Chicago - One Great Day!

First and foremost, I can't believe how much FUN I had this Saturday in Chicago. I don't always take the time to detail out some of these visits, but now I shall. Be aware that this entry will be LONG, but fun-filled.

There were several negative factors that weighed in for the day that made for some concerned anticipation. Namely:
- The recent cold rainy days we were having
- Being around my 9 year old sister for longer than 20 minutes. (love her, but...)
- Feeding my 9 year old sister banana pudding for breakfast and then remembering I have to be with her for a period longer than 20 minutes.
- Missing the 810am Metra train (completely my fault) and navigating the entire way into downtown with no maps. Relying on my memory. The memory that failed to remind me what feeding my 9 year old sister sugar for breakfast can result in.

Whee.

Well, I navigated the crew properly into the parking garage (as chicagoans would call it the 'parkn gratch') and put us squarely in front of a mcdonalds in which to fuel my bubs with some breakfast. We think a bum took a dump in the stairwell and was getting yelled at by security. Triple gold points for me!

Knowing full well we arrived a clear 45 minutes before our tour guides anticipated us, I suggested we go on a riverwalk. Little girl being adorable in the big city:
So far, so GREAT! It was a gorgeous day for us to tackle Chicago, so I was very happy with our little walk.

We then promptly called our tour guide shop and hurried their little bums through their morning routine. Profuse apologies owed. Minus myself 4 points. We took a hasty visit out to their balcony quickly keeping an eye on all their sneaky kitties. Found all their cool action figures and geegaws which always entertain. I get served water in a Guiness glass. Bitchin. We boarded the MHP tour bus and she showed us THE 7TH FLOOR including some dude casting evil sweat glares from his treadmill in the exercise room. Iwanski gets snared by a spider web. I hate it when that happens.

Ok. We moved onward to THE CORN COBS!!!!! Through the tremendous generosity of JBuckW (funniest thing is that I can sometimes only think of him as "Buck" and he can only think of me as "Sfoofie". Apparently we are asking MHP all the time what our "real" names are!!!), we got to go up to the roof of the building. It was completely free, completely without lines, completely memorable, and totally thrilling! I grew up seeing these buildings all the time in Chicago, but never thought I would ever be running free up on the roof with family and friends. I like these three pictures I took -one from the outside, the other from the rooftop, and the final of my adorable MHP and I!



Although the visit was brief, I hope Buck knows how much this opportunity was appreciated. I can't believe someone so cool is tucked away into the corncobs!

We all then headed to Millenium Park. I've come to really like this area. I don't get bored from seeing 'The Bean', the acoustically perfect outdoor theater, the plants, or the Crown fountain. Us girlies kicked off our shoes and socks and even splashed around in the fountain waters. Here are my favorite pics from the park:




(note: at this point my dear sis is still being an ANGEL. It was fun to see her enjoy her first visit to a huge city!)

We decided on a visit to The Field Museum (since we were doing so well on time!). Along the way Iwanski entertains the crowd by yelling out "I LOVE PEANUT BUTTER" which had all of us in stitches - especially my younger siblings. I also got two of my FAVORITE pictures from the day headed over to the museum. First, you can see two skyscrapers reflected perfectly in the skyscraper across the street and a cute lamppost and flowers are tucked into the picture as well. I am pretty proud of the shot. Also there is lovable Iwanski fervently trying to seduce our bus into stopping.



At the Field Museum was the big red ball! We counted ourselves lucky to see it tucked right up against the Field Museum's columns.

We quickly divided into two camps at the museum: people willing to fork over a few dollars to see the weather exhibit (and, it should be noted, that they were EXCITED to see a weather exhibit) and the other camp being "haters of forking over extra dollars for a weather exhibit". The haters chose to see the awesome "Native Americas" exhibition and some relaxation time. (Hey, if I wanted to experience a tornado live, I'd head to Kansas sometime.) We then all toured the Egyptian and Animals exhibitions. The animals exhibition was COOL and GROSS and sometimes COOL BUT GROSS. I guess it was cool to do "The Bear": Guess that's Iwanski's way of meditating for a good NFL season. Or else he wants to go crazy and live in Alaska like a bear like this guy.

We then decide to head to Wrigleyville and dinner. Things quickly went sour when we boarded the "free trolley" to only go about 2 minutes away. As we slowly become confined in the small back corner with no driver in sight, you can see the mental notes being made in the Iwanski brain: We could have been there by now. When did we get on? 8 minutes ago? Yeah, definitely could have gotten there by now. This is why Chicago really doesn't deserve the Olympics. I'm never taking this free trolley ever again. All seven of us will have to get out of this corner at the very next stop and inconvenience the eight people standing in the aisles. I hate inconveniencing people. Also: Iwanski don't tell stories on stairs. etc. We made a smart strategic move putting MHP and my mom next to each other. Those two can chat their ears off of one another and become oblivious to their surrounding environment. Until Journey begins to play, in which case they sing loudly and get in fits of giggles. Very much sisters:
The trolley finally did move and, yes, we inconvenienced the packed aisles by shoving our 7 asses (as Chicagoans would call them 'aces') out at the next stop. Our trip on the brown line over to the Belmont stop was another event filed under "Reasons Why Chicago Might Not Be The Best Choice For The Olympics." You see, for that day (and that day only. Oh. Hmmm. Maybe.), the brown line was running on an orange line rail. And then shuttles (?!?) were set up at the end to provide additional confusion to the party. Luckily we got off before the shuttle service began.

Our dinner at Mi Tierra was (in the annoying manner of Giuliana Rancic) A.MAZING.
We had margaritas, real queso fundido, and I tried a plate of 3 different A.MAZING. items. (guacamole taco, chicken tostada, pork tamale). We all laughed and us margarita girls giggled when the tequila hit our systems.

After dinner, we made our way over to Navy Pier. Yes, after this entire day of awesomeness, we still had energy for Navy Pier. Navy Pier was really cool - despite us hitting one of the only non-firework-weekends they have. We walked out to the point, headed back through the buildings and the stained glass exhibition SO COOL,btw), got the kids some souuuvenirs, and ended the night with ice cream. Actually, the night ended with getting our driver (bubs) some coffee from 7-11 to make the trip home.

None of us can believe we did all of this in a single day. Besides one heart-attack-inducing trip over Iwanski's foot at the station platform and a couple other sugar rushes, my little sister was very well behaved. I also took special pride in my navigation skills on the fly and enjoyed the gorgeous weather.

Overall, I had nothin to worry about. Especially because we hired the MHP & Iwanski tour firm....If anything they provide the comic relief in any cramped free trolley corner.



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FYI: You can find some of the coolest Chitownphotos here

Let's update each other randomly!

* Today I found some cool looking number sparklers online and upon further investigation, they have a STAR shape sparkler as well! That's awesome right there. Why didn't I find these about a month ago for my birthday? I'm thinking I should just have another birthday. Or some occasion that warrants a star sparkler. I went into "pure glee" mode after I discovered them. I'm weird like that.
What have you found on the internet that made you enter pure glee mode?

* Did you know amazon.com wish list lets you have a "universal wish list" option you can add into your internet experience? Anything I find anywhere online (like, ahem, STAR SPARKLERS) I can add to my wish list and keep all cool things in one place. If you know my full real name you can go to amazon.com and view my wish list. (I can post a link here, but then all the world can view my address and that is just waaaay too much information for me to post publicly.) I have everything on there from magnetic "paper" dolls to wii items to legos and lots of books. Seeing fun stuff I like in one spot makes me smile.
What is on your wish list?

* I bought figs today because they are bubs' favorite fruit. I'd never had a fig before I met him, so buying fun foods like figs makes me appreciative of how much I've grown being with him. I got (and still get) such a rush from learning international things. That excitement is a part of the huge appeal of this man I'm happily stuck with. Did you know how difficult it is to find figs in this city? Have you ever had figs?

* Exactly four years ago I was on a very similar job search. I had suddenly quit the "going-nowhere" security job (yes, laugh away, I was a security officer), and needed something a little more grown up. I still don't regret leaving my recent job in March, but I do wish something could pass by and work out now. How many times can I tweak a resume and question my skills? Can I try something creative? Last time around the job fell really quickly into my lap. I am actively praying for the same results.
What are some traditional and non-traditional avenues I can look to find a job? Would you hire me?

* We are in the process of condo buying and I am completely lost with it all. I know some more details about places that I like better, but I couldn't tell you what a mortgage even is. I guess an idiot like me got lucky marrying a finance MBA guy. I get him figs and he gets us on a solid financial plan. I sometimes believe I'd be renting out a trailer on 7th st back home with my severe lack of financial knowledge. Yee haw!
Please tell me you were/are as lost as me with this?

* This upcoming weekend will include a visit to Chicago. We're hittin up skyscrapers and parks for lots of fun family time.
Aren't you jealous?

* I must end this update to grab lunch and do a bajillion loads of laundry this afternoon. I'm actually going to be going through old college papers and readings during my time at the laundromat so it should be fairly entertaining. I need to reflect on a time where I was intellectual. And completely oblivious to the real world.
Do you still have college/high school stuff that you can't get rid of?

Bang the drum.

Sooooo I just realized that my birthday is on MONDAY. I don't know how this was overlooked! I guess I kept thinking of it as something that is happening, oh, next week "sometime". Now I'm t-minus THREE DAYS! I think this is the first birthday where I don't really have a definitive plan for doing something fun. I'm known in this land for loving birthday's a little too much. It is both a blessing and a curse bestowed upon me from my mothah (and that side of the family). A blessing because I truly believe birthdays should be celebrated, cherished, loved, and special. A curse because it seems there are a ton of people who don't think like we do (we have a special title for them: PARTY POOPERS) and also a curse because there was bound to be a birthday where I'm caught at the last minute with no plans.
Sure, it was really (REALLY) cool to go home last weekend and find an adorable cake made just for our August birthdays (those end-of-Julyers steal all of our thunder typically) and it was really (REALLY) cool to get my birthday digital camera in the mail....but....now I feel like I'll have a quiet non-surprisical birthday.

I should talk about some memorable past birthdays:

4- My golden birthday and I actually remember it! I got a huuuge teddy bear from my aunties that I promptly named "snuggle-up-a-gus." I think I still have this bear!

5-10 - I get Barbies and Barbie accesories! whee!

16- My family threw me a SURPRISE SWEET 16 PARTY! It was so awesome.....and has a funny story to go with it. I had just spent a weekend with my grandparents and we were all going to meet at this restaurant so that my mom could take me back to c-ville. My mom had all my friends gathered and they all had their cameras trained on this one set of steps leading right to their table. I walk in with my grandparents and the hostess proceeded to lead us upstairs....via another set of steps! We get up and I happen to look over at this other huge table of people....and started recognizing my best friend. Weird, thinks me. Then she sees me and I notice all the rest of the table, balloons, party hats, and a banner. I was still shocked, but it was funny that the surprise was fairly ruined.

21- I took my two closest friends to Whitewater to partay! Yes, I got drunk out of my gourd. BUT, it was in a safe manner, thankyouverymuch. It had all the classic moments... pouring out drinks I didn't like (I'm a mean drunk), some drunk bridesmaid telling me my hair was beautiful, me yelling at k-dawg to get her away from me (I believe my exact words were "Get this bith away from me"), walking back to my friend's apartment from downtown, me refusing to walk any further and laying down in the grass, my friends convincing me for a long time that we were RIGHT OUTSIDE the door of my friend's apartment, sleeping, going back to the Delevan lakehouse we were staying at, and going for a boat ride the next day at TEN IN THE MORNING hungover as hell.

22-26 - I realize I'm in love with/living with/married to a mighty PARTY POOPER. Must convince said PARTY POOPER to deal with my BIRTHDAY EXCITEMENT.

Hmmm, for this birthday I think I'll just resort to margaritas.....because I'm known in this land for loving margaritas a little too much.

Photos

Photos are up on my photo album site from the first few days here. In the middle of loading them onto facebook the power cut, so now facebook is giving me problems. Power cuts are very common here and usually the generators kick in pretty instantly...last night it took the systems about 10 minutes to kick in though. One of the quirks of this place. :)

We've done a lot of recovering from jet lag around home here, but yesterday we did get out to Bsous to the silk factory museum there. It was super interesting and the gardens there were amazing. I'm really glad we went!

As some of you may have gathered, yes, a frickin spider (we think) bit MY EYE. It happened in the middle of the night and was really painful. It is still tender today, but not too bad. Luckily it was my upper eyelid area and, oh yeah, WASN'T POISONOUS. I was pretty traumatized! Everyone polled here claims to never even heard of anyone getting bitten by a spider or even stung by a bee here. How (un)lucky am I?!?!

Today dad A. will fly in to Lebanon from Dubai and we'll all get to be together on one continent finally. Other than that, we're playing it by ear. Like now I'm going to have tea and biscuits outside in the gorgeous weather. Ummmm, it's been gorgeous every day...300 days of sunshine this lovely place has. Enjoy the pictures!

Now that I've pulled myself together for the day...

Hey, I forgot to mention that it was my parents 20th wedding annivesary yesterday. How fantastic is that?! Their wedding was SO rockin you can't even imagine!


I'm the one on the lower right with the PERMAGRIN. The other little cuties are some of my girl cousins on my mum's side. Those were the exciting days of becoming a 'real' family, getting my ears pierced, being tall (I was always the "tall" girl until I was 12!), having adorable french braided hair, and wearing a cute puffy-sleeved peach dress with a bow on my ass. Also, when I was that age I wanted to be "prom queen or a nurse" when I grew up and constantly wished I was 14. I thought 14 was a magical age or something. Ok, so I was a little naieve and weird.

It is about to rain again. Basically, the rain gods only liked my young-maiden-sacrifice thing for a couple of days here. They're back to being vengeful and mighty. Ugh, the rain means AGAIN there is no sun out today. The thing I'm most worried about on this trip overseas is the sun burning my delicate skin. While we here in WI have enjoyed a nice winter since last September (ok, fine, we're about a week into spring), Lebanon is about 4 months into summer already. I spent the 1/2 day of sunshine we've had outside and already burned my shoulders. The one spot I didn't put sunscreen on and left unprotected for 15 minutes. I am soooooo going to stick out like a pale thumb over there.

My Dad

I had a pretty strong connection to my dad right away even if I didn't meet him until I was eight. I distinctly remember my parents wedding day (how many kids can say that?) and I think it was just meant to be how everything worked out. He's my dad through and through. I'm the one who would sit in the basement (his woodshop) and watch him make things out of wood. He would even give me scrap wood for me to make cool tables and things for my Barbie empire.(hey, my entire walk-in closet at that house was Barbieland. or 'a mess' if you asked my mom.) He's a fantastic wood craftsmen and I'm pretty proud of every little gift I have made by him. There's something special about holding a wooden pen made by dad.

I've (shamefully) given my dad so much hell through the years, but, you have to believe I have a huge amount of respect for the guy too. He's the one I could whine at to get my way and can be quite a teddy bear. I will always cherish how he was the one who ultimately soothed out so many stresses with the wedding. Even though it wasn't his thing to have a huge formal wedding (he would have really liked for everyone to grab a cheeseburger from the Burger King drive through, wave, and leave), he was there for me.

I have so many crazy good memories about dad. Him dressing as Santa Claus, driving through the streets of C-ville embarrassing me by yelling "WE GOT PIZZA HUT" out the open window (and honking the horn), teasing me about boys, always getting us ice cream, regaling us with tales about the dump, giving us rides on the tractor, walking through the woods, singing Elvis songs, making me watch John Wayne movies (OVER AND OVER), talking like Arnold Schwarzenegger (making t-shirts with him looking like Schwarzenegger!), all his dad-isms, ALWAYS CHANGING THE OIL ON MY CAR, and so on (this list could carry on a long time)

I know I didn't cry or get emotional when he walked this little girl down the aisle and I know I didn't cry when we had our father-daughter dance (I was sooo happy that day!) .... but today as I write these words I'm filled with tears knowing how much my dad means to me. He's bitchin, trust.

Jukebox Friday....A greeting from my heart

This is a strange day....this entry won't have the usual overtones "le blog sfoof" normally has. As bad as things seem in Lebanon, it could all just turn around and be ok in a few days. It is very interesting the balance an entire country is in. Well, I'm not going to analyze it poorly here... just know the family is fine up in the mountains. That doesn't mean we don't worry. It's like sitting down in the most beautiful restaurant, everyone is laughing, and two of us get served something completely unsavory. Yet, everyone else is still completely enjoying the party. What do you do? Do you drag it all down, switch out dishes and pretend the unsavory parts away, or cautiously take it all in? I will be at a sort-of standstill.

Fairouz, Li Beirut



Translated
Li Beirut - To Beirut

A greeting from my heart to Beirut
kisses to the sea and to the houses
to a rock, which is like an old sailor’s face
She is made from the people’s soul..from wine
She is from his sweat…of bread and Jasmines
So how does her taste become? A taste of fire and smoke

Glory from the ashes to Beirut
My city has turned out her lamp
From the blood of a child carried upon her hand
She shut her door, and became alone in the sky
Alone with the night
You are mine, you are mine
Ah Hug me you are mine
You are my flag, tomorrow stone
And a travel’s waves
The wounds of my people have blossomed
And mothers tear
You are mine, you are mine
Ah Hug me

Nephews

Me: "Jonah, can I have a kiss right here?" (pointing to my cheek) *kiss*

A little while later:

Me: "Jonah, can aunty have another kiss?"
Jonah: "I can't"
Me: "But you did before!"
Jonah: "I just can't"
Me: "Why?"

*pause*

Jonah: "I'm sorry I kissed you before."

tee hee.

Jonah is a very imaginative child which I adore. Some examples:
- He carries around little pieces of yarn in a bag and he calls them his snakes. Then he'll bundle up the yarn and call it a nest. "SHHH!" They're "patching out a da egg!" is what he tells me.
- He'll make you draw anything and everything on the magna doodle. He just loves the magna doodle! When I asked him if he was going to grow up and draw/be a firefighter/make lots of money/make no money, he promptly asked for me to draw him "lots of money" on the magna doodle.
- Laundry baskets are effective "cars" for Jonah - also drums
- He can sit and play with this train track lego set forever
- Jonah would run up to anyone who came in the house, "Cici's here!" (he calls me Cici) Then he'll point to me and go "That's Cici!"... even if I know the person very well.
- For the record: Jonah is not cute and only sometimes a monkey.


And I'd like to share another picture of Caleb (courtesy of mum):


It was a great Sunday/Monday seeing my nephews... and everyone else (ha!)

Around, helping out, bits n' pieces

Week 1 of retirement (ha) is suiting me quite nicely.

Monday
Kidnapped early 90s yr old great grandma from her assisted living facility. Had to remind her a billion times that it is OK that she has a walker now. Got to hear that the staff at the place are super nice, she folds all the laundry to help out, she cleans up at the bingo events (has a sack of winnings hidden away), and she announces that a lot of them are just "too old" for her to form a friendship with them. When asked if she cared what people think: "Of course not, that is a great thing with being old." She is adjusting much better now. I'm happy.

Enjoyed lunch with the three other generations (great grandma, grandma, mom). Ate fantastic grilled cheese sandwich (homemade bread! cheese!). Talked about crocheting, babies, family, and Project Runway. Told stories. Played cribbage with grandpa and won. Talked about Hilbert, Wisconsin. Drove great grandma back to her room in time for afternoon meds.

Lovely.

Tuesday
Tackled dirty apartment. Started with laundry. Few disasters occurred: Broke a closet door and washed a blanket that was best left unwashed. Fucking lint everywhere. Vacuumed, picked up trash, unpackaged wedding gifts, made a list of projects wishing to be completed. Fucking lint everywhere.

Lovely.

Wednesday
Went to doctor for annual bleck. Bleck bleck. Gave me a Hep A booster. I politely held off on tetanus booster. Had lunch with my new best friend (me) and hung out all afternoon with my new best friend (me). Worked out with former coworker who told me that awful former coworker was fired. Whoo! Justice served. (I mean, she got seven months to correct her habits! Seven!) Watched first episode of Top Chef Chicago. Wondered what Sweet Tea Reduction tastes like.

Lovely


Thursday
Helped Bethy via email with more ideas of GREEN food to serve at her upcoming party. Wished I had a party to plan. Helped Phil to pick out new music to download. Wished I could be full time life & style consultant. Went for a walk in the LOVELY warmer-ish weather. Watched Lost. Felt confused and delighted all at once.

Lovely

Friday
First tinges of boredom. Probaly only because I'm waiting for a new debit card to arrive in the mail (tragically lost debit card last Friday). Hate paying by check. Can't order anything online. (I only have real money to spend - no credit cards). Waiting Waiting. Playing lots of music going through piles of stuff in the bedroom. Piles and boxes.

Jukebox Friday - Must link again ! - sorry kids.

Lovely