English lessons.

Over the past few years, my time between Christmas and New Year's has been a time of intensive bonding (bondage?) with a phenomenal group of friends, the English/Stachowiak family and circle. Christmas is the time when Jason comes home from Colorado, Chad demonstrates his scheduling obsession, and the females practice eye rolls while the guys...revert to their youth.

I am so happy to be included as one of the family.

Tonight's scheduled activity was a trip to Chad and Christy's house for games. The night started off relatively innocently, with Shawn stealing the show! (By the way, Santa, I want one of those tunnels for Christmas next year, please!)




I like playing Apples to Apples... but it's not a favorite with everyone so it didn't last long!
Then, with only English's (spouses & Bizarro/Alethia count!) and me left, things went haywire. I think Chad got the bottom end of this deal. A lesson from the English boys: always be aware of your surroundings (so you don't get jumped)!

The only downer of the night....the Colt's lost. :( At least they're in the playoffs either way!

Beautiful Sights.

Even knowing that I have to shovel...it's so beautiful to have thick, heavy snowfall. And to have neighbors who keep their lights on beyond Christmas day.

Winter can be so pretty.

Long time, no post...

An Indy Christmas...

Fun times at ComedySportz....

Santa everywhere....no wonder he can see us when we're sleeping, when we're awake...

...and even when we're freezing outside the Colt's stadium, just soaking in the atmosphere...

Christmas Eve sights

A fabulous christmas steak dinner. Kudos to the chef!!

And...possibly the best part of all, a trip to the park. Forty-five and sunny on Christmas day makes for a perfect time to meditate by the water.




Relaxing Christmas 2007 memories... I hope yours was wonderful as well!

Snowed-In Sunday...

Or so we thought. It looked bad, and shoveling went slow, so we had church at Renee and Darrin's house rather than daring to try the roads. We were hoping that Gina, Kevin and the kids would have to stay another day with the rest of us, but they left shortly after lunch and had a surprisingly easy drive back to west side of the state.

"Church" was more distracting in this setting. I wouldn't normally take pictures during church, but the opportunities were too interesting:
Jordan checking Darrin's hair for bugs. Or texture. Something!


Mom "resting her eyes" while dad pretends to be mad about my photo taking.


Kay reading from the bible. We're usually a bit more prepared if we decide to hold a family church service at home, but this time we just winged it with the story of Jesus' birth and some christmas carols.



Another photo op. Too bad Kayla moved, otherwise it's a good picture of the kids with Aunt Lou reflected behind.

After lunch, we hit the "slopes" (er, driveway) until the blustery winds blew us back inside.

Saturday Family Time

The whole weekend was more relaxing than most holiday celebrations are for our family. We spent the afternoon making a gingerbread house, reading and playing games.






Jordan and Tyler display their colors proudly!

As the afternoon got later, and the snowstorm began, dad started playing music and the we got "christmas" dinner on the table.

Finally, the big event (for the kids, anyway!) : Santa! And presents! (Meanwhile, the adults sit back and say, "Santa - I KNOW him!")

Renee provided great entertainment this weekend. We are thankful she wasn't seriously hurt, besides her pride. She biffed it in the Rite Aid parking lot. It's a pretty cool bruise, that isn't shown in it's best color here!

34 and counting...

Kevin works hard to catch up with Kay and I each year, so for the next 2 and a half months he gets to be the same age as us...


We worked hard to get to Pinckney friday night for his birthday party.


I'm quite sure he and Darrin enjoyed their "Alma College Cow Tipping Team" shirts, but the highlight of Kevin's presents was again a showcase of Renee and Darrin's "O-mazing" sense of humor. The present-opening process fascinated the kids, as we all tried to figure out what the multiple-piece gift meant:






Yep. Complete with flippers, gloves, goggles and clothes pins for his nose, Renee and Darrin put together a "septic diving kit" for Kevin.
("Tired of paying licensed professionals to scoop your poop? NOW you can DOOO it yourself...")

Family christmas begins...

Mom and dad flew back from Texas friday so that they'd be here for our extended family christmas party (mom's side). Interestingly enough, since grandma died, it tends to be a gathering where we all look at our relatives from afar but generally hang with our own smaller families...



A pinata brought back from TX gets the better of Kelsey.


Jordan gives Santa his christmas list.


Chicken...Nicci and her friend play with Kayla and Kelsey.



Renee gives Kayla some attention...

Amy's 2nd annual christmas card photo shoot...

Last year Amy and I had a blast on a snow day, taking pictures of her in a newspaper dress for her christmas cards. Here are some of my favorites:

We got some neat shots last night, but this is the only one I'm allowed to show at this time - the planning stage (contracts, you know!):

It's Christmas time...

I'm bucking the system. Does a Christmas tree add to clutter in a house for sale? Not sure, but I decided tonight that I wouldn't go through the season without a tree.


In trying to take the "perfect" picture of my tree without a fully lit room and without using flash, I found myself drawn to shooting the reflection...and then decided that I should include myself with the other two angels!

Happy holiday season, everyone!

Live it up. I dare you.

"They" say that we keep getting lessons over and over until we learn them...

Lately I've been sensitive about the whole single-approaching-35-with-no-real-prospects-in-sight thing...

(oh. you've already noticed?)

Anyway. One comment that has irked me is the one that follows any single-ness discussion: "You're so lucky though, you can just take off and do whatever you want, whenever you want," etc.

That sounds good, except for that fact that I also own a home, have a full time job - and currently spend about 2 hours a day on the road until I can sell/buy in my new town of employment. Most days lately leave me pretty tired, so I don't feel like I can "just take off..."

However, this weekend, Kay and I did just that - maybe (on my part at least) partly to force myself to realize the truth in that statement. There ARE benefits to being unattached.

At the end of great dancing in Cleveland last weekend, Kay got an email about a dance workshop in Chicago with lessons taught by our favorite new dance acquaintance from California - Gary Ulaner.

At that point of beginning-to-crash-from-dancers-high, we first tossed out the defiant thought:

We should make the trip to Chicago next weekend.

A chance to learn some hustle (a dance with which I have always struggled), a chance to connect with some Chicago dancers I haven't seen in quite a while, and a chance to dance more with Gary. Hmmm.

We talked about our trip tentatively almost every day, beginning Monday:
(Kay) "Are you still thinking about going next weekend?"
(Lou) "Yes...we told Glenn (see post below!) we were coming, and we need to follow through."

By Thursday, fatigue had set in; three long days of working late and the pressure of having my house perfectly neat (read: looking like it is uninhabited) for showings had taken their toll. However, my attempt to back out was ignored:
(Lou) "Wow, Kay, I'm so tired I don't even feel like going anymore... that's a lot of driving for a few hours of dancing."
(Kay) "Maybe we can try priceline for a three start hotel..."

OK, no backing out. I had made a commitment.

So. I started out Saturday morning with the threat of inches of snow followed by freezing rain on my five and a half hour drive. My first omen of the great weekend to come: a near accident as I drove through Edmore and craned my neck to see...SANTA and two of his REINDEER!!

Phenomenal. I've never seen such huge antlers!

Contrary to the weather report, the drive was easy and dry - at least until I reached Chicago, where the winter storm hit with a fury. Blowing snow turned to sleet as I reached the hotel - already late for the first workshop. Kay was smart not to rush me as I shook off the hour-plus of tense driving and changed my clothes.

In the end, the workshops were fantastic - Gary is very articulate in his teaching and has a good flow to his lessons. The evening dance provided a chance to practice our new hustle skills as well as getting in some great west coast swings and even a few two-steps. (Ah. I miss competing. ) And...a late-night breakfast at IHOP provided a very welcome opportunity to get to know a few people beyond the dance floor.

So - I have more favorites to add to our self-portrait series:

Tim (DJ TJ)

Terry (a new Michigan friend)

And...

Gary
His phenomenal dancing is matched by his personality. He has a beautiful ability to truly connect with people by giving them his full attention. Truly a kind, fully engaged soul. I love meeting people who remind me that I want to keep "being" better.

Overall: The weekend lesson was successful!
The weekend reminded me that my life is in MY control. I should NEVER allow myself to wallow in the feeling that I'm waiting for something to happen. I make myself miserable when I allow worry to limit me or life's daily stresses to bog me down.

It's GOOD for me to seek out challenges. And especially now, during a period of significant change, I need to reconnect with the things I love, and work to re-introduce them into my new life. I know there will be days when I'm just too tired to make the effort, but I hope I will choose to put the effort in - regardless - on most of those days.

So. I challenge myself to live my life to the fullest. I dare you to do the same. (And please...gently remind me every time I forget the lesson...we all need some adjusting back to course at times!)


Kay and I hit Krispy Kreme this morning. Living life. Even if it clogs our arteries, there is NOTHING like a Krispy Kreme donut fresh off the conveyer belt!