I was cranky last Thursday. My schedule for the weekend was dicey. There were parts I was looking forward to (the return of my parents) but there were more moments I was dreading. I wasn’t feeling particularly in control of my schedule and that always makes me ‘off.‘ When juggling many balls, it’s important for ...
Chicagoland: the new wild west?
Billboards around Chicago promise ten years in prison for purchasing a gun for someone else. It’s the ‘don’t lie for the other guy’ campaign. They appeared all over the city... almost overnight. In Wrigleyville, they are right next to cheeky beer slogans for baseball season. It’s a weird this-bud-is-for-you-but-that-gun-isn’t vibe. Playfulness meets darkness. The rally against ...
Deer Friends
“Doll, Billy killed a deer. Be a lamb and come over for venison.” When you get an invite for dinner, you go. As I get older, I appreciate more and more when I am the recipient of a home-cooked meal. Partly, it’s because I have limited culinary skills. Eating at home for me can be a satisfactory ...
Happy 1393
Last night, we partied like it was 1393. Maryam and Keith hosted a traditional Persian New Year’s dinner. Nowruz starts on the first day of Spring. Maryam and her sister Sarah, both of Iranian descent, cooked a Persian meal of their favorite dishes. A chilled yogurt soup was served for a palate refresher between the flavorful dishes. ...
Talk to me in 5 weeks
My parents were returned safe and sound yesterday. They had been sailing around South America for 5 weeks. I picked them up at O’Hare. They had a wonderful trip. And looked tan and relaxed. I heard about their cruise antics and port to port fun. Buenos Aires and Rio De Janeiro have been on my ...
I was a ‘starter’ for a minute… maybe less
I’m actively participating in 2014 March Madness. I completed the bracket. Despite growing up in the state of basketball in Indiana, I’ve never actually had a personal bracket. I’ve always been happy to meet in a bar to watch a game but I wasn’t ever really invested in the ‘Big Dance.’ This year, I’m playing ...
“Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” (Broadway in Chicago): Skimpy but Joyful
Broadway in Chicago presents JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT. For a story about the early days of human trafficking, this musical makes merry. The plot is dramatic: Joseph, his father’s favorite, is sold into slavery by his brothers. His ability to interpret dreams helps him ascend to prominence. A famine reunites him with his estranged family. ...
“Venus in Fur” (Goodman Theatre): Wickedly Pleasurable Flirtation
Goodman Theatre presents the Chicago Premiere of VENUS IN FUR. This is a play about a play about a book. In 1869, Author Leopold von Sacher-Masoch penned a novella of erotica. His controversial writings about sexual domination resulted in a new word. Masochism, used to describe finding sexual pleasure from pain or humiliation, is derived from the ...
Compliments need a life
I’m a complimenter. I actively look for the positive in situations. And I comment on it. Some of it is surface stuff... ‘That shirt looks so pretty with your eyes.’ Some of it has a deeper meaning... ‘Your passion for the cause inspires me to be a better person.’ Last week’s challenge in “How to Train a Wild Elephant,”was to compliment ...
“Good Boys And True” (Raven Theatre): Disquieting
Raven Theatre presents GOOD BOYS AND TRUE. A leaked sex tape is scandalous. Knowing the participants are minors is disturbing. Realizing the girl is a victim escalates it to unconscionable. Playwright Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa penned a thought-provoking tale. At the crux of the play is a demoralizing sex tape making the rounds at an elite boys’ prep school. Aguirre-Sacasa ...