Up in Smoke – Random Graffiti And Danny Devito

Spotted this while walking on Fullerton yesterday. 
I saw this minivan also. I have no idea if Danny Devito is loose in Logan Square in a mom mobile or if his number one fan is driving this. 

Christkindlmarket Chicago

Since I’m on a house/pet sitting assignment in Chicago I took the opportunity to visit the Christkindlmarket for the first time.

I enjoyed a mug of Glühwein, German mulled wine, in a souvenir mug while watching the pigeons keeping warm. Apparently people are fussing because this year’s mug is not a boot mug. I think I would have preferred the boot mug also but nobody asked me.

A jalapeño stuffed pretzel and the aforementioned souvenir mug. $7 for the mug and wine. No worries about me getting tipsy. Tasty anyway.

Lots of shopping.  Ornaments,  German candies,  food, steins, beer, hats, scarves, food.

I found this cute porcupine.  I make porcupine quill jewelry and will use him as a prop on my vendor booth.

My jewelry – for sale on Etsy click here to see my quill jewelry

Looking up from the market in Daly Plaza and ogling the skyscrapers.

Yep. Had to make some poor teenage girl snap my picture.  And Stacey I borrowed your hat because all I had was my Nanook of the North model. 35° wasn’t cold enough to warrant that sucker.

First the Polar Vortex and Then the 10th Annual Chicago Travel and Adventure Show

We in the Midwest USA recently had a Polar Vortex visited upon us. The frigidly cold air that usually hovers over the Arctic Circle instead descended down into the Midwest like a bad nightmare. As if the 12 inches of snow and a previous ice storm weren’t already giving us cabin fever. In Northern Illinois we had temps of -18 degrees fahrenheit or lower with a ‘real feel’ temperature of -45 degrees. (That’s -42.7 celcius) My friends were teasing me about my trips to Alaska. Ok yes, I have pictures of myself backpacking over ice fields and on the Chilkoot trail but that was AUGUST.
I love Alaska. I love Alaska in the summer.
Anyway in a complete fit of boredom I borrowed my granddaughters bubbles (shhh) and tried to blow some bubbles outside. Everybody saw the cool Facebook post of the frozen bubbles some lady did with her son right? Mine shattered instantly 😦 I risked frostbite for this???? <<<video

How cold was it? It was so cold that the local water department called me and asked me to turn on my water and leave it on until they call me again. Alrighty then.

But today I escaped to the city and had some fun. I attended the 10th annual Chicago Travel and Adventure Show. Besides wandering down row after row of booths promoting for travel to Mexico, Turkey, Cuba, Wisconsin, China, …..you get the idea. And snagging fun freebies like an Amtrak coffee mug and a backpack. I got to meet two of my favorite travel related gentlemen. First Rick Steves who graciously signed my brochure. And I have to add that he actually inscribed my friend Stacy’s Italy travel book that she made. She was tickled. He smiled the whole time he was surrounded by fans who wanted an autograph, a picture, to say hi etc. You know that must get old but he was very pleasant the entire time. I also enjoyed his talk and of course would love to hop a plane to Europe right now. He makes doing it yourself sound so simple. All I have to say is that if you rent a car in Ireland you best get car insurance. I have nothing further to say on that subject.

I have been telling my friends about my awesome travel coat with 27 pockets. I love it. I haven’t carried a purse all winter. Just another reason I flunk ‘girl’. I also got to meet Scott Jordan the founder and CEO of Scottevest

He had a big smile and was very nice. He asked me if there was any way to make my Revolution Plus jacket better. I did say that you could make some with shorter sleeves. He said “you’re wearing a mans coat!” haaaaa “Well yes” said she who wears a kilt and plays in a pipe band that’s predominately male. One word. Tomboy.

There’s a pic of me and Scott. I also have the women’s travel vest. I’ll be breaking that in when Stacy and I visit Arizona/Utah/Colorado for a road trip at the end of May. I even talked her into camping!! Woot!! I’ve worn my coat on a trip to DC -pockets stuffed and wearing two outfits- no bag fees! And while cross country skiing. Plenty warm enough and I could move easily.

I was farmette sitting during the first snowfall in Warrenville. I don’t think chickens like snow. But that’s ok because chickens are jerks 😛

My Chicken Nuggets Are Cold

Illinois Centennial Monument and an embarrassing 80’s flashback

Illinois Centennial Monument

Today I walked 3 miles in the Logan Square area in Chicago. I passed by this monument. “Built in 1918 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Illinois‘ statehood, the monument, designed by Henry Bacon, famed architect of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, DC” From Wikipedia

And then I saw this –

Pigeon tracks in cement

I wonder if the person that mixed and laid the cement for this sidewalk was annoyed when he saw these pigeon tracks in his/her nice new sidewalk?!?
And then that made me recall to mind one of the  MOST embarrassing moments in my life.   Flash back to 1983. I have snuck out of work for Blue Cross Blue Shield five minutes early so that I could be on time for a dinner date with girlfriends. I was dressed in true 80’s glory. Crazy big hair, oversize off shoulder shirt, tiny and tight mini skirt, and black flat shoes. I was hauling my then itty bitty little booty west on Main St in Rockford IL.  I arrived at the intersection of Main and Park. The pedestrian light was about to change. The traffic had not come to a complete stop and there was construction going on in the intersection.  I was in a hurry so I made a quick decision. I took a short cut through the construction. My first step was my last. I plunged down deep into a cement filled hole. Well, one leg did anyway. I found myself doing my best version of the splits. My skirt rolled up over my itty bitty booty.What to do??? I balled up my toes and tried to climb back out. The cement really had a powerful suction and I did not want to lose my shoe. And then my co-wokers caught up to me. “GIRL  what are you doing?” uhhhhhh “help?” I squeaked. No help, apart from being handed one measly kleenex. Yeah, they were too busy laughing to help. So I hoofed it to my old beater car. I had to use my hands to squeeze the cement off of my left leg. It made a huge mess in my car and dried like chalk everywhere. I ran to a friend’s apartment to clean myself. I could NOT arrive at a fancy restaurant looking like I did. . The ‘chalky’ mess washed off easily enough but my leg turned red and I was late for dinner. But the worst part was work the next day. I worked with 200? women. No mercy. None. At all. I’m probably still legend at Blue Cross.

After my walk today I made this bracelet. I made the paper beads from a vintage pulp fiction novel “The Case of the Negligent Nymph” and Peacock Beads. If you have time please ‘like’ my page. The more likes I get then the  better 🙂

My page Gypsypipergirl       

Handmade paper beads

 

 

House sitting in the Windy City

I’m house sitting in Chicago this time. Specifically the Logan Square area. I passed this bar while on a walk. I stopped to ponder what the sign meant. I was thirsty but thought better of it.
I grew up in the country. When I waited for my school bus the cows across the street stared at me and I stared back. It was pretty quiet. It is not quiet here. However I truly enjoy changes of scenery so I will explore my surroundings and take advantage of my temporary new locale. I’ll be sure to post any adventures I may have. I will try not to,repeat any of my past performances ie; standing on a rattlesnake, chased out of ocean by shark, caught up in foreign crime ring, etc. no guarantees since I have such unusual luck. (Vinnie Jones once drunkenly tried to smooch my neck!)

Next year I have been asked to house sit in South Carolina. Yay!
where is that damn woman now?

I will also work on my inventory and create more porcupine quill jewelry. Sales have been pretty good as we approach the holiday season. Thank you for supporting my bead habit 🙂 Oh, and my silly need for food :p
my Etsy store

By the way I still have a few ounces of the Alaska morel mushrooms I harvested left. I sell them for $20 an ounce and can ship priority mail.