The Messicks Encore

This is a little late, but I hate to miss an opportunity to put a shout-out to my best cousins, the Messicks. Holly and Danny arrived mid week the last week of June for a Cubs vs. Tigers game (that's baseball, for all you non-sports fans) and some of that Rutherford je ne sais quoi. The following weekend we headed to Chicagoland for a family reunion.

The visits were riddled with parallels. They arrived in Detroit making excellent time; we arrived in Chicago in record time! We weren't home to greet them when they arrived; they were able to return the favor upon our arrival. (You get the picture.)

We always have ridiculous fun with the Messicks. Now we just need to figure out how to hang out more often. Is a move in order?

June Snippets

I've got lots of good stuff and thought I'd separate it into little snippets rather that the long paragraph form with which this blog has become so accustomed. Bear with me as I jump along a bit, as they're in order of excitement/immediacy:

I've never been so excited that it's June 22 in my life! TOMORROW I get my cast off. After six weeks of agony, hobbling around and near helplessness, I think it's about time. I'll be going straight from the podiatrist to the pedicurist to work some magic on my neglected toes.

Last night while limping around at Meijer in the wine section, Chris and I came across a bottle of Murphy-Goode Cab which we quickly napped. It's a 2004 (read: GREAT year for Napa Cab) and I believe that it could quite possibly be an omen. Guess I'll find out in a few days whether I'm selected.

Tonight Chris and I are going a wine tasting at the Franklin Grill with my parents. We have no idea what we'll be tasting, but are hoping we can come home with some new summer wines! Aren't we all sick of drinking the same varietals over the BBQ? UGH!

Our tenants are tentatively paying their rent today. WOO HOO!

Danny and Holly are rolling in on Wed. for a quick Rutherford fix/Cubs vs. Tigers game. My other side of the family will be represented too with Uncle Pete (one of the three Chris and I have between us), Aunt Mary and cousin (and fellow Chicago Marathoner) Jo. Hopefully we can also get in some time with our two coolest nieces ever, Catherine (20 months) and Grace (three weeks).

Elvis got a bath today and THANK GOD! After his stint at the Strut Your Mutt at the Franklin 5K, he's been more than a little ripe. Chris said he got a little hot and began strutting his muttly self through the driveway drain offs along the road. It may have cooled him off but boy did it make him a mess! Summer molting season has officially started.

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).