Tuesday, October 30, 2007

Happy Halloween 2007!





So my VMA Britney was revealed last weekend. And she was working it. After a second-place finish at the first party on Friday, she got--out of over 100 well-crafted party competitors--2nd place again! I won a huge boom-box CD player and beat out my friend Brad who was dressed as Sen. Craig (toilet stall and all). The winner of Saturday's party was dressed as a bouquet of flowers. She was an explosion of color.


For the actual Halloween Day, I'll probably Karaoke after the evening's rehearsal so Chicago must endure one more night of VMA Britney. Happy Halloween 2007 to all!

Saturday, October 27, 2007

Halloween Night First Round

I did not take photos of my glorious trashed-ness last night, but I have to say, I was out-Britney'd. Some gal came in with a cool hat, glasses, two baby dolls and an ankle braclet. Shit. Anyway, I still did my VMA dance and got so wasted that I just realized that I did win something last night--a $50 gift certificate. (I think I got some sympathy votes for saying it took two years for me to grow the flab for my role as VMA Britney.)

Anyway, another night of fabulousness tonight (I'll take pictures this time). VMA Britney lives!

Wednesday, October 24, 2007

My 2007 Halloween Costume Revealed


I can't contain myself anymore. And I know I will be one of several thousand prowling around this weekend. But I'm going to be VMA Britney. I have a sequined bra, go-go boots, a ratty blonde wig and my flab hanging over my hoochie pants (and back fat oozing over the top of my bra, ugh--but hilarious!).


I debuted the look at last Saturday's Joel Hall Dance Center fundraiser and it was a huge hit. I MC'd their fashion show and came up with the line of the night: Who knew crack was so fattening?


I'll be going to a party of Friday in the city and then one in the suburbs Saturday. Hopefully the song, "Gimme More," will be on so I can lip sync badly and stagger around the room all confused. Like I said before, I can't wait!


Friday, October 19, 2007

Apple Picker


Here's a shot of my editor's son Ari picking apples. Fall fun!

Visit to Richmond, Va.





Oddly enough, I'm reading the book Lincoln by Gore Vidal (actually, I've been reading it for the past five years). Anyway, in it I'm reading all about how they're trying to get into Richmond, Va., where I spent a day-and-a-half this week visiting Philip Morris' new Research Center.



It's a $350 million facility designed to foster creativity and collaboration. You can even write on the walls! It has large common areas, low walls and curvy, mod furniture. All designed to stimualte the brain cells.



Well, here's a shot of the Richmond airport and an inside and an outside shot of the research center.

Monday, October 15, 2007

Halloween Babies






More photos from my co-workers. This is of another writer's babies on a Halloween jaunt. This is Joe's kids, Maggie, Gavin and Darcy. Looks like everyone is having a goulish time!

Friday, October 12, 2007

Where Is This?


My co-worker's son just turned a year old and she sent us some photos of him. Where is this place that little Henry and Dad hanging around at?

Monday, October 08, 2007

La Traviata Weekend


Bob and I had a wonderful time Saturday as the opera season kicked off at the Lyric downtown. La Traviata was the first, and while we did not see the great Renee Flemming in the role (she starts her stint in January), the soprano we saw, Elizabeth Futral, was more than up to par. It's always a great night when Bob yells, "Brava!"

Friday, October 05, 2007

Office Birthdays



One of the little joys in life has got to be ice-cream cake at the office. We had a mini-celebration yesterday for three co-workers who had their birthdays in September. Oddly enough, we have no Oak Brook birthdays in October, but several (including mine) in November. How quickly the time flies--especially when there's a sliver of ice-cream cake to be had!

Monday, October 01, 2007

Randy's Chicago Visit




Well it's already Monday and Randy's weekend visit has gone by so fast. Granted, much of it was spent revolving around his college friend Claudia's memorial service. Saturday night many of his old college chums--the circle of friends who he lived with at 1008 Foster--gathered for a dinner. We went to Bravo in south Wicker Park and had a fab tapas meal.


The next day's service was very moving. Claudia had been an administrator with the Theater Center there and so people came in to perform musical numbers as well as talk about their favorite memories. It was beautiful and stirring.
One of the funniest moments came from her brother Ken in his speech. He said that the two of them were political opposites with his views being ultra conservative and hers being ultra liberal. In the days before she passed, he joked with her, saying, "Too bad you won't be able to vote for Hillary or Obama."
She said to him, "Ken, this is Chicago ... I can vote from the grave."
Afterwards, Randy and I went to the show-tunes afternoon at a bar in Boy's Town and found ourselves sloshed and waving napkins in the air as Madonna sang, "Don't Cry for Me, Argentina."

We're dealing with that headache today. Anyway, here's pictures of me and Randy at Millennium Park that we took on Saturday ...