I Don't Say the TV is Tacky and Why My Dog is Like Elf

So I've been adjusting to life with another living creature in the house (the S.O. I've already gotten used to), there have been a few accidents, few chewings and several "let me out at 3a.m. moments" what's great about those though is that I can put him in the cage afterwards - all my sucker friends with those babies can't - ha ha (imagine Nelson laughing voice here). Murphy is the moniker we have bestowed upon the dog, I'm not entirely sure he's a Murphy or if he even knows his name yet but it's the only one we could settle on. So anyways, when on walks with me (and only me) Murphy's favorite thing to do so is find old pieces of gum on the sidewalk or grass and promptly pop them in his mouth, he manages to find several pieces on each walk, leaving me amazed as to the amount of gum that the good people of Chicago are spitting out on a daily basis. We had this gum chewing routine occur so many times already that now he automatically spits it out when I begin to bend down and reach for this mouth, I think him and the Will Ferrell character in Elf would have got along fabulously.

I had a realization while having dinner with friends the other evening, we were discussing the gorgeous ring a mutual friend of our had received for the birth of her son (a very nice push present!) and the guys both commented that they thought it was too large and a little tacky, while the other woman and myself both of course thought it was beautiful and not at all too large. And the difference in opinion between the ladies and the gents got me thinking that while they would think the jewelry was too big (likely because they'd be the one purchasing it for someone) they would never say such a thing about, say, a TV. TVs in the male mind can never be too big, while I frequently think they are too large and overpower a room but since it makes the S.O. an most other males happy we go with it and therefore I think they should do the same with diamonds or any jewelry of the large and sparkly genre!

He's Not Marley But...........

I've been MIA but for one simple reason, we got a dog this past week and I am adjusting to a schedule of constant walks, jumping when there seems to be the slightest hint of an "accident" but it's great, he's cute and sweet but still very much a puppy!! So I promise somes pictures and stories once we get a bit more of a schedule going on. (Hopefully soon!)

Really? All at the same time ?

I feel compelled to share what I have observed on my daily commute. While I have only come across her a handful of times the walking/smoking/reading lady immediately draws my attention whenever I pass her on the sidewalk My question is - why???? I can understanding walking and smoking (well actually I can't because it's horrible and nasty) but they are two activities that aren't entirely strange when paired together, but reading and walking? Is that really the best time to get a few pages in, when cruising in morning rush hour on the sidewalk with hundreds of others THEN pair all three together, picture her, ciggy in one hand and book in another fully engrossed at 8:30a.m. Is she reading the best book ever? Does she have no other free time than during her morning commute - I just don't see how she is compelled to do all three. I can barely managing walking and talking on the cell phone, you don't see me trying to blow bubbles or fly a kite while on the phone. It's weird, I don't get, I want to know why she does it - maybe one day when I've had enough I'll stop and ask her.

Also, just got back from Miami - after a Jennifer Aniston sighting and the sighting of lots o' fake boobs I am back in Midwestern winter. I didn't expect to really like Miami but I am a fan- it's a little fake and ridiculous but the weather (in March) is fabulous and the hotel lounge/bars are beautifully designed - go to the Setai now for dinner and drinks - classy and sexy without being over the top. Michael's Genuine Food & Drink for a non-South Beach destination that is delicious and unpretentious. I couldn't handle it all the time nor in any season where there's massive humidity but I can now see why Will sings his song.

Home, home on the range

Just a few comments about my absolutely lovely dinner at Schwa last Saturday. If Michael Carlson can pair sea urchin ice cream and pine flavor ice cream cone and make it a delicious option that seems natural to pair together then honestly the man is an ARTISTE! That dish couldn't top the grand finale of antelope, butternut squash and white chocolate though - I'm sure reading this you think ewwwwwwwww, when I read the menu I was really skeptical about how it would work but it was the best three bites I've had in the past year. If that's not an endorsement I don't know what is.

Recommendation: Don't go see The Other Bolyen Girl, if you have read the books or are at all family with Elizabethan history you'll be irritated with the large portions of history that this movie glosses over and when you're in a movie where Scarlett Johanssen is the "other" sister you know the casting is all off. It just comes off as annoying rather than entertaining, if you do go just enjoy the SATC trailer - yay! Can't wait till it comes out in May.

A Question for Dr. Nunes

I am so over winter, I sound like a broken record but I AM! Next week I head to Miami for some work and some fun and while I have a fear of not being tan, thin or owning enough white clothing to mingle in Miami that will not stop me!! I'll be sure to share all my pasty exploits after I get back.

A question that came to mind today, per a conversation with my new mommy friend (but trust me not a cute, cuddly, baby question) do you think you could fake out your OBGYN and tell them you've had 3 kids when you've had none or can their all seeing eye detect that? I want the new mom to ask but I don't think she will - guess I'll have to wait for an answer on this one until October!

And I know, I know some of my Oscar picks were wrong but honestly at this point who cares - they were sooooooooooo boring, and this coming from an Oscar extreme fan (hmm what's the equivalent of dressing like an Oscar super fan? Do I wear an evening gown and updo while sitting on the couch??) something to consider for next year................

How Rude & Why I'm Okay Looking Like The Unabomber

So the comment that was attached to my last post SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO got on my last nerve. Excuse me, are you providing a helpful criticism as to what should be on my idle mind -hmmm kind of defeats the point of blogging, I am tempted to post several long and detailed restaurant reviews out of spite but I will resist the urge (repeat: I am the bigger person, I am the bigger person). Another restaurant review will be forthcoming though as next week we have reservations at the newly re-opened Schwa - so readers beware!

On an unrelated note as it has continued to be sub-zero polar ice cap weather around here I realized that I have transitioned into another life stage, the "not caring about looking cute and more focused on being bundled up a warm" stage. I so used to be that girl who didn't want to wear boots because they looked big and clunky and ugly or I would never dream of wearing a hat as it would mess up my perfect coiffure. Unbeknownst to me at some point I passed this stage and now when it is cold I resemble the unabomber (albeit a wool-blend, Chanel sunglass wearing unabomber) but the general look is about the same. I'm not sure if this is another byproduct of growing older or just a byproduct of a particularly freezing Chicago winter. If I start wearing a caftan and straw hat this summer then we'll know it's the former and not the latter.

A few Oscar picks for tomorrow, although in full disclosure I have not watching all the nominees this year so I feel a bit like a cheater picking them.

Supporting Actress: Cate Blanchett - she convincingly portrays an iconic male singer, enough said.
Supporting Actor: I have not seen No Country for Old Men (nor do I plan to) but word on the street is Javier Bardem is a lock, what should be a lock is for him to never re-create that hairdo again.
Actress: Marion Cotillard - La Vie En Rose- haven't seen it yet but I love the original song! She's beautiful and animated, Julie Christie is too much of a sourpuss in my opinion.
Actor: Daniel Day Lewis, again haven't seen it but he is scary enough in trailers to have me believing in that performance.
Director: Coen Brothers, everyone loves a director who can go from funny to serious
Movie: Atonement, I loved it, thought it was beautifully done, still a get a little pang in the chest when I see a commercial for it - it better win, the only other choice is Juno but the academy would never give an Oscar to a little indie comedy.

Thalia Spice - A BYOB You Shouldn't Miss

This past weekend I checked out Thalia Spice a new Asian spot in I think what we can call West Town (Chicago / Halsted). Tucked away along an industrial alley Thalia is definitely a little find in the rough. The decor in lots of deep purples, reds, draped fabric giving almost a Casbah-like feel but not too much, just enough to be exotic but not in any overpowering way. We were ushered in to a little nook and that is when I realized my error of the evening - I had forgotten it was a BYOB spot! BYOB is great (but not so great when you forget your own B or W). We still stayed and ordered even though it would be a tee-totalling dinner - the menu at Thalia is quite expansive with one menu dedicated to what I'll call a more Thai-styled menu, with curry, noodles, claypots and most of the traditional dishes you'd attribute to Thai cuisine.l Then there's a second menu for the more Japanese / sushi focused items on the menu. So many things looked good and I'm sure I could have been happy with any number of them but we did take the easy way out that night and ordered a special pre-set menu they had in place for the evening. In my opinion it took many of the highlights from both menus and pre-packaged them for us, we got shrimp rolls, perfectly seared and seasoned ahi tuna, fish balls (don't laugh they are tasty) thai beef lettuce wraps, mee krab and then the finale, claypot lobster in a f-a-b-u-l-o-u-s lemongrass broth. Everything and I mean everything I had was delicious, it had the classic Asian flavors but what I especially liked was that the meal and flavors while memorable were still light, nothing oily or heavy that stuck with you after tasting. I must confess that we didn't linger too long after dinner, somehow it's not so fun to stretch out a meal over your water glass as it is a glass of wine so dinner was lovely, and relatively inexpensive (alcohol notwithstanding) but I would love it all more with a great wine or beer to accompany the meal. Thalia Spice a definite addition to my dining repotorie when I'm in the mood for Asian in the future.