So, as of this writing Nov. 1, 2005, Lenore�s house in Elk Grove STILL hasn�t sold. It got a lot of action early on (though no offers), but now the whole real estate scene is pretty stagnant. It is a teeny bit easier not running back and forth between that one and her new one so much, but it�s still nerve wracking from a financial perspective. I will post pics of the new house, the swing set (score!), etc. The new one is quite cozy and inviting. We�re having a house warming party next weekend.
Some other highlights since my last entry (that I can remember anyway) include:
Three Weddings, an Anniversary, and a Funeral
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Our friend Dan (of white trash cooking fame) got married. I took a bunch of pictures and video with the intent of figuring out iMovie and making them a CD. It�s a project that�s still in the IN basket, along with several other functions we attended. Laura gave me a sweet iMovie book with an instructional DVD for my birthday, so I just know I�ll soon create something fabulous. Ahem. |
| This is not the photo that's supposed to be here. | I'm still working on adding some pictures... |
| Lenore�s parents threw a 50th Anniversary party in August at the Charlston Aquarium, and it was great fun. The giant fish tanks provided a dramatic backdrop to dinner and dancing. Click here for some more pictures. |  |
| Wedding two was a Hawaiian-themed shindig by Linda and Carol on Oct. 1. Lenore and I, along with our friends Kelly and Linda (a different Linda than the bride) were part of the ceremony. It was our first gay wedding! We put a leigh (imported from Hawaii!) around their necks and a kiss upon their lips. It was a very touching ceremony, and we were all getting verklempt during the vows, which they wrote themselves. Linda�s brother Danny did the ceremony as well as a lovely musical number complete with grass skirt and little else after dinner. |  |
| Speaking of verklempt, Roland and Amy were next; they got married Oct. 8. It was a beautiful ceremony in a lovely setting, and they did all the planning and work themselves, despite Amy�s frequent business travel, finding a new job and finishing her master�s. I�m not quite sure how they did it. Ute and Klaus Peter, relatives from Germany, stayed with me that weekend, which was great fun. Ute and I got to have some nice long talks, and because of her somewhat similar situation with her husband Andreas, I think she really understood how bittersweet it all was for me. My house felt so quiet and lonely after they left! I also really enjoyed seeing Tante Marianne and Walter again (Marianna is Roland�s mom�s younger sister from Germany, and we usually stayed with them during our 10+ trips to Germany). It was actually very emotional � seeing everyone together again brought back so many memories and feelings, plus Marianne looks and has mannerisms so much like Ruth. I�m so glad they were able to come. |  |
Andreas, Maria and their kids were also there (Tressa is 11 and already taller than I am), and it�s always lively visiting with them and Elke as they swap stories about the kids. As a non parent, it�s easy to laugh at their stories, but I know how much they fret and probably lay awake at night worrying. Bottom line, though, is all six kids are sweet, smart, funny and outgoing � and all unique, which is a hoot. Elke & Chris and Andreas & Maria are great parents � if only the world had more like them raising children!
In the midst of all the wedding and company on my side, Lenore got a surprise visit from her parents. A long-time Latvian friend of the family passed away, so they came to town for the funeral. It was hectic for Lenore, because she was trying to keep her house pristine for showings, but they were also a huge help with moving boxes and odds and ends prior to the movers coming. They got good use out of the rental car�s huge trunk! And we had a nice time showing them Lenore�s new neighborhood.
My Birthday
As if all that weren�t enough excitement, Lenore bought us tickets to go see Wicked in Chicago on my actual birthday day, and it was fantastic. We took the day off and went in early to wander through Millennium park and have a bite to eat. The park is cool, but the highlight was of course the show. We had first row seats in the Loge, which is the lower first balcony that hangs out over the main floor. It was an awesome vantage point, and we loved not having anyone in front of us. An added bonus to the evening was the woman in the ladies room during intermission. The Oriental is an old theater, and the only large bathroom is downstairs. The line was extremely long, but this lady usher stood in the restroom and herded us through by announcing open stalls as they became available like a carnival barker. It was hilarious. And it really made you pee fast too! This theater experience convinced me that it would be really cool to have binoculars/opera classes that double as a digital camera, since most theaters are quite militant about not allowing photos. I just wanted a picture of the giant dragon hanging over the stage, but I was swiftly reprimanded. (sigh)
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The spitting sculpture in Millennium Park. The faces change and spit water. |
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A view of The Bean. Can you see our reflection? They were cleaning it, so there was a lot of scaffolding and what not around it, so it was hard to get a decent picture. |
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A view of The Bean with a very cool photo from an outdoor photo exhibit that was going on at the time. |
Halloween
We took a long weekend with Linda & Kelly and Carol and Linda (of Hawiian wedding fame) to Madison. We stayed at the Hotel Ruby Marie, which was lovely. Us non newly weds upgraded Carol and Linda to a deluxe whirlpool suite for a little post-wedding surprise, and it was �flipppin� sweet!� We went to the giant farmer�s market, where I bought apples, fresh little carrots, red bell peppers and a sweet little Rosemary plant I named Rosie. We visited the Capitol building (which is very cool and has fantastic bathrooms), and enjoyed coffee and conversation at a great little feminist bookstore called A Room of One�s Own. We also saw some interesting sights, as this college town is quite the den of iniquity Halloween weekend (about 500 people were arrested), and, as Lenore put it, we pretty much ate our way through Madison. Friday afternoon, Lenore and I had lunch at one of our favorite places to dine, Kabul, which is Afghan and Mediterranean cuisine (the soup is to die for). We had Italian Fri. night and German Sat. night, complete with Oompa music. There were two little kids dancing to the music, which was just too cute. Many diners were in costume, which was a little bizarre.
Here are a few pictures from our weekend:
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Here's us after a fine and filling Italian dinner. I'll add the name of the restaurant if I ever remember it. |
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This was just odd. Santa and and elf beating up Tigger. Alcohol could have been involved. |
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More strangeness on the streets of downtown Madison. These two were promoting an underwear party at an old theater. Whatever. Where else can you see the bride of Frankenstein in a thong? |
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May the force be with you, especially if you get arrested for public drunkenness, dude. |
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This is me in Carol and Linda's flippin' sweet hotub. No, it wasn't filled, and yes, I was wearing clothes. It was a very big hotub! |
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Fresh Brussel sprouts at the very large Madison farmer's market. It's great fun to walk around and around and around (only in one direction) oogling the produce and people. |
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I guess this is how you park your bike when you are a drunk college student. Hopefully the guy on the bottom isn't in a hurry to leave. |
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Pausing for a rest inside the very cool capitol building. Lenore is holding Rosie the Rosemary plant. The architectural features of this building are really neat, and we also like the abundance of bathrooms. |