Overheard: Wedded Bliss

This is an old one but oh so good.

Back in October, after our wedding, I was in the Marriage Bureau waiting to get our official signed and sealed marriage certificate.

The phone rang.

"Marriage Bureau. Mr. XXX speaking."

Silence.

"No, ma'am, marriage certificates do not expire."

Apparently the economy is bad

One thing that struck me (over and over and over again) while we were visiting and making connections in Chicago a few weekends ago was a common thread/statement from all of the hiring managers that I spoke with. They said it to me as if it were a revelation from God, or that they were letting me in on a secret.

The economy is bad.

Wait, what???!!! Are you serious???!! When did this happen???? I've heard NOTHING about it, especially in Washington, DC, where I live! OMG! What are we going to do??????

Then, imagine my surprise when I opened CNN.com and, wouldn't you know, they were running a story called "Love in a time of Economic Crisis." And then they also had that great piece of journalism on tips to save money by not eating out. Wow. I had never even thought of that!!!

In all seriousness, I don't mean to poke fun at the economic depression we're in. But really, people. I get it. And I don't need to read about how to find love in the midst of it, or how to not go out to eat, or have some dramatic headline like "DEPRESSION 2009" on the news (or my internet) every night. On that same note, I also don't need to know anymore about Bristol Palin and her babydaddy.

Chicago Arts and Culture: The Bean

One of the best ways to get to know a city is to get to know its art, culture, architecture and people. This week we'll start with "Cloud Gate" also lovingly referred to as "The Bean" (pictured to your right and above).

According to Wikipedia, Cloud Gate was designed by a British artist named Anish Kapoor, who won a design competition for art in Chicago's famous Millennium Park. Kapoor was apparently inspired by liquid mercury (I hope he didn't play with mercury...), and is supposed to evoke feelings and thoughts of the immaterial and spiritual. When you position yourself directly in the center of The Bean and look up, it's as if you are being lifted into the sky. Apparently, art critics have raved that this is a masterful piece that takes on a "disembodied, luminous form." How's that for cool art? I feel all spiritual and immaterial now. It worked!

Cloud Gate was completed in late August 2005, weighs in at a whopping 110 short tons and cost $23 million (don't worry, no public funds were used). It was finally unveiled for the public May 15, 2006, which Mayor Daley quickly declared "Cloud Gate Day." Do federal employees get that day off?

Overheard: how kids rule the world

I've decided that Mondays will be my "Overheard" days. I'll tell funny little stories about something I recently overheard, we'll all laugh, and then talk about how great it is to be masters of the universe. All in a day's work.

Last week, M and I were walking home from the metro when I heard a man talking to a little girl. Let's assume it was a father and daughter, which is probably a fare assumption. This is how the story goes:

Girl: ...my friend's mom was going to make him go, but then my friend started whining and so then he got what he wanted.

Dad: So that's how you guys get your way?

Girl: Yep. We whine.

Dad: Is that like an unwritten kid rule or something?

Girl: Yeah, dad (said sort of like, "um, duh!"). ALL the kids know it. It's just like an official kid rule. And it works every time.

The "Chapel"

The main picture that you see when you visit us here at Hyde Park Heroes is from the Rockefeller Chapel- yes, that Rockefeller- at the University of Chicago. When M and I (that's me, not someone else whose name starts with an "I") visited the campus a few weeks ago, we were both blown away by the beauty of this edifice, the piercing colors and the worshipful silence.

But let me make something clear. This thing is not just a "chapel".

I would probably use a word like "cathedral" or possibly "massive place of worship" (assuming someone does actually still worship there). While it might not quite rival the massive cathedrals of Europe, or even the National Cathedral here in Washington, DC, I certainly wouldn't say it's a chapel. Chapel means a white-washed building with wooden pews, located in the woods somewhere. Or at least a place that only seats a hundred people or so. But nope, this massive thing is just a "chapel"...of course when was the last time that a Rockefeller did anything small?

When you walk into the chapel, you are immediately confronted with this panel, pictured below. Ignoring, of course, that the largest thing on there is the name "John D. Rockefeller" (that's worshipful), I find what it says to be quite interesting. And so, reader, I share it with you.

What do you think?

And so it begins...

Ok, I'll admit it. I've always felt a little remorse over deleting my blog back in 2007. I know, I know, blogs are narcissistic and ridiculously trivial. But....!

There's something about sharing your thoughts and opinions on life with friends and family all over the world that makes you feel more connected, more insightful, more witty and more intelligent. I mean, blogging is the 21st century version of 18th century letter writing! I bet Abigail Adams would have had a blog, for instance ("I've always felt that a person's intelligence is directly reflected by the number of conflicting points of view he can entertain simultaneously on the same topic. On his blog.") and I'm certain that Thomas Jefferson would have had two or three (I'll leave it to your imagination as to what HE would have written about...).

Narcissism aside, it seems like our big adventure to become Hyde Park Heroes (ie, M to get his MPP at the University of Chicago and E to get a job) is the perfect time to pick up blogging again. And so here, reader, you'll find the following things:

1. Insights on leaving Washington, DC.
2. Plans, expectations and real-life adventures for, and in, Chicago.
3. Other cool things I come across like recipes, random pictures of me with famous people (read: Oprah) and such.
4. Let's be honest, mostly me talking about random things.

And so I give you Hyde Park Heroes. Check it frequently, read it often, and post only when you have glowing things to say about the author. I'm kidding. Sort of.