Sunday, March 29, 2009

Lights Out

Trevor and I took part in Earth Hour last night at 8:30 p.m. CST by turning out all of the lights and not using our electronic appliances. We spent the hour playing a game of Rummikub (thanks Kate G., for introducing it to us last summer!) by candlelight. Trevor beat me, but I challenged him tonight and won, so I think we're even. 




I start class again tomorrow, and I am, as usual, underprepared. I've done a bunch of work over the break, but it's never enough and I always spend more time doing things around the house (today it was laundry, cooking dinner, and playing Rummikub) than I spend doing my lesson plans and prep. But I guess that's what the train ride in tomorrow is for, right?

And I'm sure you all noticed the SNOW today! We looked out the window this morning to what looked like a couple of inches, and it continued to snow for the remainder of the morning and a bit of the afternoon. Luckily it all seems to have melted--or have been washed away by the slushy rain--by now, so I might not have to break out my snow boots tomorrow. We'll have to see. 

Well, before I turn in for the night, I should get a bit more work done, so have a cozy night, all.

Saturday, March 28, 2009

It's Spring--Can't you feel it?!

Spring break is coming to an end, and I haven't done too much of anything. I spent most of the break sick, and then recovering from being sick. I got what seems to have been a minor dose of pink eye (gross, I know), and though I have finally gotten my voice back (my students will be thrilled on Monday when I no longer sound like a frog woman), I have that cough that follows a cold and always lingers for weeks beyond when you should be all better. 

But, I got a bit of work done, and Trevor and I discovered and enjoyed Battlestar Galactica--one of the greatest television shows in this known universe. On the few days I did venture out of the house--on the really nice, sunny days, I went to a new pie shop in the neighborhood, Hoosier Mama Pie Company (adorable, right?), and down to After Words (my old bookstore stomping grounds) to visit my friends Angie and J.C., spread some birthday magic for Angie, and pick up a few absolutely necessary Agatha Christies (two Poirot paperbacks I haven't read, and a hardcover of The Murder of Roger Ackroyd [one of the most famous mysteries ever, and one of her best. Also the reason I solved Three Act Tragedy by the fourth chapter (that's right--I solved it!)] in great condition). 

I also got to spend some time with Destiny, who's also on Spring Break and who'd just returned on Thursday morning from Florida with Neill and Fran, Fran's sister and her daughter. It sounds like they had a great trip: the weather was beautiful, they got to see Rae and Letty at the beach, and they went to Busch Gardens. She and I ate some pizza on Thursday night and then watched Twilight (we heart Edward). Luckily Trevor was working an event at the gallery and only had to endure the last ten or so minutes of the movie, and then he and Dest got to play X-Box (must more to his liking). On Friday, Dest and I went to see Coraline at the old Logan Theatre, and we both quite enjoyed the movie and loaded up on popcorn and Reese's Pieces. I dropped her off at a Metra station very close to our place but that I didn't even know existed, and then headed home where Trevor and I started Season 2.5 of Battlestar Galactica. Did I mention that BG is one of the greatest t.v. shows ever? It is. 

Yesterday was the last day that T.'s gallery was open to the public. Today they started the process of taking down the current show and cleaning up and sending out the rest of the artists' work that they've been storing. He's been working at Flatfile for two years, and it'll be strange when the business itself is no longer in that space. It's been a nice two years, though, and he's moving on to different things, which is always an adventure.

In other news, we've discovered that Henry won't eat lettuce. A piece of lettuce had fallen on the floor a few days ago when I was making dinner, and we decided to let him have it. He mouthed it around for a while, and about five minutes later, we found that it was still on the floor, uneaten. Tonight again, a piece must have fallen off one of our salad bowls while we ate dinner and sat on the couch watching World Cup qualifying soccer (Portugal v. Sweden), and Trevor discovered it moments ago, sitting untouched next to Henry's bed. At least we know now the one thing he's picky about. Not sticks. Not dirt. Not yarn. Not plastic. Not rubber. Not even glass. But lettuce. What an odd fellow he is. 

The Borks are still packing up and readying to move out the second week of April. Next weekend, Trevor, I, Greg, and Paula are going to the house to plunder the house of some furniture and go through the remaining bits of nostalgia from our childhood that Mom has still kept in the basement. I think my cheerleading jacket is in there, and I'll be sure to take a picture of you all to show off how many patches and pins I had. 

Well, the Portugal game is almost over, and we still have quite a bit of BG Season 2.5 left to watch, and we still have 1/4 of a pear-apple pie to eat for dessert, so I'll leave you to your watering mouths and a picture of a sad Spider-Man I saw a few weeks ago:



Let's hope that tomorrow, the last day of my Spring Break (emphasis on the SPRING), doesn't turn into the disgustingly snowy Sunday the news has been promising. Stay warm and dry!

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

It's been a while, I know...

And we'll have more to report, but for now, I'm just checking in. I've been sick all weekend with the gross flu that is apparently going around school and the rest of the state. The achiness has dissipated and the illness is just a hacking cough. Lovely, I know. Trevor's had to deal with it all night long now. But he hasn't gotten sick yet, which is excellent, and I hope to keep it that way!

A couple of weeks ago, John and Fran Power came over to help us put in a new bathroom sink, and they really spruced the place up. Of course we have yet to paint , but it looks so much better already, don't you think?


The light fixture is new as well, and the shower head, which you can't see. Of course, the Swamp Thing and Gumby do their own hard work to fancify the bathroom, but a coat of glossy off-white paint will do wonders. We're going to have the insurance contractors take care of that once they fix the water damaged wall (they've got to rip out the wall and most of the tiles. Ugh, ugh a-lugh). But I'm sure once it's finished, it'll be glorious. Cross your fingers.

Our neighbor, Sarah (lovely woman whose wall I drove through...), finally had her own unit fixed up after the flood of water, and it looks gorgeous. Black marble subway tiles in the bathroom shower, nubbly green granite counters in the kitchen and bathroom, and brand new shiny blonde wood floors. Really nice. 

Mom and Dad Bork will be moving at the beginning of April, so they're in the middle of packing and tossing things, and we'll be going through what's left of my childhood junk next week. And, speaking of next week, it's Spring Break! Yahoo! No plans for a trip to Cancun or Padre Island or anything, but a nice relaxing few days reading papers (or taking naps and reading mystery novels) will be just what the doctor ordered.

Hopefully we'll check in again before then. Lots of St. Patty's Day Love--Bork Power!