Caroling at the Bean!

I guess I should have said "Caroling at Cloud Gate," but nobody would know what the hell that was. I've been taking ukulele classes at the Old Town School of Folk Music for the past few months, and the school got the opportunity to perform in Millennium Park as part of the city's Friday night caroling program.

That night, it was the warmest it had been in quite a while -- which is to say, flirting with freezing. We were all fine until we realized we were stuck on those risers for a full hour. That's a long time to stand in one spot, not moving one's blood around. But it was fun, and we got to sing Christmas songs, and how many people can say they've done this?

Thanks to my manager/photographer Chris for the below documentation.

Overheard on the train

"I know Helen Keller had her sense of smell -- but in my family, I'm considered the Helen Keller of noses."

Funundrum Recommends

You know those big tins of cheese, caramel, and butter popcorn that appear like magic in office breakrooms right about this time of year? And how the cheese and caramel always get finished way before the regular kind?

First of all, why even bother with the regular kind? How come you never see half and half cheese and caramel?

Anyway, there was quite a lot of cheese/caramel detritus in the bottom of the tin. These pieces, for reference, were about the size of Nerds candy. I took a big scoop back to my desk and emptied it into my mouth via a paper towel funnel.

It was the greatest thing I have ever tasted. I hallucinated unicorns. I am alerting the Michelin people and recommending an immediate application of at least two stars.