fraudoktorsweigart's Xanga

Fingerprints and My New Favorite Phrase

Sun, 06 Jan 2008 21:14:47 GMT

As those who read my Facebook updates may know, I was fingerprinted on Friday. Why, you may ask? As part of a new requirement at my firm, all Financial Analysts and Associates (like me), must become General Securities Representatives. To become registered, I have to take and pass two exams, the Series 7 and the Series 63. As part of this process, I have to be fingerprinted and fill out a 28 page form detailing everywhere I have lived for at least 5 years and everywhere I have worked for at least 10 years. The test is mostly a lot of memorization, but also has some calculations as well. I have to take and pass it by March 31, so Claire (another Associate in my group) and I are setting aside a weekend this month to buckle down and study.

Speaking of Claire, she sent me what is possibly the best line of 2008 so far... From People.com: Lindsey Lohan has Sobriety Setback. This phrase can be used in various ways, as in: "Want to have a sobriety setback Friday after work?"

My first snowman

Wed, 02 Jan 2008 03:08:58 GMT

I've never made a snowman before. And, technically, I supervised the construction of this one. The snow angel, however, is all me, baby!

Waiting on the 7.18

Tue, 20 Nov 2007 22:50:21 GMT

I'm at the gate waiting for the flight to Madrid. Pics and details will follow. Get your popcorn ready!

xoxo,

Frau

The Lizzie in Winter

Fri, 16 Nov 2007 01:20:02 GMT

Reflections on Chicago and my life...

So, as you have noticed, I don't have time to update the blahg very often. It's a function of working a lot and getting to spend time with my husband. Which, after six plus months of living in different cities, is quite lovely.

I love my job. It's a good feeling to be excited about work again and to be learning constantly. I work with good people. They're smart and funny and they push me. I like that. Also, on my way to work in the morning, I can smell the chocolate factory across the river - it's smells like warm molten chocolate cake fresh from the oven. Plus, it hits my chocolate craving for the day.

Our neighborhood is great. I really like Oak Park. And the leaves are falling.

Life is good.

Call off the dogs...

Mon, 01 Oct 2007 01:55:37 GMT

I was not looking forward to church-shopping. The Episcopalians out there know exactly what I'm talking about. We "shop around" churches looking for a place where we fit and that fits us. We are also notoriously picky about liturgy, what portions are sung vs. said, choirs, organ, preaching, coffee hour, etc.

Today, I tried Grace Episcopal Church, Oak Park. The church is about 1/4 mile from our place and easy to walk to. It began pleasantly enough with a nice voluntary and very outgoing ushers. It wasn't quite up to the Randy Byrd Greeter Standard, but still kind and welcoming. The youth acolytes were appropriately scuffy and sneaker-clad. Extra points for no members of the altar party wearing shoes that light up when you walk.

I had a couple of issues with the rambling procession, the slightly too fast introit, and the odd bowing (they bow to the congregation, but not the reserved sacrament behind the altar -- huh?). Also, the immensely talented parish musician (organist, choirmaster, etc.) is apparently quite a prolific composer. However, his tunes seemed to be inspired by a combination of Phillip Glass (repetitive) and Merzbow (random and eclectic pitch and tone changes), but not really in a good way. Forget trying to keep up if you are a newcomer. Also, no verger. Minus 2 points.

I relaxed my hypercriticism long enough to enjoy the extremely diverse congregation and the lovely choir music. Excellent sermon, short but effective announcements, and an exchange of the Peace the really showed people glad to see each other without devolving into a cocktail party. After the service, two people came over to welcome me and introduce themselves. They then took me to coffeehour (ok, coffee; good coffee cake, etc.) and introduced me to several other folks. When I said I had just moved from Texas, but grown up in NYC, they immediately found a couple of people who had also lived in Texas for a time and some ex-NYC-ers. Again, very friendly, engaging, and welcoming. By the time I left I had already exchanged contact info with another member.

Grace isn't Palmer. No place is Palmer, except for Palmer. Yet I had a great feeling being at Grace. The young children flooded the church when they came back from Sunday School at the Peace. They had their own area at the front of the church, to the right of the chancel crossing. There were rugs and books and toys. And the kids were loud, sometimes, and ran around sometimes, and went to sit and watch at others. But there wasn't a sense that they were interfering or unwelcome. The kids were allowed to be kids, with supervision and with their parents right there. I was very impressed with the number of children and young families. I saw very little in the way of youth (junior and high school). But, they are making an effort, it seems.

Overall, I felt very welcome and at home at Grace. I think it is the place for me. I feel blessed to have found Grace and found it so soon and so close.

The Nave.

The front of the church (seen from Lake St.)

Mother Shawn, the Rector

OPRF Reprazent

Sun, 30 Sep 2007 02:43:19 GMT

I now live in Oak Park. It is beyond cute. Feels like Brooklyn Heights and a little like parts of Greenwich Village. Verra nice.

Internet access was finally achieved today. Arg... AT&T. Bonus points for anyone who understands the intense irony of the situation.

Pics from the move and accompanying stories to follow.

moooooving

Wed, 19 Sep 2007 18:22:11 GMT

i'm typing this entry on mark's pocket pc so I apologize ahead of time for lack of capitalization. the movers have taken the router and the modem so we are in the land of cell phones only and very limited email. it is strange to sit in this house that we've lived in for 4 years and have it be completely empty. I still can remember unpacking the minivan upon arrival at rice. it's hard to believe that my four year adventure has tuned into a third of my life. it is hard to leave this place, but also exciting. it's a feeling of nervous anticipation. I have only seen pictures of our new apartment (the actual finding was outsourced to mark). but it looks nice and it's close to the train. pictures will come soon. tonight and tomorrow we clean up here, friday we pack the stuff we're taking up, and saturday mornibg we start driving. we should be in chicago on sunday night. pictures and updates to follow.

the frau is back.

OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Fri, 07 Sep 2007 01:31:44 GMT

I could swear that the song played on the new AT&T commerical was "Cute Papa" by Maya Bond...

What do you think? I am trying to find it on YouTube or something to link...

How totally cray is that?!!?!!?!?

The totally long overdue post on NORWAY!!!

Fri, 31 Aug 2007 20:21:34 GMT

So, back at the end of May, Mark and I went to Norway. Well, actually, I went to Norway for work and dragged Mark with me because my trip spanned Memorial Day which, while not a holiday itself in Norway, corresponded this year with Ascension Day, which is a Norwegian holiday. So, we got a long weekend in Oslo.

1. Teach Yourself Norwegian

There are approximately 4.5 million people in Norway and it is estimated that only about 5 million people worldwide speak the language. Armed with this information, I decided that I could impress the client, as well as my friends and neighbors, by learning some Norwegian prior to my trip. After conducting a not-so-exhaustive search for Norwegian language learning on the Barnes & Noble and Borders websites, I found the CDs "Teach Yourself Norwegian Conversation" (hereinafter "TYNC") at the Border's on Kirby and West Alabama.

The premise of TYNC is that the listener learns Norwegian by hearing a sample conversation between a variety of speakers and then internalizes the language to engage in witty reparte with the Norse people. The idea is excellent, but the execution is well... problematic. This series of conversations follow the life of Olav Berg (said: OOOOO-LAV BEAR-gggggg), a journalist from Bergen, i Oslo (said: eeee Osh-low) par feria (on holiday). While par feria i Oslo, Olav sets about trying to pick up women and date them. In between he eats at several cafes and gives directions. Oh, and then he gets some sort of very nasty illness (clearly from the many women with whom he has been not-so-surreptiously canoodling). And you learn to say that you koster opp and har diarea. Lovely. Perfect for business conversation. Now I am able to pick up women in Norwegian and become ill.

After listening to the CDs (loaded onto my iPod) non-stop for about 7 days straight, I actually became pretty conversant. While in Norway I could order my food in Norwegian, ask directions, check into a hotel, and even had a lively discussion with the client's CEO. That and I am set if I want to pick up women...

2. Over the River and Through the Woods

God bless the Norwegians. They have never heard of lawyers or torts. Or, at least that is what one would be left to believe after having observed four of the largest museums in Oslo. The other fact that becomes stunningly obvious is that, while there may be an ADA in the U.S., there is no corresponding set of laws in Norway. If you are less than able-bodied, it is not an easy country to get around.

However, one thing they have certainly heard of is roomservice. Now, this is what I am talking about.

Oh giant plate of bacon, you complete me...

Fortified by breakfast, adventurers can explore the Oslo harbor and also the museums on the peninsula. Oh, and in late May, Norway is gorgeous. Sunny, 75 degrees (F), and breezy.

There are tons of outdoor markets sprinkled throughout the city (well, outdoor in the summer...)

Yes, that's right! There is no barrier, no warning when a tram is coming. They don't even honk.

Incline. This theme will follow us throughout the trip.

Oslo harbor.

On the first landing of the castle.

View of the harbor from the top of the palisades.

The PwC office in Oslo.

Mark with the statue of the woodworker by the palisades.

Back to the view of the city from the palisades.

Mark looking out at the harbor.

The park around the palisades contains modern military housing and facilities as well as the Museum of the Norwegian Resistance (which was sadly closed when we were there).

Karl Johans gate (said: gaaa-tuh) means Karl Johans street. This is the main drag in Oslo.

Norwegians have GOOD toy stores.

Norwegians are also obsessed with trolls. More here.

See troll obsession above.

There is a huge sculpture garden at the north end of Oslo. All the sculptures are done by one artist, Gustav Vigeland. It's a wee bit freaky in some spots. Above is one of four pillars of a bridge showing (what we think...) is a dragon/fish/scaly thing eating/hugging/canoodling with a princess/damsel in distress.

The Bridge at the sculpture garden.

A view of the fountain.

View of the center of the sculpture garden.

The Fountain.

Hmmm... Maybe the Frau and Herr Doktor are actually Norwegian?

Our street!

I kinda thought the girl looked like a short-haired Posh D. being kidnapped by a freaky Harrison Ford at Jean Valjean kinda guy...

The Folk Museum entrance

10 Years Later

Tue, 24 Apr 2007 01:52:09 GMT

So, I went to Chapin from the time I was 4 1/2 until I was 18, with these amazing women. And last weekend we got together again for our 10th reunion. And it was surreal. After 10 years we all somehow seemed to be older, employed versions of exactly who we were 24 years ago. And it's weird. And at the same time, it's wonderful. I wish I had taken more pictures. But here's what I have. Enjoy. And as KN said... "see you in 2012."

He didn't go to school with us. Sean is the bartender.