The last bastion of great reality television returns tonight with an all new season. Padma “ex-Mrs. Salman Rushdie” Lakshmi, Tom “Don’t call me Bear” Collichio, Ted “I need work since Queer Eye was cancelled” Allen, and Gail “ummm…last name?” are all back with a whole new set of chefs and challenges.

Given my affinity for all things food-related, I’m a HUGE fan of Top Chef. Ever since I accurately predicted that Harold would win Season One on episode 2, I’ve been totally hooked, never missing a quick-fire challenge, even when they had that crappy host during the first season. I wasn’t happy when Hung won it all last year, but I have high hopes for this season. The talent of the chefs increases every year and I’m looking forward to them being in one of my all-time favorite cities, Chicago.

I’m assuming that there will be at least one challenge tonight related to deep-dish pizza and I can’t wait to see the knives come out. If you aren’t watching Top Chef, you are an idiot. 9 p.m. tonight on Bravo. Watch what happens.

|

So for nearly the last two weeks, I have been home alone here. Alli has been in Ohio since the morning of January 10th. It is now January 21st and is easily the longest time that we have been apart since we’ve been married.

When she departed almost 2 weeks ago, she was originally scheduled to return less than a week later. However, complications with her grandmother’s illness kept her and her mom out there a little longer. In addition, the winter storm we received last night isn’t helping matters any, since flights into and out of Chicago-Midway are delayed. She was kept on the ground until just after 2:00 p.m. EST for her flight that was supposed to leave at 1:00. The problem is that she was scheduled to catch a flight in Chicago at 2:00 p.m. CST (20 min ago) and it just left. On time.

Ugh.

Anyway, so I’ve taken stock of all the remaining flights from Chicago to Kansas City. Thankfully, there are FIVE more. Only one is delayed. She had been told by one of the Southwest agents that the 3:50 (the next flight, which actually departs at 4:10) was full, but hopefully she’ll be able to get on that one so she’ll be home by 5:35. If not, there’s a 4:25 that arrives only 20 minutes later.

After that, we’ve got three more chances to get her out of Chicago and into my arms.

I pray she gets home today. I don’t think I could take another day by myself. I find that I talk with Dreyfuss as if he could have a conversation with me (sidebar: wouldn’t that be awesome?). I’m listless and I dawdle at everything. I eat out way too much (what’s the point in cooking for one?) and when I eat at home, I have only one meal: grilled cheese. I could make other things, but it’s too much work.

I really miss her and I hope that the next time that we spend this much time apart is, well…NEVER.

What’s amazing is that TONS has happened since she left. My desk got installed. Our bed was delivered. Our curtains got done. She’s going to be coming home to a much different house. Which reminds me…I’d better finish cleaning.

UPDATE: She made the 3:50 (which leaves at 4:10). I am so excited!

|

Returned late last night from the HOW Design Conference in Chicago. It was a terrific show, filled with great speakers and insightful instruction. Plus, it was in my favorite big city in the U.S. Chicago is a town that has done the big city right. One morning, as Alli and I were walking around after grabbing breakfast at the Corner Bakery Cafe, we visited Millenium Park, which currently has a photographic/historical display of Chicago and its development. What always impresses me about the city of Chicago is how they manage to keep this booming metropolis clean and green like they do. Their downtown is beautiful, with gorgeous architecture that is highlighted by more common green space than I have seen in a big city.

We did all sorts of fun stuff in our down time, taking an architectural boat tour of Lake Michigan and the Chicago River (which was a lot of fun, even if I did get totally hosed), visiting Navy Pier, trying some original Chicago pizza. We also stayed in this great hotel with a terrific view from the 33rd floor.

Now, there’s the possibility that my brother might be moving there for work, and I’m really excited for him. Not just because this is a huge opportunity for him, but also because I want to visit him lots. Out of all the major cities in America, Chicago is the one that I would live in. I thoroughly enjoyed my time there.

|