everything I know about Chicago I learned from Ferris Bueller*

So it's official: I'm moving to Chicago. All I have right now is a date--September 17--that I'll be there. No apartment, no housing--yet.

Classes start Sept 23. I'm taking a poetry workshop (yay!) and a seminar on teaching creative writing (double yay!). Just two this term, so that I can direct some energy towards figuring out this whole Utah-girl-in-the-city thing. (Please let it be like London with American accents!)

What I do know about Chicago: the El(evated Trains). I love love love mass transit. The Museum of Contemporary Art, right down the street from Northwestern's Chicago campus (I'll be at both campuses over the next few years, but both of my classes will be in Chicago this term). Oh, and AWP will be there in February. After all the sadness of not making it to NYC this year, they're bringing it to me.

I'm really excited. Really nervous--I'm hoping I have a place to stay by the time I get out there. But mostly the excited bit. And now I have to work on a (gasp!) new poem. Workshop, here I come!

*I feel this need to, at some point during my Chicago life, re-create FB's Day Off. Including this scene. Which means I need two of you to visit me. I will be accepting applications.

showing off

Since Alexis thought the back of the duck cake was cute, I thought I'd show the front. My genius sister Lauren not only made a duck, she made a shrugging duck. And we all know that shrugging is one of Abby's favorite show-offs.


This was my contribution: the duck quilt. There are rumors the child likes it, but I have yet to witness said affection. And no, I won't be making any more quilts.

Abby Turns One: Polaroided

The Abby Cake.

The Abby Duck.

The Abby Babies (cousins Kaitlin and Luke).

The Ung Family (Sam, Meghan, and Kaitlin).

I think I'm polaroid

feat. Maryn, Sophie, Seth

and yours truly, to your right.

northwestern

said yes.

you know that scene in Wedding Singer where George takes over the mic to sing "Do You Really Want to Hurt Me"? and then, when he's finished, Adam Sandler isn't there to take over, so George has no choice but to start over?

that's how this day feels. on repeat.

how many soundtracks does one life need?

The last playlist was from my iPod. The following is from my iTunes library.

I'm really bored and trying not to think too much.

Opening Credits: "White Christmas" sung by The Drifters
Waking Up: "If You Were Coming in the Fall" by Carla Bruni
First Day at School: "Lost!" by Coldplay
Falling in Love: "Oh Lately It's So Quiet" by OKGo
Losing Virginity: "Think Awhile" by Cary Brothers
Fight Song: "Death of an Interior Decorator" by Death Cab for Cutie
Breaking Up: "Chills" by Ben Lee
Prom: "Tinfoil Hats" by Rocky Votolato
Life: "Twenty-Four" by Switchfoot
Mental Breakdown: "Keep On Running" by The Spencer Davis Group
Driving: "I Do" by 98 Degrees
Flashback: "Kissing the Lipless" by The Shins
Getting Back Together: "Everybody Knows" by Leonard Cohen
Wedding: "Young Pilgrim" by The Shins
Birth of Child: "Let's Stay Together" by Al Green
Final Battle: "Have You Seen My Love?" by Barenaked Ladies
Death Scene: "How Can You Mend a Broken Heart?" by Al Green
Funeral: "If She Wants Me" by Belle & Sebastian
End Credits: "Piazza, New York Catcher" by Belle & Sebastian (from Juno soundtrack)

playlist for a lifetime

Everyone knows I love a playlist, so I stole this from Edgy.

If your life was a movie, what would the soundtrack be?
1. Open your music library.
2. Put it on shuffle
3. Press play
4. For every question, type the song that's playing
5. When you go to a new question, press the next button
6. Don't lie and try to pretend you’re cool...just type it in, man!

• Opening Credits: "Alone Down There" by Modest Mouse
  
• Waking Up: "The Way I Am" by Ingrid Michaelson
  
• First Day at School: "It's Good to Be in Love" by Frou Frou
  
• Falling in Love: "Daisy Jane" by America
  
• Losing Virginity: "Act of the Apostle Part 2" by Belle & Sebastian
  
• Fight Song: "All You Need is Love" by The Beatles
  
• Breaking Up: "Speed Lab" by John Vanderslice
  
• Prom: "Me and My 424" by John Vanderslice
  
• Life: "Girl Can't Help It" by Journey
  
• Mental Breakdown: "Jenny was a Friend of Mine" by The Killers
  
• Driving: "A Minor Incident" by Badly Drawn Boy
  
• Flashback: "The Way You Look Tonight" by Michael Buble
  
• Getting Back Together: "Take Control" by Weezer
  
• Wedding: "If You're Gone" by Matchbox Twenty
  
• Birth of Child: "Love is No Big Truth" by The Kings of Convenience
  
• Final Battle: "It's My Life" by Bon Jovi
  
• Death Scene: "Coney Island" by Death Cab for Cutie
  
• Funeral Song: "To Be Myself Completely" by Belle and Sebastian
  
• End Credits: "Last Call" by Mae
  

the duck was a hit

more on the day of wedded bliss when I figure out which pics will continue to keep PDA on this blog . . . non-existent.