How Not to Buy a Rug

After dim sum in Chinatown and before dropping my friends off at O'Hare, we all hit the shops on Armitage Ave. We stimulated Chicago's economy a bit more...at Lori's, the Paper Source, and a beautiful shop that was new to me, the Green Goddess Boutique ("sustainable chic"). I saw a gorgeous rug there that would be just right for our little Chicago bungalow. I loved it so much, I was finally tempted to look at the price: $4,500+.

Since we had spent a good chunk of time earlier in the weekend talking about/comparing tuition at various universities, I laughed at myself for even fantasizing about owning that rug. My first thought was that the rug represented about a semester of college (at an in-state, public university).

My second thought was that I could probably weave a rug for less than that.

BFFs

I don't get to see my college roommates very often...we all live in different cities now. But last Sunday morning before our reunion came to an end, my friend and I walked up Michigan Avenue, from Monroe to the Water Tower. Then we crossed to the other side and walked back down. We walked and talked and walked and talked.

It really is a Magnificent Mile.

Yoga Fun

The very accommodating staff at the Hotel Burnham, where my college roommates and I were reunioning, lent us some yoga mats on Saturday morning so that we could try the free yoga class in Millenium Park. I've always wanted to do yoga outside against a beautiful backdrop, like on the yoga videos. So I was pleasantly surprised to discover I could do that right here in my own urban setting. Savasana with my eyes wide open!

Gumbo v. Jambalaya

Do you know the difference? An infamous story in my household concerns a fourth grade reading teacher and her mind-boggling, multiple-choice pop quizzes. You now, the ones designed to make children hate reading? On one of these 5-question tests, my daughter incorrectly matched the definition of jambalaya to the word gumbo and the definition of gumbo to the word jambalaya. She ended up with a big fat "D" on the quiz.

I told this tale to my college friends at our roomie reunion this weekend, here in Chicago. While we were eating lunch at Heaven on Seven! So before we left the restaurant, we made sure we all understood what makes gumbo gumbo.

The Interrupters

Tuesday night we took our fifteen-year-old daughters down to the Gene Siskel Film Center to see the documentary The Interrupters. This is the Alex Kotlowitz-produced film spotlighting violence mediators working in Chicago neighborhoods.

The theater was full, the audience engaged (including my daughters). It's a riveting movie for many reasons. Afterward, one of the interrupters (not shown in the film) was taking questions. Someone asked how many interrupters are currently active, and I think he said 15. But even if he said 50, I'd be discouraged. Seems like we need more interrupters on the planet.

So, consider a financial gift to the organization. Or consider seeing the film. It will be playing through August 25th. And if you go this weekend, the three interrupters featured in the film are scheduled to appear at some viewings.

Hello, Again

Recently my 12-year-old niece asked me, "Aunt Kathy, why don't you ever post anything on your blog anymore?"

(Ha! I just didn't see that coming. I had no idea she even knew I had a blog.)

Well, I've almost forgotten how to do it, but let me try a little warm-up exercise to see what happens...Quick! 5 things I love about Chicago in the summertime:

1. The beach. Last Friday afternoon I was thinking about my brother-in-law moving to California. I was sitting on the beach (Foster Ave.) looking out at Lake Michigan...and hoping he was able to spend one last peaceful afternoon on Chicago's lakefront. The Pacific Ocean is awesome and all, but I bet he will miss his beautiful view of the Lake.

2. Mexican ice cream carts. And those coconut ice cream bars. Delivered to me at the beach, at our block party, on my front porch!

3. Out-of-town visitors. This weekend 5 of my college roommates are coming in to hang out. (One from Minnesota, one from New York, one from Pennsylvania, one from Michigan, and one from England.) Woot! Woot! They'll be arriving just in time for the....

4. Chicago Air & Water Show. Still exciting after all these years.

5. Eating breakfast/reading the paper outside on the back porch.

Now that wasn't so bad. But I must go eat my sorbet now. Ciao!