Laissez les bons temps rouler!
I wish I was celebrating Mardi Gras in New Orleans this week but I’ll have to make do with debauchery in Chicago instead. And actually, if I’m being honest – I’m not wild enough anymore to really wish I was New Orleans right now. My mom went to Mardi Gras two years in a row a few years back and just hearing her talk about it made me tired! I know it’s a lot of good, not-so-clean fun because well, that’s the best kind to have in The Big Easy and I hope everyone down there has a blast this year too.
Let the good times roll!
Traditionally, Mardi Gras is the last day of recklessness before Lent and that’s kind of why it gets so crazy. People have to cut loose before they start giving things up, right? I don’t exactly take part in Lent anymore though so I don’t have the need to go nuts before the religious stuff sets in. I choose to go nuts any day of the year! And if that means going to the gym and then having grown-up wine and cheese with a ladyfriend this evening, so be it. I guarantee I’ll be feeling better tomorrow than some of the people in this picture!
Weekend in Review
This was one of those weekends that made me glad to be alive. Okay honestly most weekends are pretty great simply due to the fact that I’m not working but these past few days were a bit more exciting than others and I’m going to do a bit of a recap here (mostly so I can look back at this while in the depth of winter and remind myself why I live in this city in the first place).
Friday evening was spent with the bf dancing at Chicago Summerdance, a free dance session in Grant Park.
Dancin' Fools
We tried to attend this last week but my horrid sense of direction led us to Millennium Park instead, where we watched a free classical concert while sitting on our butts. This week we made it to the right place and were treated to zydeco music and the Cajun 2-step (appropriate since I have Cajun heritage and rather enjoy zydeco). There was an instructor who taught the crowd the steps and then everyone basically danced around in a big circle and tried not to hurt each other. I’m proud to say that we succeeded and while I won’t be appearing on Dancing with the Stars anytime soon, we got a kick out of it and had a great time. There were people there of all ages and other groups sat around in chairs or on blankets and watched everyone else trip over their own feet. It was an eclectic looking bunch but I think everyone had a ball.
I wonder how much the pilots had to train before they quit throwing up in their helmets
I spent Saturday morning doing my docent stuff at the Field Museum, where I also managed to complete 2/3 of a script I’m working on for the new tour I’m putting together. Besides that, I reunited a little lost girl with her father and gave hand-written directions to “that restaurant where the servers are mean to you” to some lady tourist and her family. I then braved the rain and a massive amount of Cubs fans on a non-airconditioned train ride where I had an elderly man check me out and ask about the scar on my leg. I told him it was from a knife fight in 8th grade. 10 minutes after going underground on the train I was back outside and shocked to see blue skies and sunshine, where misery and water had been just before. This worked out well as the Chicago Air and Water Show was scheduled to go on and I was able to meet with my guy and some of his friends for a trip to the beach, where we had front row seats for the action in the sky. It was pretty cool and after the show we all went to Zapatista for a hugely glorious Mexican meal that left me wanting to take a nap. Seriously, the guacamole was some of the best I’ve ever had. Once we were nearly comatose we decided it would be a great idea to swing by Mollys Cupcakes for dessert. I’ve heard of these pricey treats before but had never had one myself and while I was skeptical at shelling out near $5 for a single cupcake, in the end I had to admit it was worth it. That thing was simply amazing.
As Seen on Rachel Ray
Seriously, just look at it. This was the peanut butter and chocolate cupcake (and I actually managed to savor it instead of simply inhaling it like I originally planned). Yes, we bought milk to go with. The store itself was cute too and there were actual wooden swings at the counter. They were unfortunately chained to the ground and while I quickly saw how to unhook them I decided against getting thrown out my first time there. So we just enjoyed the cupcakes instead and then we really felt comatose. Which is probably why I spent the rest of the evening laying on the couch and becoming even more addicted to The Sopranos (yes I know I’m roughly a decade late on the trend here but better late than never, right?).
Right.
Sunday was spent sleeping off my food hangover, having some phone conversations with family and old friends and working on my magazine stuff for next month, as I have a deadline this week. I may or may not have mentioned that they’ve had me doing video blogs in correlation with my articles lately and that is a trip in itself. I’m not entirely comfortable on camera so they typically take a while to shoot and I can’t have anyone else over while I’m working on it because I’m already so awkward as it is. I managed to get everything finished with enough time for a trip to Target left over. After a dinner of butternut squash and spinach ravioli, I spent a while trying to turn back time so I didn’t have to wake up for work Monday but my time-turning abilities must be slacking because Monday is as Monday does.
I know the work week probably won’t be comparable to my weekend any time soon but it’s a nice day and I have Reese Ice Cream in my freezer at home so things could be worse. For instance, I could be allergic to cupcakes.
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