Structure Views

From Sun Up

To Sun Down

My View in Royal Oak.

BFF Reminders

I enjoyed a mini butterfinger bar and used mint colored paperclips today.

They both reminded me of Elise, which made me smile.

Coach Horv

Joe's buddy Horv is a varsity boy's basketball coach for a neighboring town, so we went to support him when they came to play Joe's alma mater. Horv was completely in the zone throughout the entire game. We cheered&yelled his name from behind him, but he focused intensely on his players - who seemed relatively impressive from what I remember of high school students. In the end, his team won (which we wanted) and it was very nostalgic&fun to wander back into a high school gym for an evening. It made me feel really old, which kind of sucked ...all at once it feels like 1-year-ago and 100-years-ago to be an excited high school student screaming for the cute basketball players. I guess I hadn't thought too hard about my age till I found myself in bleachers full of 16-year-old with painted faces and youthful giggles. Makes me remember (like most things do these days) to live every day to the fullest, because life is flying by me.

Sleepy Pups

Our puppies play hard & sleep hard.

These little snugglers go crazy till they can't keep their eyes open

then crash as close as they can to whoever is nearest.

So silly&adorable.

Snuggled into sam

Smooshed under mommy

Dori & Fiona snuggling each other

Dori pouting about sleeping in her cone

Pier Visit

Sam&Syd wanted to go see the pier covered in snow, but since it was freezing we figured we'd have some drinks before heading out into the cold. So we drank and played cards until we felt we'd be warm enough to enjoy the views. Mostly we just laid in the snow and looked around - afraid to get too close to the edge - but we definitely took in the scenery. Then, of course, we went back to drink and play cards some more.

UP Quirks

Syd&Sam wanted to head back to the UP for a trip to see Hunter's band play their first gig. So we headed up after work on a Thursday - loaded up Sam's car with our pups&bags and headed north. I was hammered and missed most of the show ...I was there just not coherent. Woops. It was a good&random trip with cards&FridayNightLights and mac-n-cheese&fireball and an early morning hunt for a lost sister who's clothes lead me up the stairs to the place I figured I'd find her.
Wild nights in my summer town ...in the winter.

"ish" is an acceptable time to post

the "pickle barrel" is a local monument

santa look-a-like has a bottle of wine to himself

Grandpa&Fiona

So this happened last weekend and melted my heart.

My favorite man on the entire planet smiling&snuggling my baby puppy.

Dinner & a Movie

I think it's incredible to remain connected with people I've known for so long. These girls & I have been friends since high school. The one in the middle I've known since we were toddlers. We may not see each other too often, but we keep in touch and try to see each other when we're able, so over Christmas Break we got together for dinner and a movie. Dinner was at the Grill House and we were joined by quite a few members of the old crew - Tyler, Sana, Georgia, Peg, and all of their significant others. For the movie the crew got a bit smaller as we headed to M89 to see American Hustle. No matter what we do - extravagant plans or super simple - it's so nice to know that there are simply people I have kept and who have kept me for all these years.

Elton

Elton john at joe Louis arena

Sadly, my companions were either drunk or silent (as per usual) but I still loved the show. I probably most enjoyed chatting with Bunni's dad over his excitement for me to see Elton just like he had in the 70's. He may not have been the most active performer, but he belted out those classics & brought me right back to my youth and the memories of my dad singing Your Song to me on long road trips. The stage was sweet - the lights at the back changed constantly and sometimes turned into different images and we were lucky to be on the side where Elton's piano was, so our view was great considering the cheap ticket price.
Elton, you enchanted me.

Misc Fall

Fire place & candle in the master

Tryna strip that dark outa my hair

knee high boots & leggings for cold weather

knocking one football out of the tree with another football

trying some local beers with joe

flowers from my mr. before a long weekend

pretty mug i eyed for weeks before purchasing

gel manicure and a glass of wine

...if only it was that easy.

Turning 3

My only nephew turned 3 this past weekend, so Mr.U&I spent the night at his house and woke up bright&early on his actual birthday to celebrate. Before bed, my brother had put his present on top of the kitchen cabinets. In the morning, he was on a stool stretching his arms to reach his birthday present. Clever little 3-year-old ...that's for sure. Later in the day, we celebrated his birthday with a Dinosaur-themed party and his biggest gift was a soccer goal to practice his new favorite score. By evening, he was beat and wanted his only aunt to read him books in his "big boy bedroom" before sleep. We chose a Halloween book from the library ...something about a dance party. I loved the book in the moment, but all I can remember now is my sweet&snuggly nephew intently clinging to his aunt's words. He may turn terrible 2's into terrible 3's, but I love him just the same - and, since I don't see him very often, I never tire of his affection.