i'm so cold, let me in-a-your window!

The 2011 candle flickered out. Some end o' year pics...



Misericordia is always so festive at Christmas. Annual volunteer lunch.



Pre-Christmas karaokeing. Sing it, Kendal!



DC holiday party at Sol de Mexico.



A Little Touch of McGaughey in the Night.



One of the only nice things about working downtown in winter: passing the Christkindlmarket on my way to the train.



Home is where the decorative sled is.



Latkes!



Nicely played, bro.



Art for Dan's new monkey-themed office.







Bananagrams at Bair Lake.



Niece requested a fishtail braid, and I complied. Being an aunt is all about braiding on cue.







Easy made a new best friend in Brooke.



Girls just wanna have fun, am I right?



New nails and new bling.



Lunch at Rose St Market.





Back in the Chi. Native Foods with Mary.



Happy New Year. Enter, Year of the Dragon!

this is country music and we do

Novemberings (and a hint o' December)...



High Places at U of M. Rob used a laundry bin full of clothes as a stand. #ingenuity



The new(ish) Kalamazoo River Valley Trail. Nice.



HP at the Pyramid Scheme in Grand Rapids.



A bunch of local publishers took over a former Borders for the 2011 Chicago Book Expo.



Went south for Thanksgiving—to Louisville & Nashville.



I don't think I'd been to Louisville since I was in high school and found it quite charming.



And very hospitable.



Some charming and hospitable Louisvilleans.





Friday brunch.



There's a weird, gigantic man-made cavern under the Louisville Zoo called the Mega Cavern. Inside there are ziplines, Christmas lights, and a gift store where you can buy stuff like this...



I'M ALWAYS SAYING THIS.



Like most places nowadays (gas stations, laundromats, Taco Bell), you can be the Mega Cavern's friend on Facebook. #no



Cave Hill Cemetery, an intriguing place.



The inscription on this one says "God Always Seems to Pick His Prettiest Flower." (Yikes.) There's an unusual story behind this grave. Think: low-rise jeans.



The Colonel!



Another quirky Louisville place (actually just outside of Louisville), Henry's Ark.





Part of my Animals at Sunset series.









Karaoke at Rush Inn. Cassie owned some Tammy Wynette.



Will killed it on some Josh Turner. (I listened to new country pretty much this entire trip...not that I don't already listen to it all the time lots.)

Louisville (not pictured): pizza at Garage Bar, tons o' PS3 gaming, bookstores, record stores, sushi, skatepark, bagels, cheese grits, a cocktail called the Churchill, art show, coffee at Java...



Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams in East Nashville. I think Dan and I sampled every flavor they have. Finally settled on lemon yogurt and black currant lambic sorbet(!)



Cocktail with jalapeño and candied ginger at Burger Up.



Hatch Show Print posters at the Country Music Hall of Fame.



Dolls!



Attempt at a David + dog tableau. Miles is in position...



Hold it!

Nashville (not pictured): Prince's Hot Chicken Shack, Noshville, Parnassus Books, Bongo Java, tempura donuts at P.M., House of Kabob, drinks with friends at Whiskey Kitchen, the Turnip Truck.



Back in the Chi...made Christmas wreaths last week at Misericordia.





It's beginning to look a lot like.