Harry Potter in 3D

After faithfully watching all of the past 4 Harry Potter movies, the last one we finished the day before, we met up with Susie and Tony to see the latest Harry Potter movie (Order of the Phoenix). Loved it. We'd already observed, watching the previous 4 practically back-to-back, that they were getting better each time. We really liked 3. Now it's a tie between 3 and 5 being the best. We saw the show at the IMAX where the last 15 minutes (the big battle scene and wizard duel) were in 3D. Rock on. And Kelly had just finished the last Harry Potter book, so she was in a Harry Potter tizzy.

We met up for beforehand dinner at an Italian place in Woodridge called Clara's where we split a delicious slice of lasagna. Definitely recommend this place, was Tony and Susie's suggestion.

Milwaukee Weekend

Jason and his coworker Jaime had to head up to the UW-Milwaukee experiment station in Saukville, WI, for a class on identifying grasses and sedges. And Kelly got to come along! We stayed at a very old farmhouse on the property because our plans to camp were foiled by a massive thunderstorm.

On the way up we stopped at a restaurant just off the highway called "Little Europe", it was terrible! Never go there, trust us. They have dolls nailed to the walls, slow and unfriendly service, and food not too good. It had loads of character, though, and that was fun.

The next morning before class began we ran into town to a local coffee shop. There we met up with local color. An extremely talkative local dude was regailing the entire shop with his jokes and stories. He regailed us with tales of flying turkeys, and joked around with a cop about the massive gun he was packing, and how it must be for all the scary wild turkeys in their dangerous town or maybe he should go bust up that suspicious group of red hat ladies that look like they're up to something.

While Jason and Jamie studied, Kelly got to play. She went for some walks up and down the road, then crashed the class after lunch when the teacher took everyone into Cedarburg Bog.

Later that night we went to a winery and walked around the cute historic town of Cedarburg, Wisconsin. We stopped into a candy shop, checked out bridges and old buildings, and ducked into a bookstore. That night we drank wine and hung out with some interesting folks from the class back at the farmhouse.

On Saturday Jason finished up his class while Kelly finished reading the awesome book of short stories Jason recommended, The Interpreter of Maladies. Susie and Tony drove up and met us, and we headed into Milwaukee.

Delicious frozen custard was to be had at ultra-modern Kopp's, with a line of white cow statues looking on. After checking into our hotel, we went to German Fest where Kelly actually drank an enitre Sprecher German Fest beer to try and show her support of her German boyfriend. We saw some German dancers, a life-size Glochenspiel, a blacksmith, and we took the skyway across the park. Then we saw some awesome fireworks! So close that ash was raining down on us, and all the explosions echoed very loudly.

The next day after a big breakfast, we headed over to the Boerner Botanic Garden. Then we took a tour of the Sprecher Brewery that ended with tons of free beer and their specialty soft drinks. Then we had butter burgers just down the street at Solly's Grille. A full day, but we loved it. Milwaukee is awesome!

Poetry Night at Barnes & Noble

Below are the two poems I read for Kelly at the Geneva Barnes & Noble open mic tonight. Nicole was the host, and Bill was there too. They didn't have a microphone, so people just read from their chairs (which were arranged in a circle). Accompanying Bill was his wife Faith, who talked with us about poet/journalist Michael Datcher and a found object artist from Austin Texas. A highlight of the evening was the little girl who read snippets of Shakespeare and said she had "plenty of time" to learn her lines for "A Midsummer Night's Dream," which was to be performed on Saturday. It was funny to see her reaction when it dawned on her just how close Saturday actually was!

Shadows Falling from the Heart
for Kelly

Before they fell in love
he'd met her heart in a dream.
It offered hope and beat within him,
brought soil and light to the trees.

Then she came to him, full-bright,
an unearthly light across the field,
and a path was made for their souls to follow.

As she spoke to him
her voice lifted flowers from the grayness.
They swelled and broke the silence within him,
brought blue to the sea.

In such time she carried him, sleep-quiet,
and placed his broken body in the arms of angels.
There his ailments healed, and his heart did too.

As the shadows fell away, one by one,
they could easily see that his heart
resembled hers. An undeniable sign.

Oh love, mysterious thing,
as vital to life as the stars are to the universe,
you are what gives God his sight.


Morning Rain
for Kelly

This morning there was much rain,
forcing the birds into trees,
the butterflies beneath leaves.
I stand just outside the door,
listening to the cool silence
between raindrops.
And I begin to wonder
about time machines,
about being fully
absorbed into the future:
The full view of a sunset
from our porch chairs,
a cat resting at our feet.
Faces aged, a hand
holding a hand, love shining
from our eyes. And the wind
comes down from the flowered hills,
filling the home with fragrances.
Everything is golden orange
like a softly glowing jewel.
The world seems at peace.

There is no other place
I'd rather be…

I blink my eyes
and turn back to things.
Another day begins.
I close the door behind me,
leaving echoes of my heartbeat
to mingle with the rain.

Ravinia - Steve Miller Band

Our first time at Ravina together! And we picked a sold out show, the Steve Miller Band. We arrived just half an hour after the park opened, 2 hours before the band would play, and already the lawn was packed. Where did everyone come from? Iulia and Dan arrived just before us and staked out a lovely spot in the back, we set up a circle of folding chairs and blankets on the ground, and then Iulia and Susie started unpacking food ... and more food ... and more food ...

Dragon-flies dive-bombed the crowd. I pointed out birds which Jason identified as crows and a cardinal. People around us set up even more elaborate displays of food on short folding tables, flowers, candles. Some people had helium balloons and sometimes they would escape and we'd watch them soar off until they were specks in the blue sky. The sun sank as the 6 of us put back 4 bottles of wine, chatting away. A short introduction over the speakers to rile up the crowd, then ... "Time keeps on slippin - slippin - into the future ..." began to blare out.

To venture to the bathroom was a brave errand ... it was easy to lose the group. When you return, trying to spot Susie or Tony or any of our group in the sea of picnikers was a "Where's Waldo" game of massive proportion. Jason and I left for the bathroom together, then decided to head down to the stage to see what we could. And we did get a good glimpse of the band! Playing a bunch of blues songs we did not know. And we got to see the cameras ... on zip lines and huge booms, filming the performance for a DVD. We swayed and danced together in the crowd.

We headed back, pitch dark now except for the candles of our neighbors, but we were able to find everyone. We hunkered down under jackets and blankets, a cool summer evening. Finally they began to again play some of their greatest hits, and we jumped up to dance together in our circle of chairs. The Joker came on and everyone sang, drowning out the band.

Iulia and Dan left to beat the crowd, then we followed suit ... only to get stuck in a major bottleneck at the gate, which kept getting plugged up by metra trains parked on the tracks. Jason and Tony loved carrying the cooler for us girls.

A beautiful night. Stars, music, friends, wine ... we'll be back.

Susie's Masters Thesis Party

Went to help Susie celebrate completing her thesis and being a full-fledged master! Hooray for Susie!

Susie is one of the awesome people that helped set us up.

Got to chill out in lawn chairs in the backyard at Tony's house with friends and work people. A good time was had by all.

Quacky Goes to Subway

Mitch, Mitch, why'd you have to go off to find that big microphone in the sky? If you hadn't, Quacky would send you a thank-you note. She heard your sketch about how "Ducks eat free at Subway." So, she decided to check it out for herself with her two new friends, Jason and Kelly. Sure enough, she did eat for free!

Nervous Quacky checks to make sure there's no sign on the door saying "No shoes, no shirt, no arms, no service." She's in luck! I guess that's why they say "Lucky Ducky".

From left to right, Kelly, Quacky, and Jason.

Quacky discovers Sun Chips.

And soda. Or is it pop? Soda pop, then.

Quacky:

"Guys? Guys? Free refills!!!!!"

Christina and Rodney's Wedding

This year will forever be remembered by us as the year of love. First because it was the year we met, and second because of the 9 weddings we attended together. At this one my college friend Christina, a greek-american lady, married my polish-american friend Rodney. They had met at a party at my friends house, and I had invited Rodney to this party. Jason got to meet many of my college friends at this party, some for the first time, and he tried Greek dancing with me (he said he practiced beforehand for an hour in his apartment, isn't he wonderful?) And we loved the chocolate-covered baklava.