Whenever I'm about to do something, I think, "Would an idiot do that?" And if they would, I do not do that thing."

(c) dwight k schrute.
(i am so totally torn between doing what i should be doing, and doing what i am doing.)

pardon the office quote. i'm just not-cool enough that i need to borrow inspiration from a no-longer hilarious sitcom. ah, well, i'm nursing vacation brain and have been rendered nearly useless by the enormity of the to-do list i don't even want to write down. (and if you know me, that's saying something since i love a good checklist). so instead of finishing the unpacking from two trips ago, mowing the lawn, dealing with my huge tomato plants and pumpkin vines that are on the cusp of taking over broad ripple itself, instead of finalizing my weekend plans in "michigan's great southwest," instead of making some long-overdue phone calls and dragging myself to the gym, i'm sipping hours-old coffee, listening to some classic eva cassidy, and relishing my past 10 days. i am a blessed and lucky, lucky, lucky girl.

(see what just happened there, abby? i just showed you ALL that i have on my plate today...i am so busy. so important, and so very BUSY.)

the highlights, you ask? certainly. most funny moments? gladly.

northern michigan:
*the summary: 4 days, 3 nights of friends, food, euchre, floating in a lake, northwoods creatures (not really), and wine.
*the soundtrack: lutheran hymnal and the glee version of don't stop believin' (dare i mention the cd of our four years of marching band shows. oh i just did.)
*the highlights: "asking the tough questions" whilst floating on the edge of ford lake, playing euchre, and cooking out every night.
*the celebrity sightings: chuck, of "three-buck" fame. due to joe's impeccable eavesdropping technique and knowledge of famous winemakers (and the scandals surrounding them), we did meet the man whose name was ripped off and slapped on bottles of the cheapest wine available. (not the worst stuff out there, though.)
*most hilarious moment: i don't remember the whole story, so help me out, but it had to do with a box of cheerios and brainstorming why it's good to have more than one box? or something. i don't know, i was laughing too hard.
*best cupcake: some neon-frosted deals from a bakery in TC. 6 out of 10
*beautiful views: the tasting room at two lads winery overlooking lake michigan and old mission peninsula vineyards
*best boating experience" NOT getting tossed from the tube, but paying dearly for the ride the next day regardless.
*life lesson learned: though it needs some tweaking, there is definite promise for a pancake-fried-peanut-butter-and-jelly sandwich.

southern california:
*the summary: college roommates and their cool husbands, awesome sister-of-roommate, adorable baby, and i load up a filthy rented white minivan to take the mountains of so-cal and san diego by storm. mission accomplished.
*the soundtrack: i don't even remember. too much good conversation going on in the backseat.
*the highlight: hiking up two mountains. (mountains to this midwestern plains girl), waiting for HOURS to get to the beach on one of the ickier beach days of the summer. good times in the fox van, once again. benefitting from becca and nate's gracious hospitality as 4 guests descended upon their home, took up residence, and apparently wreaked havoc on their already-sensitive plumbing system. (yikes, and i left just in time.)
*best cupcake: strawberry from the heavenly cupcake. it's in the running for best cupcake of the summer.
*beautiful views: atop castle rock, overlooking big bear lake. the hike up reminded me of why i need to lose 10lbs and stick to my running routine.
*best boating experience: tour of san diego harbor aboard the hornblower family's cruise ship
*life lesson learned: i would like to, someday have a memorial built in my honor. but if that doesn't happen, and if i die within the next 5 years, kevin triemstra has agreed to tatoo my name and likeness on his arm. so that'll be fine.


i could go on for hours about the fun had and memories made with these, some of my best friends, over the past 10 days. but laundry and piano lessons call. and i hear the siren sound of l.a. fitness. "come back," it calls," and pay penance for the reeses peanut butter cups and sun chips, the steak and tortilla chips, the sweet corn and hamburgers."
life goes on, does it not?
as beautiful as the midnight indianapolis skyline appeared last night on my drive home, as glorious as it was to sleep on my (favorite of two) bed(s) last night, as much as i love indianapolis...i am so glad to have had the chance to see friends, to spend time with them and reconnect, not only remembering the times and places that brought us together, but also to develop our friendships more, reinforcing the connections we share, and making new memories that we will re-live down the road, to be recalled with a smile and counted among the many many blessings bestowed on us by the god we love and share.

speaking of friends, and continuing the theme of run-on sentences: this weekend promises to be another good one, beginning with a roadtrip back home with my oldest friend, and ending with some beachtime with new ones. i'm hitting the road once more, squeezing just a little more juice out of july, totally undeserving of the freedom i've had to connect with others this summer, and surprised by so many of the joys that are coming to characterize this season of my life.

happy summer :)