Travel Prep
Running around, getting ready for our weekend away. Playing a bit of catch-up here with the blog, but the photos from the next few days should hopefully make up for it.
Blog
Touching Up the Dining Room Wall
Previously, Bob had gotten a new wall set up in the dining room – replacing what used to be there with something newer and sturdier. He got most of the studs in, but there were a few remaining that Liz and I attended to today.
Valparaiso, Revisited
Woke up pretty early, and got on the road around 6:00 AM. While there wasn’t any rain in the forecast, the whole day looked pretty overcast. And in the morning, there was a significant fog all the way as I was heading East through Indiana.
Repairing the Basement Furnace Walls
We got a really late start today, but Liz and I got into the basement around 1PM to do some house work. Bob took out the furnace for us, exposing this back wall that’s one of the last spots where we need to touch up with concrete and Drylock paint.
Hanging Out at Ben and Allison’s
Earlier in the week, Allison texted a bunch of folks about an idea she had for a website. After some back and forth, the concept turned into a “let’s talk about this in person” get-together for the weekend. And next thing you know, it was a party.
Upcoming 20×2 Chicago: What Did We Miss?
I am always in awe at the participants I get to stand next to at these things. So many creative, talented folks (no seriously, see for yourself). Each show also tends to bring out so many interesting variations, in terms of how each person decides to answer the question.
Catching Up with Ian
After work, I got to meet up with Ian (who’s officially back in Chicago). We’ve talked a bit over email, but it was nice to finally meet up again in person and catch up.
Charly Bliss: Blown to Bits
So here’s this weird thing: Charly Bliss is totally not a band I would think to listen to. I happened across this post on MetaFilter, and gave the album a listen. After a few songs, I added it to my library. And then I started to play it a few more times. And then I started to listen to it non-stop.
Tending the Lawn in Valparaiso
The riding mower has a large footprint, which definitely made things much easier. But even so, it took a long while to cover everything. And I’m hoping I didn’t leave any missed spots.
Bob tells me his lawn grows around an inch per day, and that he tries to cut around once every four days or so. And that things get a lot harder (and out of control) if he deviates too much off that schedule.
Core Samples
Spotted this on the way in to work. They’re working on fixing up the street near our house, and this section appears to be… core samples? Tests? Not really sure, but it looked like some kind of test or QA thing.
Coding Day
Had the luxury of spending the day doing nothing really, beyond just noodling around on my side project. It’s been a long while since I’ve had this kind of time, and it was a very indulgent, lovely day.
Troll Hunting at the Morton Arboretum
The trolls were “hidden” in various spots across the grounds. It would be a big walk to see all of them, so we settled on just visiting the few nearby where we parked. It was helpful to keep an eye out for these signs, which kept you pointed in the right direction.
Copper River King Salmon and Purple Asparagus
The price tag on this was pretty steep (around $35 per pound). But we’ve heard a lot about it, and decided on a splurge.
Two Drives Through Fog
But then, just past the Chicago River, the same level of fog seemed to envelop the city. A few buildings were nearly hidden from view. It was shocking just how drastic it was, one moment to the next.
Jeffrey Foucault: Cheap Suit
“When he sings he looks so far away
Like there’s something
He almost remembers
And doesn’t know how to say”