Rhubarb!

It is one of my very favorite times if year: rhubarb season. We had a rhubarb plant in our yard growing up. I didn't think much of it, it was strange, but it meant we almost always got one strawberry rhubarb pie every summer. 

That has been my favorite pie for as long as I can remember. That pie means summer. Then about five or six years ago, Andrea got me a book all about pie, and one recipe was strait up rhubarb pie, no strawberry. I made it once, but t inspired my affection of rhubarb anything. 

I really wanted to plant rhubarb so I could grow my own, but since we moved, I figured it wasn't a wise choice. Next year! But this year I am making lots of rhubarb inspired food items. I have been using Jamie Oliver's stewed rhubarb recipe and mixing it with cakes, ice cream and yogurt. We shared our Victoria sponge with rhubarb with our new neighbors and I am trying out rhubarb ice cream on my uncles tomorrow. 

The season will be over soon, and I Kurt want to make everyone realize how wonderful this stalk really is.

Funny how things work out

Sometimes I contemplate how things have turned out the way they have. My latest pondering is how I became friends with some wonderful people in Chicago.

Back in 2007, a few days after I graduated from college, I sent an email out to rec.sport.disc looking for a team for sandblast. This is a mixed beach tournament in Chicago that I had wanted to attend for the past three years, but had been unable due to working/being out of town. But I was going to play in July of 2007! I remember I sent the email out pretty late at night looking for a team for myself and my friend, Cree. We were two ladies looking for a team, which I knew would be no problem. When I woke up the next morning, I had an email in my inbox. It was from Matt P, a player out of Chicago whose team was called "How to Stuff a Wild Bikini." I decided to accept the first bid, since I knew I would probably get lots. I emailed him back right away to tell him the good news. As the day went on, my inbox was flooded with about eight more bids. When I read some responses, I was almost kicking myself because the teams sounded like so much fun! But I stayed with the person I promised our bid to.

The emails that got sent out before the tournament from the team made me excited to play with them, there were definitely going to be some great characters on board! And then came the actual tournament. It was so much fun, one of the most fun times I had experienced at a tournament up until that point. I decided to play for this fun group of people the following year, it was even a question. However, I then dislocated my shoulder a few weeks before the actual tournament, and therefore had to sit out. The year after that (2009), I and my fiance were signed up!A few days before the tournament I had an appendicitis and could not play for yet another year! But finally in 2010 I made my second appearance at Sandblast!

the reason I started writing this because this coming Sunday, Richard and I have been invited to a BBQ that is hosted by a couple that played on the original sandblast team, and all the following years. We have since played Fall League with them, and been to many planned and impromptu parties. We have spent much time with other members of the team on and off the field as well. This is a great group of people that I look forward to spending much more time with. How things work out is incredible. I would not be affiliated with this great group if Matt hadn't been the first to respond or if I had waited to pick from all the bids I received. I am good with how it worked out.

Moving and Stuff

This Saturday, Richard and I spent the evening with our friends, the Berrys. It has been wonderful to live near another married couple, and we are sad to move away from them (although it seems like they are looking into buying a house, at some point). Because we are moving, we cooked dinner at their house, Italian Sausage Sloppy Joe's. It was definitely good, I think that we will be making them again.

While we were there, between doing our laundry, we played Settlers of Catan. I first played this game while I was in Tuebingen, and didn't particularly care for it. We played it with the Berrys a few weeks ago, and I warmed up to it, understanding the rules better. I think it will be a long time until I win, but am looking forward to playing again. I told someone this week that I had played Settlers of Catan, and they had never heard of it. This was foreign to me because in my world, everyone has at least heard of it! It was Spiel des Jahres in 1995 (German award for Game of the Year). I attempted to explain it, but came up very short!
To wrap up: if you haven't played it, or Carcossone, or Ticket to Ride, do it!

If you don't know, we are moving on Sunday. We have spend 18 months in our current apartment. It is longer than I had anticipated, but we made it through. We are looking forward to having normal ceiling heights, a bigger kitchen, a place to entertain guests, and living in a really great neighborhood. My commute will be an adjustment, it will turn into about an hour each way. But this will only last a month, and then I start my clinicals. My first one is in Round Beach Lake and Wheeling. A good driving distance away. Which means that we will have to buy a car. If you know anyone near the Chicago area who is selling a compact car, get in touch with me!

Hope to update soonish!

First snow of the 2010 season

We had our first snow of the season last night and today. I had planned on going to Montrose Beach to watch friends run in the Santa shuffle, but after considering the small amount of sleep I would probably have gotten, and needing to get work done, I decided to stay home. This morning, Richard and I took a break and played in the snow. We both have new boots this season, they kept our feet warm and dry, Richard also has a new hat which he is really excited about. Here are a few pictures from our (short) adventures.

Cookies and Studying

When I have a lot of studying to do and and am procrastinating, I sometimes end up baking. I am pretty sure Richard is a big fan of this form of procrastination. I wanted to make something over the weekend, but didn't get around to it. Attempted again yesterday, but realized that by the time the eggs and butter warmed up, I would be too tired to do it.

When I got in today, I was determined to make chocolate chip cookies. I found a great recipe for them. It does call for 1lb of butter and two cups of sugar (divided between white and brown sugar), plus chocolate chips and walnuts, it is hard to go wrong. They turned out great, gooey in the middle, crisp on the outside, and now we have chocolate chip cookies for a couple of days!

Now back to studying. Three exams is all that stands until the end of my fall semester.

Coffee and Candy

Tonight, Richard, Marge, and myself ventured into Logan Square. We needed to find a coffee shop that was open until at least 10pm. Our normal places we like to head close at 8pm or 9pm. So in the hunt and knowing that Marge would be able to drive, I searched outside our normal stomping grounds (Ukrainian Village).

We found an incredibly charming place called Cafe Mustache. This place was definitely a locally owned coffee shop. The coffee they use they obtain from Bridgeport coffee. They serve ice cream from iCream. The music is played from LPs, and none of the tables match. I enjoyed a hot chocolate with drip coffee added to it, Richard had an Earl Grey tea, and Marge had a simple cup of coffee.

On our way home, Richard requested an adventure. Marge suggested Margie's Candies. We drove by, it looked open. When we investigated, the door said they were open until midnight! Definitely good to know. We shared a brownie sundae, and I thought that their hot fudge was the best I ever had. Across the street is a 24 hour burrito establishment. Sounds like a great Saturday night combination!

Hey Blog, what's up?

It is now 2010, in fact, it is almost not 2010 anymore.

I have been married for about a year and a half, I have been in grad school for about the same amount of time, and have been living in Chicago for the same amount of time.

Sometimes I like to look back at old emails that Richard and I wrote. Right now, a friend of mine is in a long distance relationship. The couple are incredibly happy, they finding the difficulties of long distance. He says it is hard, but then also says that it is nothing compared to what Richard and I went through. But what we went through is different to anyone else, not easier, not harder, different. But their cuteness of the new relationship wears off on me, so that is why I like to look at old emails and pictures of us.

Richard's sister, Vikki, just had her first child. Her name is Maddy, and she is the most beautiful little girl I have ever seen. It makes me sad that we don't know when we will actually meet Maddy and spend time with Richard's family next. Thank goodness for skype and video chat. It is still difficult.

But good things: my semester is almost over, and will have a whole month to be relaxed and do projects I have put off. A month to spend stress free time with Richard and other friends in the city, and in that month is Christmas, New Year's, and my birthday! Hooray!