Curly Girl

Elinore must have been sweating during her nap yesterday because she woke up with all kinds of curls. There is hope for her yet!

A Weed Grows in Uptown

In accordance with my two New Year's Resolutions of 1. Become a gardner. and 2. Get a life. I signed up to volunteer this morning at a place called the Ginkgo Organic Gardens. Getting there was a difficulty.. I thought of it too late to ask for a GPS device for my birthday, so you'd think that knowing myself, I would adequately prepare before setting off to find a place I've never been before. Not so. I looked at the map, saw the cross streets and set out. Did I write down an address? No. Did I write down a phone number? No.

So there I was, at the cross streets, with no gardens in sight. I drove around for a while before trying to call home to see if someone could look up the address on the internet. Voicemail. Then I called Jen's house. Voicemail. Then I called Brandie. Voicemail. Then I called Dad's cell. Voicemail. Then I called Kevin's cell. Voicemail. Then I called Corri. Victory! Except she doesn't have the internet. So then Corri called Robert. Voicemail. Then Corri called her parents and called me back with the address!

It was a great little urban garden that takes up one lot. The garden produces 1000-1200 lbs of produce every year which they give to neighboring food banks so that people who are utilizing those food banks have access to fresh, organic produce. I spent the overcast, 50 degree morning in 3 shirts on my hands and knees weeding the beds with the cobra-headed pick thing. Now I know why gardners are so calm--they get to take out their agression on the earth with cobra-headed picks.

Amazing some of the urban artifacts I came across--bottles, tires, bags, wheels, beads, headphones, etc. You wonder what someone would make of our society if they dug up those things centuries from now. Clearly the highpoint of contemporary civilization. Uptown is quite the mecca of American culture.

LONDON

AH HA! I figured it out! Still no wireless though. My snail mail address is:

Atlantic House
1 St Albans Grove
London W8 5PN

Today I just walked around the city, To Portobello Road for the street market and around Holland Park and then down Palace Court where I witnessed a fender bender. My feet are killing me but it was just wonderful.

My roommate didn't arrive till this morning, her flight from Texas was delayed or something along those lines, but she's really nice and we're going to go out for dinner tonight with her frien and my friend Whitney. I'm officially in love with this city, I want to live here. I've been doing my best spending money wisely and since meals aren't covered on the weekends and we didn't get a meal till 5pm yesterday, Whiney and I went to a pub for a sandwich and a pint to celebrate making it to London in one piece. However, when we asked for a BBQ chicken sandwich and a pint the bartender looked at us and said with a questioning look "to share?" and we said yes to share haha, it was only £3.50 or something like that. This morning I went to a little bakery and got a ham and cheese croissant with some hot chocolate for £3.60 so I think I'm doing quite well.

I had quite an interesting night last night. After dinner, I went for a walk in Kensington Gardens/Hyde park with Whitney and we sat and watched the swans and ducks walk around and stuff and then went back to shower, unpack, and go to bed. I decided to stay up until around 10 to try and kill the jetlag as quickly as possible. So at 9:45ish I turned off my light and had just fallen asleep when I woke up to a piercing beeping sound and when I realized it wasn't my alarm, it was the fire alarm I grabbed my glasses, fleece and flip flops and headed down the spiral staircase to find out what was going on. Needless to say, we all ended up outside waiting for the fire brigade, who showed up a few minutes later. They proceeded to go inside, check the rooms, and then got back in their trucks and DROVE AWAY!!! The fire alarm was still going off and they just left! Finally, the security officer at Atlantic House, the main building showed up and turned off the alarm and I slept like a dream! But it was an interesting start to my trip.

We had a walking tour of the area yesterday and orientation this morning, and their sense of humor is just wonderful. The best part is that they tell their jokes and keep a straight face. The bobby, police officer, that spoke with us this morning was particularly funny and gave us some adive on how to stay safe and such. They told us to only use the black cabs and don't go into the upstairs part of the night buses because you might not come back down...the wierdos hand out up there at night. They also told us they don't carry guns and carrying mase or pepperspray is considered carrying a firearm and can result in jail time! My RA is from Scotland, so eventually I'm going to talk to her and see if she has any suggestions about where to go.

Whitney and I have also decided that one morning we're going to get up really early to see the Cavalry guards exercizing their horses at 7:30. My roommate is also staying the full 9 weeks but I can't remember where she said she's from or what school she goes to. In a little while, Whitney and I are getting some take-out Indian food and going to Kensington Gardens/Hyde Park for lunch and then getting out Oyster Cards-for the buses and tube. And tomorrow is our half-day sight-seeing tour to Buckingham Palace, Tower of London, etc. Whitney is staying for the full 9 weeks and then afterwards because her mom just got transferred here for 3 months for work, she's from PA and we've decided we're going to the park everyday to walk around and we're going to be traveling buddies! I really hope I get wireless soon so I don't have to keep trecking all the way to Atlantic House to check my email. I would like to post on the blog, but I can't for the life of me remember my account name and password, they're saved on my laptop and I always just go to the link in my favorite places, so hopefully I'll get the information for the secure network soon! London is FABULOUS!!!!!!!!!

Breaking Up with Shoes

I had a revelation this morning.

I DON'T CARE ABOUT SHOES.

I know that pop culture and Sex and the City say that every woman should be obsessed with shoes above all else, but I have tried to love shoes and they just haven't taken. Every season I find one pair of shoes that almost goes with anything, and I wear them every day. Toward the end of the season when we start thinking about rotating the wardrobe a bit, people start talking about what cute new shoes they'll get to wear, and I start getting a stomach ulcer.

This whole week I am taking an entirely self-indulgent vacation. I went to my Holland, MI Bed & Breakfast (Jen and Kevin's house) for a few days to relax, then came back to Chicago to wander around the city until Tuesday. I dropped in on an early morning yoga class today at a studio a few blocks from my apartment on a quest to promote inner peace and get some exercise. The young, good-looking yoga instructor coached us through a pose in which we were to "allow the buttocks to fully blossom." I smiled all the way down from my liver.

What pair of shoes has ever told me that? Shoes pinch and squeeze to shape your feet into what they are "supposed" to look like. Well, I quit shoes.

I'm going to call these years I am living my "personal development" years. I am going to give up trying to care about shoes and other things that don't speak to me, and instead I am going to take dance classes, travel, learn jazz, develop artistic expression, garden, and invest my dollars where my buttocks can blossom.

ET Phone Home

This post is a few weeks overdue, but I think its still worth sharing. A few weeks ago while showing my college roommate around town, we went to see the growing icon of Chicago, the Bean. The nature of the Bean makes people do strange things in order to get the most creative photo possible. I decided to have Brandie take my picture lying down underneath the Bean which she did happily, and we moved on. After about 15-20 minutes when we were down by the digital fountains, Brandie's phone started ringing.

Brandie: (gasp) I wonder who is calling me!

(pulls her phone out of her bag and looks at it)

Brandie: (looking at me with a suspicious expression) It's you.

Me: What? Me? (begin to pat myself down thinking I accidentally pushed a button on my phone... but wait!... where is my phone??...)

Brandie: (talking into phone) Hello?

Caller: I have your friend's phone. I'm near the Bean.

Brandie: Ok thanks, we're coming over!

Caitlyn: what??

We walked back to the Bean to find the guy who had my phone wondering how I'd lost it, and how the guy knew to call Brandie. When we found the good Samaritan, the first thing he said was, "I called your mom." The moral of the story is, always have a contact in your phone book called MOM or HOME, and if you find someone's phone, look for the contact called MOM or HOME. Moms know EVERYTHING.

But the question remained, when did I lose the phone in the first place? When we downloaded these pictures later it all became clear....

Two to Tango

My Argentinean friend has been inviting me to tango with her for months, and finally last week I got my act together to go. I was nervous, never having tangoed before, and more still when I arrived at the cafe and learned that once they cleared the floor for the lesson, those who were not participating could stay, enjoy their coffees, and watch. The last thing I wanted was anyone's attention on me.

The lesson began when the owner of the cafe stepped out from behind the coffee bar, took off his apron, donned his dance shoes, and stepped onto the dance floor. Jorge was patient and kind as he coached each of the 5 of us to glide gracefully across the floor--forward, backward, sideways, first the leg, then the body follows. It wasn't so bad!

At the conclusion of the hour lesson, other more experienced dancers began to arrive to practice their moves on the open floor. Someone asked me to dance, and after explaining that it was only my first day, I was led onto the floor. For those who don't know, the tango is danced VERY closely. As the dancers' movements are more improvisational than rhythmic, the follower literally leans on her partner in order to feel the lead.

My partner and I glided, twisted, paused, when suddenly he pushed me away in order to pull me quickly back in again. However, the push that was meant to separate us, sent me reeling forward, into him! I looked down to find that my belt loop had gotten caught on his belt buckle. I chuckled apologetically and reached down to untangle us, but to no avail! He also tried, but it was no use. With the two of us giggling uncontrollably, another couple came over to offer to help. It was actually 4 minutes of being joined at the waist, before the couple was able to untangle my belt loop from his belt buckle. 4 minutes doesn't seem like a long time unless your faces are 4 inches from each other and you are akwardly introducing yourselves, "so... I'm Caitlyn.. etc, etc,.. do you live around here?..etc, etc... my, your teeth are awfully white, what kind of toothpaste do you use?.. is that so?..."

To my second lesson tonight, I will wear no belt loops.

Ummm

This is the view from my window today...anyone else see a BIG HONKING problem here??? It's April 11 and it looks like Christmas, NOT COOL

Reconnection

The past two weeks have smelled strongly of reminiscence. In addition to playing tour guide to 2 old friends, there have been little signs popping up all over that we will soon be reentering our non-wintery world. Two weeks ago we had several days of rain, and as if by magic all the grass began to glow green. Suddenly on my walk to work I noticed the tulips, daffodils, and crocuses beginning to peep their first leaves above the soil and within minutes there were tiny buds on the tree branches. Yes, the warm weather was a tease and it has been snow flurrying for the past few days, but when I stepped off the train on my way home today the smell of freshly cut grass greeted me. This is the first day since October or November that the yard workers were out (in the 40 degree weather).

On another note, the last week of March, a dear friend from Chile came to visit with her husband for a conference in Chicago. It had been over a year since I last saw Angela and Erick when I went to Chile for their wedding last January. We had a wonderful time buying out Chicago of their chocolate, and it gave me a true test of my current Spanish. I've been told that it's my turn next to visit them down in Santiago, so we'll see when the winds begin to blow that direction.

My college roommate, Brandie, made her first visit to Chicago this past weekend for Easter (yet another dear friend who I hadn't seen in a year), and we had the fullest visit possible. We saw the Body Worlds exhibit at the museum of Science and Industry and spent the rest of the time exploring the Chicago sights, dwindling away the hours enjoying excellent cuisine, and remarking over and over again how happy we were to see each other. Sometimes I forget what its like to be fully present to the moment--to enjoy the moment without having to watch the clock or think about what I should be doing. Eating a three-course fondue dinner with Brandie helped me remember!

The gardens

Like Laura said we had a great time with her. These are a couple pictures I thought were cute. They are from the gardens.

The picture of Laura and Elinore reminds me a lot of the one of her with Caity from NY. Maybe Elinore is just the queen of grumpy face...

Happy Easter!

Visiting Holland

I visited Jen, Kevin and Elinore this past weekend and it was loads of fun. We went to a concert on Saturday night, an orchestra performed a couple of songs before being joined by a couple choirs singing excerpts from Carmina Burana. It was really good. On Sunday, we went to a butterfly house/park, very fun. Elinore is soooooo cute and I can't believe how much she's changed since I saw her last. Walking, talking, dancing pointing to pictures and saying Caity, Lou Lou it's just so amazing! It was such a welcome break from school and to get to see Jen and Kevin. I wish I wasn't so busy so I could come visit more often, I'm afraid I won't get a chance to visit again until August :-( By the way, I think I left Nanny McPhee at y'alls house! Maybe you could bring it to Mom and Dad's when you go on the 20th? I had a wonderful time, thanks for having me! Here's another picture of the world's cutest baby...

Golly, a professional must have taken this picture...oh no wait that was me :-D It's pretty great, I know.

Lentils

Today I went to Andy's Fruit Ranch to try out their produce. While perusing their selection I found bags of all different kinds of beans and lentils. I decided to purchase some lentils, but as I had already filled my basket with produce, I needed to rearrange some things to put the heavy lentils on the bottom. It was then that I realized that the button on my pants pocket was caught in my hand-held basket. As I was stupidly trying to get unstuck, I dropped the lentils, the bag of which, of course, burst upon hitting the ground scattering lentils to the ends of the earth. And I with the shopping basket attached to my pants could do nothing but stand there.

Fortunately I was able to get myself together (aka: apart) and go get someone to help me clean it up. But I left my mark today at Andy's. They can't wait to see me again.

Myself and I

Tonight was the first night in two weeks that I have gone home directly from work, and the first night that I've arrived home before 10:30 pm. I scrambled out of work as fast as I could, took the train home, and upon arrival, immediately started chopping onions. I've been wanting to make a Portuguese soup recipe for a while, and tonight seemed like the perfect occasion.

Around 8 pm I turned off my phone, set the table, lit some candles, and sat down to a homemade meal with Myself. I have to admit that I make pretty good company. We sat there for a while, Myself and I, enjoying the soup, not having to make any small talk or false pretenses. On the last few bites, Myself suddenly broke the silence by saying, "Well, Caitlyn, it's been a while. How have you been?"

I paused for a moment and replied, "Ok... I've been ok... Busy... things seem to be moving so fast. And I can't seem to figure out what I want these days. Somehow I'm feeling restless where I am, but the moment I start thinking seriously about making some drastic changes, everything seems to smooth out and I start second-guessing myself. At the same time as I don't seem to want to do anything differently, though, I know that there's so much world out there that I want to see and things that I want to experience!"

"That's tough," Myself empathized. "Really tough.."

I waited.

"I guess all I can really tell you," Myself continued slowly, "is to take each day at a time. You tend to look really far out into the future, Caitlyn. That's not bad, but it lets you begin designing some kind of outcome and then get really attached to it."

I smiled.

"If you are focused on doggedly pursuing that design and bringing it to fruition, you could miss out on other opportunities that you wouldn't necessarily have imagined otherwise. That could open whole scores of new doors for you! Sometimes those opportunities you sieze that you couldn't otherwise have imagined for yourself are the most rewarding. Just let life happen, Caitlyn. It doesn't need you to orchestrate it. ...And above all, be completely where ever you are."

I chuckled and sat there thinking for a while. I decided that I should be quiet more often to see what kind of wisdom Myself has to offer. Then, in gratitude, I gave Myself a pear for dessert. A very juicy, delicious pear. And we ate it together.

So Proud

Elinore has been learning to use silverware lately. Today she used a spoon to eat her yogurt all by herself. Look at how proud she is! I almost had to take her out to the hose to get her cleaned up!! I fixed this photo as the background on our computer, and now everytime she walks by it she starts cracking up. I guess she finds herself as funny as I do!

Something's wrong with my houseplant! I'm calling this design "Wayward Spring."

On another note, I think we all have experienced the power of a well-placed compliment. I would like to illustrate the power of the not-well-placed compliment. Earlier this week the president of the company had a meeting with someone in my center. While there she asked me to make a few photocopies, and I took the chance to show off our lovely new copier/faxer/printer that I'd purchased a few weeks ago after our old one "hit a wall," so to speak. For context's sake, you should know that the president of our company is the kindest woman you can find, but somewhat excessive in her praise and enthusiasm. I know how to accept a compliment I deserve, but I tend to temper her comments with a "thank you, it was definitely a team effort," or an "I appreciate that, and I really couldn't have done it without..." However, I lost all words when she exclaimed upon seeing the printer, and Kevin will appreciate this, "Caitlyn, you have really become such an EXPERT where IT is concerned!" I could only snort and say, "well I think THAT's a bit of an overstatement." She then modified her comment by saying, "It's certainly not a necessary skill-set for your position, but you've become so adept at researching products and information!"

Don't worry, I gave Kevin all the credit, and if MT ever comes to Chicago, he's hired.

New Phones and No Dates

I upgraded my phone this week and am still wandering around in the fog of 'I don't know how to use this thing.'

Tuesday on the train just as we were getting close to my stop, and the part of the ride that is always most crowded, someone's phone started to ring. As no one speaks on the train, and the phone was ringing loudly, it was impossible for the owner to miss. I looked left and right searching for the person with the phone, willing them to answer and stop the grating noise. Just then I realized, it was mine! I hadn't recognized the ring! I felt stupid and pulled it out of my pocket to answer trying to speak as softly as possible since there was a whole train eavesdropping. About 30 seconds into the call, we were disconnected, but rather than lose face to the crowd, I kept talking, pretending like the other person was still there. I was trying to figure out how to naturally wrap up my pseudo-conversation, when the phone started ringing. There went my cover. At that point I got off the train. I had no alternative.

Also our company party is on Saturday night. This year, I replied Caitlyn + 1 guest, becuase I was determined I would bring someone. However, as I thought more about it, my guest had to either be a completely platonic friend or an already established, not platonic friend, because these are my COWORKERS. I figured I had a week to figure it out, and if no one could come, no sweat.. I'd just go by myself. However, at work the next day, the fact that I had selected the +1 was a hot topic around the lunch table. EVERYONE was dying to know who this person was, and not wanting to say that I didn't really know yet, I just took on a ridiculously mysterious air, and said, "You'll meet him on Saturday." The fact that there is now mystery involved is intriguing people even more.

Oh GOD. What have I gotten myself into?

Here's to Saturday night...

Frostbite of 2007

For all of western Michigan's snow, we have the equivalent amount of cold in Chicago. There is not a flake of snow to speak of, but it is a balmy -5 degrees today withOUT the windchill.

I'm becoming more intimate in my relationship to cold every day. Last night on my walk home from the train station, I could actually feel the skin on my cheekbones DYING. You have to constantly wiggle your nose around to keep the inside from freezing, and when I got home and began un-layering, I looked in the mirror and saw tiny icicles on my eyelashes! This morning, I realized that my conditioner, which sits on the windowsill in the shower, had ice crystals in it.

On another note, I went to church this morning. I haven't been to church in a LONG time (besides Christmas), I've actually been kind of anti for a while. But I recently had an idea of going, and so yesterday I started looking around for churches. The one I decided to try this morning was a little Episcopalian church about a mile or so from my apartment. I actually really enjoyed it.. it was a good fit for where I am in my spiritual journey. And yes, at the end, the congregation all sang, "Bear down, Chicago Bears" in unison. The greeting after the "peace be with you" part was "Go Bears!"

The Blizzard of '07

That's what they're calling it. For those of you not in the West Michigan area (which may be all of you depending on how much snow Laura has) we're snowbound. We've been under a blizzard warning all weekend with near white-out conditions. Half the time I can't even see across the park. We haven't left the house since Friday night and the temperature is COLD! This is me next to the snowpile we've accumulated next to our driveway. We've been working hard to keep it semi-clear. The snow just keeps on coming. We're supposed to get another big storm this afternoon/evening. 4-8 inches! Most of the churches around here cancelled all of their Sunday services. That's a big deal for Holland! We're loving it, although we're going a little stir-crazy. It is too cold to take Elinore out, and she's really grumpy with a nasty cold!

If anyone wants to show up with their CC skiis, you're more than welcome!! 

New York

We had such a wonderful time in New York. I wanted to post a few pictures. I have posted more extensively on my blog, so I'll keep it short here. Elinore spent most of her playing hours rocking in this little kid-sized rocking chair that Grandma has. "Wee" she would say once she got herself going.

Never a dull moment with Caitlyn around. Elinore loved the attention she got from her aunt. As soon as we got home she saw her picture on the wall and said, "Caity".


The last one is of Elinore giving "Nana" a big kiss. We miss it already.

 

1st Week Back

I have made it through my first week back at Albion and I'm still alive. The girl I was living with last semester was not able to get moved to a different housing arrangement with her friend who had returned from India, so she and I are back together. So far it is going ok, hopefully it will continue to go well.

On Mondays I have my riding lesson and I got to see my favoritist horse ever, Mason, I think he recognized me when I walked by he perked up and whinnied at me. Tuesday I have lab, Wednesday I have lab, and Thursday I have lab. It's going to be an interesting semester, VERY busy but I really like my classes so far, especially vertebrate paleontology. It's kinda weird with Mike not being here but I'll get to see him for spring break, he's going to meet me in Huntington.

When I woke up this morning and went out to do my laundry I found myself in a winter wonderland. We got about 5 maybe 6 inches of snow today, it was a blizzard out. There were 4 inches of snow on the roof of my car, it took me about 20 minutes just to brush the snow off. I was very tempted to go for a walk in the snow but I decided to make baked potato soup instead. So that's the story of my life as we know it, not very interesting but hey that's how it goes.

DA BEARS

Even though I live in Chicago, I have to admit that I was not glued to the TV all day yesterday watching the game. In fact, I took advantage of the small crowds and went ice skating in Milennium Park. It was a gorgeous evening--not too cold, with soft snowflakes sticking in our hair--and to our surprise, we made the turn in the skating rink and found even the buildings were celebrating the Bears!

See you at the Superbowl!
 

Haircut

I got my hair cut a few days ago and it's a littler shorter than I had anticipated. What do you guys think?? Mom thinks it makes me look soooooo much older. I'm not so sure about it yet, plus I'm having a hard time figuring out how much shampoo and conditioner to use now haha.

Jump Start Epilogue

AAA came at 10 and ran a battery test. I failed with flying colors, and the only option left was a replacement. Luckily the mechanic they sent to me was a battery tester AND installer and happened to have his whole trunk filled with fresh batteries.

As it was about 18 degrees last night and the buying process would take a few minutes, I went inside to wait while he punched in the numbers and got approval. 15 minutes later I got a phone call to come back outside because my card was declined. IS ANYTHING GOING TO WORK FOR ME TODAY??? (I yelled to nobody)

I had to charge it on my corporate card, but I now have a fresh new battery with a 3 year warranty. And a $108 debt to my company. Hot dog.

Jump start on life...

Today was itchin' for a bloggin'.

The day began at 3 am when a teacher called to let me know that she was too sick to go to work. Now I understand wanting to be prompt and professional, but really, 3 am?

7 am I got another call from another teacher who was going to be out sick.

7:19 I ran to the cleaners to pick up my pants (they are open from 7 am-7 pm so it was my only chance) and the door was locked. No pants.

8:28 I got a call from another teacher who was stuck in traffic and would be late.

8:31 another teacher arrived in tears because she had fainted and fallen while walking to the train station this morning. She was ok, but naturally quite shaken about the whole incident. After feeding her cheerios and juice, I called the on-call nurse hotline (aka: Mom) to give her some peace of mind about the whole thing.

After that the morning plodded along until the late afternoon when another teacher was confirmed out the next day and we had to start calling families to cancel programs. My favorite part of the job!

6:00 rolled around and everyone left except me because I was supposed to be going on a date at 6:30. Except that my date neglected to tell me where were meeting and when I still hadn't heard from him at 6:45 I went home.

At home I didn't even take off my coat because I had to go to the grocery store and return my Blockbuster rentals (today was the day they would charge my card if they didn't receive them by store closing!) When I got in the car, I turned the key in the ignition, and the "sound of silence" took on a whole new meaning.

I called home while sitting sadly in the cold, silent car, and my life advisors told me I had to call AAA to have them come jump it.

And now I sit here and wait.

2007 Discoveries

New things I've learned this year:

1. My winter clothes weigh 7.8 pounds.

2. You can carry your umbrella when it is snowing too.

3. Zucchini tastes good sauteed with thyme and sliced almonds.

3. Don't accept dances with men who have lips tattooed on their necks.

4. It is possible to sprout oregano in Chicago in January.

Dance Baby Dance

We know you may not think this is as funny as we do, but we thought you would enjoy it anyway. Just remember, you saw it here first. It is funnier when you watch it multiple times...check out that hip action...and make sure you have the volume up.

New Year's photos part 2

Wishing on grapes under the table...
Ready for love and travel in 2007!
Happy New Year! 

New Year's photos

These are a few photos from our New Year's gathering on Eastwood Ave. Everyone brought something to share and our breakfast table ended up with quite an ornate spread!







Finally, a photo of my roommate, Colleen! She really exists after all!

It was a night filled with a mixture of traditions... including the grapes, the yellow underwear, the backpacks, salsa lessons in the kitchen, etc, etc.

New year, new hobby

In line with my new year's resolutions (cook once a week and get a life), I've taken up a new hobby. I've decided to become a gardener. Today I went to the garden center of Home Depot to outfit myself with the necessary tools. I called Mom for advice since she has a well-known green thumb, and she warned me that January in Chicago is an unusual season to take up gardening. However, I am determined. I bought the following:

a watering can
a few pots
a mini herb garden (the add water and watch it grow kind)
a few packets of seeds
potting soil
a bonsai

Since I don't have a patio of any kind and because it is January, all the growing will take place indoors. Currently I am waiting for my mini greenhouse's peat pellets to soak up some water, and then I'll plant the herb seeds. Maybe if they grow, they'll inspire the cooking portion of my resolutions. Good luck to me and to my plants, I'll let you know if anything lives.

Happy New Year!

According to South American tradition, if you want something specific in the new year, you have to do certain things at the stroke of midnight. My Chilean friends filled me in on a few things during the day, and then my Peruvian friends added onto the tradition last night. Apparently if you want to find love you have to wear yellow underwear. I didn't have any, but Colleen did, so I put hers in my pocket. If you want to travel, you are supposed to wear a backpack or carry your suitcase. Then there's discrepancy because the Chileans said you are supposed walk outside with your backpack or suitcase, and the Peruvians said you're supposed to run around the block. They also brought a bunch of grapes over because at midnight everyone is supposed to get under a table and eat 12 grapes. One for each month, and make a wish on each one.

We counted down to 1, banged on pots and pans with cheese graters and avocado slicers because we didn't have enough spoons, toasted with champagne, hugged and kissed everybody, got under the table, ate our grapes, and ran around the building with our backpacks on. It was a busy New Year! I realized this morning that we forgot to sing Auld Lang Syne. Next year I'll sing it twice.

Happy New Year and an Auld Lang Syne!

Christmas

I thought I would just post a few pictures from Christmas. We had such a good time. The first picture is from walking in the prairie with Ivy. The second is Elinore all dressed up in her Christmas dress. My mom made that and I wore it when I was her age! The third and fourth were from the Bodine Girls photo shoot. I miss you all already.

 

Heat or no heat, that is the question.

One of the things I've been getting used to now that I live in an old building in the city is life with radiator heat. Ever since the heat was turned on in mid-October, the radiators have been prime topic of conversation between my roommate and I. It seems that they work only on two settings--cold and out of control. The issues, however, stem not just from the temperature, but the noises they emit! I have lain awake many a night in my flannel pajamas, socks and ski hat on, underneath a pile of blankets, shivering to death while my bedroom radiator happily stays barely warm. Poor Colleen has lain awake even more as the clanking and clattering sounds like someone is throwing her bedroom radiator down a flight of stairs. Both of us have walked around our apartment wearing all of our winter clothes at once to combat the chill.

We've been complaining to the landlord since November that there must be a better way, that this is just really no way to live. His answer, until recently, was basically that we needed to suck it up. He mentioned a few options like covering all the windows with plastic to eliminate the draft from so many large windows. We finally were able to convince him to come LOOK at the bedroom radiators 1. to see about Colleen's clanking, and 2. to see about mine getting all the way hot. Last week he came while Colleen and I were out to inspect and improve the "tilt" (which actually meant shoving 4 stacked up pennies underneath on of the feet).

When we got home later that day, we opened the apartment door, and a literal heat wave struck us. Our apartment was actually a RAINFOREST. It was about 95 degrees, the windows were completely fogged over and dripping water, all the radiators were scalding, but the bathroom radiator was screaming like a tea-kettle and clanking horribly. As we approached it actually began to shake and spit boiling water onto the bathroom floor. We debated taking cover wondering if it would explode, but then reconsidered and called the landlord. He said lacsadaisically that he would stop by next time he was in the area. Plan B was to call Dad. Dad said to call the fire department (or to call the landlord back and threaten to do so..) We decided to try shutting the valve and after 15 minutes the hissing died away. The apartment, however, was still 95 degrees. I slept that night in a tank top on top of all my covers in a jungle.

So I will be careful from now on what I wish for, but knowing that we are only at December 29th, I have a feeling that our adventures with the radiators are far from over...

Working Woes

I really don't like working! My body is taking a beating from this job. My feet are sore and I have blisters all over. My knee is all swollen like elephantiasis and my back is killing me :-( What was I thinking?????

Happy Holidays!!

Well everyone, I just thought I would let you guys know that I have officially been accepted to the London Summer Program!! I got a call this morning informing me that they had received my application and that I had been accepted and my acceptance packet would be arriving in the mail soon. So yay!

Mike and I spent the day in the city yesterday and we walked from the Field Museum to the Cheesecake Factory and after a phenomenal meal we walked from the Cheesecake Factory to the Lyric Opera House. The city looked really pretty with all the Christmas Lights and such. Caitlyn, you're right the first window of the Mary Poppins display does look like she's hanging from the cloud! The opera was great, although a bit long. Our seats were pretty high up but they turned out to be pretty good because you could see the entire stage. Last night was Romeo's first performance and the women playing Juliette ended up not being able to perform so her understudy played the role. Overall it was a really great show.

By the way, after my ridiculous semester I do believe I shall be making it on the Dean's list again. I ended up with a 3.7 in Neuroscience after getting a 97 on the final, a 3.7 in Developmental psych, a 3.7 in Spanish with a 94 on the final and I am still waiting to hear about Invertebrate zoology but I am guessing I will end up with either a 3.0 or a 3.3. Can't wait for everyone to be home for Christmas and hopefully we'll get some more snow soon it all melted :-(

Caitlyn's Christmas Wish List

long johns
snow hats/nightcaps
ear muffs
liner gloves
thick socks
woolen slippers
rubber-soled, fur-lined boots
electric blanket
face mask

The Sled

Up until we had snow, the sled Elinore got as an early Christmas present has been in the playroom. Everytime I peek in their, she is playing in it. Sometimes she's climbing all over it (she loves to climb), sometimes she's stacked all of her stuffed animals into it, and sometimes she's laying in it staring up at the ceiling. I was almost hesitant to take it outside, but she had just as much fun riding it through the snow.