My intention was to start the new year with a new post and new insights. Didn't quite happen.
So here we are at the end of January, almost the end of the second quarter and I've been in the city for just a bit over 6 months. I still cannot believe that I live in this city. I still walk down the street, look around and am amazed. I know that there will be bad days, but I hope I don't lose this feeling for a very very long time.
It is currently 7 degrees outside and feels like -9, with the expectation of 4 - 6" of snow tomorrow. So this is a Chicago winter. Last weekend we got 8 inches of snow, it melted off, and now we are to get 6 more. Welcome back to the midwest. I don't mind it so much, except that my thin Arizona blood has not quite thickened up for this yet. I'm freezing my ass off! I must admit though, I do appreciate the fact that our building is all windows. With it getting dark so early, I can't imagine being back in a concrete building with no windows. I think I would go crazy.
Mom and Dad came out last weekend for the first time. We had a great time, and did lots of incredible things. I think they were a little overwhelmed by the city, as they haven't been here in over 30 years. When they arrived, they met me at school and I gave them the grand tour. I must admit, it's a pretty impressive building with great things to brag about! We went back and met Eric for dinner up on Clark St. at Galway Arms (great local Irish pub with great food). On Saturday we decided to go to the Museum of Science and Industry down in Hyde Park. I was trying to find something that dad would enjoy (as well as mom), and this seemed like just the right place. When we got down there, we realized that the U-505 boat was there and bought tickets to tour the inside. It was quite a tour! The museum has built an entire underground wing to host this U-boat with a HUGE exhibit. Dad was completely enthralled the entire time. We also saw the Rocky Mountain Express at the Imax theater about the Canadian Railroad going through the Rockies. It was impressive as well. After the museum, I took them to Lou Malnati's on Lincoln Ave. for some authentic Chicago-style pizza. Delicious. As always.
On Sunday we went out to brunch at Orange with a Peel (my favorite brunch place so far), and then to the Episcopal church on Fullerton. While breakfast was delicious, I need to remember that dad prefers a more traditional breakfast for next time. It was a little to "tastefull" for him . . . pear, cucumber, orange, pecans, cinnamon-maple, ginger, etc. A bit too much. Church was interesting though, cold in the building, but interesting. After church we headed over to the Navy Pier and walked out onto the end. I have not been out there yet, and it was probably too cold to do it on Sunday, but we had a great time! The lake is so beautiful, it doesn't even matter what time of year. When we finally went back inside the peer, we had Chicago-style hot dogs and Garrett's popcorn. Couldn't get any better for a Sunday afternoon.
Finally, on Sunday night, we went to see "Million Dollar Quartet" at the Apollo Theater. It was a show about Johnny Cash, Elivs Presley, Carl Perkins and Jerry Lee Lewis meeting at the Sun Records studio in the 50's, and creating a recording together. It was very well done, with all live music, which dad loved. A perfect ending to a wonderful weekend. They went home on Monday morning, after making pancakes and eggs for breakfast.
Even though we had a fantastic time, I am desperately looking forward to this weekend full of nothing. Drinks with the girls on Friday night, lesson plans and grading papers on Saturday and brunch with the knitting girls on Sunday. It will be nice to have nothing to do for the first time in a month.
