Sex and the City Dinners

OK, I'm not sure I want to do this again soon, but hosting dinner for the eight consecutive final episodes of Sex and the City has turned us into a dinner party machine.  We've got the preparation down.  We've served lamb kabobs, borscht (in honor of Baryshnikov), Texas Hospitality Chicken, turkey chili, and the turkey cutlet version of  Il Fine Del Mondo, among others, it's all fading together. (Damn those Cosmos.)   I don't know how that Julie did it cooking every night--I'm going to be happy to reclaim some of my weekend--though it has reminded us how easy it is to have a few people over.

Little Night Music at Shakespeare

For Valentine's Day, we went to see a great production of A Little Night Music at the Shakespeare Theater.  Really well done.

Another Week at the U of Chicago

This week I’ve been to lectures/programs/donor receptions with Bruce Cummings on Inventing the Axis of Evil: The Truth about North Korea, Iran and Syria, John Mearsheimer in an informal talk on why our strategy in Iraq was so ill conceived, Danielle Allen  “on translating ancient greek lyric poetry” (she swears she’s being literal in her translations, but it comes out in this beautiful street vernacular) {and oh, by the way, her next book is on Brown v. Board of Ed.}, and, oh yes, the Bontecou exhibition at the MCA.

New York Trip

Off to NYC for the first time in a couple of days.  The main purpose was a dinner organized by the head of the Visiting Committee for the Social Sciences, but we also did some other donor calls.  Of course, it wouldn't be a trip to NYC without a visit to Menchanko-tei.  Out on Wednesday and back by Friday.

First Week at U of Chicago

So, if you are going to jump in, jump in.   Here's one day during my first week at the University of Chicago.  Went to hear John Mearsheimer, professor in Political Science and expert on foreign policy and international security, in a lunch time session, primarily for undergraduates on What I Believe and Why.  He talked mostly about his upbringing, going to West Point, his personal experience as a student.  That evening, I caught the end of Susan Manning from Northwestern on Making a (Queer) American Dance: Jose Limon, Merce Cunningham, and Alvin Ailey, before heading over the Smart Museum for the opening of Illuminations: Sculpting with Light.  OK, OK, so two of these event are really about the Humanities...I'm still in the environment

A New Life...or at Least a New Job

I accepted a position at the University of Chicago today. I'll be the Director of Development for the Social Sciences Division. Hangin' with the Nobel Prize crowd. A big change for me--separating my interest in the arts from my vocation. But this is good: I can have friends in the arts who aren't always thinking I'm after their wallet.

Lots to be excited about: learning new subject matter, great people, great reputation of the University. And, we get to stay in Chicago, and in our fabulous home. Woo hoo!

Epiphany

The wise men arrive today, you know. (And I start my New Year's resolutions.) And, since "Expose the Core, strengthen the Core" is one of my resolutions (hey, I like them ambiguous...I know what I mean), I need to point out this web site, TRANSFORMATION 2003. I've been going to the gym pretty steadily for over a year now, but I can't hold a candle to this guy. What an inspiration--and his attitude, "if you follow a set of steps exactly, the results are predictable." Love a scientific mind.

Sayonara to Sex and the City

Spurred on by our friends B. and D. (who don't have cable) we're hosting a party at our place for all the remaining episodes of Sex and the City. When we were planning the first night's menu, the weather was gorgeous, warm. Mediterranean seemed good and easy. Kabobs on the grill, eggplant/feta dip, cous cous. We got everything done ahead, and then the weather turned nasty on Sunday. Still, a good time was had by all, with Mr. B staffing the distribution of cosmos. My, we were a talkative bunch.

Champagne and Sushi

A very quiet New Year's Eve. Went to Matsuya for appetizers and got sushi to go. A little sparkling, sushi, and Top Hat and lights out well before midnight. Got to the gym for New Year's Day.

A Cab Ride

Went to see Lord of the Rings, III, and on the way back splurged on a cab ride. The details have now faded, but the story the cabbie told was like an episode out of Joan of Arcadia. He got stopped by a cop for speeding late at night, and turns out, he's going to law school, and took it court, and won. Got the cop to admit that there was no one else around ("prudent for the circumstances") and he was rushing to pick up a usual fare to get her to a hospital. The meditation: don't be a jerk, stay positive. Happy Holidays. (And, are you sure life doesn't imitate art, Joan?)

Umbrellas and Oranges

We did our usual theme Christmas. All of Miss S.'s family got umbrellas and a copy of Singing in the Rain for each household. Our theme was "orange" and $25 and under. OK, I cheated on the price structure, but we had orange mystery novels, orange marmalade, orange jello, a fab orange shirt, orange wrapping paper, orange (ok, mango really) candles, etc. And Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Season 5, for the orange jacket she wore when she first became the slayer. We did watch the requisite White Christmas, though.

It was Belgian monkfish stew for Christmas Eve, and roast chicken for Christmas Day, and of course, Miss S's granny's cheese grits for breakfast. Happy Holidays!

Once More With Feeling, Again.

Great musical, indeed.

From This is London

BUFFY THE MUSICAL SLAYER?
The greatest musical of all time could be - Buffy The Vampire Slayer. An all-singing episode of the cult teen sci-fi drama will battle it out with favourites such as Chicago, Cabaret and The Sound Of Music for Channel 4's 100 Greatest Musicals.

Hooked on Joan

We're hooked on a new TV show. Joan of Arcadia. Fits with our obsession with teen angst shows, and wow...what a great opportunity for character actors to play God.

The actor who plays Joan (Amber Tamblyn) is the daughter of actor/dancer Russ Tamblyn.

Solstice Update

Pretty low key week. Miss S. in Prescott with her father, my life in unemploy...I mean tell my Ma I'm consulting land in hold while decisions are being made. Duke kicks Texas. Getting ready for Christmas.

Bartman, Bartman

There is no escaping Steve Bartman.