John & Kadima's Wedding

This is a pretty late post:  I believe in earlier posts I had mentioned that I was asked to be John and Kadima's officiant of their wedding.  It was a hot August 31st setting up the park for the wedding - talk about DIY!  
The day of the wedding, September 1st was misty and rainy, but the weather held out all day and night for the wonderful day!

100th post, and I'm 34

Wowzer!  Really?  My 100th post.  Overdue, that's for sure.
I had a lovely birthday week - I normally don't have a birthday week at all, my birthday happens to usually fall on a weekend, or over spring break when I have time to take my birthday off and this year is different.  I didn't get to speak to David Carmona, the wonderful man and soul that has never forgotten to call me on my birthday.  I wanted to call back, but he's on a fantastic vacation with his family so I would rather not disturb.  It means so much more that I'm in his thoughts, I love him so much.

I had a great birthday celebration at Archie's, there were so many moments when I looked around and thought "Wow.  I'm so lucky.  I literally have so many friends here for ME.  For me.  They love me.  And I love them.  And I am so loved.  And I am so happy."  That is the most important thing I took away from my birthday.  Being blessed.  So amazingly blessed.  Friends are family and they really do make the world go round.

I guess thats it in a nutshell.  David called and left me a sweet message, Japes has yet to miss one of my birthdays yet when he shows up I'm stunned, John rolls in on his bike even without Kadima, and all my city people are there.  Mary bought me pretzel rods.  Friends brought me unnecessary gifts that I didn't need but wow, I love.   And didn't ask for at all.  Bill bought me shoes that yes, I do love.

I woke up on my birthday to a sweet birthday song from Molly, Ryann and Taylor. You can't ask for any better.

I love you all.  Thank you all for being my friends.  We travel down the road and back again.  And you know the rest.

Thanksgiving week

Where, oh where has my time gone?
How is it already Thanksgiving?  I look back to an early blog, in which I complain about having to decorate the front my my parents house the day after Thanksgiving as it is a tradition I do so every year.  What is different about this year is that my dad, really for once needs the help.  The treatments have been going well - 2 down, 6 to go - but he's so tired, and easily irritable.
This year we are going to get the tree early, so Bill on Thanksgiving can help us mount it in the front.  It's a crap ton of work, so it will be nice to have his help!

Anyway, Halloween happened - here are some pictures.  As per usual, wen to John & Kadima's and it was really fun.

And with Rachel back, I have been doing lots of baking, too!

And with Denise & Colleen, we have attempted planking.

And there goes summer!

How on earth, is it that when you feel like as a kid that summer goes so fast, but as an adult it goes faster? Well, I lost my cord for my camera, and it was a teeny, tiny cord, so I had to do some fast magic to download these pictures.  Anyway, here is the rest of the summer is summary.
Work was mellow during the summer, now we have two new creative liaisons that started in the portfolio center and thus far, barely two weeks it seem to be working out ok.
However, here is the real reacap on life.

My lovely friend Amanda's birthday party!  She's third from the right and one of the coolest people ever.

John & Kadima's engagement party at the Bristol Renaissance Faire....amazing as you assume.

Bill and I at the Ren Faire, what a great and awesome engagement party!

Our lovely Christian and his girlfriend Jackie moved to Miami, and this was his going away party. He is a crazy talented cinematographer, and just a wonderful guy.  He worked at Sip Coffee House and we have known him for at least 5 years.  Hell of a guy, super sad that they moved.    But they're doing well in Miami, for now!

 Oh how I love Denise and Colleen, our downstairs neighbors.  This is Denise at her birthday party, straight off the trolley.  We are honestly blessed to have instant, awesome and amazing great people right downstairs.  It made the summer even funner, and makes it even harder for us to move!

Mr. Bob Sage was in town, Bill's best dude.  He's awesome, and a lovely man who is crazy smart and a wonderful person.  It was so great to have him around for a few days, Bill was over the moon with him in town!

 Ryan and Harper about to eat their birthday cake!

 How are these girls so grown up?  Sofia and Zoe with little Jimmy.  How in the world is Zoe a freshman?  I'm not ready!  I'm not ready!

 News flash!!!!! This hat is going to be on everyone's Christmas list this year!  I mean, how can you not want an Alevizos hat!!!!!!!

Our little bunny Jimmy.  check out those smudge legs!  I love him!  What a joy he is!
Hmm....anything else?  Lets see.  Work. Summer. Love.  Oh wait, sleeping dogs!

How can you not love those faces????

Summer is already half way over?

This month always goes too fast.  I love the heat and stickiness -  believe it or not - but this the month for West Fest, Pitchfork, Dad's Birthday, and the Bristol Renissance Faire. 
As I write this, West Fest has come and gone, along with Lex's "Rager" that coincided.

Frankie, Shipwreck, Me + Lex

The Carmona's were in town for a week for David's Grandma's memorial, but they had so much family stuff I only got to spend an hour with them.  They did have a great trip, and I'm happy I got one hour, its better then zero!

Carmona's

My dad's birthday was  too mellow, just went to lunch in Naperville at Schmaltz's.
Olive got extremely sick and $2500 later thank god she is ok.  She ate 1/2 a bottle of ibuprofen which can cause kidney and liver failure.  Thank goodness the vet called today, and she is 100% a-ok.  It terrified us, and it was all our fault for leaving it on the counter.  I'm also grateful for pet insurance.

Olive relaxing.

Pitchfork was fun, we had VIP again this year, but I mainly ran into co-workers, which was fine, just unexpected. 

Hipster at Pitchfork. They're everywhere.

Next up is John & Kadima's Engagement party, which will actually be at the Bristol Renaissance Faire. 
Todd, Mackie, Darren, Bill and I are going, and I can't WAIT.
I need this kind of fun, especially since they are selling our house, and Bill and I don't have a lease, and if someone wants to buy it we're on the street.  Oh, Our Lovely Home.  We went through the steps to get a pre-approval for a mortgage, but its just not for much money.  I wish we could predict the future so we knew if just an investor was buying it and we didn't have to rush, or if a house we bought was a total money pit and we should rent, or if we can just relax for once and know how long we will be there. 

I think the focus of the rest of the summer is just relaxing.  I have a wonderful yoga class Wednesdays that I totally embrace, I love my Summer CSA of Veggies, I have great friends and fun things coming up, and everything is ok.  For my final photo, please enjoy Olive + Lenny in the giant hole he dug, laying butt to butt.

Lenny and Olive laying Butt to Butt!

Halloween 2010

As Mary-Frances & Jeff's wedding is quickly approaching I decided its time to reflect back 14 days ago to Halloween.  Whoops!  Almost missed a holiday post!
We had a great Halloween - went to John & Kadima's annual party with the creepy haunted house in their basement (and John even took the last week off of work to complete it).  It is honestly really scary.  I can realize that I'm in my friends basement, but I'm still terrified!
Regardless, Bill and I went as Sookie Stackhouse & Vampire Bill from the books, not True Blood, and there were some amazing costumes.  As per usual, pictures follow after the jump.

John & Kadima

12 or so years ago, John and I made a pact.  We decided that even after John's best friend Brian moved to California, that John and I would still be friends.  We were friends of friends, but always had a great relationship and always enjoyed each other's company.  Now, today, John is marring Kadima, and he proposed last weekend to her at the Bristol Renaissance Faire, their favorite summer activity.

I could not be happier for both of them, as I love them more then friends, but as a brother and sister to me.  We went to the Shedd Aquarium on Saturday for an amazing behind the scenes tour, and Kadima and John asked me to be the Officiant of their wedding.  What an honor and thrill!  I get to marry two of my all time favorite people!  I'm so excited, and I can't wait to get ordained and write something amazing for the two of them.  I just can't cry!  So I dedicate this blog post, to the two amazing people, that will have the wonderful and beautiful wedding that I can be a part of.

While picking out photos, I think the majority is either Me and John or Me and Kadima.  Obviously selfish.  I need more pictures of them!!!