So let’s face it I haven’t been as diligent as I had wanted with this whole blog thing so I am going to try my best at catching you up on July in the Windy City. Last time I left off I was headed to Michigan to visit a friend from Miami. Sarah B. and I left Chicago early Saturday morning beating the crazy Cubbies fans at the McDonald’s drive-thru and headed to Kalamazoo, Michigan where our fellow AOII sister/friend, Kristina, is living for the summer before she moves to Chicago to get a MFA in Music Ethnology (or something like that) at U of Chicago. It was great time once we made it after around 3 times because we too busy talking to watch for signage and not factoring in the time change, we miraculously got there in the nick of time to enjoy a day out on a boat, and a night of drinking games that took us back to our Miami days.
After that brief little vacay I was back to work, picking up extra shifts at Zig Zag and a few more hours babysitting…nothing to exciting to report there other than. Little Nora is a little parrot and repeats everything I do and say and I am known as “Hammer” around their house (those “B’s” can get ya!), and baby Astor is rolling from front to back. I always just smiled and nodded when a new mom said “they just grow so fast” but after spending Astor’s first 3 months with her, I have to admit…they really do!
I have also gotten out and had some fun with friends. Regular movie dates with Jen, we’ve seen SATC, “Mamma Mia” and next on the list is “Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants” do you see a trend? We like our chick flicks! I also saw “The Dark Knight” it so so good, I highly recommend it, and Gotham is based on Chicago so there are a ton of Windy City shots. And I have been seeing my Miami/AOII friends although not as much as I wish, everyone is just so busy. And of course summer in Chicago wouldn’t be complete without the street festivals and outdoor concerts (note to self, take advantage of this before it turns bitter cold and I am buried under snow and grad work!) I also have been enjoying the bike trail and my bike!
And on the Cat front, she is healthy! It was a traumatic experience for all those involved (especially for Jen) but the little kitty is fixed, vaccinated and AIDS free. To save some extra cash I took her to PAWS Chicago which does all the above for under $100 (at an actual veterinary office it would be upwards of $300,) but I didn’t factor in that half of Chicago pet owners would be taking advantage of this on the chosen Sunday morning and we waited for 2 and ½ hours so I could hand them the cat carrier and tell the “vet” Cat hadn’t eaten since 7 PM the night before which took all of 3 minutes (seriously). But we survived and despite a stoned Kit-Kat there were no undesirable side effects.
I also visited Loyola for the first time since moving here and got funding straightened out, and walked around the campus bought myself a Loyola tee, but hopefully in the near future I will do a Loyola blog. I do have a few exciting things coming up. Jason is coming to Chicago this Sunday and we are headed to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan to camp, I haven’t camped since I was little bitty so I would love any advice a few my weathered fans could offer! (IE what is good camping food?) I am looking forward to my week of crunchiness. And lastly school is swiftly approaching (August 25) and I will start night classes 3 nights a week up at the Lakeshore Campus.
Thanks for reading my catch up blog, I apologize for the lack of pictures (note to self take more pictures!) and I hope everyone is doing well! I am off to buy the princess some kitty litter and wet food because heaven forbid she eat the cheap dry stuff.
xoxo
Amber
4 comments:
Well it's about time! I check every day- sometimes twice or three times a day- and come away with the same pizza picture- But I'm happy now- And think Cat is some lucky little kitten.
As for cooking- it is perfect for grilled vegetables (you can always grill a meat for your carnivore)- But all fruits and vegetables are great grilled. Use Olive Oil- and Balsamic Vinegar- or Olive Oil and lemon juice- or Olive oil and any spices for the veggies- And grilled fruits are great-Check out Amy's blog for her meal plan. Then take little skillet and you can cook great eggs over the grill (and toast on the side with butter). You can even do a grilled cheese- use the skillet or not! Have a great time!
And be careful- the last time I have memories of camping with you you rolled out the side of the pop-up camper- heard you crying- and found you outside on the ground sitting up looking mighty confused- you'd squeezed through the side- you were a wiggly one!
Love you! MOM
Hi Am, thanks for the update. Pics, pics, pics, I want pics. I hope you have a great time with Jason camping. As for cooking, three things...chocolate, marshmallows, graham crackers, perfect for a vegetarian! love,b
Oh you going up Youper way! Sure is nice up der, you betcha! (she says with her best MN accent) Have a blast camping. As for food, grilling always works but I've found that with enough planning and preparation, you can cook ANYTHING while camping! I've even seen scones made over an open fire! But throwing your meal with some seasoning into a foil pouch and tossing that over the fire works real nice too! Enjoy!
The UP (as Michigangers call it) is a great place and a good escape from the heat and humidity. As for food, you can always do a baked potato in the fire by wrapping in foil and burying it in the hot coals and leaving it for a while. An Lucas' suggestion of wrapping veggies aluminum foil with some butter and spices and burying it in the coals too. We used to do that in Boy Scouts, but we would throw in some hamburger to, so maybe a separate one for Jason would work. Have a great. And don't forget to stop and buy a pastie at a road side shop on the way (no not those kinds of pasties). A pastie is Michigan for a fried pie stuffed with what ever you like. You'll see bill boards advertising them on the way. Here is a website at one of the more famous pastie places: http://www.mackinawpastie.com/menu.phtml
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