Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you are well aware of the Polar Vortex that hit the United States this week. It has been colder—way colder—for almost everybody, even those who live in the south. In Chicago? This week’s weather could only be described as “cray cray”, truly. On Monday we broke our old record when the thermometer basically hit -17 (and then jumped in its car to drive to Key West). The horrors of this kind of weather are, well, horrible. Here are some really awesome pictures of “Chicago Under Ice”, but as I wrote when I shared it on Facebook, it’s way cooler to look at than…
-
-
I Do My Best Thinking In The Shower…
…which is why a post full of random thoughts I’ve had while waiting to board a plane in San Diego is bound to disappoint. Sorry. We had a great trip overall, with the exception of our luggage being MIA from the time we arrived in San Diego until 11:30 that night (1:30 a.m Chicago time, oy!) and after we dropped a couple hundred bucks on replacement toiletries and clothing, just in case. We returned that stuff when our luggage was delivered to us, except the toothbrushes, toothpaste, and Jim’s new jeans from the Gap because wowzers! A woman sitting across from me is hacking up a lung. She probably shouldn’t…
-
Be Careful What You Wish For
I have a reputation for being organized (or at least making it look like I am!). I have a reputation for going above and beyond, and I have a reputation for being overly busy. I have a reputation for getting things done. Bear in mind I’m not typing those words with any bit of ego: if you know me, you get it. Every now and then someone will say to me (either verbally or via internet) something along the lines of “I wish I could be like you.” It happened again today, thanks to my dear, sweet friend from north of the border (The Illinois/Wisconsin border, that is). She typed…
-
Or I Could Just Keep Buying Bread Like I’ve Done My Entire Life.
We own what I consider to be an average amount of small kitchen appliances. Wait. Better make that a slightly-above-average amount of small kitchen appliances, partly due to the following: 1. We were given one of those Cocomotion hot chocolate makers/mixers a few years ago (we don’t use it anymore but it’s cool so I keep it, you know, just in case). 2. When I purchased a large slow cooker a couple of years ago, I refused to get rid of the small one we already had (Great for entertaining!). 3. We have an electric fondue pot, which (I think) is probably uncommon in the average household, but very common…
-
How To Survive (And Thrive!) During NaBloPoMo
Once again, National Blog Posting Month (also known as NaBloPoMo or, in my brain, NaBloPoMoFo) is upon us. Although you can technically participate in NaBloPoMo in any given month, November is traditionally the month during which “everybody does it”. (You can sign up on the BlogHer website and possibly win something, plus you’ll find lots of like-minded individuals and maybe some new bloggy buddies!) How does one participate in NaBloPoMo? One blogs every single day. For thirty days in November. That’s it. Sounds easy, right? Yes and no, depending on what else one has going on in one’s life and how badly one might be suffering from writer’s block at…