People I Saw

After seeing these folks (post-random-shirt-trade and hike on the Oregon coast):

and these folks (dancing to some oldies on the jukebox):

I happened to see this guy (whose white sneaker was planted right beside me on the plane, and who had to wait for his luggage like everyone else who flies Southwest):

Dat Donuts

A couple weeks ago, Ben and I spent an undisclosed amount of time on the internet, researching the best donuts in Chicago. Before I knew Ben, donuts were a sometimes-delicious treat that I only occasionally wanted to eat. If given the choice between, say, a cinnamon roll and a donut, the roll would win every time. With Ben, donuts are always his first choice, and it is because of this that I have honed my donut-tasting palate and actually bought a whole dozen of them to try, because Dat Donuts, down on South Cottage Grove and 92nd, got really good reviews.

Ben read that they were cash-only, so I was a little worried when I couldn't find an ATM in the weird zone of defunct hair salons and convenience stores between my school and Dat's. Finally, I found one, and it turned out that they accept plastic. Anyway, after sliding my 10 dollar bill through the bullet-proof glass, I came home with these:

And, no, they were not the best donuts ever, but I'll be back because the place was so funky and out of the way that I have to try again. Plus, Linda, the custodian at my school who also shares her spoken-word poetry with me (along with tales about her grandsons and whether or not her new wig makes her look younger), says that Dat's is the best, and, besides, she says the coffee's good.

Green River

This year, McDonald's donated the Shamrock Shake boat to dye the Chicago River green for St. Patrick's Day. The boat itself was disappointingly small and shoddy.

The milkshake you see flowing out of the cup looked like dyed felt in person. But look how green it is!

This is really funny.

(Click here for such classics as "Doc McKenzie Never Quits/I'm Trying So Hard" and Cody Matherson's jewel, "Can I Borrow a Feelin'?")

Whip my hair back and forth.

This was recommended to me by Portland politician Steve Novick. If you haven't seen the original version, you might google "Whip My Hair."

Bread Makin'

Inspired by friends and family, Ben and I have been baking our own bread since we got to Chicago. At first, it was easy, with Ben at home during the day more often and more hours of sunlight, but lately it's gotten a little more difficult to remind ourselves to measure the ingredients the night before we'll actually bake the bread. It's a lame excuse when you're making no-knead bread. Anyway, I made some today. The photo is blurry, and I apologize, but I can't be bothered to both bake bread and re-take a photo on Presidents' Day.

Also in the works today: chicken enchiladas.

Arlington Heights

Ben and I went out to the 'burbs over the weekend, in an effort to find a bed frame (which we failed at) and to get some good ramen. Our new favorite place, which is unfortunately pretty far away, has a great food court (ramen success!), sushi-grade fish at good prices, and an authentic Japanese bakery, complete with fat slices of white bread and beef-curry filled donuts.