Border War

Growing up, I went to Missouri football games. And I knew Kansas as the school with the bird that did pretty well during the month of March. The fact they were terrible, century-old rivals never even occurred to me. Until I applied to Kansas and got in. And then decided to go there.

This rivalry was always something I looked forward to, mainly because so many of my friends went to Mizzou. The trash talking and emails during “Border Showdown” week is right up there on my favorite times of the year. And this year has proved no different, despite the fact I’m not on campus. Mizzou “released” this absurd video and the Jayhawks responded.

So ready for tomorrow!

Beware, this is a bit hard to stomach and sit through.

 

And the classy response.

 

Kansas: 171
Missouri: 94

Enough said.

There He Is

Old Man Winter has been MIA here in the Windy City over the past few months. I mean, in Winter 2010, the Puffy Coat came out Dec. 9 and didn’t leave until March. Winter 2011, the coat made its first appearance at the Holiday Party night (Dec. 11), but that’s only because I knew my date would wear a long, black, wool coat and I didn’t want us to match. But since that night, the coat’s hung in the closet waiting for its permanent rotation.

Well look who’s coming off the bench now as Old Man Winter brutally slaps us across the fact with wind and cold temps. Mild winter, it was nice while it lasted. The “feels like 7” bit down there makes me loathe our wind tunnel we’ve got going on between our buildings and the lake. There’s only a few times in the year I despise living by the lake. And those times happen from January-March.

 

Beware, Mother-Daughter Date Night

Mom crushes on George Clooney. I crush on Ryan Gosling. And now, the two came together for a movie. And here’s the thing, it’s a movie that looks fantastic. Like Michael Clayton meets Fracture meets State of Play.

Clearly we’ve got a movie date on our hands this October. Trailer below for Ides of March.

Dancin’ in the Sun

It’s no secret my love, passion and obsession with Indie films and film festivals. Seeing as Sundance is the one on my list of “Must-do,” I was immensely excited to learn of Sundance Film Festival U.S.A. last year. This one night event selects cities throughout the US to screen a Sundance film and hold a Q&A with filmmakers. Last year I saw Jack Goes Boating and Philip Seymour Hoffman came out to hold a Q&A. I think these Q&As with filmmakers really make the festival atmosphere. Even if a film is not something I enjoyed, a director can totally change my mind just be detailing all of his trials and tribulations in the film.

One of these days, I will make it to Sundance. But until then, I’ll keep my fingers crossed for the Sundance Film Festival U.S.A. coming to Chicago.

And another cool thing about Sundance U.S.A., you get a Festival program, as if you’re in Park City. I even got swag this year with a really cool Festival mug and gloves.

This year, Chicago got to see The Music Never Stopped. It was amazing. Truly amazing. And thankfully, the film got picked up by Roadside Attractions before Sundance even started. So it should be hitting most markets around March/April. It’s one I’m definitely going to see again and buy the soundtrack to. If you’re a music lover of the 50s, 60s, 70s; then you’ll enjoy as well. My review of the film is on The Parallax Review.

Breaking Down Walls

At work, we have windows that connect us to other people in the office. They slide open and close (think drive thru window). The guy I share mine with has always kept ours closed since the day I started. One day I asked him why:

“Because you went to Kansas and I went to Kentucky. We can only talk to each other during the Summer when basketball isn’t in session.”

Fair enough. So began our war of post-its and emails of “I’m-better-than-you-because.” The stink eyes when we see each other out of the office walls and around the office hallways. The sarcastic, “What’s your rank this week?”

Then yesterday he says, “I’ve made a resolution to be nice to opposing basketball school alums.” And proceeds to crack our window open about 5 inches. Gone are the stink eyes and here are the “Why hello Hanna, that top looks lovely”s. We capped off our momentous day with a cupcake contest where I challenged him to stuff 5 cupcakes in his mouth. He did.

Today, I come in, window still cracked. Which means we’re still on the path for a verbal relationship. The only problem is, due to a swollen throat, I have no voice. So I do what any copywriter would do, write a post it.

“Mornin’! My throat hurts. Speaking in notes.”

He passes the note through the window where I find on the back he wrote:

“Hello” and a taped Halls cough drop.

It’s a brand new year folks. A Kentucky Wildcat and Kansas Jayhawk are getting along. Caring for one and other. We’ll see if birds-of-a-feather still flock-together through March Madness.