Nothing but Blue Skies

HIIIIII. Okay so I'm about to start the third week of my new job and things seem to be going well. Here's some stuff I've done...

Peking Duck at Sun Wah


It has been snowing and stuff here.


Here's a tiny picture of the guy I'm dating


Aunt Sue and Rosemary were in town one weekend (Aunt Sue for work, Rosemary to visit her mother...and me) and we hung out a bit. We also went to the Field Museum. It's a bit creepy, there's just tons of taxidermy. It also houses Sue, the largest and most complete T-Rex skeleton.


I am still loving winter. But everyone tells me to wait until February.


So, that's what's going on in my life. Well, I suppose there's more than that, but that's all I have time for. Basically, my life is awesome.

New Job (again!)

Also, I got a job again. It's contract through March, but has a lot of potential to lead to something full-time. And even if it doesn't, it's a job! And I haven't had one of those in 10 months so I'm not complaining.

I eat well

Bone-in filet from Primehouse


Leftovers in a steak sandwich


Veal tenderloin at NoMI


Brunch burger at The Southern


Panna cotta at Merlo

Disney World Whirlwind

So I'm 29, and I think Disney World is awesome, even when I am there with my parents, which I was last week. Turns out, my cousin Brandon was also there with his wife and kids. Party time!

EPCOT


Magic Kingdom


Animal Kingdom


Animal Kingdom is home to my favorite roller coaster, Expedition Everest, as well as these fried greenbeans, which my dad really enjoyed


Hollywood Studios (formerly MGM)


In EPCOT we ate at the France Pavilion, and met the chef


Watched the IllumiNations production after some Fish & Chips in the UK


Going in the off season allows us the opportunity to take more rides, since the lines are short, sometimes non-existent


Always a good influence, I had my face painted, so then the girls did too.


Disney World never gets old, but we do.

More Adventures (that's all any of this is)

So I ran the Hot Chocolate 5k. I had a 12 minute pace, which in the world of running is pretty horrible, but in Mary's world means jack squat (I finished, didn't I?). To be fair, I was in the open corral, and it bottlenecks on occasion. If I had goals, I'd train, but really I just want to fit in my pants.


I wore purple shoes.


After the race they handed out hot chocolate and chocolate fondue. Ghiradelli was a sponser, and there was something like 8000 pounds of chocolate being given out.


Unrelated, but because I think it's news, I got to cook Kobe beef on a hot rock at Sushi Samba. It was awesome. The rock has been in some oven for like 24 hours and is steaming and you just lay the meat on it for a few seconds really and then eat it. They have dipping/cooking sauces for it too, and my favorite was a sweet soy/teriyaki type sauce (leave it to me to like the sweet). Regardless, good meat, fun cooking method, super yummy. CAVEMAN MARY FTW.


Disney World next week with the parentals!

OH HAI FISHIES

FINALLY got in on a free day at Shedd Aquarium. Went early too, so the loud school children weren't there for most of it.




Australian Rock Lobster...dinner for 3 I think


Coolest kids on the block




I found Nemo.


Slick looking place they got there.

Forging ahead

I'm probably loving life a little too much, but if it kills me then I'm just going to die very, very happy.

My cousins Hutch and Laura were in town a few weeks ago with Henry and Honor, and I met them for lunch at Ed Debevic's. It's a diner where the waitstaff is rude to you. I didn't find them that rude, if anything just a cliche sarcastic. Can't say it was that entertaining, but I suppose it's an experience.

My roommate had purchased a Groupon for a tour at Lynfred Winery, so we had a tasting there. Their blueberry wine was delicious.


I dyed my hair black again, my "winter" color. Mother hates this, but I get a good reaction from the masses usually. And as with anything, it will eventually fade.


Chicago also had this amazing thing called "Baconfest" and I don't even know where to begin. They had a dinner at one of my favorite restaurants here, and I happily attended a 5 course bacon-centric meal of epic proportions. It doesn't hurt that they've also recently hired a new chef who is from Baton Rouge. This is his chocolate bread pudding with candied bacon, citrus anglaise, and pecans.


There is not enough time in the day to show you all of my amazing adventures and all the good food I've had, but know that I am having a great time.

Be back later

I'm sorry I don't update this better. While I do not have a job in Chicago, I do appear to have a life.

The Weekend, in pictures

On Friday night we went out for some karaoke. I didn't sing though, I just took pictures.

Here's Luke, our Polish friend, singing Gangsta's Paradise


On Saturday we headed to a Chicago Fire game against DC United.


On Sunday we went to a pumpkin patch. We ate yummy corns!


Time to pick out pumpkins!


I picked this one. It's short and fat and has two dents on the other side like it was punched in the face. Twice.

Polska! Polska!

Last weekend my parents were in town. I also attended the USA vs Poland soccer game.

Row 6.


I made nice with the Polish Jersey Shore sitting in front of us.


Apparently Chicago has the largest Polish population outside of Warsaw so there was plenty of support for both teams.


It ended on a tie, 2-2.


While my parents were here we walked to the Lake, ate out for some Mexican, had burgers at Harry Caray's Tavern, took the L downtown to see Millennium Park, picked up some gourmet popcorn from Garrett's, and eventually ordered a deep dish pizza. It was lovely having them, I can't wait to have them back! (even if I did get really drunk and stay out late and then sleep most of the next day).

Yummy things that are different in Chicago

Cheese fries. In my experience, cheese fries means making some fries, covering them in shredded cheese (usually cheddar), and then putting them under the broiler to melt it a bit. In Chicago, cheese fries means making some fries, and covering them in processed cheese sauce or providing processed cheese sauce on the side for dipping. This is not some horrible idea, but it is not what I'm used to, and from a flavor standpoint not my preference. I like my nacho cheese on nachos, not on fries. So if I ever get a craving for cheese fries, I'll essentially have to make my own.

Queso. I'm a girl who would have been happy to live off of chips, salsa, and queso. When I say "queso" I mean the melted cheese in a bowl, typically mixed with salsa/pico de gallo/etc so that it's somewhat spicy, and you get to dip all your chips in it and gain 500 lbs. Here, queso refers to melted cheese, but not the dipping kind. It's melted, but not runny, and you are supposed to wrap it in tortillas to eat it. This queso existed in my previous life as well, Ninfa's and Serrano's both serve these wrapping quesos, with additive choices such as chorizo, crawfish, and fajita meat. When I worked at Serrano's I always loved when people ordered the quesos, because we got to mix them and roll them tableside for the customers, and I thought that was fun. But what is not fun is that dipping queso does not appear to exist here. I do not understand why Chicago chooses to ignore the amazing greatness that is dipping queso. And people are welcome to argue that it's not "authentic" but I've eaten at many an authentic Mexican place and still been offered the option of dipping queso. Give the people what they want!

Back to the drawing board

Remember that job I had gotten? Well, Mr. Economic Crisis decided to step in and convince the company they needed a hiring freeze, which freezes me out. They still want me, but they can't have me til January, and I can't wait til January for income. So the process begins again...

Things I've been up to

Makin' boudin balls. We were supposed to do them for the housewarming, but after that morning's flat tire we nixed a few of our plans (boudin balls, buttermilk biscuits, hushpuppies, etc). But I was perfectly happy to share with only one person instead of 40.


Enjoyed a free day at the Museum of Science & Industry, currently featuring a Jim Henson exhibit as well.


Went to a Jack Daniel's whiskey tasting at The Southern. There was a raffle and I won a bottle of Gentleman Jack.


Got a burger from J. Wellington's. It has a fried egg, bacon, bleu cheese, and sriracha mayo, and just further supports my theory that flavored mayos are underrated.

Housewarming

KellyMarie and I invited a few people over to celebrate our move. We made some great food and mixed some great drinks and I think people like us.





Boiled shrimp, corn, potatoes, and garlic


Last of the bacon wrapped shrimp


My pralines and KellyMarie's cookies


Two batches of Hurricanes went through the beverage dispenser (and we had Monsoons and Hand grenades available as well)


Family friend had brought gumbo...and it disappeared


Aftermath