Saturday, June 27, 2009
Saturday, June 13, 2009
Broadway Show
Tonight we're going to see Fiddler on the Roof at the Oriental Theatre! Sunrise, sunset. Sunrise, sunset . . . la la, la la la li li dum. . . I forgot the words . . .
Thursday, June 11, 2009
City Views
Walking on Michigan Ave. in front of Millennium Park
At the fountains with the faces at Millennium Park. Not a flattering medium for the face, I think
The Bean!
"Let's go Hawks" I can see... Amaanda says the other building has a policeman on it. Dubious.
Who came up with this thing? It's awesome.
A. Our Building B. Where Amaanda stayed downtown
Views from the Hancock Tower
Aunt Nan, Amaanda, and a lot of other zoo animals.
I love the sand cat.
The meerkats were our favorite.
We walked part of the way home on the path beside Lake Michigan.
The flamingos offered a good photo opportunity
But they smelled awful. We got out of there quick.
We saw Dad at the zoo.
Look, this monkey has a baby on its back! It's little head was about the size of a walnut.
One of the better-looking monkeys - and me.
The Big Cat House
The leopard was bored.
Aunt Nan and the dogwood - one of many flora pictures from this trip.
Amaanda and Aunt Nan in Lincoln Park.
These things never work out like you want them to.
Pictures! - Amaandaland
Alright, I admit it - I am the world's worst blogger. At long last I have surfaced.
Amaanda came to see us for 10 days in May, and it was so fun! We walked around for hours everyday in the sun, rain and wind , hitting everything from art museums to the zoo (twice). We kept our spirits up with a lot of coffee, deep dish piazza and gelato. It was a healthy time. The first day Amaanda was in the city, our Aunt Nan made special plans so she could be with us too! We all went to the zoo ... and then went out for deep dish. It's a whole new food group.
Amaanda was able to stay right downtown only two buildings away from us in a sublet apartment. It was so great to have her close by and in the thick of things, especially since she paid the same price as she would have at a hostel downtown - except without the bedbugs. I am serious - there are warning signs on how to prevent bedbugs on every CTA bus and train, and the hostels have them, according to people who've stayed there. Gross, gross, gross. (On a related note, I saw my first city garbage rat yesterday, right outside our building. Yaay! It wasn't so bad, in its own vermin-y way. So far, the only cockroaches around are in the zoo, but time will tell.)
All in all, we did so much cool stuff while Amaanda was in town, there's just too much to write down. But here are some pictures.
Amaanda came to see us for 10 days in May, and it was so fun! We walked around for hours everyday in the sun, rain and wind , hitting everything from art museums to the zoo (twice). We kept our spirits up with a lot of coffee, deep dish piazza and gelato. It was a healthy time. The first day Amaanda was in the city, our Aunt Nan made special plans so she could be with us too! We all went to the zoo ... and then went out for deep dish. It's a whole new food group.
Amaanda was able to stay right downtown only two buildings away from us in a sublet apartment. It was so great to have her close by and in the thick of things, especially since she paid the same price as she would have at a hostel downtown - except without the bedbugs. I am serious - there are warning signs on how to prevent bedbugs on every CTA bus and train, and the hostels have them, according to people who've stayed there. Gross, gross, gross. (On a related note, I saw my first city garbage rat yesterday, right outside our building. Yaay! It wasn't so bad, in its own vermin-y way. So far, the only cockroaches around are in the zoo, but time will tell.)
All in all, we did so much cool stuff while Amaanda was in town, there's just too much to write down. But here are some pictures.
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1.) How is Richard doing? 2.) What do you do while he's gone?
These are two important questions that I get asked a lot. So I thought I'd write a little post about them.
1.) Richard is doing so well. He's studying all hours of the day and night, dissecting cadavers (and still managing to be hungry for ground beef when he comes home), going to class, going to lectures outside class, going to the gym, fabricating braces, and still making time to hang out with me. Patient - models come in to the classes to let the students make orthotics for them and last week he made the coolest device for a man who'd had a stroke and couldn't stretch his fingers out. The fingers go in little loops all attached to a spring that pulls the fingers out and up while keeping the thumb steady so that with minimal effort the hand can be closed, and then opened flat again easily. Richard's teachers liked his design.
As you would expect, everyone loves Richard. His classmates are a lot of fun and, thanks in part to some spectacular dance moves he pulled out a couple weekends ago, think he's both smart and fun. Somehow the cool crowds just form naturally around Richard, I've always noticed this. That's a Miltenberger for you!
So all in all, Richard is doing very well, albeit very busy - and a little stressed out.
2.) "Busy" and "stressed" are not terms one might apply to my leisurely schedule here in Chicago. I decided not to get a job - since getting hired for 10, 9 ,8! weeks looked unlikely - and chose to devote my time to self-improvement. I looked into classes - art, dance, language - but I didn't find anything that looked really intriguing. I was a little depressed for a while, without much to do (there's only so many times you can go to H & M) until my dad put me in touch with some of his many contacts at Lyon & Healy Harps. The long and the short of it is, I'm going to take lessons again, and there is now a rental harp my home - it arrived this very day. This summer, I want to focus on arranging music to accompany the harp. I'm excited, and it feels good to have a plan. Now I have several main activities to fill my time : playing the harp, going to the gym, and of course, grocery shopping.
The gym we go to through Northwestern is amazing. Since it's only 4 blocks away, is equipped with a swimming pool, "state-of-the-art" workout equipment and a lot of fun classes, I spend a large amount of time there. I mean, at least it's something to do - and finally exercise seems fun to me. Mostly, it gets me out of the apartment, and since we've paid for the membership already, it also keeps me from buying things like clothes, coffee and gelato when I've got nothing better to do. If I get fit here, it'll actually result from laziness and boredom. Among other things, I've discovered yoga at this gym, and I'm really enjoying it. I like the slow exercise sandwiched between relaxation times- it's like taking a nap and working out at the same time. Very relaxing.
One thing that I'm obviously not doing enough of is updating our blog! Sorry everyone. Once I buy some new batteries for our camera we'll make a video of the apartment and things. Thanks for keeping in touch!
These are two important questions that I get asked a lot. So I thought I'd write a little post about them.
1.) Richard is doing so well. He's studying all hours of the day and night, dissecting cadavers (and still managing to be hungry for ground beef when he comes home), going to class, going to lectures outside class, going to the gym, fabricating braces, and still making time to hang out with me. Patient - models come in to the classes to let the students make orthotics for them and last week he made the coolest device for a man who'd had a stroke and couldn't stretch his fingers out. The fingers go in little loops all attached to a spring that pulls the fingers out and up while keeping the thumb steady so that with minimal effort the hand can be closed, and then opened flat again easily. Richard's teachers liked his design.
As you would expect, everyone loves Richard. His classmates are a lot of fun and, thanks in part to some spectacular dance moves he pulled out a couple weekends ago, think he's both smart and fun. Somehow the cool crowds just form naturally around Richard, I've always noticed this. That's a Miltenberger for you!
So all in all, Richard is doing very well, albeit very busy - and a little stressed out.
2.) "Busy" and "stressed" are not terms one might apply to my leisurely schedule here in Chicago. I decided not to get a job - since getting hired for 10, 9 ,8! weeks looked unlikely - and chose to devote my time to self-improvement. I looked into classes - art, dance, language - but I didn't find anything that looked really intriguing. I was a little depressed for a while, without much to do (there's only so many times you can go to H & M) until my dad put me in touch with some of his many contacts at Lyon & Healy Harps. The long and the short of it is, I'm going to take lessons again, and there is now a rental harp my home - it arrived this very day. This summer, I want to focus on arranging music to accompany the harp. I'm excited, and it feels good to have a plan. Now I have several main activities to fill my time : playing the harp, going to the gym, and of course, grocery shopping.
The gym we go to through Northwestern is amazing. Since it's only 4 blocks away, is equipped with a swimming pool, "state-of-the-art" workout equipment and a lot of fun classes, I spend a large amount of time there. I mean, at least it's something to do - and finally exercise seems fun to me. Mostly, it gets me out of the apartment, and since we've paid for the membership already, it also keeps me from buying things like clothes, coffee and gelato when I've got nothing better to do. If I get fit here, it'll actually result from laziness and boredom. Among other things, I've discovered yoga at this gym, and I'm really enjoying it. I like the slow exercise sandwiched between relaxation times- it's like taking a nap and working out at the same time. Very relaxing.
One thing that I'm obviously not doing enough of is updating our blog! Sorry everyone. Once I buy some new batteries for our camera we'll make a video of the apartment and things. Thanks for keeping in touch!
Monday, April 27, 2009
Buying groceries might be more dangerous than you think.
"Treasure Island" is a dumb name for a grocery store - especially one that leases part of the main floor of the Playboy Enterprises building. However, along with Trader Joe's, that's where I've been doing most of my grocery shopping, and I'm really enjoying it. They have excellent produce, and the convenience of going right across the street for groceries outweighs some of the higher prices. But the prices are suprisingly good, in general anyway. However, as much as I enjoy Treasure Island, it is a nest of peril for the unwary dieter - I knew it would be as soon as I set foot inside. In an unpretentious case beautiful little chocolates, pastries, cakes, pies and Italian cookies of all descriptions are set out to catch the eye of the casual passer-by who only stopped by for milk and bananas. As if this isn't enough, there are the myriad delights of the olive bar and whole shelves of cheeses to resist. Or not. But today I discovered something even more dangerous.
This morning we were running late, so I took a trip down the elavator and across the street to get some coffee for Richard to take to class. The espresso machine is right behind the pastry case, and as my coffee was brewing I had a chance to take a look at some of the wares. I noted an attractive bread loaf. I touched it. It was warm. In fact, it steamed. As I watched, a French woman walked behind the counter, removed several small loaves from an oven, and asked my barista to put them out when they'd cooled a little. I didn't even try to resist such a promising impulse buy, and walked away from the pastry case plus a loaf. As I went through the checkout, I confessed to the cashier that fresh bread was my weakness. "You're not alone," she said. "This bread doesn't even last till ten o'clock- and it's hard to say no when you work here."
"It might not be easy, but I don't think I'll be coming in every day. At least I hope not."
"Well, good luck with that." She smiled. "See you tomorrow morning!"
I took my coffee and headed across the street, bread wrapped tight to save the heat. I gave Richard his latte and kissed him goodbye. Then I broke off a peice of crunchy new bread, still piping hot inside, and ate it right away - I couldn't even wait for butter. (Although I did use a liberal ammount of butter for the next peice. And the next. And...) Later, Richard and I used the rest of the bread for some truly spectacular hot grilled chicken sandwiches - the perfect end to a perfect loaf.
This morning we were running late, so I took a trip down the elavator and across the street to get some coffee for Richard to take to class. The espresso machine is right behind the pastry case, and as my coffee was brewing I had a chance to take a look at some of the wares. I noted an attractive bread loaf. I touched it. It was warm. In fact, it steamed. As I watched, a French woman walked behind the counter, removed several small loaves from an oven, and asked my barista to put them out when they'd cooled a little. I didn't even try to resist such a promising impulse buy, and walked away from the pastry case plus a loaf. As I went through the checkout, I confessed to the cashier that fresh bread was my weakness. "You're not alone," she said. "This bread doesn't even last till ten o'clock- and it's hard to say no when you work here."
"It might not be easy, but I don't think I'll be coming in every day. At least I hope not."
"Well, good luck with that." She smiled. "See you tomorrow morning!"
I took my coffee and headed across the street, bread wrapped tight to save the heat. I gave Richard his latte and kissed him goodbye. Then I broke off a peice of crunchy new bread, still piping hot inside, and ate it right away - I couldn't even wait for butter. (Although I did use a liberal ammount of butter for the next peice. And the next. And...) Later, Richard and I used the rest of the bread for some truly spectacular hot grilled chicken sandwiches - the perfect end to a perfect loaf.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
