This past weekend I eliminated my need to ever go to Iowa. This does not mean that I will never go there; it seems strange not to ever visit neighboring states so I suspect that I will someday venture into what many call "flyover country." The wonderful and colorful Edward Hopper exhibit at the Art Institute of Chicago contained two of my all-time favorite paintings. Not just Hopper paintegs, but ALL-TIME favorite paintings. I have been to a lot of museums and I have a lot of favorite paintings so seeing two of my favorites (one which is usually house in Des Moines) in one place during a special exhibit is truly a treat. Not only were they in the same exhibit, but the same room of said exhibit. On one wall hung Automat (the Des Moines painting) and to the right of this painting, on the adjoining wall, hung Chop Suey (from the collection of someone named Barney A. Ebsworth). Actually I just looked him up and he is definitely some big wig in the Build-A-Bear world and other ventures apparently. Maybe if I can come up with some wacky goldmine like those American Girl dolls (whose heads stick out of every backpack in the Loop on weekends) I can one day afford an Edward Hopper too!

We have finished the Season Four DVDs of the Sopranos. I am bereft. No, seriously.