My first ILA Conference

My first Illinois Library Associate (ILA) annual conference was about what I expected it to be: A lot of people who know each other, almost all of which I do not. Some speakers that may have that inexplicable X-factor that makes them great speakers and some that do not. But even more than that I was hoping to find something to push me forward in this, my new career. This came in the form of a program moderated by the Head of Children and Family Services at Glencoe Public Library, Melissa Henderson.

Her program was called “Getting Read: Writing for the Profession.” It held many themes that you often hear about why writing is good for you and the profession as a whole. But the speakers also had some very ILA-region member tips that were very helpful. Best of all she gave the opportunity to fill out little accountability slips, where you would write down an “attainable” writing goal, with two phases, each with a due date. And your email. Then one of the ILA Reporter (the ILA’s newsletter) Advisory Committee members will contact you about your progress.

So there I was, sitting there listening about how writing is great and fun and can help you explore your interest. How blogs can help you develop a voice and showcase your ability. And in my stomach I get that achy feeling, that a pastor once said is your better angels showing you the way, and I knew. So I filled out my slip of paper saying I wanted to start writing in my blog again by November and that by February of next year to be able to write a blog entry for one of the ILA series. And here I am.

Happy Anniversary to my Grandparents!

My grandparents had their 60th anniversary this summer and we celebrated it this past weekend with a grand pig roast. It was a fun-filled weekend with camping on their lawn and smores and croquet and dogs and family and friends and so much more. We hope to continue to do this every year, not as an anniversary party, but a family reunion. It certainly was fun!

But our travels started several days earlier when we went to Detroit for my student orientation. It was one intense day of information and socialization. I learned a lot and got a little overwhelmed and now just can't wait to get started so I can stopped trying to plan for the un-plannable.

I was glad to get out of Detroit (to get away from the brain overload) and go to Lansing and see my bestest friend Erin.
We had a great time getting to know Lansing and just hanging out with these guys. A yummy breakfast, shopping, golfing, walking around Old Town to watch awesome free theatre shorts. It was perfect and we topped it off with a trip to Dark Horse Brewery. YUM YUM. We tried a few beers and ate pizza. Perfect.

It was a GREAT week and I am really glad it worked out the way it did. I hope we can see everyone again soon.

4 Years and Counting

Yesterday was our anniversary and I must say it was possibly THE. BEST. ANNIVERSARY. EVER.

I kicked off the day by making french toast, not normally my favorite breakfast, but with my cinnamon swirl bread, it was pretty yummy.

Just after noon o'clock we headed downtown to see a matinee of Spring Awakening. IT WAS WONDERFUL!!! I hope that it comes back to Chicago so we can see it again, next time sitting onstage, yes they have on-stage tickets. It looked like it would be a lot of fun!

I have to admit that at first glance I shouldn't love this play, traditionally the mixing of popular music with period-setting musicals really bugs me. Especially in shows like Phantom of the Opera. But in S.P. the modern style of music has a purpose. It is more comparable to like of Romeo + Juliet, remember that movie? It came out in 1996 and did a great job mixing Shakespearean with modern times. Like in R+J, S.P. is using the music to relate the coming of age tale of the period teenagers (in S.P. it was Victorian) to modern teens. This is made ubundantly clear, not only by the style of music but by the lyrics. Which when you listen not only used slang like "junk" (meaning the addictive substance) but referances to things like phone calls. It's kind of an ah-ha moment when you realize this. It certainly made me feel better about liking it!
Anyway, so completely happy we went, but we were equally excited to go home and change for dinner.

Specifically into our wedding clothes (we do vary accessories). I love wearing my wedding dress on our anniversary. It is so nice to slip it on and remember and feel beautiful all over again. Although I do feel self-conscious as times, wondering if people think I am walking around in a wedding dress.

So dinner was WONDERFUL!!!!! We had an 8pm reservation at Spring in Wicker Park. And boy was it great. I really liked the idea of going to a fine dining restaurant that wasn't downtown, which are few and far between. And I wanted to have a tasting menu and the website they said they did by request and the discretion of the chef. Lucky us the chef was willing.

Our waiter took great care of us, helping us pick affordable wine pairings and talking over the food components with us.

We started out with a half bottle of Lucien Crochet Sancerre. Maybe a little smooth for mike , but I loved it. Would love to find and buy this wine. And it went very well with our first few courses:

To start raw oysters with cucumber and wasabi. YUM

Cold App was Sashimi of Pacific Whitetail, it had these great chili-pepper pearls, a gastromony invention that have the appearance and texture of fish eggs, but taste of sweet chili-pepper. loved it.

Hot App was a seared Sea Scallop. Mike LOVED IT. His words, "the best thing I've ever put in my mouth." I loved the bed of fresh chickpeas and tahini sauce, delicious. Never had fresh chickpeas and they were yummy.

Fish Course Atlantic Skatewing. Boy was that good too. It smelled WONDERFUL. A bowl of summer I think was what we called it. Prob becuase it had watermelon in it!

Here is where we decided to share a glass of a Pinot Noir to go with the meat course, again taking the waiter's recommendation.

The meat course was a delicious steak, but what was memorable was the bed of oxtail and mushrooms.

Then we were treated to the most delicious sparkling/effervescent wine I have had. I wish I knew which it was either a Moscato Rosato, or Moscato D'Asti. It was YUM-MY

We had a dessert teaser that was a bite of honey marscopone foam. mmmmmm....

Then fresh made doughnuts with peach ice cream.

Oh it was heaven. I wish we could go every month.

But our night wasn't over it was home to change again before going to the music box to see a friend in a burlesque/vaudville review at midnight. A fun way to end the night, but boy was it late when we got out. And I was glad to splurge on a taxi home, after a day of trains, busses and walking at 2:30am I was ready to take it easy.

MY FIRST TOMATO!!!

This is actually from Saturday August 8th. This tomato fell off in my hand, it actually still needed to ripen a little, so it sits on my kitchen table, slowly turning more red. When I tell people I have 7 potted tomato plants and 5 in the ground, they think I'm crazy "that's a lot of tomatoes" they say. Not really though. Two of the potted plants are sponsored by friends, so they will get all the tomatoes from two plants. And then the potted plants were planted a lot sooner than the garden ones, so they are on different schedule (hopefully). AND I planted two different varieties, one of which isn't doing so well in the container, only growing one to three tomatoes on a plant. It is doing much better in the garden, despite competion with rhubarb and cucumbers and raspberry plants. SOOOOOO....I am learning and expirementing and happy to get any tomatoes at all.

But maybe your should ask me again in a couple weeks when all these ripen...

Over-run by Dogs

Us with our doggie charges for the weekend. Brady (from Lisa and Jason) in the back and Kelly (from Walter and Troy) in Mike's lap. And of course our Stanley right in the middle.


Mike was a little surprised when I aggreed to watch two differant dogs this weekend. In the past having three dogs in the house makes the simple things like taking them out to go to the bathroom difficult. (I am no dog walker and negotiating three leashes is just too much for me.) But our current apartment has a yard and that means it is a relative ease for them to relieve themselves. Just have to keep an eye on all three to find which with all the obstacles in our yard does get dificult at times, but we are all trying to have a good time.

It has been uneventful except for when our charges run up into our neighbors apartment or knock down children and make them cry. Strange people, strange place strange dogs, it is all just a little too much for them sometimes. But we are kinda loving it.

Children Rule

We were very lucky to spend a few days with Mike's sister and her family when they visited chicago last week. They hit the field, art institute and science and industry museums. And I tagged along. We may not be in this picture, but it is still the photo of the week. They are from Iowa and so this american classic by Iowan Gant Wood seemed like an appropriate pick.

I loved walking around the art institute with them and asking the kids which they liked or didn't like and what their audio tours told them about the paintings. But we soon had to hightail it to the science and industry museum...

where there was a Harry Potter exhibition we got to see all sorts of stuff from the actual movies. IT WAS AWESOME! This is the only item you could take a picture of, the flying car.

I don't think fun house mirrors ever get old...

Or the thrill of seeing baby chicks just out of the shell. You are worried that they are dead at first but then they struggle to their feet and take a few steps! It is thrilling. Juliana liked taking pictures of them over and over and over. But not just the chicks she liked taking pictures of everything. and everyone.

But the best exhibit for young Brynn was the coin smasher. The girls were a little sad I only had enough change to make a smashed penny for myself, sorry girls!




We ended the day with Ethiopian food. I was a little worried to take the kids, but they kept an open mind and ate quite a bit. Juliana was the most adventurous, even trying the spicy stuff! It was a great day and a great trip.

Mike's B-Day Breakfast

It's so nice to be able to see friends we haven't seen in a while. And a birthday is the perfect excuse to get everyone together. We decided to try something different and invite folks over for a breakfast Saturday at 10am. It was nice to catch a few we hadn't seen in a while...

Like these two, we haven't seen Amber since her birthday in April or David since the play opening in June. We had a great group...
Mike, Just, Bill, Jane, David and Lisa. It was so nice of Jane to come into the city before heading up to work and Bill came even though he had to drive in a separate car! Now that is love. I was mezmerized by Jane's hand knit sweater, so pretty! And we hadn't seen Lisa in ages, so it was great to see her, I think we need to have a girls night very soon.

There was also Jove, Meg (on their way to Pitchfork), Rebekah with chloe, PETER, Diane, Sara and Mike. Yes that's Peter in the middle of all those church friends, SO good to see him, he made a real effort to come so early in the morning, but the hour was a big hit with the parents in the crowd.

Amber is here helping Dan with his twin boys, thanks to for the slide!

I actually hadn't ever met the twins, and they are nearly a year old! So glad to finally see these two cuties.

Oh and the twin's mom Jen here with Amber and Jane. They had fun being cute and making eachother laugh.

And Mike even got to through a birthday football. Gosh I love having a yard.