I don't know where it's coming from but I'm in a creative mood. Currently I"m working my way through this video, er well I have 3 times with the same spool of yarn. My arms are a bit sore, but my son has already insisted I make him a blue boy one for next winter. Pics to come when I have it done. Seriously, if I can teach myself to crochet in a week, anyone can.
Sunday, April 24, 2011
Saturday, April 23, 2011
Cooperation
I recently watched a talk show that asked the age old question-what are we doing here? Loaded, I know. I was really kind of surprised at my reaction and the way I was able to answer the questions asked. The main one being "who is it that I am and what am I doing?"...really narrows it down, I know.
We are here so that we can grow into the full person we were meant to be. Most of us are missing that point. We're all too busy competing in a dog eat dog world, collecting our success and displaying them on the mantle for all to see. We hoard our talents out of fear someone else might win or get more than we do if we share. We're nuts.
It's supposed to be about cooperation. We should be fine tuning our talents and sharing them with the world with the idea that we just might help another along their journey. Taking only what we need, and giving all that we can. Smelling the roses along the way.
So Kat you ditching all your stuff and going on a spiritual quest? No, far from it. I do however have a renewed outlook. I feel more motivated to help my fellow man with my own talents, regardless of the return in my investment. After all, for me it's all about seeing those eyes light up when I help someone or somehow make their day. It gives me more spring in my step, makes me in turn smile. My paycheck pays the bills, but it can't give me that feeling.
We are here so that we can grow into the full person we were meant to be. Most of us are missing that point. We're all too busy competing in a dog eat dog world, collecting our success and displaying them on the mantle for all to see. We hoard our talents out of fear someone else might win or get more than we do if we share. We're nuts.
It's supposed to be about cooperation. We should be fine tuning our talents and sharing them with the world with the idea that we just might help another along their journey. Taking only what we need, and giving all that we can. Smelling the roses along the way.
So Kat you ditching all your stuff and going on a spiritual quest? No, far from it. I do however have a renewed outlook. I feel more motivated to help my fellow man with my own talents, regardless of the return in my investment. After all, for me it's all about seeing those eyes light up when I help someone or somehow make their day. It gives me more spring in my step, makes me in turn smile. My paycheck pays the bills, but it can't give me that feeling.
Saturday, April 16, 2011
Missing in Action: Sweet Home Chicago
why yes, I've been gone for some time now. I grew lazy, and don't sue me for needing a break from the computer. I'm on one all day. That being said, I don't want to give up just yet. Maybe I'll find my niche here in the blogosphere...
I never rode the trains when I was a kid, and I really only knew my way to Michigan Ave, a few restaurants, and the museums. oh, and Wrigley Field was a piece of cake to find-there is only 1 side of town in my mind. For your own safety I'd avoid the south side of town at all costs. (Go Cubs).
We spent a full week there, took the trains everywhere and now I know the Loop and how to navigate my way anywhere (disclaimer: There is no guarantee I won't get lost momentarily, but we'll get there eventually). It was a good thing my non-directionally challenged husband was there with us.
I finally made it to the top of the Sears Tower, which is apparently now the Willis Tower or if you ask Annabel it's the Serious Tower.
You'll notice the vein popping out on my forehead. I was pretty freaked out standing in this see through box, 100andwhatever stories up. I only looked down a few times. Below is my daughter. She and my son had no fear. Both loved looking down and they clung to the floor like little tree frogs. In most of our photos I can be seen grabbing on to them-I had this internal instinct to hold on to them and keep them away from the edge. They shook free of me, obviously.
It really is a must see if your visiting the city. I can't believe it took me thirty some odd years to finally do it myself. It's one of those things you just always put off and then suddenly you move away and it doesn't get done. For the record, my husband played it cool the whole time but at one moment I questioned him and with a straight faced he replied: oh I'm pretty freaked out. He then returned to herding our 2 children into the corner of the box. He held it together better than I did, I will admit.
My other must see in Chicago are these 3. Although I must admit I don't think I've still ever done the Planetarium (building on the peninsula). We actually only hit up the Field Museum (large, rectangular building on far right)-perfect stop for kids. All Nick wanted to do on this trip was see dinosaur bones. We kept putting it off, had heard that maybe it wasn't so great...but finally went and I do believe it was our favorite stop. We missed a ton, you can spend all day there and we got there maybe around 1? We're slow starters. They have the mega daddy of dino bones. Someone said there was 'like 4 or 5' but try several rooms full. Oh, and they have a bread shop with great sandwiches right by Sue (the T-Rex). Perfect spot for lunch, we ate right next to Sue (I recommend a pretzel bread sandwich). The kids ran in circles for awhile by Sue with my college buddy's little girl-eventually the museum staff yelled at them so I don't think I'd recommend setting your kids free here. (That's us, taking other people's kids down with us).
I married somewhat of an aquarium snob and the last place he wanted to go to was the Shed (center facility in the photo up there, right on the Lake). My contact for free tickets fell through so he lucked out and it was another spot we'll be saving for next time. I happen to love it. If it had been warmer we would have let the kids go nuts in the fields surrounding these museums too. As it was they only spent a short while running around burning off energy-they were pooped each night. We simply ran out of time and couldn't fit the Planetarium in, but I hear it's wonderful and I know its a must see.
I will of course never understand how you can visit a major city like Chicago and NOT go to the local art museum. I'm lucky enough to have a childhood friend on staff (okay, my brother's best friend from childhood-but that kind of makes him my friend by default right?) .
I was pleasantly surprised that 6 yr old Nick recognized several famous paintings right off (2 cheers for Little Picasso!) . The suits of amour were his favorite and he scared the begeezids out of the security guard when he almost climbed up to take a picture next to one. I always love Dali, and some of Whistlers work really caught my eye.
My only disappointment is the Museum of Science and Industry. Don't get me wrong, they have some great exhibits-some. It's been ages since I had been there, and I had hoped it was just my bad memory-but I do recall thinking the same thing the last time I left there. So many of the neat experiment exhibits were broken or so over crowded with people that we didn't have the patience to stop and try them out. Possibly if we knew which day wouldn't have been so crowded, I don't do crowds well. The sub on exhibit is really neat but the tour sold out, the kids got finger printed, and Nick controlled a tornado-oh and the baby chicks, so cute. We missed a lightening presentation, but we heard it from below and it was definitely a good thing to catch. I'm not going to tell you to skip this place and our kids had a ton of fun, but if there is one you want to keep putting off it's the one in my opinion. Many exhibits were boring or broken down-or worst yet the cool ones cost extra! My poor brother had to rush through and get back home for rehearsal. It just wasn't my favorite.
New since my days is Millennium Park. It would be awesome in the summer. We walked quickly through most of it, it was pretty cold. The bean (or officially, Cloud Gate), a sculpture in the park that shows the reflection of the city was a favorite spot on this trip for me. Nick seemed to like it as well, he took a ton of photos of his reflection.
Overall it was a great trip. My son even teared up when the idea of coming back home came up for the first time. I know the dinosaur bones was his favorite spot, Annabel says hers was cousin Lily's house. I loved playing tourist, seeing a few old friends, and chilling with my brother's family every night. Possibly I'm a bit biased, but in my opinion it's going to be one of Nick's best memories as a child. (I know he'll never forget all the people we saw on the train. Who knew you could pierce so many parts of your face, lol.) If you've never been to my city, you are missing out.
we took a brief jaunt to my favorite city, Chicago.
"Sweet Home" couldn't really describe it any better to me.
 |
I took this picture with my iphone through the plane's window, it reminds me of my oblique photos from work. The full size image is better, but I doubt it could be georeferenced |
I finally made it to the top of the Sears Tower, which is apparently now the Willis Tower or if you ask Annabel it's the Serious Tower.
You'll notice the vein popping out on my forehead. I was pretty freaked out standing in this see through box, 100andwhatever stories up. I only looked down a few times. Below is my daughter. She and my son had no fear. Both loved looking down and they clung to the floor like little tree frogs. In most of our photos I can be seen grabbing on to them-I had this internal instinct to hold on to them and keep them away from the edge. They shook free of me, obviously.
It really is a must see if your visiting the city. I can't believe it took me thirty some odd years to finally do it myself. It's one of those things you just always put off and then suddenly you move away and it doesn't get done. For the record, my husband played it cool the whole time but at one moment I questioned him and with a straight faced he replied: oh I'm pretty freaked out. He then returned to herding our 2 children into the corner of the box. He held it together better than I did, I will admit.
Sue
I married somewhat of an aquarium snob and the last place he wanted to go to was the Shed (center facility in the photo up there, right on the Lake). My contact for free tickets fell through so he lucked out and it was another spot we'll be saving for next time. I happen to love it. If it had been warmer we would have let the kids go nuts in the fields surrounding these museums too. As it was they only spent a short while running around burning off energy-they were pooped each night. We simply ran out of time and couldn't fit the Planetarium in, but I hear it's wonderful and I know its a must see.
Overall it was a great trip. My son even teared up when the idea of coming back home came up for the first time. I know the dinosaur bones was his favorite spot, Annabel says hers was cousin Lily's house. I loved playing tourist, seeing a few old friends, and chilling with my brother's family every night. Possibly I'm a bit biased, but in my opinion it's going to be one of Nick's best memories as a child. (I know he'll never forget all the people we saw on the train. Who knew you could pierce so many parts of your face, lol.) If you've never been to my city, you are missing out.
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