January Happenings

2015 has been very good to me so far. Some bright spots include:

-Going to my first ever NBA game with Brett (Bulls lost big time, but we had fun).

-Getting gussied up to go to the wedding of my friend/co-worker/mentee, Kaitlin. 

-Visiting Atlanta ever-so-briefly for a work trip. As soon as the clients and partner left, I went back to the CNN Center so I could pose with Rick and go to the Cartoon Network gift shop like a grown up. 

-

NYE

[This post is very belated--2015 has been busy so far!]

Our good friends Audrey and Adam came to visit us over New Years. We were excited to host them and to finally have someone review our new sleeper sofa (it got the thumbs up!).

The first night they arrived, we went to trivia at a bar/restaurant near our apartment. We were annihilated, but it was still a good time. 

On New Years Eve, we did the touristy stuff (which I say with a lot of love--the only thing that could have made it better was Garrett's popcorn!). We went to the Art Institute of Chicago and tilted our heads and "hmmm"ed in an appropriately sophisticated manner. We went to Chicago Cut for lunch. Audrey and I did a little shopping. 

That evening, we played Munchkin, the game that can destroy friendships and marriages (I lost, but one day I will have my vengeance!).

We then headed to the Little Goat for a NYE party. We ate a lot, drank a bit, and sang "Come on Eileen." All in all, a great night.

However . . . for the following 24 hours, Audrey experienced what was either the worst hangover ever, terrible food poisoning, or the dramatic emergence of a shellfish allergy (or a combination thereof). Hopefully that is not what she will remember from her trip (may old tummy aches be forgot, and never brought to mind). 

I hope you and yours had a great New Years holiday! 

2014 in Review

2014 was a great year for Brett and me. Looking back over the highlights of the year made me look forward to 2015!

Highlights
-Starting a new job and moving to Chicago.
-Welcoming a new niece (Josie Louise).

My sister makes some cute babies.

Favorite TV
-Broad City. Can someone literally die laughing? I hope not.
-Jane the Virgin. Very sweet, funny show.

Favorite Movies
-Guardians of the Galaxy. Dad and I saw this movie in a theater with seats that move (is this the future?). Lots of fun.
-Gone Girl. Super creepy and I loved it.
-The Lego Movie. Funny, clever movie.

Favorite New (To Me) Podcasts
-Serial. Fun to be part of a zeitgeist.
-Ask Me Another. NPR quiz show = geek heaven.
-Pop Culture Happy Hour. This podcast is so entertaining, I can listen and enjoy it even when I have not seen/heard/read the pop culture they are discussing.

Favorite Books
-The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt. I read this beast of a novel for a bookclub. I am glad that it was for a bookclub, or else it would have taken me much longer than two weeks to read it.
-Life After Life by Kate Atkinson. Please read it so that we can talk about it.

Favorite Jams
-Sylvan Esso. Super chill.
-Take Me to Church by Hozier. Earworm.
-Riptide by Vance Joy. Monster earworm.
-Girls Chase Boys by Ingrid Michaelson. Oh-oh-oh.

Fun Trips
-Family cruise in January. This is particularly meaningful now because my grandfather passed away in the fall.
-Visiting San Francisco. Brett had an internship and was there for many weeks. I came to visit him for our wedding anniversary.

Standing on a boat on the bay, watching the tide roll away.

-Memphis for the wedding of our good friends Adam and Hillary.

Yum.

-Labor Day in Seattle.
-Ann Arbor for Audrey and Adam's wedding.

Best Eats
-Last meals at Let's Take a Seat (silly name, delicious tofu) and Golden Harbor (better name, equally delicious tofu) in Champaign.
-Chicago Cut with my dad. I wanted to treat, but of course he did not let me.

Overall, in terms of media, this was the Year of the Podcast for me. I am ashamed at how little reading I did. If I can offer any excuse, it is that my job requires a lot of reading, and I often do not feel like reading more when I get home. But, like you, I am unmoved by that excuse, and hopefully in 2015 I can reclaim my status as a reader.

In terms of real life, this was a very real year. I transitioned into a job that I will (hopefully) be in for the foreseeable future. Brett accepted an equally grown up job. Our families and friends experienced many joys and some heartaches. All in all, I am entering 2015 excited for the future, but very pleased with the present.

Scott Christmas

For the first time ever, Brett and I had a solo Christmas. He had just moved up (finally, permanently!) the week before, and we wanted some time for just the two of us. For a few days we relaxed, blazed through True Detective (which I thought was good, although perhaps not as good as it thought it was), and I made Christmas dinner.

In Brett's family, ham gravy is the pillar of all holidays. It is discussed endlessly beforehand, eaten quickly during, and remembered fondly afterward. So, I made a ham with ham gravy.

It was not as good as my mother-in-law's. Oh well--even not-as-good ham gravy is yummy.