Where Have I Been?

In Chicago mostly. Doing stuff. Which keeps me from doing other stuff, like updating this blog.

I did go down to New Orleans for Mardi Gras though, so that was fun. Watched some parades, and my parents and I rode in Morpheus on Friday night. Ate a lot of good food too. Wish I could have seen more people, but I saw who I could.

Here's some Mardi Gras highlights from the Flickr set.

Watching Muses from St.Charles






A little Bourbon Street


View from my float in Morpheus




Chargrilled oysters


Boiled crawfish and crabs




I'll be back.

I'm still doing stuff

Wow, despite being an active blogger for the last 8 years, I am not doing such a great job at keeping up with this one.

I was home for the holidays. It was great to see family and friends, I wish there had been time to see more people and do more things (i.e. eat more places). But I returned to Chicago a little richer, in terms of joy, love, money, and meat.

New Years was quiet. Had a nice dinner, and then watched some of the national celebrations on TV. Started the New Year right by having bacon for breakfast, and eggs fried in the bacon grease.


Big plans for 2011 include continuing to rock at life. I hope to get in shape again (signed up for a boot camp!) as well as work on cleaning and organizing my home. Almost 5 months and we're still not fully unpacked, it's a little ridiculous. We can't have extravagant dinner parties in a pig sty, and I want to have extravagant dinner parties dammit.

Frog continues to be super awesome.


Future travel plans include returns to New Orleans for Mardi Gras in March (riding on a float in Morpheus Friday night!), and a friend's wedding in May. Should a full time job appear and my travel budget increase, I will make a point of visiting more people. Should your travel budget allow, you should consider visiting me. My cousin Jimmy and his wife Lan Lan will be here in February, on a long awaited visit from China!

Chicago has been having a pretty mild winter so far, which has been somewhat of a disappointment. People warned me I'd be miserable by February, but February is almost here and I am not the least bit tired of the cold. This past week was really the first time it got uncomfortably frigid, but it's nothing you can't handle if you're prepared for it. I've got a purple coat, purple boots, purple gloves, and plenty of hot chocolate.


I also am attempting the 365 project again. That's where you take a picture every day. I take plenty of pictures overall, but it actually requires some effort to get one everyday. I'm posting those pictures here if you'd like to take a look.

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!