Is your face in space?

Q: Ashley, what did you do today?

A: Well, I ate lunch and then ... I sent my face to space.

It was a tough decision on which photograph would make its debut, but I used my Twitter one that rocks a KU shirt.

You can also send your face to space. Choose STS-133 if you want to go with me.

https://faceinspace.nasa.gov/

My Mission	STS-133
Scheduled Launch Date	Monday, November 1, 2010
Your Confirmation Number	STS133P000206537882
Date Certificate Ready for Printing	Friday, November 12, 2010

"NASA wants to put a picture of you on one of the two remaining space shuttle missions and launch it into orbit. To launch your face into space and become a part of history, just follow these steps:

First...Select the Participate button at the bottom of this page and upload your image/name, which will be flown aboard the space shuttle.

Next...Print and save the confirmation page with your flight information."

Trebes Park

Tyson and I made sandwiches and ate lunch in the park across the street from our house today. I wonder what it was like in the 40s when the city first bought it...

In the early 1940s, the City of Chicago purchased land in the near north side Lincoln Park neighborhood for creation of a 44th Ward Recreation Center. The city's Bureau of Parks and Recreation transformed a two-story brick rowhouse into a community center, naming it the Robert Trebes Recreation Center on March 18, 1943. Within a few years, the bureau had constructed a spray pool, a sand box, and two playing fields on adjacent property to the south.

In the late 1950s, the Trebes Recreation Center was demolished, along with the other structures on the block.

In 1958, the Board of Education began constructing the new Oscar Meyer Elementary School on the northern half of the block. The Trebes Park property also passed into the hands of the Board of Education; however the Chicago Park District began maintaining the park the following year. The Park District and the Board of Education soon began joint operations at the school and park, an arrangement that continues today. In 1991, the Board of Education transferred full ownership of Trebes Park to the Park District. The Sheffield Neighborhood Association, in conjunction with the Park District, led the community effort to renovate the park.

In the early 1990's, funded projects include tree planting around the perimeter parkways, installing an iron ornamental "prairie style" fence, the ornamental metal park benches, garbage containers, walkway lights and installing the ornamental iron gazebo in the park plaza entrance. At that time, the Park District constructed a soft surface playground. The new playground was funded through a generous bequest of Dorothy Melamerson, a retired local school teacher whose savings have paid for a number of park improvements in the Lincoln Park neighborhood, the Sheffield Neighborhood Association and community neighbors.

In addition, the Sheffield Neighborhood Association has raised funds for the numerous improvements to the park. Taking personal pride in their local park volunteers have spent thousand of hours in gardening and other greening initiatives. The Sheffield Neighborhood Association continues to maintain the park and the "award winning gardens" as the pride of the community.

Eye See You

Chicago's very own three-story eyeball, under construction. (At Dearborn & Jackson.)

You can read more about Chicago artist Tony Tasset's project here.

From Paper Source: "Rubber stamping with powdered sugar"

Totally awesome: using a rubber stamp, powdered sugar, food coloring and water to stamp designs on a glass plate. I would also love to see this on a corner of a square, white plate with dessert on it.

Read the full blog post here: http://blog.paper-source.com/parties/rubber-stamping-with-powdered-sugar/

The Darjeeling Limited

I asked our travel agent to cut the flight from Bangkok to Chiang Mai and instead travel by train in a sleeper car over night. It's a 9-10 hour train trip ...

"The scenery on the last third of the trip up into the mountains approaching Chiang Mai is particularly good, you can awake to the pretty mountain scenery as the train enters the highlands and traverses Doi Kuntan National Park and mountains between Lampang and Lamphun. And even on the sleeper, watching the sun rise from the train in the morning is a great experience. From Chiang Mai Railway Station you can take a tuk tuk or songtaew (red truck) into the centre of town."

And, it does, have air conditioning.

Look at these Shoes

I think I'm liking these heels for the big day. They are the perfect height - 2 3/4 inch. I'm already tall (so no thank you to 4" heels) and this exact height of shoe will allow my dress to remain unaltered along the bottom hem. They are very simple and inexpensive. After hours of looking at beautiful shoes from Kate Spade and Stuart Weitzman, I think I've finally decided I'd rather buy a moderately priced pair and save the extra for the honeymoon. They are dyeable - maybe a beautiful coral to match our accent color?

Working Itinerary

Honeymoon plans so far. We might have to cut parts out (due to our budget), but I'm hoping to keep it very similar to this. While in Phuket, we'll stay at the Radisson http://www.radisson.com/phuketth

17 November	Arrive Bangkok/Phuket On arrival at Phuket, Met & transferred by private vehicle to your hotel.   Hotel Bookings on own arrangements Depart 11:45a Arrival: 1:10p Flight Number: 924

18 November	Phuket  Day of Leisure, own arrangements at hotel

19 November

Phi Phi Island (L) Pick up from your hotel and transfer to departure lounge at Boat Lagoon Marina.  Depart to Phi Phi Islands by Speedboat. First island at Phi Phi Ley with the magical landscape of Maya Bay  (where "The Beach" was partially filmed). Sighseeing Loh Sa Mah and Pi Leh Cove, great snorkeling with magical coral reef. Sighseeing Viking Cave and Monkey Beach. International join Buffet lunch at  Phi Phi island. Visit Ton Sai Bay, free time on your own in the village. Afternoon snorkeling, swimming or simply relaxing on a white sandy beach at  Khai Island, return to Boat Lagoon Marina and transfer back to hotel

20 November	Phuket  Day at leisure, hotel on own arragement

21 November	Phuket/Bangkok Private Transfer from the hotel to the airport for your flights to Bangkok,  arrive and transfer to your hotel. Departing 10:20am Arrive 11:45 am Flight: PG 272
	Overnight Stay at the Millennium Hilton Bangkok http://www1.hilton.com/en_US/hi/hotel/BKKHITW-Millennium-Hilton-Bangkok-hotel/index.do

22 November	Bangkok - Half-day, Grand Palace/Emerald Buddha (B, D) The Grand Palace features some of the most spectacular architectures in Asia.  The palace compound is a treasure house for Thai arts and houses the Emerald  Buddha, the most sacred Buddha image in Thailand. Since 1782, it has been the seat of the country's power.  Entering the palace, you will be taken back through time with the magnificent Royal  Chapel, golden domes and fluted spires. Please Note Dress code for Grand Palace: No shorts, No sleeveless tops/vests, No sandals/open shoes. Shoes must be removed before entering the temples Afternoon at your leisure. Enjoy a traditional Thai dinner at the popular Sala Rim Nam riverside restaurant.  Located on the bank of the Chao Phraya, directly opposite the Mandarin Oriental Hotel, the Sala Rim Nam Restaurant serves up a delicious meal of Thai favorites.  During the evening you can watch the elegant dancers in traditional costume and  exotic jewelry perform a series of Thai dances from various eras of Thai history.  The menu features a description of each dance, and is a wonderful souvenir.  Probably the best Thai dinner and dance evening in town.
	Overnight Stay at the Millennium Hilton Bangkok

23 November	Bangkok (B) You will be picked up and dropped off from the hotel To discover the way Bangkok used to be, travel 68 miles outside of Bangkok  to the floating market of Damnern Saduak with its many colors, flavors and exotic fragrances. An exhilarating ride on a narrow long-tail speedboat through the marshes, passing by riverside villages and fruit plantations prepares you for this unique market.  Here locals in their small flat-bottomed boats market their produce. Continue to Pra Pathom Chedi, which is the largest pagoda in Southeast Asia.  The golden tiled dome (pagoda) of the Chedi towers almost 394 feet into the sky and  can been seen from miles away. Return to your hotel with afternoon at leisure on your own. Overnight a hotel.
	Overnight Stay at the Millennium Hilton Bangkok

24 November	Bangkok (B) At Leisure to enjoy the city on your own
	Overnight Stay at the Millennium Hilton Bangkok

25 November	Bangkok/Chaing Mai (B) Breakfast at the hotel, check out and transfer to the airport for your flight to Chiang Mai.  Arrive Chiang Mai and Transfer to your hotel. Afternoon: transfer to visit Wat Doi Suthep, tucked away in the mountains at 3,520 feet.The temple is reached by a staircase with 290 steps, flanked by a NAGA balustrade on both sides. The monastery was built by King Gue-Na in 1383. The center is a big Chedi (spired Pagoda) which contains partial relics of Lord Buddha. After the visit of Wat Doi Suthep, we proceed to visit the most interesting places in Chiang Mai such as Wat Phra Singh with its famous Buddha image Optional Evening program: Enjoy a typical Kantoke dinner with a presentation of traditional dances from Northern Thailand
	Overnight Stay at the Chaingmai Plaza http://cnxplaza.com/

26 November	Chaing Mai (B, L) After breakfast, transfer to visit elephant camp, watch the elephants taking timber from the forest, you will be amazed by their strength and clever teamwork. Lunch break at the camp. After lunch, transfer to visit an Orchid farm before returning to hotel.
	Overnight Stay at the Chaingmai Plaza http://cnxplaza.com/

27 November	Chaing Mai/Lisu Lodge (L, D) This morning you will be transfered from your hotel in town to the Lisu Lodge. Upon arrival at the Lisu Lodge, A traditional welcome drink will be served followed by a briefing about the program for a day of adventure. Start the trip with an easy 8 miles of cycling to the Elephant Camp. Enjoy an hour of elephant riding through the mountainous jungle scenery down to the river. After a healthy picnic lunch on the bank of the river you will go on an exciting ride, about 45 minutes of white water rafting that takes you a traditional Thai country village. From there you return to Lisu Lodge either by bike or by local truck, whichever way you prefer yourself. On the way back we stop at the traditional Akha village for a chat with the shaman (spirit doctor). Return to Lisu Lodge around 4 p.m. Time at leisure until dinner. Enjoy a Thai dinner with a traditional Lisu dance show
	Overnight Stay at the Lisu Lodge http://www.chiangmai.bangkok.com/lisu-lodge/index.htm

28 November

Lisu Lodge/Chaing Mai/Depart (B) Today you will be served breakfast at the Lodge, then have some free time until  your transfer to the airport for your flight to Bangkok. Depart: 10:00am Arrival: 11:20am Flight: PG216 Connect with your international flight to the US

Madison bowl keeps the Dr away

The bowl my Grandma Bolton gave me for my bridal shower is a perfect apple bowl (among other uses).