I have not stepped foot outside today. Freelance work is ridiculous at the moment, which is why I’ve neglected you.
One thing. I love Sabon. Do you know it? My dear friend Shmiegs introduced it to me a few years ago–she (Halley) brought a box of it from glamorous NYC when she visited me over a summer in Minneapolis. Conveniently, there’s a store right around the corner from me here in Chicago.
I just detoxed from a day of sitting at my desk, hardly moving from 7:30 am — 5 pm (okay, that’s a usual workday. but when you’re in your own home it’s… horrendous) with a bath full of Sabon Honey + Peach mineral powder and a good lotioning with Apple Lavender Body Creme. The stuff is outrageously expensive; I dropped about $45 on said two products. But they claim to be from the dead sea, or some other exotic place stocked with essential oils and natural salts. Anyway, I feel better and I smell amazing.
I did feel a little bit like Margot Tenenbaum, though–taking a bath, in the loneliness of a city apartment after a day in a line of work that almost necessitates isolation (Evan is at a “Porcupine Tree” show tonight. Lord knows what that even is–some kind of new-agey Jethro Tull, as I take it). So Margot Tenenbaum. Only much less skinny. And not a playwright.
Minus today, I have been out and about. Here’s some photographic proof.
Rach and I went to the Garfield Conservatory, the greenhouses just west of Chicago. This is an aloe plant. Doesn't one of the "leaves" look like something Anthropologie would stick a pin in and charge $68 for?
So many koi. Koi for all! They had those human-like mouths and big, gnarly whiskers. Rachael was not pleased. I didn’t get a picture of it, but there were these enormous plants in the “Tropical” room that totally made us feel like we were in a Honey, I Shrunk the Kids! montage. Minus the giant Whoopie Pies, unfortunately.
Funny story. Much of the time we spent at the Conservatory, Rach and I debated/questioned if things we saw were real. Giant lilypad? NO. giant fake glass lilypad, etc. So when we walked outside we were both like "that fake crane looks so real!" "does it have feathers?" Then we watched it fly away.
Yesterday Evan and I took the blue line down to Wicker Park, where everyone our age who looks like us live. I was excited to try some non-deep dish Chicago pizza, so we checked out Piece. It was New Haven style, actually, which I never tried on my multiple trips to Yale (thanks, Jed).
It was very delicious. Parmesan, garlic, spinach, mushrooms and anchovies. Anchovies are the greatest. Evan and I both agree that Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles ruined them for our entire generation and only the few, the proud, the strong have stuck with 'em.
The establishment reminded me much of Northampton Brewery, actually–and not just because of the peace signs or the young drunks. It was quite lovely, and! A brewery, too.
Evan enjoys a beer.
So, bunnies, that’s what’s new. My friend Katja is stopping by tomorrow night, on her cross-country trip. I would like to note that I’ve already had three visitors in Chicago (Emma, Arielle + now Katja), whereas I had NONE for an entire year in Minneapolis. Just wanted to put that out there. You’re all greedy.
Musical selection, doesn’t really have an explanation. Except: look at James Taylor. and Carly Simon. That was cute.
