O is for Obama, that's good enough for me

Stopped at my favorite Chicago deli to pick up some bagels, lox, corned beef, and rye to take home with me. They're making a bundle off their very popular Obama cookies. During the election season, they outsold McCain cookies by 20 to 1.

Season of lights

The Lincoln Park Zoo's holiday light display. Go late at night to see the lights and a bunch of grumpy monkeys unhappy about visitors past their bedtime.

Girls' Night Out

Ellen and her cousin enjoy a little post-Thanksgiving Dora marathon.

Pies pies pies!

Fresh pies galore at the Norske Nook in Osseo, Wisconsin. A mandatory pit stop on the way to Thanksgiving. I picked up a great pumpkin pie and my brother's favorite, blueberry crunch.

Deep Thoughts

Outside a university's admissions office. Inspirational (presumably ancient Greek) aphorism on one side, plenty of school-branded sweatshirts on the other.

Out cold

A hard-workin' morning of children's services and a swimming lesson knocked her right out. She was asleep thirty seconds after we put her in the car.

Fog in Orange

Orange County was blanketed in eerie fog. This is looking out over a lake. The specks behind the fence are ducks.

In-n-Out

No trip to SoCal can be complete without a visit to the Mecca of fast-food perfection, In-n-Out Burger.

Butterballs

Butter turkeys, obviously a takeoff on the butter Easter lambs. I missed seeing the butter pumpkins last month.

Donkey and elephant

Outside the Washington Post building. The donkey has pandas painted on it. The elephant (barely visible behind a shrub) has the halls of power (Congress, White House) painted on it. After the election, don't you think they should switch?

Three weeks later

My second working trip to D.C. This building (a theater, I think) has added a few stories. See my October 24 entry for comparison.

Scott was here

My buddy Scott used to visit Washington regularly. They even erected a statue to him!

Swim class

After three lessons, she's released her death-grip from mommy's neck, and now she wants to swim on her own.

The first thing to go

Look! I parked somewhere. And I snapped a pic to remind myself where I parked.

It's ten days later, and I have no idea where this was.

Yes, we did

Just a small portion of the line to vote when the polls opened at 7 AM. Three hundred and fifty of my neighbors were in line ahead of me.

Thinking of blue skies

The painting is stuck in the rafters over the chair in my dentist's office. It's not taking me away...

Five years

Hard to believe, but there it is.

Our friend Gail collaborated with me on a surprise night out for Rachel. It was a great anniversary, even if the gift theme (wood) kinda sucked.