celebrate

It's hard to believe that one week ago I was getting ready to watch the longest, craziest parade as a celebration of Carnaval in Sitges, Spain. Carnaval is the celebration leading up to Lent. photos of my trip have been posted by the way, but only of the first half of the trip as my camera died soon after this parade started.

tonight i decided to attend a service at the church on the corner. they too talked about Lent. In more of a somber way, however, it didn't involve dressing up and dancing through the streets. We talked instead about the wilderness of this life we are living in before we return to dust. It wasn't all bad, I think there was supposed to be a glimmer of hope in the message and if not in the message then of the partaking of communion.

On the flight back from Madrid I began reading the book Michelle suggested. A book written by a Westmont grad, a Chicago native and a Grand Rapids resident. A quick read, it is a celebration of the everyday. Short stories and segments dedicated to important people in her life, and the everyday things that are worth celebrating -- things that make her happy.

On my return flight I also began to add to my list I started over a year ago of things that make me happy. So as a celebration of this life, here are just a few from my ever-growing list of what makes me happy, my likes, my celebrations:

The Paper Source, Dove dark chocolate, people watching, lime chupa chups, scarves, mandarin lime soda, dark roast coffee with a hint of cinnamon, the smell of newborn babies, the word ruminate, hablar en espanol, chicken burritos with roasted chili-corn salsa, the smell of home, sangria, El Parque del Retiro, slightly graying hair, waves, bread and cheese,

let me introduce to you dora the explorer's good friend lindsey the adventurer

in just two weeks i will be hopping on a plan to go explore cities to which i've never been, to a country i've only read about, on a continent i've never set foot. oh, espana, i can't wait. not to mention it will be soo good to see a dear friend who i haven't seen in a while.

BUT...in the next two weeks there is just so much in this wonderful city that i live in that i want to see, visit, and taste. Things both big and small. Important and incredibly ordinary.

It's february, and in the midwest, february could be synonomous for things such as bitter cold, strong winds, freezing rain, heavy snow fall. However, I find that each year, this climate seems just a bit more manageble, and at times even enjoyable...ok maybe not the bitter wind in the face, but i'm dealing with the cold and snow and ice and the sunshine has been just wonderful! I just realized this paragraph might not have anything to do with anything.

So, back to what I was saying, there is so much here I want to do.

Let's start with the fact that as a food lover, I am ashamed to admit that I have been living (for seven whole months now) in a city that is home to more than one Trader Joe's, and I have never even been to any of them. What's wrong with me you may ask... I don't know, maybe it's that I'm on a budget and I was scared because i was under the impression that TJ's was organic and that organic meant expensive and upscale and and and -- I'll stop there.

All of my false preconceptions came crashing down last night when MC was driving me to the train and set everything straight. Trader Joe's, yes world famous for their top notch food goods, is also committed to the value of their products and keeping things as affordale as possible for their buyers.

How cool is that?

ok don't answer that because i realize that maybe not everybody is as excited about trader joes as i am...

I'll bring you more cool things over the next couple of weeks as I venture out on this town.

just to highlight what is to come

stitch n' bitch at the MCA and Nina's yarn
Thursday night at the Art Institute of Chicago
Founders week - Moody Bible Institute
DOC Wine Bar manicures and massages
poetry slam at the green mill