I cant find that one on the map.

watching the news this morning (something I dont normally have time to do) the traffic report came on, reminding me of my daily confusion as I drive to school listening to NPR and the flurry of highway names. and by names I mean nicknames. nicknames that aren't printed on many maps, dont appear on many road signs, and I believe exist purely to confuse outsiders.

hearing a traffic report when I was in the vicinity of my computer I thought now would be the perect time to get to the bottom of this. much to my dismay a quick google search for "chicago highway names" does not bring up what would actually be helpful. apparently it it too dificult to create an image that labels these roads. instead I get a verbal discription of where these roads start and stop, making reference to landmarks or roads nicknamed roads, which again need a key to decode. well, that and a lot of message boards where people like me have posted their confusion.

perhaps the lack of pictures is a cover-up for the real truth. that no one knows exactly where one nicknamed road ends and another begins.

to go or not to go

that is the question.

the question that faces those of us to go and visit others on a regular basis. where is the line in the relationship status that makes it ok to poo/dump/go number 2/write the constitution/fill in your euphemism of choice at the home of another.

for some this line is only crossed under extreme circumstances. aka periods of multiple days with no other opportunities presenting themselves. for others, they blatantly disregard posted signs


and perhaps, as it has been suggested, even schedule visits to extend into their regularly scheduled bathroom visit just to take advantage of the super flush

snuggle cat!

5 day weekends mean one thing...CRAFT TIME!

craft time means finally getting a chance to finish piccolo's christmas presents. (within the month..totally counts, especially for a pet)

finished presents, but chilly apartment, means picture time!



adorable, but still not as cute as when she fell asleep with me yesterday. but hard to take pics while I am sleeping so this must do

snow I mean COLD DAY!

5:31 am phone rings. no school due to extreme cold temperatures.

let the 5 day weekend begin.

except that I brought nothing home since I was productive yesterday and I decided to give myself the night off.

oops

and my stupid school doesn't give teachers keys so I cant even go and get anything.

fortunately the evanston public library has the 10th edition available. (we'll forget that my girls use the 3rd)

so I can be productive!

(apparently work as gotten to me...when I get upset that i cant do work for 5 days and I go out of my way to find alternatives)

how to survive the winter

my girls are notoriously bad at dressing for the weather. for example they come into my room in a skirt and a short sleeve polo and think it is then ok for them to complain that my room is cold. when I saw that it was supposed to be -7 with a windchill of -25 at 7 am tomorrow and the temps were supposed to max out at -1 I knew it was time for my second role as a teacher, the role of preparing my students for life outside the classroom, to take hold and we had a how to dress for the cold lesson complete with visuals.

allow me to share.
step 1. before putting on coat add as many layers as possible. large hooded sweatshirts are perfect for this process because they allow for many layers underneath. trust no area to a single layer.


step 2. add the outer layers. opt for the warmest coat possible. the longest scarf possible to allow for multiple wrappings, and remember at least 2 layers everywhere.
step 3. pretend you are one of the following characters:
a. a zombie
b. the stay puff marshmallow man.

sometimes daddies do know best

the conversation in early december after the first snowfall went something like this:

Dad: you should get a little shovel to keep in your trunk in case you ever get stuck in snow
Me: Why would i need a shovel. I don't have a sidewalk to shovel and they plow the streets.

fast forward a month and a half to mid january.

yeah they do plow the streets. they plow the streets right into your car so that in order to move your car out of the spot you had to stop and kick snow out of the way to get into you somehow have to climb over a 2 foot pile smooshed up against the side of your car.

needless to say my car lacks the helicopter functionality and so this scene unfolded on sunday afternoon. me bent over kicking snow up with my hand in a way similar to how a dog digs in the dirt. nick kicking snow onto a piece of cardboard and carrying it off to the side of the road. one of the many moments that I wish I had my camera in hand but couldn't bring myself to leave nick digging out my car while I ran upstairs to get my camera. thank goodness for the nice neighbor who sat in his car while we borrowed his shovel till my car could move.

but now I am the proud owner of my very own shovel.


not the "cute little shovel" my dad had picked out

but it does fit in my trunk and can lift more snow than my hands!

chicago snow adventure take 1

I've been scoffing at the severe lack of snow. and then it came. and now it scoffs at me


6:30 am I venture out for the first time. dig off the first 6 inches that had fallen successfully maneuver out of my spot because well the snow plows hadnt been through yet to build the barricade.

drive to school...knowing the instant I cross city limits based on their snow plowing efficiency.

and more snow falls. another 3 inches in the 5 hours I was at school...snow scraping take 2.

drive home, again knowing as I drive through various cities. (future post will critique...must make sure i've got the right cities in the right order first)

then try to park my car.

I had to get out and shovel snow with my foot just to park.


but at least I'm not this guy.


and a pretty picture to leave you with