Day 231 - 12.28.10 - The Lot Across The Way - A Series (Ozzie's Playground - Part Two)

Day 230 - 12.27.10 - The Lot Across The Way - A Series (Ozzie's Playground Part 1)

Day 228 - 12.25.10 - Merry Christmas

This year, it is a white Christmas to be sure...

Day 227 - 12.24.10 - Ginger Man Time

Nieces Madison & Jillian made some ginger bread men for Christmas Eve devouring... with a little help from G-Ma "Syllie."

Day 226 - 12.23.10 - Home For Christmas

Home in Elgin for Christmas. As David Brent would say, "This is a perfect example of the king of laughs he have 'round here..." This Ruduolph dances and sings... relentlessly... he had to be hidden from my nieces in a tall lamp...

Day 164 - 9.29.10 - Wine Wednseday

While I was at hockey tonight, Lauren prepared an Italian chicken and sausage dish in which she used a little chianti. It is always nice to have a meal ready after hockey, and Lauren usually comes through with something great if she is around... Another thumbs up for Laurenzo. I'm a lucky guy.

Day 148 - 9.13.10 - Around Home

One of the many things I love about Lauren is that she likes to keep flowers around our home... The pictured blooms greeted me on the dining room table as I arrived home from work today...

Day 139 - 9.4.10 - Around Home (Plantlife II)

Good friends Tommy and Doug came over for dinner and drinks tonight. House guests mean fresh flowers (in part to block the cord that connects the TiVo to our television) and Lauren bought some outstanding thistle.

Day 138 - 9.3.10 - Around Home (Friday)

Friday is here. It is Labor Day weekend. Time to eat and drink...

Day 136 - 9.1.10 - Around Home (Plantlife)

This guy is really doing well in our kitchen window...

Day 135 - 8.31.10 - Around Home (Morning Light)

Due to the self imposed Monday holiday stemming from Lou Fest and Jeff Tweedy Day (observed), Tuesday was my Monday. The back portion of our home is all windows and they face east, standing tall against the rising sun. Morning light pours in to our home and serves as a natural alarm clock... Happy Monday, even if it really is Tuesday... time to get to work...

Day 134 - 8.30 - Home Again

Today, a return from St. Louis. The closure of LouFest brings with it a likely end of the summer concert season. It was a great way to bring the season to an end. Festival concert hat (pictured) will likely be retired until next summer...

Day 124 - 8.20.10 - Goodbye Brown Boxes

The final phase of moving is finally, after six weeks, complete. Out last boxes, filled with my books have been unpacked and pitched in the construction dumpster in front of our home. We have books, but no bookshelves, other then our dining room windowsill. Here they will stay until a better home for them is found. CB2, here we come.

Day 119 - 8.15.10 - Creature Comforts...

Lauren and I have returned home to Chicago from the Grady family vacation. We had a blast, but it is nice to be back in our new home, which is still slowly taking shape... It will be nice to sleep in our own...

And use our own...

Day 107 - 8.3.10 - Cold Kickin' It Live

Ozzie lounging... it was a slow day, even for a stay at home dog.

Day Eighty-Seven - 7.15.10 - Home Decor

We have guests this weekend, and Lauren has been decorating... With each passing day, the condo comes together a little bit more...

This will likely be the last "home" post at least for a few days. The 3 day Pitchfork Music Fest starts tomorrow here in Chicago. I'll be attending all 3 days. Hipsters, rockers, hipster rockers beware... the camera to my eye will be on you...

Day Eighty-Six - 7.14.10 - Royal Flush

Our new home has been built by a contractor with "green" sensibilities. My favorite feature resulting from these sensibilities is the dual flusher on the toilets. The small button uses less water and the large button uses the normal amount of water. Each is designed for a very specific type of deposit... I think you know what I'm talking about...

Day Eighty-Five - 7.13.10 - Setting Up (Part Two) - Lost in a Sea of Cords

5 days in and the amount of electrical components and cords are stacking up... and intertwining... must... be... remedied... tomorrow...

Day Eighty-Four - 7.12.10 - Setting Up

Things are slowly coming together... It will be a while before the place is where we want it to be aesthetically, but wouldn't you know it, the kitchen is the first room that is really starting to take shape. For two people who love to cook and eat, this comes as no surprise.

Day Eighty-Three - 7.11.10 - The First Meal / Dinner Bets

On Sunday, we finally did a little grocery shopping and Lauren prepared the first meal at our new place. She had to cook because I won one of our dinner bets. The bet can be about anything at all. This one was about a certain NBA-er who made a decision of sorts last week. Lauren thought this player would stay at home and re-sign with his home team. I thought that he would bolt to another squad. As it turns out, I was right. The bet winner selects a recipe and the loser must shop, cook, and clean up after the meal. Lauren makes a great chicken parmesan...