A Girl and Seven (or so) Pizza Places

I treat this blog like an online scrapbook/journal: part rambling thoughts, part descriptions and reviews of events I attend, places I travel, food I cook, books I read, and movies I watch. One thing I'm missing is descriptions of places I've eaten, at least as a consistent feature. I regularly reference this space when I'm trying to remember where I was on a certain day or what I did for a holiday, and remembering great meals with great people is something I'd like to do better at.

For my first round of reviews, I decided to group together similar restaurants and share only my favorites. And since it's a Friday, I'm going to start with pizza. Pizza in Chicago is a matter of pride and loyalty, but I grew up on thin crust so that's where my pizza love truly lies.

It should also be noted that tonight Jesus and I made our own pizza (bbq chicken...a new one for both of us)...so as much as I've enjoyed these places, obviously I still like to sling my own dough on a Friday night.

My Pie Pizza
Good for: deep dish & delivery. This is my go to for Chicago style, if I have a craving for it or a guest requests it. It's a more local option than Giordano's, which is my runner up for Chicago style pizza.
Ambiance: I've only had it delivered, but I know the place is super small.
Notes: you can collect My Pie Points from every pizza box. 20 gets you a free pie!

John's Pizzeria
Good for: huge thin crust pizzas, delivery, takeout, or dine-in. This is the type of pizza I grew up on. Giant, square-cut, and with a cracker-like crust.
Ambiance: old school pizza joint, complete with gingham-style table cloths.
Notes: Make sure to get your free cola! 1 or 2 liters depending on how much you spend.

Piece Pizza
Good for: hanging out with friends, especially ones with differing tastes--Piece specializes in individual pies with loads of options for toppings--and three different sauces. Again, thin cracker-like crusts rule here.
Ambiance: bar & grill meets open air eatery. Lots of natural light makes it a great place to meet up anytime.
Notes: Piece is also a brewery, so come thirsty!

Dante's Pizzeria
Good for: date night, dinners out, something different. Dante's serves New York style pizzas influenced by Dante's Inferno. Make sure to try one of their specialties, you won't find them anywhere else.
Ambiance: casual-hip.
Notes: Order by the slice or by the pie. Can't really go wrong.

Santullo's Eatery
Good for: slices, New York style, lunch or late night. The sandwiches are good too!
Ambiance: casual. Feels like a campus staple, except it's not on a campus.
Notes: they have vegan/vegetarian options!

Honorable Mention:
The Boiler Room: The pizza is good, but man oh man do I hate how loud it is in there. It's a bar first, then pizza place. (Am I old? I'm old.)

Special Shout Out:
Ian's Pizza in Madison, WI. Not just because if I'm in Madison with Jesus we have to come here. They offer pizza by the slice, toppings you've only dreamed of (Mac & Cheese. Jerk Chicken. something called Drunken Ravioli.), and as many organic and locally-sourced ingredients possible. Awesome (huge) salads. So yeah, Ian's gets a shout out.

On my To Try List:
Pizzeria Da Nella: It will never be to soon to taste Neapolitan pizza again. 
Dimo's: the Ian's of Chicago (no, seriously. Current menu options include Chicken n' Waffles and S'mores. Plus lots of vegan options.)

My January Poem

If I want to stay creative, I have to create. Without really committing to it, I'm committing to posting at least one poem each month on here. I can write more than one, but I'd like to have at least one that I share. 

January is both conducive and restrictive when it comes to poem writing. Life is ripe with metaphors--things are fresh and new and positive--it's all a little overwhelming. This mood is kinda perfect for poetry, if there's time after all the resolution-keeping. Which is why I made poetry one of my life intentions in 2015. Make it a priority, make it happen.

Quiescence (or Discernment)

When you start reading medical journals for "research,"

that's when you wonder how you got to where you are now.

Where you are isn't bad, but it is unexpected, like every

twist and turn your life has made:

a series of switchbacks on a mountain,

all leading to the top,

taking the longest (and most logical, in hindsight) path.

Recently, the twists and turns have straightened themselves out.

Your life hums along, the same yesterday as tomorrow;

for once you have a chance to settle in and enjoy the view.

You’re not at the top yet, just a plateau. For now.

You like to play a game called "Did You Ever Think?"

It involves asking yourself periodically,

"Did you ever think a year ago you'd be where you are today?"

The answer's always "No."

(For now.)

This Is Where I Leave You

This Is Where I Leave You is about one family whose dysfunction brings them tears and frustration while bringing the audience laughter and joy. Its dark humor fits the characters and story well, which is no miracle considering Jonathan Tropper wrote both the screenplay and the book on which it's based.

The Altman children are gathering for their father's funeral, plus one week of sitting shiva with their mother (Jane Fonda)--even though they all have other things to worry about in their lives. Judd (Jason Bateman) is dealing with the fallout of finding out that his wife has been cheating on him. Wendy (Tina Fey) is raising her two kids while her husband spends most of his time on the phone with (or traveling to) London for business. Paul (Corey Stoll) and his wife Annie (Kathryn Hahn) have been trying (unsuccessfully) to have a baby). Phillip (Adam Driver) is still figuring out what being an adult means.

Throw in a few nosy neighbors, a couple of old flings, and a trip to temple, and this week turns into the most emotionally-draining and challenging week in Altman family history. Which is all the better for viewers. You'll laugh, you'll cry, and you'll hug the people you watch with. Then you'll want to read any Tropper you haven't yet, because as brilliant as the cast of This is Where I Leave You is (and they are), the story and dialogue are what really take the cake here.

Sunday Night Survey: High School Nostalgia Edition

Well, that football game didn't go how I would have liked, so let's talk about something more exciting. I got to see high school friends this weekend! It was a short reunion, but oh so needed and oh so fun. Now I'm ready for another warmish week in Chicago, after I watch another football game to help me forget about the one that just ended.

Hating: waking up early for a morning shift.
Loving: how photogenic the city is at that hour.

Finishing: Not That Kind of Girl by Lena Dunham and really liking it.
Riding: the train to work & the bus to play.
Enjoying: the 40 degree weather (way different from both 0 and 20).
Meeting: my friend's brother's girlfriend and realizing she's already met both of my siblings.
Drinking: a gin and champagne cocktail we named The Kicker.

Eating: Thai food and pretending we were at the Great Wall.

Reminiscing about that time we ordered in Great Wall our senior year, among other things.

Playing: True American and card games like we were in college.

Staying: out only until midnight.

Ordering: a late night torta.

Making: new memories with old friends.

Waking: up to someone vacuuming.

Reading: The Signature of All Things by Elizabeth Gilbert and very excited to hear about her newest book, coming out later this year!

Watching: the Packers lose that game.

Hoping: at least the Colts can make it to the Big Game.

Planning: a super comforting dinner to improve my mood.

Tiny Beautiful Things

Tiny Beautiful Things: Advice on Love and Life from Dear Sugar by Cheryl Strayed
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Sum it up in a sentence (or two): The subtitle pretty much says it: Advice on Love and Life from Dear Sugar.

First thoughts: There is a lot of love in this collection of letters--me to Strayed, Strayed (Sugar) to everybody.

Favorite quotes (and basically the rest of my review):

"You loathe yourself, and yet you're consumed by the grandiose ideas you have about your own importance. You're up too high and down too low. Neither is the place where we get any work done." p 58

"The story of human intimacy is one of constantly allowing ourselves to see those we love most deeply in a new, more fractured light. Look hard. Risk that." p 63

"...close your eyes and remember everything you already know. Let whatever mysterious starlight that guided you this far guide you onward into whatever crazy beauty awaits." p 130

"I hope when people ask you what you're going to do with your English and/or creative writing degree you'll say: 'Continue my bookish examination of the contradictions and complexities of human motivation and desire;' or maybe just: 'Carry it with me, as I do everything that matters.' And then just smile very serenely until they say, 'Oh.'" p 134

"Don't lament so much about how your career is going to turn out. You don't have a career. You have a life. Do the work. Keep the faith." p 351

"The useless days will add up to something." p352

Personal takeaway: BE HUMBLE. (Consider that as close as I'll get to One Little Word for 2015.)

Recommended for: sensitive souls, people going through transition, lovers, fighters, and dreamers.

Final thoughts: I loved Tiny Beautiful Things, but there was a point about 3/4 of the way through where I was like, man, this is emotionally exhausting. To read all of these heartfelt letters people have written Sugar--about falling in and out of love, loved ones dying, career troubles, affairs, sickness, etc, etc, etc--and then to read her equally heartfelt responses (filled with their own separate accounts of love and sex and death) was humbling and tiring. In their original form, they'd be spread out over weeks and months and perhaps less taxing than when read one after the other. Also, I'm really good at projecting myself into other people's lives and struggles. So many letters felt like they were written to me.


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Friday Night Links 12

Because my writing goal for the year is to diversify it, here are a few articles, quotes, and lists that have been helpful motivation and affirmation. (PS, so far this goal is panning out well. I'm journaling a lot more than I ever did last year, my sentence-a-day notebook use is fairly regular, I'm keeping a schedule on here, and I've devoted time to personal projects that I have no plan for, but still want to play around with.)

This wouldn't be my personal list of writing inspiration if there wasn't something from Elizabeth Gilbert.

A whole year's worth of wisdom from some writing greats (including Gilbert, again). I keep this bookmarked and read through whenever I need a little pick me up.

"Write scraps and crots and pieces of broken structure. Throw them in a pile or a box or even away, but write, write, write. Until it’s not precious, or special, or perfect. It’s just what you do."

Writing is good for your health! And blogging gives you a runner's high.

My favorite part about this list is that a lot of it isn't about writing specifically, but about creating a life where writing can thrive.

What I Know About...The Difference Between 0° and 20°

So far this year, Chicago has seen it's share of temperature changes. I know a lot of people think cold is cold, but a range of -7 to 37 encompasses several seasons. Living in Chicago has made me privy to these seasons and given me a particular wealth of weather knowledge, which I am sharing today. I'm obviously not a meteorologist; this information comes from experience only.

I know...

1. Anything below zero degrees is cold cold. At that point, it really doesn't matter how far below zero it is: snot will run and freeze, eyes will tear up, and I will wonder why I left the house.
2. Things start to warm up right around the 20° mark. You know the temperature is in the double digits and most likely in the late teens or higher when the air no longer hurts your face. While still not pleasant, the temperature is at least tolerable.
3. Once it hits the freezing point, pull out the rain boots. Yeah, it's still cold out there. But when the thermometer hovers between 31° and 33°, it's also gonna be real slushy. Better cold and dry than wet and anything.
4. Perspective is everything. All this being said, a 20-degree day really only feels amazing after a few days of negative wind chills.
5. My brain is good at tricking my body. If it's sunny out, I let myself believe it's spring. A little mood boost never hurts.
6. Cold habits die hard. On 20-degree and higher days, I'll feel foolish for taking the bus instead of biking to work. I did it in November; the only difference now is my Ventra card is loaded and I'm used to leaving 15 minutes early.

Now You See Me

"The closer you think you are, the less you'll actually see," is a good way to sum up both the full length movie Now You See Me and its trailer, below. After watching either one, you'll know exactly what happens without really knowing much of anything at all. This isn't a critique--I kind of like my movies that way.

Assuming you have a strong suspension of disbelief, you'll enjoy Now You See Me. It's Ocean's 11 meets The Prestige in the 21st century, both for the subject matter (bank robbing/Vegas + magic/illusion) and the cast (a slew of young and/or popular celebrities + Michael Caine). Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson, Isla Fisher, and Dave Franco make up the Four Horsemen, a group of touring illusionists. They are funded by Michael Caine, debunked by Morgan Freeman, and (after a felonious trick) pursued by Marc Ruffalo.

Props to the actors and screenwriters for pulling me in and making me care about the story. There are unanswered questions at the end, but I was entertained for the duration of the movie. If that means I fell for the director's sleight of hand, so be it. I enjoy tricks and illusions exactly for the fact that I can't figure them out--plus rumor has it there's a sequel coming, so perhaps a few questions will get answered then.

Sunday Night Survey: Golden Globes Edition

Instead of reviewing my weekend (which, let's face it, was mostly football, couch time, and eating), I'm going to use this Sunday night to live-view & discuss the Golden Globes. This activity is also known as live-blogging. ! Yes, it's that time of year again. I'll see you all back here at about 7 PM, Central Time. Until then, go Colts!

6:56 pm: Red Carpet & Pre-Show Extras

I hope you're all ready for this! I am. I'm all football happy and just finished eating, so I'm really ready to watch celebrities for the next few hours. I've been sneaking peaks at the red carpet pre-show and I have to say, low cut dresses seem to be in this year. Dresses With Pockets count: 3 (Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, and Emma Stone).

7:00 pm: Amy and Tina's last year as hosts begins...

The best part of that opener was the part where Tina and Amy roasted Hollywood's values by announcing everything Amal Alamuddin-Clooney has done recently...and then reminded us it's George who's getting a lifetime achievement award tonight.

7:12 pm: To be honest I wasn't really paying attention to the first awards.

"Those are the 50 Shades of Gray actors? Wow do I never want to watch them have sex ever." --Jesus, about Dakota Johnson and Jamie Dornan

Did you all see the promo for Sisters earlier? I kind of don't even care what the movie is about...I just want to see it.

7:22 pm: Paying attention now. :)

Yay for Fargo! Not that I've watched, but the movie was awesome.

J. Lo: "I got the nails."
Jeremy Renner: "You got the globes, too."

"Yes, you stand there and you say thank you." --J. Lo, to Billy Bob Thornton

7:32 pm: Free speech, heroes, human rights

I love how willing actors are to do silly things. I love it more when actors are unwilling to stop talking when it's their right to speak.

Nice hustle to the stage, Gina Rodriguez! That was a heartfelt speech, but at the same time a lot of feelings for an acting award.

"To love." --Transparent creator Jill Soloway (PS, I like the suit--while it's not a Dress With Pockets, I'm always a fan of women getting pockets wherever they can.)

7:44 pm: Music

I wonder how many Johann Johannssons are in Johann Johannsson's family line.

How fitting that Prince is presenting this award. John Legend is great, I don't deny it. But if you guys are on Instagram and you aren't following his wife, Chrissy Teigen, you're messing up. She is hilarious.

7:58 pm: Intense eyes, drunk eyes, Big Eyes

Matt Bomer, your eyes are intense.

Ricky Gervais, there's a man after my own heart (both for the wine on the stage and for telling us how it really is...famous people are just better than us ordinaries).

"To say that I am ill-prepared for this moment is a huge understatement..." --Amy Adams. To say that sentence without stuttering just proves to all of us at home that you were very prepared to say at least that.

8:12 pm: Animation and Boyhood

Animated Film: what a solid category. How to Train Your Dragon 2 is the only one I haven't and also don't want to see, so that's a little disappointing.

I think Patricia Arquette deserved that award for the basic fact that Boyhood took 12 years to film. That's a lot of time to stay committed to a project.

8:25 pm: Comedy and funny ladies (and men too I guess)

Finally, Tina and Amy are back. And Kristen and Bill!

Best Screenplay: Birdman and all the hard names to pronounce.

I loved Jeffrey Tambor in Arrested Development. Maybe I should check out Transparent. I also think it's cool that this award (Best Actor in a TV Series, Musical or Comedy) went to a man who plays a transgender woman. So yes, we have come pretty far.

8:43 pm: All about the ladies

"They're really pushing the whole 'Women are great' thing this year, aren't they?" --Jesus (not without reason!)

8:52 pm: Awards, awards, awards

With this outfit change, we have one more lady with pockets (Tina Fey again).

I wanted Kevin Spacey to do his whole thank you speech as Frank Underwood. Alas, I'll have to wait until Season 3 to get my F.U. fix.

9:06 pm: George Clooney

George Clooney, everyone.

9:21 pm: Are the commercials getting longer and longer or is it just me?

Chris Pratt and Anna Farris are my favorite Hollywood power couple, followed by John Krasinski and Emily Blunt.

9:32 pm: Keaton and Winfrey

"There are always so many people to thank" --Michael Keaton

9:43 pm: Foxcatcher and Budapest

I don't think Steve Carrell has smiled all night.

I have seen exactly zero of the nominees for Best Picture, Comedy or Musical. My movie game has tanked recently.

9:50 pm: Best Actor 

Oh really, we're running long? I hadn't noticed. You'd think after 72 years the powers that be would have awards shows figured out. Making an easier way for winners to get to the stage might help.

10:00 pm: Home Stretch!

I've also not seen any of the nominees for Best Picture, Drama. But I guessed Boyhood would win.

Show over! Goodbye Amy and Tina. :(

The Host

The Host by Stephenie Meyer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Sum it up in a sentence (or two): Alien parasites control humans (and Earth); a small population of alien-free humans tries to survive. Melanie Stryder, stubborn human, messes up the status quo.

First thoughts while reading: I'm interested in the story (plot), but WHY must the protagonist be 17 when she meets her man? In a book for adults (like the jacket cover specifically states that), could we maybe get an adult relationship featuring adults? I get that in the present action of the story she's in her twenties, but what is it with Stephenie Meyer and minors/older dudes?

More thoughts/questions for the author while reading: What is with Stephenie Meyer and men holding women while running? As the story goes on I can get past the age difference (especially when Melanie is actually Wanderer, but then we have a whole other age dynamic happening).

The Host reminds me of:
Divergent
the Hunger Games series
the Ender series

Things I would change: besides character ages, a lot of the fluffy dialogue could be cut from this to make it a tighter story. Things like the random soccer game felt forced and dragged on when there were more important things happening.

Recommended for: my boyfriend (a big reason this book gets four stars, besides that I just plain enjoyed the story, is that I'm making Jesus read it), fans of other books set in post-apocalyptic utopias/dystopias, scientists, aliens.

Final thoughts: a good/hopeful ending. I'm glad it didn't feel contrived. I would watch the movie.


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Friday Night Links 11

Because I'm back to work today after two snow days and coming off a lot of cleaning and journaling, here are a few fun links for the weekend. Take it easy and stay warm the next few days!

A t-shirt that best describes my mantra this past week (and probably next week too).

Anyone who knows me knows that pockets are an important part of my life.

What does your ZIP code say about you?

I'm not getting over a breakup at all, BUT this guy's advice for getting over it (whatever "it" is) is spot on. Especially number five.

"...the band is weirder and more visionary than people who dismiss it realize." It's okay to admit to liking Dave, guys. They're a great American band.

I don't make $96,000 a year...should I ask for a raise?

ZooLights 2015

If the rest of 2015 goes anything like my New Year's Day, I have a lot of brunch, quality friend time, city exploration, and takeout ahead of me. I'm okay with that.

One very important thing I did (and it required me to stray from my January 1st tradition of not leaving the house) was seeing Lincoln Park's ZooLights before they were taken down for season. In years past, Jesus and I have gone sometime in early December, as a way to get into the festive spirit, but it wasn't in the cards for 2014. I blame the shorter Christmas season and having a boyfriend who works in retail.

Either way, what is usually a priority for us turned into a "Eh...we can always go next weekend or the weekend after that" ...until there was only one weekend left. Then we got serious. We bundled up, said sayonara to the couch, and miraculously found street parking a few blocks from the zoo.

Along with lots of other families out for the day, we made our customary loop: ice carving and seals, the cat house, small mammals and amphibians, primates (one of my favorite parts), and an extended walk around the outdoor areas (this year we saw camels). The Christmas lights didn't feel out of place, and suddenly we were in festive moods again. Or fresh new year moods.

On our way out, we paused to take in a view of the skyline over the river. It felt right to be standing out in the cold, dreaming of the Chinese delivery we'd soon order. I don't know about Jesus, but I was ready and excited for 2015. Maybe we'd started a new tradition--celebrating holidays in January.

The thing about ZooLights isn't so much the zoo part or the lights part, it's knowing I'll go with the same guy every year for as long as we live in Chicago. It's reminiscing about things we've seen previous years while making new memories of the sights and sounds around us. It's having something to ground us, whether during the rush of the holidays or in the quiet wake of them.

2015 Resolution: teach Jesus how to smile for pictures.

Humility Jar 2015

You may have heard of the trend of picking one word to define your year. Officially, One Little Word. I haven't done it in the past, and neither am I doing it this year, but if I had to settle on a theme for 2014, it would be the struggle between happy and whole. I started the year with a Happiness Jar that I eventually treated as more of a Wholeness Jar. Month to month (week to week, day to day even) I went back and forth between what was more important in my life--being grateful for what made me feel happy and free, or for what made me feel whole, regardless of emotions. It was a fine line and delicate balance that I didn't always feel harmonious with, but as they say, it was a growing year.

In 2015, I'm continuing the Happiness Jar practice (it's original purpose as created by Elizabeth Gilbert, see here and here for explanations) with humility as my centering theme. After going through last year's jar, I realized that my favorite memories of happiness/wholeness were usually the happier ones. I know that happiness isn't my life's goal, per se, but happiness is harder to remember. The slips with things that made me whole (a person with strengths and faults) last year--my bike getting stolen, getting called on my shit by a friend, not getting a job--I could remember without having written them down. It was the "happy" slips that I needed reminding of.

Not only were the happier ones more fun to read and good reminders of moments I had forgotten throughout the year, they were usually more concrete and simple. They weren't grand, they were just right. They were the little moments that made my days, and consequently, my year. They were the sun shining in my window, the smell of a summer breeze, making something new for dinner, or a positive conversation. They didn't require anything more than me living my life and being open to good things.

That's the spirit I want in 2015--a spirit of being open to good things and letting them happen (while also not expecting great or grand things--because sometimes good is really good enough).

Today's entry is easy: SNOW DAY. Or rather, Cold Day, because it's too cold to commute today. But it's just the right temperature for baking granola, reading under a blanket, and drinking copious amounts of tea.

Interstellar

If there's anyone out there who hasn't seen Interstellar yet, let me warn you that the trailer doesn't really tell you anything. If there's anyone who hasn't seen Interstellar or its beautiful yet confusing trailer, let me give you a quick summary.

It's the future. People are farmers (again) and suffering through dust storms and crop blight. Cooper (Matthew McConaughey), one of the farmers, used to be an astronaut. Future NASA recruits him to go on a mission to save humanity along with other scientists/biologists and robots. Their mission is to find another planet suitable for life using a wormhole leading to several possible locations. If one of the worlds can sustain humans, then Earth's population will boogie on over.

Simple enough, right? Well, Cooper also has two kids, who he may never see again since space travel takes a while. As he is traveling, he barely ages compared to them. His daughter, Murphy, who as a child thinks her room is haunted by a benevolent ghost, hates Cooper for leaving. Even so, she grows up to also work for NASA, specifically as a scientist working on the equation that will allow the space station to launch to whatever planet will support human life.

With Cooper saving humans from space and Murphy saving them from Earth, we're in pretty good hands. You'll have to watch the movie to see how it all plays out (and to find out if Cooper and Murphy ever see each other again!). I give this one a solid "Would Watch Again" if only because of its grandness. The soundtrack is as big and as small as each moment requires. I even enjoyed Anne Hathaway's performance, and I'm usually not her biggest fan. Catch this one in theater if you can, or at the very least make sure you have surround sound when you watch at home.

Sunday Night Survey: Happiness/Wholeness Jar Edition

Last night I read through my Happiness Jar (that turned into a Wholeness Jar). (For an explanation of what a Happiness Jar is, let me introduce you to my role model, Elizabeth Gilbert.) This morning I woke up (sort of late--sleeping off a cold) and went for a walk before I started drafting this post. Why would I trudge through falling snow on a Sunday when all that's required of me is to watch the playoffs from my couch? Well, after reading the close to 365 scraps of pink, green, and purple paper, I realized that nature was a big part of my happiness AND wholeness last year, and walking showed up on more than a few slips. Of course, most of the nature-related ones also featured "warm" or "sunny" aspects, but I figured if nothing else great happens today, at least I'd have my quiet snow-filled walk to write down.

Now, at the end of the day, I can say other great things did happen, but I'm still writing down something from my walk as my piece of happiness for the day. Not the walk itself, which was nice, peaceful, and thought-filled, but the part of it where a young boy shoveled off the sidewalk in front of me as I walked in the cleared path. When he got as far as he could  go pushing the wet snow, he stepped off to the side. "Sorry, I can't go any further!" he apologized, his cheeks flush and his breath condensing in the air. I reassured him his effort was still appreciated for the path he created. That was my happy moment of the day.

What else made me happy or whole last year? What trends did I find? First off, I was a little scared to get started. What if everything I wrote was lame? What if I read through all my slips and felt nothing? Dumb fears, for sure. So I just got started. I dumped out all the scraps of paper and started reading. Here's what I found:

Things I like (in no particular order)
compliments
sunshine/warm wind
Just Doing It (twice I wrote this specific phrase)
food, especially pizza or anything I made myself
"getting work done" (again, an exact phrase I wrote more than once)
walks
family
anything with Jesus (but usually it was goofing off, exploring, or eating)
things at work unrelated to work
activities with friends
massages
when work ended early or on a positive note
Breaking Bad/The X-Files
leisurely days
breathing
laughter
feelings (having them, controlling them, expressing them)

Things I have further questions about
"Having feelings" (9/28/14)--which ones?
"Getting that story out" (1/21/14) --what story?
"Things resolving themselves" (6/2/14)--what things?

Why was I so secretive with some of my happy moments? Did I think I was being coy or poetic? I need to cut that out for 2015.

Favorite moments to re-read, categorically
short and sweet
slightly ironic
recallable
not related to work at all
concrete

The best example I have of all of these is the slip that read just "Chipotle"--it still makes me happy to think about how happy a simple meal makes me.

Plans for this year's jar
more on that later this week!

Gone Girl

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

First thoughts: Right away I'm drawn to smart, sassy, and self-effacing Amy. I'm suspicious of Nick.

First thoughts upon reaching part two (and sort of spoilers): Got me. Diary Amy was easy to like. Relatable. Now I don't know who I'm dealing with. Even though I'm less suspicious of Nick, I'm not convinced he's likeable.

Where I read: under the covers.

Favorite characters: I like Go. I hate that her nickname is Go.

Favorite quote: "Tampon commercial, detergent commercial, maxipad commercial, Windex commercial. You'd think all women do is clean and bleed." --Amy (part two)

Recommended for: lovers, haters, married people, engaged people, single people.

Final thoughts: Amy and Nick are both messed up. They made me question what love even is or how you know it's real. For several days after reading, I was suspicious of everyone's motives for doing anything. I want to see the movie.


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What I Know About...Biking in January

It's basically the same as biking in December. Sunglasses help.

In 2015...

I will dance more.
I will forgive myself.
I will laugh without constraint.
I will follow my curiosity.

12.31.14

I won't be posting any end of the year wrap-ups or resolutions today. Instead, I'm gonna live in the last few moments of 2014 and take the time to enjoy them, without expectation or anticipation for what comes next.

My plan is to be back tomorrow with a more formal New Year's Day post and a few thoughts about what I want for my life in the next year, but we'll see how the day goes first. No promises.

Then, hopefully over the weekend, I want to go through my Happiness/Wholeness Jar (remember that?) and use that as a 2014 wrap-up. I have no idea what I'll find in there, what themes and patterns will emerge, or if the whole thing will end up being a little lame, but I finished it! And that's one of my bigger accomplishments of the year, so I'm gonna celebrate it.

What else...I hope everyone has a safe and fun NYE, surrounded by friends and lovers. Ciao, 2014!

The Week Between

Christmas was here and is now gone, without fanfare. Sure, lights and trees are still up, but I'm guessing we would feel a bit silly singing Christmas songs now. I don't even have snow here, so any festivity I did feel while in Wisconsin stayed there. All the fun happened up north; here in Chicago it's business as usual.

Except not really. School is still out and New Year's Eve plans are still being made. I'm not sure what the purpose of this week really is since "the holidays" aren't quite over, but we're not quite back to work mode yet.

Personally, I like to take this week to breath before the newness of January 1. Now is when I start looking back at the year, and forward to the next. I think about resolutions. I schedule my yearly doctor appointments. I pay off credit card bills filled with gift charges. I eat clean to make up for the pound of cheese consumed over Christmas break. I try my hardest to finish just one more book before the end of the year.

I guess there is a point to having this week. 2015, I'm not ready just yet. It's still December and I still have a few things to do.

Collaging as Therapy

I could write an essay about the joys and effects of collaging, but that would defeat the purpose of a collage. Instead, let me share Elizabeth Gilbert's thoughts on this relaxing practice:

I love collage. Collage is the gift that God gave to those of us who cannot draw. You can make a pretty thing without, you know, actually having the ability to make a pretty thing.
I make a lot of collages in my life. I do one before every new project, and another at the end of every project. I do one for every big move, and every new chapter in my life. I do them when I'm sad and can't figure out why, and when I'm so happy that my emotions spill over and it all needs to be Modge-Podged in order to feel real. 

These are not masterworks that I make. I don't need them to be GOOD. They are just a visual/emotional thumbprint of a moment in time. They always surprise me, and they always inform me. I keep them in a notebook that is something like a non-wordy diary. For somebody who is so verbal, it's restful for me to just play around with color and shape and image, and to see what that all has to teach me about where I am, and what I want. 

--Elizabeth Gilbert, on her Facebook Page

I'm so glad that one of my writerly heroes shares a love for this activity with me. I've been collaging since high school, when I would make them for end of semester projects. Now, I fill journal covers, corkboards, bowls, and boxes with images I pull from magazines. These items decorate my apartment and remind me of times I felt creative, or not creative at all. They serve as inspiration and meditation.

I know I'll be collaging into the new year. Maybe if you're lucky I'll share my creations on here. :)

Sunday Night Survey: Winter Solstice Edition

Quinn graduated today! The kiddos (Quinn, his roommate, Bailey, and her boyfriend) and I drove up to Madison from Chicago to attend the ceremony at the Kohl Center and eat ourselves silly after. It was a perfect little getaway weekend and distraction from holiday stresses. I'm back in Chicago (via bus and train) and I'm looking back at all the activities we did before I get settled in for the longest night of the year.

Getting: out of work early on Friday to kick off the weekend.
Watching: Now You See Me.
Riding: the train to O'Hare to pick up Bailey and Nico.
Making: a Yankee breakfast for them.
Meeting: up with siblings and old and current roommates for pizza and beer.
Staying: awake while everyone else took naps.

Staying: out of the cold and in my apartment.

Ordering: tacos. Because tacos.

Waking: up before dawn to make sure Quinn got seated before 10.

Staying: awake (again/mostly) during the ceremony.

Tearing: up just a tiny bit.

Feeling: proud of my baby brother for getting the degree he wants.

Eating: barbecue and melted chocolate on everything.

Drinking: a Godiva Cappuccino.

Hopping: on a bus to Chicago.

Smiling: because I'll be back in Madison on Tuesday.

Listening: to the final episode of Serial and wondering what to do with it.

Understanding: the sentiment in this blog post.

Doing: a final load of laundry before the holidays.

Prepping: for one day of work this week.

Baking: my fourth loaf of this pumpkin bread (minus currants, plus chocolate chips).

Cooked

Cooked: A Natural History of Transformation by Michael Pollan
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

First thoughts: Another solid food book by Michael Pollan, though this one didn't hold my interest as much as his previous books. I liked how he split it into sections (Fire, Water, Air, Earth), but found that if I wasn't interested in the exact thing he was cooking, I started to skim.

Where I read: in between making chicken noodle soup (from a whole chicken), pumpkin bread, and lots of fall salads.

Recommended for: cookers, bakers, brewers, grillers, eaters, humans.

Favorite quotes (and basically my thoughts about cooking):
"...most cooking manages to be agreeably absorbing without being too demanding intellectually. It leaves plenty of mental space for daydreaming and reflection." -p19

"In a world where so few of us are obliged to cook at all anymore, to choose to do so is to lodge a protest against specialization--against the total rationalization of life. Against the infiltration of commercial interests into every last cranny of our lives." -p22

"To cook for the pleasure of it, to devote a portion of our leisure to it, is to declare our independence from the corporations seeking to organize our every waking moment into yet another occasion for consumption." -p22

"...the not-cook option means that people can also, for the first time, choose to cook purely for the pleasure of doing it." -p130-131

"The more time a nation devotes to food preparation at home, the lower its rate of obesity." -p192

"You want Americans to eat less? I have the diet for you. Cook it yourself. Eat anything you want--just as long as you're willing to cook it yourself." --Harry Balzer, p193

"After a week in front of the screen, the opportunity to work with my hands--with all my senses, in fact--is always a welcome change of pace." -p195

"It seems to me that one of the great luxuries of life at this point is to be able to do one thing at a time, one thing to which you give yourself wholeheartedly. Unitasking." -p195

FIRE: barbecue pork. Interesting, but not something I'll ever make.
WATER: stews, braises, and soups. All me right here--these are the recipes I can make with my eyes closed.
AIR: bread. Makes me want to try my hand at bread baking.
EARTH: ferments, pickles, alcohols. These are the foods of my people, but again, not something I think I'll ever make.

Final thoughts: Cooked raised my curiosity for the history of the way foods are made. It makes me proud to be a cooker/comfortable in the kitchen.


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Chef

After barely finishing Cooked (it got a little bland at the end, but my review will still be mostly positive--come back tomorrow to read), Chef was a great movie to get me excited about food again. It doesn't take much to do that, but I appreciated Chef's understated humor and focus on the kitchen. The literary side of me also enjoyed the outside-the-kitchen parallels drawn between following orders vs following your heart.

Carl Casper, the titular chef (played by Jon Favreau, who also directs), just wants to do what he does: make good food. But not just good--edgy and new and fun too. His boss, owner of the restaurant where Casper works (Dustin Hoffman), just wants the (tired) food that sells. Add to that the pressures of a celebrity food blogger (Oliver Platt), and Chef Casper is out--he quits. He pretty quickly realizes what his next step should be, and with help from his ex-wife/current friend (Sofia Vergara), best friend (John Leguizamo), and son (a perfectly sweet Emjay Anthony), he sets out to be boss of his own kitchen--on a food truck.

Simply put, this was the perfect movie to watch yesterday. It's fun and funny, without being campy, cringy, or contrived. It's a light-hearted and food-filled journey that I'm glad I went on after a stress-filled day.

December Birds

I'm not the only one who thinks things are little off these days, am I? I heard birds singing while I biked to work yesterday. Birds, singing away on December 16 like it was the most normal thing to do. That (plus the mostly green grass) has made me forget more than once that Christmas is next week. And 2015 is just a week after that.

It's hard for a Wisconsin girl to be festive without snow, plus we decided not to put up a tree in our apartment this year, so I'm holding off on Christmas spirit until I get to my parents' house. Besides, I have other activities to celebrate before then: welcoming Bailey and her boyfriend to Chicago/North America and congratulating Quinn on his college graduation. And let's be honest, I'll be totally fine if snow doesn't fall in Chicago at all this winter. No snow = no public transportation = saving $20/week.

The new year, though, that I don't know when I'll be ready for. On one hand, I'm very excited to see 2014 go. It wasn't my best year. It wasn't America's best year. Still, I'm not sure I want a whole new year to start quite yet--I have a few things left to do.

First, I want to enjoy December (birds and all).

The Interestings

The Interestings by Meg Wolitzer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

First thoughts: Man, I just love Meg Wolitzer. I think if this was the first book I'd read of hers, I'd be a little hesitant to like it as much as I do, but her characters are just awesome. And they're always so different. Where does she have space for all these personalities inside her head?

Where/when I read: Thanksgiving break.

Favorite quotes:
"Despite my wisdom by now, I am small-minded and predictable." -Jules

"I know I still cause harm, probably a ton of it no matter what I do. And it kills me, it just kills me, that maybe the best you can ever do is cause less harm." -Ethan

"This is love, even if it doesn't feel like it." -Jules

Favorite characters:
Jonah Bay-I relate to him somehow. Despite the fact that he's a brilliant gay man, the son of a folk singer, and a genius in robotics.
Jules & Dennis's relationship-feels very natural.
Jules & Ethan's relationship-also feels natural, but it shouldn't, so that's kind of magical.
Ethan Figman-a saint, but also flawed, but mostly sensitive and introspective and caring.

Recommended for: character lovers, confused people, people with flaws, artists, dreamers, readers, vacation-goers, homebodies, and doodlers.

Final thoughts: Wolitzer not only knows how to write stories, she knows how to end them. I don't have a lot else to say because I mostly let myself get caught up in the story while reading. It was a great experience.


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Gift Idea Ideas

Around this time of year, every blog/website/magazine seems to have their own version of a Gift Idea Round Up. I, being a procrastinating shopper and someone who never knows what to get people for Christmas, always read them. And I always come away disappointed. I've finally realized that what I don't like about these lists is their specificity: instead of "ideas," these lists are full of actual products that the writer/curator wants me to go out and purchase. I know I can use the products as a springboard for my own shopping list, and I do, but what I really want is a list that helps me think about why I'm giving gifts in the first place.

On the practical side, I truly feel the best gifts are the ones that will be used (and maybe even used up--I don't want to be the source of clutter in someone else's life!). If tchotchkes are what bring a person true joy and happiness, fine, I'll get that, but otherwise I will search high and low for something functional, consumable, and/or memorable (as in an experience of some sort).

On the personal side, I also think about the person and tailor the gift not just to them, but to my relationship with them. More specifically, I like to give people something similar to things they give me throughout the year: food, comfort, free rides, inclusion, good times, love, laughter...I think you get it. These things are both tangible and not, but there's usually always a matching gift for them.

So that's my formula for gift giving. Of course, this all goes out the window if someone actually has a request. A Christmas request is a blessing, gosh darnit, and you best honor that. It takes 100% of the guess work out of shopping and guarantees a happy camper. The thing is, most adults don't have requests. Asking for requests usually elicits a "Oh, you don't have to give me anything," or a "I'd be happy with whatever you get me," because most of us have been raised to not expect gifts and to be grateful for whatever we have/get. To those people I say: just come out and say what you want because I know you'll be sort of disappointed if I don't magically figure it out!

Another note on having requests and a word of advice for the financially independent: often, having a disposable income means being able to buy whatever you want whenever you want. This means, come gift-giving seasons, people are at a loss for what to give you. If you hold off purchasing some of your wants, then gift-givers might have a better chance of getting you a gift you'll appreciate. Practice minimalism and intentional consumerism while helping out those who are clueless as to what to give you for the holidays. Wins all around!

All of this being said, I do have several go-to gifts that (I think) work for a variety of people. Yes, I make substitutions or alterations for each person, but these "gift templates" are great starting points when time is running out and I'm short on ideas.

Start with a theme. Instead of trying to find the perfect gift, think of an appropriate theme, then get smaller items that relate to it. Essentially, a gift basket. In the past I've done "Recuperate and Relax" (heating pad, foam roller, post-workout drink), "Hydration" (fancy shampoo/conditioner, a few favorite drinks, lotion), "Movie Night" (popcorn, candy, movies/rental gift cards), and "Expat" (peanut butter, Oreos, candles, a book written in English).

Think about needs (and wants). Where is the recipient in life? A college kid living away from home might need grocery money. S/he probably wants to spend that money on booze. Help them out with a gift card to a nearby store and six pack of something classier than what they're used to. A grandma bracing herself for another winter might need more bags of salt or heavy-duty boots. She probably wants something a little more sentimental. Look for something cozy and cute, like sturdy slippers. If you'll be around, offer to shovel for her.

Do a little snooping. If you're comfortable with the recipient, snoop around their life. Ask friends and family members if they've talked about things they might like. When you're at their house, sneak a peek into their closets/pantries/bedrooms...jk, sort of. Full disclosure, I do this during Thanksgiving at my parents house to see where they might be in need of something and regularly do it at home when I'm thinking about what to get my roommates. A lot of times people have blind spots to things they're used to living without. Examples: stemless wineglasses, fancy coffee, butter dishes...(most of my snooping is in the kitchen).

Scratch-offs. When in doubt, get a holiday-themed scratch off. It's great for all ages. (Give the kiddos a penny and let them have at it. They'll have a ball trying to match the pictures...no need to tell them there's money on the line.) And if there's a winner, even better!

A Journal Journey Pt 2

Another journal milestone: I finished this little guy (finally) after just over a year of scribbles. My journaling was slow this year, something I hope to remedy in 2015. I love blogging and writing on here, for an audience, but journaling is my true release and creative outlet/muse. It only took me until about now to realize that I have a hard time writing creatively before I write out all the junk first. So, less journaling means less creative writing, which means a less fulfilled human. Anyways, I know that now, so here's to fulfillment in 2015!

And here's my journal journey to date: everything personal and cringe-worthy from my life in 12 notebooks.

It's strange that I know most of their contents by their covers. The black one is my Rome journal, one of my favorites for obvious reasons. I taped/stapled nearly every receipt, ticket stub, train pass, brochure, and whatever other scraps of paper I came into contact with while abroad inside (that's why it won't close) and I'm so glad I did. That's something I forget to do now, but hope to make a habit again. Those scraps trigger memories and inspire stories. The one with the circles and the white one with the hair tie around it are from MercyWorks. There's a lot of growth in those (so much I needed hair ties to keep them secured). Large portions of all of these journals feature my favorite lines from songs and books, silly to-do lists, and self-pep talks. Sometimes I recalled a day's events, but more often than not I just recorded the moment's feelings, anxieties, prayers, goals, and hesitations.

Up next, filling this guy with whatever inspires me.

Chicken & Noodles: Relationship Observations and a Recipe

Isn't it funny how the books we read and meals we make inspire so many conversations? These simple touchstones can carry me through an evening of companionship--though sometimes the dialogue can get a little heated, as was the case Saturday night when Jesus and I made dinner and I discussed my current read, Cooked, by Michael Pollan. (Readers of this blog know I'm a fan--see here.)

The book has already brought up a myriad of life-thoughts for me, and I'm only 50 pages in. Especially as I (continue to) pontificate to Jesus while reading, it's clear that food (and where it comes from) is pretty important to me. I strive to eat food (not food-like products) and think about how it gets to my kitchen/table/mouth. Jesus's philosophy is quantity over quality, getting the most for the least, and protein above all.

These contradictory principles have worried me in the past, but so far haven't been an insurmountable point of contention. It helps that I do most all of the cooking when we're together, so I have control in that area. (By choice--I very much enjoy it. Plus, Jesus makes a great sous chef. Don't think he doesn't do his share or at least wash dishes!) And he'll eat whatever I make--if homemade/home-cooked/real food is offered to him, he definitely takes it over fast food. He just won't go out and search for these things on his own.

To illustrate our food logic: I love soup. I never/rarely order it at restaurants because I know I can make it cheaper and better at home. Soup is easy to make, hard to mess up, super comforting in the cold months, and can be as hearty as you want when you're the chef. Jesus hates soup. Or rather, he hates broth. Give him a rotisserie chicken and a side of veggies and he's happy. Put those ingredients in a bowl with some chicken stock and he's up in arms wondering where his sustenance is.

The meal that inspired this revelation? Chicken noodle soup from scratch. I used store-bought noodles, but balanced that out by using a whole chicken for the meat and stock. I roped Jesus into helping and heard all about how cutting up the chicken on our own, boiling it off the bone, using the bones for stock, and adding all that water was counter-intuitive to our his end goal: eating chicken. I listened, then watched as he devoured two bowls.

I still couldn't get him to see that the activity of cutting the chicken and knowing I wasn't wasting any part of it added to my eating experience, but I think he found new respect for me (if his "I love you. That's gross," as I dislocated the thigh bone means anything). Even if I don't go to the From Scratch Extreme every time, I like to challenge myself. I always learn something. Spending non-screen time with my boyfriend is always a positive, and we had a lovely meal at the end of it all. I guess until he refuses to eat what I serve (as if), we're doing okay.

Chicken and Noodles (from the Pioneer Woman)

This recipe isn't meant to be soup, but depending on how much broth you make/use and if you add the flour at the end (I didn't), it can range from soup to stew to...chicken and noodles. Enjoy!

1 whole cut up fryer chicken (YouTube "how to cut a whole chicken" for helpful walk throughs)
2 carrots, diced
2 stalks celery, diced
1/2 medium onion, diced (I used almost a whole onion)
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp tumeric (I left this out)
1/4 tsp white pepper (I used black)
1/4 tsp ground thyme (I used an Italian seasoning mix)
2 tsp parsley flakes
16 oz egg noodles
3 tbsp flour (optional)

Cover chicken in 4 quarts water. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low. Simmer for 30 minutes. (Heads up, you're gonna need a huge pot. Or two medium sized ones at least.)

Remove chicken from pot to a cutting board. With two forks, remove as much meat from the bones as you can, slightly shredding meat in the process. Keep meat off to the side. Return bones to broth and continue simmering on low, covered, for 45 minutes.

Remove bones from broth. Add vegetables, herbs, and spices. Stir to combine and simmer for 10 minutes.

Increase heat and add egg noodles and chicken. Cook for 8-10 minutes. (I stopped here and served myself a bowl of hearty chicken noodle soup.)

Optional: mix flour and a little water. Stir until smooth. Pour into soup, stir to combine, and simmer for another 5 minutes, or until broth thickens a bit.

Sunday Night Survey: Consumerism & Camaraderie Edition

I'll never be a social butterfly or a person who loves shopping, but I can pretend for a weekend--this weekend to be specific. I officially started my Christmas shopping, which leaves me feeling strangely content and successful despite my distaste for the consumption of the season. I also caught up with two friends from different circles of my life. Altogether, the weekend was refreshing and a great kickoff to my subtle festivity (Subtle Festivity is coincidentally a proposed title for my pretend lifestyle blog).

Macy's: outdoing everyone else's festivity since 1858.

Making: chicken noodle soup from scratch (whole chicken, store-bought noodles).
Drinking: tea at home, tea at tea shops, tea in Starbucks, and tea before bed.
Eating: in a very crowded Macy's food court.
Traveling: up and down escalators in search of better views and to cross off my shopping list.
Finding: a few deals along the way.
Talking: about siblings and parents and heath insurance and life goals.
Picking: out my health insurance plan for next year. I can't wait to hardly use it (because knock on wood I'm luckily and purposefully healthy).
Marveling: at the amount of people out shopping.
Wandering: past and through the Christkindl Market (very briefly--it was packed on Saturday night).
Watching: the Badgers lose the Big 10 Championship spectacularly.
Breaking: in a brand new journal, a good time for...
Re-committing: myself to my personal writing practice.
Reading: Cooked by Michael Pollan.
Getting: my news from SNL.
Putting: away the orange-colored and pumpkin-flavored candles.
Pulling: out the reds, greens, pines, and cinnamons.
Arranging: one strand of Christmas lights over our living room window. Festivity!

Sunday School

Here is what I learned today, compliments of writer/blogger Melissa Frederick (in a guest post on Brevity):

Like it or not, we writers have to accept that the only way to get good at writing is to write and share that writing with others. If the only space we have to hone our skills is a blog, so be it. 

Here's the article in entirety: "About Getting Good: The Many Paths to Literary Mastery".

Where'd You Go, Bernadette

Where'd You Go, Bernadette by Maria Semple
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

First thoughts: I loved the format of emails/letters/Bee's thoughts in the beginning part of the book. It made for a quick read. There were several WTF moments throughout this strange, yet fun, tale.

More thoughts on Bee's thoughts: she seems precocious, even for a fifteen year old. I also had a hard time believing how well-adjusted she is during some major upheavals in her life. She goes from annoying to endearing and back again within pages.

Favorite character: Manjula (for the first half of the book). I related to her job of answering emails and doing Bernadette's every bidding.

Overall character thoughts: While I enjoyed each of the characters, none of them were truly real. I'm not sure that they're supposed to be, though, so this is just a thought and not a critique, per se.

Where I read: in marathon spurts before bed. (The book was too heavy to carry with me like I usually do.)

Recommended for: "found" story fans, travelers, architects, nerds, geeks, drama queens, people who complain about the cold.

Final thoughts: I liked this book. Just liked. I'm interested to see what's next for Semple.


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A Journal Journey

Today marks the day I finish my 5-year, sentence-or-so/day journal. My interest in the project ebbed and flowed, and there were times I had to fill out a week retrospectively, but overall I've been religious about summing up my day in a few short lines since December 2009.

My favorite part was reading back each day to see what I had done the year(s) before. I noticed trends (fall's allergies, spring's restlessness) and marked traditions (holiday celebrations, anniversary rituals). Sometimes I found myself in completely different surroundings, while other years I could write the previous year's lines almost verbatim. A lot has changed (my location, my boyfriend, my job). A lot stayed the same (I know the girl who wrote those lines four, five years ago. She is still me.).

I've decided to continue the line/day journal because I do feel like I've gotten a lot from it (at the very least I can tell you what I did, in general, on any given day in the past five years...and that has to count for something). I'm going to pare it down, though, and really only give myself one line. Each page of my new journal will be dedicated to one calendar date and I'll write line by line until it's full.

This journey's not over yet.

What I Know About...Biking in December

"What I Know About..." is a new series I'm trying out this month. A lot of blogs have a specific niche; this one ranges from food to travel to happiness seeking. What I'm saying is, I'm not a specialist in any one thing (frankly, I'm afraid of the commitment), but I do know a thing or two about a thing or two. Why not share my knowledge? "What I Know About" could be the subtitle of this blog, or the title of my memoir, so it seems like a fitting series to play around with.

On this, the frigid first day of December, I don't know a whole lot. My brain is still on sleepy vacation mode and my body is wondering when I can eat again. Still, I had to get to work and my empty Ventra card meant it would be by bike. And I think I can safely say I'm becoming versed in the nuances of December biking.

I know...

1. I will not survive the journey without layers: doubled-up thick socks, leggings under pants, thermals under sweaters, mittens under gloves, and a balaclava under the hat under my helmet.
2. Cars are far less likely to see me when it gets dark at 4, and they aren't expecting me on the roads when the temps dip below freezing. I'm extra vigilant in this season, making sure I always have reflective gear and lights.
3. Christmas lights are starting to go up!
4. Bike traffic will be much lighter than it is in warmer months, but what traffic there is will be more vocal. For some reason, bikers who bike past the first snow are more open to starting conversations at red lights. Simple ones, like "It's cold out, huh," or "Where'd you get that reflective vest?"
5. Snot will run and my eyes will tear up in the wind, but no one cares if I farmer blow or spit on the road.
6. Twenty minutes of exercise twice a day can't be bad for me and it always beats spending five dollars to stand and wait in the cold.
7. I can write most of a blog post in my head during the twenty minutes it takes to get home. (Remembering and transcribing it when I get there are the hard parts.)

Bonuses: I can always find parking and I never have to shovel myself out!