Vacation: Ur Doin' It Right

1. This kid has resolved to watch Julie and Julia everyday for a year and to blog about it as he goes.  He's hilarious. 
2. This is also a great time killer.  Who doesn't know a STFU Parents culprit?
3. I got to see the lunar eclipse on Monday night.  It occurred on the winter solstice for the first time in a billion years, or something like that (I'm sure the astrologists had something to say about that).  It was pretty phenomenal, but I couldn't get a good picture of it if my life depended on it.  It could have been the fact that it was 2:30AM. 
4. Before I left Chicago for the Outer Banks, Matt took me to fancy dinner as part of my Christmas present.  I had foie gras for the first time in my life and I will never be the same.  Foie gras was banned in Chicago from 2006-2008, but it's back and boy, am I glad.  Sorry, vegetarian friends (ahem, Haley).  What's good for the goose is good for the gander (jokes!).
5. A big congrats to my friend, Megan, who got engaged last week! (Interesting statistic: 33% of my college housemates have gotten engaged in the past 4 months).  I'm just so excited for all of them!
6.  While I'm doing shout-outs, happy belated birthday to my quasi-mother-in-law (and most loyal blog-reader), Linda!  (I suspect the reason she's my most loyal blog-reader is that she enjoys pictures of her grand-kitty almost as much as I do.)  I hope you wore a tiara all day!
7.  I have LOTS of New Year's resolutions.  One of which is to stop writing blog posts in numbered lists.  But, right now, it's all I've got in me.

Alright, I've got to get back to eating pork, playing Scrabble, and drinking too much.  My sister and the kids gets here tomorrow and then this place turns into Christmas Central, so until then I need to take advantage of the calm before the storm.  Merry Christmas Eve Eve!

Spreading Holiday Cheer...

Weekday Distraction

For you saps who have to work today, here's an entertaining break.

1. Elizabeth Edwards always struck me as a smart and classy lady.  I said a cheer for her when she finally gave ole' Johnny the boot earlier this year. Her sudden death this week struck me as so sad, but I think the world is a better place for having had women like her in it. 
2. I've given this a lot of thought and despite the date rape connotations, "Baby, It's Cold Outside" is still probably my favorite holiday song.
3. I bought a discounted ticket to sky-dive this morning.  It's on my Thirty Before Thirty list.  You might be asking yourself, "Is sky-diving really the kind of thing you want to use a coupon for?"  The answer is, "I'll let you know when I've landed."
4. It's ridiculously cold here.
5. We're still eating leftover turkey from Thanksgiving.  Maybe I didn't need that 15lb bird.
6. The Illinois legislature passed a bill legalizing civil unions last week.   The world has continued to turn, much to Republican surprise.
7.  Happy birthday to my friend, Carly!  I miss you and am thinking about you all the time!  CHODA lives!  P.S. I can't believe I haven't seen you since this picture was taken. 

That's all I've got!

Winter Wonderland My Ass

I had my first snowflake sighting yesterday.

For most of us who grew up in a seasonal climate, there's something a little bit magical, but also a little bit dreadful about that first sighting.

It means that the holidays are coming, but also that it's going to get a whole lot worse before it gets better.

And for those of us who live in cities, winter weather presents a special kind of hell.  Like this morning, when I waited in what "feels like" 11F for 20 minutes for a bus that finally just passed me without stopping because it was too full.  Or the fact that pseudo-professional ladies like myself are forced to ruin that image by wearing UGG boots to court.  Or the continuous making of deals with God that if your train comes RIGHTNOW you'll do all sorts of good deeds (or refrain from certain bad ones).

Yes, the next three months are going to be a challenge.  But we'll all come out of it as stronger people.  Right?  RIGHT?

Giving Thanks

I love Thanksgiving. In part, because it's such an easy holiday.

Want to do Thanksgiving properly? Here's how:
a) Round up some people you like.
b) Eat something awesome.
c) Think of something you're thankful for.

There! Done! You've succeeded at Thanksgiving! Congratulations!

My family came to me this year and we managed to do all of the above, in addition to playing some euchre, decorating my apartment for Christmas, and shopping.

Here's a little photo slideshow of the weekend, because I'm still in too much of a food coma to type much more:


Amber sent me flowers to make certain I was "the hostess with the mostess."  Done.

In typical Churchill fashion, the holiday morning began with a mimosa (or three).

Dad attempted to teach Ben to carve the turkey this year.  Everybody kept all of their fingers.

We excel at awkward family portraits.  Seriously.

Dad was certain that Thurman wouldn't like the big city.  But by the end of the weekend he was drinking a venti Americano from Starbucks and scooping up his own poop.  A regular urban natural, that one.

We had a great time and while I was sad to see them go, we'll all be together again in just 20 days.

This Thanksgiving, I'm incredibly grateful for my family and friends.  As my momma says, "Life is good.  And then it gets better."

Happy Thanksgiving, all!