I'm Back

Wow it has been way too long since I have blogged. A little thing called vacation got in the way! We had a wonderful two weeks in Europe and I hope to blog more about that soon. Because Michael, Maggie and my dad all have really nice cameras not to mention much better photography skills than I do I left the photography up to them. The good thing was I wasn't worried about taking photos at all during the trip. The bad thing is now I want them all to start printing/framing, making a photo book, etc. but that's not easy to do when I don't have them!

Anyway, in the meantime, since we have returned, things have been nice and quiet. For the first time literally since January, Kevin and I had a weekend in Columbia together - no traveling to St. Louis, no work for me, no studying for Kevin, no frantic packing or anything. Just movies, good food, sleeping in, walks with Cocoa and a couple meals out, one with friends, one with Maggie.

While being abroad was amazing and I hope to have the opportunity to return, especially to Italy and Ireland, being home is sooooo nice. Clean (and unwrinkled)clothes all of the time. Ice cold, free water at restaurants. Clean and free bathrooms. Sleep. Cocoa Bean. Regular access to news and the Internet. I know it is soooo cheesy but there really is no place like home. And a nice quiet weekend with Kevin was just what I needed. Now this thing they call "Monday" - especially a gloomy one, after such a wonderful weekend, well that's another story.

Some of the things from home I missed most.
-first three from great din at Flatbranch. Loved trying new food but did come to miss American dining "staples" - fries, pretzels, brownies. (no wonder Americans are so overweight...)
-fourth photo from great din Kevin cooked. definitely missed quiet dinners at home
-and last one of course Cocoa :)

Downhill from here

Yesterday marked the halfway point in between my 19 straight days of work... and I celebrated by taking the day off!

Had a great day, sleeping in, walking and lunching at Uprise with Mag, getting my hair cut and highlighted (always makes me feel refreshed!) and watching the last few episodes of Mad Men Season 3 in anticipation for the premier of season 4 on Sunday! Can't wait.

Here's me with my new hair


and me "Mad Men" style


A week from now, the bar will be over and I will be one day away from having my weekends back! I can do it.

Why I am not blogging right now

19 straight days of work, about 100 post-its. (but only 22 days until Europe!)

Such Great Heights

The other night Maggie and I were sitting outside... enjoying the beautiful weather this week... when suddenly we heard a loud, torch-like noise. Freaked out for a few seconds, we soon realized a hot air balloon was literally right above our apartment. It was moving so fast but I was able to snap a few photos.





I was thinking it would be really cool to take a hot air balloon ride, so I googled to get some pricing and other information. One of the first facts I came across was that the hot air balloon is the oldest successful human-carrying flight technology. Also, the first successful hot air balloon flight was made in 1783 in Paris - a city we will be visiting in just about a month.

While I checked the prices of a hot air balloon ride in Paris, it is definitely out of our budget (169 euros/person). Interestly, this is about the same as it would be to take a hot air balloon ride over Columbia, MO...

Anyway, we might have another opportunity to view a city from above (sorry, Laura!) as Maggie found this awesome "to-do" in Barcelona- Cable car on Montjuic mountain. Only 12.50 euros, a much more affordable opportunity.


image from barcelonaphotoblog.com

Home

Probably for as long as people have been writing songs, and especially as musicians have been going on tour, leaving behind family and friends, they have been writing about home. Over the years, different songs about home have connected on different levels with me.

As I graduated high school, OAR was very popular and their song “Home” reminded me of leaving behind close friends as we went to college, but knowing we could always come home and reconnect.
I feel home,
when I see the faces that remember my own
I feel home,
when I'm chillin outside with the people I know.
I feel home,
and that's just what I feel.
because home to me is reality

During college, as I actually got much closer with my parents and was constantly homesick, I remember listening to the live version of Simon and Garfunkel’s “Homeward Bound” on my way back to Columbia. It always gave me comfort, especially knowing there was about an 80 percent chance I would be homeward bound in just a few days.
Like emptiness in harmony I need someone to comfort me.
Homeward bound,
I wish I was,
Homeward bound

The summer I moved back in with my parents after graduating college, Michael Buble’s song “Home” was popular. It was a perfect summer song, and one of the American Idol contestants that mom and I liked, Elliot Yamin, even performed it live on the show. It is cheesy, but the song reminded me that no matter how exciting people’s lives seem, there is often nothing better than being at home.
Another summer day
Has come and gone away
In Paris and Rome
But I wanna go home

Last summer, as I was facing some challenges, I fell in love with the movie Away We Go and really enjoyed the soundtrack, featuring many songs from Alexi Murdoch. The song “Orange Sky” is really beautiful (actually also in another great movie, Garden State) and just reminds me of family and the idea that the ones we love are our “home.” It made me appreciate my family so much, especially Kevin, during that time in my life.
When I am alone
When I've thrown off the weight of this crazy stone
When I've lost all care for the things I own
That's when I miss you, that's when I miss you, that's when I miss you
You who are my home
You who are my home

Finally, my latest obsession with a song about home is “Home” from Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros. What a powerful, beautiful, uplifting song!! And I know it is cheesy again but I love the idea that this song emphasizes that home is not a place. It is a state of being, with the people we love.
Ahh Home. Let me go home.
Home is wherever I'm with you.
Ahh Home. Let me go ho-oh-ome.
Home is where I'm alone with you...


My home:

Grandpa-isms

This past weekend we went to Kansas City to see the Cards-Royals and also visit family. The last time we saw Grandpa was about two days after he "almost had a heart attack" as he likes to say! Needless to say, he seemed tired and was dizzy and lightheaded from the medication when we last visited. This time... what a turn-around! He looked better than maybe I have ever seen him and was full of energy and life.

Grandpa has always had a dry sense of humor and boy did it come through this weekend! Here are a few of my favorite quotes from him...

"Hey, Pete, don't forget your chalkboard!" (in reference to my dad's iPad).

Anne (to me): I love your dog! Can you leave her here?
Grandpa: Yes, you should definitely leave her! That way in three months when Anne gets tired of her, I can have her!"
(background: his dog Sneakers, used to be Anne's, and I am pretty sure that wasn't the first dog of hers that he ended up with :)

Anne: Hey dad, how are you doing?
Grandpa: Never been better. (about :30 seconds later)... well actually I've been much better!

Grandpa: Hey, did you know Kevin is outside?
Me: Yes, he is walking the dog.
Grandpa: Better keep an eye on him, he's liable to wonder off.

There were many, many more... hopefully they will come to me and I will add them up. He was just so much fun, it lifted my spirits to see him and I know he was happy to have us there. He stayed over at Anne's hanging out with us until 9:30. I can't remember the last time he did that. It was just great to see him feeling well. Hopefully we will make it back soon to get more grandpa-isms!



Grandpa playing with the iPad! So sorry for poor quality...not sure what's going on with my camera. Here's a better one of him from our wedding...



So proud that his trademark cigars were nowhere to be found!

One day at a time

“Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things." (Robert Brault)

Right now I am trying to enjoy every day, and live in the moment. Especially now as Kevin is searching for a job, there is a possibility that our lives could drastically change in the coming months. I am not going to lie, sometimes I do get filled with anxiety, but for the most part, I am giving it my all to take one day at a time and appreciate the mundane....

Schlafly dinner/farmer's market with family...


sweet animals that love unconditionally...


flowers to brighten a home...


having ice cream with the strongest and most good-natured father in the world...


homemade yummy food and drink, more often than not inspired by healthy, talented Maggie.




coming home every day to a hardworking, loving husband


watching a classic, timeless film


...and no matter what happens with where we live, work, travel, etc it truly is these everyday things that make up our lives, and I know no whether things change in the coming months, I can count on having these simple and wonderful experiences with people I love.