Sunny Side of the Street

Recovery because after yesterday I need it.  Random because of lack of sleep.  I can't string two thoughts together.

Yesterday some friends of ours came over to swim and bbq and hang out.  It was fun and the kids wore themselves out.  They stayed in the pool until the thunder started and we had to force them out.  The problem was we enjoy talking to these friends, and Phil didn't get home from work until 11:30pm.  We were up till after 2am.  I am soooo old.   And soooo tired!

I had to have the dog at the groomer at 9:30 this morning.  9:40 found me at Dunkin' Donuts slurring my words and begging for coffee.  Right now I have a choice: make a pot of coffee and walk like a zombie through the rest of the day, or take a nap and then hope I can get to sleep at bedtime.  I'd rather not have a repeat of last night.  Especially since I want to go here tomorrow.  Don't know for sure if I will or not.  The temptation to stop at IKEA and spend money I don't have may be too great.  And the Land's End outlet...don't get me started.  All in Schaumburg.  All places I really want to go. 

In other randomness, I read the posts here and here today, and was so glad I did.  Maybe you'll get something you need there too.   I think I'll start the coffee.

Oh my gosh!  I have the best news ever.  My husband, God bless the man, said, "yes!"  For our 16th anniversary next year (May 8), we are going here! 

I got an e-mail about it and fowarded it to him as a long shot, thinking maybe if we start saving now, we could go.  He signed us up!  I can't even explain to you how geeked out I am.  The best vacation I ever had was on a cruise ship (even with the seasickness.)  To have some of my favorite music artists on the boat as well...pure joy.  Add to that, the fact that it will be the first trip my husband and I ever take without the girls makes it all the more amazing.  I am so excited!!

Today is the first day I really, really enjoyed summer.   I didn't feel like killing myself at step class this morning, so I went for a walk instead.  I had to take Alisha with me, which I tried to convince myself was a good thing.  I pictured us talking and getting fit together.  Yeah, what was I thinking?  Dream on.  About 5 minutes into our walk she was complaining, "My feet hurt.  It's too hot.  I don't like to drink water.  I don't like walking."  Oh, the joy.  I tried to distract her by talking about her friend who is going to a different school next year, and how she felt about that.  That was dumb.  Then she was whiny and sad.  I tried to cheer her up reminding her that this is her last year at the private school, and next year we'll have a new house, she'll have her own room, and she'll go to the same public school as her friend.  Then she started crying because she doesn't want to go to public school.  To sum up, the walk was a bust.  I probably got in a good 5 minutes of getting my heart rate up (and that was mostly because I was trying to not yell at her), and the rest was just walking.  

Even with all that, today was just a beautiful day.  With Marissa and Rebekah in a youth discipleship training program three days a week, it's just me and Alisha.  After our disastrous beautiful walk, we swam.  And that is where the sweetness comes in!  There is nothing like popping your favorite tunes in the boom box, and floating around a pool.  Now that is summer to me.  I did manage to get some more of Mt. Mongold moved, but I could only manage 3 cart loads before I had to dive back in the pool.  It is 90 degrees and sunny after all.  Too hot to work in the yard, but just perfect for floating in the pool.  Sweet! 

*All my NWI blogging buddies are invited to join me in the cool of our pool anytime.  Come on over, Mimi!

Yesterday I rode with a friend to Illinois.  She had a dentist appointment (not pleasant) and wanted company.  An hour sitting in a quiet office reading uninterrupted, and a side trip to Trader Joe's was all the incentive I needed.  So, as I sit here stuffing my face with Bite Size Everything Crackers and Chipotle Pepper hummus, I am so glad I went along for the ride.   We did make one extra stop on the way home.  An emergency stop at Target.  And it wasn't for the restroom!  No, it was for a box of hair color.  Now, if you've been around my blog for a long time, you may remember my first attempt at coloring my own hair. 

Why is hair color an emergency?  I don't put a lot of prior thought into my hair styles.  I don't have a "set" appointment every month to get my hair done (shoot, who could afford that?), and when I decide it's time for a change, I mean, like today!  I happened to catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror while we were out, and the thoughts I had about myself were not kind.  I looked horrible!  Don't be nice and say sweet things people, you weren't there.  Something had to be done.  But with an hour drive home, and a blogger get-together in a few hours, what the heck could I do about it?  I pleaded with my friend (whose numbness from her root canal was wearing off) to let me run into Target for a box of hair color.  After my few attempts at coloring my own hair, you have to know this was out of complete desperation.  I got the hair color, and some new product to boost my confidence a little more (and hopefully my hair.) 

I must say that it came out nicely.  This is as close to my natural hair color as I can get (I think), seeing as how it's been so long since I've seen my hair in it's natural state.  The bonus was the gray is gone.  Ha.  Now all I need is a hair cut.  But that does require an expert. 

I'm hoping Crooked Eyebrow has some better shots of me sporting my new do here, later today.  Our Bloggy Meet-Up was a lot of fun, and I got to meet some great ladies. 

Some days it's all you can do to make it through the next 5 minutes without screaming out loud.  These two thoughts are what are getting me through this day. 

Psalm 23: 4, "Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil, for You (my God) are with me."

Building 429: from their song, "Amazed"- I won't question in the dark, what is true out in the light; I will follow after You, through the sun and through the night.

And for today, that is enough to get me through.

Twice today I've tried to post something, and twice it's gotten messed up.  My computer froze once (stink), and the second time there was some sort of thing I had to solve for someone and when I came back, my screen was gone.  Yeah, not a good blogging day.  But then again, I don't have much to say. 

I guess I could tell you about karaoke on Tuesday night, going out for dinner last night for a friend's birthday, and of course the NWI bloggy meet-up this Saturday.  By next Monday I'll have eaten out 4 times!  Which would be great for a hater of cooking like me, except that I have to make sure everyone staying home has something to eat.  The girls did come with for our karaoke night.  It is the kid's karaoke night at that restaurant after all.  We find if you go during the kids hours, the people are much kinder.  After that's over, those singers are in it for competition, and out for blood apparently.  Our "favorites" from last time were there!  Bill, TJ, Eddie, and Chuckie (yes, he is a little scary.) 

My Bekah did four songs by herself, being the little singer she is.  It's a lot of fun to hear her sing something like "Shackles" by MaryMary to a bar full of people.  They are always nice to the kids.  Believe it or not, we all sat at the table and were helping one of the teachers plan her room for next school year.   I don't even want to think about back to school yet!   I refuse to go shopping right now, because they're putting all the school stuff out, and it ruins the illusion that I still have some summer left.  I guess 6 weeks is a lot, but remember, I am not one who loves being scheduled, and summer is when I can truly be myself. 

I did make myself get up and go to step class today because I routinely like to submit myself to that type of torture. And it was.  By the last set of lunges and squats I was crying and vowing never to do this again.  And now I sit eating  Greek hummus and All Bran  garlic herb crackers.  Late at night.  At the computer.  Yeah, yeah.  All bad ideas I know, but I was hungry. 

Here's to tomorrow being Friday, my husband being home (day off), and nothing on the calendar!!

By posting this blog about the favorite thing I wear on my feet, I'm entered to win this.  How awesome is that?!  We've Wii've wanted one since Christmas and I still can't justify spending that much money.  What I will spend my money on are more and more Crocs.  I love 'em!  They are by far the most comfy shoes I have ever worn, and they have so many different styles now.  If you're not into the clunky ones, they have some very cute, dressier styles, and even some with a heel.  I prefer the clunky ones myself.  I wish I had a pair in every color. 

So there you have it!  That's what I wear when walking on the Sunny Side. 

What a weekend!  I think no matter what I say will adequately tell the story of all that has gone on over the past week.  I don't want to bore you, or have this turn into a novel, so I'll try to sum up.

The Reilly Concert

The concert was great!  They are such awesome people, so gifted in their musical abilities, and they put on a rockin' show.  Having them stay with us was so very cool.  Seeing the behind the scenes of how these 5 band members (and their wives) travel and work together is amazing.  The fact that they are not signed to a record label, means they do it all.  They set up their own stuff, sell their own merch, and work very hard at it.  It's a tough gig.  All this besides their "day jobs".  The concert at church went well.  The attendance was a little disappointing, but it was a great show.  The people who were there seemed to really enjoy themselves.  During the week, the bass player's wife lost both of her grandfathers, and they still had to press on with their commitments.  They relied on God to get them through, and as always, He did not disappoint.  The drummer and his wife celebrated their 1st anniversary on Thursday, and spent Wednesday in Chicago.  The rest of the band had already gone on ahead to Cornerstone, so Kate and Kyle rode with us.  Thank God for their GPS!  We would have been driving around those cornfields forever if not for that amazing piece of technology.  

Cornerstone

Oh my, where to begin?!  If you've never been to this particular festival, there is really no adequate way to describe it.  I can give you some facts:  the music is loud (really, really loud!), there are only port a-potties available (totally covered in flyers for all the bands), there is only electricity at electrical boxes randomly located around the grounds, and I saw a slice of humanity that I would never be around otherwise.  I'm talking the multi-pierced, mohawk (blue seemed to be a popular hair color) wearing, goth-looking people.  And then there were the hippie-ish people, the one with dreads, and some "normal" folks like ourselves.  It really opened my eyes to how much I stereotype people.   I'll admit I was kind of put-off by the people getting "goth make-overs", and the huge ear-piercing things.  I don't even know what they are called, but when you have a hole in your earlobe big enough to stick your finger through...just gave me chills looking at them.  But, for the most part, these people had things in common to bring us together.  We all love God, and we love music.  What some people define as music, others define as noise, but we were all there with one purpose.  To enjoy community with others who love God, and worship Him.  It was wild to be sure!   I got some pictures, but they're nothing compared to the ones here.  You can go check out some of the pictures and video if you want the whole experience.  I would especially recommend checking out the video of Flatfoot 56.  I myself refrained from getting involved in the crazy mosh pit, but I do have a friend who took his boys in their with him, and they all came out alive.  The other craziness I just had to capture was a game, new to me, but apparently common among festival goers and youth groups.  The game is called Buck-Buck, and you just have to see it to appreciate the insanity of this.    Ten people form the bottom "horse", and then other people run down the hill and leap frog onto their backs.  They continue doing this until someone falls, usually everyone!  Did you guys know about this game?  I sure didn't.  And no, I did not play along!

The girls had as much fun as you can with the heat, the dust, and the walking.  Did I mention you had to walk everywhere?  It was about a 10-15 minute walk to the main stage from our campsite. 

We definitely picked the wrong campsite!  Our tent was close enough to some of the other stages that played until 2 am.  And we're not talking the nice, smooth music of Over the Rhine, no, it was stuff like this!  We could feel the ground pulse with their bass.  At 1 in the morning, not so fun.  Really, not so fun anytime.  I slept until 11 yesterday to try to make up for some of my lost sleep, but I'm still very tired.  As was Alisha during the 4th of July concerts.   We may have sweated and burned all day long, but at night it was stinkin' cold!  I'm working on getting some video up of Reilly playing at Cornerstone, but I'm technologically challenged. 

It was worth going if only to help Reilly pass out their stickers advertising for their shows.  I did enjoy David Crowder, Over the Rhine, and especially New World Son.  If you listen to these few musical selections you'll get an idea of the huge diversity of music that Cornerstone offers.  I enjoyed getting out of my comfort zone, and yet managed to avoid all the people giving "free hugs".  Yeah, that was a bit too much for me. 

                                                                          All in all, it was a good time! 

The concert was great last night!  I'll write more about that when I get some time, which is really not now.  I'm waiting for everyone to wake up, and then I'm going to make a huge breakfast before the band heads off to the music festival, and before the next round of craziness begins.

Wow!  There is a lot to catch you up on here, but no time...   I'll just give you the random highlights, and fill you in later

* Marissa's mission trip to Tijuana has been redirected to another location due to violence and some bad stuff going down there.  They are now going to Iowa to help with clean-up and rebuilding after the recent floods. 

* We have decided to go to the Cornerstone Festival for a few days.  We leave early tomorrow morning, and I have nothing packed.  For a camping trip with no electricity.  Yikes!  I have a lot to do.

* Marissa is not going with us to Cornerstone.  She's decided she would rather go to our friend's farm in Missouri and ride horse and build a new dock on the lake.  She's exited about riding a horse in the 4th of July parade.  Good times for all!

Well, I guess that's about it.  I hear some movement inside the house (I'm sitting on the porch enjoying the breeze and the morning sun) so I'd better get the coffee on.  Pretty amazing that I can type and use complete sentences when I haven't even had my coffee yet!