This year I thought I as going to be able to say that I was going to complete this goal because I sent my reply to the harvest date e-mail within the hour but once again we are on the waiting list!!
This year I was lucky to be living temporarily outside Chicago so I had the opportunity to gat tickets for the annual Wright Plus House Walk in Oak Park. This walk opens several houses to the public including some designed by Frank Llloyd Wright. It is a historic neighborhood even aside from Wright and the homes are incredible.
We arrived early and picked up our maps (tickets and advance info has been mailed much earlier) then strolled by Forest Avenue to the 1st Wright designed house only to be stopped dead by the line! A 20 minute wait – we were told. Nope – more like an hour and 20. This was true for both Wright designed houses on the tour as well as his Home and Studio. We decided to see the 2 privately owned houses that are not normally open to the public first, skip the Home and Studio and Unity Temple because we had all seen them both before and our tickets allow visiting any time in 2011 and try to go to as many of the other houses as possible.
Our plan worked and we saw all but 1 of the houses that were open. I had pre-ordered box lunches which we ate at tables that had been set up at the Home and Studio. It rained a few times but we lucked out by being inside or under cover.
It was a long day with lots of standing in line, but the houses were beautiful and interesting.
Where I am currently working there are several buildings and you can walk between or take a shuttle in bad weather (or a hurry). On May 2nd they put big old fashioned yellow bikes into the bike racks in front of the main buildings. I was determined to ride one but my schedule has been too crazy. Today I had a chance (and the time) so I went out and climbed up! Since I cannot remember my last bike ride, it took a second or two to acclimate but then I was on my way. I didn’t know how to brake and was a bit unsteady (the shuttle beeped at me!) but I amde it in 1 piece to my destination. Once there I realized that the seats are adjustable so NEXT time I will be able to sit and not have the seat half way up my back.
I know, I’m more of a lurker and a cheerer (is that a word) than a poster (except on 43places) but I’m still out here 6 years later – reading and cheering and trying to complete those goals. I appreciate all your cheers and support and virtual friendship through the years.
Sorry to be late but wanted to chime in with a very happy birthday to you, Kim (or Kin Ez).
Mary (MFM)
Now that I have had it for 6 months and have come to depend on it, it died. UGH. Not even sure what to do for tech support.
Driving around New England for work and fun I had not felt the need for a GPS in the past but a recent temporary assignment to the midwest changed that need. Now I wonder how I did without it, even when I am home and in familiar places.
Oops. I’m so sorry to miss your birthday Abby but I hope it was a good day.
Have a nice week.
Maru (MFM)
Start 2010 with a B*A*N*G by doing one new and fulfilling thing in January, February, and March B*A*N*G! B*A*N*G! B*A*N*G! (read all 9 entries…)
This is more of an annual event than something new but it was very fulfilling and definitely fun. My town has an annual St Pats Parade and I’m not sure why but this year it as held on March 28th! One of my sisters went down early and got a great table at a curbside restaurant and the rest of us met up a bit later. The day was beautiful, the parade was fun and the Irish music was playing inside the bar. I saw some friends, laughed, sang, ate a sausage with onions and peppers from a street vendor and got one more wearing out of my shamrock tights!
Start 2010 with a B*A*N*G by doing one new and fulfilling thing in January, February, and March B*A*N*G! B*A*N*G! B*A*N*G! (read all 9 entries…)
Checked out the ice bar at the Camden Harbour Inn with Ed and Nancy. They poured blue tinted vodka through an ice luge – very fun. It is restaurant week in Maine so we had tastings from the bar menu. It was a wonderful meal and super fun time.
Start 2010 with a B*A*N*G by doing one new and fulfilling thing in January, February, and March B*A*N*G! B*A*N*G! B*A*N*G! (read all 9 entries…)
After work I checked out my house – still no power – then headed out for sushi and sake at Thousand Crane. Now I’m going to depend on the kindness of strangers – ok my sister – who lives less than a mile from me but SHE has power (and a spare room with a comfy bed).
The first time I worried that the stones would be too hot, but the heat soaks right into your joints and muscles and feels amazing. They put tiny oiled pebbles between your fingers and toes and use the stones as part of the massage – incredible.
Start 2010 with a B*A*N*G by doing one new and fulfilling thing in January, February, and March B*A*N*G! B*A*N*G! B*A*N*G! (read all 9 entries…)
I’m still trying to find the perfect trivia night so I put together a team and headed to The Rover tonight from 7-9. We got there around 6:15 and got the last unreserved table. This trivia is once a month on the last Monday and the crowd is a little older than at Millys which means that there was NOT a 15 minute smoke break between rounds.
Frank and Joe kept things moving along and we had a good time. We were in the top teams all along and then we blew it in the finals. It was a fun night and I’m going to try to get a team together for the next one – hope springs eternal.
Oh – and I tried out the Irish Cobb salad which was decent.
The bathrooms at the Rover are gross, but on a positive note, the parking garage across the street now has public parking.
I didn’t actually buy a Kindle, but yesterday a friend sort of forced hers on me to read Kathryn Stockett’s The Help. I was skeptical because:
*- I like the feel of an actual book itself
*- already spend too much time in front of a screen
*- do not want to spend $250 for a new gadget that needs to be charged
*- would still spend $8-$10 on a book I cannot share with others and could have borrowed from the library
The Kindle was easy to use and the reading itself was just like looking at a printed page. I did keep reaching up to turn the page instead of clicking the “next page” button. Even though there is a percentage showing at the bottom of the screen, I missed being able to know what page I was on. I did not miss having to use a bookmark.
This device would be excellent to have on vacation or for work travel. It is compact and easy to use and I would have so many books downloaded inexpensively but I still don’t see myself spending the money at this point in time. But I might borrow my friend’s for my next trip!
Not only does All Consuming help me to keep track when what I read (here is a January 2009, it also helps me keep a list of what I am planning to or want to read
