Rebecca spots Patrick Swayze!

Exciting news! I saw Patrick Swayze coming out of his trailer just two blocks from where I work. I was walking down the street, sipping my Starbucks, when Johnny Castle himself stepped out of his trailer and made eye contact with me.

No, I did not run away with him! But I did smile and then keep walking. It was a very exciting Tuesday trip to work. I did not have my camera with me but the stalker gal in the video above certainly did! She spotted him during a much busier time (the street was deserted when I had my little Swayze moment) and she got video! Oddly enough when I got to my office I realized Patrick Swayze had been all over my work neighborhood the day before working and celebrating his 56th birthday. So happy birthday, Johnny Castle! Hope you're kicking cancer's ass!

Also? Dale owes me scads of photos he's taken, which is why I haven't updated more recently. Let this post shame him into handing them over! Hee!

Edited to add: Um, it turns out Johnny Castle is a porn star in addition to being the name of Patrick Swayze's character in Dirty Dancing. So, um, yeah, I meant the movie with Jennifer Grey and not the "gay for pay" porn star Johnny Castle! In case there was any confusion!

Thai Festival at Daley Plaza

I (Rebecca) work just a block from Daley Plaza. The Plaza hosts events year round and I find myself wandering over there most days during lunch just to see what's going on. This week was the Thai Festival. There was a show everyday at noon, some food vendors, some gift vendors, and some random displays sponsored by the Thai Consulate in Chicago. The shot above is across the street from the Plaza. What follows are shots from the festival I took during the week.

Is it painfully obvious Dale did not take these pictures? I'm guessing it is. Anyway, the festival featured a Thai woman that carves fruit into elaborate flowers. Check out the huge flower/watermelon! Crazy!

The main stage featured traditional Thai dancing, boxing, fashion, and music (on various days).

These ladies were playing music on instruments I can not name.

It was a gorgeous week overall so I would get some tasty Thai food from one of the food stands and then walk over to the fountain to eat my lunch and listen to my iPod.

I also giggled while watching the birds drink from the fountain! It just cracked me up that they carefully dipped their beaks in for a sip.

Rebecca's view

This is the view from my (Rebecca's) office window. The building in the foreground is the famous Marshall Fields headquarters (that top floor is where Frango mints were made for many years).

The tall buildings in back on the left are the corncob towers. The middle tall building with blue-ish windows is the new Joffrey Tower (once the Modern Momentum building). It's not as big as it looks; it's just two blocks away from my building.

The really big one that's under construction is the Trump tower. The one in front of Trump is 35 East Wacker Dr., I think. And that Batman-like black building in the back on the right is the Hancock.

Dale's Winter Photo Essay Part 1

Maybe I am a bit sadistic but I really enjoy a good snow in the city and today did not disappoint as you will witness below. Of course my joy is not supported by those around me who have to drive to work – including Rebecca – but since I am wholly reliant on the train and the trains are not affected by snow I am perfectly fine getting a few inches.

These first four shots were taken while at lunch at the Fidelity building across the street from my office.

I didn't realize until a few weeks ago that the moose is actually made up of car bumpers.

A view from my window at work.

After work I took a walk to Millennium Park a few blocks away. In the summer there are free concerts in the park, a reflecting pool, picnic areas, gardens, etc. It is really an oasis in the city. In the winter the activities are limited but they do have an ice rink and the video sculptures at either end of the reflecting pool are still in operation.

The Cloud Gate – “The Bean”

Video Sculptures

Dale's New View

Dale works nearly 30 floors above the city on Michigan Avenue.

His company recently renovated and Dale got a plum spot--right be the windows. He was pretty happy about that. Good thing his coworker is afraid of heights, I guess.

This is the computer lab area and its view.

20th Birthday Party!

My company celebrated its 20th birthday on Sunday with a lovely boat ride from Navy Pier along Chicago's shoreline. The cake, above, was quite spectacular.

It was very hazy and overcast. This was the best picture we could get!

I got to meet a lot of folks I only ever talk to on the phone. This is me with Lisa Akbari--the author of Every Woman's Guide to Beautiful Hair at Any Age. She was lovely to meet after talking to her on the phone about her book so many times.

Dojna (Doy-nuh), me, Erin, and Phil. I work with the girls and Phil is Erin's boyfriend.
We very much enjoyed the champagne and appetizers.

Near Dale's Office

Construction near Dale's office.

The view from the conference room in Dale's office building.

On the street in the city.

One Year Working Anniversary!

March 27 marked my first anniversary at my job! Kinda exciting, because it also marked my first year in Chicago (okay, Oak Park). Dale didn't join me until June so this time last year was very stressful but also exciting.

My mom was in the hospital fighting for her life, I was starting a new job in a new city without my husband or kitties, and Dale was scrambling to pack up our lives back home and driving back and forth every weekend to scout for places to live! Remind me not to repeat that this spring!

Every employee gets a little "thank you" on his or her anniversary date! I got a little bag of M&M's branded with the company logo and colors! I also got a pen (maybe because I'm an editor? I didn't ask!) and a little card with my name on it! Cute!

In honor of my first anniversary I took a snapshot of my desk! This is where the magic happens! Ha! And also, a lot of caffeine is ingested--you can even see the watered-down Starbucks Iced Chai next to my phone! Now this is real life! And my old school headphones that block out noise from nearby coworkers! And, no, that's not a manuscript on my screen. I'm clearly checking my gmail AND using the gmail chat function. I am nothing if not an exceptional employee!

I keep a bamboo plant my mom sent me when I was going through a rough patch when I worked for a magazine aka The Evil Empire! Also, Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Kim Possible--crime-fighting, kick-ass girls who save the world!--protect my dear husband in a velvet frame. He's delicate, that Dale!

This is my reference shelf! Things editors need: Merriam-Webster's, Chicago Manual of Style, Elements of Style, Woe Is I, and The Dictionary of Modern American Usage (my favorite). Also on the shelf: Pride and Prejudice (we publish "sequels" and I have to look stuff up sometimes), all of the company's catalogs, Getting in Touch with Your Inner Bitch (another one we publish), some wedding planners for research (I had a hand in developing our new wedding planner), and scads of sex and love coupons (we are the #1 publisher of those wacky things).

This is my "book" shelf. It's filled with "books" that are not bound and are on their way to your local bookseller. One day I will make a post with the books I've worked on in the last few months! Lots of fun titles.

I wish I had taken pictures of my "art" work which includes paint-by-numbers I did myself and a cool photo of a castle Dale took in Scotland! Maybe on my second anniverary?

It's All About the Shoes-NOW AVAILABLE!

It's All About the Shoes is NOW ON SALE and IN STOCK at Amazon.
Just click the photo above and ORDER IT ALREADY!

Amusing/Embarrasing Moment of the Week!

I'm a book editor. And while doing some research for work, I stumbled upon a book I edited last summer sitting on the shelf at Borders.
What made this one unusual?
I was thanked in the acknowledgments.
Of course, I was very grateful to be thanked and giddy to see my (maiden) name in print!

The book would be one I was almost too embarrased to show off! Haa! So, if you're browsing the stacks at Borders and spot the above book (and are not embarrassed to pick it up off the shelf), look for my name in the acknowledgements! Ha!

Shoes Book News!

The book that Dale took the photos for is now available for pre-order though it's not due to hit stores until March/April.

Pre-order from Amazon.com today!

We're very exciting about how it's coming along--it's going to be great. I should know, as I'm the copyeditor! It looks great and we can't wait for you to see it.

More on Dale's Recent Photo Shoot

Dale's photoshoot from a couple week's back was a success! And we thought it might be neat to show you what it takes to set up a shot and what the final product is. The above photo is the set-up. Dale has a milky-white table, surrounded by lights and fabric to make the product pop!
The photo above is an example of the final photo. The shoes are suspended in space. The graphic designer will cut out the shoes and incorporate the photos into the book she is designing. We'll provide a link to the book once it is available in a few months! For sure, you'll want to pick up a copy, right? I thought so! Anyway, a lot goes into every shot and it's sort of neat to see the "before" and the "after" in terms of detail. I'm long-winded tonight. Sorry.

Dale had a photoshoot!

We had a photoshoot in Dale's studio this week! Anne L. served as the art director while Dale manned the lens! I provided the snacks, as needed, as well as some organizational efforts. The book--which you will certainly be hearing more about--is still in the production process! We can't wait to share it with you!