The bald doctor and his hippie/hippy (?) wife

Wes and I are going to a holiday party on Friday with some of his co-workers. It's at the house of an attending physician with whom Wes works. We've met the wife of this coworker at least three times, more for Wes. Evidently today this woman said to a friend of Wes's, "Make sure that bald doctor and his hippie (hippy?) wife come. I like them." I don't know if I should: a) be flattered that she likes us and wants us to come; b) offended that she still doesn't know who we are, or c) bothered that she called me a hippie (or did she call me hippy?). Maybe I can get it out of her on Friday.

A few of my favorite things...

Top songs on my Christmas playlist this holiday season:
1. "Let it be Christmas," by Alan Jackson
2. "Grown-up Christmas Wish," by Michael Buble
3. "I Pray on Christmas," by Harry Connick, Jr.
4. "O Holy Night," by Celine Dion
5. "Silent Night," by Johnny Cash

What's yours?

Cabbage Butt

When I was ordering groceries tonight (Peapod), there was a sale on "smoked butt and cabbage." What in tarnation is "smoked butt"?

Jumpin' Jehosephat -- it's fooy pajamas for grown-ups

It really can't get any better from this one, so this will mark the conclusion of my SkyMall entries. And really, folks, if there's anyone out there that doesn't know what to get me this Christmas, THIS is the gift. I think I'd go with the rubber duckies. My sister Laura, if she had one, would need the camo. Who doesn't want jammies with footies? My mother tells stories about how, when I was a child, I would go to bed in my footy pajamas and wake up in just a diaper. I think it's worth getting a pair of Jumpin Jammerz just to see if it's still true :)

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

Yesterday I spent the whole day doing something I've wanted to do for at least a week -- decorate our apartment for Christmas. Wes and I spent Christmas together in Chicago two years ago, and while we definitely did not have room there for a tree, I did use fresh pine garland, a paper chain, and some creativity to enliven the place. This year we could have had a tree, though the lack of the car somewhat hampered it. But I did manage to have some fun. I put out some ornaments on shelves, hung others from the garland (firmly secured, of course), taped snowflakes (both paper and crocheted) to the windows, put up our new stockings (with our names on them!), and found a place for the Swedish Christmas goat to oversee the whole place. I didn't have enough space to put up all the ornaments, but I did put up some favorites -- German wooden ornaments that I got while living overseas, one to represent each family member, a bird that my mom gave me, a pickle, a Mitford snowman, and a Santa that's also a bell. The "joy" moose, of unknown origin, sits in the front bathroom. I even put up twinkle lights around our bookcases because, well, you just have to have twinkle lights somewhere. I'm sure we're breaking any number of fire codes, but it feels like home at Christmas, now.

An indoor weenie roast

Just when you thought nothing could beat the deluxe digital toaster -- I think this requires no commentary.

Sandwiches, mmmmm

There's a lot of growth happening in the South Loop area where Wes and I live. There's plenty residential going up, but we're also slowing accumulating businesses. Down the street at Roosevelt and Canal, we've not got, in addition to a Dominick's and some banks and indepedent stores, a Home Depot, Linens 'n Things, PetSmart, Office Depot and Staples, Panera Bread, and soon, a Best Buy. Right in our area, though, the smaller store space has been slower to fill up. We've recently gotten a Marble Slab and a Jimmy Johns, but nothing much more notable. Then a run-down building two blocks away suddenly started getting rehabed. Turns out they were putting in a big wine store and a Potbelly's! For those of you who have not had the good fortune of enjoying a Potbelly's sandwich or, more importantly, chocolate shake, I can only attempt to convey the wonderfulness of this place. It's warm sandwiches, and it's just, well, good. Last week I came home from work, looked at Wes, and said, "Know what I want?" And he said, "Potbelly's". It's the only time we've eaten there since it opened, but I fear it's proximity could be a dangerous temptation.

Finally!

This is the chair! We've had it for a few weeks now, but I haven't taken a picture. After the thorough apartment cleaning yesterday, it seemed like time (although that wierd shadow on the seat has me nervous!)