things on tuesday :: blah

So it's Tuesday and I'm just feeling a little blah ... just been in a bit of a fog this evening, not sure why.

loves

still getting rave reviews from a client and the design firm we're working with - fingers crossed!
booked a trip to San Francisco for work and going making a weekend of it - now... where to photograph ??
Maroon 5 this Friday!
Javier Colon's version of Time after Time
riding my bike downtown to wander around an art show and then back via the lake on a perfect day
that I am finally putting together that photobook I bought on Groupon
I've actually been able to check some things off the teuxduex list!

loathes

that one of my coworkers is leaving and we have to find a new designer - was quite unexpected and to say that I am disappointed would be a gross understatement.
the 4 1/2" long scratch on my right thigh from Phoebe - something spooked her - they don't even make band aids that big!
insecurities
grocery shopping while hungry - never good. never.
that I cannot figure out a fall vacation destination or dates .. and this girl needs a vaca!
that we always get fabulous weather in the middle of the work week - come on mother nature, work with us here!
starting back up at the gym and pulling something in my side ...

Bonne nuit!

learn to letterpress

I ran across a cute little paper goods booth at the Custer Street Fair last weekend and apparently they offer classes on screen printing, block printing, book binding and letterpress! I have always wanted to learn how to letterpress, but not sure if I could commit to a 10 week course!! She told me that you use authentic equipment and that's the reason for the class length - people used to apprentice for years to learn the craft. What's really good is that they offer studio time, so after you complete the course you can rent time to come in and create your own goods. Hmmm..... It sounds like so much fun!!! I might think about doing it in the fall, you know when time spent inside is a good thing!

things on tuesday :: stormy

Super stormy night here in e-town ... had the strangest thing just happen. Only lost power in one part of the condo - kitchen is half out, bathroom is at low power, but the rest of the house is fully powered up. Can anyone explain how this is possible? I flipped the breakers thinking maybe it knocked those out, but no change ... hearing police sirens outside now. Plenty of excitement for a Tuesday night huh?

loves

getting a superb adjustment from the naprapath - she actually got my upper back to crack, can't remember the last time that happened
spray tan - thank goodness someone invented the Instabronze machine for pale people like me
getting out on the townie - so much more fun than walking along the lakefront path
clinique moisture surge and the new tinted version
kicking off the Ravinia season
my new slogan " two cats and a camera " *lol*
that my life is pretty darn good, sure there are always negatives (see below!) but overall, I have been blessed with incredible opportunities and friendships

loathes

knowing the right thing to do and not doing it
when products I like get discontinued
having to put in extra hours at work - too much to do and too little time to do it
my summer and fall are going to be chopped up by work travel - so much for that vacation
that I am always looking for something better
my loud ass upstairs neighbor - do NOT like him or his girlfriend with the high heels!
that I find too many fun things on blogs & Pinterest
providing IT support to every single person I come in contact with ... don't get me wrong, I like to be helpful and always offer assistance, but some people are just beyond helping. They just don't get it. It's painful.

So many negatives - I really try to be a positive person, but those negative thoughts just trickle in ...

weekend

Friday night was my first Ravinia outing of the season - B-52's and Go Go's, who still "got the beat!" It was Beth's first ever Ravinia and I think she's gonna fit right in, don't you? I put Kendra on task to come up with a new tie configuration for my Sseko's and she got a real doozie, not sure I'll ever be able to recreate it, but it looked pretty cool!

Saturday was a very good adjustment at the Naprapath and then off to the Custer Art Fair with Amanda. We found a few cute products, but for the most part, it wasn't all that great this year. Sadly all I bought was crap food! At least it was a beautiful day, so it was perfect for just wandering around the neighborhood.

And today was supposed to be spent at the pool with Holly and Bella, but the weather didn't cooperate and Holly has some sort of tonsil funk - don't need to catch that!!! So, I ran errands, cleaned up the house and went for a bike ride. Added some bling to my bike - a super cute bell (the royal bell $4 from Adeline Adeline) that I actually had to use today along the path, and the Armitage Satchel from Po Campo (that I love, love, love so much!). Now I just need a name for the Townie and I'm all set!

The path wasn't terribly crowded, but now that I'm riding and not walking, it's quite a different experience. People have no idea how to 'share the road' at all. I damn near ran right into the back of a woman who had her kid in one of those trailer things - she pulled onto the path in front of me, so I was hanging behind (walkers on the opposite side oncoming) and then she decided to just stop - ON THE PATH - to put on her helmet. Hello, pull off onto the grass dummy. Or at least give some kind of gesture about what you're doing. Ahhh... driving in this town is always a challenge!

That's a bit of my weekend... hope yours was filled with fun, friends and family! Happy Father's Day!

jake ryan

Do you have a "Jake Ryan?" Didn't every teenage girl of the 80's have a Jake Ryan? Did you ever 'get' your Jake Ryan? * wink *

Google him and you will see that most think a Jake Ryan doesn't exist. He's too perfect. He would never leave his hot cheerleader girlfriend for the awkward sophomore. I disagree. I think there are many Jake Ryan's out there. And I think he takes on a different form for every girl. I had a Jake Ryan. He was popular, super cute, from a wealthy and well respected family, athletic and slightly intimidating. He ran in the same circles as me, but always had a super cute girlfriend and often dated long term (at least he was a good guy, not some girl surfer - know what I mean?) so, no, I never got my Jake Ryan, and that's OK. I think most girls never got their Jake Ryan. But I almost think it's part of the high school experience. That's why John Hughes made a movie about it. That guy knew teenagers! And that's why we don't see what happens to Samantha and Jake at the end of the movie...

Though I never got my Jake Ryan, I am friends with him. He is still a fabulous guy and I have to admit there is still a teeny tiny little thing that happens in my head when I'm around him. Why is it that those high school feelings and memories are so strong?

things on tuesday :: movin' n shakin'

I cannot believe it's Tuesday already. Something tells me this summer is going to FLY by and that makes me a little sad, but it also means there's lots of fun to be had! So without further adieu ... things on tuesday.

loves

that my reunion was successful (minus the broken table) and that everyone had a great time
getting to see so many of my old friends and the feeling I get when I'm around them - lots of warm fuzzys
new air handler is in and should be much more efficient than the 30+ year old one
that people feel they can tell me anything
working from home today, with the windows wide open and enjoying the absolutely perfect day
basking in reunion glow - let's hope the good mood continues!
first Ravinia show this Friday - B52's & Go Go's !!
action packed weekend ahead

loathes

divorce - so sad to see so many of my friends love did not last
that I keep (well the cats) finding little flying bugs in the house and I cannot figure out where they are coming from
making poor choices
that I am totally forgetful - left my spare battery and charger at the reunion venue
crack in the lens of my point & shoot - will probably have to buy a new one - boo!

Off to bed! This girl needs to get her beauty sleep!!

reunion :: take two

Reunion day was a bit of a blur ... up around 8am, grabbed a quick bite to eat and headed to the high school for a tour of good 'ol LHS. They have done quite a bit of work on it to expand and have built a beautiful new sports complex off the back - puts poor Ables Field to shame. Lunched at Luigis and then home to primp for the big party! The venu is outstanding - old Montgomery Ward building they turned into a loft/lounge space - a real diamond in the rough in LV. I am so happy we had the party there - and I think everyone was really surprised! So long community center, so long! Anyhoo.... we had a good laugh while greeting everyone and giving out name tags - with our yearbook pictures (eek!) - and laughing about all the BIG HAIR we had... Holly hit the mic to welcome everyone and remember our fallen classmates and teachers, share some fun facts from the high school tour - cannot believe our class was the last one to have a winning football team!! That's twenty years ago people! That's just sad on so many levels!! And by some miracle, we got everyone downstairs for a class photo.

I gotta say time has been pretty good to this group! But seriously, the women looked hot! Why is it that women age so well while time is less kind to the men? There are a few exceptions, of course, but in general... not as kind. Oh and we have some damn successful classmates - designers, TV producers and recruiters, lawyers, doctors, engineers and lots of military! I am so proud of everyone and all that they have accomplished. All of that from a little town in Kansas, not bad!

We ate, drank, danced, reminisced and had fun at the photobooth. I could not be more proud of our little planning committee. We killed it girls! How will we ever be able to top this party?

Memories I will take away from the reunion ...
{ JB } THE BEST hugs, almost knocks the wind out of you. And he cannot keep a straight face while taking a picture because he's always got the biggest grin. Hysterical! { Erika } making the trip in from Amsterdam (though I think she was hesitant) and having the best time and so much energy { Betsy } she is seriously the engergzier bunny! She just keeps going and going and it's infectious! { Maria & Mandy } Maria has be biggest and brightest smile and I am so thankful that she brings Mandy (our friend from KU) along! { Marlin } driving in Friday night from Springfield just to attend the party and driving back because he was on call. That was above and beyond anything I would have ever expected. I would have given him a very hard time (Erika too) had he not come *wink* { Travis } was so cute talking about the hours and hours we would talk on the phone (about nothing) back in the day { Joe } & I take one damn good pic! { Paige } what to say... she's the triple threat - doctor, mother and marathon runner - she is amazing! { Shannon & Zoe } forming new friendships. { Jen Bell } and I making vacation plans to visit our San Diego and Hawaii friends! Yes, there will be a Hawaii take two trip ahead!! { Kendra } is funny as shit! That girl was killin us at IHOP - yes, we hit IHOP after the reunion like a bunch of high school kids and it was fabulous! And so much more! Even though I lost my voice and feel slightly hung over - two days later - I had the best time. I love my dear old friends and hope it will not be another ten years before I get the chance to see them again.

reunion :: take one

Gosh, I am not even sure where to begin!! We kicked off the reunion with a laid back meet n greet at the local bar. And it was a revolving door of so many of my favorite people! Just when you get over the excitement of seeing one person, another walks in and I'm all giddy again. There are a handful of my friends that still live in the KC area, but a good number of us have moved away. So to have people come in from New York, Chicago, St. Louis, Springfield, San Diego, Maryland, Amsterdam and beyond is fan-freakin-tastic! I saw all of my best girls and guys from the good 'ol days and it was almost like no time had passed. We settle right back into the ways of old. The amount of love in the room was outstanding! I am so lucky to have such strong bonds with my high school friends and it actually makes me a little sad that we don't all live on the same block so that the party can continue.

10 on 10 :: June 2011

Yep, it's that time again. Time for ten photos in ten consecutive hours on the tenth of the month! And hooray for not having to work today!! I am traveling back to my hometown in Kansas for my twenty year high school reunion (yikes!). I did manage to get the photos done all via iPhone (camera + app) - sorry for the late post ladies. I look forward to seeing all of your days!

10 AM leaving a cool, very foggy Chicago

11 AM waiting for my plane

NOON some in-flight entertainment and refreshments

1 PM arrival at Kansas City International Airport and ran across this cute little Hertz guy on the way to pick up my rental car

2 PM a swing over to Habitat to do some shoe shopping - picked up some Bensimon sneaks and these crazy string tie Sseko sandals that are so comfortable, so cute and for a great cause all in one! Was thinking about the beige heals, but ended up not taking them.

3 PM hit up Dean and Deluca for a late lunch - these parmesean fries were HELLA good

4 PM picking up some last minute groceries for Mom - Aren't these Shatto Milk bottles the cutest you've ever seen?

5 PM driving into the sticks - not really - but I have to go thru some rural areas to get to the P's house

6 PM hanging with mom and grandma for a few before heading to the meet-n-greet. This photo makes me so sad, seeing my grandmother like this is pretty depressing. My mother is doing an amazing job taking care of her - but she's got to be in a pretty low place. She just turned 92 and the room is filled with cards, flowers and baloons from her friends - hopefully that helps to keep her spirit strong!

7 PM off to see my old classmates - so excited my BF teeny weeny tiny E made the trip in from Amsterdam and brought her adorable sister, Robbie - love these two girlies. It was a great night - literally closed the bar down! More posts about the reunion coming ...

things on tuesday :: grumpy

Oh Tuesday. The past week has been crazy!

loves

Finding some fun new clothes for Summer

Rosemary flatbread from the Chesterton market

Having a client that is actually excited about signage! And pays the best compliments too! It's been such a rare thing these days, a good number of my recent clients have been less than thankful for what I (we) do, so this excitement and positive feedback is so wonderful.

My high school reunion is this coming weekend and I will get to spend time with some wonderful friends.

And since I'll be back in LV, I get to see the fam too!

A good spray tan! Girl needs some color!

loathes

That a new renter moved in above me and he's a "stomperton." It's been a full week of listening to furniture scooting around, every footstep from end to end of the condo and so on. Tonight I finally broke and went upstairs to introduce myself and let him know how badly even the smallest sound travels. (hate having to do this!) He was less than receptive. I think I'm in for a pretty miserable year. Not at all happy about this...

Shopping for swimsuits - oh so frustrating - I did manage to find a couple

That I purchased a custom fit pillow from the naprapath and I am waking up with pain again - I think I will be returning it.

Trying to figure out what to wear to my reunion

Apple announced the iCloud, that will replace MobileMe (this year), will be free and I had just renewed my membership to MobileMe! Hello!! Let's just throw money away! I've requested a refund and hope they will oblige.

That I never seem to get anything accomplished. I have all these lists of things to do and all they seem to do is grow.

I do not really understand Twitter. I'm on there. I tweet random junk. And then have strangers tweet me links that are bogus and random people follow me - like preachers from rural Oregon. Huh? I just don't get it.

OK, that is more loathes than loves and sadly I could go on and on, but I won't. I will stop here and hope for a fabulous reunion weekend. Be well.