Four Days!

Only four days left before I head up this beast with my friends Sue and Nancy. I've got all my gear packed, and my pack is superlight. Considering most of what is packed is going on my body, I think this climb won't be too bad :) The weather has warmed up quite a bit. What were lower than -50 windchills seem to have subsided. Today it's 32 degrees up there, which has to be an abnormality. The forecast so far for Saturday is snow/wind with a high of 18 and a low of 2. I can do that. Wish us luck!

Famous Cheerleaders in History!

So I generally catch a lot of flack when people find out that I was a cheerleader in high school. Cheerleaders definitely get a bad rap, and while some of it is warranted, most of it is not. My high school cheerleading experience was great for may reasons, not the least of which was that we were the only team in the school to consistently go to, and win at, state finals. So, for all of you still scoffing at my former self, I present to you (insert "Pigs in Space" voice here):

FAMOUS CHEERLEADERS IN HIIISTORYYYYY!!!!

Some you may have been able to call, others, not so much, and while I hesitate to classify myself in any category that also holds President Bush, sometimes you've just got to suck it up.

If you still think global warming is a myth...

2nd Tallest Lightning Rod in the World
Originally uploaded by Nick Suydam

Trying being in Chicago in January. Last Wednesday it was 6, count them, 6 degrees outside. By Monday it was 64. With thunderstorms.... and tornados. Did I mention it's January in Chicago? WTF? We're supposed to be getting violent snow storms, not thunderstorms. Even the buds on the neighbor's trees have come out too soon. When will we realize this is our fault and it is up to us to reverse this? We can't just leave this to our children because 1) that would be selfish, and 2) the changes are happening so fast that we'll still be alive when the worst goes down. Doesn't anyone realize this?

Sweater done and on!

Mommy and Me
Originally uploaded by johnstom77

Here's Elliott in the sweater that I knitted him for Christmas (my first completed sweater ever).

Your Friday Cuteness!

deep thoughts
Originally uploaded by A Pandographer (Cassie)

New Haircut!

Well, it's that time again. Time to do something with this amorphous mop on my head in an attempt to continue the growing-out-but-not-too-awkward phase of my hair. Here's what I'm going for.

The problem with my hair right now is that the top is still too short to do much with it. I need to cut the mullet off the back of my head while I wait for the top to grow out. So I've decided to suck it up and cut the back short again in the mean time.

This is certainly taking a lot longer than I had expected when I first decided to do this. It's almost been a year since I donated my hair!

Best. Concert. Ever.

Originally uploaded by Sue P

My friend John introduced me to Jon Brion, and I have to say, I'm hooked. Peter and I went to see him at the Harris Theatre on NYE, and despite the rowdy crowd (it was an open bar) the show rocked! Jon Brion is like Andrew Bird on crack - he goes from drums, to piano, to guitar, and records all the parts, looping them and then playing and singing on top. He also takes requests. Lots of requests. Obscure requests. And he enjoys audience participation, like the entire theatre singing Bohemian Rhapsody.

We liked the show so much we immediately went home and bought tickets for a second impromptu show at Martyr's for last night. He was even better in the more intimate setting, though some of the crowd (loud guy right next to me you know who you are) was still annoying. We had to leave after what was supposed to be the show (1 1/2 hours of straight playing - solo), which was unfortunate, as he played for another 2 1/2 hours I heard, and played some really amazing stuff, including an entire John Lennon tribute medley. He's also a musician's musician, calling random audience members on stage to fill in positions at the drums or bass or even vocals. And most of them are certainly up to the task, which is surprising (I exclude Nirvana dude - you suck). Anyway, if you're ever in Los Angeles and you notice he's playing a (becoming rarer) show at the Largo, you MUST go see it. Or check him out the next time he's in Chicago, which seems to be the only other place he plays outside of L.A. Lucky us!