TraverseCity View

The view from our suite was beautiful.

.Upon Our Evening Arrival.
.Our First Morning.

.Mid-Day on Day 2.

.Dusk.

Anniversary Dinner

During our special weekend,

we decided to have a fancy

Saturday Night Dinner

two officially celebrate our anniversary.

We found North Peak Brewing Company

just west of downtown

and discovered some excellent food&drink.

We started off with Eggroll Mozzarella Sticks

and each got hot sandwiches for dinner

- Sunflower Rueben&Herbed Monte Cristo -

with frenchfries and nibbled on both.

Then enjoyed the black&white dessert.

We each tried a couple great beers,

chit-chatted with our bartender,

and enjoyed the unique, old building.

I loved the decorations inside

- a mix of brick&wood&metal -

at the atmosphere of the whole bar.

Chili Day

On the 2nd day of our 1-Year Anniversary vacation, we went to a Chili Cook-Off downtown Traverse City. We paid $8 for 8 cups on a tray and got to walk around a big conference room checking out different chilis and deciding which ones we wanted to try. I was a little disappointed that there weren’t very many vegetarian options, but the tasting cups were so big, I didn’t need all 8 to fill myself up. Most of the vendors were local restaurants and we were able to cast our votes for our favorite ones.
It was quite a bit of fun – besides how crowded the event was - and the people both working&enjoying the event were friendly&inviting. Afterward, we walked around downtown and bought some chocolates at a little shop before heading back to the hotel where we hot-tubbed outdoors on the shoreline and sipped on more wine until our big celebratory dinner.

Traverse Weekend

Mr.U&I celebrated our 1-Year Anniversary over the past weekend. He got us a beautiful suite at the Cherry Tree Inn - the hotel we stayed at for his fraternity formal 3 years ago overlooking the Grand Traverse Bay in Traverse City, MI. We had a kitchenette, living room, bathroom, and jacuzzi tub in our huge bedroom with a beautiful sleigh bed and flat screen TV. And the package he got us came with wine&chocolates - delicious and locally made.

We took the day off work on Friday and drove up the Lake Michigan shoreline to enjoy the “scenic route.” Unfortunately, a warm front has washed in and our view was completely foggy. But it was still a fun drive and - once we got to the hotel & checked in - we enjoyed the treats waiting in our suite then ran out to a liquor store we’d seen down the street to buy some beer for the night. We created our own 6-pack of dark, Michigan brews and sipped them while watching TV and eating the salad fixins’ I’d brought along for the trip.

The Envoy

.Best Christmas Gift Ever.

On the anniversary of Bunni’s death, I spent the day with her dad. When I pulled in his driveway, her Envoy was sitting in front of the garage. My stomach flipped in excitement because I’d thought he’d gotten rid of it during the summer when he got himself a new car. Though we’d discussed him offering it to me before selling it, I figured he’d just done it anyway and I had to get over never driving “her Envoy” again. But, there it was. Parked under the basketball hoop and sparkling on the gray day. I excitedly walked passed it and entered the house – calling out “I thought you got rid of the Envoy” on my way through the door. “Oh, no no. I told you I’d tell you if I ever decided to.” He proceeded to tell me about the employees and friends he’d let borrow it and we got some laughs out of how many people love the Envoy. And we went on with our night. The next morning – over coffee&cigarettes – he told me: “It’s yours when you decide to take it. I’ve always known I’d give it to you and it’s finally time. Merry Christmas.” So, finally – after getting a new license plate, title transfer, and insurance registration – I’ve gotten the Envoy all to myself. It makes me so happy to drive her around. No matter where I go – I feel that I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be.

Me: “You’ll never fully understand how happy I feel right now.”
Bunni’s Dad: “I believe you were the only one on earth that would truly appreciate it.”