Turkey Trot

Despite how my year has gone with respect to running, there's one race I would never miss, and that's the Turkey Trot! This race captures all of the reasons why I run: the cameraderie, friendships, fun, city views, and of course, the costumes. Although I could have done without the guy dressed up as a turkey with a$$less chaps, Angela, Julie and I had a great time making our tutus and fluttering about the course. The only thing we forgot to bring was a wand!

What we learned in Chicagoland

As usual, we had an awesome and informative weekend with the Messicks. They showed us that the trick to the perfect lasagna is a turkey baster and how to effortlessly repair a ceiling leak by mopping it. My only regret is that I don't have the pictures to prove it. Those Messicks sure know what they're doing.

We had a pleasant Saturday afternoon over at Goose Island sampling their many delicious beers. Danny and I had no trouble deciding though Holly and Chris decided on the flights. Why make one choice when you can make four?

We had a pleasant Sunday afternoon at the wine and cheese shop for lunch. Danny and I had no trouble deciding though Holly and Chris decided on the flights. Have you ever heard of a salad flight? Me either.

I've said it before, and I'll say it again: We feel so lucky to have such fantastic friends in our cousins. I'm so happy to know that my awesome cousin Holly married someone equally so. We just wish that we lived closer (or that we could build a tunnel with a fast moving travel device between each other's homes).

Brewmasters Unite!

Who has the most outrageously fun and fascinating friends in the world? I do! My brilliant friend Becka and her clever husband David orchestrated a field trip for a group of us to Kuhnhenn to make beer! Starting from scratch we whipped up two batches (that's 12 cases) in a cool eight hours. In a few weeks we can bottle and bring home our booty of Breakfast Stout and Belgian Triple Cream Ale. That first meal of the day may never be the same.

The Patient

It's been four days since Chris' surgery, and his recovery has been remarkable. He's still quite uncomfortable (and bored as hell), but his stitches seem to be healing quite well. The procedure, in case you haven't heard, was an incision behind his ear, literally peeling the ear off the skull, removing some fat from that area, building a new eardrum out of it, and putting him back together. He has a set of stitches behind his ear and foam, a screen, more foam and a sponge (that you can actually see) in his ear. It is truly a work of art.

I'm becoming skilled at both cutting C-shaped gauze pads and opening the Neosporin tube with one hand. Thanks for all your cards and thoughts! I know they are helping. Tomorrow, Chris goes back to the doctor to see how he's doing!

Chris Has a New Ear

Well, not exactly, but he does have a new eardrum! Chris' surgery went well, taking six hours total. The surgeon said that it was a perfect surgery, but that he did not expect Chris' malleus to be fractured along with lots of scar tissue that needed to be cleaned up. (I hope that cliff dive was really worth it.)

Who knew that anesthesia can both make you mean and be sick?! Chris is quietly resting at home and he'll be lounging for the next few days with no real strenuous activity for at least six weeks!

Thanks for sending all of your good thoughts and energy our way!

Idiot in the Waiting Room

I hope Chris never has to have another surgery again, and not just because having surgery sucks. While sitting in the waiting room for six hours (not that I mind, because I’ll wait forever for favorite person any day), I had the pleasure of meeting one of the more offensive people I’ve come across.

He began his conversation with me by saying that he turned on the TV this morning only to be welcomed by “Black America.” What does this even mean? I squinted at him and went back to reading my magazine. He went on about how he has no problem with black people as he was in the military (again, what does this even mean?) and that there’s no way Obama will ever get done what he’s promised. I smiled and said, “Well, it will be hard, but we’ll have to wait and see!” He then accused me of voting for Obama (I did). Anyone who begins a sentence with, “I have no problem with black people,” or, “I’m not racist but…” clearly has a problem with black people and is someone I would consider to be racist.

I thought I’m waiting for my husband to come out of a pretty major surgery. I’m sure you’re here for similar reasons. I prefer to keep to myself, which is why I’m sitting in the opposite end of the room as everyone else. Could he not see that I was not interested in getting into a political conversation or any conversation at all?

He then asked me if I was in school. Wondering why this was any of his business, I answered that it has been a long time since I’d been in school. Hoping to avoid further comment or question, I volunteered that I was 31. He offered that I looked 18. I’m not sure it that’s good or bad. He asked me if I had kids and advised me that, at 31, I only had two more years to have some. Desperate to end our conversation, I told him that I didn’t like kids. He gave me the most incredulous look, and FINALLY WALKED AWAY!

Thank you for telling me that I look young but I’m really old and that you are the kind of American that makes us all look ignorant and stupid!

Chris' Eardrum

Put in a positive thought for Chris tomorrow! Due to a 40 foot cliff diving incident while trying to do a cannon ball this past Labor Day at his brother Hal's bachelor party which burst his eardrum, he's having reconstructive surgery tomorrow. It's a scary procedure but we're both thrilled that he'll be able to hear once again! Keep a good thought as he recovers over the next six weeks.

California Love

What an awesome, awesome place wine country is in California. Chris and I had the good fortune to spend 10 days with some of our favorite people following the marathon. Jessica and Chris Iloff and my Chris and I rented a 1,000 square foot house in Santa Rosa for a week. We roughed it with a hot tub with stunning views, our own dog and cat, an SUV for carrying boxes and boxes of wine and 90 degree weather. We cooked, drank mass amounts of coffee and wine and generally onwound for the week.

We were joined for a few days by Clayton Gehbauer and Leah Hammel (or the Hammelbauers, as we affectionately call them), of St. Louis. Leah and Chris met in second grade and Clayton came along in middle school. It was their first time out to wine country, and we were happy to show them around to what we knew.

The pictures will give a more accurate description of our trip, but here's a quick rundown if you're thinking of heading to any of these places on your next trip.

Some of our favorite vineyards and tasting rooms were: Hook & Ladder Winery, unpretentious and simply great wine (Santa Rosa, CA). We loved the Merlot (many of them tasting like Cabs this year), Zinfandel, and, of course, the Tillerman, their famous red wine blend


We enjoyed a private poolside estate tasting at VJB Vineyards & Cellars overlooking their breathtaking vineyard (Kenwood, CA). They specialize in Italian varietals (and even have a sister winery in Italy). We loved the Prosecco (who doesn't?!), Rosso (red table wine blend), Barbera and Syrah (which, apprently we should'nt be drinking until 2018!)



We adored
Kaz Winery in Kenwood. We were in last year and had to return! The vineyard is organic (no yucky wine headaches), and is truly the smallest winery in Sonoma. Kaz will make four barrels of something rather than 400, so if you like something, you'd better buy it. They make the best rose Chris has ever had and some chewy reds. It's hard not to leave with a bottle or two. Here we crushed grapes, samples mustards and had a light saber fight (don't ask).


We lounged in the hot tub, sampled wines and relaxed all week with some of our favorite people! We can't wait to go back!