Da Bears

Hello!  I know, it has been a while and you all have missed me...or not, but I thought I would do a quick update with a ton of pictures.  Summer is now officially over, and we are having a splendid fall here in the Chi.  Kevin is back from Reno, and has endured his fall interviews and call backs.  We are pleased to announce that he has decided he will be working with a firm in Palo Alto. Looks like we will be eventually heading back to the Bay!!

Since I last blogged, my darling sister Robyn has come to visit.  Here is a quick recap of the festivities:

We explored downtown together and gave her a taste of Chicago

Da Bears had a preseason game while Robyn was here, and I was able to score some cheap tickets so that we could go. Robyn supplied us with the matching tees. (If you didn't know any better, I think we successfully pulled off looking like bears fans....sorry Bill, you know I love my Pats)

Kevin knows Robyn loves SNL, so we took her to Second City Comedy (it is where most SNL cast members start out)

We saw Buckingham fountain

Explored Soldier Field

Modeled our sexy matching tees again

Got fireworks before the game, and after the game...in fact, there were fireworks EVERY night that Robyn came.  I know, I am the best hostest ever, so you all better come visit!

The view of the field.  Kevy even supported Da Bears with his hat

We went to the beach...

 Hogwarts...

ok, it is really just the Uof C, but whatever.

Thanks for coming Robyn!!!!

Hostest With The Mostest

****** Disclaimer: KEVIN THINKS THIS IS THE MOST OFFENSIVE BLOG POST EVER BECAUSE WE HAVE DONE ALL THESE THINGS EXCEPT FOR BOAT RIDE*****

I do live in Chicago, one of the most beautiful, diverse, fun cities in America, but I am slightly ignorant to all it has to offer.   We got here in the Fall last year, and it rained almost every day until winter.  Then it was cold, wet, and miserable.  Finally warm weather came, it was time to go out and have fun.  Unfortunately, at that very instant when warm weather rolled in, my husband left me for the summer :(.  I have done minimal in the way of exploring since he left, since I have no friends out here.  Fortunately, my mother and a few friends decided to come out and entertain me. 

First, My darling Mother come out to see ME this time.  In the past, she stopped by to used my bathroom while still drugged up on Ativan on her way to Southbend to see my sister.  Well she moved, and my mother was worried for my safety, so I conned her into coming out!!!  She was convinced I lived in the roughest, toughest part of the city.  She had planned on not leaving my apartment her entire visit.  I think by the time she left here, Chicago became her favorite city...almost.  She was such a great guest, she went out bike riding, to museums, to the beach, and for walks while I worked, then I came home and we played.

Jackie and I went out and had a night on the town.  We walked all over downtown, and I showed her a little of the not-so-scary side of town.

We checked out Navy Pier and its fireworks

 

We went on Picnics by the lake

Checked out the river.

And of course, we finished each night with a sappy cheesy chick flick! It was so much fun having her come out and spend time with me.

I had a couple days to clean up and regroup, and more fun flew in! After about a  half an hour of looking for Bev and Betsy and driving around and around O'hare airport, I found them waiting in the departure section.  They must have forgot to follow the signs to arrivals.   We then piled in the car and enjoyed a nice LONG drive into the city during rush hour. 

By the time we reached Hyde Park, we were in for a special treat.  All the roads were blocked off, and the cops were crawling everywhere.  My good ol' neighbor decided to come home again and ruin my life again.  Luckily it was only a 1-night ordeal and our president was off the next day, but not after our Bev and Betsy got to experience the motor brigade. 

We were starving that night, and I introduced the girls to a typical Chicago meal

a little deep dish pizza (yes, that is a small)

We loved Giordano's so much, we came back again a few days later!

After ingesting a 1/2 pound of cheese and bread, we watched the sunset and went home, and fell into a food coma immediately.

The next evening I met the girls in the city and we explored Millennium Park (not Centennial Bev) and listened to  a bunch of international Polka while others danced.  After I got asked to dance by a 65 year old playa' I figured it was time to go home. Don't forget, I can't even dance Polka.  I am that white...clear actually.

Just another of us enjoying the bean...it has a name I just can never remember it.

We went to the beach the next morning while Betsy went and watched a play about Poofs. Not my thing.

Then we got cleaned up and went into the city for a boat tour and some fun!

I learned about buildings, but most importantly I learned that Oprah and I are neighbors.

The view of Navy Pier from the water

When we got done, we walked around and checked out the city.

I was on a roll.  I delivered fabulous weather (only a bit muggy), taught them a new language, delivered the President, gave them a pyrotechnical extravaganza, scenic beach time,a beautiful city with a spectacular skyline, breath-taking sunsets, amazing food, even better company, and Shia Labeouf.  (see above...filming of Transformers 3).  I am probably the hostess with the mostest!

after walking around for 3 days straight and wearing out the soles of my feet, and experiencing public transportation for the 2nd time here, we had stomped out most of the city. I must say, I am starting to learn a thing or 2 about this place.  Last stop, Wrigleyville.  Cubs lost.  They got killed, but we enjoyed ourselves, even Bev, who almost got attacked by a hungry man wanting a little Garrett's Popcorn.  You can't blame him, they put crack in it I think.

Now I get to show Kevin all that I learned. He gets back in just a couple days!!!!

A Break in The Monotony.

So other then my cleaning, reorganizing, and beach days, life here has slowed down a bit.  It is raining today, so I can't even do my usual Saturday routine of gym, beach, nap and movie so I will mix it up and blog.  It is a good thing I like myself, or I would be going crazy this summer. I think I have exhausted Hulu's reality TV section, I am even caught up on Chad Ocho Cinco's new show 'The Ultimate Catch' and NO, it is NOTHING like the Bachelor.  They do have a new show coming out Aug 9th that I am so excited about. The Bachelor Pad with all my old Bachelor/Bachelorette contestants.  I know there will be some amazing drama. The Weather man...Craig....Wes. The only way they could have cast it any better would have been if they could have got Bevin and Erika back.
As of today,  I have officially reached the half-way point of Kevin's internship, but a break in the monotony is coming! Jackie is coming to visit ME this time! She is here for a week starting tomorrow and then Bev will be here shortly after that. Let the fun begin!
On a different note, back a month or so ago, Kevy and I were FINALLY getting some time together since he was officially on break and we could actually go and do things.  We decided to check out a few other things in our city and had lots of fun doing it.

Even before we moved out here people told me I HAD to check out the Taste of Chicago.  It is a festival they have every year featuring the different foods the city has to offer with vendors from all over. They have live entertainment and it lasts for 2 weeks.  Kevy and I braved the crowds and I took public transportation for the first time in the city and I even lived through it.

We checked out an orchestra who was playing all sorts of American music. (It was the 3rd of July).

And then we went and watched the Steve Miller Band play.  I am pretty sure I was high. I haven't seen so much weed at a concert....ever.

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The day before, Kevin came up to work with me and we actually had time to go out on a date...We first checked out the Botanical Garden and then yes, dinner and a movie.

Kevykins loved his square trees.

Kevin was our navigator. It was a beautiful place and even had and Alberta Spruce Bonsai tree. So I approved.

I laughed out loud when I looked at this picture. Its so cheesy. I do cheesy really well though

We explored for a couple hours of and I managed to sweat off about 30lbs...I am not a fan of humidity. What was I thinking living out here. I have learned a valuable lesson. I would rather it be 110 F in dry heat, then 85 F with humidity. I get out of the shower and never dry off. I am ALWAYS sticky. I miss summer in the west. Give me dry heat any day.

CLASSY

So, once upon a time, I asked my mother why I wasn't more well-rounded. Her response, "You play lots of different sports".  Needless to say, I am a little backwards, a little small town, and I might not be very cultured. I am now working on this...a little bit.  My cute husband has decided to refine me.  I am a diamond in the rough, really rough.  He is way ahead of me in all these areas he is into classic literature, art, music (not just pop), history, and all things cultured. He is even into pop culture and sports, so I don't have an excuse.  He's so perfect it almost makes me look bad. 

Anyways, I now have reading assignments (he has not required a book report...yet) these books are ranging from classic literature, strategy, and up next, philosophy. I am so thrilled...or something.  He is cute though.  We have also had the opportunity to go to a few museums.  I think cultured people do that, so I am well on my way.  Watch out! I'll be coming to a country club near you some day soon!

 

Our main purpose of this museum is to see the frozen baby mammoth they found in Russia a little while ago. 

This is Sue. She is the most complete T-Rex skeleton ever found...or so they claim.

We've been really tapping into Kevin's Native American roots lately

It's a real mammoth tusk

There she is! Lilyuh.  She died of inhaling some anthrax derivative. She is a real mini mammoth (not a pygmy mammoth, just a baby)

There was a really impressive Ancient American exhibit there. They had the most amazing masks, headdresses, totem poles, and all sorts of native artifacts

I liked this creepy totem pole thing

So the next day, was a free day at the aquarium.  Not quite as cultured, but I am fascinated by oceanic animals. Cute Kevy with the Jelly's

When we had a TV, Kevin's favorite show was river monsters. He wants to catch one of these things. I think they are creepy.

It was a gorgeous, sunny day.  Quite an anomaly for Chicago. So we went for a walk.

Kevin in front of the Field Museum

The museum campus has some of the best views of the Chicago skyline!

People just put bizarre "art" all over the parks here. Can you find Kevin's legs?

A shout-out to the Hawks!! How cool that I live in the city of a team that won a title! That has never happened before.  The closest would have been the Sharks last year, but they know how to choke! Chicago was so proud of them that they dress all sorts of things up in hawks gear. Here a just a few things we saw on our museum day.  Unfortunately, we never made it up to the United Center to see Jordan in full uniform, including skates.

Look closely. The baby has a jersey on!

Go Hawks!

Even the lions at the art museum celebrate!