It's true what they say, you can always come home. Even if sometimes it means biding time stuck on a train en route and sleeping on an air mattress once you get there.
After a long day traveling via bus-El-plane-T-commuter rail (which I was stuck on outside Union Station for an extra hour and a half due to a derailed train in front of us), I finally made it home safely. I was welcomed with open arms... and also an egg nog and whiskey (thanks to my sister!).
I was reminded of home almost immediately upon my return; I ran into an old college friend in South Station (Boston) and a new friend in Union Station (Worcester). In my short stay so far, I've learned that despite the air mattress and rearranged room, not much has changed around here. And no matter how much things may change, friends and family stay the same. And I plan on spending the next three weeks enjoying it!
Saturday, December 12, 2009
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Observations from O’Hare Part II
Two weeks later, I find myself once again sitting in another terminal in O’Hare. This time I’m flying American home for the holidays. I’ve flown United so much in the last couple years that I have become a Terminal 1 snob. I feel out of place in this Terminal 3… far less moving sidewalks, no intercom reminder to wash your hands and no hot pilots sitting across from me. What a bummer. Despite the differences, I am going to try to come up with some humorous observations once again…
-A different terminal, another man walking around without his shoes on.
-Instead of a hot pilot, I am sitting across from a guy wearing a Yankees hat. I wonder if he realizes this is a flight to BOSTON (speaking of, good-bye Mike Lowell, parting is such sweet sorrow!)
-Holy crap, some guy is wearing shorts. I wonder if HE realizes this is a flight to Boston!
-The kid in the Yankees hat is making plans with some people to go out in Boston in the North End. Good decision to avoid the Fenway.
-McDonald’s is the number one food choice in this terminal as it was in the United one last month. This kid just opened his Big Mac and I started drooling all over my cute new green puffy vest.
-Looking around, I think I am the only girl on this flight.
-Here comes a pilot… but he’s old. Maybe I should see if they have a suggestion box where I can request cuter, younger pilots to stare at while I wait for my flight.
-There is a guy here that makes me wonder… is he famous or important or does he just like to act like he is? I’m going with the latter; he might have a first class ticket which could explain his behavior. And his turtleneck.
-The Big Mac kid is wearing a Northwestern sweatshirt. Should have worn my DePaul hoodie and we could have had a staring contest to see whose school is better. My cute green (and reversible) vest trumps his purple attire.
-There is a girl in a pair of boots, but they look more like dead animals wrapped around her legs.
-The man sitting across from me looks like a younger version of my late Uncle George. I have the urge to give him a hug.
-I just spied the Yankee hat kid's name tag dangling from his carry on. He has two first names. Never trust a man with two first names... especially if he is wearing a Yankee hat.
Time to go! Boston, here I come!
-A different terminal, another man walking around without his shoes on.
-Instead of a hot pilot, I am sitting across from a guy wearing a Yankees hat. I wonder if he realizes this is a flight to BOSTON (speaking of, good-bye Mike Lowell, parting is such sweet sorrow!)
-Holy crap, some guy is wearing shorts. I wonder if HE realizes this is a flight to Boston!
-The kid in the Yankees hat is making plans with some people to go out in Boston in the North End. Good decision to avoid the Fenway.
-McDonald’s is the number one food choice in this terminal as it was in the United one last month. This kid just opened his Big Mac and I started drooling all over my cute new green puffy vest.
-Looking around, I think I am the only girl on this flight.
-Here comes a pilot… but he’s old. Maybe I should see if they have a suggestion box where I can request cuter, younger pilots to stare at while I wait for my flight.
-There is a guy here that makes me wonder… is he famous or important or does he just like to act like he is? I’m going with the latter; he might have a first class ticket which could explain his behavior. And his turtleneck.
-The Big Mac kid is wearing a Northwestern sweatshirt. Should have worn my DePaul hoodie and we could have had a staring contest to see whose school is better. My cute green (and reversible) vest trumps his purple attire.
-There is a girl in a pair of boots, but they look more like dead animals wrapped around her legs.
-The man sitting across from me looks like a younger version of my late Uncle George. I have the urge to give him a hug.
-I just spied the Yankee hat kid's name tag dangling from his carry on. He has two first names. Never trust a man with two first names... especially if he is wearing a Yankee hat.
Time to go! Boston, here I come!
Wrapping my head around it
On Monday, I made good use of my spare time and volunteered to wrap gifts for children. Lydia House is a non-profit organization that supports children and families in Illinois. Several different organizations rely on Lydia House to make Christmas and the holidays a good time for kids in foster care, mothers with infants who need help, among others. However, I was not quite prepared for what I experienced.
Instead of sitting at a table wrapping a pile of gifts in front of me, I walked into the gymnasium and there were boxes everywhere, piled on top of each other all around the room, kind of like a giant fort. Each box had a name on it with a wish list from the child. These lists are then distributed to different churches, organizations and individuals who would like to donate to this great cause. When I got there, there wasn’t much to wrap—just a pile of winter hats knit by a women’s group for the occasion. We distributed the wrapped hats to different boxes, looking for the hat color to match the child’s favorite color if possible.
About an hour later, a “delivery” was made. It took about 20 minutes to unload all of the gifts and the room was filled with bags and bags of unwrapped gifts. I was a little overwhelmed with the amount of presents that were donated in that one delivery. Not because I had to try my hand at wrapping some of them (I barely made a minuscule dent during my shift), but by the generosity of the people who donated them.
Even during a recession, people are still willing to give to others. It’s a humbling experience like this that renews one’s faith in the human race. My parents are good people and have always set an example of giving for their children; they even have two little gift requests hanging on the refrigerator at their house. It’s really nice to see that there are a lot more people out there who would sacrifice the equivalent of a week of Starbucks coffee in order to make someone’s holiday a little better. On the news all you hear is bad news—robberies, muggings, deaths, the sinking economy and unemployment rates. No wonder half the country is on Prozac and the other half is obese from eating in order to escape the dreary depression of the real world. I just don’t watch the news. Perhaps I would if more occasions like the one I witnessed in the gymnasium that day would be caught on camera.
I think I fulfilled my love and quota for wrapping gifts this holiday season… and I haven’t even started wrapping my own yet! Good think I’m traveling light this Christmas (just kidding, Megan) ;)
Instead of sitting at a table wrapping a pile of gifts in front of me, I walked into the gymnasium and there were boxes everywhere, piled on top of each other all around the room, kind of like a giant fort. Each box had a name on it with a wish list from the child. These lists are then distributed to different churches, organizations and individuals who would like to donate to this great cause. When I got there, there wasn’t much to wrap—just a pile of winter hats knit by a women’s group for the occasion. We distributed the wrapped hats to different boxes, looking for the hat color to match the child’s favorite color if possible.
About an hour later, a “delivery” was made. It took about 20 minutes to unload all of the gifts and the room was filled with bags and bags of unwrapped gifts. I was a little overwhelmed with the amount of presents that were donated in that one delivery. Not because I had to try my hand at wrapping some of them (I barely made a minuscule dent during my shift), but by the generosity of the people who donated them.
Even during a recession, people are still willing to give to others. It’s a humbling experience like this that renews one’s faith in the human race. My parents are good people and have always set an example of giving for their children; they even have two little gift requests hanging on the refrigerator at their house. It’s really nice to see that there are a lot more people out there who would sacrifice the equivalent of a week of Starbucks coffee in order to make someone’s holiday a little better. On the news all you hear is bad news—robberies, muggings, deaths, the sinking economy and unemployment rates. No wonder half the country is on Prozac and the other half is obese from eating in order to escape the dreary depression of the real world. I just don’t watch the news. Perhaps I would if more occasions like the one I witnessed in the gymnasium that day would be caught on camera.
I think I fulfilled my love and quota for wrapping gifts this holiday season… and I haven’t even started wrapping my own yet! Good think I’m traveling light this Christmas (just kidding, Megan) ;)
Saturday, December 5, 2009
A Saturday Wait-and-Skate-fest
"We live in the best city in the world," said Elli as we walked toward to El heading home.
I smiled and nodded. We had just spent the last few hours at Millennium Park downtown enjoying the public ice rink. And we weren't the only ones. The line for rental skates wrapped around nearly the entire rink, which was probably the same size as an NHL rink. But the hour and a half wait was worth the blast we had when we actually stepped on the ice.
While we waited in line, we occupied ourselves by criticizing the technique of the skaters on the ice. And some of the outfit choices of the women, cringing at the ones who weren't wearing any gloves, and laughing at the woman who thought it was appropriate to wear a mid-drift top and an open jacket for an afternoon of ice skating. Our favorite skater to watch was Brian Boitano, or a man who thought he was the legendary pro. He was a middle aged man, with ragged hair covered by a baseball cap and he was clad in jeans and a tight shirt. He weaved through the crowd, switching between backward and forward glides, tossing in the occasional spin. But when Mr. Wanna Be Boitano came across and empty area, he slipped in a little leap or a standing sit spin move, complete with elegant arms. We decided he must have been a competitive figure skater at some point in his life. Sadly, he was nowhere to be found when we got our turn to show off our moves.
While we didn't skate for nearly as long as we waited in line (I don't think we could have taken anymore of the cold!), gliding around the rink laughing at ourselves stumbling (okay, maybe that was just me doing the stumbling) around a giant oval over and over again was such a fun time. I haven't been ice skating in seven years, since I visited the rink in Boston during college (Boston's rink is a LOT smaller than this one is and in Chicago no one yells at you if you touch or hold on to the railings or take a break on the edge of the rink). I thought I would fall on my face, or have a bruised rear end by the time we were done with the adventure, but I only lightly tumbled to the ice twice (both times in the same place) and it took a good 15 minutes for the first spill to take place! We hit the ice after the Zamboni freshly cleaned the ice, causing me to be doubled over from the get-go and nearly falling on my face from the slippery surface, but I recovered quickly once I got my footing and as soon as the ice got chewed up from all the dozens of other skaters lapping me.
Our toes and noses were so frozen by 4 p.m. that we decided to return our skates and continue the festivities with a cup of hot chocolate back at the apartment in order to defrost. But as we walked to the El, we both agreed that Chicago is truly an amazing city. And that ice skating is still really fun, no matter how old--or bad--we are (or just me, Elli's pretty good!).
I smiled and nodded. We had just spent the last few hours at Millennium Park downtown enjoying the public ice rink. And we weren't the only ones. The line for rental skates wrapped around nearly the entire rink, which was probably the same size as an NHL rink. But the hour and a half wait was worth the blast we had when we actually stepped on the ice.While we waited in line, we occupied ourselves by criticizing the technique of the skaters on the ice. And some of the outfit choices of the women, cringing at the ones who weren't wearing any gloves, and laughing at the woman who thought it was appropriate to wear a mid-drift top and an open jacket for an afternoon of ice skating. Our favorite skater to watch was Brian Boitano, or a man who thought he was the legendary pro. He was a middle aged man, with ragged hair covered by a baseball cap and he was clad in jeans and a tight shirt. He weaved through the crowd, switching between backward and forward glides, tossing in the occasional spin. But when Mr. Wanna Be Boitano came across and empty area, he slipped in a little leap or a standing sit spin move, complete with elegant arms. We decided he must have been a competitive figure skater at some point in his life. Sadly, he was nowhere to be found when we got our turn to show off our moves.
While we didn't skate for nearly as long as we waited in line (I don't think we could have taken anymore of the cold!), gliding around the rink laughing at ourselves stumbling (okay, maybe that was just me doing the stumbling) around a giant oval over and over again was such a fun time. I haven't been ice skating in seven years, since I visited the rink in Boston during college (Boston's rink is a LOT smaller than this one is and in Chicago no one yells at you if you touch or hold on to the railings or take a break on the edge of the rink). I thought I would fall on my face, or have a bruised rear end by the time we were done with the adventure, but I only lightly tumbled to the ice twice (both times in the same place) and it took a good 15 minutes for the first spill to take place! We hit the ice after the Zamboni freshly cleaned the ice, causing me to be doubled over from the get-go and nearly falling on my face from the slippery surface, but I recovered quickly once I got my footing and as soon as the ice got chewed up from all the dozens of other skaters lapping me.
Our toes and noses were so frozen by 4 p.m. that we decided to return our skates and continue the festivities with a cup of hot chocolate back at the apartment in order to defrost. But as we walked to the El, we both agreed that Chicago is truly an amazing city. And that ice skating is still really fun, no matter how old--or bad--we are (or just me, Elli's pretty good!).
Friday, December 4, 2009
A is 4(.0) AWESOME!
I just checked my grades online and it's official.. I have a 4.0 for the first time in my post-high school life! I received an A in all three of my classes. I must be wicked smaht! :)
Although this first quarter of grad school included some things I didn't expect (like having to use a video camera, be on camera and getting sick 12 times), it was everything I hoped it would be. Here's to a hopefully equally as exciting and fruitful Winter Quarter!
Although this first quarter of grad school included some things I didn't expect (like having to use a video camera, be on camera and getting sick 12 times), it was everything I hoped it would be. Here's to a hopefully equally as exciting and fruitful Winter Quarter!
Thursday, December 3, 2009
I Don't Wanna Grow Up...
One can observe many things while sitting in a Starbucks. Especially when that person (eh hum, me) is avoiding writing an article and will do anything to procrastinate, including looking around aimlessly or people watching.
Observation #1: Starbucks has become the new Mommy and Me meet up spot. At least the one near me has. I went to Starbucks and bought and overprices cup of coffee because I thought it came with a quiet space to get work done alongside others doing the same. Instead, we workers were surrounded by groups of desperate housewives and stay-at-home moms gabbing to each other as their toddlers ran around or yelled loud noises. I'm not a child-hater; I just don't think that Starbucks is the venue for this behavior. Look what you have done, Suri Cruise: your carrying around Starbucks cups has made it the new cool spot for other three-year-olds! Guess I'll think twice before going back there to get work done!
Observation #2: While I may not agree with Starbucks's new clientele, I sure do love their holiday marketing campaign. There are signs all over the windows about wishing, giving and holiday cheer. They give me a warm feeling when I read them. They force me to remember the purest parts of the holiday season and help me relive those feelings I had about the holidays when I was younger. They seem to embrace the true meaning of the holiday season, like the Cabbage Patch and Scooby Doo Christmas specials did back in the day.
Christmas was always a magical time for me; I could barely get through Halloween knowing Christmas was right around the corner. These days, Christmas is already in the store before I'm done trick or treating. As I've grown older and now face life from the adult point of view, some of the magic has died or has gotten lost in the commercialism that has overtaken the season. Gift giving has become a chore cursed by money worries and checklists. No longer do we give gifts, there is the exchange of presents. There is a difference in the meanings of those two words: Life, love and the ability to dream are gifts. Presents are things you can buy in the store. One of Starbucks's signs encourages "giving." In a tough economy, one would think the store wants you to buy their product and spend money (which they probably do), but the surrounding signs bring feelings and thoughts of "hope" (another sign), tradition and memories. At least for me they did.
While procrastinating, I realized I was sitting in front of the best sign of all: "I wish grown ups could remember being kids." (I took a photo of it with my phone camera, to the right).
We shouldn't need a sign to remind us to acknowledge the kid inside of all of us, especially around the holidays. When's the last time you made a snowman...willingly? Or filled your mug with mini marshmallows before adding the hot chocolate? (I did that last night) Or sat staring at your Christmas tree because the twinkling lights made you smile? (I did that the night before).
We are always rushing, and the holidays seem to increase stress, not fun and spirits like they did when we were kids. I know I have more responsibilities now and more things on my mind other than who gets to open the advent calendar window after dinner. But how could I ever grow out of this season? Perhaps being a student, and unemployed, and far away from family has ignited the spirit and simplicity of the season of giving in my inner being once again. When I was little, my sister and I would clip coupons from the Walgreens flyer or save money to spend at the school store in order to get what we thought were the best gifts for our family. I will once again be clipping those Walgreens coupons and my mom will be getting a 99 cent snowglobe and box of chocolate covered cherries while Sean can count on a ten cent matchbox car. Just kidding, guys. Looking back, these presents were not about content or substance, but about the thought. The last several years I've filled my cart with presents I thought my family would love, but obsessed over everything being even until I had over-shopped for everyone. This year, I'm going to do my shopping not in terms of material, but meaning.
This holiday season, I hope everyone can remember the kid inside of them, even if for a few minutes a day in order to soak in the holiday season. Reacquaint yourself with the joy it is suppose to bring. There's a reason Andy Williams wrote an entire song about how this is the "most wonderful time of the year." I know I have lost that lovin' feeling over the last several years but this Christmas I am taking it back from the stores and the toy industry. However, Toys R Us did get one thing right: I don't wanna grow up... (you know the rest).
Observation #1: Starbucks has become the new Mommy and Me meet up spot. At least the one near me has. I went to Starbucks and bought and overprices cup of coffee because I thought it came with a quiet space to get work done alongside others doing the same. Instead, we workers were surrounded by groups of desperate housewives and stay-at-home moms gabbing to each other as their toddlers ran around or yelled loud noises. I'm not a child-hater; I just don't think that Starbucks is the venue for this behavior. Look what you have done, Suri Cruise: your carrying around Starbucks cups has made it the new cool spot for other three-year-olds! Guess I'll think twice before going back there to get work done!
Observation #2: While I may not agree with Starbucks's new clientele, I sure do love their holiday marketing campaign. There are signs all over the windows about wishing, giving and holiday cheer. They give me a warm feeling when I read them. They force me to remember the purest parts of the holiday season and help me relive those feelings I had about the holidays when I was younger. They seem to embrace the true meaning of the holiday season, like the Cabbage Patch and Scooby Doo Christmas specials did back in the day.
Christmas was always a magical time for me; I could barely get through Halloween knowing Christmas was right around the corner. These days, Christmas is already in the store before I'm done trick or treating. As I've grown older and now face life from the adult point of view, some of the magic has died or has gotten lost in the commercialism that has overtaken the season. Gift giving has become a chore cursed by money worries and checklists. No longer do we give gifts, there is the exchange of presents. There is a difference in the meanings of those two words: Life, love and the ability to dream are gifts. Presents are things you can buy in the store. One of Starbucks's signs encourages "giving." In a tough economy, one would think the store wants you to buy their product and spend money (which they probably do), but the surrounding signs bring feelings and thoughts of "hope" (another sign), tradition and memories. At least for me they did.
While procrastinating, I realized I was sitting in front of the best sign of all: "I wish grown ups could remember being kids." (I took a photo of it with my phone camera, to the right).
We shouldn't need a sign to remind us to acknowledge the kid inside of all of us, especially around the holidays. When's the last time you made a snowman...willingly? Or filled your mug with mini marshmallows before adding the hot chocolate? (I did that last night) Or sat staring at your Christmas tree because the twinkling lights made you smile? (I did that the night before).
We are always rushing, and the holidays seem to increase stress, not fun and spirits like they did when we were kids. I know I have more responsibilities now and more things on my mind other than who gets to open the advent calendar window after dinner. But how could I ever grow out of this season? Perhaps being a student, and unemployed, and far away from family has ignited the spirit and simplicity of the season of giving in my inner being once again. When I was little, my sister and I would clip coupons from the Walgreens flyer or save money to spend at the school store in order to get what we thought were the best gifts for our family. I will once again be clipping those Walgreens coupons and my mom will be getting a 99 cent snowglobe and box of chocolate covered cherries while Sean can count on a ten cent matchbox car. Just kidding, guys. Looking back, these presents were not about content or substance, but about the thought. The last several years I've filled my cart with presents I thought my family would love, but obsessed over everything being even until I had over-shopped for everyone. This year, I'm going to do my shopping not in terms of material, but meaning.
This holiday season, I hope everyone can remember the kid inside of them, even if for a few minutes a day in order to soak in the holiday season. Reacquaint yourself with the joy it is suppose to bring. There's a reason Andy Williams wrote an entire song about how this is the "most wonderful time of the year." I know I have lost that lovin' feeling over the last several years but this Christmas I am taking it back from the stores and the toy industry. However, Toys R Us did get one thing right: I don't wanna grow up... (you know the rest).
Just Like the Ones I Used to Know...
Yesterday, I ventured out with the purpose of taking a ride on the CTA's Holiday Train. Several hours later, I had soaked up enough Christmas spirit in my travels to last all season.
Once I got downtown, I walked down State Street in the direction of Macy's and stumbled upon the city's tree in Daley Plaza. That was on my list of things to find this week, and I was proud of myself for finding it! Not only did I get to see the tree, but in the Plaza was Christkindlmarket Chicago; a traditional German celebration of the holiday season. The area was filled with little wooden huts and shops draped with clear lights and boasting German food and crafts. I bought a ceramic boot (decorated and dated) mug filled with Gluhweim, a hot, spiced wine. It was delicious and I now have a souvenir mug, shaped as a boot to remember the day by. While drinking out of my boot, I met a few German women who told me how this festival and little village is an actual event around Christmas in Germany, but much larger than Chicago's miniature version. Kind of like Oktoberfest, but a Christmas version.
When I was done sightseeing, I was in such a festive mood and full of Christmas cheer. Buddy the Elf would have been very impressed. This weekend my roommate said she would go ice skating with me in Millennium Park and I'm pumped. It will make my Chicago Christmas experience complete before I head back home next Thursday.
Every year, the Chicago Transport Authority (CTA), operator of the El trains, decorate an entire El with Christmas lights, garland and bows and blast Christmas music for riders to enjoy. An entire car is replaced with an open platform on which Santa sits in a sleigh waving to passengers waiting on the platform to board the train. After studying the Holiday train schedule (it only comes at certain times on certain days and switches colors/lines ever week), I picked yesterday as the day to hitch a ride. I waited in the wind and cold for the train to come, and it was worth every second. The train was awesome and I smiled and laughed the entire ride downtown. "Santa's Express" as the train is called, was not only decked out on the exterior, but on the inside as well: there hung garland, lights, red bows and even the seat cushions were replaced with Santa pattern seats. The poles you hold on to were striped like candy canes. Sprinkled among the advertisements were humorous holiday jokes, like this one: "Why did the Gingerbread man go to the doctor?" Answer: Because he was feeling crummy! (boy, can I relate to that Gingerbread man...) and this one: "What is an Elf's favorite lunch at the North Pole?" Answer: a brrr grr.
Once I got downtown, I walked down State Street in the direction of Macy's and stumbled upon the city's tree in Daley Plaza. That was on my list of things to find this week, and I was proud of myself for finding it! Not only did I get to see the tree, but in the Plaza was Christkindlmarket Chicago; a traditional German celebration of the holiday season. The area was filled with little wooden huts and shops draped with clear lights and boasting German food and crafts. I bought a ceramic boot (decorated and dated) mug filled with Gluhweim, a hot, spiced wine. It was delicious and I now have a souvenir mug, shaped as a boot to remember the day by. While drinking out of my boot, I met a few German women who told me how this festival and little village is an actual event around Christmas in Germany, but much larger than Chicago's miniature version. Kind of like Oktoberfest, but a Christmas version.After I finished my Gluhweim, I headed over to Marshall Field, now Macy's, to check out the window display. Apparently this is a big Chicago holiday attraction and each year the window display tells a different story. Of course, I did not realize this until I was almost at the end and it dawned on me that the windows were telling the story of
how a letter gets from a child writing it all the way to Santa's hands at the North Pole. So, I started from the beginning and it made much more sense the second time around :) It was very cute, and the figures in the scenes were very life-like (minus to robot guys).
how a letter gets from a child writing it all the way to Santa's hands at the North Pole. So, I started from the beginning and it made much more sense the second time around :) It was very cute, and the figures in the scenes were very life-like (minus to robot guys). When I was done sightseeing, I was in such a festive mood and full of Christmas cheer. Buddy the Elf would have been very impressed. This weekend my roommate said she would go ice skating with me in Millennium Park and I'm pumped. It will make my Chicago Christmas experience complete before I head back home next Thursday.
One thing I am proud of as I recall my Christmas experience, is that Chicago isn't afraid to put Santa out on an El or a giant Nativity Set in Daley Plaza or seat cushions with Santa's image on their train chairs (granted it's a part time train, but still). Christ and Christmas are alive and well in the Windy City. For an entire afternoon, I forgot about being politically correct and was able to enjoy the holiday season in the way I used to love celebrating it: without judgement or a gag order. The streets downtown are lined with trees covered in blue lights, which embrace Hanukkah and the Jewish faith and I'm sure there is a menorah somewhere in the city. The sign next to this Nativity read: "This private Nativi
ty scene is made possible each year by the donations of those who wish to keep Christ in Christmas." I was glad the city has an open enough mind to let this group set up the scene.
ty scene is made possible each year by the donations of those who wish to keep Christ in Christmas." I was glad the city has an open enough mind to let this group set up the scene. In my opinion, everyone should be able to celebrate the holiday the way they believe and prefer without passing judgement on other faiths or traditions. I think society has become a little too sensitive when it comes to holiday greetings and celebrations. Yesterday afternoon I was able to do that; and more than the twinkling lights and the warm wine and the sight of the Nativity, I enjoyed that feeling the most.
If you would like to see many more pictures of my holiday adventure downtown, I have posted them on Facebook for all to see! If you don't have Facebook and would like to see more, let me know and I can email them.
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Christmas Time Is Here...
It's certainly Christmas season on Diversey Parkway... especially in our apartment. Elli and I ventured to Target on Saturday to get a tree; after some sidewalk research, a.k.a stopping a man with a real tree slung over his shoulder to ask how much his tree cost, we opted to get a fake tree. We found one on sale, but had to return Sunday after a fleet of trucks came to replenish the stock of the tree we had our sights set on. Or so we thought... there were no trees when we got there! After a brief window of panic, we found our second choice sitting on a back wall. It said Canadian Fir, but wrong box number. Holding our breaths, we scanned the price and when it came up $24.99, our Christmas was bright once again. I looked at my roommate and exclaimed that I needed to hug her. And I did. People were staring, but they didn't realize that this tree discovery made our day. Success in hand, we bought the trimmings and headed home.
That afternoon, the three of us listened to Christmas music and decorated the house on a rainy Sunday. Elli wished it was snowing to make the mood even more festive. Laura set up her nativity set; I assembled our mini stockings; and we all decorated the tree, which is set up in the window for all to see when they pass by (it looks fantastic, I've seen it). We used 24 candy canes to fill the spots we didn't have ornaments for... I've already eaten three of them. Yum. If we need more decorations, I told Elli we could string up the microwave Kettle corn she has and dislikes, but it looks pretty cool the way it is now. Unless I keep eating all of the candy canes... then we're in trouble!
That afternoon, the three of us listened to Christmas music and decorated the house on a rainy Sunday. Elli wished it was snowing to make the mood even more festive. Laura set up her nativity set; I assembled our mini stockings; and we all decorated the tree, which is set up in the window for all to see when they pass by (it looks fantastic, I've seen it). We used 24 candy canes to fill the spots we didn't have ornaments for... I've already eaten three of them. Yum. If we need more decorations, I told Elli we could string up the microwave Kettle corn she has and dislikes, but it looks pretty cool the way it is now. Unless I keep eating all of the candy canes... then we're in trouble!The tree is lit and the stockings are hung by the chimney with care... they are so small it's kind of funny to look at them hanging on the mantle. I feel so relaxed as I sit with the lights off, basking in the twinkling glow of the tree, and anxiously await the start of Charlie Brown Christmas. This really is the most wonderful time of the year!
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