My hood - The Human Hair Edition

I know it's hard to find so if you need some let me know I'll pick it up for you.

Food I get to eat III

Sunday mornings are my favorite.  Especially when I get to drink coffee and watch CBS Sunday Morning.  Nothing is better.  It is a Pony Family tradition learned from Pa' Pony.

Today I had a delicious omelet with queso fresco, sauteed onions and cilantro.  Simply, just like my favorite Sunday mornings.

Ma' Pony visits the Chicago Art Museum

This past rainy Sunday I visited the Chicago Art Museum with Ma' Pony.  Ma' Pony was a volunteer picture lady for my elementary class.  She exposed myself and fellow classmates to works of art and explained the meaning.  Looking back it was a really cool program.

Our main reason for the visit was to experience Marc Chagall's America Windows.  His stain glass window is mesmerizing.  While I was mindless admiring the pretty window Ma' Pony was figure out the meaning.   We checked her interpretation against they description on the wall, they all were correct except for the last panel.  She thought is was a tribute to the Titanic sinking.  What do you think?  Look at the far right of the last panel.

The Art Institute claims the sinking of the Titanic is actually people dancing.  I think they are just trying to cover up the true meaning.  The bottom right is the Titanic and the people above it are floating in the water.  You decide for yourself.

It seemed our other reason for the visit was to be called ma'am and told not to do things.  I was told not to take photos several times.  Apparently they frown upon taking photos of photos.  Ma' Pony likes to get way to close to art.  I think we heard "ma'am don't touch" about 247 times and it was a surprise to her every time.  She was also told not to touch a window treatment.  I am not sure if they "guard" knew it wasn't a piece of art.  Ma' Pony held in her Bitch comment until we got into the next room.

Ma' Pony was impressed with the pritzker pavilion, which the art museum has an excellent view of, even on a gloomy, February day.  I told her how the area used to be really ugly with below grade train tracks.  She seemed to think the $450 million price tag was worth it, since almost half was covered by private donors.  She asked if Oprah donated any money.  I told her I didn't think so.  While rolling her eyes she said, of course she only buys presidencies.  Ma' Pony was once a supporter of Oprah but her getting involved in the 2008 presidential campaign and not for the first strong female candidate was the end of their relationship.  Oprah may not care but Ma' Pony is boycotting her.

This will come as a surprise to no one but there was a lot of wonderful art.  We especially liked Gerhard Richter's ICE, seen below.

However, the Peter Fischli David Weiss: Questions, the Sausage Photographs, and a Quiet Afternoon Exhibit was not enjoyed by Ma' Pony.  "This is what people do when they have no talent.  They come up with a gimmick and hope it sticks.  It must have worked.  All these people in here are spending their time looking at crap thinking it's art."  I snapped the below photo only to be told "Ma'am photography is not allowed in this room."  Ma' Pony responded with, "Don't worry I don't even want to look at it let alone take a photo."

We spent a very enjoyable day wandering around.  I recommend if you go to the museum to become a member before going.  Members get to skip the line to get in, they can bring guests for "free", it is tax deductible and they get other discounts and perks.  Become a member.

Smuggling

I am a smuggler.  Last night I crossed the border with New Glarus, 7 year old Cheddar, a belly full of grass feed beef that was an amazing cheeseburger from the Old Fashion in a previous life and a smile on my face put there by my friends Mike and Andy.  

Food I get to eat II

Dinner 
Steak sous-vide with shallots, red wine vinegar, oil and garlic.
A side of brown rice, cauliflower and lentils with turkey.

Add the good stuff...

Delicious.  The fat melts in my mouth.

Garfield Park Conservatory

Up close:

Vadim Repin

Vadim Repin played with Chicago Symphony Orchestra last week.  It was so good I thought I would share.

Chicago Symphony Center

Food I get to eat

I live with an amazing cook.  I eat really well, unless of course I have to fend for myself.  Left on my own I usually eat a handful of cereal, a piece a cheese, a couple of pickles and whatever else I can find to graze on.  

Thankfully I was not left to fend for myself.  Dinner tonight was stew, made from veal stock that was simmering on our stove all day yesterday.  The brown rice, black beans and hominy was left over from last night's build your own taco bar.  Goat and collard greens were added to the left overs and veal stock.  

I poured the wine myself.

ANTS!

 While living in Costa Rica I spent countless hours watching leaf cutter ants.  I first noticed a long green line on the sandy ground.  To my surprise the line was moving.  Closer inspection revealed ants carrying leaves.  As we followed the line we found the bush they were decimating.  It was really beautiful to watch.  Although the bush would probably disagree.

Now back in the States I spend countless of hours watching TV.  I think my countless hours are better spend watching ants.

MY PHOTOS

 Leaf cutter ants up close

Ants carrying their leaves down the tree

That green line is all ants carrying leaves

Let's see how long you watch.

Here is a cool video about leaf cutter Ants.

You still want more?

Fun with taxes

I saw this while I was preparing my taxes.

Lovely.

How about the weather?

The thing about weather is that everyone talks about it.

If there is a lull in the conversation, how do we fill it?  Weather.
If we are meeting someone for the first time, what usually comes up?  Weather.
What affects everyone? Weather

So, if there is a major life threatening storm coming all the media needs to do is what it does every day, update the 5 day forecast.  A lot of people will read it, more people will talk about it and eventually everyone will know.  In a 22 minute newscast 5 minutes does not need to be about weather.  The news in Egypt take up more time than a snowstorm.  Yes it is snowpocalypse.  Word will spread.  Snow happens every year.  Major storms have happened in most adults memories so they know how to react.  Major upheavel in Egypt happens less often than snowpocalypse.  Please report on it like it is snowpocalypse.

It's snowing

I hope we are able to communicate with the people in Egypt just how much snow we are getting.  I know they have a lot of unrest right now, but they need to be aware of snowpocalypse.  This storm better not disrupt our access to the Internet or other forms of communication.  If they do we need to march in the street to tell the snow they can't oppress us any more.  I sure hope Egypt supports us!