lost + found

I found this section in my journal. Don't you love finding something that gives you inspiration for a second time?

The divided life comes in many and varied forms. To cite just a few examples, it is the life we lead when...

*We refuse to invest ourselves in our work, diminishing its quality and distancing ourselves from those it is meant to serve.
*We make our living at jobs that violate our basic values, even when survival does not absolutely demand it.
*We remain in settings or relationships that steadily kill off our spirits.
*We harbor secrets to achieve personal gain at the expense of other people.
*We hide our beliefs from those who disagree with us to avoid conflicts, challenge and change.
*We conceal our true identities for fear of being criticized, shunned or attacked.

source: "A Hidden Wholeness: The Journey Toward An Undivided Life."
by Parker J. Palmer

{graphic art print}

Year End

Hello. Again.

Logged for my own personal memory. Ten things from Twenty-Ten...

(1) L started a new job last summer as a consultant ... (that was my last blog post. life continued. blogging stopped. not what i intended)
(2) B researched Rudolf II, hyenas, programming languages, logic gates, He-Man, ICBMs, typography, druids and Scottish Blackface sheep ... (among other odd hobbies, interests + random searches)
(3) We both turned thirty ... (new decade. geez, that sounds old. but not really)
(4) L explored Columbus, Ohio while B attended the Origins Game Fair. He pitched a board game design. She roamed around Short North and German Village... (happy birthday to brad)



(5) Visited the New Glarus Brewing Company in Wisconsin ... (excellent road trip suggestion)
(6) Toured the Grosse Point Lighthouse, along the Lake Michigan shore ... (falafel for lunch. happy birthday to leanne)
(7) L volunteered at the community workday at Holy Wisdom Monastery in Madison, WI. Helped restore the monastery's 95 acres of native prairie and wetlands ... (personal retreat one day/ work day the next. monasteries are quiet. duh. but really, really quiet. the fall colors were just about to pop. nice hiking paths)
(8) B participated in Octocon 6 & 7 in Chicago - approximately 44 hours of board gaming ... (insane. but oh.so.fun)
(9) Went to a couple summer concerts at Millennium Park in downtown Chicago ... (like this one)



(10) Became Friend-Aunt-and-Uncle MANY times over ... (2010: Year of the Baby)



post-edit: (11) Celebrated our seventh wedding anniversary ... (Budos Band concert) xoxo

New {professional} adventure!

I'm starting a new job next week! Though I went in yesterday to get my feet wet before the director left on a business trip. The organization is a great combination for me: architecture/historic preservation, community development and interfaith relations. So excited.

{San Francisco No. 18}

Matisse, The Beatles and Coco Chanel

I very much enjoy roaming the Art Institute of Chicago by myself. We have a membership pass and whenever I'm in the area, I try to squeeze in time to wander around the museum- even if it's just for 20 minutes. I don't mind the company but I'm also quite content exploring on my own. I like to people watch and overhear conversations. After an appointment on Friday, I wandered over to the museum to check out the Matisse exhibit.

****
Our neighborhood church organized a "Beatles Mass" last night. I'd say it had a rather progressive theme: Celebrate peace and love - ancient Christian tradition with a Sixties spin :) Big turnout...

****
When Brad and I were still dating, we saw "A Hard Day's Night" at this dumpy movie theater in Old Town. They had two movies playing that weekend: The Beatles & "Requiem for a Dream." Both films ended @ the same time. Half the movie goers were giddy and chatty... the other half looked pretty depressed.

****

I rented "Coco Before Chanel" last night. It was a bit of a departure from The Beatles... haha. I liked it, didn't love it. There were two Chanel movies that came out about the same time. Rent this one- the French one. Audrey Tautou {Amelie!} stars as Gabrielle "Coco" Chanel.

Visitors to your own city

A few weekends ago, a college buddy came up to the city. Michelle's been to Chicago numerous times so we didn't feel inclined to entertain her with touristy sites- though I did come up with a few ideas. She wanted to check out this garden shop in the city so we ventured in that direction. Falafel for lunch turned into oatmeal milkshakes and Costa Rican Casado. Sprout had these adorable little succulent plants*. I am apparently rather clueless to the current interest in succulents; my friend filled me in. The shop was close to Salvage One- this GIANT loft space of salvaged materials, architectural wonders, furniture, etc. We roamed around the space just before getting kicked out for a wedding reception. As we made our way back to our neighborhood, we randomly drove up a street in Ukrainian Village where Michelle used to house sit. We parked and wandered over to a little bakery for coffee and snacks (though I took a pass since they didn't have any gluten-free treats). One of the things I love about this city is its neighborhoods. We spent the better part of a Saturday exploring a part of the city we don't often venture to.

*I found three little succulent plants at the local organic plant sale organized by the park district. Now I'm intrigued.

{Baby Toes Succulent Hanging Terrarium}

{Succulent Living Wreath}

appreciate {the little things in life}

{appreciate / green and gray / letterpress print}

****
Do you ever listen to The Story on public radio? I went to the chiropractor this morning {sooo stiff from a weekend migraine} and couldn't walk into my apartment until I heard the end of the program.

The first piece was a real life story comparable to the movie 'Up'! ... On a dare from his work mates, Jonathan Trappe took his first balloon-powered flight two years ago, in his office chair. Hoisted by over 50 giant helium balloons, he sailed up to 14,000 feet, floating across the North Carolina countryside for over 4 hours. ...

The second story made me think about the first architecture office* I worked in while still in high school. ... Jami always had an interest in typography, and that's how she found herself visiting a small print shop in town called The Sherwood Press. The owner, Jocelyn, would change the way Jami saw her career and her life. ...

*I don't quite remember how I came to work in the office. The office was within walking distance from my house and I think I just showed up one day wondering if they would hire me as an intern; they did. Fred and Adelaide were a husband-and-wife team and were easily in their mid 70s by the time I started. They had thirteen children and welcomed me into the fold like family. I haven't worked with Fred in years but I still remember his vocational instruction and his stories. The office was tiny. I remember everyone gathered for a holiday party once and we had four religious backgrounds at the table: Catholic, Evangelical Christian, Buddhism and Hinduism. To this day, I've never had a boss treat me with as much respect as Fred did. I don't think I really appreciated it at the time.

Let's talk about cursors

"Millions of computers are made each year and still no one talks about sustainability in the cursor industry. We should, because according to this poster they’re being cut down at an alarming rate. We’re in luck that Nathan W Pyle has designed this poster informing us about the massive cursor deforestation going on." From PUBLIC SCHOOL.

{via swissmiss}

"Colourful Language"


"The Other Numbers"

'After months of parking on the street, he finally agreed that designing the driveway around the stump was green living gone too far.'

(Photo: Miguel Coelho; via Archinet)

{via Unhappy Hipsters}

Great Gatsby Birthday Picnic

I LOVE Maggie's birthday picnic theme! What a splendid idea and I love that her friends graciously participated in theme. Wasn't that a great book?
****
Check out this Great Gatsby Goodbye Party ...
And a Great Gatsby Wedding ...

Helen Keller taught, “The marvelous richness of human experience would lose something of rewarding joy if there were no limitations to overcome. The hilltop hour would not be half so wonderful if there were no dark valleys to traverse.”

{Hilltop Neighbours}