Writing Workshop - Pt 4

Steering the Craft by Ursula Le Guin 

our workshop textbook

They didn't hate my short story!! I got some really good feedback tonight. The funny thing is, most of the constructive critiques was exactly what I had been beating myself up over the last week. Sadly, I thought I was pushing it on story length when I was really only at about 1/2 of what a short story length typically is. This is good. I can work on the additions with the safety of knowing I have time to develop my characters as I would like to.

Next week is the last class in the first workshop. A couple of people will not be returning. That is sad. I'll miss them. But there will be other equally interesting characters joining, no doubt. 

ABCs

This is fun...And long.

A is for age: 38, but I'm told I look closer to 28.

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B is for burger of choice: Burger du jour at Chicago's own Black Beetle.
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C is for what kind of car you drive: Jeep Grand Cherokee.
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D is for your dog's name: Mr. Invisible, since I don't have one.

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E is for essential item you use everyday: Soap.
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F is for favorite TV show at the moment: Law & Order: Criminal Intent.

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G is for favorite game: Checkers.
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H is for Home State: Illinois

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I is for instruments you play: iPod. 
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J is for favorite juice: Orange - preferably from Florida and with some pulp...and vodka.

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K is for whose butt you'd like to kick: John McCain - oh wait! Obama is gonna do that in November.
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L is for last restaurant at which you ate? Big Willy's Rib Shack

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M is for your favorite Muppet: I never watched them. Was there a green frog or something? I'll say the frog.
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N is for Number of Piercing: Five - but thinking about #6

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O is for overnight hospital stays: Two.

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P is for people you were with today: Two too many today - my kids (all day). And husband for 30 minute.
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Q is for what you do with your quiet time: Quiet time? What is that?? Hubby took the kids tonight for 2 hours.

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R is for biggest regret: Not sticking with the swim lessons when I was 6.
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S is for status: Happily married: 8 years, 10 months, 23 days.

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T is for time you woke up today: Around 8-ish.
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U is for what you consider unique about yourself: I have a social security number AND a social insurance number

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V is for vegetable you love: carats, the diamond kind.
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W is for worst habit: Blogging

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X is for x-rays you've had: Dental, foot, back, hips, knee, thumb, brain, brain MRI, pelvis.

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Y is for yummy food you ate today: 2 mini Heath bars

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Z is for zodiac: Scorpio

1st Birthday Party in Chi-Town

The Birthday Girl

The kiddos went to their first Chi-Town birthday party today. The Birthday Girl turned 1 year old. Her party was held in a great park with a playground, pool, baseball diamond, tennis courts, and lots of open space for the kiddos to run. It started raining so we took the party indoors. I think a good time was had by all indoors and out. J had to work, so he joined us at the end of the party.

Playground at Wrightwood Park

Eating birthday cake!

Birthday Girl & her Mommy!!

Introducing Birthday Girl to the art of self-portaiting

J with Birthday Girl

Salvation - Part 2

Tonight, J and I had our very first date night since moving to Chicago. Meaning, it was the first time we went somewhere together, without our children. First time alone in 2.5 months!! Our salvation tonight, came in the form of Batgirl and Batman, her fiance. 

J and I saw 'Wanted' with Angelina Jolie and Morgan Freeman. AWESOME movie!!! It was filmed in Chicago. We recognized many of the locations - very cool. Highly recommend this movie.  Afterwards, we ate at Fat Willy's Rib Shack. Finger-lickin' good!! Yummy!

We sat around and talked with Batman and Batgirl for a few hours afterwards. Batgirl works with J. It was nice to meet Batman and for me to get to know Batgirl better. They are such a great couple! 

Family Friday - 06/27/08

Today's Family Friday segment was shared with Apple Boy & Songbird and Hippie Boy, Hippie Girl & their kiddos. 

We saw Wall-E

Ate lunch @ Panera

Trekked back to our cars

Saw construction on the way

Afterwards, the 4 of us ran errands - all afternoon! Later in the day, we decided to go to Michigan Ave to finish our shopping.

We saw Jesse Jackson getting out of the elevator at The Four Seasons Hotel. I put this picture up, for those of you who, like my mother, have no clue who Jesse Jackson is.

We enjoyed the views while eating at Baisi Thai in the 900 N Michigan Building which is home to Bloomingdales, Four Seasons Hotel & 70 retail shops

Motor Mouth took this photo from his seat

And more view

Afterwards, we walked through a beautiful courtyard of the 4th Presbyterian Church

With an amazing view of the Hancock Building

7 Fun Facts About Me

I've been tagged! What fun! Thanks to my dear, long-time (I won't say how long) friend, The Mommy Project for letting me play. Here are the rules:

1. List these rules on your blog.

2. Share 7 facts about yourself on your blog.

3. Tag 7 people at the end of your post by leaving their names as well as links to their blogs.

4. Let them know they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

And here are 7 things about me you may, or may not, have known...

1. I often think words in different languages, but never say them. For example: I might think: "Wie viel uhr es is?" But I actually say: "What time is it?"

2. I can't swim because when I was 6, I was incredibly shy. My mother signed me up for swimming lessons. I went once, but was too shy to return.

3. I need a shower AND about 30 - 45 minutes alone time in the morning. After which, I am often obnoxiously perky and upbeat.

4. I have driven a car so fast on a highway, the needle redlined - went past the max speed.

5. I took belly dance classes last fall.

6. My husband is 4 years younger than me. One year, I had him convinced he was a year older than he was...to close the gap.

7. I've surprised myself by enjoying the last 3 months so much, I want to be a permanent stay@home mom. Yikes!!

So, there you have it.

Now I'm supposed to tag 7 other people. I really don't even know 7 other bloggers, personally, so I'm gonna skip this step - sorry Mommy Project.

I Gotta Come Clean

Yes, I've told you Mini Me fell asleep in her stroller, on Saturday, while we were at the Mac store with Grandpa FlyGuy, and Grandma DonnaMomma. However, I neglected to mention I napped as well. The Mac store has this section that looks like a mini theatre (I'm Canadian - I spell theatre with an 're'. Deal with it). Theatre seating, big screen, dark - only missing cup holders...And popcorn.

There was a lady giving a demo on photo editing. Interesting, but at the moment, I didn't care to learn how to cut the head off someone's body and attach it to another person's. I sat up front with sleeping Paris, put my chin on my hand, and purposed to nap. I was successful. 

My iron has been really low lately. I'm anemic again. It was long day and I was tired. I was envying Mini Me so much. Oh to be 2 and in a stroller so you don't have to walk around everywhere. I gotta confess. I napped too. 

Family Fun Night - Mini Theme

For this week's installment of Family Fun Night - which can also be called theme night, our theme is: Mini Night. 

mini meal

mini burgers from White Castle, mini Doritos chips, mini beverages all served on mini plates with mini napkins at a mini table and chairs, wearing mini clothes...

mini-clothes

these were the smallest clothes i could find

i purge closets too often!

mommy wore mini clothes but the bare midriff was not so mini!

we really enjoyed the burgers...appetite not so mini

mini cakes & mini chocolate bars for dessert

i made a white cake and i made white icing but put the cake batter in cupcake cups. i would have iced it like a real cake, but i messed up on the butter (surprise) and they were crumbly mini cakes.

mini-dessert at the mini table

daddy having a mini sleep

proof that if you snooze, you lose - mini me reaching for daddy's dessert!

mini trash bag to clean our mini mess

mini vacuum to clean our mini mess

mini-van (not ours)

played at the mini playground

playground is so mini, 5 yr old has to bend his knees to avoid touching the ground

daddy cut his hair mini style tonight...

Our Poor Neighbors!

THIS is what my neighbors were greeted with on Wednesday. Mini Me is wearing her too small Tinkerbell costume from last Halloween

Motor Mouth has on his 'SUPER J' shirt and cape that J made for him 2 years ago. He is doing Kung Fu Panda imitation!!

Bigger Than Tulsa

Chicago has the largest flies I've ever seen. I don't recall seeing anything this big in Tulsa.

I'm Officially a Widney Woman

Mario @ Chicago Tattoo

My mother-in-law and my sister-in-law both have a tattoo on their foot. They've had their tattoos for 2 years, making mine long overdue. They also have the swirly design with stars. J's cousin, Cody, designed their tattoos and mine. He is so talented!!

The Meaning:

9 Stars = 9 years of marriage

Saxaphone = Symbol for our son's name

Eiffle Tower = Symbol for our daughter's name

Before - Never to be seen again

After

Voila!!!!!!!

Arrrrrrrrrggggggggggggggghhhhhhhhhh!!!

I was so excited when I found a shopping cart for $14.70 at Wal-Mart. What a bargain! Ha!! The wheels came off after 2 weeks of use. I thought: "So THAT's why The Container Store sells their shopping carts for $39.99!!"

J told me to get one at The Container Store. Well, I BOUGHT the Container Store shopping cart. THIS is what happened the SECOND time we used it!! Argggggggggggghhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!! At least the cheap, Wal-Mart one lasted longer and had spare parts (which I can't remember where I put for safe keeping...).

Why Little Boys Love Their Grandpa

Only a grandfather would come to Chicago, take his grandson on a walk into the 'No Trespassing' area of the rail yard, and find berries on a bush. Only a grandfather would trek said berries back home to be consumed with ice cream. And that, is why my little boy loves his grandpa.

Adventures of the 3 M's - 06/24/08

We walked to the library, as usual. We noticed a few different things this time around.

Mommy is seeing if these are comfortable for the journey

Glass Girl & Shaggy Dog - our neighbors, on their own walk

This sign piques my curiousity weekly. Why is an ATM in front of an apartment building? This looks tight!! 7 school buses at the UIC campus for summer day camp