The Deep Freeze

Move It or Lose It, Buddy

I really don't want to use this blog as a platform to complain, but I can't help myself on this one. I've been considering a lot lately what it means to live as a community, and I'll tell you what doesn't fit: saving parking spots with chairs/sawhorses/crates/coke cans/buckets/cones... whatever. Not cool. I do not understand how shoveling out a spot justifies the sense that now, this piece of city-owned pavement is mine. I would much rather approach snow removal as a neighborhood endeavor, a common goal, the idea being that this is our city block, together. And together, we will work to get the snow out and our cars in. If everyone would shovel out their spot (and help those who cannot), then wouldn't our block be cleared and we could all park? I know that some people don't shovel. But since when is it ok to abstain from doing the right thing just because that's what everyone else is doing? Didn't we learn that lesson in kindergarten? In any case, if anyone has some good suggestions for how to transform this individual act into one of common care and concern, please, fire away. And for those of you who don't live in Chicago and don't know what I'm talking about, here you go:





Addendum: I would be remiss not to mention the upside. Not everyone abides by the spot saving strategies of the supremely annoying. Sometimes a good car-trapping snowstorm can bring out the best in people. Andrew has become Super Shoveler (with a cape and everything) and is always ready to rescue a lad or lass in tire-spinning distress. And I know he's not the only one. Perhaps therein lies the solution: model the change we wish to see.

Christmas Trees: Use No. 2

Give the illusion that your city-dwelling is set in a backwoods oasis.

Crikey!

Like the new movie, Australia (more on that later), I think our Thanksgiving had it all: fantastic company, plentiful food and drink, good conversation, relaxation, thankful hearts, and the space to know and appreciate those around us. Mom and Dad Daigle drove in from Connecticut and it provided a wonderful opportunity to share our Chicago lives with those closest to us. Isn't it interesting how out of town guests give you new eyes in which to view old and familiar surroundings? Suddenly, our apartment and neighborhood evolved from a place to live into a place to explore. We showed off our Lincoln Square favorites, visited the Field Museum and sampled some of Chicago's varied cuisine.

And, yes... we saw Australia.



The movie, like our Thanksgiving, really did have it all: action, adventure, romance, you laughed, you cried, you get the picture. (And you won't be disappointed.)

All in all, it was a time to indeed be grateful... for dear family, for God's provision, for our city's endless entertainment and for the chance to pause to give thanks. Many thanks to you, Mom and Dad, for your generosity, curiosity and graciousness in spending a Thanksgiving in Chicago. We are truly grateful.

Meat in a Tube

Last Saturday evening we participated in our first annual Sausage Fest, that is, a collaborative effort with friends to crank out approximately 50 POUNDS of potatis korv (potato sausage). That's right, 50 pounds (although it's still a toss up as to whether there was more sausage or bad jokes). This extremely entertaining and messy endeavor was hosted by our dear friends, Barbara and Nathan, and not only did they sacrifice their time, energy and equipment to get everything prepared, but also... their kitchen. Sausage making is not for the faint of heart, nor for those who cringe at the sight of dribblings on their stove... or floor... or cabinets. Barbara and Nathan had split up the grocery list and we each brought our allotted ingredients, and after all was said and done, we all had more than several pounds of sausage to bring home. Last night, Andrew and I cooked up our first few links, accompanied by horseradish garlic mashed potatoes, and I realized that we had been initiated into a tradition much cherished by our Swedish friends. And it was delicious.





*Photos and statistics courtesy of Barbara and Nathan.

Alternate Routes | The Boring Store

While I have yet to become familiar with the works of Dave Eggers, the most notable of which include A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius and McSweeney's publications and humor site, I have had the pleasure of exploring the fascinating creativity behind his non-profit writing and tutoring centers. 826 Chicago (there are also centers in Boston, Seattle, Valencia, NYC, Michigan and LA) provides after-school workshops, drop-in tutoring, in-school tutoring and a variety of programs to encourage and enhance expository and creative writing skills for students ages 6 to 18.

To this end, 826CHI is not your average tutoring center. In order to get to your tutoring session, you would have to enter The Boring Store, a "cleverly disguised" spy shop that warns you on entrance: "Not a secret agent supply store." The boring rows of boxes and drawers belie an abundance of crazy spy gear, such as "Watergate Fingers", "Heated Stakeout Gloves", mustache disguise kits, wigs and Groucho glasses. On each boring box is written a non-description of its contents, such as, "The product within this box is not comprised of a thirty-three foot nylon rope and collapsible hook for grappling." Because, after all, this is NOT a secret agent supply store.



All the proceeds from the store help fund the tutoring programs, while the store itself sparks imagination and creativity among its students. The store is also quite handy when it comes to attracting potential volunteers who help facilitate the writing programs. Who wouldn't want to be part of this endeavor when faced with a banana posing as a cell-phone concealment device?


The Boring Store is located in Wicker Park at 1331 North Milwaukee Avenue--a stop in this series that, while not out of the way for those of us in Chicago, may inspire all of us toward something truly alternate. Indeed, there are ways in which we can, and must, think outside of that boring box.

[The pictures and content of this post are credited to an article by Brad Flora in the Windy Citizen.]

Air and Water

The city looks different from 22 floors up. I've been to the Hancock tower, but nothing really beats an outdoor patio on a crystal clear, sunny, summer day watching the Blue Angels fly past at eye level. We were extremely fortunate to be able to attend the annual Air and Water Show via a Topiarius client's Lake Shore condo. Good company. Good food. Incredible views.

A One Car Family

Call it a step in a green direction, call it a fiscally responsible move toward a new fuel economy, call it an opportunity to walk more and drive less, call it a way to save money, gas and parking... call it what you want, but we are now a one car family. And I must say, it feels pretty good. The Red Ranger served us well: it moved Andrew to Chicago, it moved a whole lot of other people to a whole lot of other places, it carried (and stored) Andrew's alley finds, it transported discarded treasures from the museum to our home (and sometimes back again), and on countless occasions, it dependably made those trips to and from Home Depot, laden with materials and supplies. But lest you go thinking we've lost our minds ridding ourselves of such a fine and faithful truck, let me tell you that not every day was a cruise through the park. For the last several weeks, our beloved Ranger couldn't go 5 miles without steaming and spewing. Indeed, as Andrew drove it to and from several potential buyers this weekend, he had to pull over in between each one to let Old Faithful cool down, hoping that he could prevent one final act of ultimate rebellion. Fortunately for us, and for our truck's new owner, he did. And so, with one last display of affection, Andrew said goodbye.


Our truck's new owner can give it what we could not: a new radiator (at least). So, we are happy to send it on to a better place. We're thankful for the many services it provided, but now, we're thankful we don't need to provide it with any more services.

Voila!

If you've been in our kitchen, then you know that counter space is at a premium. Given the situation, we've done pretty well (Thanksgiving has presented the most need for innovation in prepping, storing and serving space). Shortly after we moved in, Andrew developed plans for building a concrete counter-top table that would serve to almost double our counter space. After undergoing a position change at the Field Museum, a job change to Topiarius, a search for a work shop and a search for material funds, I'm proud to say that he has finished the table.


I am consistently impressed with anyone who can transform unfinished wooden boards into things as aesthetic and practical as beautiful tables, chairs, bookcases, frames... you name it. Regardless of the amount of time, space and money Andrew's endeavors may (or may not) take, I must always remember and be grateful for the fact that his hobbies tend to benefit the both of us (which is more than I can say for my dabbling in horse betting).

Ahoy!

Since a hobby of mine would never necessitate buying a sailboat, for example, that means I must maximize other available resources, like friends who have sailboats. Seriously, tell me that's not a good deal. Several weekends ago, a co-worker of Sarah's offered to take her and some of her friends out on his 30-foot Catalina to cruise around Lake Michigan. Our captain was exceedingly gracious and hospitable, and despite the brief thunderstorm, it was a wonderful opportunity to eat, drink and be merry... matey.

Turnip Tales

This past week we received our second box of veggies from our CSA program, in which we discovered napa cabbage, kohlrabi, garlic scapes, purple-top turnips, head lettuce and baby beets. In order to dialogue about our experiences, our church has started a blog where we can reflect on our participation with Mike and Clare's Farm and Cedar Valley Sustainable Farm. The idea is to provide an opportunity to share thoughts, photos, recipes, triumphs and challenges. Check out the blog and my guest post for this week!

Party!

On Saturday we had the pleasure of hosting a graduation party for our friend, Cristina. We have developed a close friendship with her over the years since she came to the US from Romania to start her undergraduate education at St. Anselm College in New Hampshire. Fortunately, when we moved to Chicago, so did she, and she has just completed her Masters in Social Service Administration from the University of Chicago. She is an inspiration to many and we are exceedingly proud of her. Congratulations, Cristina!

Old MacDonald...

...had a farm. And we went to see it. As I've mentioned before, our church is participating in a Community Supported Agriculture program, in which we partner with a local farm to support (and benefit from) their efforts at sustainable farming. This past weekend we had the opportunity to meet and visit with the people who will be growing and raising our food. Mike, of Mike and Clare's Farm, introduced us to the vegetables, and Jody and Beth, of Cedar Valley Sustainable Farm, acquainted us with the livestock. As we will be receiving our first box of veggies this coming Sunday, it was an opportune time to get the dish on all the farm happenings. It's amazing how seeing the way my food is grown has impacted my perspective on how and what I eat. I am not so sympathetic that I will abstain from eating the little chickies I had the pleasure of meeting, but it does make me feel good to know that they are being treated humanely and raised healthfully, and not just for their benefit, but for mine as well.

One of the things that impressed me the most was Jody and Beth's attitude toward partnering with other farms. When asked if they hoped to be completely sustainable at some point in the future, meaning that they would be completely self-sufficient, they answered no. Their desire, they explained, was to educate and work with other farmers to achieve greater advances in sustainable farming together. They can't (and would rather not) do it alone, and by sharing knowledge and resources, they (and others) will be able to expand their operations. Everyone wins. I appreciate this perspective, and, for me, it highlights the difference between sustainability and a monopolizing self-sufficiency.

Here are some pictures of the farm. We'll keep you posted as we dive into the world of kale, cows and cabbage!