Neighborhood – Page 7 – Not Content to Crawl

Chocolate Expo & Snowpocalypse 2015

Posted onFebruary 2, 2015

After checking the weekend forecast, and seeing a blizzard was heading our way, we crammed all our errands into Saturday. We started the morning with a stop at McDonald’s for breakfast and then went to the Chocolate Expo at the Morton Arboretum. I only found out about it a week prior when one of the vendors who I happen to follow on Facebook mentioned they would be there. We got there at 9 am when it started so it wasn’t too crowded. I did kick myself, however, for getting McDonald’s when I saw that their restaurant was serving breakfast and had my favorite, eggs benedict. Oh well.

The place quickly got crowded and by the time we left an hour and a half later you could barely get close enough to a booth to garner a free sample. Interestingly enough, the only thing I ended up buying was toffee. I don’t even like toffee, but this stuff was really good (we tried a sample when we first arrived).

Next we headed to Petco so I could get a new hammock for Milo and Gizmo since they weren’t using their new one (and of course before I could switch them, they suddenly decided to start using it, grrr) and then Costco for a few things. After that we stopped at the library to pick up a couple of holds that were waiting for me. I got this book which was super cute and made me laugh. I also got a few back issues of my favorite magazine, ShopSmart. I just learned this week that you can put magazines on hold so I plan to catch up on all the issues I missed during the holidays since they are never available. You can only read the most current issue since that one isn’t allowed to be checked out.

After the library we also stopped at Walmart and nixed Target. I was just done with running around at that point.

That evening we ended up watching Gone Girl and I was reminded again how much I hated the ending; it was the same as the book since the author wrote the screenplay. I loved the book so much when I read it years ago but felt the ending was a big cop-out. That’s all I will say lest I spoil it for someone.

Sunday we slept in and just hung out watching tv and reading while it snowed. When all was said and done there was 19″ of snow on the ground although it doesn’t look like that much from this photo I took.

I read that this weekend’s storm was the 5th worst in Chicago history. I guess it’s hard to feel affected when you’re holed up inside the entire time, though.

Due to the weather Joe worked from home today and I just went about my normal Monday cleaning routine. I’m so glad I didn’t have to worry about trying to get to work. I’ve been lucky this winter that all the bad weather seems to be falling on my days off.

Neighbors, Pools, and Lightning Strikes

Posted onJune 2, 2014

Friday I actually spoke to our new next door neighbor for the first time. I was on the patio trying to get a photo of a duck who had appeared out of nowhere when he came out for a cigarette break. We ended up talking for about ten minutes. He seems ok. We both realized the walls between our units must be thin because he said he can hear our home theater when we’re watching movies and we don’t even have it turned up that high. Ugh, I can’t wait to have a house where that won’t be an issue. In any case, we both agreed we’re happy we don’t live next door to this one guy who lives across the street. He and his buddies are constantly outside late at night goofing off and using the garage as their man cave. I would go nuts!

Here’s a picture of the neighbor’s cute dog. She’s friendly and cute, I just wish she didn’t howl instead of bark.

Saturday we went garage-saling which always sounds better than it actually turns out. I tend to get frustrated quickly between trying to locate the property having the sale since they don’t always list the exact address on Craigslist, and finding sales that are offering something I’m actually interested in. I ended up with a 50 cent envelope organizer because I love crap like that. I will probably take it to work for the time being.

Saturday was also our first pool day of the season. Our pool is heated so even though it hasn’t been terribly warm, it felt great. Surprisingly, even though it was a beautifully warm day, the pool wasn’t crowded at all. There were three girls and one guy sunbathing and we had the pool to ourselves for the two hours we were there.

Sunday Joe and I were in the middle of some alone time *wink* *wink* when it started to rain. Then there was this huge loud crash and our fire alarm starting going off, so we had to rush to get dressed, expecting the fire department to arrive. About a minute later the fire alarm stopped on it’s own. It was the weirdest thing.

I’ve spent the last two weeks trying to find a decent hotel for our small road trip to Iowa and Nebraska later this month. We are finally going to visit Omaha but I am so frustrated trying to find the right hotel that balances good location, amenities, and price. I even tried booking through Airbnb but none of the places I was interested in were available. Ugh! I wish I was rich so I could just book a nice expensive hotel in the center of the city and be done with it.

October Catchup

Posted onNovember 9, 2013

Just for the record…

We didn’t do much for our anniversary on the 23rd. We just went to Claim Jumper for dinner. We enjoyed a 4-day weekend together but didn’t go away like we had originally contemplated.

Halloween was anticlimactic as usual – only 9 kids this year.

I guess that’s about it other than the fact that someone has purchased the unit next door and has had hired workers to remodel it. We’re not sure whether the owners are planning to live there, rent it out, or flip it. Only time will tell.

New Neighbors Forthcoming

Posted onMay 5, 2013May 5, 2013

This marks the 3rd month we’ve put off an intended visit to the Shedd Aquarium. Back in March we planned to go during their Illinois Discount Days until I learned it would be cheaper to go the first weekend of the month through Bank of America’s Museums on Us program instead. In April we decided not to go because the date we had chosen fell on the same day as a big race that included shutting down streets around the museum campus where the aquarium is located. Today the reason for postponing our visit was that I woke up a few times during the night and when the alarm went off at 6:30 am was not feeling up to going into the city. Plus my back was hurting after playing tennis and frisbee with Joe and Brother # 2 yesterday. So our new plan is to go in June which may work out best in the end because by then their new sting-ray touch exhibit will be open and there will be something different to see (which I’m sure will cost extra, but hopefully not too much since even with the free general admission it’s still $6.95 per person to add on Oceanarium access and another $3 to see the Jellyfish so that’s $20 for the two of us plus parking. Even free days aren’t so free if you want to see the good stuff.)

The weather has been really nice this weekend and we’ve currently got the windows open to get some nice fresh air. We have to enjoy it while we can. Our neighbors (the annoying ones who were outside smoking every half hour) were foreclosed on a few months back and moved out leaving their place a mess. The bank recently sent someone in to clean it up and there have been multiple showings the last few days. They really lowered the asking price of the unit so I doubt the place will remain empty much longer. Unfortunately, we do not seem to luck out when it comes to neighbors so the thought of new ones is stressing me out. Is it too much to ask that they be non-smokers who don’t own any dogs (or at least any that bark) and aren’t loud or cook stinky food? I’m afraid that would just be too good to be true (even though that description applies to us, so it is possible). It’s tough sharing walls with people when most of them seem to lack consideration for the people around them. Please cross your fingers that someone good moves in because with the market the way it is, coupled with me not working, it’s not like we can afford to move elsewhere.

In other news, we rented Silver Linings Playbook last night and hated it. I honestly don’t understand all the good reviews. The characters were so odd and under-developed that I couldn’t care less what happened to any of them, not to mention that the ending was predictable from the very beginning. What a disappointment. It made me feel like people only liked the movie because of the actors who starred in it and less about the plot, which I thought was boring and choppy. I don’t know why but it really irks me how much it sucked; I’m just glad we didn’t end up seeing it at the theatre as it was barely worth the $1 rental fee as it was.

Crazy Rain

Posted onApril 19, 2013April 19, 2013

Immediately after a day of non-stop rain.

A few hours later.

Lots of rain hit the area yesterday causing much flooding and destruction. I feel bad for people whose homes flooded. The above photos taken of the courtyard behind our townhome was the worst of it in our immediate area.