I'm unemployed.

I'm going on my third month of being jobless.  It started out feeling like a vacation, then a much needed rest, then a time to get my life in order, and now it's just scary.  In the beginning I told people I was 'funemployed' and said I was 'figuring out what to be when I grow up'.  I may have smiled slyly or laughed about it.  Now when people ask I still smile and bat my eyes, but usually it's because I'm blinking back tears.  I'm 73 days into my unemployment, and the fun has run out.

I don't want to be overly dramatic here, but I really do spend 53 percent of my day on the verge of tears.  I'm an admitted crier for sure, but this goes well beyond the usual hallmark commercial or extreme home makeover episode making me tear up.  I've stopped wearing mascara for fear someone asks me how things are going, and I pull a Tammy Faye Baker and end up with black stripes down my face.

Here's were I'm at:  I'm future hunting, career hunting, job hunting, and generally trying to figure life out.  I've spent the last 6 years helping raise other people's babies.  While that qualifies me to be responsible for other people's kids, like they literally trust me with their children's lives, it apparently does not qualify me to answer phones or get coffee for any or all of the down town joe schmo companies in the city.  At least that's how the lady at the staffing / temp agency makes me feel when I call and she tells me they still don't have anything for me.

I want to yell, 'I'd like to see you schedule 3 doctors appointments for 3 different kids around 2 parents schedules, and naps.  All while holding a squirmy one year old, explaining to the 3 year old that while it is o.k. for the dog to lick us, it is not o.k. for us to lick the dog.  Oh and do it while making lunches remembering that the 5 year old will only eat vanilla yogurt with the red spoon and the lid off, but if you even think about opening the 3 year olds blueberry yogurt, or give her a red spoon, God help you because there is no fury like a 3 year old fury because 3 year old fury don't stop!'

Instead in a little voice I say 'O.k. thanks for trying.  Let me know if you hear anything.'

And even now as I sit here writing this, I'm blinking back hot tears.  I'm sitting in the window of the coffee shop I started to come to when my apartment walls feel like they are closing in around me, trying not to cry, trying to stay positive, and trying to figure out if I really need insurance because I'm going to have to pick between that and rent this month.

The worst part is I get it.  I understand that the last 6 years look like a huge hole to potential employers, I realize that the degree I got in acting and dance isn't the most marketable choice I could have made, and that choreographing for high schools in the suburbs is not going to get my foot in the door.  The problem is I don't know what to do about.  Up until 2 months ago these things were some of my proudest accomplishments.  Right now though, I just feel bad.  and sad.

I also realize almost everyone has been there, here where I am, and that a lot of people have it a lot worse, but right now I can't hear about that because I'm barely keeping my head above water.  I'm not even sure where to start.  2 months ago I thought I'd apply for a few jobs, something would fall in my lap and I'd live happily ever after.  I didn't necessarily think I'd find my career, but I did think I'd find some kind of cool job where I got to be creative and work hard, and look cute doing it.  When that didn't happen I started considering other jobs, like maybe I could go back in to retail and really pursue acting.  Up until now I've acted around my work schedule, but maybe this could be the time to find agents, and really give this theatre thing a go.  When that didn't happen I called a few temp to hire places and figured I could try my hand at a few different things with them while still looking for something cool to do.  That's not really going as expected either.  I'm just more confused than when I started, 73 days in, and with no idea where to go from here.

So that's my unemployment so far.  I'm trying to stay positive, trying to stay a float, and trying to not cry… at least in public.

What's new: 19

(the bride and groom making their big entrance)

I know, I know, I'm late on this one, but I sweat I have a good excuse!  Two of my good friends got married this weekend, and it was beautiful.  It was happy tears, drinks, no time to sit because there was too much dancing, after hours, late night pizza in party dresses good.  It was exactly the fun time I needed after the week I had.  Last week was rough for a million reasons.  I want to tell you all about them, but they kind of bleed in to this week and what I'm doing and what's going on, so I'll save those stories for this weeks blog.

Stupid week and stupendous weekend aside, here are a few new things:

-I thought it'd be awesome to blog about whatever I wanted, really it was not as easy as I thought.

-I really like dressing up.

-Apparently I know how to Dougie… who knew?

-When in doubt, (or life crisis) throw on a bright lip and a high heel.  Your view point totally changes.

-I get by with a little help from my friends…





*Admittedly this week didn't go as planned, I didn't go out to dinner, post any pictures of me in pretty outfits, share any of my 'favorite' things, or give any sage advice.  I did however survive, and sometimes that has to be enough.  I'm reserving the right to try this one again, but for now it's on the the next one...

Notes from the front lines...

Here are just a few tidbits from my day so far...

-Chances are if you call the place I'm temping at today, you're trying to get a hold of Tom.  Tom's not answerring his phone, so I'll tranfer you to Rick like you ask, but his line has been busy all morning.  Sorry Sir.

-I don't have printing priveledges...

-Don't you dare try and deliver a pallet of sealant here, to me, to this office... Clearly it's for a job site, not an office building, and until you figure out which one, I just can not help you.

-The Dragon Lady was just nice to me...  I'm not sure if that actually means she's being nice, or if she's trying to lure me into a false sense of security before unleashing her pent-up fury on me when no one else is looking.*

-When all else fails talk about golf clubs.

-Now I'm avoiding the Dragon Lady at all costs.  For those of you I'm not gchatting with right now, the Dragon Lady is the women who I thought was supposed to show me the ropes and who I call when I have a question about something.  There was some confusion though because she thinks her job is to give me the side eye every chance she gets and then say such passive agressive phrases as "you know you're doing that wrong, riiiight?"

-I've decided to spend the day pretending all the guys who work here are either friends with my dad or brother.  For some reason it makes it way easier to joke with them and fit in.  Also, it makes it seem a lot more like I'm a college student home for break, and not an almost thirty something having a major life crisis.

-'Have a good one, enjoy the weather!'  Has come out of my mouth no less than 487 times. 

-I control the door to the locked bathroom- bitches!

-Writing this list just brought me 23 minutes closer to 5:30.  BAM!


*Whoa, whoa, whoa, The Dragon Lady was just nice to me again.  She even smiled at me and said 'thank you'.  My mind is blown.  Either the tide is turning, or per my above fury theory, come 5:00- my ass is grass.

Happy List.

O.k. for those of you that were concerned, today is turning out to be waaaaaay better than yesterday already.  To keep the positive swing going, here are 10 things making me happy right now:

1.  Stereo Hearts by Gym Class Heroes... Say what you will, but if this is playing, I am for sure dancing around in my apartment.  (or anywhere really)

2.  I'm having a really good hair day.

3.  I drove to work (or the work I'm temping at) and got to park in their garage

4.  Coffee.  I'm drinking it right now, and it's true love.

5.  The weather is beautiful right now.  Chicago winter predictions be damned!  I'll deal with it when it comes, right now I'm not even thinking about tomorrow's weather.  I'll just enjoy today.

6.  I don't want to sound conceited here, especially after #2, but I'm also having a really good outfit day.  The look is relaxed office casual, and looks a bit like I just threw everything on and happened to look totally put together.  I relish these days.

7.  I'm hanging out with friends later, seeing some really good dance, and possibly (really, totally probably) getting atleast one drink after the show.

8.  My friends Jackie and Justin are getting married on Saturday, and I couldn't be more excited to celebrate, see friends, and relax.

9.  Frozen Yogurt.  While I'm not eating any right now (it's a long story) I am just days away from Frozen-Yogurt-Palooza at my apartment.

10.  I'm officially in the less than a month birthday countdown.  While I could do without the whole new decade thing, I still get really excited about having my very own special day to celebrate!


What's making you happy right now?

nogoodhorriblerottenverybadday.

Sometimes when the going gets tough, the tough have a beer.  

Aaaaand as my roommate says, 'With a day this bad, tomorrow is bound to be better for you.'

Fingers. Crossed.

Specless.

Soooo, I lost my glasses.  Then I found them.  And then I lost them.  And now I'm sad.

A few months ago I was on Martha's Vineyard and apparently I left my glasses at the hotel I was staying at. (There's the lost part)

About a month ago, I was back on The Vineyard and staying at the same place.  On my way out of town it ocurred to me the glasses could be at the hotel.  The nice front desk clerk confirmed they had infact found them, and logged them in their lost and found system. (There's the found part.)

I couldn't wait to have someone physically find them because I had to catch a flight, but the nice front desk clerk assured me they'd locate them and give me a call.  I've been trying to get a hold of someone from the hotel, who can actually get the glasses in hand, so they can be sent to me in Chicago, so I can see again.  After no less than 5 phone calls I finally got a call back from one of the afore mentioned hotel's employees, who in a saccarine sweet voice informed me (over my voicemail) that my glasses had regretfully been 'purged' and to have a nice day... (There's the lost part.)

Apparently the hotel threw away my beautiful, expensive, grown-up, help me see everything clearly, geek-sheek glasses.  Aaaaaand I'm really angry.

What does one do in this situation!?!
(besides throw a temper tantrum and cry- because that's really all I can come up with right now!)

A Blogger… Me!?!

I always say I have a blog, but I never tell people I'm a blogger…

In my mind bloggers live in New York, dress up everyday, have lunch meetings, and live fabulously interesting lives that thousands of people want to read about.  I on the other hand am sitting here in my living room, watching Law and Order SVU in my work out clothes, and the most exciting thing I've done today was get an apple donut at Dinkels on the way home from working out…

I wouldn't say I'm a blogger.

This week however, I'm going to try.  I'll read a bunch of new blogs, I'll comment on them and leave a link to 52weeks.  I'll do interesting things and share them with you.  I'll write about whatever comes to mind, or the cool stuff I happen upon and think you should see.  Mostly, I'll play it cool and have fun.  I may even dress up a little!






*Let's just pretend that this is my living room…

The Bonus Birthday List...

O.k., so it's official… Exactly one month from yesterday yours truly will turn the big 3-0.  It's really happening, and I will gladly welcome the day with open arms, especially if that means one or two of theses dreamy presents…


A personalized Goyard St. Louis PM Tote.  (oversized of course!)

A Michael Kors oversized Runway watch.

Tickets to see this documentary.  (watch the trailer too…)

This pretty 'IL alway love you' necklace. (Apparently you've got to move fast around here!  Last night my supremely thoughtful sister-in-law let me know I should pull this one off the market.  I have a hunch I may be seeing it as a beautiful birthday surprise!  I'll keep the link up though because it's so pretty… And don't worry,  if you're still looking, no one's gotten me the Goyard Tote yet!)

An iPhone 4S.

A Banksy original.  (or a framed print… because you can download them for free.  Thanks Banksy!)

This Wayne funnel neck leather coat.  (a girl can dream.)


...There are at least a few more things that I'd like for my birthday, or that I think are cool and would love to share, so I'll keep updating this list, all the while knowing it's for funsies…

what's new: 18

O.k., I'm going to make this one quick.  Mostly because it's already Monday, I should have done this yesterday, aaaaaand because I could talk for hours about facing my fears (because I feel like a total badass after the Tarantula/Scorpion thing).  So, without further adieu here is what's new from a week of facing my fears.

-I was shocked at the amount of comments I got on my weight / stats post.  It was most shocking because the majority of the comments, texts, and thumbs up were from guys.  I didn't want that whole thing to be an I am woman,  girl power kind of thing, but I was pleasantly surprised at the dude power awesomeness I got.  Thanks fellas!

-I AM A SUPREMEM BAD ASS!  Probably one of the coolest things I've ever done was petting those disgusting, hairy, gross, creepy crawlers, not because I conquered my fear, but because for maybe 35 seconds I wasn't crippled by it.

-I don't plan on going around touching anything with 8 legs anytime soon… If this means I'm only a supreme bad ass in a controlled environment, with my friend Kyle, a staff of pet store workers, and Willie the wonder bug wrangler, I'll still take it.

-Lot's of people are scared of the things I'm scared of.  While it doesn't make me any less scared of those things, it's nice to know I'm not alone.

-I survived my scary movie viewing with no nightmares, but I don't plan on watching Saw, The Shining, or any of the like any time soon.

-I'm still job hunting, agent hunting, and sending out resumes and headshots left and right, so by all means if you have ideas, or connections, or suggestions- Send them my way!

Lastly, I found this quote from Ira Glass the other day and thought it was awesome so I'll share it with you. It sums up where I'm at and why I'm still trying:

Scary Movies

I wouldn't say I hate scary movies, I would say I despise them with a terror so visceral it's like my left brain has shut off, and I loose all ability to reason.  It's odd too because the things that should legitimately terrify me such as being in month 2 of my funemployment, my quickly dwindling checking account balance, or the even more crappy job market, don't really scare me at all.  In matters of reason I remain totally happily blissfully optimistic.  However, when it comes to a zombie living under my bed, or the possibility that there could be a serial killer in my closet when I get home from work and I'm all alone, I can make myself believe I am in a danger so imminent that I have been known to (on occasion) get a running start somewhere in my kitchen, leap from my doorway to my bed, and upon mattress touchdown, scramble all the way under my covers.  This way in the process, my feet never touch my bedroom floor, (where the zombies could get me) and I am hidden as quickly as possible under blankets, (clearly so the serial killer won't see me.)

However, zombies be damned, this week is the week to be scared, so I'm doing it.  With the help of my roommate Katie, I'm biting the bullet and watching a scary movie.  It has to be said that it's really hard to rent a scary movie nowadays with the lack of movie stores, and my not having netflix.  I was left with the red box, and since it's still September, the pickings were slim.  I've managed to find a thriller for Katie and I to watch, so wish us luck!

Arachnaphobia… Director's Cut

Allright friends, you asked for them… If you've got time to kill, or are really interested in what went in to the spider/scorpion pet-o-rama, feast you eyes on these:

Here's a basic run down of what we're up to, and why from here on out that tarantula will be referred to as Sir Horatio S. Bumblebottom III esquire LLC…

Here's o little getting to know you sesh with Horation and I…

This is what happens when Willie throws a scorpion in to the mix, and I learn how to pet a tarantula…

Kyle tried to tame the scorpion with his dulcet tones and bravery…

My bravery doesn't even come close to Kyle's…

Here's how you get psyched up to let a giant hairy spider climb all over you…

Aaaaand finally, here's how I look fear right in the face and laugh at it…

(then scream like a little girl to get it off me)

Arachnaphobia.

I did it!  Friends, I conquered my fears and communed with a giant, hairy, tarantula!  Aaaaaand as a bonus, the owner of the pet store we visited threw in a scorpion to boot… (thanks Willie the pet store guy.)  Please enjoy the video… I think it speaks for itself!

My spider friend and I...

The bonus scorpion...

A special thanks to Willie at Jules Pet Shop for all his help and patience, and to my friend Kyle for the moral support and video taking!  Also, because I haven't done my 'learn how to edit video' week yet,  I'll post the rest of the video we shot today and link it here. 

Act/or.

After yesterday's post, I realized I may have given you the wrong impression, so I wanted to clear it up with today's post.  I am in no way as confident or self assured and me blabbing my weight and height all over the internet may have made me seem.  I'm also not a shrinking violet who hides in the corner.  I like to happily exist in both worlds, 1 part mildly neurotic girl trying on multiple outfits before leaving for a night out, and 1 part super confident woman who believes any crosswalk can be a run way, and the higher the heel the better.  I'm good at living in both worlds in part because I'm an actor.  I wouldn't say I'm good at a lot of things…  I would say I'm an actor, so I am mediocre at most things, but an expert at acting like I know what I'm doing.

That leads me to today's scary thing.  Today I'm going to be an actor. 

For the record, I'm not really scared of being an actor… I am petrified of trying to be an actor and finding out I'm really bad at it.  I've spent the better part of the last year secretly half believing that the only reason the director didn't fire me from the last show I was in was because it would have left an odd number of guys and girls for the dance numbers…(see, under-confident girl neurotically trying on a million metaphorical outfits).  At the same time, I've been blabbing to anyone who would listen about how amazing the show was, what a great time I had doing it, and how much I loved the work I was doing.  Which is also all true.  I loved the work, the people, and the show really was good. (see, self assured woman in heels).

I think anyone in this ridiculous acting game spends about as much time doubting their abilities and what they are doing as they spend memorizing lines or sending out headshots. (present company included to the millionth power).   Also, with this whole life change, axis shift, funemployment thing I've got going on right now I figure there is no better time to try something new.  So today, and the rest of this week, I'll be submitting to agents, trying to find representation, and scheduling auditions.  Like an actor. 

p.s.  This post ended maybe being a little heavier than the kooky, silly, self doubty, one I had pictured in my head where I tell you about not only my attempting to find an agent, but also about a few of my more interesting experiences doing theatre in the city.  So, below please enjoy a piece I wrote a few years ago for a show I did called True+False.  In the show each of us actors wrote one true and one false story that we performed for the audience who had to then decided which to believe.  True+False was one of the best things I've worked on to date… The show I describe in the piece you're about to read however, was not.  Enjoy!

Act/or

My Grandparents recently sent me a videotape.  It’s of me at about 4 years old, waltzing into my grandma’s living room wearing a rainbow striped turtleneck and this pair of humongous white sunglasses, that I obviously put on to add a little flare to my everyday, kid-ish outfit.  I saunter into the living room, the whole time fully aware of the camera following my every move.  I glance into the lens to make sure I have the spot light, then I sit down at the coffee table, pick up a green crayon, and start scribbling on pages ripped from a coloring book.  When I am finally asked what I am doing, I turn look directly into the camera and respond, “I’m scribbling these for my producer.  He needs them for Monday next.”  

I was meant to be an actor.

I did theatre growing up, I graduated from college as a theatre major.  I became an actor.  I am an actor.

My most recent role was as the mother and lead Kazoo player in a children’s theatre production of Hansel und Gretel- not Hansel and Gretel, but Hansel Und Gretel, for this new theatre company that just opened in Chicago.  I hadn’t auditioned in like a year, so I was really pumped to be asked work with them.  From the beginning I was a little nervous about getting back into it and creating a character, and really doing a good job.  When I got the script I realized it was 36 pages of not good… I wasn’t horrible, but it wasn’t great.  It was actually written by a man whose pen name is bitten by a zebra.  The cover page of my script said 'Written by bitten by a zebra'. 

At the first rehearsal we sat down as a cast to discuss the show and my director’s plans for the show, when he announced he didn’t actually have any plans for the show, anytime he had made any plans he inevitably changed them, so why plan ahead?  To him theatre was a collaborative art, and he thought we could make all the decisions as a group.  Essentially, he hadn’t done any prep work for the show, and consequently we were all going to have to pick up his slack.

The budget for Hansel Und Gretel was a wopping zero dollars, so anything we thought we would need- like costumes or props or sets, we would have to provide ourselves.  This is how I ended up with the kazoo.  Did I mention Hansel Und Gretel was kind of a musical  with a few song and dance numbers?   However, because we didn’t have money to pay for any music, I was elected to play the Kazoo and accompany all of the songs.  Since all the songs somehow involved dance, and I also studied dance in college, I was elected to not only act in the show, be a kazoo playing musical director, but also be the shows choreographer.  

Our rehearsal space was a garage with no heat and dirt floors.  Our dressing room was a basement with nowhere to dress, or sit, and dirt floors.  Our poster was comprised of a clip art gingerbread man on red typing paper,-- they did however use 2 fonts. 

My favorite number in the show was a song I choreographed called the bratwurst song.  It went a little like this: (sung to the tune of Old McDonald Had A Farm) 

"If you like I make Bratvurst… E,I,E,I,O

And on that vurst I put some sauerkraut… E,I,E,I,O

With a sauer, sauer, here, and a krauty, kraut there,

Here a sauer, there a kraut… E,I,E,I,O!" 

 Did I mention we only spoke in German dialects?  I also yodeled.

The actor who played Hansel, who was about 5’3”, maybe 5’4”- somewhere around there, and was really 'nice'.  He told me he liked the way I talked.  He would imitate me and then tell me I was 'cute'.  On closing night he said he wanted to 'hang out' with me.  I would describe him as petite.  And nice.  Nice and petite.  So that was my last role, as a kazoo playing German Mother.

I am an actor.

I’m an actor? 

Partway through the run I ran into a classmate from college who asked what I was up to...

"Oh, I’m working on a great show with a new theatre company in the city.  It is a totally collaborative project with movement and music.  I really feel like I’m using all my talents. "

  

I weigh 170 pounds.

Yep.  IT's true.  As of about 45 seconds ago when I stood on the scale in my bathroom, I weigh 170 pounds.

I decided to start this week off with the least scary things for me and build up to the scariest.  I figured if I was going to do scary things all week I probably had to include some sort of body image, accepting self, honesty in my numbers kind of thing, but the more I thought about it, the less it made my heart pound and my palms sweat…

It has to be said that this post isn't going to turn into an 'I'm perfect the way I am' dove commercial either.  My driver's license says I weigh 135 pounds, and I do not feel bad one bit that every single time anyone looks at my weight it's like I'm telling them a teeny tiny lie.  Also, if we're being really honest up until about 7 months ago the afore mentioned license said I was 125 pounds which I probably haven't weighed since freshman year of high school, or that time in college when I stopped eating anything because I was 'too busy' and dancing all the time.  If it hadn't been for the DMV clerk giving me the side eye when he asked me if there was anything about my appearance stats I wanted to change, my license would still say 125 and I would have no regrets.

With that said, here are the rest of my 'stats' that I thought I'd be really scared to share with you, but really I'm not so freaked out by any more.

I am 5'6 3/4'' tall.

I am a 36DD.

I wear a size 10 or 12.

I am a 30 in jeans.

I have a 34 1/2 inch inseam.

I wear size 9 shoes.

I'm a natural blonde.

My least favorite feature is my belly.

My favorite are my legs.

There you have it.  The least scary post of this week… honesty in my numbers.

What I did on my summer vacation...

…or where the hell I've been for the last 4 months.  So, right before I abandoned you guys, I was in a big state of change.  If you remember, I told you about how my roommate was moving to a new place, my job was moving to a new state, and how I was moving into a new decade.  Well, in the time since that post lots of things have happened, and I wanted to give you a quick run down of the bigger things.

First, my roommate Crystal moved out.  There was no horrible break up, the truth is she found a super amazing one bedroom and I couldn't be happier for her.  I mean, I think that's what most everyone wants as they grow up- a super cool space all their own. (present company excluded because my almost daily viewing of crime dramas combined with an overactive imagination, fear of the boogie man who probably still lives under my bed, and my love of having someone to talk to, make me mildly codependent.)

Second, my job of the last 5 and a half years moved all the way to California.  This one was rough in the way that still, months later, I can be brought to tears just thinking about what it all meant to me and how much I miss it.  I started out as a nanny for one with a family I thought would be cool to work for.  Somewhere along the way my two bosses became friends, confidants, and important parts of my everyday life.  My daily job changed from watching that one little baby to wrangling three perfectly weird, funny, difficult, challenging, and beautiful kids, who I am still so in love with that my heart wants to explode most every time I think of them.  My very first day my boss handed me a teeny tiny eight week old baby and left for work.  I remember looking at that baby and thinking, 'What am I going to do with you!?!'.  In the last days of my time with them, hanging out in their new, beautiful, California life, I looked around at all of them and thought, 'What am I going to do without you!?!'.

Third, this whole new frontier of being thirty is fast approaching.  When I originally started this blog I was scared to death of the impending jump into a whole new decade and the regrets and missed milestones I'd have to face.  As of today, I am a little more than a month out, and I am positive about one thing: It's really happening, and I am going to turn thirty whether I like it or not.

When I wrote that original post about my life shifting on it's axis, I was scared of what my homelife would be like, what I would do without this family I fell in love with, and what would happen when I wasn't in my twenties anymore.  The crazy thing is that as each of these fears are being realized, I have survived.  There is probably no more powerful place to be than on the other side of great fear because once you've faced it, what do you have to be scared of?

Realistically this doesn't mean I'm totally fearless now, or completely self assured.  In my case, it means I have found a whole new set of things that scare me and a whole new list of fears to conquer.  I could fill pages and pages of the new heart stopping things I've found to make my pulse race and my palms sweat, but I'll spare you that for now.  However this week, I am going to bring you a few of the bigger, bloggier ones.  I'll try something new and scary and hope I find myself better off on the other side.

a quick question...

Oh hey, it's me again!  I've been sitting at my kitchen table with my roommates brianstorming what new things to try in the next few weeks... I've been spending the last few months being alternately exhilarated, scared to death, hiding under my covers pretending I'm not an adult, or stepping totally out of my comfort zone in new and odd ways.  It hasn't always been easy, (hence the hiding under the covers) but it has been really interesting.  I won't lie, there have been some tears, but also a triumph or two mixed in.  I'll save the real details for this coming week, but I can say that all this stepping out of my comfort zone business has brought up a million questions about what is scary to me, to other people, and how to beat the fear.  

This leads me to a question for you:

What Scares You?

It could be the scary shadowy guy that's probably outside your window, but that you only remember to be scared of after watching dateline, or it could be failure in general, or heights, or clowns, or not trying hard enough, or someone knowing your actual weight- not what it says on your driver's license…  What is it for you?  What really scares you?



In the mean time, as promised, here are 2 more of my favorite posts from the past.  The first is when Nick and I ended up at the The Museum of Science and Industry.  The second is one of my favorite ways to spend a rainy Sunday.

The Museum of Science 

and Industry… 

(or the day we didn't go 

to the nature museum.)

We started the day in Seattle.
(Not really.)


Nick posed by a train.


We saw a baby chick being born.
(Happy Birthday Chick!)


Nick decided to make a top.


Giant robots put it together.


Still assembling...


Sadly, it didn't pass the quality inspection.


We got bored waiting.


He finally got his Gravitron.


Nick climbed a science-y rock wall.
(I understand the science of gravity, so I did not.)

I saw my second Zach Morris phone in a week.

Nick found a light board.


He did light-y things.


Some of those light-y things.

Even more light-y things.

Then we went in the molecule mirror maze.
(It is unclear what molecules and mirrors have to do with each other.)

We toured the giant plane.

Nick sat in the engine.


I was excited Nick sat in the engine.

Nick found some electricity.

I found a double rainbow.


This guy found me.
(Filleted bodies are everywhere- crazy.)

We saw a light up dress...

and a light up bubble wall.


And I proved you can have fun, even in the gift shop.

I'm giving credit for this one to my friend Jackie. I was at brunch with another friend Nick getting ready to go to the Notebart Nature Museum when I got a text from Jackie:
'You need to go to the Museum of Science & Industry for your blog! It's the best museum! Jan 23rd is the last day for the Jim Henson exhibit!'
Nick and I were sold at Jim Henson, and in the time it took to pay the bill we changed plans and headed to the MSI. I had originally said I was going to try and go to museums that I'd never been to, but with all the changes and new exhibits, it may as well have been a totally new museum to me.

Viv.

This weekend my friend Mike and I checked out the Vivian Maier exhibit at the Chicago Cultural Center, and then headed to Ear Wax Cafe for brunch.  Per-the-usual, a day exhibit hopping and brunching with Mike is pretty rad.  Enjoy the photos!

p.s. you may remember Mike from our trip here.
p.p.s. check out Mike's art here



*ADDENDUM!  I've decided to add this extra blurb and some comments on these photos.  It just didn't feel right short changing such a great day and so many pretty pictures with something so thrown together, but I was running really late this morning when I posted.  I like hanging out with Mike for a ton of reasons, one being he's so good at so many things, and such a talented artist, I just feel cool tagging along.  Also, his spirit makes me feel like I could do anything and he wouldn't judge, if anything he'd find a way to help me make it cooler.  The V.M. exhibit was super cool.  Maier was a totally unknown photog up until a few years ago, right before she died.  She spent her days as a nanny for wealthy families on the Northshore, all the while capturing and documenting what she saw on the streets of New York and Chicago with her honest and unassuming street photography.  After seeing her work, and a few other exhibits, I tried my hand at snapping some street photos , while Mike prayed I wouldn't crash my car, or embarrass him too much.  Capping the whole thing off with brunch at a place with side-show themed decorations made all of this the perfect way to spend a rainy Sunday.