Last night I took my niece Taylor, and her best friend Piper, to Opening Night of “Cirque Shanghai” on Navy Pier. I thought it would be a nice treat for them to come play downtown for the night. Sure, it’s a school night… but that’s not really MY problem, right? I’m just the “fun” Uncle!!! Plus it was GREAT entertainment for me too!!!

It was a very FULL evening  And on a school-night no less. We did dinner, ice cream, show, Ferris Wheel and fireworks. We started with dinner at the Billy Goat for “Cheezeborgers, cheezeborger, cheezeborger. No fries, chips!!!” Then followed that quickly with some yummy ice cream before the show started. Some great fun downtown for a couple little suburb girls!!!

We then went into the Skyline Stage for “Cirque Shanghai.” Taylor came to see the show last year too. But was excited to see this year’s version, and to share the experience with her buddy Piper.

One of their favorite acts was the Motorcycle Cage… where there were five, yes count them FIVE, motorcycles inside the cage all zooming around at the same time! Unfortunately, it didn’t show up too well in the photo?!

And does it strike anyone else as “weird” that in a show named “Dragon’s Thunder” that this illuminated gobo pattern on the wall was really the only dragon in the show?!… well, that and one dragon backdrop curtain!!!

As you’re exiting the theater, you go past the souvenir stand… and then they have a few of the performers there for photos & autographs. I love seeing a kid look at the autograph… and not being able to read ANY part of it. Of course, they sign their names in Chinese!!!

After the show & souvenirs, we watched the fireworks that shoot off over Lake Michigan. So much fun seeing the “first fireworks of the season” set to pop music… and listening to the little cuties sing every word to every song!!! When the firework show ended, we made our way to the huge Ferris Wheel for a spin.

They were a little anxious getting on… but once we were going, they both had a great time. And the view of the city was perfect as it turned out to be a beautiful night!

As our evening came to a close, it was obvious that the Pier may be slowing down… but NOT the girls!!! They were wired and ready to play. Or to strike a pose!!!

We all had a great evening… but after all the adrenaline & sugar-buzz, they were quickly re-named “Hyper & Piper.” And I must admit… I did feel just a wee-bit sorry for my sister Jen who had the “privilege” of driving them both home to the suburbs. I’m sure it was a long drive… but that’s my motto… Get ’em sugared up and send ’em home!!!

After a late night last night, and a busy day this morning, I needed to take a short break from the studio. So I went over to the lakefront for a quick bike ride… and a little more lakefront leisure. Because I “deserve” it, right?!

Sadly, the boat is not mine. Nor is it a friend of mine. I just loved how serene it all look. And how the sky and water just kind of blend into one another.

Another beautiful morning on the lakefront. After traveling all weekend with my parents up in Minnesota… and so much time spent sitting in the car, it was great to get back out on my bike this morning!

And it’s always a welcome sign when the lifeguard stands finally reappear on the lakefront. One more sign that Summer might actually be on its way… for good this time!!!

Tonight was another fun night of “culture” downtown Chicago…
err, or was that in Oklahoma?!… OK !!!

Yes, we all know the story. We all know the songs. We all know the words.
It was great to see the live production on stage for the first time after seeing the classic film version since childhood. It was very well done with some beautiful voices. There were a few people who might not be the “true” triple threat. But all in all it was fun. I tried not to sing out-loud too much. And for the record, I can say that I still don’t care about Poor Jud Fry.

Part of the fun is also seeing the beauty & majesty of the Civic Opera House in Chicago. It’s one of the largest & grandest theaters in the city. With beautiful art-deco & art-nouveau accents everywhere in it’s beautifully restored state. Everywhere you turn there are stunning architectural accents. Just walking around the lobby and theater is a visually stunning experience. And the people-watching ain’t too shabby either!

Sure, I’ve been there many times.
I’ve stopped to take pictures at this exact spot many times!
I’ve sat on these rocks. Enjoyed a sunrise. Looked at the lighthouse.
For years.

But today for the first time ever…
I saw this great little running man graffiti along the lakefront.
Kinda like a flip-book of graffiti… with the little jogger painted every 10-feet or so.

Well, today was the day. Long awaited. Long dreaded.
Not the best way to spend a beautiful Monday morning. But sometimes you just HAVE to!

So I received the dreaded letter from the IRS a couple weeks prior to filing my 2012 taxes. It said that I was being audited on my 2011 tax return. It’s the letter that no one EVER wants to receive. So not only did it make me dread doing my 2012 taxes a bit more, the 2011 audit was always in the back of my mind. After filing 2o12 on April 15th, with just a few hours to spare, I started working on clarifying & organizing my 2011 documents & records.

Now let’s just say… I’m not the best with numbers. I’m an artist.

I do the best I can when it comes to my takes. I follow Turbo Tax and answer all of the questions to the best of my knowledge. But seriously, do any of you REALLY know where all of those numbers are going?! I know I don’t. But I kind of figure that as long as I answer all of the questions honestly and have the receipts and documents to back it up, I’ll be okay in the long run. But still… tension & anticipation hoping & waiting to see how it all plays out as the IRS Auditor starts tackling my account.

Her first question was too see my documentation. My Excel Spreadsheet.
Once I forced myself to hold back my laugh, I explained that I’m an artist and I don’t do spreadsheets. But I do have a ledger sheet that I’ve created myself and fill in manually throughout the year. No spreadsheets here!

Luckily, after a few false starts, the IRS Auditor started to understand my “process.” As my friend Andrea calls it “Gary Math.” And she started to see where my numbers came from. She double-checked some of my totals, checked a few of my receipts, made a bunch of copies and asked a LOT of questions. I had to explain to her what my business was, how I make my money, how I make pottery, how I price my wares and a whole lot more! I think she was just trying to get an understanding of what she was dealing with here. Although I’m not sure that anyone who’s not a potter can REALLY understand what we all go through. At one point, she even asked my where the numbers that represent my “salary” from making pottery was. This time I laughed out loud. Do any of us really get paid to make pots? I know I don’t. No salary here. Everything I earn goes right back into the business so I can make more!!! It’s a labor of love… and I know I’ll NEVER get rich making pots. I do it because I love it..

So, after three-and-half-hours of my life that I’ll never get back, she did admit that I’ve done a really good job of keeping my records. She was impressed that everything was well organized, color-coded and represented well in my ledger. She said she was impressed… although she would still prefer to see all of my categories on a spreadsheet!

I must admit it all turned out better than I expected. At this point, she thinks that I’m pretty good. There was only one small issue she said shouldn’t make much of an impact. In the next two or three weeks she said she’ll give me the final determinations… but that I shouldn’t be concerned.

On my way out from the Federal Building, I did take a moment to enjoy the “Flamingo” sculpture by Alexander Calder. One of the nicest parts of downtown Chicago is all of the art, architecture & sculpture everywhere you turn.

After the audit, I went back to the studio to make more stuff. More stuff that my IRS Auditor now understands. But I was too excited… and I thought I needed a small reward. So I walked over to Margie’s and splurged!!! And yes, I called it “lunch.”

Almost made it worth “suffering” through the IRS Audit?! Well, not really…

Today was a beautiful Spring day in Chicago…
at least until a weird fog rolled in off the lake?! Odd… yet pretty darn cool!

With tree buds emerging. Skyline fading away… typically a nice view looking south from the North Avenue Boathouse. Trust me, there should be a skyline back there somewhere?!

Picture perfect around Belmont Harbor. Reflections… yet no lake beyond the breakwater!

We’ve seen this lighthouse on many a sunrise morning. Yet on a day like this, I would find it oddly more comforting if the lighthouse was still working. But alas… it does not.

As I made it further south, pedaling through the Museum Campus, I found these wonderful horse head sculptures. Not, they’re not a nod to “The Godfather.” But a great installation piece of two horse heads constructed of little rectangles of metal all soldered together. Great animation as the sun glistens off each small piece.

With all of the flooding in the Chicago area earlier this week, you would have thought that maybe this wonderful sculpture would have been disassembled and deployed to the flooded areas?! Kidding. Luckily, it is still fully intact and gracing the gardens in front of Chicago’s Navy Pier.

It was still a little chilly, and quite windy, as the breeze was blowing in off the lake. Which kind of made it feel like a headwind going in both directions! But it was still well worth the extra effort. As the flooding rains have stopped, as have the snow showers. With a lot of sunshine, it feels like Spring might actually be on its way… to stay this time!

Another sign of Spring… precious, little purple flowers popping up along the bike path.

Not to mention the leaves that are finally bursting out to greet the sun.
Guess all of that rain earlier in the week really paid off!