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May 29, 2005
The Pope Room
Joined some friends of mine for an Italian feast complete with multiple liters of cheap chianti last night at Buca di Beppo's. I'm not a big fan of the food, but the kitsch is to die for! We had just the right number of people to get seated in the Pope Room underneath a ceiling fresco of pre-pubescent cherubs. Oddly, it looked as though they were flying around with erections. Makes sense, perhaps the gentle breeze emitted by their wings would cause some kind of stimulation. Either way, I felt fortunate not to be seated under one. In the middle of the table, under a clear plastic box bolted to the lazy susan, was a painted wooden bust of John Paul. He functioned well as a conversational centerpiece, but made it difficult to speak to fellow diners across the table. You had to lean either to the right or left of the Pope, and it just seemed impolite. The walls were also covered with Vatican paraphernalia. A cheap, touristy tapestry of Vatican City, a couple Pope plates, the obligatory collectible spoon, and a mish-mash of other photos and postcards related to our long line of Catholic leaders. It's an experience, but definitely not somewhere you'd want to go on, say, a first date. All that Catholic pressure, and excitable cherubs, talk about mixed signals.
Posted by carolyn at 02:45 PM | Comments (0)
May 27, 2005
Chase Corporate Challenge
After work yesterday, headed over to Grant Park with 90 other of my colleagues to participate in a 3.5-mile run. It was pretty incredible, 15,000 people all gathered after work on a Thursday to participate in the Chase Corporate Challenge. A few folks opted for the competitive start, Sandra and I were probably in the middle of the pack. It was the perfect evening to run, no wind, mid-60s, blue sky. That was the result of a 50% chance of rain forecast! According to the race clock, I ran the course in 39:44, so I hit my goal of finishing in under 45:00. Hey, don't laugh. I never ran before and I hated running until I started training for this event. Unfortunately, now I'm hooked. There were so many people though, you basically walked for five minutes out of the gate. So I think I did just under 3.5 miles in about 36 minutes. Which makes me very happy. :) So different running in a mess of people. Don't really notice distance because you're just weaving around people trying to find your pace. I missed the 2 mile marker, so it was also a surprise to see the 3 mile marker. I kept trying to gauge distance off my watch, but since I didn't have my pace, it was tough. By the end of the course, I still had enough mojo in me for two sprints. One to catch up to one of our guys and shove him, and one to close it out under 40:00. So okay. Next run, five miles. Mike suggested the Nike's Run Hit Wonder. I'm in. Can't believe I went from despising running to loving it.
Posted by carolyn at 09:14 AM | Comments (1)
May 23, 2005
For Mom
Some sentiments, said once, live forever.
***
Hi Mom,
Don't know when you're leaving for Hong Kong, but didn't want to you go without knowing how much I love you with all my heart, spirit and soul; and that I am always with you even if I am not physically right next to you. A mother and a daughter share the same breath, no matter where life takes us.
You are probably sitting on the plane now, or in a car on your way home, but even so my strength is your strength, regardless of how far apart we are.
I thought today what it would be like if you were gone from my life. Of course its hard for me to fathom. But like I said before, it would only be your physical self. As cliche as it sounds, I really believe that souls live on. Only Popo's body is gone, and she's probably thankful for it, as her being always extended beyond her physical form. Remember her bobby pins? Remember her skill with the abacus?
Popo and I were always very different, but the way I paint my nails and occasionally give in to the girlie side of me, likely comes from her. She taught me how to file my nails and wear a chaum sung, but she also taught me how to crochet and play mah jong. She was (is) a very strong, proud woman, and I see that in all her children, but you especially. And you passed that quality along to me.
You and I are more alike than me and Popo. From you, I have an unexplainable draw to music and art, even though I am horrific at producing either. From you, I have the curiosity to try anything at least once. You say that bungee jumping is reckless, but I say that bellydancing is bizarre. There is no explaining what draws us to the unexpected, but we both tend to explore our passions despite what anyone else thinks. And we're both fortunate enough to be naturally gifted that we never look like fools. Rather, we inspire others to take on what we've sampled.
I love you so much for shaping me into the person I am today. With values, compassion and self-respect intact. You are my mother, and I am the embodiment of your best qualties.
And I say to you what you would say to me, "Be strong for your family." The one thing that you are that I never will be is the oldest sibling. You are responsible for shoring up grandpa and comforting Bellie, Teddy and Bertha. But you know what? Love is infinite. You can give and give and give, and it will never dissipate. I know how our family is...and at times, you don't need to say anything. You just need to be there and your presence is comfort enough. Project the strength that you passed on to me, and those around you will feel stronger too.
Love you tons and hope to see you very soon, if not sooner.
xoxox,
C
Posted by carolyn at 10:17 PM | Comments (0)
May 22, 2005
Grandma's Gone
My grandma passed away this morning. It was expected, she'd been eating out of a feeding tube for almost a year now, and we all had the opportunity to say our goodbyes in person.
As I grew older, I grew away. She wasn't your stereotypical grandmother who you could run to when mom was mad. She never baked cookies or made an apple pie. She was more the kind of woman who critiqued the maid's cooking. She was the polished, cosmopolitan grandma that taught me how to paint my nails, and embodied the importance of a strand of pearls. She even had the glamour and confidence to stylishly carry off the sexy, high-cut traditional Chinese chaum sung late into her sixties. By the look in her eyes, you knew that she knew she was beautiful.
She was also diabetic. I remember once, when she visited us in San Diego, she said you could whistle through a Lifesaver. I was probably eight at the time, and thought this would be the coolest trick ever. I begged and pleaded, aunties and mom scolded me from the front seat of the car, "Grandma can't have sugar!" they said. But there is not a grandma in the world that could resist their only granddaughter begging advice. She popped a butter rum lifesaver in her mouth and blew.
We grew apart later. There was the expected language barrier, (she could speak in English, but it was never her native language), the distance, and the ever-present Chinese quality of formality. But I went back to Hong Kong earlier this year, for my 30th birthday, to see her for the last time. We all knew it was the last time, but in my culture, you never say so directly. I remember going to her bedside, seeing the tube come out of her abdomen, seeing that she was too exhausted trying to breathe that she couldn't even open her eyes, and just sensing an all-pervading tiredness emanating from her body. This was about the same time as the Terry Schiavo case, but we all compartmentalized. I held her hand, and I felt a gentle squeeze. She knew I was there. Generations separated us, but family blood still connects.
Grandpa never left her side. I remember whispering in Grandma's ear as she lay there, that I wanted to find a man as good as her husband. Grandma and Grandpa were never apart. They raised the family together, they ran the business together. He was warm, caring and devoted, but above all, loving beyond fault. As the sun streamed in through the sliding door in their bedroom, Grandpa leaned over to kiss his almost comatose wife on the forehead. It was a touching moment that would bring tears to the eyes of any bystander. They were both in their late 80s, and to see such a demostration of love, especially in a Chinese family, is deeply moving. Then out of left field, my grandmother's arm comes flying off the bedspread to smack Grandpa playfully upside his head. The barest hint of a smile kissed her lips. Grandpa laughs and grabs her hand, and I can't help but laugh and cry at the same time. I am so thankful that this is the last memory of my grandmother.
Bye, grandma.
Posted by carolyn at 09:29 PM | Comments (0)
May 21, 2005
Naughty Girl Blue Jeans
I was a naughty, naughty, naughty girl today. Have been wondering for the past two months what was so great about a pair of Seven jeans. You know, the ones that sit so low on the hips you think they're going to fall off at any minute? Certainly not appropriate for a 30-year-old marketing manager. I blame it on my mom, who accidentally got me a subscription to In Style magazine for Christmas, despite the fact that I prefer home and garden magazines and the occasional health and fitness rag. But crud, I've turned girlie.
After running 3.5 miles today, I was feeling really good about myself, happy that I reached my summer goal right on schedule. This achievement definitely called for a treat. So, figured I would go to Todai and gorge myself on sashimi and crab legs. Unfortunately, Todai is in Schaumburg, the Chicago suburb home to Woodfield Mall. Woodfield Mall is the largest mall in the United States in terms of non-repeating retail stores. Schaumburg also boasts a Saks' Off Fifth outlet, a.k.a paradise. I am positively powerless in Off Fifth. Especially when they are having one of those fabulous sales where there are 70% off lowest ticketed price signs everywhere.
As soon as I walk in the door, a perfectly faded pair of Sevens winked at me. Still skeptical and somewhat indignant at their cuteness, I tossed them over my arm convinced that as soon as I tried them on, I would laugh and return them to the fitting room attendant. Damn it, of course they would hug my legs just right, and grab my hips at just the right point, thus avoiding any belly roll and making my waist look small and fit. Miracle jeans. Truly. Checked the price tag (should've done that first)...huzzah for me, they were on sale. Marked down from $90.00 to $89.99. "For a pair of jeans?" I thought? Then I looked in the mirror again and was sold. I also tried on a darling Betsey Johnson dress, but of course, had to put that back, because even though it was an awesome deal, $130 reduced to $90, I would get more use out of the jeans. Oh, but it was cute and perfect for summer evenings out on the town. I may have to go back. Especially since I violated another one of my rules and signed up for a credit card to get the 10% off and $25 off a future purchase.
Oh, naughty, naughty, naughty girl.
Posted by carolyn at 11:01 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
Commencement: Welcome to the Real World
Got invited back to my alma mater, Loyola University of Chicago, to address the School of Business graduates. Really liked my speech, so thought I'd post it here for all eternity.
***
I know what some of you...parents and graduates alike...are thinking. And the answer is, "Yes, it was worth the tuition!"
You may not be able to hold, touch or feel what it paid for, but it has changed you. Your ideas, your thoughts, your values have been influenced not only by family and peers, but also by your education. At Loyola, you were not told what to think, but how to think. And this distinction enables you to make decisions that will impact companies and colleagues.
Ethical choices are not limited to textbooks and case studies…you will certainly encounter them during the span of your career. At these junctures, have the courage to make the right decisions, decisions you can be proud of.
Through it all, never lose your sense of humor, as it will help keep your priorities in order. Respect people even if you disagree with them, as their decisions may rely on a different set of information. And if someone lets you down, forgive them and work toward a solution. Finding a solution is more productive than assigning blame.
Finally, as Loyola has inspired you, inspire others to think.
So, on behalf of Loyola's School of Business Administration Alumni Association, congratulations. You now join the ranks of over 20,000 extraordinary alums who are demonstrating their leadership in Chicago's business community and beyond. As you go out to make your mark on the world, I urge you to stay involved with your alma mater. Read the newsletters, check the website, drop by our monthly meetings. We would certainly love to see you at our Bin 36 wine tasting this July. And, who knows? Perhaps one day in the not too distant future, you will return to campus to share your expertise with business students who will follow.
Posted by carolyn at 04:33 PM | Comments (1)
May 20, 2005
Seniority in Airlines?
Had lunch today with a guy in the airline industry. He had some interesting insights into its workings...let's see if I can relate.
In order to get ahead in an airline, you have to build up seniority, i.e., the longer you work for the airline, the more brownie points you build up. Also, the seniority system isn't restricted to a single level of employment, it's company-wide. This means, so I'm told, that a janitor with 10 years of service has more seniority than a pilot with 3 years of service. So if both the janitor and the pilot are flying standby and there's only one seat, the janitor gets it.
Apparently all the majors have this system in place, but seniority does not transfer from airline to airline. A pilot that has five years under his belt at one airline gets no seniority perks if he joins another airline.
Which makes this next bit interesting. What impact does this seniority system have on wages? Airline employees are dis-incentivized to quit their jobs. So they keep getting raises and no one really gets fired because of the unions. What's this mean? It means the airline ends up with an older, more expensive workforce. Doesn't seem like such a good system for an industry that can't even live paycheck-to-paycheck.
Posted by carolyn at 02:58 PM | Comments (0)
May 19, 2005
Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith
Ten hours ago, I was sitting in the AMC movie theater, (second row, center stage, seats were not as desirable in a movie theater as they are at a musical) fidgeting with excitement. The opening text for Star Wars Episode III was scrolling up and away, and I was wishing I had done my hair up in Leia-like buns. At first, the grown up in me was thinking, "A midnight show? You have an 8:30a meeting!" But by the time the theme music had ended, all my work-a-day qualms had subsided and I was sucked into Sith battle. Good stuff, it was!
Yoda and R2-D2 persist to be my favorite, I think it's just their unique abilities to communicate perfectly, despite a different language structure. Yoda even managed to carry off comic relief stunts with his usual panache and dignity, and R2-D2 showed his stuff in one of my favorite scenes involving motor oil. Also, was it me, or were there a couple Three Stooges references? The poke-in-the-eyes gag and a few audio flashbacks?
Not too many people dressed up, unfortunately. At least not that I saw. There was a half-hearted Princess Leia, buns but no bikini; a couple Jedi knights with flourescent lightbulb sabers; and one very tall Wookie. There was also guy in Trekkie gear, talk about mixed metaphors.
But good stuff, I'm not a Star Wars fanatic, but I certainly enjoyed Episode III more than the previous two. I rank it almost as high as the original.
Posted by carolyn at 10:12 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
May 16, 2005
Panna Cotta Paradise
Last night I dined at Osteria via Stato. Incredible! Chefs Rick Tramonto (Tru) and David Di Gregorio (Maggiano's) are gourmet geniuses. The concept is a three-course prix fixe menu, but really, it's more of a feast. As soon as you sit down, waiters appear on all sides offering gravlax, antipasto, crusty bread, caramelized rosemary onions, a napa cabbage garbanzo salad that was perfect on the palate, olives, oh my! All you had to do was blink, and the waiters came back to refill the plates. An entire buffet of nummies. Following the "appetizer," in true Italian fashion, was the first course. Two pastas, one was an artichoke orichette (as light as the alliteration), the other a ragu with flat noodles. Then, the second course.
*blissful sigh*
I had a melt-in-your-mouth braised short rib (boneless) nestled on a bed of parsnip mash. More sides appeared from nowhere...locally grown asparagus and roasted potatoes. I had to force myself to stop eating halfway in order to preserve some of my abdomial space for dessert. The way the food was coming out, I knew I had to sample from the dessert menu. I had a strawberry panna cotta, which sounds so simple, but was simply divine. I always think that "divine" is an overused adjective when describing dessert, but this truly deserved the title. The panna cotta was so light and smooth, and caught the sweet strawberries just so, every bite was paradise. If I could've, I would've ordered another one. But alas, the boundaries of my tummy failed me. The wine list was extensive, which bumped the restaurant to the top of my list, however, the prices were also surprisingly in reach for a Chicago restaurant. I had a Monica di Sardegna, which had a heavy nose, but went down light and smooth. Will have to learn more about the varietal. For $7, I was expecting a mediocre glass of wine, instead I get a beautiful decanter of ruby red that must've refilled my glass three times. Total bill, drinks, dinner and dessert (the "D" trinity), including tip, was $130. That, my friend, is money and a day well-spent.
Posted by carolyn at 10:55 PM | Comments (3)
May 15, 2005
Wicked Good
I love it when Charlie's in the doghouse, because that means I get tapped for escort duty with Susse. Huzzah! As such, I was her date to the Tony award winning musical, Wicked, at the beautifully ornate Chicago theater. But wait! There's more! Our seats were in the fourth row, center stage. Wicked awesome! The musical is supposed to be a pre-quel for the Wizerd of Oz, and relates the story of a very ditzy yet lovable Glinda the Good and the wry and remarkably talented Wicked Witch of the West. Think my favorite line was, "You travel in a bubble." Stephanie J. Block had the title role of Elphaba (she's not really wicked, just misunderstood), a.k.a. the Wicked Witch of the West, and Kendra Kassebaum starred as Glinda. Their voices blended perfectly together, each giving way to highlight the strength of the other. It was just remarkable. Who would've thought I'd get teary-eyed at a musical?!?
But the songs were so moving and the lyrics so clean, it was impossible not to. "Defying Gravity" was orchestral pop, as driving and motivational as a Disney song, but not nearly as sappy. While that one's become a radio hit, "As Long As Your Mine" was my personal favorite. A romantic duet between Elphaba and Fiyero, a rogue after my own heart, I was so surprised at how much it caught my heart and drew me into their story.
And the costumes! Whimsical and imaginative, each costume was unique in its own way, but tied together by a common color or pattern, so the entire cast was cohesive. With the exception of Glinda, who was always in something sparkly and frilly, befitting of the character; and Elphaba, who wore black of course. "It's the new pink!" The set was also stunning. Every single bit of space was fully utilized with action or intricate structure.
Highly recommended. Both thumbs up and my big toes too!
Posted by carolyn at 08:25 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
May 12, 2005
Four Cats Walk Into a Bar...
At around 3p today, I was hit by simultaneous phone calls and IM windows. Sure, an office phone with three lines looks cool, but heck, not when all three lights are lit up. Ah, and then the cell phone rings. When my cell phone rings, the voice on the other end of the line will ask if I want to go eat dinner, catch a movie, or maybe do some shoe shopping. If my office phone rings, the voice on the other end of the line will call my attention to a problem, an issue or a need. I answer my cell phone first.
It's Mark, one of my trendy gay friends -- great clothes, great car, great style -- kitty supreme! He has passes to a swanky nightclub party sponsored by Maxim magazine. God forbid he show up without arm candy. Thus, Val, Sandra and I all get added to the guest list. "Look classy," he says. Then the dial tone. The lights on my office phone are still blinking.
The party is at Moda, a Hubbard street bar. The last time I went there was with Manish and two Greek men. One who didn't speak at all and one who spoke to all the ladies. This time, I was with two other chicks and a gay guy (we fought over who was Carrie from Sex in the City, Mark won). Soon as we step off the worn red carpet (looked like a Home Depot discard), we run smack into a very packed bar. Three skanky but covered dancers are gyrating on elevated platforms. Their expressions are forced, but they keep chugging along. There are probably six men to every woman (strange odds for Chicago), but only one in six men were worth a second look. With the exception of the sole male dancer, who was definitely worth many looks. Yum.
We venture down to the VIP room. The difference between the main floor and the VIP room is that the VIP room has food. And a Brittey Spears wanna be wearing layered tops with the collar cut out, a flared mini-skirt, wavy bleached blonde hair with too much hairspray, and oh, the final touch. Leg warmers over pointy toed stilettos. Pointy toed stilettos that were dancing their heart out on an illuminated platform sized for a solo dancer. Now, if you are scantily clad and dancing on a platform, and yet the men are all at the bar or taking off for the bathroom, that is a good indication that you should stop dancing and step away from the platform.
It was a fun night though, definitely. Brought out miss kitty in me, eh? Meowrrrr!
Posted by carolyn at 10:40 PM | Comments (1)
May 11, 2005
Did I say Chicago? I meant a cruise ship...
What I said yesterday about the Chicago summer making up for a loooong winter...nix that. Woke up this morning to the sound of thunder and lightning right overhead, and a very chilly wind blowing in off the lake. We're right back to the beginning of winter, but whoops, it's May.
In the only fantasy I can summon given the circumstances: It's not a massive storm front, but rather spray coming off the ocean as I lay snuggled in a king size bed in my balcony suite on a cruise ship in the Caribbean. Then again, I have been on a cruise once, for business. Not so much. 24/7 I had to be "on." It was business/social networking all around the clock, and there was absolutely no escape. My room was positively tiny, with a twin size bed. The even tinier shower stall had enough room to step in, turn around, and step out. Instead of little bottles of frou-frou shampoo, conditioner and lotion, we got product samples from various manufacturers. If I have to rip open an envelope of shampoo with my teeth, I am not a happy camper. I ended up spending more time in the one and only redeeming spot on the entire ship. The gym, which was glorious with its hot tub underneath a skylight, and the stationary bikes angled so that it felt as though you were biking right into the ocean. Even the gym showers were nice, beautifully slate tiled with rain showerheads and the minty smell of eucalyptus. When the ship docked at its one port, Nova Scotia, everything was gray and flavorless. I couldn't even tell if I had left the States. Everything was so bland, we could've been dropped on Staten Island. Alas, we disembarked, walked down a sidewalk that curved not out of necessity or decor, but rather out of habit, and spent three hours in a Canadian Irish pub. The quaintest bit of the whole onboard experience were the face cloth frogs left on our beds instead of mints. I suppose I would give the whole cruise deal another shot, but only with a bunch of friends and nothing in my briefcase but a passport, a bikini and a bottle of tanning oil.
Posted by carolyn at 10:33 PM | Comments (0)
May 10, 2005
Wrigley Field: Cubbies, Jumbo Dogs and a Transsexual
It is a perfect day to catch a Cubs game at Wrigley Field, 80 degrees and not a cloud in the sky. Spring skipped over us here in Chicago (we had hail a couple weeks ago), but it looks like summer will make up for that. It is a complete Wrigley experience. Baseball jersey clad men clamboring over rows of green plastic seats to corner the beer hawker (Old Style forties, of course), the gorgeous nostril-filling scent of a ballpark dog, and one 400-pound man in perhaps the largest Chicago Cubs t-shirt I have ever seen..and it's still too small! One row up and four seats to the left is your token transsexual with an 80s perm and bad roots. She sits with her daughter, a splitting, albeit more feminine, offshoot. We are all watching the Cubbies take the Mets to town. After yesterday's series of rain delays, the Cubbies are primed for play. Patterson nails two out of four home runs; and Maddux plays hard to get. He doesn't give up home base once, even in a bases-loaded seventh inning. Game score: 7-0. We may never get the World Series, but we'll always have Wrigley.
* Michelle is insisting that I also note the following: Polish sausages at Wrigley are $1.75 more than your standard dog, and $1.25 more than a jumbo dog. Also, if you want the condiments, you gotta ask for the condiments. Wrigley ain't no restaurant.
Posted by carolyn at 11:43 PM | Comments (0)
May 07, 2005
Beautiful Coronado
The peeps and I traversd the 2.2-mile Coronado Bay Bridge to spend the afternoon in glorious Coronado. It still amazes me that to and fro passage over the bridge is free, and it offers spectacular views of the contemporary San Diego skyline. It is a perfect day (as are all days in San Diego), 75 degrees with a gentle breeze. The color of the water is this shade of blue that is unmatched anywhere. We pull into the Ferry Landing Marketplace to lunch under an umbrella at the Bay Beach Cafe. Mmmm...a Baja California fish taco, you are hard up to find these anywhere outside of San Diego. Something about a soft flour tortilla and the crunch of cabbage and cod is just heavenly. Almost impossible to describe with words, but a single bite is guaranteed to put you in the proper southern California mood. After lunch, we stroll along the landing, passing a narrow stretch of beach where children play a small distance away from half-hearted fishermen soaking up the sun as though they were in a Corona commercial. Past a charming rose garden, the original ferry booth, and a very friendly boxer dog sitting outside a quiet antique store. Coronado's character is unmarred by billboards, brightly lit signage or franchise callouts. Even the Burger King is understated. And the town just smells of old money. A two bedroom condo in one of the bright white, Spanish-tiled, beachfront buidings runs $1 million and up. But you're not paying for land here, you're paying for a lifestyle.
Posted by carolyn at 11:18 PM | Comments (0)
May 06, 2005
Airplane Etiquette
Flew Southwest Airlines home to San Diego to surprise mom for Mother's Day, and realized that outside of the ever-traveling consultant, there seems to be a general ignorance regarding airplane etiquette. Let's set some standards here:
1) The passenger in the middle seat is entitled to both armrests. If they got suckered into paying full price for a crap seat, they should at least get to rest their elbows on the little plastic ledge.
2) When getting up out of your seat, do not hoist yourself up using the chair in front of you.
3) Do not rest your shoeless foot in the wedge between the two seats in front of you.
4) If the middle seat is open, both the window and the aisle passenger are entitled to use the tray table to store peanuts and bloody marys.
5) Like the sign says, "As a courtesy to the next passenger, please consider using your paper towel to wipe off the basin."
Posted by carolyn at 04:53 PM | Comments (0)
The Green Mill
When you first step into the Green Mill, you see the bouncer perched on a bar stool, with a wad of bills in his hand and a no-nonsense attitude. It kind of feels as though you're stepping into some college bar as opposed Chicago's greatest speakeasy-turned-jazz-club. But as soon as you ante up the cover and slide past the bouncer, you're in. Immediately, your eyes and ears are drawn past the bar, past the martinis, past the velvet booths, past the swing dancers, right to the live brass section. Three trumpets blaring, their bright tone cutting through the cigar smoke and the martini haze. You can see sweat bead up on the musicians' temples. They're not playing for the crowd, they're playing with the crowd. And oh my, I thought scat was a lost artform. Not at the Green Mill. The six-foot tall crooner was gifted. Each nonsense syllable was so distinct and melodic that I wondered if he had somehow gotten lost in time. Taken the wrong turn somewhere and ended up in today's tech age as opposed to jazz's golden era. Man, I can't wait to go back.
Posted by carolyn at 08:17 AM | Comments (0)
May 05, 2005
What am I, chopped liver?
I love living in Edgewater. Got home last night, laced up the sneaks and hit the lakefront path for a twilight run. Did about 2.5 to 3 miles yesterday, but need to be at four miles by the end of the month in order to complete the Chase Corporate Challenge without humiliating myself in front of my colleagues. Got back home, flopped on the couch for five minutes, then off to Carson's to nab a pint of the best chopped liver in the world (Manny's is second) for mom. Flying to San Diego this afternoon to surprise her...can you imagine? Me and chopped liver, mom will be so happy. This will be the second trip I make this month towing food from Chicago.
Posted by carolyn at 07:51 AM | Comments (1)
May 04, 2005
Zip Zip Zip!
Took John to Midway Airport this morning. It's amazing how much it's changed! A ton of ramps splitting off one way and the other, very fun to drive. Of course, speeding around a bend was partially justified because it was 7:13am, and his American Airlines flight was at 7:42am. (He made it with one minute to spare!) I don't otherwise recommend testing centrifugal force on a one-lane ramp, no matter how much fun it is in a zippy Hyundai Tiburon FX. Driving back into the city, 55 was a complete and utter parking lot. The sun rising over the lake in the east blinds Chicago drivers. Their eyes are so used to the gray of winter, it's like blind mice navigating when spring finally hits. I opted to take Archer all the way in, which was brilliance, if I may say so myself.
Posted by carolyn at 09:31 AM | Comments (0)
May 03, 2005
Laddie the Kite Artist
Spent a few hours last night at Huttenbar in Lincoln Square. Never realized there was a Monday night scene anywhere off-season. But it was nice, just a comfortable bunch of locals enjoying German brew. Met another of John's friends (he seems to have an extensive collection of unique characters), Laddie the kite-artist-slash-graphic-designer-slash-public-radio-personality. He wore his long hair caught up in a disheveled pony tail underneath a well-worn red baseball cap and accessorized with a soft pack of Salems. There was a gin and tonic in one hand and a copy of Wired in the other. You would think it's tough to strike a balance between edgy artist and Scottish imp, but Laddie nailed it.
So when you hear a guy is a kite artist, there is just a natural flurry of questions that come to mind. Laddie related how when he was young, his grandfather showed him how to take a couple sticks and a newspaper and make a kite. "It was an incredible realization! Actually making something instead of buying it," Laddie said. Plus, it was a combination of science and beauty. Nowadays, his kites hang on the walls of the wealthy, and he doesn't like to add the rigging to it, but he will add it if the buyer decides they want a functional piece of art. "When someone buys one of my kites, it's no longer my kite. They can do with it what they want," he said. In a sense that's true, but then no one has asked him to add the rigging. I think it would be like adding a dab of ochre oil paint to a Monet. It would seem to devalue the intended expression of the artist and the spirit of the piece. At the same time, Laddie assures us that all his kites are capable of flying, he just chooses not to leash them.
Posted by carolyn at 08:59 AM | Comments (0)
May 02, 2005
Sunday Mornings
I love Sunday mornings. Usually, all the errands are run, the house is clean and there is a full day in front of me before having to get back in the grind. Yesterday, joined a couple friends for soup dumplings (xiao long bao) and dim sum in Chinatown. Sampled salted soy milk (shen dou jiang) with fried dough (you tiao), and the house specialty, scallion pancakes (chong you bing). I was stuffed to the brim! After brunch, we headed over to a cafe in Wicker Park. Filter. It's your total hip, eclectic crowd...punk rockers, artists, students...and great coffee. The mismatched 60s furniture works well with the exposed brick, and the bathroom walls are covered in chalkboard paint and overlapping pseudo-temporary sentiments. We sat on a couch by the window and divided our attention between people watching and a left-behind crossword puzzle. I got through a few more pages of Chomsky (insightful, yes; objective, not so much) and whipped through a rough draft of a speech I'll give later this month at my alma mater. Last stop in this leisurely day was an urban tribe grill out to welcome Michelle into her new home. In true form, instead of bringing to food to the grill, John brought the grill to the food, wheeling the Weber at least a hundred yards away from the community area to Michelle's front door. The grilled vegetables came out perfect, the store-bought couscous and feta salad was delish, the chicken still juicy, and the strawberries fresh. It was a wonderful day, and further emphasizes the importance of having a good workout routine.
Posted by carolyn at 10:38 AM | Comments (0)