Presidential Debate 2012

I'm not here to comment, speculate, or dictate on [my] public blog.

HOWEVER, if there is one thing I do believe in, it's VOTING. I know politics can be a messy, messy battleground, but it's ultimately OUR battleground, and it's our responsibility to vote.

[Trust me: I'm kind of sick of hearing it, too..]

2012 | romney v. obama

Oh, and pardon me for sharing this, but one of my [beautiful] classmates from HS recently posted this picture, and I can't think of any better way to put it, simply.

[lovely] andrea. [excellent] idea.

So the first presidential debate was tonight... V-O-T-E.
I'm off to the gym.. time to think it over (:

xo | cmd

Today Feels A Lot Like Yesterday.

*yawnnnn.*

oh hello, true story... lol

I don't know what it is about this week so far, but I have not been able yet to grab a solid night's worth of sleep. I think it's safe to say I will be calling this one early tonight. What do you think?

hydrated.. in the worst way.. oy vey. 

If you still don't believe me... this was me by the end of the day. I didn't realize she was videotaping me... but I'll just let that serve as an extra umph on the testament on how resigned I feel today..haha.. I give you... my moment of white-flag surrender. Oy.

ZzZzZ...

xo | cmd

TIRED.



coffee, anyone?

It was something of an EVENTFUL weekend...
I'm home in Illinois, missing Ohio, but reveling in the knowledge I don't have to drive 5 hours home again today. (:

I'm running on all of twenty minutes of sleep since Saturday night.

See that coffee there? That one that looks to be about as big as I am?

It did nothing.
[And no, it wasn't really as big as I am.]

Needless to say, I'm spent.

*Sigh.

We'll try this again tomorrow.

xo | cmd

Farewell for Now, 'Nati :|

[#backdated.entry]

Did I mention it's amazing to be visiting back home? Well, you should've gathered by now that it's incredible seeing familiar faces, going to old favorite hangouts, venturing into new places that didn't exist when I last lived there, and above all realizing that I am still home in Cincinnati.

We visited our old church for the service this morning, not realizing it was a baptism Sunday. Andrea Jones and one of the youth girls made their show of faith with Pastor Poe today, and it was a blessing for us to be witnesses to the event. Congratulations!


baptisms @ new harmony!
congratulations, andrea!!

Another thing I dearly miss about New Harmony is hearing Julie sing each week. There are some people who can "sing" [I sometimes fit into that category], and then there are people who can SING. Julie is the latter, among the ranks of say, Trish here at Towerview. She picked a great song, too; definitely not a shabby Sunday to be at New Harmony!


julie singing - beautiful!

After church, we made a quick stop by Mindi's, who was our full time in-home daycare gal whenever we still lived in Cincinnati. Since Sydni is scheduled to stay a week with Joe's mom, she'll be spending the weekdays at Mindi's while Sandy's working. It was incredible to see them again, to catch up, but ultimately to know that Sydni is going to in good hands all around while I'm back in Illinois. 

love love love & LOVE her.

It was then off to It's Just Crepes downtown to rendezvous with Jimmy & Mo -- WAIT A MINUTE! Aren't you in Cincinnati still?! -- << I know, right?! As it so happened, Mo's sister lives up here, and she got married yesterday, too. That put the Prescotts on our turf on the same weekend we were scheduled to be here, so of course we wanted to show them around some of our favorite spots. Oh, and I did their maternity pictures, too! I can't show you those just yet, because they've still not seen them. Nothing personal, and don't worry, I'll have them up soon. I can however, give you a glimpse of the best photographer's assistant, ever... Haha.

*sigh.
So obviously this is backdated, but the good news is, I'm back safe and sound in Illinois and getting ready to take on the week sans husband and child. Holy smokes.. I may actually get this place clean after all! ;)

And
heeeeeere

we.... GO.

xo | cmd

Cinci Part 2: Catie, Choco Rocks & Michelle's Wedding!

Meanwhile, in
CINCINNATI ....  



"dren & cegg" | a classic

Meet Catie: I'm sure you've already met her before, but just in case... meet Catie. I love this girl because she is one of the most candid, hilarious people I think I've ever met. I love to laugh, but hangin' with this lady will put me in tears. Or peeing my pants, depending on the severity of our laughing bouts. It's totally true, and I'm fine to admit that. Haha.

where it all started.. that blasted clearchannel job....

Anyway, Catie and I took an afternoon stroll downtown; she took me over to The Banks, a new development that has replaced the previously useless plot of dirt situated between the two stadiums. It's beautiful! There's a park, a string of restaurants, some shops, and even a Christian Moerlein brewery/taphouse. Oh, and if you didn't notice, there were plent of randomly-strewn Kiss107 signs, everywhere. That's significant only because that's where I met Catie in the first place, a debachle of a job that only those who've survived escape will ever truly understand. Trust me, that much is unanimous. Haha.


froyo @ orange leaf!

They've got an Orange Leaf downtown now, too! I'm a huge fan of froyo, and so is Cegg, so we made a stop off to test out the pumpkin spice froyo [REC-O-MMEND!!!]. At the self-serve toppings line, we were faced with a pit of choco rocks. Neither of us knew what they were, so naturally one lone little rock made its way into my yogurt to hang out with the cherries, almonds and boba. FACT: I'm not a fan of choco rocks. Just sayin'.


blues blues blues | michelle's wedding reception!

The culminating reason I came over here in the first place this weekend was to see Michelle get married! The time was finally heeeeere :). Joe and I trekked over to a beautiful Catholic church in Cincinnati to be witness to Michelle and Mark tying the knot, then on to The Newport Syndicate in the heart of Newport, KY for an absolutely GORGEOUS reception. We had to leave a few minutes early, but it was a dazzling affair, complete with a live band, delicious food, and a table full of ex-Clearchannel employees with whom I was able to re-connect. Hilarious.


me with the drop-dead-gorgeous bride, my amazing friend, michelle

I'm so excited we were able to be a part of Michelle & Mark's beautiful day. I can't wait to see honeymoon pictures!

Tomorrow = church at New Harmony, lunch & a maternity [photo]shoot with the Prescotts, and then the solo drive back to IL. *Yawn.

G'Nite!

xo | cmd

Back In The 'Nati : DAY ONE :)

QUESTION: Would I bleed for a friend?
ANSWER: YES! 

congratulations, eric & becky!

Here's the scoop on that one: I got a mass LinkedIn email from an old colleague of mine back in Cincinnati requesting the presence of all friends and family at a blood drive. Well, not just any blood drive; this particular friend, Eric, is part of the marketing team for Hoxworth Blood Centers in Cinci, and is slated to get married[!!!!!] not this, but next weekend. [[CON-GRAT-ULATIONSSSSS!!!!!!!]] They got creative and arranged a blood drive challenge in honor of their wedding, and as it so happened, I was both eligible and available to donate today, so that.. is.. what I did. Congrats, again to my friend Eric and his bride-to-be! xo!

******************

QUESTION: Who suggested lunch at Ban Thai today?
ANSWER: Ladd :).

ladd.

I've known this kid for ages now, and while that is sometimes both a bad and a good thing [usually dependent upon the day and/or topic of conversation, lol], he is a friend for whom I am deeply grateful on many levels. It was a great day to catch up; Becky and I stopped for lunch in Eastgate, and the three of us chowed down on some thai food before heading out our separate ways. I truly do revel  in catching up with old friends, and sometimes there are none better than the best.

******************

QUESTION: How on EARTH did I fail to get a picture of Becky [and not the above-mentioned Becky - just to clarify] & me?! My favorite [and only] college RA, with whom I'm still very close, hung out for a larger part of today and I didn't get one single stinkin' picture of us - HOW DOES THAT HAPPEN?!
ANSWER: Oh, that's right, because we were too consumed with squealing and rummaging like wild coyotes through the new REI in Rookwood.


hello, new rei!

Becky and I decided to take a jaunt out to Rookwood [neighboring the old stomping grounds of Norwood, aka NorHOOD, aka the Village of the Fantastic Fifteen-or-so of us that ran that place like the playground it was...hah]. The brand new REI is among a handful of business that have ventured into regions I used to call home, after I left there. Naturally. Haha. There's now a Jungle Jim's over in Eastgate, too, and that both excites and infuriates me for that very reason. Haha. So anyway, I witnessed my dear friend Becky audibly squeal in a way that made her resemble the girly-girl that she so clearly is NOT, for just a split second or so. She cracks me up. We spent plenty of time browsing, even trying on some potential wish-list items, but left empty-handed. Oh well. Probably better that way, for the sake of my closet. Anyway, it was amazing, and mark my words, I'll be back.

******************

QUESTION: What's the best way to combine watching one friend's band play while celebrating another's going-away?

ANSWER: Silverton Cafe. Duh. (:



brother bear!
[good luck, nader, on your next adventures...
... in jordan ... with grueter! we'll miss you!!]

Nader is packing his bags and heading to Jordan [as in, the country] to work alongside our other friend Jamie. Hard to believe, but super-cool opportunity, and even cooler that I was able to see him on his last weekend in the states for a while. Nader & Jamie comprise half of what we affectionately coined as The Twigs [Jamie, Nader, Matt, & Nalom], so it is with some sadness that I watch them disband and pursue this whole life thing. Love those fellers.

singin' the niiiiiiight away...
[ladd & keith]

Keith's band was slated to play tonight at Silverton Cafe, so I agreed to rendezvous with Nader, Matt, Melissa, Keith, Laura and some others for an evening of unwinding and celebrating some next steps and some downright fun music. I opted out of Midpoint tonight, but perhaps I'll head that-a-way at some juncture tomorrow. We'll see.

Major, major thanks to my amazing mother-in-law for keeping Syd for the day - it is so good to be home to see you, too. We've MISSED you, Mamaw.... ♥

[Backdated entry]. Oh, dear Cincinnati.
It's still home.

xo | cmd

O-H-I-O!! O-H-I-O!!!!

true. story.

GUESS WHAT?!
Syd and I were on the road by mid-evening, en route back to good old OHIO. I.. am.. SO excited for this weekend, I can't even tell you. She was just as ready as I was, and all smiles at that! We were off to see Mamaw, and a bunch of our friends!


best road trip buddy, ever

Fast forward 5 hours later, to now, when we're settling into the hotel. It's gonna be a jam-packed weekend, and I cannot wait :)

WE'RE HERE!!!!!!!! :D

See you tomorrow.......

xo | cmd