Hey Mambo

This evening, CLRG (I should probably call him something else someday...) and I watched a great old movie. It was "The Catered Affair" and starred awesome people like Bette Davis, Ernest Borgnine and Debbie Reynolds. It was from 1956, I believe, and you should watch it.

Earlier today, we went adventuring with his parents. We went to a delicious Italian restaurant for lunch, visited a local chocolate/candy factory, and checked out an Italian grocery store as well as the thrift store near our house. It was a really great afternoon.

Holy goodness, I haven't written in ages.

I renewed my ancestry.com membership a couple of weeks ago and the family history research is in full swing. I am really enjoying looking back at census records to learn about my ancestors. Many of them are farmers, but I have found others that were, for example, a chairmaker and a justice of the peace. SO. COOL. I have even been able to discover information about branches of the family tree that were previously very short. I'm pretty excited. CLRG has even been researching his family also, which has been really exciting, too. I even used the census records to find out who owned our house before we did! YAY!

The Horses Are Coming

Right now, I have a sweet little cat sitting on my lap. He is being very nice and seems to be wanting to hold hands. I'm okay with this.

I had a good weekend. CLRG and I went up to his parents' house and hung out with his family on Saturday. Seeing Little Baby Duck is always so much fun. This time, we took her for ice cream (which she did not want) and then we watched her play in her little pool (which she LOVED). On Sunday, we went to lunch with RCC and then I went shopping with K in the afternoon. I had to find a dress to wear to CLRG's boss' wedding this weekend and I was successful. I'm excited to wear it.

Strawberry Bubble Gum

I know there are a lot of things about Michigan right now that aren't great. I know that, economically, it has had bad times and really bad times. But then I think about the amazing experience I had growing up in the Southwestern part of the lower peninsula and I remember that Michigan is pretty darn great.

Today, one of my coworkers said something about the joy of fresh fruit. Right away, I was thinking about the summers I spent working at the farm stand. I thought of the strawberries I ate fresh from the field, still warm from the sun. I thought of our trips down the road to the blueberry farm, tying coffee cans around our waists, and picking many pounds of berries to take home. I thought of the long drives out on the roads that passed by more vineyards, orchards, and road side stands than I can count.

Yes, Michigan is pretty awesome.

I remember being able to ride my bike all over town, visiting the library, visiting the park. I loved hanging out at that park with friends, swinging until our legs hurt (or someone broke a bone) in the dark, drinking in summer air. I remember the video scavenger hunts, the hanging out, the movie marathons. The friendships I made growing up, the amazing adventures we had, groups we were in and championships we worked our asses off for, were all so spectacular that I often can't really explain them to people who don't understand.

Michigan people know, though.

Mmmm Michigan. Pure and simple. Amazing. I love you.

We Left Behind the Busy Crowd

I am anxious to move. Ughhhhh.

Say Whatever You Want Cause I Can Laugh it Off

I am not really satisfied with anything I write here today. Grr. I hate that. This entry will probably be super random, but I need to write more, so here we go:

I saw K for lunch yesterday. We had a good time, and then we went to Lowe's. I bought a tomato plant (roma!) and I was trying to think of an Italian name for it. I thought of Valentino or Romeo, but my dad suggested Silvio and I think that is very suitable, so I think that is the name. I went to Target after Lowe's and got a few new shirts for work. I can't be wearing sweaters in the summer, you know? I guess it might not matter b/c it is sometimes freezing in my office and I actually have to turn on the space heater, but whatever.

I read a really good book last week. It was called The Amazing Interlude and was written by Mary Roberts Rinehart. I found out that the author was born on the North Side of Pittsburgh, before it became part of Pittsburgh and was still Allegheny. The book was wonderful. It was about a young woman, Sara Lee Kennedy, who decides that she needs to go to Europe and see if she can start a soup kitchen during World War I. Her fiance doesn't want her to go, but she defies him and goes anyway. So it's mainly about her experience in Europe, but there are a lot of great characters and interactions and I liked it a lot.

I found out that the author is best known for her mystery writing and have downloaded a few of those to my Kindle so that I may read some of her other things. I'm really excited!!

CLRG is working today so I am home alone with the cats. I need to go do laundry and clean up a bit. I want to make strawberry shortcakes as well. Mmm. I also want to get some reading done. I am reading Little Lord Fauntleroy right now and it's been good so far.

I'll Take You Back Home, I'll Feed You Some Soup

Today, I am grateful for:

-my boyfriend
-Target
-flowers
-new loofahs
-lunch with good friends

Today is turning out to be a fabulous day.