When spring break LITERALLY is "Singing in the Rain.

When we booked tickets to see the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra play along to one of our all-time favorite classical movies, "Singing in the Rain," we didn't realize it would actually be the theme of the entire weekend...and week of spring break.

Still, as the song says, Come on with the rain, I've a smile on my face.

And that, my friends, is a true story. All smiles, even in the rain.

And what, you may ask, did we do to bring about those smiles? 

I'm so glad you asked...

*Took a short drive over to the Domes (Milwaukee Conservatory) and saw the seasonal train exhibit (and the plants, of course):

*Made sure our hotel was literally right next door to the symphony center where the concert was happening:

*Enjoyed an indoor market (and caught the end of the UNC-Baylor game, which I actually picked the correct upset for in my bracket):

*Dined at a wonderful Italian restaurant recommended (and frequently visited) by friends who are Milwaukee locals:

*And, when the sun came peeking out, strolled down the Riverwalk:

*We were also sure to check out the local church...next time we just need to be sure it's not the church of the same name in the same city whose website you visited for the morning Mass times (oops):

And, apparently, you can't visit Milwaukee without going to Kopp's...so we did just that on our way out of town - delicious! It did not disappoint with food (burgers and custard) or company (grad school friend from PLC 1):

While it was a soggy start to spring break, it certainly was a memorable one. And this week, the overcast, rainy weather has stayed put over Chicago. So, naturally it's been a good excuse to curl up with some books (Rhapsody, The Girl Who Drank the Moon, & The Assignment) and TV shows. (Why aren't they streaming the whole season of Sanditon to PBS Passport subscribers?!?) I also managed to do some spring cleaning and organizing of my closet, laundry, grocery shopping, and cooking. Plus, I even worked ahead on some PD classwork.

Only a few more days left till we return to school - can you believe it's already the end of March??? What a year it's been and my, oh my, how it's flown by.

"Beautiful Rain"

"Beautiful Rain"
Poem of the Day - 4/27/20
Audio version of today's poem

There's something to be said for rain -

I know, I know...
Sunshine is so much more enjoyable,
Especially when one has the desire to be outside -

But hear me out.
Yes, it can be dreary,
And the thunder can be deafening,
Umbrellas don't always work right,
And buses splash poor pedestrians.

Rain can certainly be unpleasant;
It often puts a damper on camping trips,
And no one likes mud being tracked inside
By dogs or small children.

Still, without rain we would have no growth.
Without rain, the sun's rays wouldn't seem as bright.
Without rain, there would be no puddles.
(And there definitely would not be that iconic Gene Kelly number.)

Rain is beautiful in its own way
And when the sun comes out again,
We enjoy the day so much more.



-------

P.S. Happy Birthday Dad!

Pumpkins, Buildings, and Baking...Oh my!

Saturday was a wash, weather-wise. It poured on and off for the entire day and through the night. So, it seemed like a good idea to carve my pumpkin. The only problem was that I didn't have one yet. This meant I had to go to the store and carry it home, it under one arm, my umbrella in my other hand. It was a little uncomfortable, but it worked.

I had a few hours on hand before I would be going with a friend to some sites involved with Open House Chicago, so I sat down and started transferring my design to the pumpkin. (The "Harry Potter" marathon on Freeform was on in the background.) Then, it was time to scoop and clean the pumpkin seeds. So far so good...

The carving went well; though, it took a lot of patience because of all of the small cuts where the knife was almost too big.

When the final cut was made, I turned down the lights, put in the candle, and lit it. Magical.

The timing could not have been more perfect. As I finished cleaning up my mess and drying the pumpkin seeds (for later roasting), my friend called and told me she was at my apartment. We were ready to go. We ended up heading up to Evanston, checking out "The American Toby Jug Museum," the Alpha Sigma Epsilon building (at Northwestern), and the Baha'i temple. All were quick stops, but it was definitely worth it.

My friend invited me to go swing dancing, but I passed this time around. The weather was swaying me in the other direction. But I will go soon - I love dancing!

Later in the evening I baked those pumpkin seeds. And, because the oven was on, I baked some cookies for my faculty too.

When the cookie recipe calls for softened butter...you hold it in the oven, naturally!

I must say, it was a delicious way to end the day. As for today, I got a run in this morning (though there were many puddles!), and I'm off shortly to see "The Princess Bride" and to attend the opening dinner and Mass at my church. Happy Sunday!

Rain Will Make Me New

There's something about rain...
It reminds me of being a kid in Florida, convinced I could dodge the raindrops and of watching "Singing in the Rain," never tiring of Gene Kelly's dancing antics...
It brings a smile to my face when I remember how mesmerized I would get whenever it rained in Phoenix (because it hardly ever happened)...
And I have to admit that I get excited for the fact that I finally own a raincoat and rain boots...
But perhaps most of all, rain brings the promise of spring and of beginning again.

Singing in the Rain

It's amazing that rain brings dreary skies but also brings feelings of freshness and cleanliness...which is especially refreshing after not having it for so long.

So many songs come to mind - and they really span the genres. (I hope you're in the mood for music.) Just ask the following questions to point yourself in the right direction:

For example, Are you feeling melancholy? Try "Here's that Rainy Day." Or, "A Little Fall of Rain" from Les Mis might be appropriate too.

In the mood for country? Try "Rain is a Good Thing" by Luke Bryan or "Come in with the Rain" by Taylor Swift. (Or, if you prefer, Jodi Messina sings "Bring on the Rain" and Faith Hill puts up her "Red Umbrella.")

Are you upbeat and ready to face the world? Join Barbra Streisand with "Don't Rain on My Parade" from Funny Girl.

How do you feel about puddles? Would you jump around in them like Gene Kelly during his show-stopping "Singing in the Rain?"

And you better believe there are so many more...so sing it out, "Come Rain or Come Shine"...