Sphere merch

Less than a week after we saw the Zac Brown Band at the Vegas Sphere, their website on Jan. 23 started advertising a mystery merch bundle - three shirts (their choice) for $65 - which immediately felt like a much better deal than anything we saw in Vegas. I didn’t pay that much attention to prices at the show, but once I saw T-shirts were $50, I knew I wasn’t buying anything. (Later I read hoodies were $85, which made me feel even better about that decision.) But three shirts for $65? Suddenly I'm very interested. Andy and I can both wear them, so it feels like a win all around.

We finally got an email Feb. 15 telling us a shipping label had been created. We were getting a bit concerned whether we'd ever receive the shirts.

Good thing I was running a bit late for work yesterday. This box was delivered and left outside on the porch so at least I was home and able to bring it inside.

Nice, kind of thin, sweatshirt.

This is my favorite, but it has the concert dates on the back, including Andy's birthday, so he'll probably fight me for this one.

This one is pretty nice too. I was tempted to buy the black one in Vegas but the T-shirt shop was closed after the concert (it was the last performance) so it worked out well that we randomly got it in this order.

Free cat tree

One of our neighbors set out a table of free stuff so we drove by and found a like-new cat tree. Our cats either like it or they're trying to tear it apart. We shall see.

It’s Paczki Day

I'm not one to wait in line at a bakery for paczki but if see them in the grocery store I might pick them up. I got these at Mariano's and they're fresh and tasty. Happy Fat Tuesday!

Family Bingo with friends

Andy and I met our friends, M and R, at One Lake Brewing Sunday afternoon for their Family Bingo. Here's my winning board and my prize - a small draft of the beer of my choice. Everyone at our table won a game, except Andy.

We ordered wings which ended up being our dinner since we talked for at least an hour after Bingo ended. We even saw one of our neighbor couples there. It was a fun night.

Hop Butcher Brewery

Andy and I dropped off some food for B on Saturday and Andy wasn't feeling well so B declined lunch with us. We did make a quick stop at a Ravenswood brewery, Hop Butcher for the World, a play on Chicago's Hog Butcher for the World nickname, on our way home.

They had a menu full of IPAs, which we both like, so that was good. Andy likes them hazy. Me, not so much.

Interesting that one of the beers was called Blizzard of '67. Andy was born during the blizzard but that wasn't enough to make him try it. He opted for a Super Beer Shuffle instead.

Cute bar, but chilly. Temps were just over 40 and while that's warm for Fabruary in Chicago, it doesn't mean you need to open the garage doors.

We think alike

We don't really celebrate Valentine's Day aside from a dinner out but we usually get each other cards. Funny, this year we gave each other cards with moveable glitter on the front of them. We've been together so long we think alike.

Family photo

I printed a few more pictures from E's wedding and found a nice "family" frame for this one. It's everyone from E's side of the wedding who attended the ceremony.

Early Valentine’s dinner

We learned a long time ago that restaurants typically have smaller menus and higher prices on Valentine's Day so we celebrated Thursday night with dinner at our local Mexican restaurant, Margaritas. We hadn't been there since mid-November. E and D had the restaurant cater fajitas for their rehearsal dinner and after we ate all of the leftovers we - imagine this - were a bit tired of the food. Our dinner was lovely and neither of us ordered fajitas.

L said she's leaving her Valentine's plans for W to figure out, but she's ready for whatever he has planned with her new gel manicure.

Winter meals

It's a little harder to get to the bird feeders with snow on the ground but when I do fill the feeder, it's nice to see a neighborhood cardinal appreciated it.

The sparrows, though, are the big eaters ... and the occasional squirrel.

Enjoying the sun

I ran an errand yesterday, came home and found both cats lounging (napping) in the sun.

It's been a while since we've had warmer, sunny days.