Heavenly Visitation
My apologies to the three people who read this blog for the lack of recent postings. Yes, I feel bad about it. No, not enough to make me change my ways and start posting more frequently.
My dear friend Marcie came to Chicago last week to keep me company, see where I live, and take in the beauty of the Windy City. I cannot tell you how wonderful it was to have a friend to hang out with and talk to. It was a five-day session of complete happiness.
Perhaps the most exciting part of the trip was Wicked. Marcie snapped some pictures of the theater before the show started, and not five seconds later was verbally attacked by a member of the Usher Gestapo who swooped down out of nowhere and started screeching threats about copyright violations and prison time. Poor Marcie had to delete all of her pictures with the be-bowtied Nazi hovering nearby to ensure that not one pixel remained.
Apart from that incident, it was a magical evening. Words cannot describe how thrilling it was to see the music brought to life before my eyes. The set itself was so clever, the singing spectacular, the dialogue both hilarious and heart-wrenching, and the ending so jaw-droppingly unexpected I'm sure people would have stared at my reaction if the house lights would have been up. I would love to go on and on about how great the production was, but I know several of my friends are planning to see Wicked soon, and I don't want to give anything away. And yes, there are some things to give away; I'm not just teasing you for my own amusement.
Marcie even got a chance to see Travis and Lindsey while she was here. We all went out to a tapas restaurant on the Magnificent Mile (my second favorite epicurean experience, after sushi) and had a delicious time just hanging out and talking about how wonderful Nampa and Chicago both are.
Our other big excursion was to the Shedd Aquarium. There was a really cool shark exhibit with a simply massive tank, and a dolphin show, and a tank full of beluga whales that Marcie and I could have watched for hours. Belugas have always been a favorite with me, partially due to a childhood song I listened to over and over in the car called "Baby Beluga" (My poor parents; they must have been so sick of that song being played during every road trip and grocery run). Belugas are just so gentle and dear. It was amazing to see them swim over to their trainer and frolic and compete for kisses and rub-downs. Now you all know how to disarm me; some people swoon over puppies, some over kittens, and for me, belugas.
Marcie got to attend one of my Feminist Criticism classes, which was very cool. She got to experience what I do (whether one actually does anything in grad school is a matter of debate), and she also had the chance to meet some of the students that I have come to know over the past few months. On Marcie's last night in town, we met up with my classmate Emily and her boyfriend Matt at the Cheesecake Factory. We ate cheesecake and talked for hours, with Marcie entertaining the Detroit natives Emily and Matt with stories of hunting, hiking, and autopsies. We had so much fun.
Emily told me several days later that it was fascinating to see me "in my natural element". Thanks, Marcie, for coming and letting me find my natural element for five heavenly days. Thanks, Mom and Dad, for making those days possible.
My dear friend Marcie came to Chicago last week to keep me company, see where I live, and take in the beauty of the Windy City. I cannot tell you how wonderful it was to have a friend to hang out with and talk to. It was a five-day session of complete happiness.
Perhaps the most exciting part of the trip was Wicked. Marcie snapped some pictures of the theater before the show started, and not five seconds later was verbally attacked by a member of the Usher Gestapo who swooped down out of nowhere and started screeching threats about copyright violations and prison time. Poor Marcie had to delete all of her pictures with the be-bowtied Nazi hovering nearby to ensure that not one pixel remained.
Apart from that incident, it was a magical evening. Words cannot describe how thrilling it was to see the music brought to life before my eyes. The set itself was so clever, the singing spectacular, the dialogue both hilarious and heart-wrenching, and the ending so jaw-droppingly unexpected I'm sure people would have stared at my reaction if the house lights would have been up. I would love to go on and on about how great the production was, but I know several of my friends are planning to see Wicked soon, and I don't want to give anything away. And yes, there are some things to give away; I'm not just teasing you for my own amusement.
Marcie even got a chance to see Travis and Lindsey while she was here. We all went out to a tapas restaurant on the Magnificent Mile (my second favorite epicurean experience, after sushi) and had a delicious time just hanging out and talking about how wonderful Nampa and Chicago both are.
Our other big excursion was to the Shedd Aquarium. There was a really cool shark exhibit with a simply massive tank, and a dolphin show, and a tank full of beluga whales that Marcie and I could have watched for hours. Belugas have always been a favorite with me, partially due to a childhood song I listened to over and over in the car called "Baby Beluga" (My poor parents; they must have been so sick of that song being played during every road trip and grocery run). Belugas are just so gentle and dear. It was amazing to see them swim over to their trainer and frolic and compete for kisses and rub-downs. Now you all know how to disarm me; some people swoon over puppies, some over kittens, and for me, belugas.
Marcie got to attend one of my Feminist Criticism classes, which was very cool. She got to experience what I do (whether one actually does anything in grad school is a matter of debate), and she also had the chance to meet some of the students that I have come to know over the past few months. On Marcie's last night in town, we met up with my classmate Emily and her boyfriend Matt at the Cheesecake Factory. We ate cheesecake and talked for hours, with Marcie entertaining the Detroit natives Emily and Matt with stories of hunting, hiking, and autopsies. We had so much fun.
Emily told me several days later that it was fascinating to see me "in my natural element". Thanks, Marcie, for coming and letting me find my natural element for five heavenly days. Thanks, Mom and Dad, for making those days possible.
posted by Kandice | 6:59 PM
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