I also find this commercial very disturbing:
Saturday, July 31, 2010
Friday, July 30, 2010
Suite Life of Kevan and Alicia
The last few weeks have been an interesting mix of excitment, angst, firsts and oldies but goodies.
Kevan and I went to the Jack Johnson concert at Alpine Valley. It was pretty amazing. Niether Kevan or I have been there before [Though my mom was pregnant with me when she went to REO Speedwagon there back in the day.] Jack was great and I knew quite a few of the songs, of course Kevan knew them all. Kevan and I had grass seats, rented some chairs and got a pretty good viewing spot. From where we were sitting we where able to do some pretty great people watching. The 40-year old women in front of us was pretty intoxicated and slept through the opener and then sat slumped over, texting for most of Jack. There was a screamer, I mean, girl behind us that was very excited about the show and about Jack - he is her man as she said several times. Ironically enough, she knew none of his songs and was pretty whiney about the fact that he had not played the one song that she does know. She stopped screaming about 45 minutes into the show. Our friends were also there, but those lucky dogs had front row seats! Something that we have discovered while we were there is that we have little tolerance for underaged drinkers and even of-age as$hole drinkers - we attributed that to our experience in the residence halls.
The next day Kevan and I went to a Brewers game and had seats in a suite - Thank you Dan Mike and his mom! It was pretty awesome to be a high roller for the day with the special parking lot, special enterance and catered pretzel bites, hot dogs and cheese tray. It was also pretty great to hang out with Nikki, Dan, Kacy and Joey. Oh, and it was Robin Yount bobble head day. This was the second Brewers game that we have gone to and it is so nice. The Brewers kept me connected to Milwaukee. I showed my pride for the Mil-town by rooting for the Brew Crew [and damning the team from the south]. The Brewers though are not the team I left, many of the players have changed or are in talks of being traded, I don't like change and this makes me nervous!
Yesterday Kevan and I took some Miller time! Well, we took the Miller Brewery tour. Again this is something that I had not ever done and Kevan had but when he was young. What can I say about the tour...it was pretty cool. The video was pretty cheesy [not the good WI kind] and was clearly filmed in the 90's. Kevan impressed the tour guide with his mass knowledge of Miller products. At the end of the tour we got a free sample of Miller Lite - yum! and two samples of your choice - I choose Summer Shandy and Batch-19 (this is a pre-prohibition beer that Miller is selectively serving in Milwaukee). All were delicious and during tasting we made a tour buddy. She was visiting from LA and will be running the Chicago Rock'n'Roll half marathon.
Today we went to Cliffords for a fish fry! Tasty!
Niether of us have jobs yet, but we continue to fill out applications and cross our fingers. I wanted to be home so that I can help my family and I am happy to do that. However, right now I am feeling like I need to help myself before I can help them. Unfortunately, my family has needed me and my introvert batteries are wearing low. Please cross your fingers and put out good metaphysics so that we get a job and a house stat.
Until then we will continue living our own Suite Life of Kevan and Alicia as if we are on a permanent cheap vacation in my grandparent's house.
Kevan and I went to the Jack Johnson concert at Alpine Valley. It was pretty amazing. Niether Kevan or I have been there before [Though my mom was pregnant with me when she went to REO Speedwagon there back in the day.] Jack was great and I knew quite a few of the songs, of course Kevan knew them all. Kevan and I had grass seats, rented some chairs and got a pretty good viewing spot. From where we were sitting we where able to do some pretty great people watching. The 40-year old women in front of us was pretty intoxicated and slept through the opener and then sat slumped over, texting for most of Jack. There was a screamer, I mean, girl behind us that was very excited about the show and about Jack - he is her man as she said several times. Ironically enough, she knew none of his songs and was pretty whiney about the fact that he had not played the one song that she does know. She stopped screaming about 45 minutes into the show. Our friends were also there, but those lucky dogs had front row seats! Something that we have discovered while we were there is that we have little tolerance for underaged drinkers and even of-age as$hole drinkers - we attributed that to our experience in the residence halls.
The next day Kevan and I went to a Brewers game and had seats in a suite - Thank you Dan Mike and his mom! It was pretty awesome to be a high roller for the day with the special parking lot, special enterance and catered pretzel bites, hot dogs and cheese tray. It was also pretty great to hang out with Nikki, Dan, Kacy and Joey. Oh, and it was Robin Yount bobble head day. This was the second Brewers game that we have gone to and it is so nice. The Brewers kept me connected to Milwaukee. I showed my pride for the Mil-town by rooting for the Brew Crew [and damning the team from the south]. The Brewers though are not the team I left, many of the players have changed or are in talks of being traded, I don't like change and this makes me nervous!
Yesterday Kevan and I took some Miller time! Well, we took the Miller Brewery tour. Again this is something that I had not ever done and Kevan had but when he was young. What can I say about the tour...it was pretty cool. The video was pretty cheesy [not the good WI kind] and was clearly filmed in the 90's. Kevan impressed the tour guide with his mass knowledge of Miller products. At the end of the tour we got a free sample of Miller Lite - yum! and two samples of your choice - I choose Summer Shandy and Batch-19 (this is a pre-prohibition beer that Miller is selectively serving in Milwaukee). All were delicious and during tasting we made a tour buddy. She was visiting from LA and will be running the Chicago Rock'n'Roll half marathon.
Today we went to Cliffords for a fish fry! Tasty!
Niether of us have jobs yet, but we continue to fill out applications and cross our fingers. I wanted to be home so that I can help my family and I am happy to do that. However, right now I am feeling like I need to help myself before I can help them. Unfortunately, my family has needed me and my introvert batteries are wearing low. Please cross your fingers and put out good metaphysics so that we get a job and a house stat.
Until then we will continue living our own Suite Life of Kevan and Alicia as if we are on a permanent cheap vacation in my grandparent's house.
Monday, July 19, 2010
Whew!
Wow! It has been almost two weeks since Kevan and I left Nebraska. We have done so much that it feels like it has been two months. I will report early that neither of us has a job yet, but are continuing to look. My hope is winding down, but I know something will come along.
As I said the last few weeks have been crazy busy. We moved back to Milwaukee during what would have been our vacation any way. Every summer about this same time Kevan's family has a family reunion which truth be told last four days long! :) Here is a little of what we have been up to:
July 7: departure from Lincoln and arrival in Wisconsin - I swear when I crossed the border into Wisconsin the air smelled sweeter and the sun shone brighter! Kevan drove the truck and I drove the car. I listen to Pride and Prejudice so it went pretty quickly for me.
July 8: My sister still had not know that we were coming for a visit, let alone moving home, so we decided to stop over and surprise her with a trip to the movies. We say Toy Story 3 in 3D [for the record: $30 for a matinée is entirely too much money!]
July 9: In the afternoon we meet Kevan's parents at their hotel to take them to get their rental car. It was nice to be able to catch up with them and see how they are doing. I was also given a great complement by my father-in-law, which I greatly appreciated - the complement was in regard to a trip I had take "to" Chicago in the spring with about 24 students.
That night we went to our Brewers game and tailgated with a few Kevan's cousins there were ten of us all together. We saw the Polish Racing Sausage. After the game, there was some talk of tatoos by Kevan's cousins, but the store was closed so we meet up with his parents are the bar instead.
July 10: Breakfast without Aunt Nancy - each year about 35 members of the Furru family gather for breakfast the Sunday before the picnic. This breakfast began out of the desire to see Aunt Nancy, though she has moved away the tradition continues.
Later that afternoon, Allie, one of Kevan's cousin's daughters, was having a high school graduation party which he attended. I did not because I had a really terrible headache and wanted to sleep away some of my stress so that I was feeling better for the picnic.
That night, Kevan picked me up and we meet a few of his cousins at Ricardos in Greendale for some delicious pizza. I had a great time sitting next to Austin, one of Kevan's cousin's sons, and playing with his Tech Deck.
After dinner we meet Kevan's parents for Kopp's Butter Peacan flavor of the day!
July 11: The day that Kevan, his Uncle Ned and Randy Piskula (Kevan's second cousin but he is older!) live for - the Hirsch Family picnic. This year was the 55th annual. This day could be a whole blog on its own - how it works, the rotations, games and activities. What I will say today is that it was a great day. Great location in Franklin, kids games were pretty fun and the Furru's one the softball game. I got a little sun burned or really badly sun burned but I will know for next time. This was my third picnic and I really felt part of the group - I could recognize several faces and knew what to expect from the schedule - it was great! This year Kevan and I helped with the raffle and picked up the chicken!
July 12: We meet Kevan's parents, Auntie Jo and Uncle Wayne at George Web's for lunch - my grandma Sandy came with us! After lunch we all went downtown to the Riverwalk and a few had their picture taken with the statue of the Fonze!
After the riverwalk we went on a boat tour of the Milwaukee River and Lake Michigan. It was relaxing to be out on the water - we saw a man catch a very large fish and we floated past one of the movie sets for Transformers 3 - Shia LeBouf was here!
That night we went to dinner one last time with Kevan's cousins from Florida and Auntie Jo and Uncle Wayne and then Kevan's parents were also there. We went to Claimjumpers at Brookfield Square.
July 13: Today we slept in but joined his parents that night for dinner with the Kirchner's, one of Kevan's mom's very good friends.
July 14: Today we went to lunch with Kevan's parents at Applebees.
July 15: We joined Kevan's parents and their friends, the Gordon's at FestaItalina. All the rides were free so we decided to give one a shot - well that was a mistake! I smooshed Kevan! The fireworks were great and we ended the night seeing Pat McCurdy!
July 16: Kevan's parents left today, but we went out to lunch one finally time with them before the left at Red Robing YUM!
That night Kevan and I went over to our friends house Megan and Ryan for a vegan dinner. The food was delicious and the company even better. Before we knew it it was 1 am and time to head home. Megan and Ryan's home is very cozy and matches their personalities and values so well.
July 17: My friend Danielle opened a new store today - Drawstring Studios: Fabric and Design. We went over to the grand opening to check it out. It is a great store, with nice products - I can't wait to get my sewing machine set up or buy a new one so that I can begin to make my own creations.
Whew! I am exhausted now just thinking about all that we did and I am pretty sure I missed somethings or left details out. It has been a great first few weeks, but reality is setting in. The last two days have been pretty boring and there is not a whole lot to do day to day. I am however in a good place to do what I wanted to do - help my family. Yesterday I was able to help my sister to clean one of the rooms at her and my mom's house as neither can really do it on their own.
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Tomorrow we slid into home
Anyone who has ever played baseball or even has watched baseball knows that rounding third is an exciting time. As the runner you have a million things running through your head: should I stop, should I go, head first, feet first, how close will it be, tie the game, win the game, loose the game, how many outs are there, what inning is it, risk it, save it - the anxiety and anticipation for the call - safe or out!
This is were I am at right now. I have a lot of anxiety about rounding third. I am happy to move and excited to be home, but I don't like the unknown, I don't like change. Right now it is very difficult for me to know that we have no idea what is coming next. Kevan is good, he is at complete piece with the whole idea.
Tomorrow we slid into home.
[On a side note: I just said good bye to the custodian that clears out my trash everyday. He is a great man and over the last few years Kevan and I have had a good connection with him. I asked him for his address so that we can send him a holiday card and keep him updated - he even gave us his telephone number in order to call him from time to time! He is one I am going to miss!]
This is were I am at right now. I have a lot of anxiety about rounding third. I am happy to move and excited to be home, but I don't like the unknown, I don't like change. Right now it is very difficult for me to know that we have no idea what is coming next. Kevan is good, he is at complete piece with the whole idea.
Tomorrow we slid into home.
[On a side note: I just said good bye to the custodian that clears out my trash everyday. He is a great man and over the last few years Kevan and I have had a good connection with him. I asked him for his address so that we can send him a holiday card and keep him updated - he even gave us his telephone number in order to call him from time to time! He is one I am going to miss!]
Friday, July 2, 2010
Hopeful for the move and excited for the change
Whew! We will be on the road in five days! We drive away from Lincoln, NE on July 7 about 9 am :)
Here are some of the things that we are looking forward to:
- Family Picnic - that is evident
- Bristol Renaissance Fair - already have two trips planned to go!
- George Webb's
- Milwaukee County Zoo
- Brewers baseball game at HOME - already have tickets to a game!
- Drawstring Studios Grand Opening - a friend of ours is opening a fabric store!
- Clifford's Fish Fry
- Lake Michigan - I want to take a booze cruise soon!
- Smoke FREE Wisconsin! - nothing says welcome home better than that
- Southridge, Mayfair, Brookfield Square
- Meeting Zachary - a cousin that we have never met!
- Baby #2 is on the way for our friends - I am excited to be there to help this time!
- Surprising Cassie and being able to hang out with her!
- Visiting with our friends who just bought a house!
- Reconnecting with old friends that Alicia lost connection with
- Being able to be helpful to the family and make plans to hang out with all sorts of people
Overall, I think that we are excited about being able to be apart of our families and friends lives. Living in Flagstaff, we were still connected to family with Kevan's parents not being too far away. In Lincoln, we are a plane ride or eight hour drive away from family - this has been difficult for both of us. We are hopeful for the move and excited for the change.
I am also really excited to rediscover the city I grew up in. I was a fish in water before - I did not really pay attention to what was around me or what the city had to offer. Now that I have lived two other places I think I will have more of an appreciation for the city around me!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)