This photo was taken with the PEN E-PL1 which Olympus has loaned me, of course! ©2010 Suburban Scrawl
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Three Magic Words
You *may* have heard that we are headed to Munich later this summer. The idea for the trip was actually about four and a half years ago, when the older boy was just getting started with his German I class. Having enjoyed the heck out of five years of German class (8th-12th grade) and having spent one month in Germany as a teenager, I knew that I wanted to get this kid over there, to reinforce what he was learning and to make it real. There’s something about traveling to a place whose language you’re learning that solidifies so much in your mind. Anyway, when the older boy was getting…
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Dinner Date.
Last week I received an e-mail out of the blue from my friend Rob in Liverpool. Rob and his wife Louise, who I met while on that fabulous trip to Europe with Kate and Scott nearly four years ago, were going to be in Chicago for a couple of days and wanted to know if I would be able to meet them at some point during their stay. Hell yes, I would! I was really, really excited to see them again. The hospitality they (and Rob’s parents, too!) showed me in the United Kingdom back in 2006 was unparalleled, and the four days I spent in their home area made…
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Aaaaand…This Is How It Begins.
I did it. I “broke the seal”, so to speak. I like to do many things, but planning and list-making are definitely up there at the top, that is, if I were to prioritize (by making a list, of course!) my most favorite activities. After all, I make lists for everything, and I sometimes put the most simple of tasks–non-listworthy ones, for sure–just so I can cross them off when I complete them. The act of striking through something or checking a box makes me insanely happy. If I can combine list-making and planning for a trip? WOW, Mama like. And the results are usually pretty good. I planned my…
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I Wonder If She Misses Me As Much As I Miss Her*.
When most people are asked where they would go for a dream vacation, common answers given are exotic locations like Hawaii, ski destinations like Whistler, or luxury-type trips like Alaskan cruises. Those destinations are great and I certainly wouldn’t turn down the opportunity to visit any of them, but they’re not at the top of my list. I have lots of “favorite places”, but one international location stands out above the rest in my mind: Germany. I know I’m not the only non-German who adores that country, but by and large, Germany is not typically on the top of anybody’s list for a vacation. Other places in Europe make the…
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London Bridge is Slowing Down
Yet another reason for me to want to go to London… Did you know that there is an event going on right now in London until May 4 called “Slow Down London”? It sounds heavenly to me. Here’s a summary of what it is from the official website: “Slow Down London is a new project to inspire Londoners to improve their lives by slowing down to do things well. Slow Down London will hold a campaign and festival (24 April – 4 May 09), offering ideas and opportunities to help us challenge the cult of speed and appreciate the world around us.” The “Cult of Speed”? Wow! I love that!…
- Do I Really Want My Readers To Know This?, Fun in Chicago, My Sister Has Mad Skillz, Too Funny To Ignore
There Are Many Ways To Define Love; As It Turns Out, Way More Than I Knew About.
Just a quick post for you Saturday blog readers; I’m attempting to get my kitchen totally spotless today (Imagine that!), INCLUDING getting the kitchen desk cleared of the clutter. I’ll let you know if I’m successful; keep your fingers crossed for me. (I also realize that I haven’t commented back to you all on the last four or so posts: Busy week! I’m getting to it, hopefully this weekend if you want to keep checking back!) We’re also having Julesie join us for dinner and a Fab Five Game Night. Good times! Anyway, you may remember this post about my total sadness and anger about the Sears Tower being known…
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Who Knew An Empty Bag Could Contain So Much Bad Ju-Ju??
When my parents came up from Tennessee for Thanksgiving, they brought a big bag to me from Kate, which contained a few Yankee Candles I purchased from Bean during a preschool fundraiser (they’re getting those kids out earlier and earlier!). As I was taking the candles out of the bag, I noticed something in there that I didn’t expect: it was a quilted bag/purse that I had given to Kate two years ago. This bag is awesome. My aunt, who is a phenomenal quilter, gave me a couple of them and when I saw this particular one I knew I would have to give it to Kate because of the…
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A Dinner of Olympic Proportions
I am a diehard Olympic fan. I love the drama. I love the stories about the athletes, and I love the fanfare. I was overjoyed when, years ago, it was decided that they would make an adjustment so that we only had to wait two years between Winter and Summer Olympics, instead of waiting four years and having them both in the same year like the olden days. (1992 was the last year in which both Summer and Winter Olympics were held the same year.) In the Winter Olympics, my all-time favorite athletes were Grinkov and Gordeeva (I read her book “My Sergei”: WHAT a love story!), and I rooted…
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Now I’m Really Out There…
Oh my. I was just checking the stats on my other blog, you know, the one about my book, and discovered via the referral information that the interview I did with Dogcast Radio is now “out there”. YIKES! So…if you want to take a listen, go here. Many thanks to Julie of Dogcast: she is truly a delight! (and she’s British, which was thrilling for me, as you can imagine! Bwahahahaha!