Cheap Thrill

That's what my friend P accuses me of having whenever I gush over guys who are either sportmen, actors or just plain married.

I can't help it. He's just soooooo adorably cute and great at what he does (he's doing a marvelous job subbing at 3rd base when Ramirez was injured).

Today, the Cubs won their 6th straight, their second sweep (their victim this time was the Colorado Rockies, right after pulping the South siders White Sox in smithereens). I checked the results in the web in the middle of my rounds (it's what I do to try to de-stress, especially when I feel like second-guessing my clinical decisions/indecisions), and after seeing this, I can't stop grinning.

What can I say? I've always been a sports fan. And hey, I just love the guy.

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*Mark DeRosa, Chicago Cubs second baseman, playing 3rd in today's game against the Rockies. Photo from cubs.com

The Neglected Sweet Potato

This is what happens when an idea gets forgotten.

On New Year's eve (no, that's not how long this poor thing has been sitting on my counter) -- A and I dined in the downtown Chicago area, initially planning to hang-out at Soldier Field for the Bears game (I know, that's been eons ago). We enjoyed a really crisp sweet potato fries -- and that was when the idea was born.

Several months forward -- I found some Kamoteng Kahoy (the pinoy term) in the veggie aisle and got some, remembering how Emeril did his version. Problem was, it just stayed as an image in my head.

I Miss*

1. The spicy hot mocha @ Moonstruck Chocolate Cafe. (The good news is that there's one in Grand Haven, which is about 40 miles away, in case I come down with the moonstruckitis).

2. The Cubs! Especially now that I have a new favorite (I can just hear C say: "Not another Mark!" referring to Mark DeRosa, who's replaced Mark Prior in my cubbie heart). I hope I could make it in one game. Just one game.

3. The Lakefront. OK, there's also the lake front here, not as near, but it's there. I just haven't got the chance to view this side of Lake Michigan.

4. Borders!

5. Getting lost in the crowd walking down Magnificent Mile.


OK, I should stop. Because I can create a really long one. Chicago is, afterall, the city where I've had a lot of firsts. For now I console myself that perhaps I'll be living there again just in time for the Summer Olympics of 2016. The Chicago Olympic logo is much more artistic and elegant than the 2012 in London. Don't you think?





But I digress.

A friend suggested, I really should try to list what I don't miss, so I can begin to "let go".

I DON'T MISS:

1. Traffic. (Living just 4 miles out from my fellowship hospital took me almost 30 minutes to commute; compare that to less than 15 with similar distance now!).

2......

2...?!?


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*Random list of stuff I miss about living in Chicago