Strawberry Memories

My aunt was an amazing chef, you could give her ketchup and crackers and she would make a delicious meal out of it. Her big cooking rule, though, was that everything tastes better fresh. She had a huge garden in her backyard, but what she didn't grow at home, my mom, sisters and I would pick at a farm with her.

We used to pick apples, grapes, pears, tomatoes, asparagus, rhubarb and many other vegetables at farms together.

My sisters' and my favorite farm was a little strawberry patch in the county. We would make a whole day trip out to the patch. My sister and I had a little competitions to see who could pick the most berries, while sneaking a few also.

So when my friends asked me to go pick strawberries today, I didn't hesitate, of course I would.

It was so much fun walking around and reliving childhood memories.

VIP at the Coffee Shop

Yesterday, I sat outside for hours at my favorite coffee shop.

I'm visit so often that when I walk in the baristas greet me by name. I even have a special VIP customer card.

The view is beautiful on a sunny day.

My Grandma

Today is my Grandma's funeral. My mom was having a really tough time coping with her mom's death so I offered to help out as much as I could. I was in charge of collecting photos from family members and creating a slideshow for the visitation service.

Some of her scrapbooks were so old the pages fell out as I turned them. The binding broke, the glue yellowed and faded, but the photos still told an amazing story. Looking through these photos, I realized that I never really talked to my Grandma about her life before us kids came along.

She lived through the Great Depression, prohibition and the Jazz Age, through World War II, the Korean and Vietnam Wars, through the Civil Rights Movement, Leave It To Beaver and the Cold War, through moon landings, Woodstock and the JFK assassination... and so much more.

I wish I had more time to talk to my Grandma, to ask her so many questions that I have, to hear more of her stories. Knowing her, I'm sure she had some great ones.

Isn't my Grandma such a cool lady? (She's on the left.)

Drinking Coffee and Writing Stories

One of my favorite things to do is grab a latte and a comfy chair in the corner of a coffee shop and write short stories. I'm sad to say, it's been a while since I've done that.

But now that I'm done with school and have more free time, I think I'm going grab a chair at the coffee shop and work on my stories again.

In a perfect world, I would wake up about 9am, slowly enjoy a strong cup of coffee and a delectable croissant at home and then head to the coffee shop on the harbor. I would spend my afternoon reading engaging, delightful books and writing stimulating, pleasing stories. If only...

Summer Breeze Makes Me Feel Fine

Summer is finally here, that means: Warm days and nights, Watermelon, Baseball games, Cookouts, Parades, Reading outside, Sunshine, Iced coffee, Fireworks, Lemonade, Golf, Sunscreen, Sandals, Strawberries...

Graduation

Yesterday, I graduated from Northwestern's Medill School of Journalism with my masters degree. I was so nervous and excited that I couldn't stop shaking all day!

Now, I have to figure out what's next. It seems I'm going to be nervous and excited for a while longer.

P.S. They made us sing the Northwestern Alma Mater . I was so lost.

Once a Badger, Always a Badger

By dinner time on Saturday, I will be a Master of Science.

I will graduate from Northwestern's Medill School of Journalism with my masters degree in new media journalism. I don't think it's really hit me yet that I'll have my masters degree. It will probably set in some time in August.

Looking forward to my Northwestern graduation makes me think back to my University of Wisconsin graduation. It was easily one of the happiest and saddest days in my life. I was so sad that my undergrad experience was over.

I doubt there will ever be four more consecutive years in my life that were so enjoyable and amazing. I made so many great friends and memories in Madison that I will cherish forever.

I was so excited to finally earn my bachelors degree after four years.

At Wisconsin, it's tradition to climb the enormous Lincoln statue on the top of Bascom Hill and give Abe a kiss for good luck.

We ended our ceremony by singing "Varsity," a tradition at Wisconsin. I'm not sure how Northwestern will end the ceremony. I hope we don't have to sing, I don't know any NU songs.

Birthdays, Cakes and Mix Tapes

My friend's birthday is exactly 5 months and 5 days away. And while I'll get her the typical birthday present and bake her a little cake, I also wanted to do something a little different.

This year, I think I'll make her a mix tape. (Yes, a tape. I know this will be difficult to do considering I'm not sure I actually own a cassette player anymore nor does anyone else. Hmm, maybe I should just make a mix CD... nope. Mix TAPE.)

Now I have to find the perfect blend of cheesy friendship/loving songs and goofy ones that remind me of her.

{photo via Flickr kiira lynn}

Baby Talk

I was hanging out with my friend and her six week old daughter today. We started talking about whether her and her husband were planning to have another baby soon or wait. She said she would love to have another soon. She already has names picked out!

With so many of my friends having babies or getting married lately, I've been forced to think about both a lot more than I used to. So much so, in fact, that we worked on my list of potential baby names.

While I cannot post these names for fear that others will add them to their lists, I will say that I love odd names-- names that are unusual and not common but normal enough that everyone will be able to pronounce them.

I still have a while before I have to pick just one though.

{photo via Flickr Kelley Ryden}

Too Old for My Name

When I graduated from college, I faced a dilemma even bigger than finding a job. I didn't know how to introduce myself to any future employers or acquaintances for that matter.

I grew up answering to Susie but when I started in college, I never corrected professors when they called me Susan. It seemed more fitting, more grown-up, but I'm still not used to it.

I always loved that I had a name that could be shortened, but now I'm starting to think it's not as great as I thought. I don't really feel like either name is fitting anymore. It may be because I'm in my twenties and Susie sounds like a five-year-old's name and Susan sounds like a 50 year old mom.

I think I've found my middle ground (until I turn 40 at least). In any professional setting, I'm Susan, but with friends or younger people, I'm Susie.

I wonder what names are fitting, no matter the age.