Whatsforbreakfast, 4.17.2010.

Sassy Eggs at one of my favorite breakfast places in Chicago... Over Easy Cafe. Yum!

Whatsfordinner, 4.9.2010.

You never can go wrong making Risotto with bacon and asparagus... plus plenty of herbs and garlic. Yum!

Sleepy.

Last night I went out to see a friend's band. I have not gone out to see a band since Miles was born (17 months ago). Sleep is too important these days, and most shows are so late that I just cannot gather the drive to get out the door to go. There were three major factors in deciding to go out last night:

1. The show was at Schuba's, which is my favorite venue in Chicago.
2. The band was playing the opening slot, which started at 8pm.
3. The rain looked like it was going to hold off so I could just skate over there.

I was pleasantly surprised when the band my friend is in was actually very good. It is always a challenge to spin constructive criticism to a friend that happens to be in a terrible band - but I was saved from all of that. Thankfully. They reminded me a bit of Tripping Daisy (or the Polyphonic Spree minus the twenty people in robes). I truly enjoyed myself and the beer I was drinking. I actually did not even mind that I was hanging out by myself at a show... something I usually dread.

Let's go back to the beer I was drinking... since after that beer I had another... and at home I had a beer. Three beers are not technically binge drinking to most. I somehow blocked out the fact that I just spent the 40 days of Lent giving up alcohol, which now makes me a lightweight. When I left Schuba's, after chatting with my friend for a little while, I got on my board and realized I was a little drunk. Wow. I sort of knew this was the case since I was being a Chatty-Kathy inside, but it really did not hit me until I hopped on that board.

So this morning I woke up with a tiredness that is a bit overwhelming. Not a hangover, but a reminder that I am not in my twenties any more.

Whatsfordinner, 3.31.2010.

Today Chicago saw it's first 70 degree temperature for 2010... which means the Webber grill gets pulled out. Hamburgers were consumed to celebrate Spring time! First I had to clean the grill... since I forgot to clean it before I put it away for the winter. Yep, there was some nasty food still stuck on it. Yuck.

Vienna Sausage Juice,

Anyone that rides public transportation has seen just about everything... and smelled just about everything... and heard just about everything. So today I am going to add to my list of firsts for my experiences on the L.

I was on the Brown L sitting by two women with two kids under the age of two (my guess on the ages). They were all eating cheese puffs and getting the cheesy-powder everywhere. Chomp, chomp, chomp. The older of the two little boys signaled that he wanted some more food, so one of the women took out a can of Vienna Sausages and opened it up. Certain foods (especially canned foods) have a funky smell, and Vienna Sausages are one of them. The smell was awful. It seemed to quickly consume my side of the train car, enough for me to cover my nose. I like tuna, but I would never open a can of it on the L. A few people got up and moved to the other side of the train. But wait - it gets better! The woman then proceeded to drink all of the juice in the can before giving the boy one of the sausages. Mmmm... Vienna Sausage meat juice. I gagged just a little, and then (thankfully) realized that my stop was next.

Do people just not think things through? Maybe this is all they could afford, or maybe the little boy really likes Vienna Sausage - but that is not the issue. The issue is having the respect of others not to open that up on public transportation... and not to drink some nasty-ass juice.