The glass is half full

In recent years, my sister and I haven't had the greatest relationship.  Jess and I are four years apart, growing up, I was the bratty little sister.  When I remember back to it, I really was a little snot!   This one time, she locked me out of her room while she went to work.  I climbed through the bushes and got in through her window, then I super-glued her makeup and deodorant shut.  And another time she was having a party down in our basement living room, she wouldn't let me hang out with her friends so I got her diary, laid on the floor and began reciting passages from it through the vent directly above where they were.  I was probably 10 or 11 years old-- and pure evil!  Now, before you write me off as a rotten child, I can assure you these actions were well deserved because Jess was equally as sinister.  For example, I was making something with paper mache at our kitchen table and Jess convinced me the mixture was made the same way as pancake batter.  She ever-so-lovingly used my remaining paper mache batter to make me a short stack of "pancakes".  I poured some syrup on and took a big bite; it was still gooey and cold in the middle, tasted awful, and I pulled a strip of soggy newspaper out of my mouth.  Jess also marked off the middle of our room with duct tape, then we would both stand on the border of our respective territories and try to get the other to cross so we could fight.  As much fighting, and as many downright awful things we did to each other, we were very close.  The issues that we've had over the last couple of years aren't even relevant in our lives anymore.

About a month ago, Jess called on a Saturday and told me that right before our wedding she was diagnosed with stage 1 uterine cancer.  After a few moments of "this isn't a joke, right?", she answered all of my questions.  They caught it early, and are hopeful with the course of treatment, but it is still scary.  She didn't want to tell us when she first found out for fear of ruining our wedding weekend.  As much as I can appreciate the consideration, I would have liked to be face-to-face for that just so I could give her a hug.  Tomorrow will be her 5th week of treatment.  I was hoping to be able to fly out on a Friday night and stay the weekend with her while she recovers (since she has her treatment on Friday afternoons), but it just isn't in the cards right now.  I didn't tell anyone about this, mostly because it was not my place, it was hers.  Unfortunately, some very ignorant people don't know that, and take it upon themselves to gossip and seek out sympathy from others, even though they have absolutely not business doing so.  The only reason I'm writing about it is because she has come out and told people first, it had to be on her time and no one else.  Besides, if anyone is going to upset my sister it is going to be me (and I do say that with a smile on my face). 

Last week, Jon called me at work-- and many times I have told him to only call if it's an emergency-- his tone at first seemed normal, but before I could get frustrated that he called for "nothing", he said he just got out of a meeting with the commander and they cut funding for his program.  October 14th will be his last day working youth outreach for the Evanston Police Department.  It wasn't the most ideal job: it was part time, they paid him as a 1099, and no benefits; but it was a job- and one he was good at.  The vows we exchanged on our wedding day said that we would share in each other's troubles and triumphs.... I told him I didn't expect him to take me up on that so soon! (again, I say that with a smile)  Fortunately, he never really stopped looking for jobs when he was hired on in Evanston, and he has two interviews later this month.  Both are amazing jobs, hopefully we have something else to celebrate while we are on our honeymoon. 

When I started writing this entry I titled it "When it rains, it pours"-- but I really do try to keep a positive attitude, so I changed it to something a bit more optimistic.  Although, the follow up to that could have been "life isn't about surviving the storm, it's about learning to dance in the rain".  Why are there so many sayings about water?

Photography

I've always loved photography.  As a kid my dad gave me one of his old cameras to take with when I stayed the week out at my Grandma's, and it's been love ever since.  I remember always spending my allowance on processing film at Osco.  Back then (a whole 10-13 years ago), it took up to a week to get my pictures back.  Now?  I upload them and can pick them up down the street within 40 minutes.  My how the times have changed!  My first digital camera was pretty small, and a whopping 2-- count em, 2 megapixel.  To give you an idea of the quality of those pictures, my iPhone 4 is 5-megapixel.  But, it was fun!
I've been itching for a new camera for over a year now.  Currently I have a Nikon D60.  Which is a good camera, but I feel like I'm outgrowing it.  Especially since every family gathering or event, I'm the one with the camera around my neck.  By no means a pro, but I'd considerate it to be an advanced hobby.

These are some of my favorite pictures.  I'm a sucker for black & white, if you can't tell!  (and yes, I'm aware that if a professional looks at my pictures, they would shake their heads and tell me all things I did wrong)

Lincoln Park Zoo, September 2008

Lincoln Park Zoo, September 2008

Rogers Park, Red Line stop, April 2009

Kitty, May 2009

Tennessee, October 2009

Henry!  Eating a banana, February 2010

May 2010

Memorial Day weekend, 2010

Dad's Mustang - June 2010

Rosie!  July 2010

I took this in Galena and loved it.  July 2010

Gizmo

Dana & Nora, July 2011

This handsome little fella is Max.  August 2011

Rosie-- 2 years old!  August 2011

This is Chris' niece's baby, Madisun.  She was born a couple of weeks ago and I offered to do some newborn pics.  We got some good ones before she became a little restless.  

When one thought leads to another....

In the last few months, several people have asked when Jon and I want to have kids.  Truth is, we would like to wait.  At this point in our lives, we want to be "selfish" and enjoy life with just the two of us (and doggies) for a few years.  What's the rush, right?!  Of course we want to travel, be spontaneous, and something that we have discussed doing is trying a new food/restaurant twice a month.  I know, we are W*i*L*d, but in all seriousness, I think it sounds fun.  From a tapas bar in Chicago, or a BBQ shack in Tennessee.  We've always wanted to eat our way through the southern states-- this being motivated from watching hours and hours of Food Network and Travel Channel marathons.

For Jon's birthday, we drove out to Galena that last weekend in July.  We left early Saturday morning and made pretty good time.  Jon was driving and got behind a truck that was frustrating him. Then he made a sharp turn into a gravel parking lot and pulled into a space with a sign in front of it that said, "Horse parking ONLY".... yes, I made him move to another spot because in Elizabeth, Illinois that could have been a legitimate sign!  The Broken Yolk was simple inside.  Several mismatched tables and chairs, but not in that way that restaurants will do to be "cute", but most likely because it was practical for them.  The menu was awesome.  Great breakfast foods, and something they called the Juicy Bootsie (not to be confused with the Juicy Lucy in Minneapolis, MN).  It was a cheese stuffed burger, Jon got his with a fried egg, bacon, cheese, and hot sauce.  He gave me a bite, it was SO good!  I ordered some eggs that came with "pancake wrapped sausages"..... those were the best pancakes I have ever had.  They had almost a cinnamon taste to them, but they were amazing.  So amazing, that on our way home Sunday morning, we stopped in again.

  

We highly recommend! 

Galena is beautiful.  It's hard to believe that you're still in Illinois.  I took Jon there for the first time last year on his birthday.  We did just a day trip last year and he loved it.  Hiking along the Mississippi River, strolling down Main Street-- browsing in the little shops, stopped at a vineyard that makes the only wine I've enjoyed drinking.  This year we stayed at a hotel that was about 15 minutes away from the downtown area.  I sacrificed location for scenery; well worth it.  The hotel was a ski resort, but in the summer they have these slides you can go down with a sled, then take the ski lift back up.  Jon and I are big babies so we just rode the ski lift.  At that time, I learned that I am terrified of heights.  It was a 20 minute round trip ride that every bump made my pulse race a little.  *Once upon a time I was young and adventurous, I bungee jumped and would go on extremely high amusement park rides, but not anymore*  I had planned for us to get a couples massage.  It was Jon's first, and he really enjoyed it.  After the massage they put us in a recovery room with chocolates and champagne, a very nice touch!  We had done some shopping down the main street in Galena.  I found our cake topper there, a two-in-one keepsake.  A pleasant surprise, the vineyard that we stopped at last year just opened a shop on Main Street, so we stopped in and did a wine tasting-- Massbach Ridge Winery.  For dinner, we went to the Galena Brewery.  They had a tapas menu, which I am a huge fan of.  As we were eating, this guy started playing live acoustic music.  I wish I could remember his name, he had a really good voice.  We got so homesick after dinner and considered checking out of the hotel and heading home that night, but we toughed it out.... and went to bed at 10pm so we could get up early and head home :)  I worry about how we will do on our honeymoon.  Our pups are like our children. But it was a great getaway and just what we needed before the wedding chaos.

Jon tested his love, he's WILD

Main Street

Ski lift down, that's the mighty Mississip!

(heart rate increasing...)

Ahhh, that's better.

Lens flare!  7am, drive home.

Midwest valley.

Last weekend, Jon and I took Mo and Bob to dinner at Seasons 52 in Schaumburg.  A co-worker has gone there a few times and really seemed to like it.  The menus changes seasonally, and all of the meals are under 475 calories!  The portions are just right, not too big or small, and everything was great.  It was well worth the trip,  and we will definitely go back once they have their fall menu.

Random blog post?  They will most likely be that way.  Our summer was so busy I want to be sure I made plenty of memories.  There might be more of these reminiscent entries.  :)

"You may high-five the bride"

We got the wedding pictures!  They turned out great-- very happy with them.

I LOVE this picture

My handsome husband

Henry, with a "nack"

Dana, Abby, bride, Steph, Heather

Bride's parents

Groom's parents

I'm glad the image of this turned out to look more graceful than the action.  The photographer gave us the instructions and we had some... challenges. 

I loved the simplicity of our cake.  I wanted all of our color to come from the flowers.

Rosie!  Our flower girl, and niece.  That baby bump next to her is a niece/nephew that will be arriving soon.

Jon & his buddy, Ian

Hintz cousins!

End of the night.... so tired!

Grandpa Thomas, Nora, and Dana

LOVED this.  Janet & Abby-- I think the photographer just got this one by chance, but it is beautiful.

Yes, I cried during the father-daughter dance.  I'm such a daddy's girl that the idea of "giving me away" had been making me cry for weeks before the wedding.  

We ended up with over 700 pictures, but these are just some highlights for now :)

I'm glad to have so many happy memories of that night.