Day 61

For the second time this summer I moved into an apartment on my own. This time it was just next door. As I was moving my things back to the apartment I lived in before I left for DC, it hit me -- I'm going to be at Monmouth for the whole year. Classes haven't even started and I already have a serious case of the wanderlust.

Sixty-first Day

 Soapbox orators + book sales =

a fantastic Saturday in Chicago!

Day 60

Today was baseball day! Despite the threat of rain, I couldn't let free tickets to the Burlington Bees go to waste! The Bees beat the Beloit Snappers 2-1 in 10 innings -- that's the second game in a week that's gone into extra innings while I was in attendance!

Day 59

This week I've been working in a room with a window. Having a view sure does make the day better!

Sixtieth Day!

 Tonight I ventured to the South Side to cheer on the Chicago White Sox in a victory over the Oakland A's.  The weather was perfect, the peanuts were extra salty, and the company superb.  Kelsey and I were roommates our first year at Monmouth and we've been friends ever since.  I admire her passion, hilarity, and thirst for life.  I don't know if I've ever laughed so much with one person. Or had so many deep conversations with.  I can honestly saw that my life is infinitely better for knowing this fabulously wonderful woman. Happy Birthday, Muscles!

Fifty-ninth Day

How many different faces can you see in this wallpaper? I can definitely see Harry Caray or Mr. Money Bags from Monopoly.  Stephanie and Leah can point out the rest! Ask them about the moose or the viking. =)

Day 58

Since it was raining in Peoria, my boys and I opted to stay on campus and watch the classic baseball movie Bull Durham instead of going to the Chiefs game.

Fifty-eighth Day

Frankly, today was a very boring one. I decided to skip this week's Farmer's Market and turn my focus to domestic duties that were piling up faster than I could attend to.  I'm a bit ashamed I let my laundry get out of hand; I need a laundress.  However, I find some strange peace in folding fresh laundry. I suppose I won't hire out then if this task helps what little sanity I have left. 

Fifty-seventh Day

I was attempting to capture the sunlight glimmering on an intricate cobweb, but sadly, my camera is not awesome enough to capture such beauty. Nevertheless, I love these hydrangeas and impatiens outside of Madonna della Strada Chapel at Loyola.

Day 57

I'm not usually a big fan, but I gave sand volleyball a try tonight. Team Sleeveless (creative name, I know) was victorious in an intense match that came down to the third game.

Day 56

Home sweet home...

Fifty-sixth Day

I love summer foods! 

Fifty-fifth Day

Don't worry, folks, we didn't push each other over the ivy walls.  

I was super excited to see a Red Bird win in my city! We certainly got our money's worth in this extra inning game. What fun!  Go Cardinals!

Fifty-fourth Day

Wedding number five of the year. Congratulations to Mr. and Mrs. Jonathan and Andrea Peterson!

Day 55

On Sunday, I took the train up to the Second City to see the Cubs-Cards game with Paige. She's a Cards fan and it is a serious character flaw. I don't know if I can be friends with her anymore. I decided that I want to be the person who work puts the score up on the scoreboard, and I was excited to see my favorite player, Alfonso Soriano. The game went into 11 innings, but sadly, the Cardinals pulled out the win.

Day 54

I have a thing for Greek food -- especially gyros.

Day 53

I made sure to take time out of my day to have a moment of silence for this old house as they tore it down today. So sad. Maybe I should go into historic preservation.

Fifty-third Day

I'm learning to play chess; slowly, but surely.

Fifty-second Day

"It don't mean a thing if it ain't got that swing!" 

Finally! I've found it! My kind of bar does exist, and it's mere blocks from my apartment!  While the Green Mill is most famous for its Al Capone appearances in the roaring 1920s and 30s, it is also well-known for its live music. Every Thursday night, Big Band Swing rings through this little piece of history.  It was truly like stepping into the past.  As I sipped my gin and tonic, however, I longingly wished that most of the men there weren't card-carrying members of the AARP...

Day 52

At the beginning of my close to six-mile walk with a couple of friends, we paused by this old house that the College is preparing to tear down. It breaks my history major heart to see a piece of history disappear. If only walls could talk...

Day 51

Some nights Red Box truly is my saving grace. Tonight was definitely one of them. For just one dollar I enjoyed The Proposal (for like the fifth time) and some popcorn with a friend.

Fifty-first Day

Wednesdays might be my favorite day of the week because of the Farmers Market and our trips to Andersonville.  This Swedish neighborhood is home to one of my favorite bookstores, the best breakfast joint, some interesting shops, and lots of friendly folks.  If you visit, I'll take you there. I promise.

Day 50

Part of my morning routine.

"Both read the Bible day and night; but you read black where I read white."

--William Blake

Fiftieth Day

[T]he bicycle will accomplish more for women's sensible dress than all the reform movements that have ever been waged.  ~Author Unknown, from Demerarest's Family Magazine, 1895

Perhaps, but I know plenty of women, myself included, who can successfully ride in a skirt.

Forty-ninth Day

"There are two ways of spreading light; to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it." 

~ Edith Wharton

Appropriately enough, I'm spending some quality time with Ms. Wharton as I read 

The House of Mirth.

Day 49

Kickin' it with my new Macbook. She arrived from Shanghai today and in honor of her Chinese heritage I have named her Mulan -- it means Magnolia Blossom.

Day 48

I believe that cereal should be eaten at any time of day -- especially Fruity Pebbles from the cafeteria at 11 o'clock at night. I had to have something to get me through a long day/night of work.

Forty-eighth Day

This was a weekend of friends!  I trekked to the suburbs to visit two amazing friends at their home.  

I love to laugh with these two lovely ladies!

Forty-seventh Day

Two Monmouth friends visited and we jumped for joy at our day at the beach!

Day 47

Bananagrams might have surpassed Scrabble as my favorite game.

Forty-sixth Day

I love making cards.  It is a great way for me to de-stress and get the creative juices flowing.  It's especially fun making cards with friends.  However, I spent my evening alone, hovered over my desk making bridal shower invitations.  I picked up some fabulous paper (on sale!!) at Paper Source after work (and had an impromptu shopping spree at two awesome consignment stores!). 

Day 46

A perfect combination: RC Cola and a MoonPie!

Day 45

I thank you God for this most amazing day, for the leaping greenly spirits of trees, and for the blue dream of sky and for everything which is natural, which is infinite, which is yes.

~e.e. cummings

Forty-fifth Day

After a long, sweaty day at work, I deserved some pampering.  

Day 44

For as long as I can remember, I Love Lucy has been my all-time favorite television show. I own every season on DVD...and today I started a marathon. It's my goal to watch every episode before classes start.

Forty-fourth Day

After a very exciting day, I sadly came home to an empty refrigerator.  Fortunately for me, the Andersonville Farmers Market is up and running and I reveled in booth after booth of locally grown produce, baked goods, and organic items.  Though I didn't purchase any turnips or jalapenos, the two ears of corn in the front are mine.  I just love summer foods!

Forty-third Day

 

In celebration of a dear friend's brithday, our evening was filled with Putt Putt golf and Molly's cupcakes. Yay birthdays!

Day 43

When I quit playing basketball after my freshman year at Monmouth College, I said that not playing felt like a shoe that didn't fit -- and that I was going to have to go barefoot for awhile. Today, I dusted off those basketball shoes from freshman year and played again. It really had been too long, and I truly missed it. Now perhaps, the love affair has been reborn.

Forty-two Day

I love cheese.  I recently found these mini servings at the store and they had my favorite kind of cheese: Gouda!

Day 42

When I went home for the weekend, I left the book I was reading at my house. Back in Monmouth, I am without my suspenseful crime novel. Looks like I'll have to pick one from the pile on my nightstand. I'm thinking about going with Amelia Earhart's Daughters. For some time now, I have been intrigued by the life of Amelia Earhart. Recently though, I have become more interested in the lives of other women in aviation.

Day 41

"O, when I am safe in my sylvan home" -- R.W.E.
Sometimes I think I would have been a Transcendentalist if I had lived in the 19th Century. The writings of Ralph Waldo Emerson come to mind when I visit my grandparents' house on Sundays. I also enjoy visiting with one of their barn cats, Bogie. My sister and I named him after Humphrey Bogart. Our family says we have "old souls." I think they may be right.

Forty-first Day

Over the past year I have come to love crossword puzzles.  I complete the Red Eye crosswords during the week and attempt to work on the New York Times' puzzle.  I often laugh out loud at some of the clues, or shake my head saying "Oh, Will Shortz." (He's the NYT crossword editor).  I recently purchased a nice puzzle book.  I had to laugh at the clue for 34 Across: "___ Teenage Werewolf" (1957 film).  The answer is: I Was A.  I couldn't help but think of my brother, who loves this movie.