Goodbye

Hi all! So, it's been... a while. Over a year. I'm so sorry to have abandoned you and this little blog; looking over past posts makes me mad at myself for not keeping up.

I was a very busy and crazy bee all throughout my externship year, and then, you know how you start a journal, and you're great at writing every night, and then you go a month without writing and you feel like you have to buy a whole new journal to start again? I know it's silly, but that's basically how I felt. As I got further and further from my last post, I was less able to write another one.

Over the past 13 or so months, many things have happened. I danced the night away at my brother and sister-in law's beautiful French wedding. Charlie and I got engaged (on this street)! I finished and graduated from graduate school, receiving my doctorate in Audiology (Au.D.). I jet-setted around the country interviewing for new jobs and ultimately accepted a product development audiologist position in California. We've been planning a September 2012 wedding, trying to sell our condo, and preparing to pack up everything and move to the west coast.

At this point, I have so much more to share, and I want to write and keep you updated. But things are different now, and next month we will leave ten forty-eight (the brick-and-mortar 1048, where we live) and embark across the country. So, new adventures and new beginnings warrant a new blog. I'm now part of a triad: Lucy Makes Three. The actual URL is my soon-to-be new name: Lauren Nadler. Lots of change.. but all good.

Please follow me over there, keep reading, and stay in touch.

Rose

So, my birthday was on Tuesday (July 5th). The big two-six! The actual day was spent busy busy and stressed out at clinic, and now I'm closer to 30 than to 20, which kind of sucks. But, the week's gotten better as it's progressed, and I'm feeling good about this year overall.

For my birthday, my parents got me a new macro/portrait lens, and it finally came in the mail today :) I took it on an inaugural photo shoot walk around the block with Charlie and Lucy tonight. Check out one of my shots above, without editing; a ton more should be posted on flickr soon.

Updates and web finds and music and things to come, probably this weekend. I miss you, little blogosphere...

Catching Up

Oh, hi! Did you forget that I was here? I kind of did; I'm sorry. Since last chatting, I've been super busy...

Charlie and I spent a long weekend out in New Hampshire at Rockywold-Deephaven Camps, celebrating the marriage of Charlie and Courtney Cave. They are two of the most charismatic, smiley, and welcoming people that I have ever met, and they really do make a perfect match!

Though we got our fair share of rain, the heavens opened up for the beautiful ceremony outdoors. We got in lots of dancing, delicious food, nature watching, and drinking (open stocked bar at all hours, yeesh!). I have very few photos of the wedding events and guests, but here are a couple that I shot of peaceful Squam Lake:

Squam Lake

Squam Lake

Since then, I've also started my full-year fourth year externship at Children's Memorial. I'm super excited and can already tell that I will love it and not want to leave. Testing and working with kids can be hilarious, challenging, heart-breaking, and inspiring, and it makes the days go by quickly.

Other than that, today Lucy and I are waiting for delicious almond croissants from Alliance Bakery and then getting ready for an afternoon of music (including Blane Fonda!) at Green Music Fest in Wicker Park. It's the first time that Lucy will get to hear Charlie's band!

Patio Poppies

Lovely Poppies on my back porch :)

One of my very favorite types of flowers!

Love You

"You could search the world and never find anyone more deserving your love than yourself."

- Buddha (via)

Semicolons

"Here is a lesson in creative writing. First rule: do not use semicolons. They are transvestite hermaphrodites representing absolutely nothing. All they do is show you've been to college. And I realize some of you may be having trouble deciding whether I am kidding or not. So from now on I will tell you when I'm kidding. For instance, join the National Guard or the Marines and teach democracy. I'm kidding."

- Kurt Vonnegut

(Err, uh, I use semicolons a LOT.)


(Also, I don't know why the font is showing up small here. Blogger's not really letting me change it...)

Feelin hot, hot, hot

By the way, it's a scorcher out there. Don't forget to give your plants (and yourself) an extra large drink today!!

What am I doing this morning?

I'm drinking coffee at the kitchen table, listening to the most amazing iTunes Genius playlist (created off of "Absolutely Cuckoo" by The Magnetic Fields), and exploring the endless internet.

via thxthxthx

You may remember that I have two weeks off until I begin a full-time, year long internship. So, I'm trying to pack in a lot of relaxation and me-time.

This is my to-do list for today, and also basically always:

- Yoga

- 40 loads of laundry*

- Take clothes to dry cleaners*

- Clean 

- Read

- Carve print-making block

- Plan trip to Paris

- Paint

- Learn sign language via Comcast OnDemand (in Kids -> Activity, if interested)

- Make no-knead bread

- Go to Target**

* These are the things I really should do, but probably won't.

** This is what I should not do, but almost absolutely will.

What is on your always to-do list?

Tuesday

"In increments both measurable and not, our childhood is stolen from us - not always in one momentous event, but often in a series of small robberies, which add up to the same loss."

- John Irving (Until I Find You)


Also, I'm a little obsessed with this isn't happiness.

Seasons

Found via i love charts

I love this! This chart could just as easily read "Chicago Seasons." We've absolutely skipped spring over here and jumped right into sweaty summertime. Temperatures have been in the high 80s-low 90s the past couple of days, and while I love it and won't complain, my body (and closet) just have not acclimated yet.

Oh, also... did I mention yet that I'm basically done with my 3rd year of school/clinic?! Presented my research, submitted my final manuscript, said goodbye to all of the wonderful people over at UIC... now two weeks of reading and vegging and cleaning and organizing and weddings and getting outdoors before I start my full-time 4th year externship :)

That's No Way to Say Goodbye

Phosphorescent covers Leonard Cohen. Yes yes yes!

(found via bferry.wordpress.com)

Trader Joe's Crumbled Gorgonzola Cheese

On the left!!! (photo via lemons and lavender)

I am OBSESSED. I just finished the tub and really need more (anyone?). TJ's is the best.

Happy Memorial Day!

I hope you are all grilling out and enjoying the already fabulous weather today. It will be a very exciting and much needed 89 degrees and sunny here in Chicago!

One quick grumble - do any of you watch Happy Endings? It's an ABC show that came out in April. The first few episodes are pretty weak, but it gets a lot better as it goes on. Buuut, it's supposed to take place in Chicago, and it just really.. doesn't. The backdrops/scenery don't look anything like the city, and they just randomly throw in references to the Bulls, the Bears, or Millennium Park. Finally - last part of the rant - there was an entire episode about a food truck competition, and one of the character owns a food truck. Food trucks aren't legal in Chicago (well, see here)! Annoying. But I might keep watching.

Anyhow, some things to enjoy while at your computer today:

- Spex Club - a website where you can virtually try on frames and order up prescription glasses for only $88 (cheaper for readers). I'm thinking about ordering the Apprentice...

- Very cool cube project.

- "Furever" - a to-be-funded via Kickstarter documentary about pets, well, uh, just watch.

- I want this and this.

- Can't stop reading Ann Helen Peterson's academic celebrity blog. And I agree, see Bridesmaids! It was GREAT, even if the projector at Regal Cinemas stopped 5 times throughout our viewing.

- Just in case you haven't seen it yet (or in case you've forgotten), Carl.

Dancing Spider

See also this article on NPR. Excellent.

Safe House

whoa. (via the hairpin)

Essence

"Is it possible, in the final analysis, for one human being to achieve perfect understanding of another? We can invest enormous time and energy in serious efforts to know another person, but in the end, how close can we come to that person's essence? We convince ourselves that we know the other person well, but do we really know anything important about anyone?" 


- Haruki Murakami (again, from The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle)

A Few Things

I love it! Check it out larger here. (via pinterest)

Also:

The Wire in Victorian times?

Weird (via the Hairpin).

A sneak peak of Arcade Fire's extended version of The Suburbs.

Lovely Advice. Could have sworn I re-posted this earlier, but it appears not. Words to live by!

Beautiful new Bon Iver song here for free.

Finally, I just bought Gwyneth Paltrow's new-ish cookbook, My Father's Daughter, after reading such rave reviews. Regardless of what you may be thinking, check it out! Her recipes are fresh and use simple ingredients, and I really agree with her outlook on food. I made the Milanese Chicken with Endive and Gorganzola topping for dinner tonight, and it was to die for (if I may say so myself!).

Family Portraits

Wow. So interesting/cool/creepy/I kind of want one of my family.

Snoring

Happy Wednesday! 

I'm trying to finish up the first draft of my research manuscript while Sex and the City reruns and Lucy's snoring fill the room. What are you up to? Making your way over the mid-week hump with a smile?

Life in the Fast Lane

So, I'm riding the Damen bus to clinic this morning, and as we're stopped, I notice this guy zooming past us in the next lane using his electronic wheelchair.....