On Sunday, I took part in Baltimore's Great Halloween Lantern Parade. I attended a free, advanced lantern-making workshop at the Creative Alliance with my graduate school friends, Katti and Ashby. Artist Molly Ross facilitated our lantern-making, as junk-bands and costumers practiced and swirled around us. It was a beautiful and awe-inspiring experience . . . 
I finished the lantern at home--adding pink, yellow, orange, blue, and white tissue paper--using a glue and water mixture. I attached two push lights to the interior with velcro, accessible where the lantern sits on my head. I tied a bright teal ribbon on as my chin strap. 
It was hilariously awkward . . . 
Look at these bird costumes!
Edgar Allan Poe was this year's theme. You know he died in Baltimore and comes out to haunt each October . . . 
Such great fun! I felt like a 5 year old! Next year, I'm adding stilts!
Last Wednesday, Doug came to visit me from Austin!
We had a great time! It was so nice to see him! 
On Wednesday night, we went to the Ottobar. We saw two bands and had several Natty Bohs . . . 
On Thursday, we went to see Where the Wild Things Are. It was a beautiful movie. And, it affected me in a way that I never thought it would. I cried for a very long time after the movie . . . Powerful.
On Friday, we went to Harper's Ferry, West Virgina. It was rainy, but pretty. The leaves were gorgeous--these pictures don't do any justice . . . 
On Saturday, we spent the afternoon at the Baltimore Museum of Art--a free museum. Doug really enjoyed the Hank Willis Thomas exhibit. And, the building is quite striking--it's located on the edge of Johns Hopkins University Campus and walking distance from my house. That evening, we ate dinner at Cafe Zen in Belvedere Square. Fabulous Chinese food! 
On Sunday morning, Doug left at 6am. Can't wait to see him at Thanksgiving in Austin!
My graduate program isn't particularly difficult, but it is taxing in a variety of ways. So, in an effort to keep my sanity, I have turned to baking once a week. I have purchased more butter in the past month than I have in the past five years.
The recipes I gravitate towards are not unusual or built for master chefs. They are, in part, traditional stand-bys, comforts of childhood. It's quite calming to focus on stirring, beating, cracking, or measuring. Really, I am just giving myself reason to cook through my favorite cookbook: I Like You.
What's funny is I don't even eat these creations, I just freeze them for a later date . . . What gives?!!
Today's feature is a generic standard in most households, but I hadn't made these yummies in a very long time. So, I present to you: Chocolate Chip Cookies, as written by Amy Sedaris.
2 sticks unsalted butter
3/4 cup of sugar
3/4 cup brown sugar
2 eggs
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
1 tesaspoon baking soda
1 1/2 teaspoon salt
2 1/4 cups flour
3/4 cup chopped pecans (I used almonds.)
18 ounces semisweet chocolate chips (1.5 bags)
Beat butter and sugars together.
Add eggs and vanilla.
Gradually add flour, salt, soda.
Stir in the chocolate chips and nuts.
Chill.
Roll into small balls and flatten in palm of hand "so it looks like a flattened crab cake or medicated face pad". Place on greased cookie sheet.
Bake for about 9 - 11 minutes at 375 degrees.
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