BFF Sunday

waiting&working at Starbucks for Elise to get outa work

skipbo&beer in bed with my bff

GoogleBikingIdeas

Joe&I were riding our bikes to the gym yesterday

and a Google Maps car crossed in front of us.

I instinctually smiled at the towers sticking off the top

and shouted, "Am I gonna be on Google!?"

Then my mind went right into: How do I get that job!?

I love driving!

I'd be so good at that job!

Studdly Ears

My BFF has bought me some great earrings lately...

I love them all.

I always thought I was a dangly girl,

but I'm learning that I much prefer studs.

Paintjobs

Sometimes I'm motivated enough to paint my nails.

Numbered Arm

Good nights&mornings with great friends.

This cracked me up this morning.

Elise had written mine&Joe's phone numbers

on her arm last night

because she knew her phone was dying

and we had both gone missing

in the post-game drunken-haze.

Tigers' Sunset

Last night some of my sorority sisters met downtown for a Tigers game. We kicked the evening off with pitchers of beer and deep dish pizza at Pizzapapolis in Greektown then walked over to the park. Our seats were great - right behind the bullpen - though the sun shone right in my eyes with my lack of sunglasses. And we got to be on TV, which was pretty awesome. While Benoit was warming up, we all held our "Vote Benoit" signs up and shouted in the background of the camera shot. My silly BFF was on top of her anti-athletics game loudly questioning, "What's a BEN-Oh-IT?" ...the fans in front of us thought we were a pretty hilarious group of girls.

Once the sun went down and the Tigers won, we wandered over to Hockeytown for balcony drinks&dancing then went back to Pizzapapolis to pick up our left-overs and let Joe drive us home.

I woke up confused&cold backwards on my bed with three of my favorite girls asleep on my sectional couch ...using sweaters as blankets cause our wasted-selves had passed out unprepared. Slowly, we got ourselves together and had a giggle-filled drive back to our cars in the morning. I had to survive a miserable day of work with boozy-breath and a throbbing head, but the evening with my sisters was well worth it.



Dave

Syd&I went to a Dave Matthews Band Concert last night. I've never been to a DMB concert, but I've been to a concert at the same venue - DTE Energy Music Theater - before and I really love the outdoor space under the ski hill. We got to the show and realized we didn't have bottle openers for both the wine&beer we'd brought in the car, so we reverted back to our 16-year-old selves and improvised on opening them ...laughing so hard at our parking lot struggles. Finally, we got out and wandered through the rain into the show, stopping for beer&snacks before heading inside. As we walked up the hill toward the stage, a rainbow shot through the sky. "Bunni's at DMB tonight." I said quietly while smiling and snapping a pictures. As she show  went on, the clouds turned dark, and the rain continued through sunset, but the spirit of the event seeped through the air - making the rain seem so insignificant. I took off my shoes, closed my eyes, and danced to the music. At one point, I felt a pair of lips on mine - Bunni's brother had found me in the crowd and smiled huge at me as he walked back to his seat. What a reminiscent night to enjoy. The band was honestly amazing - so fun&lively with lots of lights&instruments - and we stayed until the very end. Getting out of the muddy field DTE calls a parking lot was quite the challenge. Everyone was getting stuck - including us - and the drive home through flooded streets seemed surreal, but - in the end - the late Tuesday night was well worth all the effort.

Wine Bottle Struggles

Rainbow&Clouds

Big Screen&Encore Time

Huge Croud&Wild Lights

Instruments&Lasers

Yahtzee In Bed

Joe&I have been having lots of "Us Time" lately.

With Jan's illness, we tend to stay out of her way

and quietly relax in our little attic home.

Last night we put on a movie

and played Yahtzee in bed.

Just the two of us.

Lately, through all the stress of current life

our moments alone are all I need.

Lake Superior Brewing Company

I've been going to the same sleepy, little town every summer since I can remember and I've been eating pizza at the Lake Superior Brewing Co. - affectionately called "The Dunes" - for nommy treats on every trip. Until a couple years ago, I'd never tasted the local brews, though. So when Joe&I were up there, we had to try a couple of them. Cabin Fever is what they're most known for (I think) ...it was average. I like the brown, but then again I usually like browns. Mostly, I like the scenery. It's a quirky, little pub with silly signs and a hippie vibe. No wonder I've turned out the way I have with summer towns&bars like this in my blood.



Miners Sight-Seeing

We went on an excursion to the Pictures Rocks National Lakeshore - Miners Falls, Miners Castle, and Miners Beach. Syd was really pumped about all the touristy-sites on her first-ever trip to the Upper Peninsula. I can honestly say that I've never seen these places before. I've hiked the lakeshore, but these were new to take-in and so beautifully, well-worth the drive.

Miners Falls

Miners Castle

Miners Beach

GideonMonster

My friend Hunter stopped by the house on Saturday afternoon

with his buddy's Golden Retriever.

I almost couldn't breathe with excitement to play with him!

He was the cutest boy in the world and so so playful!

We sat in front of the hotel for a minute

and he found what shade he could while we waited

then we went down to the bay

so he could fetch some sticks in the cool water.

I'm absolutely positive

that I'm going to make the best puppy-mom in the world

someday.

I jumped in after Gideon - fully dressed - to snatch his stick

and covered myself in sand while wrestling it from him.

And he definitely fell in love with me

and my willingness to embrace the day with him.

The most handsome golden I've ever met

completely stole my heart this weekend.

Beach Bonfire

After a long night at the bar, a group decided to hit the beach for a bonfire. I'm pretty sure I stole some firewood... or obtained it in an unadmirable way. Whatev. We drank&danced by the fire then skinny-dipped in Lake Superior. KayakTim was there, Corissa&Jennifer were there, Kinlaw was there. It was wild. We watched the sunrise and a photographer caught our fire on film underneath the Northern Lights. Just another night in my summer town.

Superior Beach Walk

We walked the beach from the falls to the campground - a first for Syd&Joe.



4th Drinks

Syd&I made Sangria - with the help of my mom.

Everybody loved the Sangria - except my mom.

4th Food

Food at the 4th of July potluck is always the same and always perfect.

Goodbye, Friend.

The world lost a wonderful man tonight.

Just more proof that life is short

and shouldn't be taken for granted.

I talked to him just a week ago

and he seemed to feel fine...

...told me to come out and visit him.

Now I'll never be able to do that again.

RIP, my handsome friend.

You fought a hard fight

and I hope you're comfortable now.

Save a spot for me up there

cause I miss your hugs&smiles already.

And tell her "hi" for me.

I know she's waiting for you

.with open arms - a bottle of captain - and good memories.

A quick memory of mine:

our first extended weekend together

was long&fun and all the way in Canada.

Our condo was full of crazy moments

and you were so protective&exciting.

We slammed shots and hopped in the shower

- ran around naked - fell down - laughed too hard -

experiencing everything to its fullest.

Rarely do I feel so comfortable so  quickly.

You were my buddy from then on.

When the village didn't understand my love for her

you refused to judge and embraced us instead.

And when she left, you ached for me.

And now, I ache for you.

From that ski weekend to our last text...

you, sir, have impacted my soul.

Jars&Birks

I've been collecting jars for a while now.

I have boxes&boxes full of them.

Someday, I'll blog about all the ways I use them.

I've got some big plans

and I keep the ideas in the back of my mind.

A different bright idea I had

was to fix my disintegrating Birkenstock

with goo&binderclips,

which actually happened to work.

Shots?

I dunno.

Shots at the K.

Probably with Jim Kelly.

Dave&Busters

Joe's buddy Matt's girlfriend Erin was in town this weekend,

so we invited them to go to Dave&Buster's for a night of drinks&games.

Evening Dinner

Veggie Burger w/ a Fried Egg for dinner
and Chocolate Moose Tracks w/ a Cookie for dessert.
So delicious.
I love evenings in with my Mr.