Summer Love

There are a couple of movies that I really want to see right now that both feature girls who don't want to fall in love. Watch the trailers...they look really cute.

Paper Heart - I am particularly excited about this movie coming out soon. It's a "pseudo documentary". (Some of the interviews and situations are real but mostly it's a scripted comedy.)

(500) Days of Summer

Help!

I need some reassurance so I'm asking the blogosphere for some help. When I called the movers a month or so ago and started setting up our move, they asked a lot of questions. One was, "How many boxes do you think you will have?" I had no idea. They estimated that a two-bedroom, one-bath house would have around 40 boxes. I immediately knew that wasn't going to happen. I told them that we had a LOT of books...and other stuff. So she said she'd estimate us at 60 boxes. Um, yeah, we have long surpassed the 60 boxes, too. And I haven't even packed my shoes yet. (And to be fair, my husband probably has just as much stuff as me.) I kind of wish I were one of those people who could just put everything I own in a box and go about my way but I tend to keep things. I have at least two boxes containing "special" papers I wrote as a kid, in college and even some correspondance from old friends. I think I kept every single wedding card I received. I finally took a unique vase (of no value) to Goodwill when I realized the crack in it wouldn't make it functional anymore and then the next day I second-guessed myself. Now, I tend to believe this might be an inherited trait and I do think I've done a pretty good job of purging with every move. I do seem to be getting better and a little less sentimental as I age. Tell me I am not alone. Am I the only thirty-one year old with this much stuff?

One year

Today marks our one-year wedding anniversary. It hasn't been what I would expect most typical first years to be like. In fact, it's been pretty challening...two close family members passed away, my mom diagnosed with thyroid cancer, adjusted to a new city away from friends, job stress/uncertainty and more all on top of adjusting to being newly married. Whew! But we made it through and couldn't be happier to celebrate our first year together. We celebrated a few days early at Topolobampo. We both wish we were back in Jamaica but maybe for another anniversary. Now we are getting ready for Friday - moving day! More changes but good things are to come.

Art Friday

Today Joe and I went to the National Museum of Mexican Art. Neither of us had ever been before and it is one of the few free things to do in the city. I loved it. I had read in one of my guide books that this was one of the museums not downtown or part of the "museum campus" that should not be missed. And I would have to agree. I thought it was a small but nice, thoughtful place. And tonight we continued the theme with Mexican food...we both just took a Tagamet if that's any indication of how much we over-indulged.

Hilarious...

Have you guys seen this?

Roadtrip

This past weekend marked the one-year anniversary that I moved from Columbia to Chicago. Coincidentally, it also just happened to be the weekend that I chose to make a trip back to visit. I consider Columbia to be "home". I think it's true that when you leave and come back things will never quite be the same. New restaurants, new shops, new people. There's also a realization or wondering about how you now fit in. Things are just different. I loved seeing my friends, I loved eating at my favorite places, I loved shopping at my favorite stores and soaking up the city but at the same time it was kind of bittersweet. Maybe I'm now an outsider in this place I called home for eight years. I even found myself forgetting how to best get from point "a" to point "b"...all kind of strange. Still I'm so glad I went and had a good time. Ragtag, lots of food but most importantly - friends.

Michigan

While my husband is working, going to school and studying, I decided that I would take a little break from packing and see some friends. (Poor Joe.) My first stop was Michigan to see Nichole who is there visiting her dad for a few weeks. It's not often that you meet someone and immediately feel like you've known them forever but that's how I felt when I first met Nichole so very long ago. And I am happy to report that we are still finishing each other's sentences after all this time. Next I'm headed to Missouri to see some friends and then I resume the packing! And, appropriately, my fortune cookie today read: "Don't underestimate yourself. Your social skills are needed by others at this time." (Picture: Nichole and I baking cookies last night. I can't tell you about these very top-secret cookies but Nichole will reveal the details very soon at esmon.net.)

Mrs. O'Leary

I went back to the cemetary today and found Mrs. O'Leary's grave. She died in 1895. Pretty amazing. Is this a morbid hobby? I saw some pretty fascinating stuff yesterday.

Not your typical Sunday

There is a lot of history around here and also a lot of cemetaries. I think it can make for pretty interesting outings. Today we saw Al Capone's gravesite (buried alongside his brother and father) at a cemetary just a few minutes from our house. All three bodies were exhumed from here in 1950 when his mother died and moved to another cemetary west of Chicago after this site became too much of a tourist attraction. There are some people who believe that maybe the bodies were never really moved and was just a story to keep people from bothering the grave. Also, buried at this cemetary is Mrs. O'Leary although we didn't know where her grave was located. As a side note, we also live pretty close to the Burr Oak Cemetary that is sadly making headlines right now and regularly pass by it.

Eat It

I know I'm late with my MJ story...When I think of MJ, I usually think about my friend Carrie and I listening to "I'll Be There" on 45 in our younger years. We loved that song and listened to it over and over. And I'm sure we thought we were pretty "vintage" for getting out the record player when we could be listening to casette tapes instead. :-)

One person we haven't heard from in the past couple of weeks is Weird Al. MJ was supposedly a big fan and I was just thinking yesterday about Weird Al's career. Here's one of my favorites. Enjoy!

Progress

I've been seeing a chiropractor and also receiving therapy for my neck/back issues since April. I started out going three times a week and then made enough progress to start going twice a week. Tonight I went back in for my third set of scans. I've shown so much progress that I will only need to go back in once a week for a couple weeks and then I will be in the maintenance phase and will just come in once every 4-6 weeks. I'm so glad to be getting better and to not feel pain anymore but I have to admit that I'll miss the office a little bit. I've really enjoyed getting to know some of the office staff and therapists.

The Taste

I experienced my first-ever Taste of Chicago yesterday with Joe. We decided to go downtown for a couple hours and get in, get out. I don't really like large crowds. We got there around 11 am and I was surprised by how manageable it was but that quickly changed. I also went on an empty stomach but after only one burger, combined with the heat, I wasn't feeling too hungry. We definitely ate our fair share though and then headed home. I'm glad we tackled it and now know what all the fuss is about. And, not so wisely, I put sunscreen on my face but managed to forget my arms. Yes, I'm much too pink today. Happy 4th of July!

On My List

Some time ago, Nichole sent me The Time Traveler's Wife. I kept meaning to read it and then finally took it along on my honeymoon last summer. It instantly became one of my favorite books and I didn't want to put it down. In fact, I've been thinking about reading it again. I just saw the trailer for the movie that comes out in August and I'm worried that the movie isn't going to do the book justice. Hopefully it won't disappoint too much but there's just so much to that book that I'm afraid will be lost in translation.

Perfect Day

I've had a pretty perfect day today. When I left a job I loved in Columbia and came here unemployed, it was hard to handle. But when I left a job I absolutely hated...well, I pretty much love it. I am definitely not taking my unemployment status for granted. Today, I went to Joe's office and met the people he works with and then we went for Thai food for lunch. I also got a bike! Now we can ride the Prairie Path and I'm quite excited about it. Picking out a bike was a much easier decision than I'd anticipated. I don't expect to be the next Lance Armstrong. In fact, my only requirement was that the bike have a VERY large cushiony seat. And, well, this was the biggest seat at the bike shop. (Yes, that's my bike pictured.) I'm imaging a big basket on the front of the bike. What do you think? After the bike shopping, I went for a massage...ahhh. What a great day!!

Eventful Weekend

Our current landlord is trying to sell our house which means that not only does it need to be clean but Joe, Crumley, Iris and I need to be gone while he's showing it. He showed it several times over the weekend and we had company! I hope it sells sooner rather than later because the thought of packing and keeping my house clean at the same time is already stressing me out.

Also this weekend, my parents came to visit. I think the drive stressed my mom out a little but they arrived and we spent most of the weekend just hanging out. Saturday night we went to Terrie and Kirk's house for dinner and had a wonderful visit. They are always so hospitable.

(Back row: Joe, Amy, Kirk, Declan. Front row: Dad, Mom and Terrie. Adam was our photographer.)

I'll Be Loving You Forever

Friday night, Kamilah and I went to see NKOTB. I was, once again, transported back to the late 80s and I loved every minute of it. Don't tell my husband but I think I not-so-secretly want to follow the boys around the country from show to show. Is it possible that my school girl crush for this boy band could still be going strong after all this time?

Donnie - the original "bad boy" and my favorite New Kid.
One of the main differences between then and now is that the wardrobe now is so much better...but the synchronized dancing? It only gets better with time.

Kamilah and I before the show. The girls in front of us were squealing about how they have been loving the "boys" since they were 4-years-old. Four years? Really...geesh! We are still old ladies loving them since we were in middle school.

Cranberry scones

Decided to make cranberry scones today. This is my first attempt at scones and I'm pleased to report, they don't look or taste half bad.

2 cups flour
4 teaspoons baking powder
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup sugar
4 tablespoons butter, cut into pieces
2 tablespoons shortening
3/4 cup cream
1 egg, beaten
1 cup cranberries

Heat oven to 375 degrees. In a large mixing bowl, combine flour, baking powder, salt and sugar. Mix well. Cut in butter and shortening. In a separate bowl, combine cream with beaten egg then add to dry ingredients. Stir in cranberries and mix until well blended. Turn dough out onto floured surface. Roll dough out about one half inch thick and cut into biscuit-sized rounds. Place on ungreased baking sheet. Bake for 15 minutes or until brown.

Menu Plan Monday

With such busy schedules these days, our meals together at home continue to be few and far between but this weekend we're having company so that also means homemade quiche, butterscotch rolls and I'm going to try out a new fig and olive tapenade.

Monday: Joe working late
Tuesday: meatloaf, mashed potatoes and peas
Wednesday/Thursday: Joe at class
Friday: lasagna, salad and garlic bread

Wedding Weekend - Day Two

Wild flowers, homemade apple butter, fried chicken, fresh pies and sangria - Saturday was Natalie's wedding in New Haven, MO.

Natalie (or Natterbug as I like to say) and Ben dancing their first dance.


Me and Nat. Was I crying or just sweaty? I'll never tell!

One of the many homemade pies her mother made for the big day.

Last summer, Natalie, Ben and her family went to Kentucky to make and can apple butter. Every guest received their very own jar made with love.

The top of every jar featured an embroidered "L"

Our self-portrait

More pies
Three fantastic musical acts but the main band featured Motown hits and they were awesome!!

Wedding Weekend - Day One

I dubbed this as the wedding weekend because Joe and I headed to Missouri for two weddings. First was Sara's wedding on Friday night.

The bride and me

My friend Amber and I strike a pose

Sara and Doug cutting the cake

My husband and I pose for a snapshot