I dropped the parents off for their month-long cruise around South America. They fly out today and will be off the grid until March 21st. We’ve officially flipped roles. I feel like the parent dropping her kids off at camp. Sure, I want them to have a good time but I’ll worry about them. They ...
“Gypsy” (Chicago Shakespeare Theater): Oh, Momma!
Chicago Shakespeare Theater presents GYPSY. Until last night, I had never seen any production of GYPSY. I had heard snippets of the musical sung by the grand dames of Broadway, including; Ethel Merman, Bernadette Peters, and Patti LuPone. Still, I had no expectations for this iconic musical. GYPSY premiered in 1959. It is a showbiz reflection on the death of ...
Spinster’s Guide to Valentine’s Day – Volume II
Happy Valentine’s Day! Last year, I blogged theSpinster’s Guide to Valentine’s Day Survival. Although it still makes me chuckle, I can’t help but describe myself as bitter. I really sound uncharacteristically afraid... afraid of a day dedicated to love. What a difference a year makes?! Valentine’s Day creeped up on me. Unlike last year, I wasn’t dreading ...
Word.
Words are my favorite form of art. I delight in a finely crafted statement. In the last week, here are some memorable ones from my ongoing collection. In my book, “Life After Life,” a mother’s failure to instruct a young bride is described as ‘hinted but fallen short of anatomical exactitude.’ Jen recently texted me this wise ...
Happy Birthday to me… Again! :)
I successfully have extended my 50th birthday celebration into a third month. Last night, my boss took me out for an extravagant dinner in honor of my milestone. We went to Tru in Chicago. It was the second trip for both of us. Maureen picked it because we both so love a Tru experience. Besides the innovative cuisine, the ...
The morning after the meh…
I was off yesterday. Not so much cranky as just off balanced. It started with a scene in the laundry room in the wee hours of the morning. In between washer and dryer, my laundry card zero-ed out. I had at least $12 on the card yet when I went to dry my wet clothes, it ...
“The Playboy of the Western World” (Raven Theatre): Tis a Charmer
Raven Theatre presentsTHE PLAYBOY OF THE WESTERN WORLD. The 1907 premiere of this play incited what became known as the ‘Playboy Riots.’ Ireland did not respond well to Playwright J.M. Synge’s work. First, his hero, Christy Mahon, is a lad claiming to have killed his father. Christy, as a fugitive, finds refuge and admiration in a ...
Coping one single at a time
I fell off the wagon on Thursday. Except for a momentary slip at a September funeral luncheon, I had gone a full year without Kraft Singles. On Thursday, in my weakened weather state, I believed the best thaw out would be a Kraft Single. So, I got a pack... a 24 pack. I love the wrapped ...
Pick it up, wipe it up, dust it off
It’s my midweek check in on living mindful. This week’s challenge from “How to Train a Wild Elephant” was ‘leave no trace.’ I selected my office at work as the room to practice this activity. At the end of the first day, I left it pristine. I got rid of some papers that had piled up for ...
“Saint Joan” (ShawChicago): Robust Storytelling
ShawChicago presents SAINT JOAN. There are no villains in the piece. Crime, like disease, is not interesting: it is something to be done away with by general consent, and that is all about it. It is what men do at their best, with good intentions, and what normal men and women find that they must and ...