Pad Thai

Here is a dinner I made not too long ago...

Pad Thai with Chicken and lots of veggies
Shu Mai (chicken dumplings)
Egg Roll


This meal was possible thanks to Trader Joe's.

It's Official...

Looks like I will be spending most of my summer here... Jamie accepted the summer associate position at the Department of Veteran Affairs in Washington, D.C. I am so proud of him!

And still... more snow.

On my way to work...


Although it is not slick, I still find myself walking like I am constipated. Earlier in the season I slipped on a patch of ice in front of about 20 people who had just emerged from the red line station... some found it amusing enough to laugh out loud at my pain. The worst part is that I ruined my favorite BCBGMaxAzria slacks...

Enough is enough. Spring? Are you there?

Did I speak to soon?

These are photos of Michigan Avenue and Grant Park that were taken late this afternoon from the Dean's office. It looks like fog, but it's not. It is snow...

Goodbye, Loft

I recently upgraded from a super cool loft (glorified studio) to a 2-bedroom (guests welcome). It is super cool and very Chicago. We had exposed brick and really tall ceilings. But, it was nearly impossible to keep warm. At least I can say I have lived in a loft, now.

The building's alley is what was historically known as Hell's Half Acre. A hundred or so years ago, it was the most dangerous alley in Chicago. Whores, pimps and theives would rob and sometimes murder anyone who walked down it. Even police officers would not go into the neighborhood. Today, Printer's Row is one of the safest beats in the City. It is also one of the coolest neighborhoods. My building used to be a papermaking company. You could still see nails in the wall where they used to hang paper.

I moved a whole 2 blocks. Now, I live on Satan's alley, historically, the 2nd most dangerous alley. Today, it is just a typical alley... I get kind of creeped out thinking about how many people lost their lives in my neighborhood.

Here are photos from my loft... (I tried to put the pictures in different places on the page, but I gave up... actually, I just didn't feel like dealing with it. So, they are a bit jumbled... oh well, you get the point.









Goodbye great view of the Sear's Tower! Goodbye Neighbors! Goodbye brick!

Snow Days

Today it got up to 40 degrees... Soon, the snow will be a distant memory. Here are some photos of our last snow. They were taken on our walk to the grocery store. You can tell it had been there a while because 1) it is dirty and 2) the sidewalks are clear.

This is me sitting on a pile that was about 3 feet high.






This is Jamie sitting on the same pile. He really did not want to have his picture made. I think it was because he felt silly sitting on a big nasty pile of snow. Oh well, it was fun for me.


Here is snow man on the patio of a townhouse.


Here is when it was all happening. I was picking up takeout from my favorite local restaurant. Seriously, worst walk home, EVER. At least I had the wind to blow me half way there. Oh, and I had to walk to work in it the next day because it takes the second coming for my work to even consider closing.


I really enjoy the snow, especially when it happens on the weekend and I can go play in it and not just gaze at it through the window at work. Oh well, summer is on its way. And summer brings great weather, long days, and the Cubs.