174th Day

After a morning of work in the Donovan Reading Room at Loyola, I returned home to find our little exterminator (a.k.a Kate's 11 year-old brother, Jesse) had taken apart our island to rid us of our moth infestation.  Never fear, visitors, we are officially moth free and our apartment has never been so clean! 

Thank you, Jesse!

Day 174

I love to clean. There's something therapeutic about vacuuming, mopping, dusting, and changing sheets. However, I only need three words to describe my least favorite chore of washing dishes: loathing, unadulterated loathing.

173rd Day

 

What's with me going to see shows that start past my bedtime? 

Hot chocolate, Neo-Futurists - Too Much Light Makes the Baby Go Blind at 11:30p.m.

Day 173

My mama raised me right and taught me to share. She probably didn't mean to share my ice cream with the cat. And she will probably kill me for posting this photo.

Day 172

Despite the fact that I live in a subterranean, hole-in-the-ground apartment, I do get some pretty good natural light. I loved the way the sun was hitting this bottle and flower in my windowsill this morning.

172nd Day

  

Harry Potter at 12:01a.m.!

Yes, we are nerds. Except for Kate, who walked five paces ahead of us.

171st Day

 

Chocolate chip distraction. 

Day 171

Newsflash! After a ten-year hiatus (Wow, now I feel old), I have made my return to the Harry Potter series in an attempt to finish the final three books. That's right, Hell just froze over and pigs are flying.

Day 170

I love cloudy days (and yellow leaves).

170th Day

 

red.

Day 169

Creepiest stairs ever. Let me repeat...ever.

169th Day

What's that? There's a world out there? I can see out my window! I can always tell that the end of the semester is approaching when I can begin to see out my window; granted the books are strewn about the room and desk, but at least I can see out the window.  That must mean there's hope, right?

Day 168

Hurray for mail! It just might be my favorite time of day. It may be strange, but I love letter openers. And I like the taste of envelopes when you seal them.

168th Day

While most of the trees on campus have shed their leaves, this tree is still holding on to her autumn jacket. I'm glad she's holding tight.

 And to the young woman who gave me a strange look when I stopped in the middle of the sidewalk, I hope you took time to appreciate the beauty around you on this crisp November morning. 

Day 167

I have a rough draft of a semester paper due tomorrow. How much did I have done before this weekend? Zip. But I am proud to report that I did finally complete the paper...well, kind of.

P.S. Peanut Butter M&Ms make every paper better.

167th Day

I have always loved stained glass.  This stained glass is a bit retro. 

Sorry for the poor quality... it's from my phone because I actually forgot my camera!  

Day 166

Yet another Saturday night spent on duty. Which means French vanilla lattes, Guess Who's Coming to Dinner, and some writing.

166th Day

Popcorn got me through my first year of college. I made a lot of friends with my popcorn bowl. One dear friend that year enlightened me to the brilliant idea of putting M&M's in with the popcorn so that the chocolate melts, but the candy shell does not.  Genius.  On this dreary, chilly, lazy Saturday, this combination was quite the treat.  

Day 165

Friday night = sick on the couch.

165th Day

I got to see my long lost Eva!  We ate at the most adorable pizza place.  I love live jazz bands. 

Day 164

How had I not noticed the fiery red leaves on this plant outside my apartment? How long have they been like this? Just an example of how observant I am. But alas, I noticed them today and was able to enjoy them for a few moments.

164th Day

It was a dark and stormy night and this fool in the rain was thankful for the CTA heat lamps. 

163rd Day

I am a creature of habit and I generally stand in the same place on the train platform each day.

This was on October 12th.

This was October 25th.

And this morning. 

Day 163

Getting up close and personal with my evening Frosted Mini Wheats. In a cup, never a bowl. Milk on the side. I truly believe that breakfast foods were meant to be eaten at any time of day, and thus cereal is my favorite snack.

Day 162

I love Skittles. End of story.

162nd Day

When I left work tonight at 4:45, the street lights were already on.  By the time I made the mile walk to the L, darkness had fallen.  I struggle with this part of the time change every year. 

Day 161

"If you make every game a life and death proposition, you're going to have problems. For one thing, you'll be dead a lot." -- the legendary Dean Smith, coach of the University of North Carolina Tar Heels from 1961-1997.

Thankfully, my lucky UNC shorts did their job, and I wasn't dead tonight. I really miss playing basketball...a lot.

161st Day

On my morning run, yes my morning run, this tree looked like it was on fire.  No Moses around though.

I was also the only one, yes the only one, in my class tonight who turned in a draft of my paper. 

I was shocked. 

160th Day

I don't know what to think about church potlucks.  They warm my heart because people love to share their favorite dishes. But they aren't always vegetarian friendly (this one was for the most part).  I'm also just always a little scared of them because of a foul green bean casserole at my First Communion potluck many moons ago.  Thankfully, there were no casseroles present tonight.  

Day 160

The first fire of the season. Perfect for reading...or sleeping.

Day 159

Santa at the mall on 6 November? You have got to be kidding me!

159th Day

Can You Feel the Love Tonight?

The Circle of Life?

I Just Can't Wait to Be King?

Hakuna Matata?

If you guessed The Lion King, you're right! A belated birthday celebration for our dear Kate, all thanks to her awesome grandmother!  

Day 158

A Friday night on duty in Founders Village means an evening with my old pal Katharine Hepburn. While watching Adam's Rib (my favorite) this quote from her character stuck out:

"All I'm trying to say is that there's lots of things that a man can do and in society's eyes it's all hunky-dory. A woman does the same thing - the same thing, mind you - and she's an outcast."

158th Day

Here I sat, 

with my books and my mac.

Writing away,

 all the long day. 

Using my craft 

to finish this draft. 

Damn the beautiful weather. 

Day 157

When your best friend since preschool comes for a visit, things can get a little crazy in the kitchen, but I think our pilgrim pies turned out quite nicely.

And they go perfectly with pumpkin spice coffee...

157th Day

I had to break out my winter coat and gloves this week.  Cold weather also means homemade soups and hot chocolate in my very large, bright yellow mug. 

Day 156

Thank goodness for pumpkin spice coffee creamer! I add it to my pumpkin spice coffee, which may be going a little overboard, but it is delicious!

156th Day

My find of the day:

Fabula De Petro Cuniculo - The Tale of Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter in Latin!

This is one of my favorite children's stories. I just love the drawings. 

Day 155

For me, Election Night is better than the Super Bowl! And it's a night like this that makes me wish I was back in DC!

155th Day

Happy Election Day!

I voted absentee a few weeks ago, so I was disappointed that I didn't get an "I Voted" sticker.  However, my roommate voted early this morning and all she got was a piece of paper saying she voted, no sticker. She was disappointed.  

Day 154

Four years ago, Paige and I went on our first Halloween walk. Then it became a tradition that we continued even after we weren't in the same city anymore. We had to push it back a day this year, but it was wonderful to spend an hour talking to my dearest friend while enjoying the beautiful leaves!

Monmouth College is beautiful in autumn.

154th Day

Hope and I continued our traditional Halloween/Autumnal walk this morning.  

At Foster Beach. 

I just love these mums on campus.