyways, I love them but for some reason I've always put them up higher. This time they're at eye level.
From the Brother. I cropped the bottom because of the signature. Sorry. Some message there about looking for love and that we use inadequate things to reach for it. And the pink man from my friend Anthony. It was a birthday gift. I have a larger one up in my office. But that one is turquoise. And the nose looks like a penis. So, it's different, but the same style.

And that's what I've got up right now.

Soon I'll have some wall decals. I think they'll go in the bathroom.

I bought a red rug at Ikea last night. And I put up a red curtain in my bedroom. I also bought some bamboo (seen by Minty's painting). Because I need more plants for the cats to chew on.

The Art Makes the Home

Sunday afternoon I spent a great deal of time putting nails in the walls of my new apartment. Several in the living room, a couple in the entry way, six in the bathroom. I had yet to finish unpacking all the kitchen things or putting clothes away in drawers but the white wall were closing in on me and something had to be done.

I know that sometimes people can live in a place and not care or worry that nothing has been put up on the walls. Some people prefer the expansiveness of it. Others like to put up photographs of family or friends and that makes them feel at home. For me, it's not the curtains or the paint color or setting up internet access that creates a sense of belonging and ownership. For me it is the art. I don't usually put up my own artwork (I don't know that I like my own work that much quite yet) but work of family (mostly) and friends. There is a piece in my kitchen now (six apples) that was a collaborative effort between my mother, brother and me. It brings me joy. Joy to see how we all express ourselves through different styles. Joy to know that we can produce something so beautiful together. It's one of the first pieces that goes up (at least mentally I always know where I plan to hang it) and was one of two that I requested from my mother when I moved up to Chicago.

My brother is an incredible artist. Every once in a while I get a piece from him for Christmas (usually when he's broke but has supplies around). Oh, and then I have the larger piece that he did for a cousin's husband that never made it to him (it got stuck in Chicago) and now he's an ex-husband. But those are harder to hang. Mostly because of decor and how much I want them to be appreciated by others.

Once upon a time my mother experimented with art glass and did an iris. It is beautiful. But she doesn't like it much. So I have it now but I don't really have a good window where I can hang it in this place. That makes me a bit sad. I'll figure something out.

I've been thinking I need a green piano print from someone. I'll be ordering one of those soon I expect.

I feel more settled now that the white space has been broken up a bit. There is still quite a bit that needs to be hung. All in good time I suppose.

What makes you feel at home?

A Little Loop-y

Looptopia!

Downtown Friday night was craziness y'all.


This picture was near the end of the night. If you click to embiggin it, check out the mouse/wheel shape up near the no parking sign. This was the big "spectacle" of the night. Fireworks were involved. And a person dressed up in a mouse. Running in a giant wheel.

Right...

My ex-roomie (M) and a guy (J) she's been on a date or two with. The other person I was supposed to meet up with bailed. Her bus was in an accident actually as she headed downtown. She gave up and turned around. Probably a good thing. I think the roommate-ness was a little much for J to handle. We were a little yipped up I think. As evidenced by my picture below. What? You're scared?

So the best part of the evening were these stagings set up around downtown by Red Moon Theater Company. And it I was a good blog writer I would link them up but I'm too lazy today. Sorry. Basically, it's people doing things that don't make much sense. Really, no sense at all.Witness above. A woman picking potatoes (there were some even in the trees) and she would walk this carrier thing across that ladder. And then there was a guy off to the side playing music. Lots of crazy weirdness.So, after this first spectacle viewing we went to Blick art supply. They had some folks working on a painting on the main level. Really not the best painting, eh? But it's not done so I shouldn't be so critical I suppose...Part of the fun of the night was the people watching. (seriously, check out the thing hanging from that guy's ear! ouch!)

Upstairs they had some supplies laid out for people to paint and sculpt things for themselves. That was a bit fun. At least for M and me. J wandered off somewhere and wouldn't even try.M's creation. Representative of her life at this point in time. Nicely done, M. Mine was suckage. Sorry.Also , there were oddly decorated people . I think this is what one might call a bubble-butt. Yes?
Then there was this deal.
Some guys in a boat. Some music playing. Some sand harvesting. This was the island from whence the sand was harvested. But I was struck by the fact that they used EGGPLANT! to create interest in the landscape. Aubergine is such a fascinating food/decoration.


And now we have what I like to think of as the lettuce doctor...I just don't know that I can adequately convey how weird this particular one was. And if someone wants to help me, I actually have video (not so fabulous) of it.
She was my favorite. Shocking, right? Actually, I think the initial visual was my favorite because of the red. But the movement/idea not. I think the lettuce doctor took the prize for that.

Honestly, I don't know how they come up with some of this. That alone takes a part of the brain that doesn't get used much in my own head.

Overall, a good time. Lots of other fun stuff to see. Excellent people watching opportunities.

Still leaving

Pictures from our last housegroup with Heidi and Eric and Baby B.

What one should not do

Cake and punch should Not be the entirety of what one has eaten in a day thus far (4:37 pm).

Getting the heck out of Dodge

Heidi and Eric and Baby B move this weekend.

I haven't really thought about it much. Because if I think about it too much I get all sad and teary and want to howl.

I've known Heidi for about seven years. She was one of the cool chicks at our old church when I got there. She has a special way with children, one of those people that has little ones (and then once they get older, older ones) around her that adore her for being so fun and sweet and talking to them like they are people with thoughts and ideas. I hope I've learned some of that from her. Heidi speaks Truth, which, in this day and age, is difficult to find. I don't know what to say about her except that she's awesome and beautiful and funny and smart and one of my favorite people on the planet. I love her dearly.

Eric has spent less time in my life. Too bad for him... too bad for me really. He is way too smart and makes me feel like an idiot half of the time because I can't follow what he's saying. And, folks, I think I'm pretty smart. So that's saying quite a lot if he can make me feel like I don't know much. (He tries to make me feel smart giving me credit for far too many things) Eric is a good guy and a good father and one of the best surrogate brothers a person could have. He also puts my thirst for learning to shame. I should probably stop comparing myself to him... He shares what he's learned with people and is an excellent teacher which will come in handy once he becomes a professor or a missionary or just lives like he's been living. Once upon a time I made the comment "I'm glad Heidi married him" and someone asked me what I meant by that. What it meant is that when Heidi married Eric he became part of my circle of people and my life is better because he is in it.

Baby B... I haven't gotten to know him too well yet. But I can say that he is baby-licious to his tia Hannita. He has great taste in those he feels comforted by. He wants to be in on the party, not missing anything. Right now those things he doesn't want to miss include laughter and talking and music and pretty lights or movement of any kind. Like both of his parents, he also has some good lungs which will be put to use later in a more melodious context I'm sure.

Heidi and Eric have been fabulous sources of snark and sass. They have brought a bit of church tradition into my life because our denomination isn't big on that. They place high importance on living in community, justice, mercy, and loving people where they're at. They are a formidable force. A wonderful, beautiful, formidable, awesome force. And they are my friends.

And they move this weekend. . .

She's Aliiiiiiiiive!!

I have returned, relatively unscathed, from time with my parents and extended family.

Most of my predictions came true, particularly regarding my new place. And, oddly enough, retirement? Really Mom, you're that worried about my retirement? 'Cause I have money taken out every paycheck to go into my retirement fund. And I think I'm doing okay with how it is being invested and what not.

The wedding was nice enough. But noone mentioned that one must hike in 1/2 mile (hi, not in hiking shoes, pretty red dress shoes) to get to the actual wedding site. It was at a forest preserve type park. With a big tent. And a band to provide the music.

A band called "Skunk Holler". They weren't half bad actually. And what can one expect when his family raises cattle? It was his cousin's band.

I didn't take any pictures with my camera though. Sorry.

I met the latest girlfriend of one of my cousins. They move to Arizona after he graduates from pharmacy school. That's not going to last too long but she seems to be a strong woman so she'll be okay. He's just not that serious about her is all. Also my cousin said that if his sister gets married a third time he won't go to the wedding (this is her second marriage). I hope it will last.

And my cousin's boy, who is half black, quarter white and quarter mexican, is having social issues, like he's really shy, because he's the darkest kid around. This makes my heart hurt quite a bit. He's such a good kid. And beautiful. Just not like the people he sees all the time in the middle of Oklahoma.

Thank God I don't live in Oklahoma. I think I would die.

a little more

than i want to deal with at the moment.

my parents come tomorrow. less than a week after i've moved to a new place. my place is still highly unorganized, which will drive my mother to organize for me. which i do not want. i will utilize my father in moving some furniture around. they will have a bit to say about the neighborhood and the disgusting staircases and the lack of parking. and the cats. they will complain loudly about the cats. thank god i don't have a futon yet. then they would have stayed with me. that might have been more than i could handle.

i have not yet renewed my vehicle registration. i'm three days late. i also need to get my city sticker. where does one get a city sticker?

i've gotten used to certain things, like a dishwasher, and nice pots and pans to cook in. last night i bought myself a pretty new skillet at marshalls. i just don't have room for all that i really want. but a new skillet is a good start. this morning i threw out all my old pots that i've had since i graduated from college. they were good for a year but not made to last and they had become all rusty and disgusting a few years ago. i also miss my old roommate's cutco knives.

i have to start collecting quarters again for laundry. i have to haul laundry to and fro now. and detergent and softener. i have to worry about it disappearing so i can't forget that i've put a load in the washer or dryer.

i keep thinking of things that i "need" for the new place and then i forget about them.

my excellent student worker is going home for the summer (end of next week). which leaves just me until i hire a new office manager and summer student worker to cover the office. which sucks.

i've committed to speaking on a panel in a few months in regards to some of my job responsibilities which i haven't really started yet. funny, huh?

some new classes start next week and i am not ready for this yet. not ready at all. but the book crisis has been averted. at least i hope so.

my parents come tomorrow and we travel to indy for a cousin's wedding. i need to get a wedding gift...

my parents come tomorrow.

May Day

Once upon a time Hannita lived in Kansas. Which is odd, because when she had been very little her imaginary friend Dorothy (Dorothy Gale from the Wizard of Oz) was from Kansas. But Hannita had moved there with her mom and brother when she was 11 or 12. Then they moved to another house. And then another house waaaaay on the other side of town where she didn't know anyone.


That year Hannita was in band and choir and met a girl called Melanie-Pearl, who was also new to that side of town. On a whim, Hannita invited this Melanie-Pearl girl to her birthday party that fall. (clearly, I've always been all about the birthday party) and when Melanie-Pearl got there she said "We're moving right around the corner!" Her house had this awesome tree, a weeping mulberry tree and Hannita has been desiring just such a tree since then.

Hannita and Melanie-Pearl were good friends for several years, surviving band and choir together. Then Hannita's parents got remarried and she moved to Tejas.

But, during those years when they lived around the corner from one another, every so often on May Day one or the other of these girls would find something sweet on their door, left by the other.

Thanks sweet friend for the beautiful flowers. I love them.
And the chocolates are to die for. I'm not sharing.

Cats

I don't post often about my cats because I don't want to create the impression that I am a "cat person". I think I've talked about this before. But anyways, Minty mentioned my shark-like cat who circles one's feet before attacking which she experienced last night. (Just marking territory people!) So, before she goes off on a rant on my sweet cats, here are pictures to convince you that they are lovely and sweet - especially when they are asleep...