Mom

I know that we're actually closer to Father's Day than we are Mother's Day, but I wanted to share this photo of my mom at lunch on Mother's Day. She ordered a Chipati from Pizza House in East Lansing and it was the most entertaining looking meal I'd seen in a long time. It's like a cross between a huge cartoon oyster and a mini-UFO.
By the way, isn't my mom gorgeous!? If I look as pretty as her in the future I'll be so lucky.

Attack of the Inflatable Marketing Animals

I'm still amazed every time I drive past another huge animal or cartoon character stationed outside a car dealership or restaurant or just anywhere really. Joliet has a fascination with using these to promote their businesses and I still don't really get it. True, they do catch my eye, but really they just make me think "that place is a bit too cheesy for me."
I spotted another one right before Easter. It was a huge pink bunny at a busy intersection. I didn't get a clear picture, but I'll post it anyway.
I also drive by a car dealership that has a cowboy at one end of the lot and a giant purple dinosaur at the other end. Cause, you know, nothing says "Used Car Sale" like a giant dino and his cowboy pardner.

Sheep!?

This past weekend I rode the train down to Galesburg, IL for a day of baking with my Augie buddies Melissa and Larisa. (I bet you didn't know taking the Amtrak from Naperville to Galesburg is actually faster than driving). When I arrived in town Larisa and I stopped at a local bakery to get a treat for a mid-morning snack. Besides the sticker-shock of buying baked goods outside of the Chicago area (a good-sized cinnamon roll cost only $1) I walked into the attached small grocery shop next door and had another unusual experience.
This is a goat or a sheep or something like that...made of seeds and beans. He's completely covered, and dressed for the holidays. It was so avant-garde in such an unexpected place. Of course I took a picture.