December 2005 Archive

Saturday, December 31, 2005

Sunday, December 25, 2005

Okay, as an atheist I must be part of The War on Christmas, right? I still love all the lights and decorations and a good plastic Santa. And I still enjoy making and buying gifts for loved ones. And I still appreciate the hospitality of good friends. And I still LOVE eggnog. And I still love the CTA Santa Train! And I still revel in my Xmas mix.

Whatever you are or aren't celebrating, I hope you are well and are seeing out 2005 with people you love.

Wednesday, December 21, 2005

12.03.05 • Santa Fest • Ybor City, Florida • ~60º


12.21.05 • Millennium Park • Chicago, Illinois • ~20º


The beginning of December brought me to Florida for work. I added an extra day and happened to catch Santa Fest in neighboring Ybor City. It was a trip.

When I went to Grinnell, each year had a milestone of the first snow. Raised in Minnesota, snow is old news. Every year us snow veterans could watch the snow virgins from warmer, faraway places revel in their first snowfall.

Santa Fest was the same thing in reverse. Watching Floridians revel in a wintery holiday, sans winter. They had ice skating for kids. I walked up to the rink. And had to stare for awhile to comprehend what was going on.

They were skating on plastic panels. At the end of the day, they picked up the panels and put them in a Parks and Rec truck.

AND then there was the snow! Tons of snow piled into a corner up against a curved wooden wall, like the end of a skating or hockey rink. Kids lined up around the block for their chance to play in the snow.

Monday, December 19, 2005

Home for the Holidays
I grew up in Minnesota, but I don't venture back for the holidays. Reasons:
1. I visit plenty the rest of the year.
2. My family has nice Christmasses, but there's no must-do traditions I'm missing. (On the other hand, I can't miss Aunt Nancy's Girl's Weekend up at the cabin each September)
3. No whacko holiday travel!
4. No whacko holiday travelers!
5. Several good friends from college come here for the holidays, and I get to see them.

Today was a banner day! I got to see my two favorite Art Men, Ross who's working on his PhD in LA in art criticism and Aaron who's professoring photography in Memphis. It was a heckuva nice day with loads of great conversation.

Here's a nice moment:
Being back in Chicago, Ross realized how much he missed it here. One observation was, "People here are attractive, in a normal way." Yeah, I can't imagine being in Los Angeles.

So we were walking down Michigan Avenue in the bitter cold. We hear a fire truck, sirens going. We look back towards it. As it approaches, we hear that it's blaring a Christmas tune and the driver is honking the horn along with the song!

I jump up and down with six-year-old glee and say, "That is SO GREAT." Ross says, "That would NEVER happen in LA."

I am so very in love with Chicago!

A couple pics:

A clouds of lights near the Water Tower.


I know it's a lousy photo, but isn't it intriguing?

Saturday, December 17, 2005

The Orange Owl and Stripus McGreenley are Best Friends 4ever.

Wednesday, December 14, 2005

I knew Cinnamon was a perceptive gal, but I didn't know she had antenna!

Tuesday, December 13, 2005

It's been ages since a haircut! Hooray!

Tuesday, December 06, 2005

Self-Portrait Tuesday
It's been awhile since I've SPTed. I seriously want to know where I misplaced my November. I need to slow down and enjoy December before 2005 wriggles out of my hand like a shiny fish.

Yesterday, I recovered my window seat.


Here's Stripus and I totally tired and resting.