it's elementary

Gotta tell ya- really looking forward to this movie!!

ambush

I thought it would be fun to take my friend Lisa and her husband Tyler to Afternoon Tea at the Grand America, on Saturday. What a cheerful and charming time we had. I have been before, but I think it was a bit magical with the lights and the snow coming down outside. (you can watch the snow from the huge window just behind the piano and harp players.)

We ordered hot white chocolate and lovely little finger sandwiches.

And then Santa came. Oh yes! In all his red glory with his lovely wife, Mrs. Claus beside him. Jingling his belt and "ho, ho, ho"-ing all through the tea room and lobby of this beautiful hotel.

This is when I noticed all the children sitting at the other tables! Yes, this was the Saturday that they had their "Christmas Tea" and Santa came to visit. I thought it was absolutely lovely. Until my friends and I were ambushed by Mr. and Mrs. Claus. As you can tell by our faces, we didn't ask nor were we aware that every table go a picture with the Claus'. They wiggled their way right onto our couch and tea table just in time for the photographer to say, "1, 2, 3...." SNAP. Our complete surprise is now forever documented in this lovely keepsake picture that you receive at the end of "Christmas Tea".

to cut? Or not to cut....

Okay folks! This is where my blog becomes "interactive"! Yay... Do I cut my hair like in the blue shirt? Or should I just hang on a few more months and have the long hair?

crazy souvenirs

I had a hard week. Heck I have had a hard 6 years! So I got a tattoo. Yup! (sorry Aunt Lu! I know you are reading this....)

My friends and I went down to Las Vegas for some R & R ... and I came back with a tattoo. I have been thinking about it for a few years... I have wanted one for about that long. So I thought - this is my time....

It was painful, and I'll never do it again.. but I love love love the one I have. Here are some photos to document my torture and then the end result!

rescue

This past Sunday, I taught Sunday School. It isn't usually my week to teach, but I am going on a road trip this coming weekend and needed to switch with someone. I think that was divine intervention.

I taught on the rescue mission of the Willie and Martin handcart companies. I know the stories of those destitute pioneers fairly well. But to actually teach the stories turned out to be quite an emotional experience. Those poor saints!

Which brings me to the story of "my rescue".

Eight years ago my mother's doctors told us that there was nothing else that they could do and that it was "a matter of weeks". I think the number thrown out was 3-8 weeks. Not a lot.

I was in Utah at the time living with a couple of girls and going to school. I was poor, as most college students are and didn't have the means to make the trip to Chicago. I was beside myself and didn't know what I was going to do.

That is when I got a call from a friend from High School. Stewart Barney. He called to tell me he was on his way out the next day with his pick up truck to come and get me and my belongings so that I could move home and be with my family. He made the 20+ hour drive to Utah. While he was here for the 4 short hours that we went down to Salt Lake to see Temple Square, my mother passed away. Stu was here for 5 hours total. I had enough time to pack up my things and pack them in his truck and we made the trip back to Chicago- another 20+ hours.

I am still moved by this act of kindness. We were 22 years old, and he was so amazingly kind to do that for a friend. It is truly amazing.

So when I think of those saints that made the trip back-the 400 miles- and I think of how selfless those men were, I think of my own selfless friend.

Where you lead, I will follow

Anyone that knows me knows that there are 2 things that I really, really, really love.


1. Rascal Flatts


2. Gilmore Girls





Now I need to give the credit where it is due. I have a friend that I met back in Connecticut that introduced this show to me. (thanks Allie!) And I watched the very last season with her religiously every Tuesday night. It was great fun. We even had a "last episode" party. I think we may have even worn plaid in honor of Luke. (NOT CHRISTOPHER!!) And thank goodness she had the rest of the seasons on DVD for me to know where all of the characters came from and how they developed. I remember many random phone calls and conversations in hallways about Lorelai and Luke. And how I would be just completely depressed if Lorelai chose Christopher instead of Luke. (sigh) I still get a little anxiety as I am thinking about it!
And a huge perk from the show: it takes place in my beloved Connecticut. Stars Hollow to be exact. And really, I would take up drinking coffee if that meant I could spend some time at Luke's diner.
I was sick last week and popped these DVD's in to just chill and watch something. And once again, was hooked! I had to watch every last episode, even though I knew how it ended and who ended up with who and where Rory go a job. I just love this show! If you have not watched them, go out and do yourself a favor... watch them.

Take a Hike

Hiking is hard. I have known this for a while. I tried it once when I was in college and remember thinking all the way up the mountain, "who the hell talked me into this!?"

But I found myself doing it again last Saturday. I was just as hard as I remembered. But at least it was with good company! (last time I hiked to impress a boy-so glad I am past that now!) My family and I (brothers, sister-in-law and 2 cousins) hiked Brighton. Phew! We had no idea how much snow was going to be up there, and as you can see, we were not really dressed for how cold it was going to be. But the landscape was so beautiful, that it almost made you forget how freaking cold you were!

It was really a lovely hike, and I might even try it again..... WHEN IT IS WARMER!