Day 59 (Ahh, School Supplies)

"Don't you just love New York in the fall? It makes me want to buy school supplies. I would send you a bouquet of newly-sharpened pencils." -- Tom Hanks in You've Got Mail

I love school supplies. And school supply shopping. It might be my favorite time of year. Today at Target, I had the whole section to myself and it was magical. Wanna win me over? Forget flowers. Send me some newly sharpened pencils.

Day 58 (Friday Night Pizza)

Whenever my sister comes to town we always have Pepperoni's Pizza delivered. We live too far away to have pizza delivered at home, so it's an extra special Monmouth thing. And the breadsticks...don't even get me started! I could write them a love letter!

a scheduled absence

Dear Readers (or should I call you Viewers?),

I've officially moved and one of the pains of moving, besides stubbed toes and sore muscles, is doing without some modern conveniences for a while, specifically access to the inter-web.  Therefore, my (somewhat) prompt daily posts will probably become weekly for the next few weeks while we wait on our internet connection to be hooked up. If I can find time to make it to a cafe with free wireless I will surely post, but I don't want to make promises I most likely won't be able to keep. I apologize for this change in your regularly scheduled programming.
But just in case you can't possibly bear to not know what is going on my life here's what you might expect to see in the not-so-near-future on this blog: food (seriously, I love food), friends (my oldest friend is finally coming to visit me this weekend and I can pretty much guarantee that there will be a picture of us hugging with big cheesy smiles on our faces just like we were five again), the apartment, flattened boxes, Winnemac Park (I think my love affair with the Lake will be transferred to this park with its field of wild flowers), the apartment (it's huge and I love it!), food (duh), and my new neighborhood!

Until the interweb gods find me, I am,
very truly yours,
Paige

Packing on Day 57

Now it's my turn to pack up my apartment. Or what's left of it. Like my "important" books -- aka my Schlesingers and Zinns. I've lived here since the beginning of my junior year (minus my semester in DC) -- even for the past two summers! It's been real, Monmouth.

56.2

Too many boxes to count. 

We foolishly packed our champagne glasses. Plastic ones suited us just fine on our last night in our apartment!

Day 56 (Confessions of a Caffeine Addict)

I won't lie to you -- I drink entirely too much coffee. And I have two different kinds open right now. This stuff from Cafe Du Monde is getting me through my New Orleans withdrawals. But here's a confession: I'm not a coffee purist -- I can't drink it black (although I did yesterday because I was out of creamer or milk). I think my morning coffee might be my favorite time of day!

55.2

I have a new found love for accessories. 

Day 55 in the Garden

My rain garden is finished!

And today I noticed that it got some love on the Monmouth College homepage. Check it out!

P.S. It is so hot that my camera lens fogged up. And in completely unrelated news, I stepped on a piece of glass on my way in from the garden. Barefootedness is losing its coolness.

Delayed on Day 54

The green green fields of Illinois were my scenery on the most agonizing train ride of my life. Amtrak, you seriously failed me with your 10 mph speed from Joliet to Bloomington. I thought I would never make it home!

54.4

While it's not Foster Beach or my apartment, dinner at Uncle Julio's was a fabulous place for our bi-annual gathering and a perfect send-off for the lovely Brittany as she prepares to move to Arizona! The next time we three will be together, Anna will be getting married!

All About the Food on Day 53...

Chicago seriously has some of the best food. Yes, I know I've been raving about the food in New Orleans, but the Windy City isn't slacking. Awesome brunch. Key lime pie gelato in the afternoon. Then a bruschetta burger on...wait for it...a pretzel bun. Plus we discovered that Dogfish Head has a peach beer in the summer. Can't beat it.

Day 52 = World Football Challenge

It was the day we've been waiting for all summer (and maybe all spring too):

Manchester United vs. Chicago Fire at Soldier Field -- even if we hate MUFC with the fiery burning passion of a thousand suns.

I'd never been to Soldier Field before...

And it was packed -- 61,000+ in a sea of red. The Fire put forth a valiant effort but were defeated 3-1.

53.3

Dear The Grafton in Lincoln Square - Hope and I were pleased with your menu, but it was the local Irish music that won our hearts. Thanks for a great evening. Love, Paige

52.2

Dear Chicago, I think I like you. A lot. Do you mind if I stick around for a while longer? Love, Paige

51.2

Mom at Molly's!

Homeward Bound on Day 51

I spent the afternoon in Louis Armstrong International Airport and then said goodbye to New Orleans and the swamps of Louisiana. Before we knew it we were in Chicago, land of the flight delays and cots. We finally made it home around 12:30 am. Now I'm getting ready to go back to Chicago for a soccer game this afternoon.

50.2

A super hero sucker for 

an official Master of Arts! 

My diploma finally arrived in the mail!

Beat the Heat on Day 50

It was a scorcher in The Big Easy today. Luckily, we found this pineapple soda. Who's ever heard of such a thing? But it was seriously delicious.

We spent the day at the Aquarium of the Americas and the Imax theater to take in a 3D movie (and soak up the A/C).

49.2

Superhero Silly Bands 

VBS reminds me that I am so willing to make a fool of myself for the kids and that I really am an eight-year-old at heart. 

Day 49 = History Lesson

Today was all about the history of Louisiana--

A tour of St. Louis Cathedral and a walk through the State Museum to learn more about Mardi Gras and Hurricane Katrina...

And then we drove upriver past the swamps and sugarcane fields to Oak Alley Plantation.

A Streetcar (Named Desire) on Day 48

Today we hitched a ride on the St. Charles Streetcar to the Garden District.

P.S. I failed to mention yesterday that my family immigrated to the United States by way of New Orleans and then took a steamboat (like the Natchez) upriver to Burlington, Iowa.

Camellia Grill = the most amazing diner ever.

Our third trip to Cafe Du Monde. I think if I could only have one food for the rest of my life it would be beignets.

48.2

This week at my church is Super Hero Training aka VBS!

47.2

This afternoon I walked around a neighborhood that continues to amaze me and that I wouldn't dare traverse at dark. Observations of the day: 1. Chicago is one interesting city and 2. the heat makes people crazy.

Rollin' on the River on Day 47

We hitched a ride on a riverboat today. I couldn't get this song out of my head as we took in the sites around the Port of New Orleans.

It's a good thing I love crawfish...because they are everywhere here. Including this ginormous smiling one on the River Walk.

Lafayette Square. Beautiful.

46.2

This morning my church had one giant service and the children's church hour was so full! I then drove to the burbs for a lovely alumni event.

On my journey home I procured the last bottle of Pimm's at Binny's. Huzzah! Despite the heat, this truly was a perfect Sunday. 

Day 46 {Sunday Soccer Siesta}

A late morning swim in the courtyard was cut short by rain. Then it was back to the hotel room to watch one heck of a battle by the US women vs. Japan. It wasn't the outcome we were hoping for, but it was still a good game.

After the intense game I had to unwind with a Landshark at Margaritaville and a walk around Jackson Square. What a beautiful city!

45.2

 Hydrating and packing all my books. 

One very large box to fit all the grad school books I decided to keep and three boxes half-filled with books (I thought I'd be nice to our movers.)

Day 45 {NOLA}

We successfully arrived in the Big Easy this morning.

Two words: Fruit Ninja. Most addicting iPod game ever. It was the perfect way to waste time (and look utterly ridiculous) on the flight.

Jackson Square Park and St. Louis Cathedral.

Cafe au lait and beignets at Cafe Du Monde. I was in love.

Day 44 {Vacation Eve}

At home for an evening before we leave for New Orleans tomorrow at...wait for it...can you handle this? Because I can't. 4:30 am. Yikes!!!! Goodnight, y'all!

44.2

Today we got out at noon because the "World's Largest Block Party" was being set up right outside my office.

43.2

Harry Potter Double Feature - TOTALLY WORTH IT!!!!

 Part I at 9p.m. and Part II (in 3D) at midnight.

I must admit that I feel as though a bit of my childhood has passed away.

Packing on Day 43

I leave for New Orleans bright and early on Saturday morning!

Tonight I finished packing. And I noticed an airport tag on my suitcase -- emphasis on my suitcase -- from DFW, which I took to mean Dallas-Fort Worth. I myself have never flown to Dallas...I've only driven through on I-35 and feared for my life (and I was just a passenger). So it appears that my parental unit hijacked my suitcase without my knowledge. I'm not sure how I feel about this.

P.S. My book bag = my second passport book. Patches from every country I've visited.

My friends and their band, Great Gray Buildings playing at the Beat Kitchen.