• Food, Glorious Food - Today

    Meson Sabika: Flamenco Holiday Party

    December 6, 2008 - By 

    We went to the holiday party last night for David’s office. In recent years, it’s been an enjoyable enough affair, especially after they stopped booking the DJ nobody liked… but the experience we had was somewhat beyond our wildest expectations of a nice evening. Meson Sabika was the setting, a large mansion in Naperville, which is one of the few Chicago suburbs with a sense of its own history. First settled in 1811, it’s set in gently rolling country, with a vibrant and architecturally appealing downtown, with public space and art everywhere. We drove down after work, and I was…

  • Episcopal - Random Access Memories - SABRE2th Tigress: Book 'em, Dano.

    The Feast of Saint Nicholas

    December 6, 2008 - By 

    St Nicholas is special to me. Not only do I attend a church named after him (he’s our “patronal saint” in liturgical churchspeak) but he’s indirectly responsible for my 20-year career in travel. As he’s the patron saint of children, sailors, and travelers, this seems more than mere coincidence. How’d this happen? When I was still living in Eugene, I was drifting along at a dead end job after I left college, working at a dry cleaners. I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life or what I could do to improve my circumstances. More schooling…

  • Radio - Random Access Memories

    Zenith | Well, that’s where they make ’em

    December 4, 2008 - By 

    Chicago Public Radio just broadcast an amazing documentary about the old Zenith manufacturing plant, which closed 10 years ago. They interviewed several former employees and intercut them in a really compelling, evocative way. I was transported to another time and place as I listened. Somehow, I managed to keep enough attention on the road to get home safely. You’ve got to hear this, because it’s not just people talking about where they used to work. They’re talking about who they used to be, and what this country used to do. Today marks the 10th anniversary of a historic plant closure…

  • Uncategorical Weirdness

    Lapcat Install Compleet

    December 2, 2008 - By 

    Total elapsed time after arrival: 10 minutes. Feed: nom nom nominal Error log: 1 interrupted install (teakettle whistle alert tone) End log: 5 minutes. Ginny I can has iPhone? Via: Flickr Title: Lapcat Install Compleet By: GinnyRED57 Originally uploaded: 2 Dec ’08, 6.30pm CST PST Total elapsed time after arrival: 10 minutes. Feed: nom nom nominal Error log: 1 interrupted install (teakettle whistle alert tone) End log: 5 minutes. Ginny I can has iPhone?

  • Twitter

    WN WIN! Southwest Rox teh Sox

    December 2, 2008 - By 

    Southwest Airlines (WN) is giving out free socks from Old Navy today at their Dallas Love, San Francisco, and Providence counters. How do I know? Because they Twittered it, of course. They “tweet” as @SouthwestAirlines and even took pictures (will add links later).. Here’s one adorable lady repurposeing her socks: UPDATE: Isn’t this lady awesome? So cute and feisty. She reminds me of a friend at Holy Moly. Same playfulness. Clearly, she loves her sox.

  • Food, Glorious Food

    Just Do It: My Turkey Anxiety

    November 30, 2008 - By 

    I admit it, I have Turkey Anxiety. I’ve never actually cooked a complete Thanksgiving meal, and in fact I very, very, very rarely cook at all. David handles most of the day to day stuff, although I have a few things that I make for the two of us. We never entertain, because the house is almost never company-ready. There’s too much stuff to put away and no place to put it, and yadda yadda. But every now and then, I get the wild urge to make a turkey dinner around the holidays, with the side items that are my…