Posted by: prettyhowtown | July 3, 2009

proud, happy, and thrilled

The Pride Parade is one of my favorite days of the year, especially when I get to be in the parade, and especially especially when I get to be in the parade on a bus. The crowd is usually even more spectacular than the floats and marchers, and I waved at them all until I thought my arms would fall off.

HPIM6475

HPIM6609

HPIM6613

HPIM6531

HPIM6641

HPIM6397

HPIM6253

HPIM6337

Posted by: prettyhowtown | June 27, 2009

and a fruit jar full of iced tea on a long hot summer day

There are certain buses in Chicago that my husband and I refer to as “theoretical buses”–sure, the CTA claims they exist; and sure, there may be signs for them along the streets; but your chances of actually catching one of those buses are slim to none. This summer, I’m taking an online course through a community college on one of those bus routes, and when I finished the on-campus midterm this morning, I decided that, rather than wait for a bus that might not exist, I would simply walk home. And I’m glad I did, because otherwise, I would have missed the Dalai Lama’s doppelganger waiting for a dentist appointment, the sad-faced woman dressed as a zombie Girl Scout, the busker playing earnest Zeppelin covers, and the open house at the Lillstreet Art Center, a place I’ve always wanted to visit and explore.

0627 lilstreet

0627 lilstreet 2

0627 lilstreet 3

I spend my days making up stories about Batman’s birthday parties and nights trying not to study too much. I’m battling Fred Penner earworms with Sara Watkins and Jenny Lewis, rereading Kissing the Witch, and covering myself with sunblock at all times. It’s summer.

Posted by: prettyhowtown | June 20, 2009

bee stings and all

Summer’s been off to a rough start. It started with a cold/infection that lasted about two and a half weeks–specifically, a two-and-a-half-week period that also included my comprehensive exam for my Masters degree, my first full-time week in my new preschool classroom, and the first two weeks of the two online summer classes I wanted to take to complete the requirements for my teaching certificate. One course of Azithromycin and one dropped math class later, I am feeling better and the world is making sense again. So I’m finally able to show you the bits and pieces of the last few weeks that are actually worth sharing and remembering. Included: wanderings in Oak Park before a block party gig, Printers Row Lit Fest, and a Saturday full of amazing music.

HPIM6096

HPIM6180

HPIM6176

HPIM6156

HPIM6165

HPIM6157

HPIM6092

HPIM6152

HPIM6119

HPIM6101

HPIM6191

HPIM6187

HPIM6183

HPIM6195

thao with toothbrush

hooray for straws!

kasey and shane at fitzgeralds

Posted by: prettyhowtown | June 1, 2009

there’s a cold in my head

The few scenes from the weekend that didn’t involve me sniffling and blowing my nose:

HPIM6060

damen art

chirpy the bird

windows along leavitt

mocha muffins

it is supposed to be a bird.

Posted by: prettyhowtown | May 28, 2009

stars this night in the sky are ringing out

fffun

Visiting Novelty Golf & Games (warning: catchy 1980s commercial jingle will begin as soon as you click on that link) has been a summer weather (or summer-like weather) tradition for me and my husband since we first started dating; in fact, it was one of the first places I visited with him on my first visit to Chicago. So it was the perfect thing to do over Memorial Day weekend, me taking a break from studying, him taking a break from work. Technically, he won, but then, everyone’s a winner when the night is capped off with ice cream at the Bunny Hutch.

statue and castle

little mermaid

there was an old shoe that lived on a golf course

Next Saturday, I take my comprehensive exam–the last hurdle towards my masters degree. (There are still two hurdles standing between me and my teaching certification, but hopefully I will also clear those by the end of the summer.) In the meantime, I have started a brand-new job, with seventeen brand-new little ones to teach and learn from, and even though it’s chilly and cloudy today, I know that summer is on its way.

Posted by: prettyhowtown | May 23, 2009

and we sing in harmony

Some of you know that I have a street performer (busker) license, and that I occasionally pin it on and go play in the plaza or in front of the farmers market for change–or, occasionally, flower petals or smiley face pinwheels. So I have a special place in my heart for buskers in the first place. But this video–seriously. If somehow you haven’t seen it yet–even if you have seen it before–just watch and enjoy and remember how amazing it is that we can make music, and that we do so all over the globe.

Visit the Playing For Change website here.

Posted by: prettyhowtown | May 15, 2009

they canceled the parade tonight

HPIM5978

HPIM5979

HPIM5976

Posted by: prettyhowtown | May 5, 2009

please tell us why you had to hide away for so long

First trip of the year to Millennium Park, first but not last study session in Welles Park. My iPod plays “Mr. Blue Sky” whenever I put it on shuffle these days, but I removed the earbuds long enough, at noon yesterday, to hear the church bells ring “Hail, Holy Queen” while the little girl below spun in the gazebo. This week I start a new music class, a new church class, and a new job. Oh, spring.

HPIM5948

HPIM5934

HPIM5925

HPIM5898

HPIM5969

HPIM5970

Posted by: prettyhowtown | April 27, 2009

the world is beginning to bloom

HPIM5834

HPIM5859

HPIM5886

HPIM5887

HPIM5837

HPIM5883

Earth Day: spontaneous trip to the zoo, spontaneous trip to the conservatory, spontaneous string jam.

Last day in the kindergarten: hugs and flowers and presents and cupcakes, a field trip to the symphony, riding on the school bus past sculptures and protests and the beach and the Ferris wheel and remembering how much I love this city.

Old things are wrapping up, new things are starting up. It’s finally spring.

Posted by: prettyhowtown | April 13, 2009

and we can stay all day

HPIM5735

HPIM5747

HPIM5774

HPIM5797

HPIM5761

HPIM5737

Over spring break, when I wasn’t studying, I went to the zoo, learned to play cribbage, won a pub quiz, sang to a crowded sandwich shop and a nearly-empty tea shop and a completely empty restaurant, had fabulous tea and chocolate-ginger cupcakes and mocha muffins, and spent time with many lovely people. Let’s hope that I can keep this balance during the next two months as well.

Older Posts »

Categories