Foto Friday: Crazy Kids

Very soon, these crazy kids will be parents and I’ll be an aunt.   I couldn’t be happier– or more emotional–about it.   Stay tuned!

Jo & Ryan. Minnesota, August 09

Foto Friday: Photobooth fun!

A few weeks ago (I told you these updates would be non-linear!), I attended my friend Jacqui’s wedding. It was a lot of fun, but I don’t have many pics from that night (other than a HILARIOUS–but unintentional–shot of me doing the “Carich dance.”)

The wedding was super fun… and they had a photobooth!  I’ve seen this on TV before, but never in real life. 

Basically, they have a booth set up and you get your picture taken (like you did at the mall when you were in Jr. high).  Except now they give you two printouts of your photos–one for you to keep and one that you paste in a book for the bride and groom.   There’s also a digital record–which Jacqui posted on facebook for the world to see.   SO FUN!!

Kyle and I. That last pic is horrendous...and priceless!

Group shot-- fun with props!

Me, Erin, Steph

Kyle is P.I.M.P.

Foto Friday: Motivation

I saw this ad the other day while I was flipping through magazines at the gym.   If this doesn’t motivate you to add a few extra minutes to your workout, I don’t know what will!

Eva Mendes for Calvin Klein

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I’m a bit behind in my photo downloading/uploading.  Hopefully there will be plenty next week!

Foto Friday: A running tour of my ‘hood

Inspired by this post and armed with my iPhone, I went for a run* and tried to document the sights of my “usual” route.   It’s a 3 mile loop from my house and only contains 4 turns, but there are plenty of sights** to see:

don't quite have the hang of taking pictures while running yet

I live near campus, so I run by a couple fraternity/sorority houses

and the old Presidents house or something (seriously, i run by this 3x a week and I'm not sure what it is....)

Lots of UI pride... even now!

This one makes it look like I'm moving FAST... or the cars are!

obligatory U of I marker!

Gorgeous fall colors

There are 2 schools on my route. This is one of them.

picture perfect

on the home stretch!

Urbana has a reputation for being "crunchy." This canoe for sale embodies that mentality. Love it!

I'm obsessed with these red bushes!

home sweet home

but I usually try to round the corner and finish at the back door (this street is also a bit more colorful)

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* full disclosure:   I didn’t actually plan to take pictures that day.  I planned on a 3 mi run, but I noticed how pretty the scenery was and thought about the blog post I’d read.   Stopping to take photos didn’t help my run any so I changed my 3 mi into 2 mi and didn’t worry about time.  It was quite enjoyable.***

** I also run by Robert Ebert’s childhood home *every* time I run–there’s a plaque and everything.  But, of course, I didn’t think about taking the photos until after I passed his house.

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*** full disclosure, part 2: If I had realized that it would be my last run for two weeks,  I might have pushed a little harder!

Foto Friday: Billboard

I saw this billboard yesterday and I had to stop  and take a picture of it. (Actually, I had to park, cross the street in the rain, and stand there like an idiot taking a picture of it).

Is it just me or does this ad bother you?

I can’t help but think it’s from Smart Tan or a similar organization.   If so, I’m appalled that they’re using the pink ribbon to promote their cause.  Now, if  the message was just “Vitamin D helps decrease your risk,” I’d have no problem with it.  But the fact that they say “from the sun and tanning beds” makes me a bit suspect.

I’m all for Breast Cancer Awareness month, but why use it to promote your own cause?   And isn’t this kind of like trading one cancer for another?  I realize skin cancer is less deadly, but still.

What do you all think?

Foto Friday: Costumes, cont.

Tis the season for costumes–  Very soon we’ll see witches and ghosts and pumpkins (along with Slutty Nurses, Slutty school girls, Slutty fill-in-the-blank… don’t get me started).

Anyway, as I was searching through photos for this much-delayed Foto Friday post (thanks, Suzanne, for the kick in the pants…) I realized that some of my favorite costumes weren’t even HALLOWEEN* costumes.  Most of them were for Bunco!   

Without further adieu, I give you my favorite non-Halloween costumes:

Erin and I at Cops and Robbers Bunco-- one of my all-time fave pix

As "denim Barbie" for Denim Delight Bunco (tip: add the word "Barbie" after anything for instant costume idea!)

My "business suit" for Animal Print Bunco (Animal Print Barbie, perhaps?)

Can't go wrong with a Hippie costume (although Hippie Barbie is a bit contradictory)!

For Glamour Shot Bunco (Rocker Barbie? 80s Barbie, perhaps?)

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* you can see previous posts here and here.

Foto Friday: Wedding Crasher

This photo isn’t high-quality, but the back story is priceless.  Top 5 night for sure.

It was taken at a wedding (obviously).  Although I’d grown up with the bride, she and I had drifted apart after high school, so I wasn’t surprised that I wasn’t invited to the wedding.  But my friend was.  And her boyfriend wasn’t going, so I decided to crash the wedding.

And CRASH I did… I got a little tipsy on accident. Okay, a lot.    The official terminology for my state of inebriation is “wedding wine drunk.”   It was a fantastic time!

In this picture, I was  pretending to catch the bouquet while my friend took the picture.  Apparently the bride was not amused.  Ooops!   I still can’t look at this without laughing.

Happy Friday, y’all!

Foto Friday: New York, New York

These pictures were taken on my first trip to NYC in March 2002, almost 6 months to the day after 9/11/01.   (and, yes, were taken with a film camera!)

We landed in New York the day that President Bush declared war and the mood in the City was understandably somber.   Although it was a work trip, we managed to hop a subway and go down to Ground Zero one afternoon.

Ground Zero: big open hole

A memorial wall near the site

memorial plaque for those who lost their lives

close up of some of the photos/notes left by visitors

Eight years later, these events are starting to feel like “history” to some of us.  Let’s not forget what it felt like then, in hopes that we never have to go through it again.

I dusted off my old Tribute to Heroes CD this morning.  I still like this Alan Jackson song.  The part about watching I Love Lucy re-runs gets me every time.  I don’t know why, but that’s the saddest part for me.

Foto Friday: Automotive FAIL!

They say a picture is worth a thousand words.

True, but blog posts are supposed to be concise…. So, here’s the story, in 500 words or less:

On the way to Minnesota for vacation last month my “check tire pressure” light turned on.  I got off at the next exit, checked my tire pressure, aired up the tires for good measure and proceeded to drive the ~700 miles to my destination.  We continued to monitor the tire pressure, but everything looked fine, so we didn’t worry about it much.  I had my brakes replaced a few days before and figured the light was just a malfunction and carried on with vacation.

By the time we were ready to head back home I had all but forgotten about my tire issue.  We got on the road and prepared for the 12-hour trek.   About an hour into our journey, we stopped to re-fuel on healthy stuff like powdered donuts and chocolate milk.

I got behind the wheel, Ryan climbed in the back seat with his pillow and blanked and Jo assumed donut duty in the passenger seat.   A couple miles after our first pit stop, I heard a noise.

Ryan:  What was that?

Me:  I dunno

Ryan:  I think it might be your muffler or something.

Me:  Oh, I doubt it. I’m sure there’s just something in the trunk.  Do you think I should pull over?

Ryan:  Uh…yeah.

Me (rolling down the window and sticking my head out):  Maybe there’s a helicopter* flying over or something.

Ryan: No, you need to pull over… NOW!

I pulled over and Ryan got out of the car to check things out. Sure enough, I had a flat tire.  And over 600 miles to drive.   CRAP!

We had to unload ALL of our stuff on the side of the road so that we could get out the jack and the spare tire (ironically called… a donut! )– All of our luggage and vacation supplies for THREE people plus some random stuff,  including my boyfriend’s “artwork” that’s been riding around in my trunk for months.

While Ryan was working on changing the tire, lots of nice Minnesotans stopped to ask us if we needed help.  “No,” we’d say. “We’ve got it.”   

We asked one woman if there was a tire shop in Grand Rapids or if we’d need to go further down the road.  She told us that there were two in town, so we started re-packing our gear back in the trunk.

Just as we were getting ready to leave, the nice woman came back (she had been going the opposite direction).  She said she knew a guy who would help us out.    We followed her to the tire shop where we had to unload all of our stuff yet again, where they quickly changed the tire and sent us on our merry way.

You can't see the "velvet Elvis" artwork because it's hiding behind the muted abstract print

An hour later and only $35 poorer, we were back on the road.  A big shout out to my brother for not only knowing how to change a flat but also for asking them to put on a used tire.

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* We couldn’t stop laughing about this afterwards. There aren’t any airports, air bases, or anything else in that part of Minnesota to make me think there was a  helicopter flying overhead. So naturally that was the first thing I thought of. Naturally.

Foto Friday: Wild Wedding

Remember when I told you my friend Stephanie was engaged? Well, now she’s hitched and I was lucky enough to be one of her bridesmaids.  Some of my favorite shots from the festivities:

Bachelorette party, complete with homemade shirts

Clennon and I at the rehearsal dinner

the bride and I before the ceremony

the entire bridal party!

In the limo

Pit stop at Tumble Inn

and another at Senators Inn

Cory & I before our grand entrance

With some of of my besties

And my hot date...who likes to twirl!

It was a super fun night… with LOTS of pictures, plenty of beer, and a bunch of laughs.  I’m so happy I was able to be a part of such a wonderful day!