What's Making Me Happy

I am stealing a page from Julie's book (or, to be more precise, blog) and writing a What's Making Me Happy post (which, in turn, is adapted from one of our favorite podcasts, Pop Culture Happy Hour). Without further ado, here is what has been making me happy lately:

--Broadway in Chicago. Last month, Brett and I went to see Book of Mormon. It really was as outrageous as people say--we loved it. In June, Once comes for a one week showing, and I can't wait.

The Bank of America Theater does not have a bad seat, but our seats were goooooood.

--MyFitnessPal. I have been wanting to eat a bit better and work out a bit more, and I have been loving using MyFitnessPal to track everything. Even better, a number of my family members also use it, and we cheer one another on.

--Mochi Ice Cream. On a different note...mochi ice cream. Why did no one tell me about this? I just tried it recently, and I am obsessed.

-Far Cry 4. I don't play many video games, but it is fun to have a game to pal around on. I have been enjoying Far Cry 4, my first experience with that series.

--Museum Campus. Brett has one more month to take advantage of student discounts, and he has been making the most of it. The museums in Chicago offer student memberships at a highly discounted price. So far, he is a member of the Art Institute and the Field Museum. We went to the Field yesterday to view the Vikings exhibit, and it was wonderful. We are planning on going next weekend to catch the Vodou exhibit before it leaves.

Brett and Sue.

The Adams/Moores Visit

Our good friends John and Katie came to visit this week. We have missed them so much since moving, and it was wonderful to have them around for a few days.

Some highlights from the trip include:

-Going to Three Dots and Dash. My drink was served in a skull glass and was thus the best.

-Going to Siena Tavern for dinner. Salted caramel gelato for the win!

-For Brett and John, going to blues legend Buddy Guys' bar and getting to meet the man himself.

-Watching the river being dyed green on Saturday morning.

-Finally checking out Au Cheval and eating the best burger and fries I have ever had.

-Going to Trader Joes with Katie, because what trip to Chicago is complete without stocking up on as many gluten-free goodies as possible?

Having friends in the city is fun, in addition to the great company, because we do things we normally wouldn't do--go to an underground tiki bar, wait in line at 10:45 am to get into a restaurant. I hope they come again soon!

Born to be a city kitty.

Miss this girl already!

Brett, John, and Buddy Guy.

Part of the river dyeing festivities.

Conflicted at Au Cheval.

Family Visit

(This post is so very belated. Embarrassingly belated.)

My sister Julie's in-laws live in Michigan. She had been planning a trip to visit them for a bit, and, last month, she decided to fly into Chicago before heading to Michigan so that she could visit with some of her old friends and me. I told my other sister, Robin, that she should come that same weekend. Then my mom joined in, and our family friend Diane.

It was so much fun!

We ate our way across River North (Frontera Grill - Piccolo Sogno Due - Siena Tavern). We went to the Shedd Aquarium (accidentally, we went on a day that is free to Illinois residents. Whoops. I think part of my soul is still in that line). I got to meet my niece Josie for the first time and got to spend a lot of time with her big sister Clementine.

Waiting in line at the Shedd. Love these lovelies!

My main man, still handsome off-kilter.

Brett pointing out an eel to Clementine.

I loved entertaining everyone in Chicago, and I hope they come back again when the weather is better and we can really take advantage of all the city has to offer.

Black Mirror

A British television show called Black Mirror has been creeping into my cultural sphere the past few months. First, it was recommended to me on Netflix, but those recommendations are generally disregarded because Brett and I share an account, so the recommendations run the gambit from Ken Burns' Baseball to Fantasia. Then, the show was recommended on Pop Culture Happy Hour, but by my least favorite contributor. Brett and I decided to watch it, however, and to watch at least two episodes because I had heard that the first episode is not the strongest.

Each episode of Black Mirror is a standalone story, with a new cast and new world building. The common theme is technology gone awry, usually not technology as it exists now, but technology as it could exist in the near future. The title refers to the screens--the black mirrors--that surround us.

We found that the show is very inconsistent. The good episodes are extraordinarily interesting, and the bad episodes are boring or, in one particular instance, so implausible that it takes you out of the moment. I would still recommend that you watch the entire series, however. If you only want to watch the good episodes, I would rank them in this order:

1) The Entire History of You - Not for what it says about technology, but what it says about human nature and relationships.

2) Be Right Back - We watched this immediately after watching the movie Her, and we were not the only people to question whether Spike Jonez took ideas from this episode.

3) White Bear - This episode did not capture my attention as quickly as the others, but the payoff at the end is good.

4) Fifteen Million Merits - The world building of this episode is completely unforgiving--you have to figure out what is going on on your own. I actually admire that, though.

5) The National Anthem - This is the episode where some of the plot points are so laughable that it really took me out of the moment.

6) The Waldo Moment - The worst episode, because it was completely boring.

Are you watching? Do you disagree with my list? Lastly, as my sister Julie responds whenever I shoot her a text about this show:

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.