Mack & Holly’s.

Got out of town last weekend to Chicago, to visit my friends Mack and Holly. They were having a Valentine’s (maybe a little going-away) party. These are a few of the lovely people that were there. Beautiful drive up on Saturday with snow still sitting all over the plains.

I was the odd-man out, I think everybody else knew each other, but I felt welcomed by all.

Mack was reminding me of Kurt Cobain in his wig-hat getup. There was a photo-booth set up and it was a big hit with the kids. Wigs and other costumery. You might recognize the guy in the nose and glasses combo.

For some reason, a group of us was enjoying hot toddies (which I had always viewed as medicinal). You see Mack making them here in the manner of generations of old Southern gentlemen...with a knife. I had one or twelve of them. At one point—deep in the whiskey—I think the devil actually appeared to me, although I can’t say for sure.

“Want some whiskey in your water, sugar in your tea? What’s all these crazy questions they’re asking me?”

I think it was a combination of the hats...and the whiskey, but Tony, the dude in the fez, was starting to remind me an awful lot of the S & P duo on the back of the stove : )

Later in the evening, Tony was making nice espresso drinks and some sort of shot with espresso and peppermint schnapps. Had several of these, too. Couldn’t decide if I wanted to sleep or go out and practice my Biathlon.

Had a nice field trip with Holly and Mack on Sunday. Really good brunch and a drive up to see the Baha’i Temple up in Wilmette. Then a little tour through Graceland Cemetery, where a number of Chicagoland notables are buried. Still too snowy to walk around it, but caught some high points.

The booze is still spanking me days later. Not so young as I used to be. Old man, take a look at my life, I’m a lot like you...Goodnight, Chicago.

And somebody please let Tillie in the bathroom.

Super Andy and Wild Sam.

Some pictures from back in the day—as the young people say, when they mean “a few months ago”—some pix from the Halloween of Ought-nine. Ran into the McLaurins at Local Taco on the way to (or maybe from) some Halloween school festivity.

Obviously the boys are Superman and Max from ”Where the Wild Things Are.” In one Andy tries to decide whether Superman should be sweet or tough, and gives his best of both looks. They were both super. Liz was wearing a witches’ hat as the “wicked beautiful” witch of the South, and Richard was cleverly disguised as a middle-aged dad in a windbreaker : )

Love these guys. Don’t see them nearly enough.

Amy Hall, y’all.

Another new shoot from Nashville, with my lovely Amy Hall. She’s one of the tenderest, feistiest, most dedicated people in my life. Ever. I love her dearly.

McKenna.

Had a couple of really nice photo shoots while I was in Nashville this last time. Here are a few images from one of them, with my friend Capucine’s baby-woman-child. Seems like she spent most of her tiny years in California, so it’s weird for me to see her all of sudden seem like this nearly grown-up person. She’s a sweetheart. We had fun.

Let it snow.

First real snow of the season, other a few previous dustings. Noticed it had started when I went to bed about one, was a winter wonderland this morning. Nothing huge...2-3 inches. Still snowing off and on. Noticed my bird friends were getting seriously low on food, so fed those guys and headed out on a little trek.

Every time I walk past the road scene four images down, I think of the old Robert Frost road less traveled. This particular road is less traveled because it doesn't really go anywhere. Not sure what it’s for, just peters out in the direction of the river.

There were these crazy ice disk things floating down the river. Not sure how they formed. I suspect aliens. Like 3-4 foot upside-down frisbee-like dishes with water inside.

Old Paul Tillich’s head seemed sad and cold.

Snowing again hard by the time I got to the Atheneum, blowing sideways—one of my lenses was frozen over—bravely fought my way to the coffee house. Then the snow stopped and the sun came out, naturally.

Nutcrackin’

One of my favorite girls, Sai, has recently been doing a smashing job playing the part of Clara in a lovely production of The Nutcracker.
I went to a dress rehearsal on Thursday with the proud parents (me in the part of the proud “uncle”). The four of us had a rollicking after-show party at Pizza Perfect. Her young male counterpart reminds me in this picture of something between an extra in “Oliver” and the Ziggy Stardust-era Mick Ronson. The well-developed buttocks belong to the lone male hired-gun dancer in the production—who did some very impressive girl-twirling and hoisting and solo leaping—and with that i will END (pun intended).