Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Sunday, November 27, 2011

Saturday, November 26, 2011

Holidaze: 11/26/11

If you're out shopping this Black Friday, you may run across strange sights--like, for example, this topiary deer sitting on a bench at Harlem Irving Plaza.

Friday, November 25, 2011

Holidaze: 11/25/11

Thanksgiving is over. The effects of last night's tryptophan-tastic meal have worn off and you have awaken from the food coma. (Yes, I know the whole tryptophan-in-turkey thing is a myth--just go with this, would you?) What do you do now?

If you are suitably deranged, you trundle out to the nearest hopping mall, drive around for an hour or so looking for a parking spot within a one-mile radius of said mall, and fight tooth and nail, elbow and knee with your fellow shoppers for the Black Friday deals of your choice.

If, however, you are like me--undeniably deranged, but not suitably so--you hang close to home, spin a holiday CD or three, and decorate your space for the holidaze to come.

This year, those decorations at La Casa del Terror include the lovely lighted Santa seen above. More photos of decorations new and old, from here and from there, will appear in this space in the coming days.

Thursday, November 24, 2011

Gobble Gobble 11/24/11

From the living room window of La Casa del Terror to wherever you may be this day--in your own living room, at a party, visiting relatives or relaxing in a scenic vacation spot--I hope you and yours have a happy, safe and comfy Thanksgiving.

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Every Picture Tells a Story: 11/15/11

This is the structure that supports the tracks that my train to and from work rides on every day. It does not fill me with confidence.

Sunday, November 13, 2011

On the Way to Work This Morning...

The decoration of the tree in Daley Center Plaza and the construction of the Kristkindlmarket village around it continue apace.

Friday, November 11, 2011

For Dinner Last Night...

Homemade beef stew from Superbadfriend. Perfect comfort food on the first snowy day of the season.

BTW: This entry is going up at 11:11 a.m. CST on 11/11/11. What does that mean? Not a damn thing, really. Just very symmetrical, that's all.

Every Picture Tells a Story: 11/11/11

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

Every Picture Tells a Story: 11/8/11

It's just a week past Halloween, but already the city is erecting the municipal pine tree in Daley Center Plaza, along with the faux-German village that will surround it and sell ornaments, snacks and warm alcoholic beverages in collectable boot-shaped cups.

It's way too early for this--I'm not even ready to start thinking about Thanksgiving--but considering that some retailers actually had their metallic holiday displays up before Halloween (yes, Lane Bryant, I'm looking at you) and most other retailers had all their Jack O'Lanterns and skeletons back in the stockroom before the trick-or-treaters had finished their rounds, I should just accept the things I cannot change and quit my bitching.

Friday, November 4, 2011

Today for Lunch...

The terrific turkey sandwich from Jaffa, this time with cranberry sauce instead of mayo.

Every Picture Tells a Story: 11/4/11

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

Shocktober: One Last Look

Another Halloween season has come and gone, and soon La Casa del Terror will return to (semi-)normal, though I will make a concerted effort to not only keep it clean, but to further reduce the clutter that continues to plague my space. (The bedroom is a mess--even if there were a woman on this planet crazy enough to sleep with me, I'd never bring her in there--and the pantry is piled high with...stuff.) So let us take one more look at decorations not documented in previous entries before their packed away until next Shocktober!

Every Picture Tells a Story: 11/1/11