America's Best Great Undiscovered City

9 of 10 Americans agree that Milwaukee, WI is the next great underrated city of America!
I'm not entirely sure that is true, but it probably is. Another thing that is probably a probably is this: Milwaukee has got to be on many of those lists. You know those ones with the top 10 blahbity blah cities in America? Yes, those. Milwaukee should be on every one.

Tonight we went to Chill on the Hill, an outdoor music fest, and we did just that- chilled on a hill

Cool breezes, delicious wine, amazing food, good friends!

Lovin' this time here!

The experience

It feels pretty weird to be officially out of Durham and out of NC for a while.  It's hard to admit, but I actually feel nothing.  If anything, I just feel really excited to get to Oregon. Right now we are in Milwaukee visiting Kurt and Alex, and thats just what this feels like so far: a visit to Kurt and Alex.  No tinge of a feeling that we have moved.  I keep thinking that at some point there will be a moment when we realize that *Oh shit, we live in Oregon now* It could be months before that sets in.

For the mean time, I don't want to worry about what I feel or what I should feel. But rather enjoy this experience for all that it is. We are driving across such a beautiful country and we are blessed with the time and capabilities to really enjoy it. And despite the fact that there are moments when I want to just get to Oregon already-find my favorite bar, coffee shop, running loops, set up our house and put the duvet on the bed-I realize that all of that will come in due time.

For now, carpe diem, muthas!

They came, they saw...

They conquered. Or put all of our stuff in a truck and drove it away, rather.

Now we sit.




And drink.




And wait to go.

The movers have taken our things and all we can do now is drink beer and hope that it makes it to Oregon. Somehow, I'm beginning to realize what a huge undertaking this move is and it feels good. I harken back to Rafael and the deets and how you just do them. And here we are doing them. While stressful, it is also exhilarating.

I raise my glass...To moving!

Today

This




And all my clothes conveniently fit into 7 bins plastic bins and 2 suitcases.




And deeeeeeener with Beeeeekah!




And much hipper







Movers come tomorrow! Eek!

Book Club!

One of the greatest tragedies of the 21st century is my departure from The Precious Wigs.  I've really enjoyed my time as a member of our little book club.  Its motivated me to continue to read even when the going gets tough!

Last night we wined and snacked (sans Bergan and Sarah) as a goodbye to Blaine.

What a privilege to be a part of such a smart, funny, and beautiful group of women! I'll keep reading.

Me, Laura, Megan, Utah, Leah is taking the picture

Finally...

After another long week at camp, I've finally have packed a few boxes.  The move date is rapidly approaching and we had LITERALLY done nothing.  Now, we have done "something".  It's also a good thing that I bought so many shoes in the past 6 months.  The boxes make for great dishes packing boxes.

Highlights from camp this week:  Edie and Viktor made special guest appearances.

They loved summer camp!

Days gone by...

How could you let an entire week go by without blogging, you terrible horrible blogger you?!

Well, what had happened was a surprise Sunday birthday jaunt to the lake with friends.  A surprise Birthday visit from Kurt, Alex and Charlotte, followed by one of the toughest weeks of teaching (it was summer camp, but hey) of my life.

Great group of friends gathers to celebrate

very in depth conversation

too cute

dudes from above

those are not doritoes

so stoic

cannonbaaaaaaaallllll

enjoying the rays and water

a lake mermaid

lake dancing

delicious strawberry cake: "Make it strawberry as shit!"

So, that was a great Sunday!

Then, the week approaches and I know I'm teaching summer camp.  Ok.  No problemo.  Wrong!  How to explain it properly without giving myself brain trauma?  Well, lets just say that I had some VERY difficult kids all day, everyday this week.  It truly tested me and just reinforced the fact that I am making the right decision by getting out of teaching.  Thank goodness that's over.  And somewhere in between getting scissors thrown at me and chasing around a bunch of little pants pee-ers, I turned 30.  Doesn't really feel like anything...yet.

"I'm never drinking again"

Ah, those faithful words we utter on the morning after we have a little too much to drink. Why do we say this? Seriously, we know we will not never drink again. Perhaps we'll even be having a little cocktail later that very evening. But, somehow saying this seems to right the wrongs we committed to our poor unsuspecting bodies.

When you're about to turn 30, the instances of uttering these words become few and far between. Long gone are the days of drinking to get drunk: college keg parties and binge drinking vanilla vodka with your roommates. No, these over-indulgent near alcoholic pastimes get traded in for after work pints that go a little to far or dinner parties where the conversation is too good and the wine bottles seem to have no end. How can these sparse and seemingly harmless instances feel so much harder on the body than the hardcore college throw downs? Brain-crushing hangovers from a few glasses of wine and stomach issues reminiscent of that time you had ebola from a mere 3 beers. I guess you aren't as tough as you used to be. And somehow, your poor body hangs on for dear life though it's recovery processes aren't as spry as they used to be. Maybe those empty promises of never drinking again are the body's way of sending the brain a message please brain, never let this person imbibe alcohol again or at least give them the intelligence of maturity to realize that I can't keep up like I used to.

The double edged sword that is moving

Here in lies the problem when you move: people come out of the woodworks trying to hang out and have their last supper with you.  Then, you get sad because these folks are your friends and you probably won't see them for a very long time, even though its been a really long time since you've seen them anyway and you've been living in the same place. I propose it is better to slip away unsuspectingly as to avoid the lasts and sad goodbyes.

Home De-what?

Today I fulfilled almost every stereotype about women not knowing anything about anything when it comes to Home Depot. I was one of those who wander aimlessly from aisle to aisle as if in a foreign land comprised of robotic body parts.