A Month In!

I am not sure if everyone is as big a fan as I am when it comes to the movie, "Rear Window", but anyone who knows me, is aware that it is up there as one of my top favorites. My dad and I loved watching it together and while I believe he tried to introduce me to some other Alfred Hitchcock movies, nothing compared to this one. I mean when it comes to Grace Kelley's outfits and Jimmy Stewart, flying birds just can't compare. Anyway, the reason I am mentioning this classic is because our courtyard could have been where they shot the movie, the similarities are just so uncanny. Currently, without any exaggeration, one of my neighbors is playing the piano and there are others sitting outside chatting with the sounds from the street coming through as well. All I need next is for my neighbors that have a puppy to get a basket that they lower down off their balcony and I would be convinced I had time traveled. For those of you reading this wondering what it is that I am talking about. Put your computer away and immediately watch "Rear Window". Not only will the last 2 minutes of your life reading this make a lot more sense, but it will forever be changed by how amazing it is. While your doing that, I will keep a look out for a tiny burning cigarette in a darkened apartment. Again, watch the movie.

Life inside the apartment is continuing to settle in. On the 28th, it had been a whole month! The plant we got last week is rocking at life and the animals, well, not much has changed there. These are thrilling updates, huh? In more exciting news, my cousin, Laura, stopped by on her way back out to Montana. It was a wonderful visit. For our first day of exploring we did basically the same exact thing as when Alec visited, we biked to Navy Pier and then walked into the city to grab a bite to eat. This is my favorite thing to do with guests because when you round the corner on the bike path and get that first view of the city over the water, it really impresses.

We actually even went back to the same restaurant, Howells and Hood. This may be considered a more "touristy" restaurant than the locals will admit to enjoy going to, but let's be honest, I still feel a bit like a tourist and their beer line up is one to be rivaled with, not that I drink beer, but still, it's fun. After a lovely lunch, with one of the friendliest waiters I have met in a while, we walked around the outside of the building, which we learned was the Tribune Tower. It all of the sudden made a lot of sense why that building was on the menu because it is in the Tribune Tower...remember, still sort of a tourist. Well, anyway it is a lot of fun and if you ever come to Chicago, which I highly recommend since I'm here, you have to see this building. There are rocks from all over the world built into the outside of it.

                             

Yup, I said all over the world and I only managed to get pictures of rocks from the US, but I still recommend going. Side note, because I enjoy finding "meaning" in little things, check out the names of the places where the rocks came from for the states where Scott and I were born. It's a very logical, scientific sign we should be together, that he can't argue with (no sarcasm was used in the construction of this sentence). Sarcasm aside, come visit, so I can take you on a bike tour to see Tribune Tower and take pictures of rocks! We can also see the coolest outdoor playground around. Laura and I found it and were amazed. It's called Maggie Daley Park and it is part of Millenium Park or maybe it is next to it, but either way it is by far the most unique and fun playground I have ever seen. I think it may actually go beyond a playground and be better described as a natural theme park. It has all of these different sections that are organized by age group and yes, some are for "all ages" which Laura and I were thrilled to see. Rocks and playgrounds, what more could you want?!

I can tell you what I want? That post to have actually saved that I just spent an hour and a half writing, ironically, about how Type A personality types don't thrive on unproductive time. And actually, I think it is ironic, but I am too nervous to leave this page and check that definition in fear of losing my work again and wasting more time. See, Type A. For now, I will end with an updated picture of the animals. After last week's post, I feel like Nuit deserves a picture where he isn't painted to be a killer. Until next week...