Monday, March 31, 2008



Henry took time away from helping our neighbors do their taxes to have a quick photo taken. He's a very, very busy fellow.

Wednesday, March 26, 2008

Ahoy!

It's been a while, so although this will be lengthy, it's much needed. I even got scolded by our friend Daniel about not blogging about a recent visit we had with him and his lovely wife, Ann (sorry Daniel! This one's for you!). Before I get into the visit and the rest of our prosaic activities, I do have a BIG announcement:

NEILL POWER AND FRAN NAPIER ARE ENGAGED!!

Yes! Trevor's brother Neill and his soon-to-be-wife Fran got engaged on March 17th. It was the anniversary of the Power's parents' wedding, and he proposed in the Glen Ellyn church where they got married all of those years ago. The whole thing was a huge surprise to everyone (Neill craftilly faked a baptism for them to go to--he even had a fake baby name for the fake baby [Melinda, I think?] and a fake baptismal card stuffed with gift money so that Fran wouldn't suspect.) and we're thrilled to have another wedding in the works! We'll keep you updated with their plans (and I'll post a photo up here soon--I just need to find one).

We did have an excellent visit with Daniel and Ann, who visited from Brooklyn, NY. They were in town under not-so-excellent circumstances, but they made the best of their long weekend. They met Trevor at the gallery last Friday night (or two Friday's ago?), then came over to our pad where we hung out with Henry and were met by Dan Segar (HIS lovely wife was working, unfortunately). We all went to dinner down the street, talked a lot about movies, then came back here for some drinks and a spirited round of Catchphrase. On the way back from the restaurant, we saw some graffiti art (quite literally: it was labeled as art just like Trevor labels the gallery's art). Here's a photo of Daniel taking a photo and another of the back of his head.




We saw them again on Sunday for breakfast at the Original Pancake House in Lincoln Park, did a bit of shopping (Ann was tremendously successful and I restrained myself), then we dropped the pair off at the car rental place so they could head out to the 'burbs. It was great to see them and we're hoping to plan something for a visit East to see them in the Spring (if it ever gets here).

I'm on Spring Break right now (which is why I had no excuse not to post more updates), but before the break I had the Women's History Month Poetry Reading at McHenry County College. It was quite a success, and a lot more successful than I'd been expecting. We had four more applicants sign up before the deadline and I feared that would be all we'd have; however, we had quite a few on-site signer-uppers and the whole thing lasted about an hour and a half. The winner was one of my deaf students Ewa. She signed a poem she'd written (it was interpreted by our class interpreter, Mary) and did a terrific job. I was horribly proud of her--just the fact that she'd gotten up in front of the thirty or so on-lookers to perform was fantastic. Plus, her poem was great. She's in Poland visiting her family over the break, so I can't wait to let her know when she gets back!





So far over break I've caught a half-cold (it's sort of a cold but not in full force). We didn't have any major plans so it's not too bad, I'm just kind of a nose-blowing, orange-eating, Vitamin-C-popping maniac. The gallery was closed last Friday through Monday for a long weekend, which was great for Trevor. We went to the Museum of Contemporary Art on Saturday, which was a lot of fun. There's a great exhibit by Gordon Matta-Clark, an artist who quite literally cut through buildings. There were pieces of the buildings on display, photos, sketches and plans, and documentary videos and film-strips. It was really neat, though sad because I learned that he died of cancer in his mid-thirties. Much too young for such an interesting fellow. I personally really enjoyed one of the upstairs' exhibits byKaren Kilimnik who does these sets or scenes, really, inspired by the news, current events, t.v....Her stuff was a lot of fun to look at (and, of course, think about). The whole day made me feel like a tourist, in a good way. We were hoping to see Angi there in case it was her Saturday to work. We didn't find her and I think that it's nicer that we didn't. Hopefully she was out enjoying the nice weather just like we were.

Easter Sunday was at the Borks' house in Arlington Heights. There were nineteen of us in all (I think) and the food, as usual, was deeelicious. My mom made special crab cakes for Trevor while the rest of us got a gigantic ham (not each, we had to share. Bah!). She sent us home with oodles of leftovers that we've been enjoying and even sharing with Henry (he's a huge fan of ham. But who isn't? Except for Trevor.). We watched a lot of soccer and watched some good rental movies. I got to see The Mist while T. was out meeting Dan Segar for a beer on Monday. I thought it was a lot of fun and totally creepy. It's based on the Stephen King novella, and with the exception of the ending, it was quite faithful. The ending was very different, though not in a bad way. I'm still deciding, really. They did a great job of using the witholding-the-monster idea for the ultimate creepiness, so while a lot of the monster effects were good and fun and icky, the scariest parts came when there was just the idea of the monster (which is always the best kind of scare!).

We also watched Rocket Science, which is the first non-documentary film by the guy who made Spellbound (the documentary about the spelling bee kids). It was an excellent teenage-angsty sort of a movie about a high school kid with a stutter (and parents who are separated and an older brother who's a thief/bully/surrogate parent) who's recruited by a cute girl to join the debate team. Of course it's just a nightmare for him and he suffers and comes through it and the whole thing was just so fabulously well done. It was hilarious, honest, touching but not corny or too sentimental, and just plain good. Trevor and I finished it marveling over the lack of attention it got while a similarly teen-angsty movie (Juno) got so much buzz. This one (and yes, we saw them both) was much better than Juno. The soundtrack was even great! It's sort of too bad, but everyone should now go rent Rocket Science (PLUS, Steve Park who played Mike Yanagita in Fargo plays the next door neighbor/mom's new boyfriend. And he's AWESOME!).
Trevor and I also went to see In Bruges, the Colin Farrell movie that takes place...you guessed it! In Bruges! It was a lot of fun and quite a bit bloodier than we were expecting, though not necessarily in a bad way.

I had lunch with Marie Bosco, my lovely Grandma today, and then we did a bit of shopping at the mall. She introduced me to the store that carries Sarah Jessica Parker's line, Bitten, and it was awesome (and all $8.98--all of it!). She filled me up on cupcakes back at her house, and then sent me on my way with love to Trevor, a tray full of cupcakes, homemade tomato gravy, cheese, and pasta. We have a deeelicous dinner all set for tomorrow night!

Tomorrow night is also Trevor's first motorcycle class, which we're really excited about. He looked on-line tonight and found out that the class is at capacity. I reminded him to bring a notebook and writing utensils to class in case he needs to take notes. Tomorrow I've got plans for laundry, meeting my friend Matt for lunch up the street, more laundry, possibly a nap, and watching a horror movie (there's a bunch of new ones from this year's horrorfest out at the video store, and with Trevor at class tomorrow night, the t.v.'s all mine! mwahahahaaaa!). On Friday I'll have to get some actual work done for school on Monday. But we'll cross that textbook when we come to it.

Until then true believers, have a good week and weekend. Stay out of the gross weather that's anticipated to come (though I'm steadily willing it away from us and down on Kansas or elsewhere), and keep cozy!

Sunday, March 2, 2008

Breakfast and Breasts

Yes, that's what I said. This morning Trevor and I went out with Lisa for a delicious breakfast at the Breakfast Club. Although our food was quick and tasty, a table by the window had a close call with some metal box that broke through the cardboard ceiling panel. It looked electrical, and we three decided to skeedaddle before the rest of the sky started to fall.



Lisa and I parted ways with Trevor and she and I headed out to Crystal Lake and the lovely campus of McHenry County College for the Women's History Month film festival. It was the first official event of the month-long celebration at campus. Mom couldn't make it because she's sick with this gross flu that's going around (and hopefully she's much better now), so it was just the two of us.

We made it out there (Lisa was amazed at my commute--she thought that her 20 miles to Oak Brook was rough...) with plenty of time to hang out before the shows started. The first film was called "Gorgeous," an animated short by an Australian filmmaker. Next up was "Made in America," about reality t.v. makeover shows and plastic surgery. A panel discussion followed--which was terrific--then a short interval where Lisa and I stocked up on snacks before the final film, "Breasts." It was a terrific documentary interviewing about twenty women about...well, I think the title explains it all.





After that, we headed home. Trevor and I ate some Thai food, watched "Little Miss Sunshine," and I graded papers. All in all, the day was quite lovely--nice enough to match the weather. Tomorrow, though, is supposed to be freezing again, with snow. We've got bowling play-offs, so I just hope the snow brings me spare-and-strike-luck!