weekending

It was a beautiful holiday weekend, but it didn't really feel like Easter. I know that's because we didn't follow through with our plan to attend mass at Old St. Patrick's in the Loop Sunday morning. No excuses. Our 24 hour Chicago visit was a tad robust and we simply ran out of time to do all of things we needed and wanted to. Actually, 24 hours and 10 minutes, which meant our parking went from $57 to $75. Yep, $18 for a tenth of an hour. I'm a little over the city.

We have had so much fun taking advantage of Ted's pad with a view on the 58th floor of the John Hancock, but it's also made me realize that the urban high rise life is not for me. Chicago is fun to visit, but I have zero desire to call it home. I'm pretty sure Ted is feeling similarly. He may want to move to Portugal though.

The purpose of our trip was twofold: to start packing for our move out at the end of the month and to spoil Lily Kates a little bit. She came home on the Badger Bus Friday after class. Apparently, it is very un PC to observe Good Friday. The same classes that were canceled the Friday before spring break were not cancelled in observation of this holy day. Oh, and she had a quiz on Sunday night. Yes, on Easter Eve. I'm a little over higher education too.

She came home with a cold so we decided on a quiet night in with plenty of kitty time. I learned that she jumped in Lake Mendota Thursday night on her way home from a Frat party. Lake Mendota was frozen a few weeks ago. I think she earned that cold. She requested calzones and Mike complied. We cued up a movie and called it a night.

 

We planned to leave for the city by 10 o' clock. We were on the road by 11 and that was close enough for us. Ted's place was evidence that he packed for Portugal in a hurry at the last minute. At least he ran the dishwasher and took out the garbage. We visited the Museum of Contemporary Art. It's a couple blocks from the JH and we've walked by it many times always talking about checking it out. I love the Art Institute, but it's a whole day thing and that wasn't going to work. It happened to be family day so we were admitted gratis. That ended up being a very good thing because most the exhibits were either preachy or creepy. We didn't stay too long. Edited to say that I like art; even art that makes me feel uncomfortable, but I'm growing tired of always being made to feel I am an awful white heterosexual Christian American. I'm a little over with everything being divisive and political these days.

 

I got into mom mode whipping #5805 into some semblance of shape while Mike and Lils shopped along the Avenue. It was sweet father daughter time on a beautiful Saturday afternoon. We had dinner reserves at Broken English Taco in Lincoln Park. Fried chicken tacos for the win. Atmosphere was hip, food decent, service most unfriendly and company a 10 so all in all quite good although I'm a lot over servers with bad attitudes. We walked over to Second City for our 10 o'clock show.  The 111th Revue was a 7. The best skit involved a boss named Linda who sounded a lot like my Linda. It was a fun night out on the town.

Sunday was an even nicer day. I was up with the sun so very early. We made a stop at Zara for Lily. What a zoo. The Starbucks Roastery was even crazier. I think every tourist in the city was on one of the five floors. It's a cool spot and one of the things Lils wanted to do so we waited in the shortest line we could find for iced coffees and croissants. Anything for her because I'm not over my Lils.

 

We turned in the driveway just before 5 o'clock to find 3 kitties in need of some TLC. And food. We decided to put together a Caesar Salad for our Easter dinner. Lil's made the dressing, Mike grilled the chicken and I made the croutons. It ended up being a perfect, albeit unconventional, Easter feast. Instead of The Passion of the Christ, we watched Fargo. It felt a tad irreverent.

We missed family, Easter brunch and singing Christ is Risen in our pew, but we made the most of our time together.

I've got a busy week ahead. We have to celebrate Alan's birthday and Linda's last chemo. I also have to get the house ready for company as Lily is bringing home some friends this weekend for the Morgan Wallen concert. Ted comes home from Portugal Saturday and has to be settled in Madison by Sunday for class Monday. And here I am silently wishing for an entire weekend of nothing going or doing.

That being said...I would like to go to Portugal one day.