Summer Travels

July was a busy month for me and I thought I would update via photos and some text. (Disclaimer: I have tried to format this better about four times and am DONE now - it's not too bad, but y'all know how much I want it to be perfect) Enjoy!

The Great Midwestern Adventure: Chicago/Madison/Tonica (July 10-15)
We arrived on the 10th and after lunch with my parents, we headed downtown for a river tour with Lindsey. It was a little cloudy and rainy, but not too bad. Plus, I really do think this is the best way to see the city and it was fun way to introduce Brian to all Chicago has to offer. Okay, not ALL of it, but a very important part. We also checked out Millenium Park and the Bean sculpture, where Brian didn't really want to cooperate with my picture taking. ::sigh:: That night was dinner in Greektown and then a showing of the play Lindsey's working on. This was one of the first of many long days for us.

On the 11th, we had lunch with a friend of Brian's and then drove up to Madison for a little time in one of my favorite places. I thought this was only fair since Brian had only been to Madison in January, which is not the best time for Wisconsin. This time, the weather was much more pleasant and our hotel room had spectacular views of both Lake Monona and the Capitol. We shopped State Street and had dinner at the Great Dane before meeting some of my student organizing friends for drinks on the rooftop of the new Overture Center. I have to say that I was both surprised and impressed by this relatively new option on the Madison nightlife scene.

On the 12th, we headed over to the Terrace to hang out with some of my college friends. The weather was phenomenal, Lake Mendota was full of sailboats and there was beer, ice cream and lemonade for mama-to-be Cole. Before going on the trip, I'd had high hopes for this outing and it was just as perfect as I imagined it would be. We hung out and chatted for a few hours and then headed back to Chicago for dinner with Rachel, her girlfriend, her girlfriend's parents and my parents at my favorite Mexican restaurant in Chicago. It was there that Brian had the smallest fajitas I have ever seen.

The 13th was family reunion time in Tonica, IL. This small town is home to my grandparents' house and is about two and a half hours southeast of Chicago. Lindsey had to work so Rachel, Brian and I loaded into the family minivan for a little road trip. The reunion was a bit overwhelming since there were many people there that I have not seen in years and did not know. But we got to spend some nice time with my grandparents, my cousins Kathryn and John and my aunts and uncle. I also got to dust off my bocce ball skills for a friendly competition midday. It was a lot of day, but like everything else on this trip, it was a lot of fun and I am so glad to have been able to introduce Brian to those important people in my life. (And, it turns out, Brian's not bad at bocce ball either!)

I didn't take many photos on the 14th (shocking, I know!), but we ate at Sweet Maple Cafe (so delicious) and then wandered through Navy Pier for a bit. That night we met up with my high school friends for drinks and then headed back home to sample some traditional Chicago-style pizza. As you probably noticed, this was a standard Miller family trip in that there was plenty to see, but more to eat.

The 15th came faster than I had bargained for so we packed our bag and took a bunch of family photos (with me in MD and Rachel headed back to China for another year, it's important to take them when we can). Brian took at least one pointing photo every time we took pictures - it was his theme or something - and this is a great example. After the photo shoot, we introduced Brian to the wonder that is Smoque barbecue. Fully satiated, we headed to the airport and back home. It was a phenomenal trip and I am thankful for everyone who worked us into their schedules. I'm hoping we're back for Chanukah, but we will have to wait and see. Until then, this trip's memories will hold me over.

Go West, Young (Wo)Man: Seattle (July 16-20)
Less than 24 hours after landing at BWI from Chicago, I was back and headed to Seattle for a visit with my college friends Jennifer and Aaron, my high school friend Paul and the annual AP Conference. I had a great time visiting Jennifer and Aaron and their one month old son Gabriel in Kirkland, Washington. They are headed back to the Midwest so I am glad I got to see them in Seattle before they moved. Paul did an awesome job of showing me around Seattle (including the really cool looking locks/salmon ladders) before taking me to the airport for my redeye home. In between, I learned a lot about increasing rigor in our curriculum and also got to hang out with Brian's friend Jodi, who is moving from Chicago to Seattle in a few months and was in town to look for a house with her boyfriend. It was a great trip, although it showed me that I could never be one of those people who travel all of the time. I like my home (and my bed) too much.

Friendship in the City of Bridges: Pittsburgh (July 25-26)
At the end of June, my friend from Andie moved up to Pittsburgh for a new (awesome) job. Andie and I would get together at least once a week after work to decompress and talk about life and I was missing that. So, I decided to take advantage of my dwindling summer vacation and drive up to spend some time with her. Traffic slowed me down some, but we still managed to tour the Phipps Conservatory and the Cathedral of Learning before heading to an Irish pub for dinner and drinks with her boyfriend and their Pittsburgh crew. We ended the night at a lounge overlooking the city, which was surprisingly beautiful. It was an incredibly short trip (I left after breakfast the next day), but a much-needed one. (Andie has the only picture of the two of us, so look for that on Facebook at a later date).

Okay, that's it for now. I go back to work on the 4th and this last week has been and will be full of concerts. Rock the Bells on Sunday, George Michael last night and Jay-Z/John Legend on Friday night. Can't wait! Can't believe my summer's pretty much over! Good thing I squeezed so much into July!

I never could have hacked it at Woodstock

Yesterday, Brian and I went to "Rock the Bells," an all day hip hop music festival. Gates opened at 11am and music started at noon, but we didn't show until about 3pm. From 3pm until 11pm we sat, walked, danced, ate and people-watched. In those 8 hours we saw: Rakim; Ghostface & Raekwon; De La Soul; Method Man and Redman; The Pharcyde; Mos Def; Nas; and Tribe Called Quest. Plus some short bits by Wale and Jay Electronica, who had both performed earlier in the day. It was an amazing show and I was so grateful to be there, but as Brian said, "it is a show to endure."

So anxious

T-minus two days until we leave for our whirlwind trip to the Midwest! I have been working so hard not to think about this trip that now that it is almost here I am nearly bursting with excitement. Today I set aside my outfits for the trip and tomorrow I'll get a pedicure and we'll pack. And then we leave! Can't wait to be home. Can't wait to relax with my family. Can't wait to see my friends. Can't wait, can't wait, can't wait!

Not nearly as fun as you'd think

I have now been on vacation for two full days and some hours and it is really not as fun as one might think. I spent Monday cleaning the house, doing laundry and making dinner. Tuesday I slept a lot, laid by the pool for an hour, watched tv, ran some errands and made blueberry cobbler. So far this morning, I have gone for a walk, watched tv, done my stretches and had breakfast. Now I'm waiting for the pool to open so I can spend some time there before a shower, lunch and an appointment to get my hair dyed. Brian has softball tonight which means I have loads of alone time and I am already bored out of my mind. I needed this break, no doubt about it, but I wish I had more teacher friends that I could hang out with in the summertime.

Welcome to vacation!

The 2007-2008 school year finally ended today and there were four things that made it a great end to a less than stellar year.

1. I co-chaperoned a trip to the University of Maryland for the 28 boys at orientation this week. It was hot and a lot of walking, so there was plenty of whining, but the boys also had a lot of fun and were legitimately excited about seeing the campus. Awesome. And a good reminder of why it is we do what we do for kids every day.
   
2. When I got home early from work, Brian was also home early (waiting for the cable man to come fix our internet). Not that we did anything more than watch some tennis and some cooking shows before we left for the night, but it's somehow more fun when you have unexpected time together.
   
3. I met my good friends Emily and Colleen for a three hour "happy hour" tonight which involved some beer, some pizza and a lot of conversation.
   
4. When leaving the bar, we walked past the new restaurant opening on Penn. It is being opened by Spike, one of the contestants on Top Chef: Chicago. He was clearly inside doing prep work and when he saw us peering through the windows, he came out and invited us in for a tour. It looks like a good space and they will serve burgers, fries, milkshakes and beer. Didn't need to say a lot more to convince Colleen, Emily and I. Plus...we got to meet him! And chat with him about food! In his restaurant! With no one else around! Pretty cool.
   

Yes, I'm a geek. It's fine. Bring on four weeks of rest, relaxation and travel!

And the "Slightly inappropriate question" award goes to...

K. for asking me how I got such big calf muscles in the middle of a class discussion on types of government. Ian nearly choked on his water while I simply moved us along. It is, after all, a question I get asked at least once a year.

Midweek review

Sorry that the last post was so cranky. It was just one of those mornings where too many dark clouds gather over your head at the same time and I had to vent to someone.

Orientation week is more than halfway finished and I'm in a much better place these days. The co-teaching thing has found its rhythm and the boys I'm working with this week are, as always, completely lovable. Today I was wearing a mostly blue dress and one of my students (who rarely initiates conversation) said, "Your eyes! They're beautiful!" Flattery gets you everywhere with me, it seems. Anyway, it's hard to square the image of these children with the image of the crazies I said good-bye to just a few weeks ago. Still, here we are. And it will be just the same next year.