"Built In Friends"

Well.  Summer is here.  She knocked a couple times but didn't fully enter.  Even now, I'm not sure she really wants to stay.  Rain rain rain...I feel like that's all we get.  However, this week is looking pretty darn good for 70-80 degree weather with sunshine!  Ethan and I can't say it enough, thank goodness for a new roof.

Tuesday night we were graced with one of Mother Nature's furious temper tantrums.  Ethan and I were watching television and heard the storm sirens go off about 8:15pm.  We checked the local weather and they had issued a tornado warning for our area.  I hate storms...no really...I HATE STORMS.  So, I ran upstairs to grab my purse and ran back downstairs and told Ethan that I was headed to the basement.  He was annoyed...I was over-reacting.  Whatever.  We went downstairs and I was glued to my phone for weather updates while Ethan watched some Netflix to pass the time.  At about 9:15pm we pretty much figured that the storm was over and were about to head upstairs when the power went out.  Great.  Ethan ran and grabbed a couple flashlights but hoped that the power would come back on soon.  I suggested a game and we agreed on just reading the trivia cards from Trivial Pursuit 90's edition.  I quickly learned that I do not store the kind of information that was on these cards, however, Ethan was a pro.  The amount of knowledge he had for such random questions was astounding to me!   After about an hour of no power, we headed up to bed in hopes that the electricity would soon return.    I woke up at 5am on Wednesday, still without power.  I couldn't fall back asleep so I headed out to drive around and see just what kind of damage this storm did. 

By one of the parks. 

Assuming that this caused the power outage.  Power line down across the road.

Ethan woke up about 530am and gave me a call to come and get him.  By this time, I had already woken my mom up with a frantic call about getting the food out of the freezer/fridge and getting on the road back to Iowa.  We went and picked up some Styrofoam coolers and ice, headed back to the house, and packed up the food as fast as we could.  We hopped in the car and were off to Iowa.

What a week we have had.  Unfortunately, Ethan's grandfather passed away a week ago.  He was 90 years old and had been battling some health issues for the last couple months.  What an amazing life he lead! 

Ethan comes from a VERY large family.  On his dads side, his grandparents had 11 kids (10 boys and 1 girl).  It's always so impressive when we get together to see how close these siblings are and how much camaraderie there is between them all.  It's also a great testament to their upbringing at how successful, humble, generous, and family oriented they are.  Grandpa and Grandma Muench were extremely blessed in terms of family - 11 Kids, 30 Grandkids (not to mention spouses), and 17 (and counting - 3 more due this year!) great grandkids!  What a treat it is for everyone to get together.  Likewise, Ethan's mom comes from a similarly large family.  9 kids (including Ethan's mom) made up the Blocker clan.  Ethan and his cousins (on both sides) always say that they had "Built In Friends" growing up.  They lived close enough and got to see each other enough that their family relationship turned into strong friendships.  I love being a part of this family...wouldn't trade it for the world.




So, while we traveled to Iowa with heavy hearts, we were reminded of the joy and excitement that comes with getting together with the whole family.  It was therapeutic to be around everyone and in some small way, Grandpa Muench gave us that blessing.



My roots have grown but I don't know where they are...

Have you heard!?  Chicago now has a new pizza place that is serving "QC Style" pizza.  I know, I know...what the hell is that.  Well...it's pretty much the best thing on Earth.  Ethan and I have been waiting for this place to open up and FINALLY we were able to go and taste our favorite style of pizza.   It's Harris and Wise Guys together and it hits on every memory we have of home.  Of course, we also tried the Mozzarella Sticks because Ethan loves them more than life.  After having them, I can honestly say that they will change your life.  Homemade Mozzarella and the best breading ever had...simply perfect!  We're hooked...and I'm sure it won't be long before we are meeting up with old QC friends for some reminiscing and good food.

On Monday I was fortunate enough to make it downtown to see one of my favorite bands play.  The Head and The Heart played at Millennium Park with Iron and Wine.  It was the perfect night (though a bit muggy) to sit outside and watch them do their thing.  This was my second time seeing them and, just like the first time, I sat there in awe and amazement.  I love when you can see that a band is doing EXACTLY what they want and love to do.  Their enthusiasm and joy is contagious. 

I left after their performance because I was already going to see them the next night up in Milwaukee and I wanted to get home at a decent time. I clearly underestimated how hard it would be to get out of Millennium Park. 

After begging a security guard to let me out, I made it past the barricaded entrance and on my way to the El.  I noticed, as I was crossing Michigan Ave. that more and more people were coming to the park.  Where were they going to sit?  What did they think they could see?  It didn't matter.  Apparently there were 15,000 people there that night...simply amazing.

I made it to the El and went to put money on my transit card.  The credit card loading machine was out of order and I didn't have any cash...because in 2011 who carries cash anymore?!  So, I crouched down in the 96 degree heat and dug through my purse frantically looking for change.  One dollar and 20 cents.  I walked down the stairs, sweaty and discouraged hoping that there was an ATM close by and I could get some money. Nothing.  So I walked to State/Lake - there had to be a credit card machine at this stop.  No.  So I walked down to the Red Line State/Lake stop.  I KNOW there is one at this stop.  Out of order.  Now I'm pissed, lonely, sweaty, and incredibly thirsty....

ATM...got some money and went back up to get a diet coke from Johnny Rockets to break the 20.  Line too long.  Walked next door to the cafe.  $2.21 - hand her my $20.  She literally asks me if I have 21cents.......  Back to diggin in my purse and I hand over some change.  She rings it up and some how presses $2021 as what I gave her thus messing up the change amount.  OMG.  She hands me 19 dollars back and my drink cup.  Now remember - I gave her my 20 dollar bill and 21 cents...she hands me 19 dollars back........I kindly told her that she only owed me 18 dollars and quickly grabbed my cup and filled up.  Walked back up the 3 flights of stairs to the Green line State/Lake stop and got on the next train.  To say that people looked at me funny would be an understatement.  The girl across from me stared unabashedly as I slurped down my drink and feverishly wiped my sweat from my head.

Tuesday night I had a site visit out in Rockford.  I then hopped in my car and drove to Milwaukee, WI to see The Head and The Heart and Iron and Wine perform at Turner Hall.  Amazing venue, by the way.  Got in with my brother and sister-in-law and waited for the magic to happen.  Was there any doubt that The Head and The Heart would be amazeballs?  No, there was not.  Then Iron and Wine came on.  Decent and entertaining and very good for the first portion of their set....not so much for the remainder.  "Jammy Jams", as my brother and I say, took over and they totally lost the focus and energy of the crowd.

No matter what, that drive and long day was worth every thing.  I had the chance to say hi to the band and listen to them talk to my brother about going to the DoeBay Fest this year.  He's an amazing writer and has an ear for music.  Always amazes me that he's deaf in one ear and is tone deaf and can still tell what good music is.  He's introduced me to some great bands and maybe he can do the same for you...

It's been a busy week.  Concerts, site visits, dinner with friends, and a dear friends wedding this weekend that I will surely blog about with pictures. 

"I only burn once a year..."

First and foremost - God is good.  I landed the job and have been working at Concordia University in their Graduate Advising Office for 2 weeks now.  There are so many things that are different here and I love it!!  Carpooling with Ethan to work is an added bonus.  :-)

Did you know that they actually have other departments on campus that are designed to make your job easier?  Take Print Services, for instance. You can send a print job to them and they will print on whatever color paper you want AND fold it however you want.  Amazeballs.  It's just a dream here and I know that God had this in his plan all along...just took some patience on my end.

Ethan and I celebrated our 1 year wedding anniversary this past weekend.  We went to a Brew and View and then stayed out in a "green" hotel in Naperville.  It was perfect.  Low key and just what we wanted.  We saw Bridesmaids that night - hysterical!!!  The next night we went to go and see The Hangover Part 2 - jackpot #2 for the weekend!!  Can't believe that we have been married for a year.  The time has flown by and I'm sure it will continue to fly by!! 

It was fun to reminisce about our honeymoon and the funny things that happened.  We definitely need to take another honeymoon!! 
We got to Riviera Maya on Monday afternoon and ended up falling asleep by 7pm in the room.  We were exhausted!!  Tuesday we didn't have anything planned so we got ready and went down to the pool.  Filled up our glasses once, then twice, then...whoops!  Luckily, I remembered and was willing to put more sunscreen on but Ethan had another agenda.  His "I only burn once a year" mentality was put to the test with the hot Mexican Sun....by 5pm...it was Mexican Sun 1pt - Ethan's skin 0pt.  He was crispy and in a ton of pain.  I ran to the convenient store located in our resort and coughed up 12 dollars for a bottle of Tylenol (note to self - bring Tylenol on next trip).  When I got back to the room I found Ethan cold and shivering on the bed...what a mess.  We still had 5 days of sun and fun left....

Wednesday morning I had to literally peel the bed sheets off of Ethan's skin.  We got dressed and we had to head to the Mayan ruins that day.  It was another hot one but we managed to make it through.  We even had the opportunity to jump off a cliff into a Cenote (sunken well).  It was SO amazing and the water was refreshing.  A 2 hour ride back to the resort and it was time for dinner.  Ethan was still very sore and sick so we ate fast and headed back to the room.  

That night I swore I got bit by a spider on my back.  I brought some anti-itch cream with just in case something like this happened and had Ethan put some on my back.  Can you imagine - Me slathering Ethan with Aloe about every 3 hours and him putting anti-itch stuff on my back twice a day.  I could barely put my pajama's on without irritating my back and not being able to sleep on my back.  Anything that touched it felt like needles!!

Thursday I think we went snorkeling.  I reminded Ethan that he should put sunscreen on his calves since they would be exposed...he didn't listen and Thursday night was fighting off yet another horrible sunburn.  But remember "he only burns once a year"..............

I was still fighting with the spider bite on my back but was trying to make the best of it.  Friday I let Ethan lay in the room while I tried to catch the most sun I could on our last full day in Mexico.

Saturday we hopped on a plane home - sick, tired, achy, sore, and very very irritable.  I couldn't sit still on the plane ride because my bra strap was rubbing against my so called spider bite - Ethan was hot as all get out because of the sun burn and was starting the first round of peeling.

We got to Atlanta and had a 2 hour layover that turned into a 6 hour layover.  We did not reach the Moline Airport until 1am-ish where Ev picked us up. 

Sunday morning I decided that I needed to get to a doctor.  Neither my parents or Ethan's parents were in town so I couldn't get a second opinion on my back before going....but by this time - it was starting to spread and I could barely take it.

First thing the doctor says "well, that's interesting...."

Not exactly the thing you want to hear after you have been in Mexico for a week AND you don't have your parents there to calm you down.....

Doctor confirmed that it was shingles.  SHINGLES!  I was 25 with shingles.  OyVey! Apparently it was a combination of stress of wedding planning and the heat of the Mexican sun....lovely.

Don't get me wrong - we had a blast in Mexico - but the next time we go it's sunscreen and no shingles for this girl!