Thursday, December 30, 2010

Hannah and Her Sisters (1986)

Looking for a thought provoking movie to watch on these dark winter days?  Don't let the shoulder pads and big hair turn you away from this classic Woody Allen film.  The timelessness of this film is in the questions it asks about relationships, the human heart, our purpose on this planet, and the search for the meaning of life.

This film was first recommended to me a decade ago by one of my favorite seminary professors, Dr. Bill Edgar.  He regularly (or used to anyway) uses this movie as a discussion springboard with his students.  Sometimes it takes ten years to follow up on a movie suggestion, but I'm glad I finally did.  Woody Allen's insight into people and the intricate workings of our hearts over our heads (or sometimes not over but with) is fascinating.    The story follows three sisters, their lives and complicated relationships.  Woody Allen is hilarious as a desperate hypochondriac searching for God.  He says to a Hare Krishna, "I was born Jewish but last winter I tried to become Catholic...but it didn't work for me.  You see Christians want you to die first and pay later."

Other provoking lines from characters include:


"The reason they (the puzzled experts) cannot answer the question 'How could it (the Holocaust) happen?' is that it is the wrong question.  Given what people are, the question is 'Why doesn't it happen more often?.' Of course, it does, in subtler forms."

And one of my favorites...
"For all my education, accomplishment, and so called wisdom, I cannot fathom my own heart."

Hannah and her Sisters is a very well done movie.  Watch it with someone.  You'll want to talk about it.

Saturday, December 25, 2010

Merry Christmas!


Merry Christmas from Chicago!
Christmas Magic


Christmas breakfast

Google chatting with the Parkers

A Walk


Nana and Eleanor

Terry & Cathy

Jason looking for adventure on the golf course








Nana Bicksler and Pops Little

Rock Painting

My budding artist

Tuesday, December 21, 2010

Yellow Snow and Butter Cookies




This morning, after making the icing for Jason's favorite Christmas butter cookies, we went outside to play in the fresh snow that fell last night.  People here tell me that by March I'll be ready to poke my eyes out because I am so sick of snow, ice, and cold.  When the rest of the country is enjoying daffodils we will still be tromping around in slush.  But, for now, I am enjoying more snow and blue skies than I've seen in our past three winters.


We are not expert snowmen builders yet.  I guess it takes some practice getting that soft fluffy powder to actually hold together into something resembling three scoops of ice cream.  And having a precocious Weimaraner doesn't make it any easier.


Conversation this morning went something like this:

"Mom, Roscoe's making our snowman yellow." 

"Mom, I think there is poop in the snowman."

"Mom, Roscoe keeps taking my snowman's arms."

"RosCOE, get your own stick.  You're eating Mr. Snowman's hands!"


 "GEEEZ, can't a dog have any fun around here???"

 And finally, after lots of giggles, a few tears, and one poop covered snow boot...
a SNOWMAN.

  Finnigan, Roscoe's next door buddy, came over to give Roscoe some encouragement. It is a rough life being a dog.  Or maybe it is a rough life being a dog owner.  Jury's out on that one.

Saturday, December 18, 2010

Portlandia

Why is Portland, OR special?
Because, baby, there is no place else on earth quite like it...
Watch and learn about the city "where young people go to retire."

Click here and watch the video.
http://www.ifc.com/videos/portlandia-portland-dream-of-the-90s.php

Or the trailer for the 1st episode of a comedy spoof on the city...
http://www.ifc.com/videos/portlandia.php

More fun to come on January 21st.  We've got to get Cable.

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Come on Down to the Lake With Me


What fun is cold weather if you can't brag and blog about how freezing cold it is here?  After all, talking about how tough we have it here in Chicago winters is a city pastime.  I might as well join in the fun.  This morning it was FOUR degrees.  Brrrrrrrrr....

Kenilworth Beach this afternoon




A whale kissing a shark?


waiting to catch the shot...
 Got IT! (and almost fell in the lake in the process)



Northwestern's Campus
(And my favorite running route until yesterday when I hit a patch of ice.  Both feet went flying in front of me leaving my bum to take a nice hard slam into the sheet of ice below.  Maybe it is time to join a gym.)


Ice Covered Rocks looking remarkable similar to a pile of petite fours I've seen at baby showers


Rock Graffiti 
"No matter where our travels take us may we always remember this place we once called HOME and the ways in which we grew..."

Sunday, December 12, 2010

Tricia and Kevin are Here!

Exactly one year ago- on this very same weekend in December- we hugged our friends Tricia and Kevin goodbye and wondered when we would see each other again.  After a year and a half of living in Portland, OR and being part of our church HOPE, they moved to Birmingham, AL.  

Who would have guessed, on that rainy Portland day in December 2009, that one year later to the day we'd be hanging out together in our new home of Chicago?
  Life is weird, but friends are awesome.
Taking in the Art Museum



Sipping hot chocolate and looking cool

Freezing cold weather





Cozy by the fire



Finding out Tricia's flight is canceled due to freezing snow, ice, and wind...yipeee!