tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-193199022012-01-27T00:29:47.828-06:00Piglethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10021537947906733092noreply@blogger.comBlogger3061100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19319902.post-30797607887289603452012-01-25T20:11:00.002-06:002012-01-25T20:11:20.121-06:00

It's been exactly a month since I posted anything here. Sheesh. I often wonder whether to abandon this site entirely since there's not much of a place for personal blogs in the world (unless they're specialized, like tech blogs and style blogs, etc.) what with the constant status-updating you can do on Facebook and Twitter et al. Anyway, here I am. My question for you today is: Have you heard

Piglethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10021537947906733092noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19319902.post-88742629771055978342011-12-25T12:32:00.000-06:002011-12-25T12:33:45.863-06:00

I get a shameful but unabashed joy from establishments like The Container Store. I'm well aware of the ridiculousness of the very premise of the place--it is, after all, a store that specializes in containers. Be this as it may, I've always been a pretty fastidious observer of the "A place for everything" maxim, so I find something intrinsically (perversely?) exciting about plastic bins and,

Piglethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10021537947906733092noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19319902.post-28389159914330804102011-12-20T23:43:00.000-06:002011-12-21T17:00:08.702-06:00

I was lucky recently to take part in a photoshoot for the talented woman behind Dollparts Design at her very cool workspace in Wicker Park. We shot clothes from her spring 2011 collection, so I assume they'll be on the website in a few months. I don't know if being a model is hard, but modeling when you're not a model is hard. It's not something I ever learned how to do or

Piglethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10021537947906733092noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19319902.post-82045110442217456052011-12-18T22:57:00.000-06:002011-12-18T22:57:00.085-06:00

This about sums it up.

Piglethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10021537947906733092noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19319902.post-9908035966167954752011-12-16T22:50:00.000-06:002011-12-16T22:50:13.190-06:00

At Papa Ray's Pizza (home of the Monster Slice!) on Fullerton, probably at Stupid 'o Clock in the morning.

Piglethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10021537947906733092noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19319902.post-60967761889607880152011-12-10T15:31:00.001-06:002011-12-10T15:37:43.179-06:00

The Monster Engine is a super cool project by artist Dave Devries.

Piglethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10021537947906733092noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19319902.post-55797890125757273872011-12-04T14:48:00.001-06:002011-12-19T03:20:21.635-06:00

On top of being a compulsive list-maker, I take it to an uber-dorky level with color-coding.  That's right, I'm a big fan of color-coding tasks in my daily agenda. And while I know you can do all this--and do it more efficiently--with iCal, I rarely use the computer program. Something about the pen on paper makes me feel more secure that I'll remember what I'm supposed to do. Plus, maybe I

Piglethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10021537947906733092noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19319902.post-58525714938507978902011-11-19T03:00:00.000-06:002011-11-19T01:55:07.455-06:00

My biggest guilty internet pleasure is probably personal style blogs.*  I admit it: I like looking at other women's pictures of their clothes. I like getting and adapting ideas ("inspiration" is a word that gets thrown around a lot in the personal style blerg-o-sphere) for unintuitive color and pattern and layering schemes.  But while I like pretty pictures as much as the next girl--probably a

Piglethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10021537947906733092noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19319902.post-33938751869193303112011-11-16T15:30:00.000-06:002011-11-16T15:30:01.665-06:00

Happy Wednesday.  I think this is a bride's bouquet, but regardless: if it were on my desk, I would be the happiest and most productive grad student ever. I would write a magical dissertation. In one day.

Piglethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10021537947906733092noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19319902.post-49566289763202632952011-11-15T23:23:00.001-06:002011-11-15T23:24:33.998-06:00

This is amazing! Live blogging/illustrating from the NY marathon: http://niemann.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/11/07/new-york-city-marathon/

Piglethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10021537947906733092noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19319902.post-63848674784554014622011-10-12T11:56:00.000-05:002011-10-12T11:56:33.429-05:00

I seem to be very good at getting sick every two months: the beginnings of June, August, and October all brought colds. I'm not feeling totally horrid but I'm still spending the day lying around feeling sorry for myself. I was also going to "work" from bed, but now that actually seems impossible. I can't get comfortable with my computer the way I can get comfortable with a book. Anyway, here

Piglethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10021537947906733092noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19319902.post-44408276584311345712011-09-28T12:18:00.000-05:002011-10-29T15:51:58.860-05:00

The night we camped in Wisconsin the moon was spectacular. A real, full, man-in-the-moon kind of moon.   09/11/11: Harvest moon over Chain 'O Lakes State Park, WI Our campsite neighbors, a peculiar father/son duo, appeared to be at the park for the express purpose of commemorating the tenth anniversary of September 11.  As an outsider their relationship seemed to be a bittersweet

Piglethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10021537947906733092noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19319902.post-7132448330358541312011-09-27T20:00:00.000-05:002011-09-27T20:00:03.715-05:00

Almost by accident, we picked the perfect weekend to bid summer farewell.  09/11/11 Chain 'o Lakes State Park, WI

Piglethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10021537947906733092noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19319902.post-25152289010916734002011-09-27T11:05:00.000-05:002011-09-27T11:05:48.716-05:00

09/11/11: Chain 'o Lakes State Park, WI Now, if only I had known that there were malicious chiggers about...

Piglethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10021537947906733092noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19319902.post-64069737411260742222011-09-23T18:42:00.000-05:002011-09-23T18:42:18.034-05:00

So the first round of kombucha turned out ok! I think we let it ferment a wee bit too long, though. It has a tinge of an acerbic vinegar taste, but in general it just kind of reminds me of apple cider. In fact, it's the same color as apple cider. And now that I think about it this makes sense because they are both sweet fermented drinks--except it also doesn't make sense because one is fermented

Piglethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10021537947906733092noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19319902.post-88635943380120387552011-09-06T13:55:00.000-05:002011-09-06T13:55:00.323-05:00

My first foray into fermentation commences with an attempt to brew kombucha. Look how I did! Um, just kidding. I love the hell out of this stuff, but at $3.50 a bottle + Chicago's 10.25% sales tax it's like Cristal or something. Way too exclusive for those of us who are not high rollers. Inspired by friends who have done this (hiiii kAwmanda!), a few weeks ago I casually told JM that

Piglethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10021537947906733092noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19319902.post-75722292806941997382011-09-05T13:01:00.001-05:002011-09-05T13:01:54.569-05:00

Rookie is up and running as of today! It's a new website for teenage girls, created and edited by Tavi Gevinson of the fashion blog Style Rookie. According to Tavi: "Many awesome people have been very nice and written/made things for us, such as: Joss Whedon, Winnie Holzman, Patton Oswalt, Zooey Deschanel, Shannon Woodward, Anna Faris, Kid Sister, Supercute!, Paul Feig, Dan Savage, JD

Piglethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10021537947906733092noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19319902.post-14484330374604259942011-09-03T19:22:00.003-05:002011-09-03T20:15:06.955-05:00

Not TOO too much new stuff going on in Chi since I got back from my travels. I've been trying to get my dissertation proposal in shape but it keeps...um, taking so. long. Every day that I work on it, I realize with more urgency that it needs more work than seems feasible. The key, I think, is just to make sure I'm writing. Writing something. (Yeah, I know, not one of my more astute insights.) Not

Piglethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10021537947906733092noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19319902.post-19657390487663545542011-08-25T15:28:00.000-05:002011-08-25T15:28:56.166-05:00

August 04: The Big Chill bar, London

Piglethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10021537947906733092noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19319902.post-29556434506142459662011-08-13T09:25:00.007-05:002011-08-13T09:25:00.691-05:00

Point me to Scotland Yard, please. Aug. 04, 2011 {Buildings. London.}

Piglethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10021537947906733092noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19319902.post-30876478806068305932011-08-13T08:51:00.001-05:002011-08-13T08:51:00.883-05:00

World's loneliest beachSouth Bank, London August 4, 2011

Piglethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10021537947906733092noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19319902.post-73439929752571312852011-08-12T08:34:00.001-05:002011-08-12T08:34:01.142-05:00

Aug. 04: South Bank Skate Park, London

Piglethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10021537947906733092noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19319902.post-57502656554400364152011-08-11T08:24:00.004-05:002011-08-11T08:24:01.286-05:00

You can't make this stuff upAug. 02, London

Piglethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10021537947906733092noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19319902.post-47123306630239736322011-08-10T08:08:00.005-05:002011-08-10T08:08:01.309-05:00

Aug. 02: Brick Lane, London

Piglethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10021537947906733092noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19319902.post-82554809469699059182011-08-09T07:45:00.000-05:002011-08-09T07:45:00.373-05:00

Aug. 02: Just off of Brick Lane, a street artist finishes an amazing portrait

Piglethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10021537947906733092noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19319902.post-20430590732206007712011-08-07T11:56:00.000-05:002011-08-07T11:56:00.961-05:00

Brick Lane, famous for its copious curry houses

Piglethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10021537947906733092noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19319902.post-35920109651120620292011-08-06T09:57:00.000-05:002011-08-06T09:57:31.706-05:00

Aug. 04: a reading beauty in London's cavernous Gordon's Wine Bar

Piglethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10021537947906733092noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19319902.post-41523466338306139392011-07-23T06:57:00.000-05:002011-07-23T06:57:20.199-05:00

@ approx Milwaukee and Bloomingdale Ave.

Piglethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10021537947906733092noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19319902.post-33254827313232424402011-07-21T16:33:00.000-05:002011-07-21T16:33:35.291-05:00

via The Oatmeal

Piglethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10021537947906733092noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19319902.post-84921986197005273902011-07-21T16:29:00.000-05:002011-07-21T16:29:19.127-05:00

Piglethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10021537947906733092noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19319902.post-7166330796640935712011-07-15T15:48:00.000-05:002011-07-15T15:48:32.855-05:00

++ Click to Enlarge Image ++ Source: Reusable Bags Global warming infographic by Shawn Murdock (via Reuse this Bag)

Piglethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10021537947906733092noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19319902.post-38585844938253255802011-07-13T20:05:00.000-05:002011-07-13T20:05:31.970-05:00

Piglethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10021537947906733092noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19319902.post-10084473148930756662011-07-12T23:19:00.001-05:002011-07-13T20:00:47.489-05:00

The title of this post has nothing to do with the photo, but hey, what can you do? These little graffitis are on the side of my building, easy to miss and utterly delightful.

Piglethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10021537947906733092noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19319902.post-4091941855381612632011-07-09T15:27:00.000-05:002011-07-09T15:27:33.703-05:00

On this fine Saturday afternoon I happened upon a yardsale and  picked up some *bling.* Not bad for a dollar apiece, eh? I especially like the middle one. I made the tough decision NOT to take home one of those awesome old-school Mickey Mouse watches where Mickey's arms are the clock's hands so that he's always contorting his limbs to point to the time. At $5 and with a broken strap, I had to

Piglethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10021537947906733092noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19319902.post-44513459340616436402011-07-09T14:10:00.000-05:002011-07-09T14:10:39.345-05:00

Watch for a nearly-naked Chloe Sevigny and Marc Jacobs. And, you know, Sonic Youth. This video makes me feel like I grew up at a fun time.

Piglethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10021537947906733092noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19319902.post-52355471428292012852011-07-07T23:03:00.000-05:002011-07-07T23:03:26.517-05:00

And no, I did not misspell "July"-- it's auf Deutsch! I was spending the summer in Germany, graffiti-ing the wooden hut at the top of the hill-mountain near my grandparents' house.

Piglethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10021537947906733092noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19319902.post-32840475514520590142011-07-07T13:19:00.000-05:002011-07-07T13:19:07.277-05:00

Christoph Niemann's World Map of Useless Stereotypes

Piglethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10021537947906733092noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19319902.post-1669473603521233512011-06-15T21:55:00.001-05:002011-06-15T21:55:00.359-05:00

Get in my belly, you happy little chocolate dude!

Piglethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10021537947906733092noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19319902.post-13903054185727775232011-06-14T21:54:00.000-05:002011-06-14T21:54:07.334-05:00

Yep, this is a bit 80s drag queen-esque. I'm usually not this bold with color, but while I was home in Champaign last week I found some weird old blue shadows that I think my mom bought years ago and never used. And where else would I go all dolled up like a drag queen but to the Congress Theater? We went to see Dr. P and Flux Pavilion, patron saints of dubstep from the other side of the pond

Piglethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10021537947906733092noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19319902.post-57780379888323467522011-06-09T11:54:00.002-05:002011-06-09T11:54:52.581-05:00

Chronic Bitchface by Kris Atomic

Piglethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10021537947906733092noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19319902.post-14430024009592355312011-05-24T10:43:00.002-05:002011-05-24T10:43:55.900-05:00

But this is just so cool!

Piglethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10021537947906733092noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19319902.post-13065047965758355342011-05-23T13:00:00.000-05:002011-05-23T13:00:05.431-05:00

Yuck. Sickly. After feeling mildly crappy all week I lost my voice entirely last night, and today isn't much better. How does a wussy little cold manage to sap your energy for a whole week? And how does it morph into a monster that steals your voice and keeps you awake coughing at night?! Wah! Wah! Anyway. Here's a picture from the pity party I threw myself at Whole Foods on Tuesday, en route to

Piglethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10021537947906733092noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19319902.post-39962088805855614662011-05-20T17:49:00.001-05:002011-05-18T20:40:00.514-05:00

*I think this was at the Viaduct Theater*

Piglethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10021537947906733092noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19319902.post-13799718132874446282011-05-20T13:00:00.000-05:002011-05-20T13:00:00.862-05:00

Ice cream cake adorned with mini M&Ms and chocolate chip cookies. It's going to be a good year.

Piglethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10021537947906733092noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19319902.post-54773668116688755862011-05-19T17:21:00.000-05:002011-05-19T17:21:00.159-05:00

Shuffleboard at Wee Gee's Lounge I'm pretty apathetic about playing games at bars: I'm not much of a billiards fan. I can take or leave darts. But shuffleboard--now, shuffleboard I like. It doesn't require much thought, much action, and I can even win occasionally. How amazing is it that this puck didn't slide off the table?!  Not pictured: an absolutely amazing Manhattan, Gumballhead on tap,

Piglethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10021537947906733092noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19319902.post-50796893889144636322011-05-18T22:56:00.000-05:002011-05-18T22:56:14.080-05:00

In accusing the liberal media of trying to make minced meat out of Mr. Gingrich, Newt's spokesman said the best thing I've read all day: "A lesser person could not have survived the first few minutes of the onslaught. But out of the billowing smoke and dust of tweets and trivia emerged Gingrich, once again ready to lead those who won’t be intimated by the political elite and are ready to take on

Piglethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10021537947906733092noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19319902.post-41668348395964646412011-05-17T11:44:00.002-05:002011-05-17T11:44:00.728-05:00

I just found these amazing pictures from last fall! M & A & J & I played that game where each person draws a different section of a body on a folded piece of paper, so you can't see what it looks like till everyone has had a turn and you unfold the paper. Voila! Masterpieces are born that night.

Piglethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10021537947906733092noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19319902.post-30017627331611002062011-05-15T14:00:00.005-05:002011-05-15T14:00:00.204-05:00

{California station, CTA Blue Line}

Piglethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10021537947906733092noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19319902.post-30951374394339709982011-05-14T17:57:00.000-05:002011-05-14T17:57:11.547-05:00

Working. Eating. Drinking.That about sums stuff up right now. {At Lovely} I gotta say, Hyde Park was looking lovely last week! (I still sometimes forget that I can actually take photos with my phone. Device consolidation, woot!Some of these iPhone pics look better than the ones from my point-and-shoot Olympus.) I'm digging this woodchucky station wagon. Something about the leafy front yard,

Piglethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10021537947906733092noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19319902.post-82526150939957322322011-05-07T12:39:00.000-05:002011-05-07T12:39:06.936-05:00

Season of Renewal: “Chez Mignon—A House of Pretty Things” shows the latest in sustainable style

Piglethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10021537947906733092noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19319902.post-15820966660160154772011-05-03T22:06:00.000-05:002011-05-03T22:06:28.896-05:00

As if you needed another reason to heart NYC.

Piglethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10021537947906733092noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19319902.post-62965160232453131842011-05-02T23:58:00.000-05:002011-05-02T23:58:33.108-05:00

Early morning train ride to the Boston Common.

Piglethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10021537947906733092noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19319902.post-67174187877713630972011-04-07T22:22:00.000-05:002011-04-07T22:22:00.270-05:00

Yeah, you. Crazy times at The Point's Issue 4 launch party

Piglethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10021537947906733092noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19319902.post-80564622026926166922011-04-07T22:00:00.000-05:002011-04-07T22:00:43.182-05:00

Since I can't actually reblog on Blogger (and why do I even have a blog again?), take a look at this post by Bodywallet. Then, come to Summer Camp and hang out with me!

Piglethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10021537947906733092noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19319902.post-47612548519890569832011-04-05T21:25:00.000-05:002011-04-05T21:25:33.513-05:00

First Sunday of the month = Madonnarama at Chicago's gayest nightspot. :) Last time I went was about two years ago, so I was overdue for another visit. Took these photos of some weird hole-in-the wall screen with my phone, I kinda like them.

Piglethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10021537947906733092noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19319902.post-13825423571448551332011-04-03T18:53:00.000-05:002011-04-03T18:53:59.624-05:00

I tried to cut Zoey's fur while dogsitting last weekend. She does not like haircuts.  At. All.

Piglethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10021537947906733092noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19319902.post-1334977528318135682011-03-30T23:31:00.000-05:002011-03-30T23:31:33.295-05:00

Best Disney movie EVER. Nevermind that I might have been a little bit OLD for Disney movies when this came out.  Epic scene! Pauly Shore slacker character! Teacher guy from Clueless!

Piglethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10021537947906733092noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19319902.post-68666085942434010962011-03-27T20:42:00.000-05:002011-03-27T20:42:43.070-05:00

Introducing *cake-making fun time* Due to a miscalculation on my part, this double-chocolate recipe ended up as more of a quadruple-chocolate specimen. (All the better, my friends, all the better.) Between the sifting, mixing, baking and making the frosting and the filling, Mary and I probably spent 3 or 4 hours spattering batter around her kitchen.

Piglethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10021537947906733092noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19319902.post-89052906641664110362011-03-01T22:39:00.000-06:002011-03-01T22:39:59.417-06:00

This is one of the treasures I salvaged from a forfeited mini storage unit. Speaking of other people's old crap, did anyone listen to that story on This American Life a few weeks ago about treasure-hunters who would buy mini storage units that other people had abandoned? They  always hoped to find amazing stuff and valuable collectibles inside but most of the time it'd be old tennis balls and

Piglethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10021537947906733092noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19319902.post-5589082243526328782011-02-27T21:57:00.000-06:002011-02-27T21:57:04.880-06:00

Wouldn't it be fun to own this? Or this?? The bright yellow one is my very favorite, but I couldn't find a picture of it. Oh well, doesn't matter anyway because I don't happen to have $400 lying around to spend on a handbag.  Donations accepted. Kate Spade

Piglethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10021537947906733092noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19319902.post-90327766186680803152011-02-26T17:38:00.001-06:002011-02-26T19:00:27.595-06:00

Piglethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10021537947906733092noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19319902.post-35230407399128892502011-02-22T18:42:00.000-06:002011-02-22T18:42:48.368-06:00

This is how things looked for a minute there: 

Piglethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10021537947906733092noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19319902.post-43516081927578242192011-02-21T11:48:00.000-06:002011-02-21T11:48:16.923-06:00

The student government at U of C is accepting applications for its "Uncommon Fund," i.e., $40,000 to support basically any type of student project as long at it's uncommon, feasible, and has some sort of positive impact. This one's pretty interesting: "We allow the modern american parent to fulfill their greatest aspirations. "

Piglethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10021537947906733092noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19319902.post-33030524423866607582011-02-06T23:15:00.002-06:002011-02-06T23:18:30.182-06:00

I know there's important stuff going on in the world right now but can I just say: The iPhone is soon to be free of AT&T's monopoly!Anyone who's ever dealt with AT&T probably agrees that it's an unresponsive and generally unpleasant company to deal with; and its stranglehold on the iPhone is one big reason I've never considered getting one. But what with my $20 pre-paid device on the brink of

Piglethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10021537947906733092noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19319902.post-13960243893060190462011-02-03T22:02:00.000-06:002011-02-03T22:02:02.192-06:00

Snowmaggedon, Snowpocalypse, etc. etc., ad infinitum.  Undoubtedly, you know what's going on in my neck of the woods. I.e., nothing but the weather. People, there's some really important stuff happening in the world right now! The Best Egyptian Protest Signs

Piglethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10021537947906733092noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19319902.post-301658282805131722011-01-30T17:07:00.000-06:002011-01-30T17:07:53.049-06:00

Bermuda Triangle of productivity by Fuchsia Macaree

Piglethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10021537947906733092noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19319902.post-70228225427810720052011-01-28T21:30:00.000-06:002011-01-28T21:30:01.980-06:00

As ridiculous as it is to blog about gloves, let me introduce these fancy dudes I just got in the mail. They look like any old bulky mittens, no? But look again! Ta da! Peel back the windbreaker-y mitten material and it becomes a glove. Double ta da! You can further extract your thumbs and forefingers in order to fiddle with an iPod, stopwatch, keys, or tie your shoes all WITHOUT TAKING OFF

Piglethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10021537947906733092noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19319902.post-40248261128318773962011-01-23T22:55:00.001-06:002011-01-23T23:18:13.779-06:00

via Dan Meth Today I: Attended my first ever hot yoga class. Worked on my dissertation proposal. Cleaned the homestead. Had some tasty brunch sammiches. Played Scrabble.  Baked chocolate chip cookies. Ate way too many chocolate chip cookies. I'm pretty happy with how today turned out.

Piglethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10021537947906733092noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19319902.post-62260520570340131932011-01-22T17:15:00.000-06:002011-01-22T17:15:01.234-06:00

Running has been a big part of my life for the past 4 years, but I usually cram all of my activity into the summer and fall and then let my body atrophy on the couch all winter. With the Boston Marathon coming up in April I've had to start learning about--and am embracing--cold weather running. My exercise has taken on another new dimension in that I recently joined Fleet Feet's Boston Bound

Piglethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10021537947906733092noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19319902.post-76092300729919258312011-01-20T15:38:00.002-06:002011-01-20T15:38:54.658-06:00

Burglars snort man's ashes, thought it was cocaine

Piglethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10021537947906733092noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19319902.post-27925508899027635922011-01-17T19:11:00.000-06:002011-01-17T19:11:59.821-06:00

Just got home from a little mid-January, weddin' celebratin' jaunt down to the Mexican Caribbean. The all-inclusive resort at which I spent five nights was lovely and decadent and so, so wrong in a Supposedly Fun Thing I'll Never Do Again kind of way. In an all-inclusive-unlimited-room-service kind of way. The entire "town" is essentially a large, gated, hermetically sealed tourist bubble (its

Piglethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10021537947906733092noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19319902.post-57736431075549024142011-01-05T20:40:00.000-06:002011-01-05T20:40:39.587-06:00

GPOYW...well, kind of.

Piglethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10021537947906733092noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19319902.post-12552089770109671212010-12-31T22:45:00.001-06:002010-12-31T22:50:49.308-06:00

New year! Fresh start! The arbitrary starting point and pointless resolutions are making me feel optimistic. I have so many things to look forward to this year and so many things to be thankful for. I know I'm heaping on the cheese here, but I'm feeling good about the end of 2010 and the start of 2011. I have a lot on my plate in the coming year. Among my projects are: I will put together a

Piglethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10021537947906733092noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19319902.post-12089214200513033282010-12-28T22:03:00.000-06:002010-12-28T22:03:02.096-06:00

These are the contents of my coat pockets, plus an Arrogant Bastard Ale.* Notice how the text is backwards because Photo Booth is weird and takes mirror image pictures? And how I found a penny today? Also pictured is crumpled aluminum foil from a sandwich I put in my pocket before I went snowboarding, the packaging from Toasti Toes foot warmers, and the stub from my lift ticket. *Highly

Piglethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10021537947906733092noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19319902.post-89300769305420075602010-12-20T21:51:00.001-06:002010-12-20T21:52:13.050-06:00

Been getting sleepy early and waking up late, which is pretty out-of-character. "Blackout" curtains nailed into the window frames and snow falling on cars outside. I've still been going running outside relatively regularly--but for the rest of the day, there's something so satisfying about NOT being out there. Also pretty unmotivated to do work/be "productive" in some sense. Maybe the upcoming

Piglethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10021537947906733092noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19319902.post-33238479476839355312010-12-03T11:19:00.000-06:002010-12-03T11:19:04.928-06:00

Some of these posts are seriously so UChicago: http://likealittle.com/uchicago/

Piglethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10021537947906733092noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19319902.post-29362090735307887542010-12-01T00:00:00.000-06:002010-12-01T00:00:00.060-06:00

Happy 60th birthday to my pops. Still kickin' it. Plus: hooray for enormous balloons!

Piglethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10021537947906733092noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19319902.post-72142974575984670302010-11-28T17:03:00.000-06:002010-11-28T17:03:06.275-06:00

I wanna wear chocolate! I don't know where this pic came from so I can't give credit where credit is due. I was going through old messages in my inbox today instead of doing work and found this in an email from my mom. Now, if you'll excuse I, I need to go find some sweet tasty goodness.

Piglethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10021537947906733092noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19319902.post-19988678997597412792010-11-28T02:48:00.000-06:002010-11-28T02:48:14.474-06:00

I'll be doing winter training for the first time ever. *Chicago* winter training.Whee!

Piglethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10021537947906733092noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19319902.post-1706536808644481462010-11-19T08:00:00.000-06:002010-11-19T08:00:10.130-06:00

I always feel a little silly blogging things in the vein of "outfit post" because this isn't a style blog (speaking of which, what kind of blog is this, anyway?) and because my personal style is not really of interest to, um, anyone. Still, (as most people who know me IRL are aware) I think clothes and baubles and impractical shoes are pretty fun. I somehow feel better when what I'm wearing says

Piglethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10021537947906733092noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19319902.post-13535977917044150192010-11-10T21:06:00.000-06:002010-11-10T21:06:48.036-06:00

Check it out! One of my nearest and dearest buddies/former roommate on Aussie TV. She's currently working on a book about her penniless Oz experience, which I can't wait to read. I'm sure it'll be hugely inspiring. Another reason to watch this clip is because her accent is awesome.

Piglethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10021537947906733092noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19319902.post-38081709756511805572010-11-08T23:16:00.000-06:002010-11-08T23:16:38.389-06:00

Yesterday was the best. I went to brunch, came home, went back to bed, watched a movie, and spent the rest of the day on the futon (which was still pulled out and covered in blankets because a friend slept there the night before). This tree outside my window made me happy. But now it has no leaves. Because I have nothing else to say right now, here's a little sumptin' sumptin' from the archives:

Piglethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10021537947906733092noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19319902.post-75981911617898941602010-11-08T22:49:00.000-06:002010-11-08T22:49:17.042-06:00

Just FYI: this actually works.

Piglethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10021537947906733092noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19319902.post-79374275731209190372010-10-23T07:01:00.001-05:002010-10-23T07:03:27.950-05:00

Wow, so, I'm awake at a silly time again and figure I could use the opportunity to update this bloggity blog. I'm trying to think positive, that being unable to sleep is a blessing of sorts: I'm always complaining that there aren't enough hours in a day, so why not be awake for more hours? I'll just get up and fold my laundry! Or get some work done! Doesn't matter if it's 4:30AM! Then after

Piglethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10021537947906733092noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19319902.post-74304218344410837482010-10-20T10:47:00.000-05:002010-10-20T10:47:57.678-05:00

Sunday afternoon at Honey Hill Orchard in Waterman, IL. Midwestern autumns are the best. Hayrack ride to the pumpkin patch Kinetic pumpkin cult! I tried to make a corn cobb pipe Last night I made some apple crisp from the orchard's Granny Smiths. [Although, honestly, I have a sneaking suspicion that the apples were imported from elsewhere. Regardless, baked apples are the bomb dot com,

Piglethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10021537947906733092noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19319902.post-16717463701267885722010-09-30T14:07:00.001-05:002010-09-30T14:10:23.043-05:00

Over the past week or so The Sartorialist has posted a lot of seriously bright and colorful runway photos. They just make me so happy! I like the sleekness of black and neutral tones, but I LOVE energetic colors. I'm already dreading the color void that is Chicago Winter. Jil Sander via The Sartorialist  Jil Sander via The Sartorialist   Prada via The Sartorialist Jonathan Saunders via The

Piglethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10021537947906733092noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19319902.post-60951699060235452702010-09-27T00:18:00.000-05:002010-09-27T00:18:31.640-05:00

I was just perusing the Miwaukee Lakefront Marathon website's FAQs in order to determine what time the race starts next Sunday. I did not find this information on the site. I did discover something critical, however: Q: What flavor of Gatorade will be on the course?A: Gatorade Endurance formula

Piglethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10021537947906733092noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19319902.post-54414072738350209272010-09-25T21:35:00.000-05:002010-09-25T21:35:42.395-05:00

 

Piglethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10021537947906733092noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19319902.post-34643875331507405002010-09-23T23:42:00.000-05:002010-09-23T23:42:24.921-05:00

This week has been tasty.  Veggie sliders + Shopping trip to Mitsuwa Marketplace (See the HiChew and Meiji candies?!) + Mary making maki Our maki turned out ok, but there's definitely room for improvement. The rice wasn't quite vinegar-y enough and I think we let it cool for a little too long. We still ate every last morsel, though!

Piglethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10021537947906733092noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19319902.post-58369595792017349272010-09-19T16:40:00.000-05:002010-09-19T16:40:14.570-05:00

I've barely done justice, posting-wise, to my European adventures. But we're going to have to skip ahead in time, because last weekend I skedaddled off to Portland to visit the inestimable A-Dubs (aka Kakaaw)! Where to start? Every moment of my first visit to the Pacific northwest was filled with fun--from amazing food (livin' in a vegan's paradise, as Coolio said) to photobooth snapshots to

Piglethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10021537947906733092noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19319902.post-60284732107508893702010-09-18T17:35:00.000-05:002010-09-18T17:35:46.865-05:00

On Labor Day weekend Chicago hosted its first ever North Coast Music Festival. The lineup--which is heavily skewed towards electronic genres--looked great, but I had no intention to buy a ticket. Enter DJ Belly and Agent Mos, performer friends with a spare guest pass. Joe and I split the cost of a full-price ticket so we could both go, and spent the day drinking beer (free from backstage, woot!)

Piglethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10021537947906733092noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19319902.post-36907751740398118482010-09-08T18:17:00.000-05:002010-09-08T18:17:41.977-05:00

So remember how I said I was excited for some new businesses that are rumored to be opening "soon" in Logan Square? Of course you do! Because all you do is read this blog ALL DAY, EVERY DAY. Um, anyway. While running by the intersection of Logan and Milwaukee today I saw that La Boulangerie bakery (which is owned/operated by the same dude who runs Cook au Vin on Fullerton) is *actually* open now

Piglethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10021537947906733092noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19319902.post-36627900309794635952010-09-02T23:48:00.000-05:002010-09-02T23:48:53.204-05:00

Late afternoon latte at a sidewalk cafe in Berlin Reason # 495823049580458 to love summertime.

Piglethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10021537947906733092noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19319902.post-84651143798655250342010-09-01T17:46:00.001-05:002010-09-01T17:46:29.185-05:00

If you keep to the West and tour Berlin's typical historical sites, you'll see decrepit sections of The Wall near, e.g., Checkpoint Charlie. They're guarded against tourists' chiseling fingers by cage-like iron fencing. These fragments of the Iron Curtain, of course, have the important function of confronting us with the city's ugly past. But they're also just pretty, um, ugly.  Across town at

Piglethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10021537947906733092noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19319902.post-42048750148093489382010-08-27T16:47:00.000-05:002010-08-27T16:47:58.493-05:00

This is the best unintentional photograph I've ever taken. And now I'm sharing it with you, because I'm a freak and every time I look at it it makes me chortle. Who are these people, and why do they look so happy to be in my picture? I was trying to capture the feat of engineering that is in the background; it is a pedal-powered beer mobile! One person steers, the rest of the crew drinks and

Piglethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10021537947906733092noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19319902.post-91799040800920691552010-08-23T13:26:00.000-05:002010-08-23T13:26:24.913-05:00

View from the top of the Berlin Cathedral 

Piglethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10021537947906733092noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19319902.post-23763595988852781742010-08-22T11:04:00.001-05:002010-08-22T20:14:07.097-05:00

So, the day that we decided to take a three hour walking tour around Berlin, in the sun, was probably not the best day for a 9 mile morning run. Oops. I don't think I've ever been as tired IN MY LIFE as at the end of that day. The running, the walking, the getting-everywhere-via-crowded-public -transportation, and then transferring all my stuff across the city from one friend's apartment to

Piglethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10021537947906733092noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19319902.post-70649475754092020082010-08-19T13:28:00.000-05:002010-08-19T13:28:01.025-05:00

Denny's Fried Cheese Melt Sandwich "Gawker calls it 'Culinary Terrorism': 'To be clear: Your breaded fried cheese will now be smothered in more cheese, sandwiched in more bread, and fried again. Concentric nesting dolls of deep fried cheese! It's a thing of wonder, really.'"

Piglethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10021537947906733092noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19319902.post-83850151068174130802010-08-17T15:25:00.000-05:002010-08-17T15:25:07.436-05:00

If you like reading fiction, read this novel. Seriously great!

Piglethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10021537947906733092noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19319902.post-85279889207178043872010-08-16T13:06:00.000-05:002010-08-16T13:06:03.286-05:00

UChicago's main website just posted a feature on The Point, which is a thoughtful, diverse, and interesting magazine co-founded by a good friend. It reminds me of a literary magazine but without any fiction--if that makes sense. What I mean is, it's nonfiction that's also really fun to read (something I miss dearly in graduate school!) because it's reflective and brings up important questions

Piglethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10021537947906733092noreply@blogger.com0