Summer

I love summer.  It's equally pleasing in all the parts of the world that I've visited.  In the South, you have lazy hot summer nights, fraught with sweet tea and watermelon.  In the midwest, there's just nothing like the storms and lightning bugs and the ice cream man.  Hikes followed with a starbucks in Colorado, flowers and fruity water in Europe.  Today's summer joy: blue sky, the smell of fresh cut grass, freshly cleaned kitchen, maybe homemade popsicles?

Oh the Irony

How does a trip to the store to buy ME new tires end up with John's car looking like this?  Read on...

So recently I've starting feeling this weird vibration in my car while driving.  Thud thud thud thud, over and over, all down the road at all speeds.  So that leads a person to believe it's maybe the axle or the tires or something.  Well yesterday, my wonderful fiance dutifully rotated my tires and we took a drive around the neighborhood to see if the thudding had stopped.  Nope.  It was FAR worse.  We got back and he took the tires off again only to discover that the tread had come off part of the tire!

So one trip to Pepboys later, we're headed back in his truck, and all of a sudden smoke is coming from his side of the car.  Once we pulled into a church parking lot, we discovered his tire had melted because his brakes locked in place!

All is well now, hopefully, but really.  What's up with that irony?

Catching Up

Wow, so much has happened in the past couple months.  I have been really lax about writing anything on this blog, as you can see, and for that I apologize.

Where shall we begin?

My hottie fiance, John

Well, I am sitting in the study in my fiance's house (yes, I did just say fiance).  I am taking a break from cleaning/organizing it to reflect on the past couple of months...engagement, crazy fun work trip, death of a good friend...it's been a big couple of months.

It's so quiet out here.  The breeze is breezing outside the window, some soft Michael Buble is coming from the living room, fiance is outside mowing the lawn, puppy is taking a nap.  It's one of those rare moments where the weight of everything that's happened has time to settle.  I have time to settle.  The city doesn't often allow those moments.  Life doesn't often allow them either.  Before I get moving on vacuuming up the dog hair and finding a caterer, let's just take a minute and look back.

The sunset in Phoenix

The work trip was a jaunt over to Phoenix.  Got to stay in a 5-diamond resort called the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess.  When you read the requirements for being classified as a 5-diamond, you find that most of it is about superior service.  And no kidding!  They always addressed me by name, anticipated my needs, and gave me stuff for free!  I got free internet and a free cabana!

A beautiful ring passed down from my future mother-in-law

So, you might be asking about my engagement story?  Well, I must say it isn't anything grandiose or terribly exciting to anyone who's not John or me, but it fits "us" so well.  We often sit outside or on the couch in front of the fireplace talking through our day, sharing our dreams, talking about our future.  We were doing nothing more than this on the day John proposed.  Just taking a break from doing normal things to sit and talk with the one I love.  He said he had been trying to ask me for a while, but I guess we needed that perfect moment.  :)  I am pretty sure the smile overcame my face, and maybe a few tears too.  He is the love of my life.  And I am his.



Now about my friend.  She was a dear friend from childhood through high school.  Over the past several years we talked mainly via facebook, but got together when possible whenever I visited my hometown.  She was happy, bubbly, sweet, hilarious, and passionate about her beliefs.  Her funeral was such a sad occasion, given that her death was sudden and tragic.  But even in the sadness of knowing we will not laugh together again on this earth, there is joy in knowing we will meet again in the presence of our Heavenly Father.  I miss you, Nettie.


Now I should get to vacuuming.  For a dog that's not supposed to shed, Leo sure leaves a lot of hair lying around...

More Walking...

The weather outside was so gorgeous yesterday!  Sunny, 60 degrees...so lovely.  In an effort to enjoy it and continue to get some exercise, Leo and BF and I went on a long walk by the lake.  Everyone else had the same idea.  There were cyclists, runners, moms with strollers, and dog-walkers everywhere!  Thought you might enjoy some photos.

I like Leo's reflection :)

He was really fascinated by the seagulls!

Out Walking

Well...Leo and I need to lose a little weight.  So today we set out to walk a couple miles on the lakeshore path.  I was decked out in 4 layers and new sneakers, and Leo's got quite a winter coat on him right now, so we stayed pretty warm.

Along the way, huffing and puffing after a few minutes jogging, I saw the city skyline in the distance.  I am so blessed to be able to head out for some exercise and gaze the whole time at one of the most recognizable sights in the world.

Leo was just fascinated with the lake.  He couldn't stop looking at it, and when we got to the bridge at Fullerton, I thought he might jump off!

Total Cuteness

Leo and I went to the 'burbs last weekend.  While waiting for bf to be ready to leave his house, I caught a few pics of an impatient doggie. :)

"Please mommy, can we go now?  I'm excited!"

"I'll even get your keys!  I can help!"

"Come ON!  Let's GO!"

"I'm working on it.  Now put that camera away..."

Help! I need to think like a tourist!

In Chicago, there is an easy way to spot a tourist.  Just look for the people who are looking up.  Locals walk fast and stare straight ahead, but the tourists are checking out all the tall buildings.  And the locals tend to get very annoyed by the tourists.  Well, in an effort to become a Chicagoan as quickly as possible, I have realized that I never did the tourist thing here.  This puts me at a disadvantage when playing hostess to out-of-towners!  My friend L is coming to visit me this weekend, and in preparation for her visit, I've been racking my brain for "the things one should do when one visits Chicago," and I've come to the conclusion that I don't know what those things are!  Of course I've been shopping on Michigan Ave, so that's a given (plus some shopping in places the locals keep secret because the prices are better).  And I think we'll go to the Field Museum.  But what other attractions or restaurants have you all heard of that are the "typical" or exciting places to go in Chicago?  I need your help!  Don't make me break out the guidebooks! :)