Local Woman Embraces Change

Back in December, my desire for gadgets finally overtook my skepticism about the Kindle. I baby-stepped it by first gifting Kindles to RTP and HAS. Seemed pretty cool. Then CCB mentioned she was getting one for her birthday (also in December) and that peaked my curiosity even more since CCB is a fellow book lover. So I took the plunge, and typical to someone who can be weary of change (oh! the technology!), I started to get a little worried about how I would manage this.

See, I'm a bit of a collector and what I like to collect are books. Not quite hoarding or anything, but I often think with pride that if the power went out for days or we were seriously snowed in, we would never run out of entertainment with all the books we have!  And we have them everywhere - under nightstands, bookcases, stacked in coffee table drawers, side tables...it is glorious! Don't tell RJB, but I am secretly trying to turn our house into a library. That is until the Kindle arrived. 

Amazon got this thing figured out - how to get the literary folks of the US hyper built up about the arrival of their Kindle. You get all sorts of little emails after you purchase - congrats on your Kindle purchase!  You can set your Kindle up and buy books while your Kindle ships! Your Kindle is on its way! Last time I was this excited about the UPS man coming was when....well, I aways get excited about the UPS guy. Have I mentioned my obsession with fun mail? I digress...

The Kindle arrives during that suspense period between Christmas and New Years - when you are still pumped from Christmas but you know the "fun" of the office is just around the corner. I run downstairs to get my prize while still in my PJ pants and of course my floor neighbor is also hustling down for a package....at least I made him chuckle. And at least I had socks on (there's something oddly intimate about seeing a stranger's bare feet. or is that just me?) The Kindle box is fancy and custom sorta like how the Harry Potter book boxes would be when you pre-ordered them. I gently open the box, read all the documents, and discover it has to charge. Boo. In the meantime, to play it safe, I buy an Agatha Christie book to take it on a test drive. Which was too easy, frankly.

Well, I like it. I like it a lot. In fact, those stories I heard from Kindle converts about reading more than they ever had before turn out to be true. And what's even better is that you can get the old classics for free! For the first time in our relationship, RJB had peace from my chatter because I just sit and read. And I can still scan the copyright page on the Kindle (yes, this is a sad glimpse into my reading-frenzy). Buying books is a breeze to the point you sometimes forget you are actually paying money. Since you have to have the one-click purchase thing set up, you never need to retrieve your wallet. Those clever amazon guys!

Next I take the Kindle for a spin on the train. Love. It. Though I have to admit, last week I was so engrossed in my book (The Hunger Games) that I almost missed my stop. I'm sure the other people on the train got a chuckle seeing my face. 

So, here's the thing. There are some books that I feel one has to buy in original format.  It is hard to really describe how that determination is made. Perhaps it hits with the pride part - do I want people to see that I own a particular book? Because this is what is best about the Kindle - I can read all those books I wouldn't be caught dead reading in public. Like the Twilight series. Though I read a few Wilkie Collins book that I would love to have in original format, but I am just fine with the free Kindle version (not to mention that ADF had to special order these Collins titles because B&N didn't carry them in stock. ha!).  Ongoing battle, very much self created.

Bottom line, I am a fan. But this isn't to say that I don't get excited about cracking open a book for the first time, feeling the paper, smelling the, well, smells.  The instant gratification of getting the next book in a series instantly (assuming you are reading behind the times) is fantastic. One bummer is when traveling, the airlines consider the Kindle an electronic device that has to be turned off on take off and landing. Seems weird to me since it isn't actually "on" but for the nanosecond it takes to turn the page. Whatever.

P.S. Michelle, I saw your comment about book. Set up an account on goodreads.com and connect with CCB and me. Its like facebook for books! Y is on it too but she hasn't put any books in her profile yet. 

Big Willie Impresses All

Keeping up with tradition, the Dallas gals (man, we need a catchy name) all met up in Dallas for our first 2011 visit. Apparently we have become quite busy; busy enough that in order to pick a date for us to come together, CCB had to create a calendar for us to all shade out boxes that were no-gos for being out of town. And yes, given the accounting dorkiness, CCB was able to whip together a nice Excel document in like 2 minutes. As it turned out, ADF's birthday weekend was open for all of us, so off we went to Dallas the first weekend of June.

This trip was a little more special for me, above and beyond that it was my BFF's birthday. First off, I got to meet ADF's man, Big Willie, and indeed, he is the wonderful man she has built him up to be. Second, for what seems to be the first time, we went to restaurants that ADF had yet to visit! This truly is a big deal since ADF is practically Ms Dallas. One of the places we went to is in an old public school. I used to look at this building in my fund manager's office over at the Big H, year one. I was very interested in it (putting my I-wanted-to-be-a-historian hat on) since it was old and always boarded up but clearly cared for. Pretty cool it is now a restaurant with a swingin' porch.

Each time I go back to Dallas, it is bittersweet. Bitter because two of my best friends still live there and I have come to terms that they will never move to Chicago. Sigh. Also, I do love that heat and being able to drive your car everywhere and valet it everywhere (even at the mall!). I am first and foremost a Texan. Sweet because I realize that I am falling more and more in love with Chicago and I know I made the right decision to move here.

Somehow we were able to surprise ADF with the Longchamp 

bag... Don't you dig the fanciness of Hollywood Nail's decor? Clearly

dealing with an identity crisis!

I think the valet was taken with us given he suggested that we 

sit on the cow for photos. We are fetching, after all. 

Hopefully ADF gave him a good tip!

Practically like a spa day at Y's! There was also a great kiddie slide 

set up, but for loyalty of the girls, I didn't want to post slide photos.

You know the restaurant is hot when you still have to 

wait quite a while when you have reservations!  There's a 

cool blow out place next door that I would love to 

try. But alas, I just cut off my long hair....

 Happy Birthday!

Hold the beans, please!

RJB and I thought we should take a short vaca for our two year anniversary. For those of you keeping up, the last time we went on vacation for the sole purpose of vacation (as opposed to weddings) was July 4th weekend, 2009. Needless to say, we were excited since we love to travel and love staying in hotels.

Boston sounded like a good option since RJB had never been and the one time I went, it rained quite a bit. Well. I am convinced that it is always raining in Boston, no matter the time of year. What gives?! The other thing is that it was kinda cold - upper-50s. What gives again?!

This trip was also opening day for the dreaded Big Five (I'll let sad PA jokes lie).  So what is the Big Five? Well, its the 5 lbs that have tailgated me ever since May and refuse to go away. Mind you, it was delightful to put on the Big Five: crab cakes, lobster casserole (mmm...buttery), 5 course Italian dinner at Bricco (which I enjoyed more than RJB...but I think I enjoyed it enough to cover the table next to us too!), lobster with homemade pasta, whoopie pies, wine wine and more wine....I think I am missing a dinner but you get the point. That said, be kind about the Big Five you see tailgating in the photos.

Love Kimpton Intouch

Apparently Harvard boys had to pump their own water

 So MIT not so interesting. But this building is kinda cool. 

Paul Revere's House

 Check out the narrow sidewalks!

Captain of Industry!

Bunker Hill

A close observer may notice two things from this series of photos: (1) there are no shots of us as a couple. RJB seems to think that asking someone to take our picture is inconveniencing people.  He will need to get over this once we are in China. (2) The red umbrella is with RJB in all the photos. Yes, it rained just about every day. But this goes further than mere rain protection; the red umbrella became an extension of RJB. Turns out, it is a great way to gesture to points of interest, makes a statement when giving directions, and is jaunty when using it as a walking stick.  In fact, someone in the train station stopped RJB for directions. With a quick point of the red umbrella, the lost fellow was found. However fortunately for me, RJB has not investigated buying a walking stick. Yet. 

Clang, clang, clang goes the trolley

It's been quite a long time since I blogged. I started to consider giving it up because (1) I haven't posted in about 7 months, and (2) I don't think many people read it. However, in the last few weeks, I have had two loved ones comment on the lack of posts....so here we go.

I'm sure you think that the last 7 months of a 30-something, somewhat newly married, childless lass in Chicago has had all sorts of interesting adventures. Well. I'm not quite so sure about that. Here's the brief history and I'll blog separately on the more interesting events.

- Bought a Kindle. This will be a blog post unto itself since I am Grade-A nerdy about my reading.
- Completed my associate course with Junior League Chicago (what, JMB in Junior League?!  I have successfully stayed away from the sorority pep rally so far...)
- Celebrated RJB's and my second wedding anniversary.
- Went to Boston
- Went to Dallas
- Parents came to Chicago
- Went to FdL
- Rediscovered Luna Pinot Grigio, the one that started my love of PG.
- Dad had good a Q1 and Q2 for test results.
- RJB and I finally got a grill.
- Ran into the garage and put a dent in the passenger door. I'll have to photograph how tight this space is...
- "Celebrated" my 9 year anniversary at GT.
- Revived my love of HBO Sundays with Game of Thrones
- Joined the professional board of PAWS Chicago. Also fell in love with Thomas, a beautiful cat. He was finally adopted. Bittersweet in the B household.
- Ran the slowest 5K ever (heat + humidity+ lack of running), however it was my first 'race' without headphones and the first 'race' that I was not nervous about and actually enjoyed.
- Got promoted.

So there's the flyby of my last 7 months. And here I go back on the trolley.....

Mobius One Escaped

Yesterday someone made a very interesting observation about a well loved Christmas tune. It introduced just the right amount of creepiness to make it worthy of a post. The song is Baby its Cold Outside. Cute little duet, right? I bet you picture a couple in love, ready to settle in for a cold night. Well, get a load of this:


I really can't stay (baby its cold outside)
My mother will start to worry (beautiful what's your hurry)
My father will pace the floor......


Setting a creepy stage, eh? There's more:
But maybe just a half a drink more (put some records on while I pour)
The neighbors might faint (baby it's bad out there)
Say what's in this drink (no cabs to be had out there)
I ought to say "no, no, no sir" (mind if I move in closer)
At least i'm gonna say that I tried (what's the sense in hurtin' my pride)
I really can't stay (oh baby don't hold out)


Hmmm...this ditty was written in 1944. Creepy. Creepy like the oh so popular Young Girl. What is curious is everyone sings along to these types of songs with glee and zeal, but if a song along the same theme was written today, people would go buck wild. RJB noted that he has read an analysis of Baby its Cold Outside. My innocent self was unaware of such horrors in popular oldies tunes. 


On a completely unrelated note, one of my mentors had his final day with the firm on Friday. While I am far far away, there is something sad about knowing one of the good people in the Dallas office has moved on. Clearly friendship and great advice transcend the walls of the office so while I lost a colleague, I still have a friend.  Honestly, it is bettersweet: I am terribly sad that he is not a fellow lifer and I know the firm just suffered a great loss, but I am also so excited for the new opportunities and refreshed energy he and his family have in their future.   

Frolic and play, the Eskimo way?

So, as a starter, yes it occurred to me that my blog background is Halloween themed. Please look beyond those little pieces of candy and focus on the cuteness and wiseness (likely not a word, right) of those owls.  While I've seen many-a-cute winter holiday blogs, I have quite the winter wonderland scene right out my window thank you very much. And whoever penned that "walking in a winter wonderland" is in any way fanciful had to be from the south or is one of those odd winter lovin' Cheeseheads. I actually work with people that claim winter is their favorite time of year. Right.

As many of you know (or may not know) each year I'm in Chicago, I make a valiant attempt to force myself to embrace the winter. Sorta like a northerner tempting the deep south in August with no A/C in their car - you know, the real miserable experience. Anywho:

Year 1 - shuffling through the Shamrock Shuffle in a wet wintery mix (I discovered this weekend that people 'in the know' still talk about the race that year...and yes, I smile with pride).

Year 2 - attended a ND game after a huge snow storm. We sat in snow packed stadium seats for a solid two quarters. This was also the year I walked about six blocks round trip to a client in sub-zero air temps. Kind that makes your teeth hurt.

Year 3 - I decided unintentionally to jump start my winter embrace experience. I volunteered to work the pre-registration tent at the Rudolph Ramble 8K on Sunday morning (this was really a double challenge - I had to check in at 6:45 am. Why do I do this to myself?). This was Sunday:

The caption for this one is "not that bad". Oh these hilarious Midwesterners. See the scrunched shoulders, death grip on the bag, unflattering outerwear, and the look of misery on the face...yes, it IS a winter wonderland!

 This one is just for Mom - the puppy looks like her Belle! And a flying nun.

Sunday brought sleet, snow, wind (gusts up to 50 mph...are you kidding me), and a sad little Texan sitting in a tent handing out bibs to crazy runners.  But I did it and as my Dad would say, it put a little hair on my chest. Character building? Misery inducing? Whatever you call it, seeing this beautiful skyline immediately makes it worth it to me. Can you have a love affair with a skyline?

Pictures courtesy of Chicago Tribune

Have I mentioned I like to eat?

Happy Thanksgiving! RJB and I have continued with our tradition - Turkey Trot in the morning, dinner with the in-laws in the evening, then out to FdL for our second round of turkey lovin'.

Mom with her bird

Dad doing the honors of surgically breaking down Mom's bird

It was good times all around though I cannot believe Christmas is right around the corner! Hopefully work will let up a bit so I can enjoy my favorite time of year! 

RJB and I continue to make home improvements. The third plumber was a charm in fixing our forever leaking faucets, a home theater (or something) guy is mounting our TVs this week, we purchased some uber cool and modern fixtures (lamp and bookcase to hold TV components), and are in the market to buy more furniture. We are selling my old TV stand and arm chair and plan on replacing the chair with some goodies from Design Within Reach. Thank goodness RJB also likes mid-century modern design.  Nonetheless, we are making progress but as we bring in new furniture, our old stuff looks bulky. Perhaps this is all part of the consumerism plot to get people to buy more. 

We are still considering whether or not we will put up a tree this year.  I noticed that a lot of people in our area have their decorations already up.  Not sure if they are really motivated or just taking advantage of no snow and abnormally warm weather.  I, however, am currently too lazy to open my Christmas decoration boxes. :-(

Tomorrow is the much awaited doctor's appointment for Dad. Cross your fingers and pray for a big zero on the test results!