It's official, New York

In case you didn't hear, a little over a week ago lawmakers in New York passed a marriage bill allowing gay and lesbian couples to marry. July 24th, 2011 is a day to remember in the fight for equal marriage rights. On that day, 33 lawmakers in New York turned the tide in gay marriage and, I hope, gave the gay rights movement new momentum on the path to equality.

Also, I was pleasantly surprised by Republican Senator Mark Grisanti's, a long-time opponent of same-sex marriage, comment: “I apologize for those who feel offended... I cannot deny a person, a human being, a taxpayer, a worker, the people of my district and across this state, the State of New York, and those people who make this the great state that it is the same rights that I have with my wife.” While it is not a ringing endorsement, it's enough.

I’m so happy for everyone in New York who had been previously unfairly denied the right to marriage, but now can.

{Also, did you check out the Lookbook photos of gay marriages in New York. Fashionable and beautiful.}

A lazy summer day in Chicago

I love lazy days when you have the time to actually enjoy yourself without having to take breaks to check emails, catch up on work or run errands. They're rare so you have to enjoy them when you can. I spent my lazy day wandering through farmers' markets and exhibits at the Lincoln Park Zoo. It was a delightful afternoon. I can't wait until I have time to do it again... in about a month or so...

a local favorite: the coffee pot

as i’ve said before, i love local shops and restaurants with character and personality. this is the reason why the coffee pot downtown is one of my favorite places to spend on a weekend morning. the design and décor remind me of a 1950s café, especially since the walls are plastered with LIFE magazine covers from the 1950s and 60s and old coffee pots. this past weekend, my sister and i grabbed a bloody mary and late brunch in their garden seating after a round of golf. it was a pleasant way to spend the afternoon.

just little things

i recently stumbled across a tumblr site counting off the many little things that make people smile. it is definitely the kind of site i could fall in love with; and i did. i've only made it through the first hundred or more posts so far but it's made me smile countless times. it's so cute. i sincerely recommend this site, especially for one of those rainy, gloomy days.

as you can see, these are all high in number. i didn't make it too far into the list for this post because there were simply too many little things that make me smile. i would have been writing {and you reading} all day if i went through the entire site. that makes me smile.

{image via justlittlethings.tumblr.com}

Happy Father's Day!

For Father's Day, my big sister and I took my Dad golfing. He's always been a big golfer and started teaching Maggie and I the sport a few years ago. I love going out on a course with him and I think he gets a kick out of sharing tips his with us. Golf has definitely become a way of bonding for the three of us; I love it. It was definitely a fantastic way of spending the day!

Happy Father's Day to all the Dads out there!

Mallards Duck Blind

We celebrated one of my good friends' birthday this weekend at a Madison Mallards baseball game. We {semi-}watched the game from a picnic table in the Duck Blind. In the Duck Blind, you can watch the baseball game while enjoying all-you-can-eat brats, chicken sandwiches, hot dogs, cheeseburgers and fries and all-you-can-drink beer and pop. Delicious!

This was my first Mallards game and I absolutely loved it! It was just baseball should be... all about the game and having a good time with friends. I can't wait to go back again. Maybe the next time I'll watch a little more of the game too.

The birthday boy was very excited to be celebrating at a Mallards game!

The best part of the night: the good beer. A few of my favorites at the Duck Blind... Goose Island 312, New Belgium Somersault, Magic Hat No. 9, Great Dane Mallards Cream Ale, Great Dane Old Glory and Great Dane Crop Circle Wheat {my favorite}. The Great Dane brews some fantastic beer. If you're ever in Madison, Wisc., you should stop in for a drink.

Boat & Pier Humor

Here’s a tip: always tie the boat to the pier before attempting to get out.

Actually, it’s not so much a tip as it is pure common sense, which apparently, my sister Maggie lacks greatly. I’m happy to say, this doesn’t run in the family.

If we were all to follow her lead, we’d be screwed. Though she has a great mind for calculus, chemistry and art, you know, things that require intelligence, the simple things in life seem to elude her. Maybe they’re just not important enough to know. Well, that’s the excuse we give her at least.

So, how would you get out of a boat according to Maggie? Let’s follow her step by step.

Step 1: Especially when in a hurry, scramble out of the boat onto the pier. But, under no circumstances should you tie the boat to the dock first.

Let’s watch Maggie explain the steps. She pushed off of the railing to climb onto the pier, which floated two feet above; the boat began to float away. She was still in it.

Step 2: Do not stop. The boat may continue to glide in the other direction but keep trying. It will work. Maybe.

The harder she struggled to climb the wooden planks, the farther the boat drifted in the other direction.

Within seconds, her body was fully extended, dangling over the water, her hands tightly grasping the edge of the dock, her toes curled around the sideboard of the boat, her eyes as big as her body long.

Step 3: Give up. During this step, your body is stretched between the boat and pier, it is now a good time to rest and contemplate how you are really going to get out of the mess.

When she couldn’t hold on any longer, she fell into the water face first, causing a painful smack and a reddened face. Always try to be as graceful as possible when dropping into the water.

Step 4: Listen to your fellow boat riders; they obviously just want to help.

Those left in the boat thought they saw a snake swim by her head, so they told her, just to be nice.

Step 5: Panic.

She started to panic even more, her arms flailing around sending seaweed and water flying into the boat. (I don’t know much about snakes but I doubt that would really stop one from biting.)

Step 5: Wait until family stops laughing hysterically, then, they will help.

When dad finally forced himself to stop laughing, he pulled Maggie out of the water and into the boat. She was shaking from head to toe like a cat cornered by a pack of dogs ready to attack. Only, she beat everyone to the punch line.

Step 6: Blame your idiocy/clumsiness on any and everyone in the vicinity. (Hide red face during this step. It only perpetuates teasing otherwise.)

Upset and embarrassed, she started yelling at everyone. Like it was really our fault she was an idiot. Maybe the reddened face was from anger and not hitting the water.

Step 7: Pray that annoying/taunting cousin did not witness your non-so-smooth departure from the boat.

But wait, oh shit, he was standing at the end of the long pier, doubled over in laughter. He saw it all. (Ten years later and he still gives her shit about it.)

Step 8: (The final step.) Proceed to cabin to do whatever important thing you were scrambling out of the boat for in the first case.

I personally wouldn’t feel the need to go though all of that to listen to an Ace of Base cassette tape, but, hey she wouldn’t be Maggie if she didn’t.

{photo via weheartit}

#13thingsiwant

I logged into Twitter this morning to find that #13thingsiwant as a trending topic. {For those of you who do not 'tweet,' this means many people are responding to #13thingsiwant in their tweets and including that # to tag them.} I usually don't comment on anything that's not trending {except for the Packers winning the Superbowl, because, well, they're awesome}, I guess I'm not trendy enough.

This one though sounded like a bit of fun, so here are 13 things I want {within reason and in no particular order}:

1. Cubs/Packers/Blackhawks/Badgers season tickets {cheating, I know}
2. Fabulous vacation somewhere in Europe, preferably Italy, Spain or Germany
3. A good high school teaching job
4. No more student loans
5. Jeep Wrangler {how great would that be during beautiful weather?}
6. New summer wardrobe {and fall, winter and spring for that matter}
7. An English Mastiff named Kane
8. A house {with a big yard for Kane}
9. Golf course in my backyard
10. A personal chef
11. Huge collection of books {think library in Beauty and the Beast}
12. A nice TV and a million movies {and time to actually watch them}
13. A cottage on Washington Island, WI

irrational

sometimes i'm afraid to share my favorite things with others, like if they don't like it or don't like it as much as i do, it will somehow diminish the meaning for me. or if they like it too much, then it's no longer mine and isn't as special. i know it's completely irrational, but it is what it is.

i once tried watching casablanca {my favorite movie of all time} with a good friend and she couldn't get past the black and white opening scene. i think that was what secured this irrational fear of mine. if i love something, dearly love something, it takes a special person for me to share it with, even if it is only a drive-in burger joint.

{image via}

My word

In Elizabeth Gilbert's book Eat, Pray, Love she discusses words among other things. The word for Rome is 'Sex.' The word she picks for herself is 'betwixt.'

It made me wonder what my word would be. Off the top of my head, it would be something like 'bookish,' or 'information' or 'knowledge.' This is not to sound arrogant, it's because I can't get enough of it. I love learning, as nerdy as that sounds. And I love learning about all kinds of things. It's never enough.

Thinking about it more, I think my word would, because 'learning' doesn't sound appropriate, would be 'information.' And I embrace the nerdy.

{photo via weheartit}

Blue prints

I have a confession. I often look at blue prints of new houses around the area and abroad and imagine what it would be like to live in those houses. I have two reasons for this habit. First, I used to want to be an architect and am still very interested in the process to the point that if I am ever able to build a home, I will probably go through several frustrated architects. I'm sure my forced input will cause them to quit. Second, I have many friends buying houses now and I can't help but imagine my dream home.

I love looking at the blueprints and imagining how I would decorate each room and add my personal style to the house to make it my home. I am years from actually being able to do this for real, but it's fun to pretend for now.

{blueprint via}

Graphology

My sister has a friend named Lester. Lester is about 70 years old {most likely closer to 80 than 70}. He's the kind of man that would make Studs Terkel foam at the mouth for an interview. In my limited conversations with Lester, I've found out that he makes his own seasonal grappa {the kind that can put a little hair on your chest}, honors the vernal and autumnal equinoxes with parties, makes his own jewerly and other wood-workings, used to manage a Chicago night club complete with "ladies" and is adapt at "collecting people" {but not in the John Wayne Gacy kind of a way}.

He is also every kind of -ologist that you can think of. Yesterday, I found out that he is a graphologist as he proceeded to analyze my handwriting. He said my small handwriting, crossing my Ts low, leaving limited empty space on pages and dotting my Is rather than drawing circles {or God-forbid hearts} above them means I am intelligent, non flighty, not overly self-conscience and am frugal. Yep, that sounds about right. I was a little surprised when Lester began explaining my writing, but I would like him to take a little more time and go over it again. I find it very interesting.

Check out a few sites on graphology here and here. I've been reading up a little more on it lately.

{P.S. Wouldn't you love to talk with Lester for hours about his life? I think he would make a lively character in a book.}

Learning sign language

I work with several children with learning disabilities and speech impairments so to communicate with those children, I have been learning sign language. As a Girl Scout many, many years ago, I took classes in sign language, but I’m sad to say I don’t remember much so I’m starting fresh. I’m surprised that it’s much easier than I thought it would be. Most signs are very practical and almost what you would expect. Of course, I’m also working with very young children so I’m not learning any complex words at this time. I picked up a book on sign language the other day and plan on trying to learn one or two new signs every day. I really enjoy learning the language and I’m happy that I’m better able to communicate with my children now and can help them increase their communication abilities also.

{image via weheartit.com}

currently...

reading...

zeitoun by dave eggers. about a syrian-american who waits out hurricane katrina in his new orleans home. after the hurricane, zeitoun paddles around the flooded city, helping neighbors and saving abandoned dogs. later, he is arrested by guards accusing him of being al queda. {that's as far as i've gotten so far, but read the new york times review}

watching...

true grit. it's an amazing movie with a fantastic cast. this little girl, hailee steinfeld, is crazy good.

listening to...

wilco. non-stop. and wishing that i could go see them in concert during their next tour, but unfortunately the closest concert is in new orleans so that won't be possible. frontman jeff tweedy is also going on a solo tour, but the madison, wisc. tickets are sold out. bummer.

thinking about...

my best friends from college and i live in eight different states {wisconsin, illinois, minnesota, missouri, south carolina, tennessee, iowa and washington d.c., which counts as a state for this purpose}

i shared so many great times with them in college, it's sad not being near them anymore. i guess i've been spoiled in that i've never lived too far away from good friend and family. i never had to go more than a month without seeing ones i love, but now i only see some once or twice a year.

{image via weheartit}

Remembering Katrina

A few days ago, thousands of people were brought back to the day five years ago when Hurricane Katrina ripped through the Gulf Coast. Thousands and thousands of lives were turned upside down. I can't imagine how difficult it must still be for those people. All of the remembrance news specials bring back a lot of memories for me as well. {And so I was sucked in to watching most of them.}

Almost five years ago, during the spring break after Katrina, I boarded a bus for New Orleans along with hundreds of other UW students as part of John Edwards' program Opportunity Rocks. We didn't know what to expect when we reached New Orleans, but anything we could have ever imagines wouldn't even compare. As we drove across bridges and down long, straight roads, it was difficult to discern where water was supposed to be and where it hadn't receded yet.

We saw boats docked on front lawns, fridges laying on their sides in the middle of roads, swimming pools black with debris, deer antlers mounted on roofs and everything else. After finally finding out cots after a long day traveling {we had problems with FEMA locating our cots}, we found out our assignment. We were to remove debris and gut houses to their students inSt.Bernard Parish, just outside of New Orleans. Our training included lessons on how to spot and kill poisonous snakes and spiders. {Talk about intimidating.}

The block we worked on not only experienced the levee breach, which left 5-12 feet of standing water, but an oil tanker also spilled it's contents on doorsteps. So we pulled on head to toe white jumpsuits, laced up our steel toed work boots, slipped on our gloves, covered our faces with goggles and face masks and got to work. We drudged through about 1-2 feet of oil sludge as we worked to empty the house.

I had never moved anyone from a home, so this as a first experience was definitely odd. There were mice hiding beneath furniture, black mold covering walls and a fridge toppled over spilling water and food remains. It took us about a week just to clean out the one house, but with the rest of the Opportunity Rocks volunteers, we cleaned up most of the block. I wish I could have done so much more.

During the nights, we were able to visit downtown New Orleans and the French Quarter. Most of the French Quarter seemed alive and doing fine, but there were still areas with boarded up windows.

It was an experience that I will never forget.

back to school

i have my backpack, my laptop, notebooks, pens and my books all ready. but i'm not.

i start classes today to earn my teacher certification. you think i'd be used to school now {i just earned my masters at northwestern after four years at the university of wisconsin}, but i'm really nervous. i think it will go well, especially since i finally figured out that this is what i want to do with the rest of my life. {i wish i knew that years ago as an undergrad. life would be a lot easier; and cheaper.}

so eventually i hope to teach history, sociology and political science to high schoolers. wish me luck.

my birthday

this past friday i celebrated my 25th birthday. i am officially a quarter century old. my friends and i are putting off the celebration for a bit as we're all busy with moving, graduation and bachelorette parties and lots of other summer activities. but at this point, i really don't care to celebrate. i'm actually a bit upset that i've hit 25. nothing good happens after this one except my car insure went down 30 bucks, yippie.

i've decided that i'm done celebrating birthdays. i think i'm just going to stay 25 for a good 5 or 10 years.

{image via weheartit}

Wedding Bells

Congratulations to Marisha and Bobby!

They were married this Saturday in a beautiful ceremony at the zoo with a ridiculously fun reception to follow. I'm so happy that I was able to stand up next to Mish and share such an important day. Love you and wish you all the best in the future!

{This amazing photograph was courtesy of Kevin at Optic Light Photography}

bachelorette parties

along with wedding season comes... bachelorette parties. a perfect excuse for cosmos and dance floors.

now don't get me wrong, it can be a great time. i've already received invitations to a few parties... complete with a pole-dancing class, lingerie party, dinners at fancy restaurants, dance parties, drinks and games. i'm excited to see many friends that i haven't gotten to hang out with in a while, but, to be perfectly honest, i'm not really excited by the whole bachelorette party deal. i'd almost rather just enjoy a bottle of good wine and even better conversation with friends. sounds a little too mellow to be a bachelorette party, huh?

i guess that's s sign that i'm growing up.

i'm sure bachelorette party season will be fun though.

{image via}

left in the dark

i hate thunderstorms. i especially hate thunderstorms when they knock out the power

last night, well about 4pm, a terrible storm with hurricane-like winds struck, ripping trees from the ground, flinging shingles around the neighborhood and leaving me, and others, in the dark.

i had big plans for the night, all of which required electricity. instead, i sat on my front porch with a glass of wine and read by moonlight. it turned out to be a very relaxing and calm night. much better than i had originally planned. i'm going to have to do it again. soon.