Karma-Air Travel Style

I took a very deep breath as moved my courser over the “purchase” button on the United Airlines website.  I paused, took one more deep breath and clicked.

Sweet Home Chicago, here we come!

The pause was for two reasons.  One, we waited too long to get tickets and ended up shelling out a ridiculous amount of money. Two, we’ll be taking a baby on a plane finally granting karma the opportunity to bite me in the ass.

As a single, childless woman I would get easily annoyed at the screaming child on my flight. I’ve rolled my eyes at their parents and huffed and puffed like an entitled witch. I never put myself in their shoes.  I was *that* person parents complain about. If Max screams bloody murder through the whole flight it’s totally karma.  And I deserve it.

We’ve minimized potential pitfalls. We shelled out the extra dollars for a non-stop flight.  We’re flying after peak travel days/times. We picked morning flights as that’s when Max seems to be happiest. I wish we could have afforded to get him his own seat since he sleeps in his car seat like a champ, but I’d like to pay off my credit card before I die.

I’m also worried about trying to pack light.  We filled the car on our trip to Asheville. How the heck am I supposed to get everything in one checked bag and two carry-on’s? My extended family is able to provide larger items like car seats, strollers and pack n plays. Borrowed hand-me-downs are a perk of having two dozen cousins.  I also have an embarrassingly long shopping list for my mom so I don’t have to worry about formula, food and diapers.  And what about warm clothes?  It’s still 80 degrees here.  There isn’t a snowballs chance in Savannah that I’ll find a snow suit or thermal underwear. Bless you internet.

Despite the logistical nightmare, I’m excited.  Max is finally getting to meet 478392 (low ball estimate) new relatives.  My immediately family will all be in the same place for the first time in 2 years. I get to see several high school friends and their babies (I’m looking at you KTKC).  Brett gets to eat an authentic Chicago Style hot dog.  Everyone one wins.

Except the people on our flights.  They’re probably in for a long flight.

We are Ready for Some Football!

We are a Chicago Bears family.

Okay, kind of.

I am a diehard Bears Fan.  Brett had no team alliance so he converted to the Church of Ditka in order to marry me.  Max doesn't have a say in the matter until he moves out and makes his own damn money.

Therefore, we are a Bears family, whether the rest of my family likes it or not.

People look at me crazy for my love of the game but football, especially Bears football was a huge part of my childhood. My grandfather had season tickets since the Bears played at Wrigley Field in the 1960s.  My Dad later shared those tickets with Gramps and I was prividleged to attend many games as a kid.

(My Grandfather at Super Bowl XX, New Orleans, LA)

Even as a kid the imposing columns of Soldier Field  told me that this place was special.  A team that embodied the characteristics of an entire city called that stadium home.  There, football is played as it should be- in the elements, unprotected by subzero temperatures, driving rain or even unpenatrable fog. The Bears are bad ass, just like Chicago.

My most favorite childhood memories took place at Bears games.  Wrapped in layers of thermal underwear and wool, we tailgated, celebrated and high-fived strangers around us.  I watched huge victories and the occassional crushing defeat.

Bears football was (and still is) something my Dad and I could talk about.  Even when I was a moody unbearable teen, constantly butting heads with my equally stubborn father, we could talk running games and fourth downs.  The Bears were a way we could talk without tension.

Also, I learned to swear listening to my Dad and Uncles watch the Bears. I am sure Max will learn his first four letter words that way. 

So here I sit, with seconds  until kick off, ready to watch my team play their rivals of over 80 years.  I'm sure I'll yell. I'm sure I'll cheer.  I know the text messages between family members will be flying.  And the only two words that can properly convey my emotions are:

Da Bears.

Friday Food Stuffs: Looking for Crock Pot ideas

Despite having a short week we are buried in delicious leftovers! The Tomatillo Enchiladas and the Slow Cooker Chicken with Onions, Apples and Rosemary made enough to feed a large family!  The crock pot chicken used to stuff the enchiladas was ridiculously simple and I’ll be using that again for various dishes!  Also, I didn’t make the tomatillo salsa for the enchiladas because tomatillos were ridiculously pricey. Instead I just used the Herdez Salsa Verde and the substitute was fine.  I will try it in the future as it looked too yummy to pass up!

And the pork chops?  So simple but amazingly flavorful.  

Thanks to everyone who commented on their fall favorites.  I finally got my Pumpkin Spice Latte yesterday morning. Oh and my most favorite beverage ever, the Salted Caramel Hot Chocolate is back!  They didn’t have it last year which was pretty much devastating to my then-pregnant self, so I plan to get my fill now.

Haven’t had it?

Don’t.

Trust me.

It’s ridiculously addictive and your wallet and waistline will be begging for mercy by Spring.

There is no rhyme or reason to this week’s menu.  Some of the meals are based on the random foods in the fridge approaching their due date.  The chili is to celebrate the start of football season (GO BEARS!!!!).  The Nachos are because Cinco de Nachos occurred while in Asheville and we need to get our Nacho Fix. Everything else just looked good when I went exploring at my favorite foodie sites.

Friday:  Out
Saturday:  Pizza Margharita(ish), Salads
Sunday:  Sunday Steaks: Brett’s Famous in Our House Chili Made with Steak (to celebrate the start of football season!)
Monday: Buffalo Salmon, Brussels Sprout, Blue Cheese and Glazed Pecan Salad
Tuesday: Nachos
Wednesday: Chicago Chicken, Curried Sweet potato fries
Thursday: Shell Pasta with Sausage and Greens

Friday Foodstuffs Question:  I used my crock pot twice this past week.  I was so excited to get one as a wedding gift but now I rarely use it.  Breaking it out this week reminded me that crock pot dinners are simple and convenient so I want to start using mine more often.  What’s your favorite crock pot/slower cooker recipe?  Can you recommend a website or cookbook based around crock pot recipes?

Writer's Workshop: Why I hate Summer

When I lived in Chicago, summer was a blissful season.  Stuffing my face at the Taste of Chicago. Sitting on the back porch watching the fireflies dance. Napping on the hammock, waking up with a rope diamond pattern indented on legs. Towels, water toys,cowboy boots and over-sized bags of Cool Ranch Doritos stacked up on the dining room table, ready to be packed for the annual family vacation.  All those blissful memories that made me pine for summer during icy Chicago winters. And when it arrived, I was in heaven.

Now, as an adult, living in the Deep South, I hate Summer. Yes, it's heresy to some but I. HATE. SUMMER. 

Why?

Picture this...

A woman at the wheel of her gray sedan, clenching her steering wheel at the ten and two position, leaning forward trying to see lines on the road through the sheets of fat rain drops.

Her hair, which was painstakingly straightened 12 hours ago, is now pulled back into a messy ponytail; and act of surrender to the humidity which caused the straight strands to curls by 10AM. 

She utters a curse word as the local meteorologist comes on the radio and gleefully chirps that today was the umpteenth day in a row of 90+ degree weather and there is no cool off in sight. 

A huge streak of lightening cracks just above her. It's an unwelcome sight for someone who has an irrational yet debilitating fear of getting struck by lightening.  

She sniffs and grimaces when she realises that, despite only being outside for less than 3 minutes, her antiperspirant is definately not strong enough for this heat. 

And when she pulls safely into her driveway, exhausted from the long commute home, thankful her tiny son slept though the whole adventure, she sighs deeply, knowing that in this Deep South summer, this will all happen again tomorrow.

That my friends, is my every day between late May and early June.  Yankees can brag now about their warm days and cool summer nights but remember, when you are freezing your ass off in January, I won't be wearing a coat.
I consider it a fair trade.

Home?

"Home is wherever I'm with you"

I've been thinking a lot about the concept home recently. Maybe it's because Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros have popping up regularly on my playlist. Or because I'm homesick for a place I haven't really lived in for 12 years. Or maybe it's because my husband and I occasionally flirt with the idea of going somewhere new. I've been up at night trying to figure out "where is my home"?

Legally, home is Savannah...er, now it's the "Savannah area". That's where all my important papers say my home is located.  Drivers license, tax forms, etc, all have my Georgia address. Savannah is where I transitioned to adulthood.  I moved here as a broke, unemployed, single college grad with a roommate and am now a married mom with a mortgage payment, good job and the start of a retirement fund.  We have wonderful friends here. The type of friends you could call at 2AM with an emergency and be assured they would pick up the phone. We both have good, stable jobs where we were never in danger of getting laid off during the darkest days of the recession. I love it here and other than a concern about the educational system, I could see us living out our days here.

But home is also Sweet Home Chicago, where I was born and raised and where most of my family still lives.  During the holidays I still say "I'm going home for Christmas!". If given the opportunity I'd move back there in a second, despite the bitterly cold winters.  It would be worth it to be surrounded by Bear's fans, Italian Beef Sandwiches and my parents.  I miss living in a real city (or even the metro area) where if my favorite band goes on tour, there's a 99% chance they'll be playing in town.  I have a 6 year old nephew I've only seen a dozen times.  My parents, grandmother and aunts and uncles wouldn't miss out on watching Max grow up.  I come from a huge family and being a mom has made me desperately miss those big family gatherings held every weekend. Max won't get that opportunity growing up in Savannah.

I haven't been to Chicago in a year and half so I might be romanticizing it a bit.  Perhaps I should visit in January and then check back with my desire to move. Brrr.

What about Ohio?  Brett grew up in Akron and his parents still live there.  Nearby Cleveland is another "real city" with professional sports teams and outdoor concert venues.  Max would get to know his grandparents better and again, I love having family close. Plus, lots of free babysitting! That area is only 5 hours from Chicago which is much better than the current 18 hour drive we'd have to endure.

 Rock n Roll Hall of Fame, in case you were wondering

Or, we could go somewhere completely new.  If Brett wants to stay in his current field, aerospace, options are limited. 

Seattle?  Kinda rainy which would be huge adjustment from perpetually sunny Savannah.

Witchita?  Uh. No.

Montreal? Too damn cold

D.C.-Ok, we could do that.

Southern California?  Not really my style.

Houston-Absolutely, but NASA isn't exactly hiring

The more I think about it, the more I can't directly place my home. Home could be so many things.  It might not even be a place. Those Magnetic Zeros might be on to something. Home is Brett.  Home is Max.  Home is wherever I'm with them.  

Where do you consider "home"?

 

Life got in the way

Dear My Blog and Blogs I enjoy reading, 


I miss you so damn much. I miss being with you.  I miss being near you. I miss your laugh.  I miss your scent. I miss your musk.  When this all gets sorted out, I think you and me should get an apartment together. 


Love,
Laura

Ten million awesome points for the first person who can name that movie. 

Anyway, between our internet going out several times (screw you Comcast) and life being insanely busy I have not been able to blog or even check out my favorite reads. Also, my 8:30 PM bedtime might also be to blame.  Sleep when the baby sleeps, right?  This weekend when things slow down I can get my bloggy life back.  Until then, enjoy this picture of Max rocking a Vienna Beef onesie, the only hot dog you can use for an official Chicago Style Hot Dog**:

** That's what they tell me.  I don't actually like hot dogs.  However, the Vienna Beef Italian Beef is ridiculously awesome and the only kind of Italian Beef.  I'm sad I can't find any place that sells it here in Savannah. :-(

WAHOOO!

I am interrupting this regularly scheduled Mommy blog post to say:

WOOOOHOOOO  THE CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS ARE THE STANLEY CUP CHAMPS!!!

Sweet Home Chicago-- I miss you.