Stephanie Janisch

Scrabble for Cheaters!

2011-10-20T15:14:00.001-05:00

I volunteer at 826CHI, a non-profit writing and tutoring center in Chicago, and this weekend they are having a Scrabble for Cheaters tournament to raise money for the organization.

I am on a team called the Scrabble Crabs (there are so many implications behind this team name, but I am going to keep it optimistic). So each team sets a money goal to raise and the amount they raise can be used to buy cheats like "THE ALSORANS: Add Q, Z, or X to any word" and "THE SPURN: Reject an opponent's word for no reason."

So, if there is anyone in the world (besides Jeanette) that actually reads any of this, have a heart and help us cheat. You can donate money through the website or by getting in touch with me.

Sleeping Bear Dunes

2011-10-19T17:45:00.000-05:00

Aaron and I took a camping trip out to Sleeping Bear Dunes. It was really quiet and isolated and not overly touristy (but enough so that I could buy my sister a ridiculous souvenir). It was truly the best of both a camping and beach vacation. I didn't know Lake Michigan could be so clear!

Half-beetle, half-crab.

We found a super cheap place to rent a kayak. It was so serene.

I let Aaron do all the work.

Few things compare to fresh vegetable roasted over a fire. I could probably be content eating foil packs for the rest of my life.

The best part about the whole trip was earning my Junior Ranger badge at the end. It makes me kind of wish I had done it on our Badlands trip.

Finding Focus

2011-10-17T13:50:00.000-05:00

What I will miss most about summer...

2011-10-14T12:10:00.001-05:00

is lunching in the park.

Finding Focus

2011-04-25T08:00:00.001-05:00

Finding Focus

2011-04-18T08:00:00.001-05:00

Finding Focus

2011-04-11T08:00:00.002-05:00

Here's to the last year of my first quarter-century: 6 Month Review

2011-04-08T08:00:00.002-05:00

Today I am officially 24 years and 6 months old. I don't normally celebrate this minor milestone, but it seems wise to revisit the goals I set for my 24th year at exactly the half point mark.

Things to accomplish before I turn 25:

1. Make a blog post at least once a week

Well, I have succeeded at this by default. My posts of late have been fairly sporadic, but I am working on finding a rhythm. In the coming weeks I hope to establish a routine in my personal life which might better enable me to keep up with this.

2. Read a book a month

Overwhelming success. Which feels fantastic. When I have the time to read, it is completely liberating. I joined a few book clubs to try and keep me on track. Since I set this goal I have read: People of the Book, Olive Kitteridge, Gang Leader for a Day, The Diving Bell and the Butterfly, Good Omens, Second Nature, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, The Girl Who Played with Fire, and I am currently reading The Castle.

3. Work on a project that makes me excited

I can't exactly say that I have accomplished this goal, or if I even know how to accomplish this goal. But I did start volunteering at 826CHI and it has been really enjoyable. It is nice to feel like I am helping in a meaningful way. I have also been looking into volunteering in a community garden.

4. Find a job that I am good at/enjoy

Currently under review.

5. Run the Chicago Marathon (technically the day after my birthday)

Gah, epic failure. I missed registration! Aaron is set on running an August marathon in Wisconsin that is considerable cheaper than the Chicago. I just need to keep telling myself that I am too busy not to run.

6. Go to California

Currently under review. I hope this happens regardless.

7. Start a separate savings account

Accomplished! Now I just have to start putting funds into this account.

8. Finish was I start (to the best of my ability)

This is kind of difficult to measure. I am trying. It is difficult to keep mental track of everything I have started to ensure I finish it. I definitely need to finish my website.

9. Show appreciation for friends and family

I would like to say I am succeeding at this but my family and friends would really have to attest to my success. As it turns out two of my uncles and my grandfather will be moving to Arizona in the fall, which makes this goal so much more important.

10. Don't freak out

So much has happened since I set these goals. Between a car accident, job stress, and financial woes, I haven't exactly been the best about not freaking out. But I am trying to reign it in. Life will go on, regardless of my reaction to these minor set backs. Constantly a work in progress.

When all is said and done, I would say I am on track for most of these (with the exception of the marathon). I may be setting myself up for disappointment, but I think that if I only accomplish some of these goals, my 25th year will be fantastic and 24 will have been very rewarding.

Finding Focus

2011-04-04T08:00:00.002-05:00

Godspeed You! Black Emperor

2011-03-29T17:16:00.000-05:00

Aaron and I went to the sold out Godspeed You! Black Emperor show at the Metro on Saturday. And it was pretty breathtaking, in more ways than one. The set had everything I wanted to hear, and frankly, I am glad we went to the Saturday show because Sunday was slightly different.

I have often wondered how they make certain sounds so watching them perform was enlightening. We ended up fairly close to the stage; however, my short stature made it difficult to see regardless. The projections were mesmerizing but sometimes repetitive. It is not difficult to wander through your own thoughts and projections during the songs.

Despite how really incredible the set was, it was long. Almost too long. The Metro is not the most ideal venue, especially for sold out shows for a band that plays for over 2 hours without a break. It was hot. But my attention did not really wander. And was relieved when they did not do an encore not only because of my own opinions on the idea of an encore but also for the sake of my aching legs and back.

I love a band that can instigate the morality and meaningfulness of music, art, and a live performance. I know the band does not regard concerts highly, but I am grateful for the opportunity to enjoy and reflect on their musicianship.

And the post-show milkshake was delicious.

Finding Focus

2011-03-28T08:00:00.000-05:00

(notes on) biology

2011-03-26T08:00:00.002-05:00

Robot Elephant. Awesome.

Nothing but blue skies from now on

2011-03-24T08:00:00.000-05:00

It is finally getting nicer in Chicago. Aaron and I went for a pleasant bike ride down to North Avenue Beach the other day. This sure isn't Rochester but it isn't as clear as the Mexican sky, yet.

Finding Focus

2011-03-21T08:00:00.003-05:00

Art of the Title

2011-03-19T08:00:00.004-05:00

Aww yeah, music by RJD2 and a shout out to Enter the Void.

A Family Event

2011-03-17T20:00:00.002-05:00

These are the last photos from Mexico I am going to post today. Aaron and I went with my mom, my sister, (my almost sister) Angie, and family friend Dave. It was quite the rag-tag team, but we all made it out alive, if not for a little sunburn.

Yes, all 6 of us crammed into a taxi meant for 4.

I think it is appropriate that the only group photo of us that is half-way decent is the one where we all made funny faces.

We also went on a zip lining, burro-riding, bumpy driving, whale watching adventure tour. Nobody told you the water was going to be that cold.

Note: I did not take the zip lining photos. They are courtesy Vallarta Adventures.

I crave fresh tortillas

2011-03-17T16:00:00.000-05:00

During our trip to Puerto Vallarta, we took the opportunity to explore the countryside of the Sierra Madres. And it was truly stunning.

Much of the area outside of the city is dedicated to farming, and most of the farming is organic. It was so refreshing to see people buying imperfect fruit and vegetables. The standards of the appearance of produce in the United States is ridiculous.

We also stopped to have fresh churros and tortillas, and even stopped by a cactus farm and had homemade tortillas, beans, pico, guacamole, and cactus salsa.

It was perfect. On our way back to the city we stopped in a small surfing village called Sayulita where we found all the Ex-Pats hanging out and having a good time. It was really nice to get away from the overtly touristy parts of Puerto Vallarta, that is not to say that the places we visited did not thrive on tourism as well, they just seemed to handle it more casually.

Sunny, Sunny Mexico

2011-03-17T12:22:00.001-05:00

We couldn't have picked a better time to go to Mexico. The weather was wonderful, the company was entertaining, and I even picked up a bit of color. It was just the respite I needed from this particularly brutal Chicago winter. More photos to come.

Book Review: Gang Leader for a Day

2011-03-16T16:00:00.001-05:00

I read Gang Leader for a Day: A Rogue Sociologist Takes to the Streets by Sudhir Venkatesh a number of weeks ago. We found the book among others in a box in the alley. The best free book I have ever read. I had been meaning to read it for some reason or another and had actually checked it out from the library but never finished it. Finding it in the alley really pushed me to get through it.

That is not to say that it is a difficult book to get through, by any means. It is a non-fiction, subjective book on gang activity on the South-side of Chicago as told from the perspective of Venkatesh who was researching gang culture for his graduate thesis. But this book certainly tells you much more than just that.

It is hard to broach the subject of gang culture as a white, suburban raised woman without sounding naive or uppity, but I have only the best intentions as I really enjoyed this book. Considering gang tensions in Chicago, Venkatesh approaches the subject with levity, bringing the reader through his chance encounter and eventual friendship/relationship with a medium-level gang leader as casually as it might have happened.

The book describes the hierarchy and functions of the group with detail as well as how the gang fit into the neighborhood, which I can imagine was easy considering this was his main focus of study. He also focuses heavily on his own personal struggles and ethical dilemmas. As you later find out he was treading in very dangerous waters. This books seems almost like a personal extension of his work. It is surprising the amount of access he received as are the situations he tends to find himself in. It certainly begs the question of whether or not anyone really understands the class and racial divides and segregate us and whether or not we have the power the change any of it. I would like to think that we do but it must take a lot of cooperation and some brave soul willing to step up for the people who don't have a voice. Venkatesh touches only lightly on the subject, but it stuck with me throughout the whole of the book and long after.

The story as a whole is entertaining and enlightening. Having worked under stressful circumstances with difficult subjects, I can understand the emotional and physical fatigue of returning to a situation fraught with drama. I can also understand his fascination and need to go back. Sometimes people just stick with you and you find them popping up in your thoughts.

This was a really wonderful read that gave me a lot of insight into a side of Chicago that I am not exposed to.

New Bike = New Bag

2011-03-15T08:00:00.021-05:00

I had the great fortune of finding a bicycle at Working Bikes Coop (and will be taking a bicycle maintenance class at West Town Bikes later this month) and the weather was nice enough (i.e. not crazy windy/rainy/cold) to go for a ride today. Needless to say, you never forget the mechanics of riding a bicycle, but your bum and thighs sure do. But I have every hope of getting back out there in the coming months.

The occasion for riding today was half-price day at the local thrift store. I had every intention of buying a backpack and walked out with two shirts and a scarf, go figure. It is not that I don't have a usable backpack, I have two actually (sort of). One is a hemp bag with a pull string that doesn't work and a hole in the bottom, not to mention a questionable graphic. The second is a prop bag from one of Aaron's films, which was drawn on with Sharpie to reflect the character's moodiness and is missing a buckle. The latter worked just fine this afternoon.

But I would totally buy one of these if I had the $$:

The Organic Natural Canvas Rucksack from Infusion is lovely. It begs to be taken on a picnic. It doesn't come with the shoulder strap, but I don't think I would get it anyway. This bag is huge though and kind of pricey.

Yes, this is a child's backpack, but it is just the size I am looking for. The Kids' Panda backpack by EcoGear would be great if it came with out all that pink.

There are two backpacks from Hempmania that I think are really simple, compact, and affordable. On the left is the Hemp Mini Backpack and on the right is the Hemp Super Mini Backpack which is just slightly larger than its companion. Both bags come in a variety of colors, although I lean towards the black, moss green, and natural.

The bags made by Ecolution are nice and simple but also really hard to find. The bag on the left is The School Backpack and can be found in a variety of online stores for fairly cheap and in a few different colors, but the bag on the right, The College Backpack, is impossible to find. And if you do find it, it is in the worst color.

I will probably just end up dyeing the drawn-on bag that I have right now. We will see how that goes...

Finding Focus

2011-03-14T08:00:00.001-05:00

And suddenly my eyes were open...

2011-03-13T17:31:00.000-05:00

I feel like I have been in a bit of a haze lately. The advent of Spring has definitely been the wake up call I needed.

In the past month or so I:

bought a bike
went to Mexico
made delicious foods
planted some seeds
joined Pinterest
read some pretty interesting books
found wonderful music
took some nice photos

All of which I will make a point of sharing in the coming week or so.

For now, a sweet, sweet music video:

And all day I have been watching the Tiny Desk Concerts from NPR Music. The sound quality makes up for what the production quality lacks (in my opinion):

Finding Focus

2011-02-14T08:00:00.002-06:00

New cars and panda sweaters

2011-02-10T10:00:00.000-06:00

As luck would have it, I received the panda sweater for Secret Santa this year (even though Emily did not wear it as many times as she was supposed to). It also came with a list of required wearings:

My neighborhood is so strange

2011-02-09T10:00:00.000-06:00