Sweet Summertime

Almost. I'll take springtime though. Today was just gorgeous.
Today brought Arizona to the Sweet Sixteen. Bethany, Brian, and I sported our AZ hoodies for the occasion, and enjoyed perfectly grilled hamburgers, pineapple, strawberries, salad, and roasted potatoes in them. I would've had a great visual to illustrate, with Brian standing over the tiny tiny grill, PBR in hand, but the camera was upstairs, so...so far away.
Kicking off summer was great though, and delicious. Cannot wait for the real thing.

Life Lessons and Attitudes on a Friday

This morning I am in a great mood. That is the attitude part of the post.

I learned a lesson yesterday morning. It had to do with selfishness and pettiness, or, the purging of these close aquaintances of mine. Read on:

This weekend I looked at plane tickets to go to Tucson for my June bridal shower (to quote Anna, "Who's it for?"/ "Anna. It's mine! My bridal shower! I'm getting married!"). I found a great price on a great flight, cleared it with the bosses, and...didn't act on it for three days. Tuesday night I looked, and the hiked price gleamed at me with squinty eyes, har-har-harring...
I was insta-grump, total victim, whiiining and b*tching. My poor fiance and sister tried to help and be logical, but Sarawitch would have NONE OF THAT!
Thursday morning rolls around and dearheart Alli forwards me Southwest's Huge Summer Sale ad, I look, my heart, it Leaps, and behold, my favorite flight is the rock-bottom price of $99, my freshman year regular fare. I teared up a bit.
I mean really, lesson learned. It's a flight, not a roof over my head or food for the week. It's faith that what happens is supposed to, and is a gift. In no way did I lift this insignificant issue up in prayer, or blame myself and concentrate on being smarter next time. I feel like God said, "There. NOW will you trust me?"

So, enough whining. More praying. More consideration. More grace and less grump.

Because Weather Talk is so stimulating

Today Chicago is windy and sunny and about 40 degrees, and sloppy. I wished this. I told everyone at work that I hoped I'd have to muck through gigantic puddles all weekend. It makes me almost as happy as the 50 degree weekend while I was gone for Christmas weekend, which melted about three feet of snow to nothing. Glorious.

I've realized something about myself though, on this introspective Saturday morning, and I'm catalog-ing (sp? yikes.) it under "Growing Up and Changing--It's for Reals:"

I do hate the winter, but I'm doing it this year. Not only doing winter, but walking in it everyday, bundling up against it as my routine. Carrying tissues to take the ice chunks out of my eyelashes when I get to my building. Tucking khakis into black snow boots and wearing hats and scarves with clashing prints.
I credit this to being here 5 winters, yes, and coming around, but I think it fits more into Growing Up and Changing. Because blogging is a perfect forum for airing personal revelations, I can state that this 40 degree morning in Chicago is showing me that I'm more ready for this adulthood than I thought. Even if it means I end up the kind of adult that tucks khakis into snow boots.
This makes me very excited for marriage :)

Love you love you long time

I've gotten engaged since my last post! Very exciting. I also can't believe I've been too busy (or maybe too boring) to write a bit since then.

Stages of engagement, so far:

It breaks: forth, the engagement "yes;" the news, to family and friends; the inhibition, as I tell and hug anyone and everyone

The realization: that I still need to go to work like normal people (WHA??); that I really should talk about it less; that I need to throw...a wedding...

The grunt work: more like hemming and hawing, when I start to regret not planning this since I was five. I turn into a stressball.

Decisions: one thing works out, then two things, then one huge thing, then four purple-colored taffeta things...and I'm SO EXCITED. I cannot wait for the wedding, and the marraige. It's taking forever to get here.

on my mind

hot chocolate, because Bethany said she'd make some

how I'm going to Christmas up this weekend as much as possible

how I must see Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2

my poor freezing turtle, and how he won't wear his sweater

the impossible-to-find balance of avoiding office or over-priced coffee by making my own and being able to walk/ride the train with it

how B needs her computer back. Guess that's the end of this one. I was just warming up. What a downer.

I was just in Michigan

I went to Michigan this weekend, and I saw all my family on my Mom's side. My parents were even there. It was so special--that hasn't happened in three years. For a few hours, all 29 of us stood in the same room and held hands to pray before the Sunday meal. Grandma cried, overwhelmed with the blessing, and I teared up, and I bet one or two of my aunts felt a little emotional too. It was such a fulfilling meal. There was meat and cheese and vegetables and soup and bread and chips and nuts and candy and cake, and there was great conversation, connection, hilarity, joy, and complete harmony.

In addition to the beauty and blessing of family, I was immersed in the gorgeousness of fall. Again. I know that I've already gone over fall, how I'm actually loving it this year, but Michigan made me feel like I'm practically missing it here in Chicago. There are so many leaves and colors! I couldn't get enough. It was freezing; it even snowed for about 20 minutes, but I wanted to walk in it and photograph it and jump in it. Perfect. This fall is turning out perfectly.

Season settling

Fall started a few weeks ago, I know, I was there. There were a couple of days, though, that were confusing; slightly, slightly breathing these (empty) promises of more sun, more warmish afternoons to wrap up the spent summer. It is officially over now, and it's certain the chilly breezes are staying.

Most of the time, fall just feels like I'm bracing myself for the forever that is winter. This year, I've really started to appreciate it, seeing more positives where I didn't think to look for them before.

Negative; Positive instead!
Cold wind; Crisp air
Wearing sleeves; Cute Coats
Football; Football naps and snacks
Walking in the freezing; Being serious about Chicago
End of beach weather; Varying my activities
Music seems more depressing; Books become more intriguing
End of fruit seasons; Cooking feels like a good idea ( as does tea, coffee, hot
chocolate, oatmeal, soup)

I think much of this change in perspective (which is truly significant for me) comes from dating a Michigan man. Not sure how, or why--some mix of good memories and happy horizons, old times and new experiences. This may be one of the first years I've realized that settling in (for the winter) will be good and not intolerable.

Self discovery hour has been very fulfilling! Time for a football nap.