Beverage: Navarro Correus Malbec 2002 (Mendoza, Argentina)
Mmmm...excellent finish, but not as rich in aroma as my favorites.

I'm now an Illinois resident. We made the much dreaded trek to the DMV today. Even with driving there, getting title/reg and license (including taking the written exam...perfect score!! woohoo!), and putting the plates on the car, it only took two hours. New record. I feel like I spent significant portions of my life at the VA and MD vehicle centers. Anyway, the important part was getting the voter registration done. IL may not be a swing state, but I'd like to be in the tally all the same. I'm getting tired of "w" putting on that deer in the headlights look every time he gets a question he wasn't prepped for.

work

I started work Monday and am psyched! There is a lot to be done, but I think it's going to be really interesting. I saw the site picked for the prototype telescope for the first time. Not incredibly secluded, but it has some surrounding trees - might help shield from background light. Once there is anything to look at, I'll try to take some pictures. But I think I have to file a form for that...maybe not.

I don't exactly have a desk yet...but I did finish orientation and got a real ID. Also took my first drug test. Interesting process - they go to great extents to protect the integrity of the sample. The tech told me he used to test football players, including the Bears the last time they won the Super Bowl. Never thought I'd have much in common with The Fridge.

Music, music, music

Beverage: Rosemount Estates (Aus.) Shiraz (Thanks, Leora!! Very tasty)

Mission accomplished! I solved my curtain rod holder issue by swapping the short holders with the longer ones I already put up for the windows without blinds that stick out. What a pain though! These walls are real plaster. I think I'm getting screwdriver elbow.

Eric and I wandered downtown for the afternoon. This weekend Chicago is offering both The World Music Festival and The Celtic Festival. Wandering between the two was occassionally confusing, but in general the Celtic side had a lot more beer and hornpipes.

This was my first sight of Millenium Park - the stage looks amazing, but no idea how it sounds yet. No one was playing when we went through. There is another area that will become an Olympic-sized skating rink later in the Fall. It's very reminiscent of the rink at the DC sculpture garden with surrounding eateries and gits shops. There is also a large fountain made of two large rectangular towers with water pouring over the sides and onto the plaza. A gigantic video of a face appears on each of them. It eventually puckers up and spits out water - kids were loving this. Should have had the camera.

One of the things I remember loving about Chicago is the abundance of summer festivals, neighborhood street fairs, and the like. For example, just in our own neighborhood something has been going on ever since we got here. Last weekend was Around the Coyote, a showcase of local art galleries, artists, and studios with a few dance, poetry and theater events thrown in the mix. Oh, and the bike show at the bar around the corner. There must have been several hundred motercycles-old, new, purist, designer, you name it- lined along the street. This weekend is a craft fair which we may check out tomorrow. I fear, however, that most of this may be over soon since the summer is waning. Guess we'll have lots to look forward to next summer.

Party photos!

Pics from Julie's Party
Sorry, the quality on some of these isn't optimal. I didn't do anything fancy with thumbnails yet, so you'll just have to look at each separately for now.

Beverage: Leinenkugel Oktoberfest Lager (Being close to Wisconsin isn't a terrible thing)

Today's goal was to finish hanging curtains, but I was foiled by badly installed blinds. The set in the bedroom are actually the wrong size and extend past the width of the window. They're hung above the window instead of inside the window well. Unfortunately, my hardware for holding the rod doesn't extend far enough from the wall to allow the curtains to hang freely over this setup. I'll have to pick up some longer rod holders at the hardware store first. In the meantime I'll see about getting party pictures up on our website.

Unpacking to be done 

Moving In

We moved in last Thursday. There is still a little unpacking to do...

The movers had an interesting time with our furniture. They tried to put my shaker table together upside down. I shouldn't have been surprised to discover that they did manage put the futon together upside down. Once they left we took it apart again and then once more since the rails were on backwards to boot.

Our place is great - wood floors, high ceilings, and lots of windows. I'll post some pics once we get the worst of the rubble out of sight. We have a big front window and a nice deck out back that gets sun most of the morning. I have hopes for growing peas next spring since our neighbers on the alley have managed a good variety of flowers and vegetables.

I made it out cycling yesterday and found myself downtown in maybe fifteen minutes. Not bad.

Today was the first day we had broadband working. A house just doesn't feel like home without internet access. We didn't even get the phone line installed until today, so I was really stuck all weekend with no e-mail or news except the bits that could be scavanged using neighboring wireless LANs. Thank you whoever you are for not applying the security settings.

This is one of the things I have missed about the midwest - big puffy floaty clouds. This shot is from our back porch.

Going away party . You guys are the best! Thanks to Julie for hosting. The recycling bin was rather impressive the next day.

First Post

Looks like the Windy City just got windier!
How about that. 0 to blog in 15 minutes. Now if I can just figure out how to post pics...