Friday night out

We had our congratulatory party yesterday for the law review staff members, who just completed their writing program. I remember feeling relieved when I turned in my paper, a feeling that was matched only by learning that my article would be published.

I was so proud of my writers - they're all really good, and I've been consistently impressed all year. Every year we have a big party, and this year I got to be on the other end of it.

And look at me drinking red wine! I have actually tried to start drinking it instead of beers when we're out at bars. Not just to look all adult, but also for the antioxidants.

Anyhow, congratulations to all the staff members this year - what a great crop of students, and what a great crop of writers. I'm sure it will be difficult for Melissa, the notes and comments editor, to decide who gets published!

Class comes back to the Oscars

Dave and I watched the Oscars last night with Faron, and we thought it was one of the classiest Oscar awards shows that we've seen in years.

What a difference it makes when they don't play music to shut up the award recipients after 30 seconds. Also, what a difference it makes that the host has a script, unlike last year's disaster. We also really liked the format for the best actor / actress awards, which were presented by past recipients. Each nominee was really showcased, and it definitely helped those who hadn't seen the movies.

Moreover, I think it was apparent that we had a really good crop of movies this year. I want to see almost all of them, though I only managed to see "Milk" and "Wall-E." (I personally thought "Wall-E" belonged in the "Best Picture" category, but that's just me.)

Finally, I really appreciated the open and accepting comments made by the award recipients for "Milk," including Sean Penn for best actor and Dustin Lance Black for best screenplay. While awards shows have certainly played host to political commentary in the last few years, this movie really showed the need to stop the hate and discrimination that gay Americans faced in Harvey Milk's time, as well as that which they continue to face today.

So kudos to the Oscars - can't wait to see who'll be up next year.

The chocolate tour

For Valentine's Day, I got Dave (and myself) tickets for a Chicago Chocolate Tour. The tour is a walking, tasting bonanza of chocolate all around upper Michigan Avenue and the Gold Coast.

We met our tour guides in the Bloomingdale's lobby, where we received our first tastes. Then upstairs to Teuscher for some truffles, and onto various other area chocolatiers. Here's the complete list:

• Organic cocoa bean, Whole Foods
• Blueberry truffle, Cindy's
• Champagne truffle, Teuscher
• Champagne cupcake, More
• Chocolate chocolate cupcake, More
• Chocolate-covered orange peel, Sarah's Pastries & Candies
• Hot chocolate, Sarah's Pastries & Candies
• Brownie, Sarah's Pastries & Candies
• Dark chocolate chili bar, Lindt
• Milk chocolate fruit and nut bar, Lindt
• Chocolate mint, Frango
• Chocolate tea latte, Argo Tea
• Brownie, Argo Tea
  

It was all so good, but my favorites were the cupcakes from More, as well as the champagne truffle from Teuscher.

Dave's favorite was the blueberry truffle. Its maker is an up and coming Chicago area chocolatier.


Just look at those delicious Swiss chocolates, piled high. Teuscher is supposed to be the most high end of all truffles because of the all-natural, fresh ingredients used in their production.

And here's where we started to realize the magnitude of what we had undertaken:


Indeed two hours of chocolate tasting was a lot, but it sure was fun. I got home and promptly ate a salad to try to offset the massive amount of sugar and butter I'd just eaten.

We certainly did come away learning a lot more about chocolate, and especially chocolatiers around Chicago. I've got to get back to that More cupcakes shop sometime soon... Mmm.

The Rob and the Gnome

It was my friend Rob's birthday on Thursday, a noble birthday shared with greats such as Lincoln and Darwin, and I made him a present that was equally noble: an amigurumi gnome.


I have sort of been wanting to try amigurumi - the Japanese art of making adorable little crocheted thingies - for a while. When I saw this gnome on Lion Brand Yarn's website, I had to make it.

Predictably, Rob became very attached to his little gnome. Maybe too attached...


Really though, he loves the gnome, as I knew he would. He wouldn't even let Diane hold it (even though Diane and I had been playing with it earlier in the day).

I have the feeling you may see him around Walgreens with it sticking out of his pocket like this, beard hanging down. I certainly hope so - the folk in Joliet might get a chuckle out of that.

It seems I got a present for Rob's birthday, as well - Diane made me a skirt out of some silk butterfly material that we bought last summer.

I had gone down for a craft day with Diane, where she worked on this skirt and I worked on some baby blankets. We always have fun relaxing with our crafts - I think we definitely need to make it a monthly event.

So, that's all for now - but be sure to check out my amazing Valentine's Day meal for me and Dave. It was French and it was over the top.

Zelda in her hay "bed"

You know, Zelda...this box is supposed to be your bathroom. Not your bedroom.


Oh well. Let sleeping bunnies lie.

Home improvement

Today Dave and I are re-caulking our bathtub and sink. It has been needed for a long time, and today we are getting it taken care of.


Dave and I each removed about half of the existing caulk, which was partly coming off in many places, and then we cleaned the tub and seams with rubbing alcohol to kill off any mildew before we apply new caulk.

We took a break right now while the alcohol dried, then I put painter's tape on the tub, and Dave applied the caulk.


After he applied the caulk, I used my deft little fingers to smooth it over. (Dave's sausage hands just couldn't do the trick.)

After all that, it looks pretty darn good! But we can't shower again until tomorrow night! Oh well.

It makes me feel really good to complete little repairs around the house ourselves. We didn't even had to call up reinforcements (a.k.a. my Dad). Yay for saving money (and getting arm exercise!) with do-it-yourself home repairs.

One less!

Yesterday I got the Gardasil vaccine, which prevents four types of human papillomavirus (HPV). As a married woman, I'm not exactly one of the groups that's highly at risk for this particular virus, but I felt it was important to get the vaccine nonetheless.

I read online about some women getting adverse effects from the vaccine, but most of them seemed pretty typical post-vaccination ickiness (muscle aches, dizziness).

I asked the nurse whether I should be concerned about Gardasil's safety, and she explained that she follows the drug's history very closely, and that there is no cause for alarm. Most of the really bad "complications" from Gardasil came from women who were already very unhealthy.

As for me, the shot barely hurt and I don't even have muscle pain. I'm very glad I am getting this vaccine, because you never know what the future holds. I hope women I know get this vaccine for themselves if they haven't already!