Big Day for those that celebrate.  Who isn’t wanting the Seahawks to win?  Work tomorrow so just the two of us, taking it easy. Costco marinated ribs are going in the oven around 3, homemade fries and slaw and ice cream and peanut butter cookies for dessert. I will break into my stash of Opolo Chardonnay. I say MY stash because Chardonnay maybe the only alcohol my husband won’t drink. He also doesn’t like dark chocolate. So I can actually have a cache of these things and know they will be there when there is a wine or chocolate emergency.

My big home project this week was switching out the family room rug.  With two dogs and two cats it is pointless to get anything fancy because apparently, I can’t have nice things. We DIY’d our stair runner with cute runners from Annie Selke that are holding up great so that gave me confidence to buy the 10×12 rug we needed for the family room.  It did not work out. We chose a shag and after 6 weeks I was still dealing with fiber clumps drifting around the house, attaching to our clothing and even to our pitbulls. Annie Selke was great about taking it back.  I located a Turkish style rug at Costco.com, and ordered the black and the gray version because I couldn’t decide. The black one was stunning, my eyes were so happy looking at it, but it was fraying on the end.  The gray one was just okay. We wanted to be done with buying and returning rugs so we kept the gray and it looks good enough.  My design style is “decision fatigue.”

Wednesday, we went to a matinee of Cosi fan tutte at the Lyric Opera.  It was the most fun I have ever had at the opera. Puerto Rican Soprano Ana Maria Martinez was hilarious in the role of Despina, the maid.   An Indiana high school marching band was on a field trip, sitting near us in the cheap seats. I hardly knew they were there until they collectively shrieked at a bawdy scene.  Their reaction cracked us up and I have never laughed as much at an opera. We drove up to Logan Square to La Licor Panamericana.  The drinks and empanadas were outstanding, and the whole concept of featuring all the highlights of Mexico and Latin America drinks and food was innovative but, the space was freezing, there was actually a cold breeze?? so I noshed and sipped wearing my hand-me-down mink jacket.  Charming servers and barmen though.  

Flying to NYC this week, it will be a high of 32 degrees,  but I plan to stay warm with all the great theatre and museums on my list.  I hoped to complete The Power Broker by Robert Caro for this trip. I gave up reading the book around page 325, bought the Audible and even with a 2 hour daily commute I still have 19 hours left.