Does That Make Me Craaazy

As soon as I hit publish on the post about the never ending projects in the condo, I decided we needed to keep shit moving over here and hang those pictures and get rid of those blinds. And just like that, a potentialy relaxing weekend turned into a project weekend faster than you could say O.C.D.

I made a list of all of the "little projects" that needed to be finished and left it with the husband as I drove out to Crate and Barrel to buy 6 photo ledges and made a quick stop in Pottery Barn for more frames and a double curtain rod for our bedroom. While I was gone, he hung the ridiculously heavy mirror - that had previoulsy been leaning - over our fireplace, installed shelving and organized all his tools and painting supplies (which seem to be mutliplying on the regular) in his "utility closet". He then proceeded to do a beautiful job hanging the photo ledges - no small task because they had to be perfectly aligned so I wouldn't break out in hives every time I came downstairs - while I arranged and framed the rest of our photo's, including three very beautiful photos of our dogs, past & present, to hang in the hallway by our back entryway.

3 photo ledges:















6 photo ledges:


















Three of the greatest dogs in the world - Abby, Magic & a spot for Colby


















Here's what the dogs did while we worked:














We never did get to hang the curtains in the bedroom but I'm breathing easier just knowing that I could rip those blinds out of the windows and throw them in the dumpster any time I wanted - tonight for example, perhaps before I watch American Idol - because we have the curtains and the hardware to replace them.

Entry by Hudson

Hi, my name is Hudson. My parents are in Mexico so they left me with these crazy people and their crazy dog Abby while they are away. I'm as big as a pony and I make Abby look like a pug. I can walk right up to the kitchen counter and put my head on it and I've been playing lots of tug-o-war with Abby. We've just about decapited the pheasant that Abby's Grandma Cheryl just finished sewing back up, and we're having a great time eating the stuffing out of it. These people give out lots of t-r-e-a-t-s's and the dark haired lady is such a push over! She'll pet me and scratch my belly all day long, all I have to do is walk up to her and give her a little nudge. She keeps hugging me and kissing me, which is weird, but it's ok because I love all the attention and clearly the dogs run the show over here.

Retractions All Day Long

This is why I can't folllow a t.v. show - I missed the "elimination show" on Thursday because I was reading a weeks worth of New York Times and forgot it was on at 7:00. I never even turned on the t.v. We went to get a Tivo over the weekend and found out it's not compatible with our digital service so we have to order a DVR from Directv. Last night Paul and I both worked late and while we were on the el on our way home at 6:50PM he said - "Hey isn't your show on in 10 minutes". WTF. Yes, it is on in 10 minutes. I'm now 1 for 4, not including all the auditions which would put me at 1 for 13 (I only know this because I've had to get the show results online and this mornings said "Episode 13"). Anyway, as far as I can tell American Idol is still on 3 times a week so I have 2 more chances to redeem myself and, unless I forget again which is entirely possible over the next 12 hours, I should be able to get myself in front of a t.v by 7:00pm tonight. Go Lakisha.

O.K. Just 2 More....

East Coast Baby


















Eggplant Head Baby

The Babies

Obviously contemplating when my next visit home will be ...

American Idol Feeva

I had my first foray into reality television last night with the girls performances on American Idol. I'm not a tv watcher and I've certainly never followed even one full episode of a reality tv show. I've never watched the Real World or the Bachelor or the Apprentice or the Amazing Race or Survivor , in fact when I saw a commercial for Survivor the other night I couldn’t believe it was still on tv. I'm that out of the loop. So my grandmother said American Idol was going to be the best season ever and it seems it's the one show where people have some talent and I thought it would be fun to get my grandmothers take on the contestants each week so I made a commitment to follow the show this season.

I realized quickly that the only way I was going to be able to follow Idol for even one full week is if Paul and I invest in a Tivo. Pronto. First of all, the show is 2 hours long, and I don't know if it's just last nights show or the early shows or if every show is 2 hours long or what. Second, the reason the show is 2 hours long is because there are 20 commercials after every 1 performance except for the few instances where they double up with 2 performances then 20 commercials and they only seem to do that with the less talented singers. So you have to sit through 2 bad performances, which I have to mute because I get so embarrassed that I can't listen, then 20 commercials, just to get to another good competitor.

Third, American Idol is on 3 times a week! Who has the time to watch this show 3 nights in a row (besides my grandmother)? I can't even begin to imagine what kind of schedule said person might have but apparently I missed the men's performance, which was Tuesday night, and there is another episode tomorrow.

Last, Ryan Seacrest is so annoying that I have to mute him too. And he comes on before and after every performance asking stupid questions and creating unnecessary banter with the judges. In fact, 75 % of the show is unnecessary. The show should be singer - story about singer - performance - judges - next singer. So even though I spent much of the show complaining and constantly hitting the mute button, I do have American Idol feeva (fever for you out-of- towners) and I even stayed up an extra half hour past my bedtime to make my call in vote for Lakisha. And by the end of the 2 hours, Paul and I had decided to welcome ourselves into 2007 by purchasing a Tivo this weekend. I can't imagine the show continues at a 3-night-a-week pace, but if it does I figure I can Tivo the show from 7-9, watch it from 9-9:30, because once you skip over Ryan, all the commercials and go strictly singer - story about singer - performance - judges - next singer, it's really just a half hour show, and still have time to call in my vote.

Jason & Anne's visit to Chicago

My brother Jason and his girlfriend Anne came into town Saturday morning for a visit. For those of you keeping track, this brings our visitor score card to 8 peeps. A respectable number. The visit was quick and it was relatively chilly and snowy, but we managed to get in a driving tour of the city, lunch at the Rockwell Neighborhood grill, a trip to The Chicago History Museum, dinner at Hema's kitchen, which has the best Indian food in town, huge beers and yummy rye pretzels at the Brauhaus, church in Evanston, pedicures for Anne and I, naps, Guinness and live Irish music at a local pub and J&A did a solo tour of Millennium Park, the Art Institute and the Mag Mile while Paul and I were at work on Monday. We met them for lunch at Ed Debevic's, where we donned silly paper hats and were sufficiently abused by the waiters, and then sent them on their way back to Boston.














We have an all-star line up of visitors heading our way this spring & summer so stay tuned….

The Never Ending Story

We bought a leather ottoman after discussing it for no less than two weeks and sitting on it, in the store, no less than 3 times, but both agree it was worth it, looks great in front of the fireplace, and will look even more great once we get the modern wing back chairs I've had my eye on for 6 months. Once we put the ottoman in front of the fireplace we decided the rug downstairs near the tv would look better underneath the ottoman. Once we moved the rug that used to be downstairs near the tv to the upstairs underneath the ottoman we decided the rug near the desk could be moved near the tv and the rug still rolled up in the spare upstairs bedroom could be moved downstairs in front of the desk. The new ottoman and re positioned rug made me think the picture of Paul's grandparents dairy farm, that was shot to use as an image on a milk carton interestingly enough, would look better in the dining room than the bathroom and suddenly there was a spot for the sailboat print, that was a wedding gift, that had previously been on the floor in the spare upstairs bedroom, with all the other homeless artwork, since we moved in. So our dining room is starting to look like a dining room and our guest bedroom too, is starting to look like a guest bedroom, and there's still a bunch of stuff on the floor that has yet to be hung and we're still not rid of all the awful blinds that came with the place but we're very close and we still need a bunch of furniture and now Paul wants to start painting the kitchen and picking out a stone backsplash and we both decided last night that a ventless fireplace would be a good addition to the downstairs wall where we'll add built-ins so basically we should have the place finished at about the time it's ready to go back on the market.














Someday we'll hang these....

A Little Less Bad

Paul decided the strategy with the pantry was to spend as little money as possible in an effort to make it look, if not good, then at least a little less bad. The shelving is, in my opinion, ghetto, but it's what was there when we moved in and Paul didn't think it was worth a custom make-over job. In the end, it was still a full days work. Paul ripped everything out, patched, painted and reconfigured the shelving to make a pantry that is a little less bad and a whole lot more functionable.

Tearing out

















Patching


















Painting


















Back Together

There's A Sucka Born Every Minute

Are you sure I'm in trouble for laying on the down comforter while the duvet cover is being washed?

I Heart Valentines Day

Paul had to travel for business on the evening of the 14th, so we celebrated our Valentines Day with lunch at The University Club and an afternoon date at The Art Institute. Neither Paul or I were feeling especially photogenic on our romantic lunch date, but the lions still had the Bears helmets on so I stuck my head in for a quick photo and Paul let me take a picture of him navigating our museum visit.

My Head


















Paul's Legs

Blizzehd

We had our first real snow fall here last week and, as my mother likes to say, we got "clobbahed" (clobbered). Abby was psyched because she got to walk in the middle of the street and make fresh tracks in the park. I'm glad I remembered to grab my camera, even if I'm not so good at using it. Abby has crazy eye in every picture but you get the idea.

Stupid Bowl

The Bears Superbowl appearance started out great and ended a train wreck. The highlight of the game was Prince's halftime performance. A Bears win would have meant a very happy husband waiting for me back in Chicago, and perhaps some time off work to attend a victory parade, but instead I returned to a grumpy spouse and many empty beer bottles on my kitchen counter.

At least I got to see these two guys when I was home:














looks like Paul wasn't the only one grumpy....

Trey Says ...

Peace In The Middle East

In Case You Were Wondering

My grandmother told me this season of American Idol is going to be the best yet, just as soon as they get through all the "ding-a-lings" that show up for the auditions. Even though I've never been able to follow a tv show through a season in my entire life, I'm thinking about setting an agressive goal for myself and attempting to follow American Idol through to the last episode.

The Motha Of All Girls Nights

I flew to Boston on Friday to visit with my good friend and fellow blogger Colleen, who traveled all the way from Italy with her husband and new baby Currier to visit the Port. She planned the mother of all girls nights starting at her Dad's house and ending at the finest of the fine Newburyport establishments, The Thirsty Whale. In between I think we ate dinner. I've known almost all of these girls for over 20 years.

Here are some photo's:

The Crazy Asses:














The Bloggas:














The Drunks:














The End of The Night: