#85 - Go To 3 Shows

To clarify, this meant 3 Broadway shows. Fortunatelly, Laura Masters organizes a Theater in Chicago group. Thanks, Masters!

The first show was Les Miserables. I'd seen it before. This rendition was eh. I liked the songs I already liked. And when Jean Valjean was walking through the tunnel, the effects were cool. But the title of the show was spelled wrong on the back drop. At the time, I was pretty sure it was, but I didn't want to say anything because my French is only so so (comme ci, comme ca). But they had the wrong accent mark. I looked it up the next day. Weird. (No, I don't know how to do accent marks on this website, so now I spelled it wrong while complaining it was spelled wrong. Whatev.)


The second show was Hair. I knew the music, so I was excited for it. Plus, I love hippies. It started slow, just describing each characater and their circumstances one at a time. Then there were the naked people just before the intermission. I knew that happened but I had totally forgot, so it was a bit of a shock. That was definitely the most naked people I'd ever seen in public standing still. I have to say standing still because I grew up and went to school in Ann Arbor, the former home of the naked mile.


The last show was Next to Normal. I'd never heard of it. I knew the UM Depression Center was doing a fundraising event by taking a group to the show on the same night we went because there is a character living with bipolar disorder. For a show I'd never heard of, it was amazing. The show was good; the story was good; the songs were good; the performers were amazing. I really loved it. It was much more emotional than I was prepared for on a Thursday night, but well worth some tears sitting alone in the theater. (No one I knew well went this time.) I highly, highly recommend it.

Just so...

I needed 2 "check" tags so my count stays correct. #3 & #4 are chronicled together.

#3 Learn to Make a Killer Mac and Cheese and #4 Learn to Make a Killer Soup

I grouped these together because I made them together. I decided I needed to try at least 3 recipes, including at least one spectacular one, to claim I can make a killer mac and cheese or soup. I hit killer on attempt number 2 for both, but attempt number 3 for the mac and cheese was also killer.

Attempt #1

Shrimp and Mushroom Laska and Macaroni and Cheese, both from Jane Hornby's What to Cook and How to Cook It, a cookbook given to me my my dad for Christmas this year. The laska looked awesome in the pictures but then a little scary in the pan. The mac & cheese looked awesome all around. Looks can be deceiving. The laska, a curry-type soup, was really good but could have used a little more spice. The mac & cheese was baked and a bit dry. Soup #1 = killer. Mac & chese #1 = not. My testers for this round were Ed Cruz and Beth Spitelli. From my memory, Beth & I both liked the soup, esp if it had a little more spice - even though Beth didn't remind me she doesn't like shrimp and just ate around them - and Ed was neutral.

Attempt #2

French Onion Soup and Macaroni and Cheese, soup from an online recipe given to me by Lisa Morrison, and the mac & cheese from a Rachel Ray cookbook given to me by my Momma. I don't think my house has ever known a smell as lovely as the onions sauteing. Amazing. Now I saute onions regularly. Just for the smell. Okay, I eat them too. The soup was more of an onion soup because I didn't have the proper bowls, so I couldn't melt the cheese on top. We just put it in the soup. Then I baked some croutons, some with cheese on top. The biggest problem was that I figured I only needed about half an hour to make the soup - which was true - but I didn't read the last step which read, "saute for 2 hours." So while Ed & I watched the Oscars, we ate the soup, but it wasn't quite as amazing as it should have been. After Ed left, Chris Zann and Holly Munk stopped by, and by then, the soup was really good. The mac and cheese went a little smoother and was quite killer. I wasn't what I had envisioned as it had tomatoes and mushrooms in it, but it was really, really good. Soup #2 = killer (eventually). Mac & cheese #2 = killer. My samplers were Ed Cruz, Chris Zann, Holly Munk, and we think Beth Spitelli, but our memories are confusing us as she wasn't there to watch the Oscars but she and I remember her trying the mac & cheese. Weird.

Attempt #3

Tomato & Spinach Soup and K Rob's Portobella-Stuffed Mac & Cheese. The soup was a simple Rachel Ray and was actually quite good. I would make it instead of canned tomato soup. I'll probably mess with it and try other things in it too. Then I got an originial K Rob recipe, actually convincing him to write one down. It was awesome. Beth & my favorite mac & cheese, and I love portobellas. The only issue I had was that most of the mushrooms collapsed, so I only had a few pretty, truly stuffed mushrooms. I'll have to ask him what I did wrong and try again because it was a really nice touch without being too complicated. Yum. Soup #3 = good. Mac & cheese #3 = killer. My samplers this time were Ed Cruz, Beth Spitelli, Chris Zann, and Holly Munk.

I'm happily becoming a much better cook!

#88 Eat in Chinatown

After one failed trip to Chinatown that ended in burgers and a birthday party, we finally made it southward and into Chinatown (after a short tour of the neighborhoods around White Sox Park).

Ed, Edric, and I took a leisurely stroll through the gate and down some Chinatown street, where I was shown the local architecture - like the community center that used to be full of Chinese gangsters - and culture - like the "We Call Police" signs. I saw where The Karate Kid was shot - meaning, Edric explained, where he was SHOT, not where the movie was shot. I learned that the Chinese traditionally walk... to their bikes. So much knowledge from my authentic tour guides.

We arrived at Evergreen restaurant and the waitstaff eagerly approached us, again and again, asking for our orders, though we insisted we were waiting for our fourth. We had a secret appetizer while waiting. We also finished a pot of tea and annoyed the waitstaff with wanting more. They then said the kitchen was closing, so we had to fudge it. I had to get Edric to quickly translate the menu for me so I didn't end up with shark's fin soup, not that I haven't heard it isn't tasty but I will NEVER eat my friends, the sharks. And if I see you do it, I'll threaten to punch you in the face.

We had Walnut Shrimp, some kind of Beef with Peking Sauce something something, and Chicken Fried Rice. And White Rice. Then Nader showed up with his friend Chad. The restaurant staff stared us down as we all ate.

Then they gave us the check.

Then they busted out the vaccuums.

So we hurried to leave and I had to go the long way around as the guy with the vaccuum was chasing Nader out down the direct route to the door.

Our fortunes were lovely though. Usually I hate fortune cookies because they don't give fortunes anymore. Claudio & I decided awhile ago they should just change the name to Pleasant Thought Cookies, and then everyone would be happy. But now when I get, "You have a lovely smile," I just get angry it isn't a fortune. Last night though, I got, "A new pair of shoes will do wonders for you." I have mixed feelings about this. I would love to get a new pair of shoes, especially if they will do me wonders, but I'm broke. I guess this is what it's like to know the future and have to make choices knowing it. So difficult. Chad stupidly gave his fortune cookie to Edric, who then got 2 fortunes, the second one being, "Your present ventures will be successful," or something close to that. I wish I had gotten that one.

Then I mailed a letter.

So then we walked to the square, "where the cool kids hang out," according to Ed, and had some bubble tea. I had some anxiety with all the choices. So many pictures. (Ed explained the menu to me this time and Edric to Nader. Chad seemed okay on his own.) And it was only my second bubble tea. We had a nice philosophical debate on whether or not to stick with what you know and like (Edric) or try new things in case you like something better (Nader & me). Deep.

I ended up with pomegranate peach. Lovely. Stupidly, Edric didn't get the 50 ouncer. What a sucker.

We were then rushed out of that place as it was closing. We took some photos by some animals and did some tai chi.

The end.

#9 Go to a State I've Never Been to

I went big for this one... or at least NIRSA did! This year's National - Intramural Recreational Sports Association Conference was in New Orleans, Louisiana, a state I have never been to.

I'm not sure I have more to say than "Wow, New Orleans is a really cool town." (But I'll try.)

Great food everywhere. I ate fried pickles, a crawfish po boy, crawfish etoufee, seared scallops with watermelon carpaccio, a BLT (at a Best Thing I Ever Ate Place where I was supposed to have boudin but didn't realize it until later), a fried soft-shell crab po boy & fries, bread pudding, fried shrimp salad, crawfish-cheese bread, steak sandwich, poached eggs with crawfish sauce, fried alligator, fried mushrooms, more fried pickles, Mother's breakfast with fried eggs, grits, housemade sausage, and a biscuit with housemade rasberry jam, 3 beignets, half a dozen oysters, red beans and rice, and a crawfish boil. Yes, I remember all of that. I may be forgetting one meal. Such good food. I must have gained at least 5 pounds. We did notice that the only people don't don't seem to be loving life there are the food service workers though. We did not figure out why.

Beautiful weather. We were told it was freakishly nice, that it's usually warmer and stickier, but the whole week it was just beautiful upper 70's or lower 80's. I even got a little "tan."

Live music all over the place. It reminded me of Austin, Texas, in that way, but it was jazz and blues everywhere. Just lovely.

The architecture. We stayed in the Warehosue District, which was kinda cool. The French Quarter was just beautiful, particularly the little streets with those ornate balconies. Just really cool.

The shopping. The French Quarter was filled with little shops. Really neat little shops.

The art. There were local artists and street artists everywhere. I love that about some cities. I don't know why why don't have it in Chicago. There were some boring paintings, just NO scenes, and then there were quirky pieces that had a touch of voodoo to them. Here is a guy who painted doors. Loved it.

Bourbon Street. That place went from zero to hot mess in about... well, the time it takes for the sun to set. What a good time. Just smiling people drinking and dancing in the streets. It made for a disastrous first night for me but the other nights were late and just fun. 4am there felt like 1am here. I wouldn't say there were any really crazy stories, but then again, I have a lot of mysterious cuts and bruises, so who knows. Once place I really enjoyed was the Blacksmith Shop, built in 1712. What a cool place.

Lovely people. Go to New Orleans. Yearly if possible. It is amazing how this city has recovered from Katrina. It's just full of life and grit. The people there just seem to love everything about the place (except maybe ALL the tourists) and will talk your ear off about everything... if you ask. It was weird to get used to having people greet me everywhere. Once a pair of chatty homeless guys stopped Claudio & I just to say hello. People there were so friendly but had that toughness they would have needed to survive there.

The pictures here are just of people I know but they all contributed to a great week as did many, many others!

UPDATE: I managed to hit a few more new states, mainly Colorado. When Nader Elmasri and I drove to San Diego, Dan Lynch was nice enough to host us in Denver. (David Frantom tried but we didn't quite time the trip back correctly.) Denver was nice but smaller than I anticipated. The 16th Street Mall was quirky and fun... and I swear I can play at least a few songs on a piano! It's just harder when it's not my main instrument and it's completely out of tune. Boulder was full of hippies, just as I anticipated. Nader got to slackline there for some fledgling hippies who had just moved to Boulder from Battle Creek. Also, western Colorado is BEAUTIFUL.

#16 Watch a French Movie without Subtitles

Last night I watched "Aux Revoir Les Enfants." Without subtitles. The whole thing. And I think I understood almost everything! Almost. I definitely missed a lot of dialogue, but I think I got enough that I understood the plot, characters, etc. I was even teared up at the end. Because I actually knew what was happening. I am going to watch it with subtitles to check, hopefully tonight. I'll report back to see if I actually understood it. But cross it off the list!

Some Fails

I thought it was only fair to mention my recent failures, if only to convince myself that I'm not running behind schedule... some stuff will just take some time and won't go well the first time! #88 Eat in Chinatown I had plans with Ed Cruz, Edric Cruz, and Nader Elmasri to head to Chinatown last Thursday. Edric & Norris Narsa wanted us to wait until later due to homework and work. Nader just wanted to watch the Bulls game somehow. Ed wanted to go early because he had "something else to do later." Now that I know what that something was, I should have just gone with Edric, Nader, & Norris. But alas, instead it's postponed. Hopefully we will attempt again on April 21 or 28. Edric won't commit though. He lives his life minute by minute. #80 Complete a Triathlon I was going to count the Red Bird Challenge at Illinois State University as my triathlon as it included a 2-mile canoe, 8-mile bike, and 3-mile run. I went with 3 students: Sarah Tyre, Matt Madia, and Davisson Benson. However, the morning of the race, the organizers annouced that the 25-mile-an-hour winds were going to eliminate the canoe portion. So instead, we portaged (carried canoes) for a MILE AND A HALF. It was ridiculous. Then we ran 3 miles with some "mystery challenges" - using ropes to get across mud, doing a cargo net climb (that was bunched up due to the lack of canoeing), army crawling through mud - and then biked 8 miles, with some "mystery challenges" - tying our bikes together in pairs, doing some weird orienteering / crossword event that took forever, and then a blindfolded Lego challenge that we dominated. We don't know yet what place we came in but we did beat one ROTC co-ed team. I'm not counting it as a triathlon since there was no water portion. Bummer. (Pictures to be added once Sarah posts them. We were a delightful, muddy mess.)