she's got tickets !!

Just had to jot a quick note to document this day... it's been one heck of a Monday!!  

• Dave Matthews Band Caravan SINGLE DAY tickets go on sale this Friday - I couldn't be happier since I couldn't get anyone to commit to the three days with me.  Now I can at least go one day and get to see fantastic bands at the new Lakefront Chicago venue.  Oh and the addition of this show will mean I am seeing a different musical act every week of July!  Yeah!!

• AND.... the be big one!  My friend Selika and I scored tickets to see the very last Oprah Show at the United Center.  Yes, after fifteen years in Chicago I am finally getting to see an Oprah Show live in person... and it just happens to be the very last one.  I can hardly believe we got so lucky!  We have to pick up the tickets this weekend and the taping is next Tuesday night.  What shall I wear - they say colors work best on camera - eek!!  

spring-y

The sun has finally decided to appear here in Chicago. Time to get out and start exploring the city with my camera(s) again. Still a little cold by the lake today, but it was beautiful regardless!

happy mother's day

Just wanted to wish my mom the best mother's day!! This photo would have been on or around her very first mother's day. We don't look anything alike do we? Hope you did a little something for yourself today... Hugs and kisses to Grandma too!!

bags. framed!

via pinterest.com

Great. Idea! I have a few bags in the closet that I'm saving for who knows what ... maybe this?? I think this is just the greatest idea for a little dressing room decor!

america now and here - kc

Ran across this cool art exhibit that is kicking off in Kansas City and had to capture this little piece of fabulous art that is part of the video intro.  I just love it!  Oh and check out the website too!  If you're in KC, why not go catch the show??  Never enough art in one's life is there?

things on tuesday

Ahh it's Tuesday again...

loves

• Seeing a client get really excited about what you've done for them.  
• Feedly for iPad - out today - this one app may change my mind about the iPad...
• More like lust - but the new iMac is out today and oh how I want one!  
• Live music!
• Dinning with the girls
• ebay - you can find literally anything on there

loathes

• Health insurance - these companies are about making money and not about the consumer/patient and it's a damn shame!  If we ran our business like these guys do, we would not have one... how do they keep this BS going?  
• Neck and shoulder pain has returned - boo
• 42 degrees on May 2nd ... really?  This is Spring?
• Country music - I literally just had to mute the TV just now, cannot even handle one minute!!
• That Phoebe meows at the front door - why does she do this?  What does she see? What does she want?  Cats are weird!
• Now that all of my photos are digital I don't print anything .. I need to print them or make books or something!!! 

5.1.11 :: a day to remember

United States President Obama announces Osama bin Laden is dead.  While this is a day that provides much needed closure to one very horrible day, 9/11, the fight against terrorism is not over.  I am thankful for all of the military who serve and protect our freedoms and hope those still in the fight can return home to their families.  My thoughts are with all of the families who lost loved ones on that fateful day and in the days since. 

A historic day here in the US and I am finding it difficult to pull away from the media to go to bed.  Finding out this kind of news via Twitter is surely a sign of the times, no?

comedy . chris . colin

Every now and then I have a day where everything just comes together and makes for a truly memorable chain of events.  Saturday was one of those days.  I headed downtown to Second City to watch my coworker (Barbara) on the main stage - she's been taking classes for a while now and at the end they get the chance to perform on one of the most famous comedic stages in the world.  Funny thing is that she's never even seen a show there... so the first time she's even in the main room, she's actually on stage!  

Then it was off to meet my friend Robin for dinner and a concert at the Park West.  The show was incredible!  We have been long time fans of Chris Trapper and have seen him solo and with his former band, The Push Stars, on many occasions.  So to have him open for Colin Hay was an extra bonus.  He played for an hour, just him and his guitars.  His songwriting is fabulous and I love his voice too!  He's actually got songs in several movies and TV shows - but he's so humble you'd never know.  We got SO lucky to see him just hanging out in the lobby after the show and hustled over to get a photo with him.  It's a terrible photo - only having the iPhone in this kind of a situation is unfortunate as it does not work well in low light (that flash is a joke) and when you hand the phone to someone else to take a pic they have no idea how to focus.  Ah well, just so happy to have gotten anything with him.  He was so nice and talked about how intimidating it is to play in a big room like the Park West - his usual spot is at Schubas and it's much more intimate. 

Colin Hay was A M A Z I N G !!  Everyone knows him from Men at Work, but he's made a solo resurgence thanks to the Garden State Soundtrack - that's where I got hooked!!  (Thank you Zach Braff!)  Colin is a true singer/songwriter - his voice is genuine, no need for fancy sampling machines and post production.  I loved that it was just him and his guitars and the stories he shared of his glamourous life.  He told us about  his family, the Beetles, his old band and sang a great mix of old and new songs.  It was three hours of fantastic music.  I think I've even got Robin hooked on him now too!  

Just found a great review of the show too!  Check it out!

visually me

I ran across a design agency website where they used photos of "things" that describe who they are rather than the typical corporate photo. I thought it was a great idea and just had to give it a go... It was an interesting challenge, to come up with the right combination of items, and then there's Phoebe sneaking into the photo. Could not have been more perfect! So, this is me ... now let's see you!

royal indeed

OK, so I admit it... I set my alarm for 4:50 AM so I could catch the royal wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton.  I woke just in time for the bride to arrive at the church!  My God is that woman a knockout!  She got the fairytale every girl dreams of... she was simply the most stunning bride.  That dress... perfection - love, love, love the v-neck with a bit of a collar - and the simple jewels and small bouquet ... She got everything right.  And, I have to give her huge props - she looked calm and cool and totally at ease.  Prince William chose wisely!  I kind of wish he was next in line so we could see these two make a go at representing the country as young people.  

Some things that differ from here in the US that I kind of wish we would adopt - the way a man escorts his lady, an extended hand with hers gently atop.  That's waaaaay better than the interlocked arms we do here that can sometimes be so awkward.  And the three piece morning suit on her brother was so hot!   That mix of the yellow vest, blue shirt with white collar and wine tie was off the charts classy.  Why do the English just seem so damn polished?  (Well except for Beatrice & Eugenie - what the heck was that?) Oh and that accent, of course!!

Wouldn't it be a dream to attend a wedding like this?  Actually, it would be a dream to photograph this wedding - though I would be a wreck trying to get just the right shot of every single possible moment.  The photos above (by Getty photographers) are perfect, just perfect of the bride.    

The one thing that I did (other than get up at the crack of dawn) was took a stab at that chocolate biscuit cake that they say is Prince William's favorite.  I gotta say it's damn good!