Grutz says, "Happy Birthday Wilhelm Grimm" or "Whoa, it's a Pollock painting, not a commodity!"

 Jackson Pollock's Portrait of H.M.  This was my neighbor in Iowa City.  To think, the MAN wanted to sell it!

I hope everyone is celebrating our favorite Grimm's birthday today, 1786.  See, you learned something today.  And I hear the collective sigh of relief from the decision in the Iowa Legislature to not sell a painting by Jackson Pollock, owned by the University of Iowa.  It's a staggeringly dynamic and huge mural that I was lucky enough to enjoy on many occasions as I lived across the street from it's home on campus.  Of course, since the flood it's in the Figge Art Museum.  As everyone knows, I love my beloved home state of Iowa and I'm happy to quickly point out all that's great about the Hawkeye State.  But oh, the pain and sorrow I feel when the state gets recognized for something ridiculously stupid and inane, such as the proposed sale of the painting to raise revenue.  Thank goodness cooler heads (even Terry Braindead Branstad) prevailed, although it's still unnerving.  Here's a recap.

Grutz says, "Happy Valentine's Day" or "Good God! It's melting! The SNOW is MELTING!"

Happy Days one and all on this lovely holiday(?)! After enduring copious amounts of snow and harsh subzero weather the last few weeks, a respite! Temperatures hovering around 40!!!!  The possibility of 50 later this week.  Be still my beating heart.  I have come the the conclusion that landscape is terribly important.  John O'Donohue's Anam Cara beautifully reinforces this (I also suggest listening to an interview he gave before his passing, find it here, at Being) Included in that is the weather.  Spirit can be ground to a sliver by -40 windchill.  So can a bad alternator in such ridiculous weather (A CURSE ON YOU, VILE ENGINE COMPONENT!).  Conversely, a sunny day, void of anything freezing and your lips can't help but smile.  Aside from the alternator, my mood is elevated but such wondrous weather this Valentine's Day.

Grrrrrr, I WILL CRUSH YOU! More on this epic battle in the future.

Ahhhhhhh, Valentine's Day.......love, romance...joy....happiness.  I am overly fortunate and lucky to have a wonderful and interesting life.  Far too many factors play a role in this life of mine, but at this very moment, I'd like to give a shout out to those things I love, going through my brain, at this moment, inside the Lozano branch of the Chicago Public Library System

I love my daring, beautiful, and caring wife.  She's the bee's knees and I dare anyone to prove otherwise.

The events of the last half year have been more compelling, exciting, and well, rather random, at times than ever in my life. I feel like I'm a character in a world of fast-paced novel.  All these ins and outs, ups and downs, have been navigated with such kindness, compassion, and intelligence by my grand wife.  Carleen, I love you this Valentine's Day (but you probably already knew that). 

At the whole other end of the love spectrum, waterproof boots.  Oh, how I do NOT take you for granted.

In the week following the snow storm (which I might add, I swear I read about it in the Book of Revelations) cars were of little use because of the roads and mechanical issues (see above).  Bikes, too, we're out of the question as neither Carleen nor I posses bikes with giant nubby tires required for the deep, deep, deep snow fall.  To the rescue, waterproof boots.  Sure, the snow isn't really wet at 5 degrees, but at 40, with all that melt.....boo yes, waterproof boots.

I also love my family in Iowa and Ohio, friends, music, books, microfiber cleaning clothes (wonderful on the floors of our giant manor apartment), my Old Style hat (see last post), Pilsen (when I pretend I don't see all the trash and men pissing in the alleys), and of course, the Iowa Hawkeyes.

I'm also loving the Chicago Public Library Museum Passport program.  Though many musuems are free for teachers.... or people with teacher ids...ahem, some are not and your can score passes at times from your local CPL.  I made a trip to the Shedd Aqarium a few weeks ago and what blast!  Not only do they have fish, but.....

FROGS!!!!

OTTERS!!!

MONKEYS!!!!

SEA LIONS!!!!!

 And fishes from the world over, fresh and saltwater.  Mammals, too.  I had no idea it was +$30 admittance, so if you're planning to visit us (and we do have an extra bedroom.....I'm just sayin') there's lots to do, including the Aquarium.  Well, got to run, by battery is dead.  I love you all on this Valentine's Day.                          

Grutz says, "Back in the saddle again. By saddle, I mean Chicago." or "No, It's a 'Right Now' coat!"

Greetings one and all. I have been neglectful. I have been doing stuff. Lord oh lord. But now I can spill the beans. We're back in Chicago, specifically the Pilsen neighborhood. I'll get to that shortly, but first, some recap from our trip out west.

Arches National Park

Yes, some of the many arches in, um, Arches National Park.

During and after our travels Carleen and I discussed all that had happened to anyone and everyone. I found myself again and again saying more or less the same things over. Arches, too, was part of this continuous description. Out west, in the arid regions, things we're both drastically different and yet somewhat the same. Ok, ok, I sound like a moron, but Arches truly was different from Zion and Joshua Tree, but there were elements that we're so profoundly similar. The sky, the dryness, the lack of vegetation (ok compared to Iowa, the lack of vegetation). Stone and sand, wind and glare.

"Seriously, Carleen! Put down the damn camera and give me a hand! Christ!"

Everyone asks us what was our favorite park. Speaking for myself, honestly, I loved them all. Each Park and Monument so interesting and special in its own right. Yet, if I truly must pick a place, it would have to be (oh this is so hard)....Joshua Tree. Sparse and beautiful. Not boastful or majestic, but intricately detailed and minutely gorgeous.

More to follow, now to Pilsen!

Pilsen, home to the heart of the Latino Community of Chicago and a refuge for hipsters and artists. We live with Bobby Redwood, a med student, searching for the right residency program. We found him on Craigslist and has been a great roommate. Along with Rusty, the uber-dog. Pictures included later once I find the camera. It's quite a treat to step out our door and see, hear, and smell such a diverse community. The murals and Aztec discs. Spanish, mexican music, Croatian mass, the trains. Two tortilla plants (within two blocks!) bbq honky tonk, mexican cuisine. Sensory overload.

Aztec Sun art inlaid in the sidewalks of Pilsen.

Mural found at the end of the block, along the tracks, in Pilsen. (And no, it has not snowed here, I found the photo online, smartguy).

Smoked brisket? Yes, please! Around the corner from us in Pilsen.

Aside from the occasional (ok, one) moody drunk latino bemoaning how we're stealing the neighborhood (boo hoo gentrification!) the neighborhood has been amazing. It's very exciting and there seems to be a buzz. And that buzzing is the iphones in the hands of the hipsters. Boy oh boy, and I thought Logan Square had the masses of tight-jeaned youth! I've no problem with 'em. It's starting to get cold, so many disappear. I still think, like all social groups, they're kind of funny and worthy of any mockery. Anyway, I just saw this movie and supposedly(wink) they're going to film the sequel right here in Pilsen. Look out hipsters. Charles Bronson.

I'll continue later with more odds'n'ends from the trip, what I'm doing with my time now that Carleen is working for the man (boooo CPS booooo, hisssss), and more about Chicago. Oh, and what I'm thankful for. (Happy Sigh).