Leaving on a jet plane......

It's time to use all of my frequent flyer miles and hotel points!!

Sara and I are leaving for Europe tomorrow! First I fly to Detroit and I am going to have lunch with my family and then our flight leaves for AMS (Amsterdam) at 830EST. We arrive in AMS around 11AM Saturday morning. We will spend time in AMS (staying at the Flying Pig hostel) until Tuesday and then we will be flying to London. On Tuesday night we will be using my hard earned Marriott points and will get a nice shower in a nice hotel! We will be staying with Sara's cousin in London until Saturday. On Saturday we will be going to the burbs of London to meet her family. On Sunday we will be coming back to London (using hard earned Marriott points again) and on Monday morning we will be flying back to the "dirty D".

So we decided to go the back pack route (easy to travel with but a little awkward). I amazed myself b/c I have packed for 10 days and manged to have some room for souvenirs.

Its been so busy this week with catching up for work and getting ready to go, but I am not realizing its finally here!

I will also not have a phone for 10 days so I am definitely going to have a little separation anxiety and my lap top.

It was a great week at home (as always). Robyn, Jacquelyn, and I went to dinner last night and Sara and I went to dinner tonight. Its always good to see the girls!

I realized that the Detroit Lions play the Atlanta Falcons on 9/7 - I am so bummed b/c I wanted to watch the game with Garry so I could see his face when the Lions have their first game of the season victory win and I can collect on my bet. I guess I will just have to collect when I see him when I get back (which seems like forever) I am really going to miss him, 3 weeks is a long time! Go Lions!!
Well I am off to get some more work done and and finishing up last minute packing!

Hopefully I get to blog a little when I am over there but I took a journal with me just in case....
And thanks to my family who are praying for my safe travels.

Last weekend of the summer in the city...and celebrating the promotion

I just realized that this past weekend was my last weekend of the summer in the city. I will be leaving for Europe on Friday! I am stressing out b/c I have sooo much to do! I have to pack all of my stuff in a large backpack which is gong to totally cramp my style:-) So, this week I will be finishing up packing and getting ready for the trip.

Garry and I flew to Chicago on Thursday night. We had a late night dinner at a dinner up the road b/c we got in late from the airport.

During the week I received the official notice that I was promoted to consultant which made my week! On Friday, I had flowers delivered and I assumed they were from my mom b/c she tends to send flowers but this time they were from Garry! He ordered them during the week so I would get them on Friday and be able to enjoy them this week while I am at home working. They are really pretty. Of course, no roses b/c I don't like those they are too cliche and too predictable. The arrangement consisted of Gerber Daisies (my favorite), tulips, and lillies. It was very thoughtful and definitely made my day.

Friday night we went to dinner at Sapori(http://www.saporitrattoria.net/) to celebrate my promotion. It was a small Italian restaurant and we were able to sit outside and the ambiance was great! The food was also really good. The lobster ravioli amazing!
On Saturday we had brunch with Robyn and Chuck and our favorite brunch place and of course some mimosa to go with.

After brunch we ventured out to Wrigleyville. We wanted to go to the cubs game but it was supposed to rain and decided not to get tickets and just hang out during the game in the area and played cards.






Sunday we did nothing but watch Lost! I finally caught up to the recent season, so now I have to wait for the new season like everyone else! Garry left for the airport around 5:30:-( It was hard to see him go....

It was a great weekend for the last weekend of the summer in the city.

So, now I am back to packing and I am pondering if it is ok to wear white in London after Labor Day? I wonder if they have a "rule" like ours...

What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas..including my blackberry and my camera

Thursday marked the beginning of the annual trip to Vegas celebrating Decade Four of Don Henessey. Kurt and a group started going to Vegas about 4 years ago and the group has grown since. The group approached 50 this year which was a bit crazy.



We stayed at the Flamingo as always. This year we upgraded to a newly remodeled room which was much niceer than last year.

Andrea, Katie and Jacquelyn joined the group this year and we all had a great time. I manged not to miss my flight this year so that is definitily a plus!



On Thursday we went to Mandalay bay. The club was Micks. It was the meet and greet night and this is when I lost my phone and camera on the dance floor. So the rest of the weekend, I had to keep borrowing phones and I think everyone was annoyed by the end of the trip.

Picture of me Friday morning already missing my blackberry:-(

On the way to the pool observing the birds in the pond.

Friday night we went to LAX which is in the Luxor. We had a separte room for all of us and it got a little packed to Robyn, Jim and I went to Moon. Moon is my favorite club there. The roof of the club opens up to outside.

Saturday we went to "The Bank" which was in the Belliagao. The club was awesome and we danced all night. We finished the night off at Moon again.

It was so great to see Jim (adopted big brother) over the weekend. I havent seen him in a year and of course I cried when I left him. (I had great pictures on the camera that I lost!)

I obviously left out alot of details and stories but what happnes in Vegas stays in Vegas:-)

Tigers Game, Dave Matthews Band, great week in the city...

This has been a great week in the city. I have been working from home all week and its great to be here. My room mate and I went out to dinner and I was able to catch up with my friends.

On Thursday we went to the Tigers game in Chicago b/c they were playing the White Sox. The Tigers finally pulled a win off so we were able to leave the stadium on a good note.


Friday night I caught up with Chuck at Durkins and Duffys.
Saturday was the Dave Matthews concert in Wisconsin. The RV and the driver (Rich) picked us up at John's house around 3PM. We then spent the next few hours driving to Wisconsin for the outdoor concert. Once there we set up shop and started tailgating and grilling out. Even though Jody and I lost the group we still had a blast at the concert. On the way home pretty much everyone fell asleep. We finally arrived back in the city at 4AM. What a long day. Here are some pics from the event. My friend said that the picture of Jody and I looked like "The Pieta" by Michelangelo

Had a great time in Atlanta, but it is good to be in home sweet Chicago for now.

During the week Garry and I went to see the movie 'Step Brothers' that stars Will Farrell. The movie definitely had some funny parts but I think Garry and I both agree that it would be just a good rental. But at least we were able to eat popcorn at the theater. I think that is really the main reason why we both even wanted to go to the movie theater.

I attempted running outside in ATL during the week. I waited until about 8 at night b/c it is sooo HUMID. I took Rocky to keep me company. He was definitely not used to running that long. But it was nice to get outside and run there.

On Thursday we had a work event at a sushi place. I think people from work are slowly catching on that Garry and I are dating, which will make things much easier to deal with.

Friday night Garry and I cooked dinner for his roommate and some other friends. I tried London Broil for the first time, which was really good. I also made my favorite salad (spinach, dried cherries, walnuts, goat cheese, and balsamic vinaigrette) After that we went to meet the wedding party and other of his friends at a new bar called Fado. It's 4 levels and it was packed.

Saturday, Garry had a soccer game and was a bad girlfriend and did go:-( I decided to go to his friends pool instead and just wait for him to get there..I need to get some sun before the wedding and it was too hot to sit outside and watch a soccer game down there. The humidity is terrible!

The wedding was at 7PM and on the way to the Church we saw big storm clouds. As the grandmothers were walking down the isle the power started flickering and it finally went out. After 20 minutes they decided to go on with the ceremony in the candle light. It was actually pretty. Long Catholic mass though...The reception was very nice and the food was delicious. After the reception we went to the same bar as Garry's birthday where they had live music which is always fun.

Before I left for the airport on Sunday we went to church and then had dinner at "5 guys" It is known for hamburgers and is delicious. They have fries with malt vinegar at the fair and they have shelled peanuts...it was a great dinner!

I finally made it back to Home Sweet Chicago last night. It feels good to be home! On the cab ride home to my apartment there is a great view of the city that I see every time I come home from the airport and it was a great feeling to see that b/c I knew I was going to be home for a week.

Today, I was able to go to the grocery store! It is always a fun trip when you don't have a car and its raining and the bus doesn't come, so once again ended up carrying y groceries all the way back. Fun times in the city!

Great Weekend in the City.

So last weekend really made me realize why we Chicagoians struggle through the cold winters in Chicago and that is to live for the summer festivities.

Friday night Robyn, Sara, and I went to dinner to catch up and I wanted to go somewhere to watch the Tigers game. There is a restaurant on the corner of my street “Avenue Tavern” (http://www.avenuetavern.com/) that has good food and it is “Michigan owned” (They even have Coney Dogs on the menu:) Unfortunately, the Tigers ended up losing against the Sox that night.

Saturday, Sara and I went to breakfast at “Stella’s”. Stella’s is a neighborhood dinner close to my house. After Stella's we ran some errands and did some shopping in the area. We planned on going to the Lincoln Taste Fest later in the afternoon. Chicago has many street festivals during the summer all over many of the neighborhoods. I went to the festival around 6PM and the street was just packed. There were multiple bands (about 5-6) that were playing a variety of music. There were a ton of food vendors as well as local vendors in the area selling arts/crafts items. I stumbled upon a booth that was selling wallets/belt and leather accessories and I noticed they had quite a few “Detroit” accessories. I ended up buying a change purse with the “Spirit of Detroit” on the purse. I asked him if he still lives there and his response was “yes, someone has to”. This made me a little sad when I was reminded that so many people are moving out of Michigan. The festival ended up being a really good time and I even ran into a few friends from WMU (dancing in the street at one of the bar's booths where they had a DJ set up) that I haven’t seen in forever, so we went out in Wrigleyville for a little bit afterwards.

Oh and of course we have to get a pic with the CPD:-)
On Sunday, I was very productive! I couldn’t believe it, I usually dread Sundays b/c that means I have to pack and get everything in order to fly out the next day. But Sara, Robyn, and I went to breakfast at “The Bagel” another good breakfast place in the neighborhood. Then I went home started a load of laundry, did pilates, went to the gym and ran 3 miles (while watching the Tigers game so that was a plus), and packed for the next week. It was a very productive day! On Sundays it is pretty traditional go out to dinner with the girls (and Chuck sometimes) and this Sunday we went and tried a different sushi place. They had very different sushi rolls and most of us agreed that we liked our “normal” place better. The night ended at Murphy’s. We had a couple of glasses of wine on the patio out front, had good conversation, and enjoyed people watching. It was a great way to wrap up a fun weekend.

Now off to ATL for the week. I am staying the weekend for a wedding.

Long week......

Since I had to work the weekend of 7/19 I was able to stay in the city for a few days during the week. It was nice to see my friends and relax at home. I was able to go to the beach on Tuesday afternoon which was well overdue. I love Lake Michigan!

On Thursday morning I flew to ATL, as I would experience my first go-live. So, basically the project that I am working consists of migrating computer systems between companies and a go-live is basically when they “flip the switch on,” so there are many tasks up until that point that have to be completed. I was very disappointed that this weekend had to be the weekend of go-live. This is the weekend I go home every year for the fair. The fair is a big deal in my hometown and it is a time where everyone gets together. I have been going to the fair as long as I can remember. I'm really disappointed that I am missing a corn dog, french fries with malt vinegar, lemonade and an elephant ear. God bless my mom, she is getting a couple of corn dogs for me and is going to freeze them until I get home. I also am disappointed that I will not be able to ride the "Zipper" It is my favorite ride at the fair.

On Friday, I was able to layout at the Marriott pool and relax before the long day on Saturday which was nice. Garry, his roommate and his girlfriend, and I grilled out on Friday night and played a couple games of Scene It and then called it a night.

Saturday was a very long work day (started at 8AM and lasted until 130AM – yes 16 ½ hours). It was an interesting experience. On Sunday we went into the office for a couple of hours and then the management team took us out to dinner.

During the week in ATL I went bowling again on Garry’s league. I definitely did much better than last week, so I was happy about that. Yesterday, Garry and I had dinner before I left for the airport. We went to a restaurant called “Shout” in Midtown. The food was tapas with Mediterranean influence. They had cabanas outside for seating (where the picture was taken) and it was very relaxing. The food, ambiance, and of course the company was very nice. I ended up back in the city around 1130 PM and if definitely felt good to be home after a long week!