State Street Shopping

Neither Jesus and I consider ourselves "shopppers," but we do love a day outside of the house and plenty of people to watch. If we can cross a few items off our Christmas lists, even better. This year we walked through Christkindlemarket on our way to State Street, picking out what we would have eaten, were we hungry and the lines not so long. Then we popped in to a few stores to get out of the rain and to browse the sales before getting sucked into Macy's for several hours.

We spent the rest of the afternoon testing out recliners and sectional sofas, riding escalators, gawking at diners in the Walnut Room from the viewing level above, finding a portrait of Seth Meyers, eating a late lunch in the food court, and walking through Holiday Lane. For being such a capitalism-centered activity, a day at Macy's is a thrifty date for us.

 

Making Christmas Traditions

My two (TWO!) week break is roughly 2.5 days away and while I'm not ready for Christmas (no snow, plus a few more gifts to buy) I'm so ready to not have to ask pre-teens to stop throwing paper airplanes while I'm talking. I'm also ready to spend some quality time in Wisconsin. Even though I was just there a few weeks ago, the holiday season doesn't feel complete until I'm a little further north.

I realize, though, that someday I may be spending Christmas in Chicago (or traveling to/from one location to another), so Jesus and I have started a few traditions here to help with that transition:

1. Decorating: Even if I'm not physically in my apartment on Christmas, decorating helps to get me in the spirit. Plus, when it gets dark at 4:30 a few twinkling lights help the mood. Since this is our first Christmas in a shared apartment, it's a little early to call our paper snowflakes, green and red lights, and pine scented candles "tradition," but I think we can call it one in the making
2. Christkindlmarket: I sometimes wish I was a better German-American so I could tell you how much I love the pretzels, potato pancakes, streudel, and beer at Christkindl Market. I'm not, though, so all I can say is I love watching the crowds, smelling the food, window shopping the different craft stalls, and saying to myself, "Someday I'll spend more than 15 minutes here." It's a weird tradition, but the act of seeing and walking through this pop-up market is enough to make me joyous.
3. Macy's/State Street: I don't ride the train downtown just to watch people line up in a beer tent and weave their way through aisles of glass ornaments; State Street shopping and Macy's especially are just down the block and they're the meat of my trips to the Loop in December. In one committed afternoon, Jesus and I can cross of most of our Christmas list, see the Macy's windows (planets and Peanuts this year), check out the Walnut Room tree, share some popcorn, pretend we have thousands of dollars to spend on sectional furniture, fantasy redecorate our room, walk through the Hall of Trees, discuss home improvement projects for next year, and play Theater of Life while getting two more stamps on our food court punch card. Thanks, Capitalism!
4. ZooLights: This holiday season will mark either the third or fourth year Jesus and I bundle up and walk around Lincoln Park Zoo in awe of all the lights (and the sleeping gorillas!). It's probably our favorite Christmas in Chicago tradition, and just a favorite date night overall. Last year we went on New Year's Day and it felt like the perfect way to start 2015.
5. Watching (or listening to music from) The Nutcracker: Usually how we end our ZooLights nights, finding a performance of The Nutcracker online or YouTube-ing our favorite songs individually turns Jesus and I into little kids for a few hours. There's something about the Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy that turns a regular evening into something special.

We can already check #s 1-3 off this list for 2015, and 4 & 5 are being planned out. Traditions, consider yourselves made.

The Stepford Wives

The Stepford Wives by Ira Levin
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Sum it up in a sentence (or two): Both a suspenseful thriller and a commentary on gender roles, The Stepford Wives is a cautionary tale for those who dream of a perfect life.

First thoughts: The story of the Eberharts' move to Stepford creeped me out and surprised me with its relevancy. It's a quick read (I found it at home over Thanksgiving break and finished it in time to leave it there), but I still had questions at the end. The final chapters plus the epilogue rushed things and the "reveal" felt like a cop out - there was a steady build up the entire way through and not enough of a "woah" factor at the end.

Final thoughts: The slightly disappointing conclusion doesn't take away from the suspense that was somehow fast-paced and incremental at the same time. I felt myself putting the pieces together along with Joanna, our protagonist, and I was drawn into the world of clean lines and even-keeled emotions. I'll definitely be watching the movie remake.


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Field Museum & a "Winter" Walk

Last weekend Jesus and I wanted to get out of the house. We didn't want to spend a lot, and we certainly weren't ready to start Christmas shopping, so a free day at the Field Museum was the trick.

We both forgot that the Bears were playing at Soldier Field, so we joined football fans (both of Chicago and San Francisco) on the train and during the walk to Museum Campus. Then we spent approximately the amount of time a football game lasts at the museum, visiting our favorite exhibits and checking out a new one, leaving just in time to see everyone again on their way out of the stadium (Bears fans were in surprisingly good moods, though that's probably because they were drunk and it was 50 degrees on a late afternoon in December.)

Due to that relatively gorgeous weather, we decided against joining the crowds and instead walked along Lake Shore Drive and through Grant Park, taking the long way back to the Blue Line. It was quiet near Buckinham Fountain, turned off for the season. The sky varied from shades of blue to white while the sunset turned the buildings of the skyline a warm red.

We'll join in on the hustle and bustle of the season eventually, but until then, we're okay with doing our own thing away from the noise.

 

Nonsense: The Power of Not Knowing

Nonsense: The Power of Not Knowing by Jamie Holmes
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Sum it up in a sentence (or two): Jamie Holmes takes us on a tour of our own minds and shows us how we act when things are ambiguous, the ways we strive for closure, and the reasons why confusion might be beneficial to us.

First thoughts: I really enjoyed reading this book, especially right now in my life, when so many things are in transition and my own future is one giant question mark. I'm hoping I absorbed what I needed from it in this moment, thought I had to skim over a few jargon-heavy parts.

Favorite quotes (that will describe the book better than me talking about it will):

"Today's puzzle is to figure out what to do - in our jobs, relationships, and everyday lives - when we have no idea what to do." -p11

"Urgently fixating on certainty is our defense mechanism against the unknown and unstable. However, what we need in turbulent times is adaptability and calculated reevaluation." -p78

"...sometimes, the illusion of knowing is more dangerous than not knowing at all." -p128

"Under the right conditions...embracing uncertainty can in fact provide opportunities to innovate. It can inspire creative solutions, and might even help make us better people." -p154

"Ideally students should treat the feeling of uncertainty as an indication to keep thinking." -p170

Teacher thoughts: That last quote (and the section of the book it's from) really got me thinking about my kids and how uncomfortable they are with not knowing, or with vague answers. One of their math lessons was on estimation (ie, About how much is 578 + 912? Ans: 1500, more or less.) and I had the hardest time getting them to not use calculators - "The exact answer isn't what we are looking for! In fact, if you write the exact number down, that will be marked incorrect!" The skill the teacher was trying to build was estimation and educated guessing; we already know our students know how to put numbers into a calculator to get the right answer. English class is another area where ambiguity is sometimes the name of the game. Students are always asking me if their opinions are "right" and they hate it when I respond by asking if what they wrote is true for them, or if they can use words from the text to support what they want to say. They just want a yes or no. Sitting with confusion or with contradictory thoughts/feelings doesn't come easily to them (or to adults), and it's definitely a skill to learn and develop.

That being said: Bilingual students in general have an easier time being comfortable with contradictions and unknowns than monolingual students - it seems that holding two (or more) languages inside oneself helps in navigating between different sides of an argument or in expressing conflicting feelings.

Final thoughts: It seems like every day I am sure about fewer and fewer things, so Nonsense made a lot of sense. While I still want to seek out answers and find closure to events, thoughts, and feelings, I feel better about not knowing and about trusting the process of discovery.

Editor's Note: I received a copy of Nonsense from Blogging for Books in exchange for an honest review.


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Velvet

There's a reason why my posts have been scarce, and it's the same reason that my Spanish is slowly improving: Velvet.

Velvet (on Netflix) is a Spanish television series set in 1950s Madrid. It follows the ups and downs in the lives of the seamstresses, sales staff, and owners of Velvet, a high class fashion store. It only took the first episode to hook me, and now that I am in season 2 I'm all but dreaming about the characters and their stories.

There's the Marquez family - Alberto, Velvet's owner, and his stepmother Gloria and stepsister Patricia, both of whom would like more control over the store than what they have. Then there's the Otegui family - Gerardo, the wealthy patriarch, and his children: Cristina, who is in love with Alberto (even though he is in love with Ana, a seamstress), and Enrique, who would rather be a shrewd businessman than husband to his wife Barbara. Mateo works as Alberto's right hand man, balancing out Gerardo's demands.

Then we have the sales staff, headed up by Emilio, and the seamstresses under the strict command of Blanca. This is where the real life of the store is - on the sales floor and in the workroom. Between Pedro's antics, Clara's dramatization of anything that happens to her, and the friendship of Ana, Rita, and Luisa, I'm not sure who entertains me most.

In short, I've laughed, I've cried, I've shouted "TELL HER YOU LOVE HER!" at my TV, and I've learned a few choice phrases in Spanish, such as: "El me quiere!" ("He loves me!"), "Confia en mi." ("Trust me."), "En serio?!" ("Really?!"), and "Dime la verdad." ("Tell me the truth."). Who knew learning could be so much fun (and so dramatic!)?

Here is the Season One trailer - a nice set up for the show. No subtitles, but it gives Ana and Alberto's history (they grew up together at Velvet until his parents sent him away to London for school), and shows us Alberto's return to the galleries (and the problems he encounters once there) to take ownership of them.

The Silence of the Lambs

The Silence of the Lambs by Thomas Harris
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Sum it up in a sentence (or two): Clarice Starling, FBI agent-in-training, is sent to interview Hannibal Lecter, psychopathic and cannibalistic genius, to help the FBI catch a serial killer.

First thoughts: The book is just as creepy as the movie, and maybe creepier with my imagination. I had a hard time reading this after dark and an even harder time reading on public transportation - every stranger turned into Buffalo Bill or Dr. Lecter.

Favorite quotes:

"We rarely get to prepare ourselves in meadows or on graveled walks; we do it on short notice in places without windows....In rooms like this, with so little time, we prepare our gestures, get them by heart so we can do them when we're frightened in the face of Doom." -p159

"His empty hands hanging palms forward at his sides, he stood at the window looking to the empty east. He did not look for dawn; east was the only way the window faced." -p280

Strong Women, Strong and Weak Men: Knowing that this book was written in the late 80s, I was pleasantly surprised by the strength of several female characters, especially Clarice. She kicks butt, and in the face of institutional misogyny no less. The men fall more on a spectrum, as there are more of them, so we get a few solid ones along with a few not so great one. Either way, our heroes had weaknesses and our villains had backgrounds that gave them motives for their actions. What more can we ask of a criminal psychology thriller?

Final thoughts: In the great book vs movie debate, there is no clear winner here. Both are great. The movie draws straight from the book and gives a sinister visual to the text. The book shows us the inner workings of several characters and stands the test of time. This was a great snuggle in blankets, drink tea, and don't leave the house book.


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Report Card Pick Up

Growing up in a small school district (ie, worlds different than CPS) means I never experienced a Report Card Pick Up day as a student. Report cards were mailed home or handed to us, and Parent-Teacher Conferences came later - not during the school day. As a current teacher, I can only guess that teaching and conferencing must be exhausting to do on the same day, knowing they both tire me out on their own. This tiredness is the good kind, though. The kind that means you got things done.

Since Citizen Schools isn't graded, we aren't on our students' report cards, but we still set up a table in the cafeteria to talk with a good number of parents about what we're doing in program and to tell them about our upcoming WOW! (like an exhibition or showcase for our students to share what they've been creating in class this semester). It feels good to be at a point in the year where I know what we're about and can start to visualize what success will look like at this school. It felt even better to meet some of my students' parents in person, and to share with them the progress their child is making.

I'm happy to be heading towards Thanksgiving break with those positive interactions under my belt. I'm excited to build on those interactions in these last few days of class. Finally, I'm looking forward to finishing out the semester on a strong note when we get back in December!

The Martian (Movie)

Jesus and I saw this movie with my parents when they visited last month (and lucky me, I get to see them again in just a week...maybe we'll go see the final Hunger Games installment, *wink wink*). When I first saw the trailer, I almost spoiled Interstellar for Jesus (Matt Damon needs to be rescued from space in two movies?), but luckily it would take more than that admission to spoil this gem. The book version has made its way to my list out of curiosity's sake, but on its own, The Martian is visually transporting.

Yes, the movie brings up many questions: should we (would we) spend millions of dollars in resources and time and risk other human lives to save one man? How much value do we place on certain lives over others, and on certain information above taking the safest course of action? What amazing things could we accomplish if/when we reach a state of sending humans to Mars? And, most importantly, what do space potatoes taste like?

Beyond those questions, though, The Martian takes us on an expansive ride to another planet and deep inside the mind of a solitary individual. The pacing of the film made sure we never laughed or cried too long before switching back to the other, and it was easy to leave the movie thinking, "Yeah, I could grow plants on Mars too," and also "I'd never be so positive after all those obstacles." In other words: Matt Damon was at the same time a regular, relatable guy, and also an inspiring and razor sharp optimist. I am both relieved and jealous I'll never be an astronaut.

The Wife

The Wife by Meg Wolitzer
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Sum it up in a sentence (or two): On the surface, the story of the Castlemans' trip to Helsinki, where Joe will receive and award and Joan decides she wants to leave him. Deeper, the story of the Castlemans' entire relationship, and how their marriage brought them to this point.

First thoughts: I couldn't decide if I felt bad for Joan, or if I felt that her life was the natural consequence of her own decisions. Her marriage, while awful, wasn't as simple as an inattentive husband. Neither were her reasons for wanting to leave as simple as two people growing apart.

Question for the author: Where do you come up with all of these characters?? I've read a lot of Meg Wolitzer's books in the past few years, and all of her characters are different. They're all complete, mostly dynamic people. How? I'm jealous.

Favorite Quotes:

"Language only felt intimate; instead, everyone swam through surprisingly narrow channels when they spoke or wrote." -p110

"'Listen,' we say. 'Everything will be okay.' And then, as if our lives depend on it, we make sure it is." -p184

Final Thoughts: [spoilers] That last line is creepy - Joan could start writing on her own, but with her words: "Joe was a great writer, I'll always miss him,"...she's not admitting to being the source of all Joe's talent. When she returns to America, no one has to even know she was going to leave him, let alone that she is the real writer between the two of them. This is a frustrating story of stifled ambitions.


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As the Philadelphians Do

This past weekend I attended my final wedding until 2016, and the 5th wedding of my 13 MercyWorks roommates. (Numbers 6 and 7 are next year, and are also coincidentally the same wedding!) It was in Philly, which means I flew to the East Coast three times this year (Boston, Baltimore, Philadelphia). This time I took a few days off work and made a vacation out of it with Jesus and several other MercyWorkers.

While I didn't eat a cheesesteak, I had plenty of other great food (not to mention drinks!) to make the weekend memorable. By chance, I reenacted several scenes of National Treasure (and by plan, one very important scene of Rocky). I did it all with my person, Jesus, and we marked our 4th anniversary with a romantic breakfast date at Jamba Juice in the airport before I napped pre- and during flight.

Travel Recommendations:

Do:
Liberty Bell / Independence Hall - One of Philadelphia's most well known landmarks/historical sites. Both are free, though Independence Hall does require tickets for the guided tour.

Reading Terminal Market - Part food court, part indoor farmer's market, part dream store for all event coordinators. Featured in one of National Treasure's chase scenes, RTM is a humming hub of happenings close to Center City. Go for lunch, stay for people watching!

Mütter Museum - There's a wall of skulls. Need I say more? This museum is perfect for those with morbid curiosities, American Horror Story fans, aspiring doctors, and anyone with curious imaginations.

Map of Philadelphia, with major roadways as neurons

Rodin's Thinker - If we had had more time, we planned on visiting the Rodin Museum to see the largest collection of Auguste Rodin's sculpture outside of Paris. Instead, we stopped by The Thinker outside, took a stroll around the garden pool, and gazed on The Gates of Hell.

"Rocky Steps" - We didn't go to the museum attached (Philadelphia Museum of Art), nor did we run all the up, but we did take our picture by the statue and climb to the top of Rocky's iconic steps for its sweeping view of Philadelphia.

Eat/Drink:
Tria Taproom - We happened to meet the owner of this trio of bars, and on his recommendation stopped by the Taproom (not a bottle to be found - even the wine is on tap!) for a few drinks and appetizers before dinner one night. It was classy, yet comfortable. And the cheese curds were satisfying, even to this Wisconsin girl!

Irish Pub - Yes, it's really called that. We hung around here for the extended happy hour, and chatted with our bartender (who was also attending a wedding that weekend). She gave us the rundown of the neighborhood, and where to go the next time we're in town.

Dinic's @ Reading Terminal - After this roast pork sandwich, I didn't even want a Philly cheesesteak. Dinic's doesn't offer all the extras, just roasted meat, a few choice toppings, and a sandwich to hold you over until a late dinner.

La Colombe - Tasty, no-nonsense coffee. Not native to Philly, but a great addition to our morning routine!

Stay:
Dom's Loft in Rittenhouse Square - Perhaps the defining aspect of the trip was our lodging, a truly quaint Airbnb in the Rittenhouse Square neighborhood. This loft, a renovated dining room of a large mansion, was all things Philadelphia: historic, artistic, classic, and a little gritty. We loved the intricate details of the woodwork, the wrought iron spiral staircase, and the literally "off the path" entryway.

What I Know About My Boyfriend...

...after living with him for three months. I've learned a lot about myself, my new apartment, my new neighborhood, and my new job in these past three months. It's safe to say I've even learned a few things about my boyfriend and forever roommate. I thought now would be a good time to share, considering that we celebrated four years together this weekend. To me, four years is a long time to know someone, but I'm still learning new things every day!

I Know...

1. He compulsively takes off his socks and leaves them lay wherever he happens to be. I find socks everywhere.
2. He loves sleeping with pillows. He has three. It would be obnoxious if it weren't so darn cute watching him spoon a body pillow.
3. On that note...He is always up for a nap. And he'll do so anywhere...bed, couch, a pile of dirty socks...
4. He must have music on to wash dishes. Or a podcast.
5. He hangs up his tank tops...which I guess makes sense considering that's his every day uniform.
6. Meal times are sacred.
7. He Googles three things every day: a) Pokemon, b) UFO sightings, and c) Loch Ness Monster. He says he wants to be the first to know any "new" news on these topics.
8. He always locks the door when using the bathroom.
9. He's my never-judging, always-up-for-a-cuddle, sensitive-yet-silly person.

I'm excited to see what I learn in the next four years...and all the years after that!

Things My Students Say 2

Besides overhearing hilarious conversations, I also get a lot of great one-liners from my students directed towards me. Do they mean to be so funny? Rarely.

"Those glasses make you look old."

"You look like you work at a bank. Chase Bank." 

"Are you 32? Do you have a house? Do you have a son?" -still fishing for personal info. 

Me (to a student who had gone on our field trip to O'Hare): I heard you guys saw Air Force One!
Student: Yeah! And we saw the plane that President Obama rides in! 

In the middle of a test: "TATTOOS EQUALS LIFE!" 

"You're basically middle-aged, right?" 

"I heard that if you get your nose pierced you lose your sense of smell." 

"You look old. It's not bad, it's just how you look."
Same student, a week later: "You look young today. Sorry, should I stop talking?"

Brookfield Zoo 2015

We may have only set our clocks back an hour this weekend, but by the feel of things we fell back several months - 70 degree days in November? Nah, must be July.

Jesus and I took advantage of the sunshine with a trip to Brookfield Zoo, which we enjoy mostly for the space (it's much larger than the Lincoln Park Zoo so we do more walking) and the people watching (people are hilarious, and sometimes even more interesting than the animals).

Middlesex

Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Sum it up in a sentence (or two): The sweeping epic of one girl who grows up to be a man, starting in a tiny Turkish village and taking us through three generations of the Stephanides family as they travel to America, settle in Detroit, and make a life for themselves there.

First thoughts: Middlesex is the longest book I've read in a while, and thanks to school, took me a lot longer to finish than most books do. Still, I never wanted to abandon it. It truly is epic.

Lingering questions: Why is Chapter 11 (Cal's brother) so called? If it's in the book, I missed that part.

Changes I would make: I wanted to hear more about the present and Cal's current life, less about her ancestors.

Favorite quotes:
"I've never had the right words to describe my life, and now that I've entered my story, I need them more than ever." -p217

"If this story is written only for myself, then so be it. But it doesn't feel that way. I feel you out there, reader." -p319

"But in the end it wasn't up to me. The big things never are. Birth, I mean, and death. And love. And what love bequeaths to us before we're born." -p388

"We're all made up of many parts, other halves. Not just me." -p440

Final thoughts: Middlesex sheds light on important issues of gender identity, nature v nurture, how we raise our kids based on gender, transitions, and the love we find in our own families. I was surprised to find that it was published in 2003, as so much of it felt contemporary.


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Scary Movies 2015

How is tomorrow Halloween already? October flew by in a whirlwind of spooky activities, lesson planning, and weekend guests. Here's this year's round up of scary movies and TV shows - just enough spook to get us to next October.

Sleepy Hollow

After going to a live re-enactment of the Sleepy Hollow story, Jesus and I decided to watch Tim Burton's retelling. The movie follows the original short story to a point, then it rides off on its own crazy tale. Still fun to watch!


Corpse Bride

Staying with the Tim Burton theme, and because it was featured on Netflix, we watched Corpse Bride. In this animated musical, Victor and Victoria are one night away from their wedding when Victor finds himself in the land of the dead, being wooed by the late Emily. He must find a way back to his living bride before it's too late.


Insidious Chapter 3
Due to the scare factor and intrigue of the first two installments of the Insidious series, we couldn't not watch Insidious Chapter 3. While this one keeps up with the jump scares, the story isn't as compelling as that of the first two movies. A solid Spooky Month watch, but not a "good" movie in itself.

Paranormal Activity 1-5
We started marathoning the Paranormal Activity series a bit before October, as a pre-spook to get ready for the month (and because I had never seen any of the movies). To anyone who wants to watch, but hasn't yet I recommend doing it all in one go. That way you remember more of what just happened. The continuity of the films is surprisingly good, even in cases where the story isn't about the first main characters.


The X-Files, Season 4
Finally, we're continuing our way through The X-Files (and excited for the new continuation!). This fall we got through most of Season 4, learning more about Cancer Man's past, Scully's future, and Mulder's weird neuroses.

Pumpkins in the Park 2015

Because I like forging and maintaining tradition, here is a brief survey of my weekend, the highlight of which was my parents coming to visit.

Smelling: apple cinnamon candles and tea.
Eating: fish and chips, pizza, cookies, and beefs.
Visiting: Jesus at work.
Drinking: lots of water.
Running: 3.1 miles in my Honey Lemon costume.
Walking: only while drinking some mid-race Gatorade.
Cheering: for the Blues Brothers, who later won the Group Costume Contest along with the rest of their SNL-themed family.
Getting: pizza with my parents and most of Jesus's family.
Saying: Yes to being Jesus's niece's bridesmaid!
Watching: a documentary on SNL, another documentary on The Shining and The Martian.
Missing: my parents already...these weekends go by too fast. (Always true.)
Reading: The Wife by Meg Wolitzer.
Writing: lesson plans.
Wanting: to continue this late October tradition.
Needing: to train for the race next time.

Things My Students Say

When you're a teacher, you get to know a lot about your students. Middle schoolers may not always be forthcoming with details about their day to their own parents, but in the classroom they love talking about themselves. Whether it's in snippets of conversations in the hallway, things shared during a lesson, or what they write in their homework, I've heard and seen a lot of gems so far this year. A few of my favorites:

"If I want to be a doctor that means going to school until I'm like 26, and then I only have *maybe* three years before I'm old and gross and broken down." -a 12 year old, on turning 30 

"Can I throw this?" -a student, attempting to toss a Sharpie across the room 

"So, how's your boyfriend?" -the most obvious fishing I've heard (I've shared little to no details about my personal life with my students) 

"If I become an engineer, how many flat screen TVs do you think I could buy?" -a student with priorities for his career options 

"I can do the splits!" -in answer to the question "What do you like to do outside of school?"

I have a feeling this will be a recurring series...

A Night in Sleepy Hollow 2015

After last year's success with the interactive Alice performance, Jesus and I wanted another night out that would include more than sitting on the sidelines (or in theater chairs, more likely). We found it in the industrious little village of Bourbonnais and their yearly reenactment of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.

Told in a series of campfire stories capped off by the infamous barn dance and horse chase, A Night in Sleepy Hollow is the gem of Bourbonnais Township Park District's Sleepy Hollow Village. Jesus and I lined up early and heard the first rumors of the village as we walked towards Prudence and Annie's fire. There, they introduced us to Katrina Van Tassel, Ichabod Crane, and Brom Bones. At the next fire we heard about the men's growing jealousies over the hand of Katrina. After some cider and more village stories, we entered the barn, where Baltus Van Tassel's harvest party was just beginning.

There we saw Brom and Ichabod vie for Katrina's attention, and Brom try to play a few tricks on the partygoers. Several guests told ghost stories and we were sent off on a hay ride, following Ichabod as he nursed his sore pride after Katrina's rejection.

And then, the horse chase. As Ichabod rode ahead of us, the Headless Horseman came riding up behind. He chased Ichabod across the field, where we saw the White Lady in the mist and the ghost of Major Andre, the British spy, hanging from a tree. We lost them as they crossed the bridge, both horseman and Ichabod never to be seen again.

Spookiness Managed.

We also had pizza.

Midnight Circus 2015

Is two consecutive years too quick to declare an event a tradition? Because after our second time at Midnight Circus in the Parks, I'm ready to say Jesus and I are looking forward to keeping up this summer-to-fall ritual for a while.

It helps that this year we live close enough to walk to one of the parks that Midnight Circus travels to, so attending the circus was as simple as lacing up our boots and going for a post-dinner Sunday stroll.

Plus, proceeds from all performances go towards improving our city's many wonderful parks.

And then there's the whole watching daring and graceful feats of artistry in an almost intimate setting (as intimate as a circus tent can be).

Yeah, that about launches Midnight Circus right into tradition territory.

Fall Eats

Goodbye watermelon and freeze-pops, hello butternut squash and all things apple. While the weather might warm up again before we're truly on our way to winter, it seems like we went from t-shirts to layers of fleece in just a few days.

In the kitchen, I'm finally hitting a baking/cooking rhythm and trying out a few new things mixed in with old favorites:

Slow Cooker Pulled Pork

One of the easiest, cheapest, and longest-lasting meals I've made - all you need is several pounds of pork shoulder/butt (I used about 9 pounds) and a marinade (easily googled). Let it cook low and slow for 8-10 hours, shred it, and you're done. You can put sauce on it or leave it as is, and you've got lunch and dinner for a week (or freeze it and have pulled pork all winter)!

BBQ Pulled Pork Pizza

At a loss for what to do with all the pork? Throw it on a pizza! Once you have your dough rolled out, use your favorite bbq sauce as a base, then add the pork plus cheese, pineapples, and sliced peppers and onions. Bake at 450 until golden brown and top with cilantro before serving.

Squash and Barley Risotto

I found this recipe while I was deciding what to do with the squash we just bought. Coincidentally, I had also just started making barley to have as a grain for lunch. I quickly chopped up the squash and added it in to the barley and broth, along with some caramelized onions, more vegetable broth, and some milk. It was surprisingly easy and, above all, tasty.

Apple Crisp Muffins

After all these savory foods, I need something sweet. In October, that means baking apples into everything. I used this recipe (omitting the applesauce since I didn't have any) and satiated my sweet tooth. Other options include: Apple Crisp, Apple Cake, Apple Pie or Baked Apples.

My appetite is ready for colder weather - bring it on, fall!

Unfair

Unfair: The New Science of Criminal Injustice by Adam Benforado
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Sum it up in a sentence (or two): Adam Benforado uses psychology and neuroscience to examine each part of our criminal justice system - investigation, adjudication, and punishment - from the vantage point of all the major players (victim, suspect, detective, lawyer, jury, eyewitness, expert, judge, public, and prisoner). He shows us the challenges we face in creating a more just system and also presents a few new ways of thinking.

First thoughts: While nothing in Benforado's text was inherently shocking to me (I have way too many friends in social work to not be aware of most of our country's shortcomings when it comes to "criminal" justice and rehabilitation), I still had to shake my head at a lot of it. We've got issues. And it was at times difficult to read knowing how much has to change. I slowed my pace in the middle section, but I was happy that Benforado does present solutions, reforms that some states are already putting in place to ensure that we achieve our true goals: less crime, less people hurt, and a safer world.

Favorite quotes & how they made me feel:

"...when confronted with an example of a seemingly "good" person...suffering a terrible outcome, we experience a strong dissonance. And we eliminate that discomfort - and maintain our perception of justice - by finding fault with the victim." p17 (I think we're ALL guilty of this. It helps us keep the illusion that bad things won't happen to us, because we lock our doors/never go out after dark/never drive distracted/always remember to floss/etc/etc.)

"...having a gun at your fingertips can make the world seem a far more threatening place..." p 61 (The conclusion from a telling study - people holding guns think other people are also holding guns at a much higher rate than people holding, say, a ball or a toy of some sort. Guns don't make you feel safer, at least when you have them in your hand. They make everyone else seem more threatening. Interesting when you think of the people we regularly arm, the people whose job it is to...wait for it...make us feel safe.)

"If those convicted of crimes will walk among us again, we must begin preparing them today." p277 (Why do we cut people off from the exact ties that keep them/us/all of humanity from committing crime - in the name of justice?)

"Research shows that the more humane approach of problem-solving courts - based not on hurting offenders in proportion to their wrongdoing, but on helping them according to their needs - is more effective than highly punitive alternatives." p281 (It's good to know that reforms have started in a few progressive states. This also made me think of the punitive punishments some schools give, and how as a teacher I could instead focus on making sure student rule-breakers are getting what they need.)

Recommended for: sociologists, key players in our criminal justice system, lawmakers, teachers, politicians, voters, and concerned citizens.

Final thoughts: This is an important book, and in the hands of the right people, our injustices might bend towards justice. Benforado tells a gripping story, one that's true and happening in our country daily. His research backs up his timely points. We've made extreme changes before (we don't charge animals with crimes anymore, for example), and we can make them again.

Editor's Note: I received a copy of Unfair from Blogging for Books in exchange for an honest review.


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