Here & Now

Books Galore

I've realized in sorting through my apartment a bit this week that I have a lot of books.  Now, this is nothing new - I have been an avid reader for many years.  However, in considering the titles laying around my apartment, I do not think that I have ever had so many waiting-to-be-read piles of books.  I have - no joke - four different piles of books in my 800 square foot home.  This includes one stack that is about 10 books high.  The sorry thing is that the book currently occupying me is going on its 4th week of being read.  At that rate, these piles are going to remain high for a long, long time!

Delicious Times

It has been all about the grilling (on the Weber charcoal grill, of course) over the last few weekends.  We've broken out John's rotisserie and made chickens with his parents, we've sampled fresh-caught Salmon from Alaska (thanks, Mike!), we've made steaks with friends and we've made my favorite Weber delight: grilled pizza.  Good eatin'!

Happy Mail

Getting mail is one of my favorite things.  Lucky for me right now, Colleen is into making and sending some awesome "snail" mail.  These postcards are hand-sewn (!) and only one of many mailed treasures I have received over the past few weeks.

Dakota

One of the perks of a faster camera is being able to capture Dakota as she bounds around ....

Vivid Memories

I am in my 2nd year of "adult life." I have lived alone for a year and a half.  Given the time that has passed, I was surprised today to find myself with a longing to be spending time with my college roommates.  And yet there it was: a deep desire to see and hang out with my roommates as I drove home from work.  I thought of the drinks that don't happen, the dinners that are hard to coordinate, the fun times that just cannot seem to happen now that we are adults (and many of us living far apart).  I wanted in that moment to be able to stick my head out of my room and call out to chat with someone.  I wanted to pour a glass of wine and gather in the kitchen of 2097 Fairmount and I wanted to ask someone to take an impromptu walk.  I wanted to share and laugh and be together.  Two years later, the memories are still vivid enough to seem like yesterday.  I wish today that I could pull us together for a small revival of those times, even if only for a few hours.

 

Bright Lights, Big City

While I find Kansas City, MO, to be a city that feels like it has long ago boomed and busted, with only some sliver of what must have been its original appeal lingering today, I am quite surprised to find myself enjoying this city at first light from the 34th floor of the Hyatt Regency this morning.  The city, looking much like one from the computer game SimCity, was bathed in the warm light of sunrise, and I drank up the expanse of the view.  Something made it easy to imagine this city as a hub in the pioneer days of our country. 

Later in the day, I find myself peering out over the city again.  I am on the phone at 9.30pm when I hear a burst of noise from the streets.  I rush to the window and find that, in reality, it is a burst of light and sound rising into the sky; for some reason, on this Monday night, the building across the street is sending fireworks shooting into the sky.  I am nearly parallel with the show, and it is a long and spectacular one, rivaling those I saw on Independence Day.  If there is one thing I did not expect to see today, it is fireworks. 

I don't think Kansas City, MO, is on many people's list of places to see.  But as I ponder on my views of this city today, I realize that in some way, I am pleasantly happy to to be in the heart of the Midwest plains this week.

Wednesday Night

This week, my work week is one on the run: I am home only between 4pm on Wednesday (arriving from Atlanta) and 5pm on Thursday (departing to Milwaukee).  I have been "on the go" for several weeks now and heading into two more weeks of travel as well.  More trips are planned in August -- and I continue to love it. 

I am feeling lately that it is not the going that I enjoy the most -- airports are congested, it is difficult to find time with friends, a hotel room is never the same as your own.  However, what I am enjoying - even with so many frequent flights - is that this lifestyle makes my time at home of higher quality.  How is that?  Knowing the calendar of events, I make limited commitments and feel like I have limited obligations.  To do lists are short and they are rarely glanced at while actually home.  I find myself maximizing the time I have at home - and getting better, more quality time out of the deal.  A definite travel perk - perhaps one I like as much as the frequent flier miles.

Wednesday night, I check only two things off of my to-do list - repacking and checking in - before settling in to enjoy the night.  I head to Minneapolis to join John in an evening of enjoying Uptown.  Tableside guacamole at Bar Abilene, a cold beer on a hot evening, hours spent lingering on the corner of Lagoon and Hennepin -- these things, I think at the end of the evening, I would have had a hard time doing had I just been in town this week or over the last few.  It seems this would operate in the opposite fashion, but in reality, I get focused on the everyday grind when I am at home.  Without a commitment to my apartment or getting something done other than spending time with John between Atlanta and Milwaukee this week, I am released from habit.  I have no obligation on this Wednesday night but to talk with John, soak in the evening (in Uptown, soak up the roaring motorcycles tearing from the curb and smoke filtering into my face) and relax. 

Vacation

The days are long, the drinks are strong, the food is plentiful, the people are friendly, the books and magazines are many.  And, somehow, the weather is good.  It's a fine Walsh-family vacation we've got going on at the cabin this week and I'm soaking it up.