Nephew alert!

The little guy came to visit a couple of weeks ago with my sister and brother-in-law (like he just hopped on a plane by on his own?). It was fantastic to see him and hang out with his little perfect and happy baby self! Jen (my sister) is doing an amazing job. I cannot imagine how she functions day to day as her sleep deprivation has to be at record-breaking levels, but she is the most amazing mom. She is the same girl she used to be but now with an added bonus! Preston is the happiest baby in the world and laughs and smiles all day! Ryan and I found it difficult to keep up with the little guy and our entertaining spouts usually ended with Ryan and I on the floor laughing as Preston looked on certainly thinking “I cannot believe I am related to these guys”. There isn’t much to this, only to say that I am super proud of being an aunt to the most amazing little boy in the world and incredibly proud to be the sister and sister-in-law to his wonderful parents!

Weekend Recap!

This past weekend started with some very bad (yet ever so fun) decisions that I made while I was home visiting my parents on Friday night. The bad decisions continued as I welcomed Melinda, Josh and Adam (better known as the BFF-In-Law and BFF) into our apartment for Saturday, Sunday and Monday.

With Brett out of town we were left to our own devices and found ourselves drunk and disorderly pretty much the entire weekend. Saturday, upon their arrival, we went to the 7-11 to find something good to drink. My absolute favorite part of the weekend was when Adam grabbed a 12 pack of Miller and started to go up to the check-out counter…in classic Melinda form we hear a “only 12?” made with a face that I could not even begin to describe, but if you know the fabulous Melinda you know what I am talking about. Adam went straight back to the freezer and picked up another 12 pack. Thank the lord we have Mel around because the 4 of us finished the 24 bottles of Miller and then some that night before we went out!

Our night took us around to a couple of places, but we were pretty tired. So we hit Johnny O’blahblahblahs (both Brett and Jeff just yelled at me there), the Blarney Stone and Moxie. Mel and I were pretty exhausted so we headed home while the boys met up with some friends at the Blarney Stone and ended up rolling in a little later in the evening.

The next day was filled with fun as we ventured out into the day looking for apartments for the BFF and the BFF-in-Law. The disgusting heat was enough to kill a small donkey and the shopping/apt. hunting extravaganza was hindered by the sweat dripping off our bodies. Melinda and I came prepared with a jug of mimosas. We so elegantly said “these bitches are the ones looking for apartments, we can be drrrunk!” And we tee-tottered around until it was time for the CUBS GAME!! At 3pm we headed over to Sluggers to meet up with Frank and Jeff for a little Cubs action. A few extra tall Old Styles and a trip to the Full Shilling later, we headed over to WRIGLEY to watch the Cubs lose a game to the Mets. (or watch the guy in the England shirt look really amazingly hot all afternoon)

As you might imagine the beers were flowing and we found ourselves BACK at the Shilling where we all proceeded to get incredibly intoxicated and wild at 7pm on a Sunday afternoon. As Adam, Melinda and I were all taking the day off the next day, it took us about 7.2 seconds to convince Frank that he too should call in and have Monday off…we could not convince the hard working Jeff, but he managed to have just as much fun, we think. We parted ways with Mr. “I have to work in the morning” Jeff and moved back to our house to meet up with a sober Brett and Ben. Unforch, the night pretty much stops there for Melinda and I as we were so drunk that passing out was an almost immediate need. I do remember another 12 pack and some “Circle of Death”, but as the boys went out in boystown to celebrate the Gay Games Mel and I decided that there wasn’t a gay boy in sight that could drag us away from the apartment.

There isn’t much to say about Monday other then THE BFF AND THE BFF-IN-LAW found an APARTMENT really close to us and move in on Aug. 1st AND the BFF-in-Law FOUND A JOB!! (Plug for Joshua who is an amazing stylist…he will begin working on Aug. 1st in Chicago so if you need a change-and want it to look great-let me know) We pretty much were all hung-over and tired. After the Champaign 3-some packed up and left, Brett and I lounged around the house avoiding cleaning like the plague and watch TV all afternoon.

The weekend was a success and quite fun…so that is my little update.

breaking the bank

Yowza! I don't know what happened to my blog over the weekend, but to make up for it I am providing the best picture I have seen in years. This is my roommate...on a pig.

Taken by the ever incredible Special on their trip to DC, when I saw this I just about lost it...I don't know why it strikes me as so funny but I laugh every time I look at it! Enjoy!

Great weekend...update to follow later today!

Gay Games

Holy Gay Games, BATMAN!

As we live on the corner of “gay and gayer” I have found my neighborhood to be infiltrated with Olympians from all over the world. There are throngs of people walking on my streets, sitting at my restaurants and shopping at my 7-11. I cannot even imagine what it will be like come this weekend when the Gay Games actually start!

Last night I met B out for a little celebration beer for his last day of work! We went to SideTrash (no big surprise) and as we were settling into the Atrium, I was amazed at just how much EuroTrash was present. Accents and ducktails everywhere! There might have even been a Bono sighting at one point or another. Crazy sunglasses, fashion, hair…these men cannot be from Boystown, USA! (some of them are great eye candy, though) My new favorite game for the next two weeks will be “guess what county” (I will obviously have to come up with a kickier name) but you get the idea…where are they from and then what are you going to do in order to confirm that information?

It is a delightful smattering of people from across the globe. I do hope that I get to meet a couple here and there…I told Brett that I might even be able to practice my Italian!

On another note…Melinda, the BFF and the BFF-In-Law come into town this weekend for a Cubs game on Sunday (with Frank and Mr. Jeff H.), a little partying and some apt. shopping for the FF’s…I have Monday off so that I may fully enjoy the weekend with some of my besties!!

Buon settimana!!

List o' stuff...

My darling little Brettea recently did a list of summer goals that he wanted to accomplish. Although I recognize that it is almost the middle of July, it has inspired me to complete a list of my very own. I think that summer can last well into September or even October, so if the weather is right, I might have more time to finish this list then I anticipate. I find that some of Brett’s and my goals are the same…which is precious…but some are different and most importantly, I love having something that I can “check off”. I find lists to be a game of sorts, so here is a game involving my summer-time fun!

If you want to be involved in my summer time fun, just let me know! We can check some things off together.

Molly’s list o’ things to do while the days are long and the weather is nice

§ Cook a “sit-down” meal for my good friends
§ Spend the day on a boat
§ Listen to a concert in Millennium Park
§ Catch a jar full of fireflies
§ A Sunday full of ½ price Martini’s at Kit Kat
§ Spend another weekend in Lake Geneva
§ A float trip down the river (probably closer to Champaign then Chicago)
§ Take a weekend trip to Nashville
§ Get half way through reading my “top 100 books of the Century” list
§ See Super Man and Pirates of the Caribbean
§ Disco Brunch at Ann Sather
§ Visit Minda in BG
§ Go to Six Flags Great America
§ Go to a Cubs game with my uncle Ted
§ Go camping for a weekend
§ See the fireworks on Navy Pier
§ Make a my own batch of State Fair Lemonade
§ Drink Brett’s original refreshing summer drink on our porch
§ Go to the Museum of Science and Industry (SERIOUSLY does anyone know how long I have wanted to go there…could someone PLEASE go with me?!)
§ Meet a foreigner and show them around Chicago
§ Get our bathtub drain to actually drain…amen to that.
§ Catch some music at Ravinia
§ Have my family for brunch
§ Go to my brother’s wedding in Arizona and have a fabulous time
§ Be as tan as I was when I was in college
§ Reread 100 Years of Solitude
§ Make new Chicago friends
§ Remaster the Italian language (it is slipping from my old mind)
§ Find a bar/restaurant/bookstore/shop in my neighborhood that I love
§ Move Adam and Josh in and start our own Chicago traditions with them

There has to be so much more, but that is a good start. I will let you know how I fair come October!

What is on your summer list? Any suggestions of additions to mine?

Summertime update!

It has been a really really long time since I have posted anything of merit. I just have not had the time to sit down and write, which I think is a good thing, probably. Summer shouldn’t be about bloggin, it would be about going out and having a good time, no?

Lot’s going on. The jobby job is going ok, but I am kind of on the look out for another one. I have been having a tough time caring about the one I am currently in, lately. If I cannot even muster up enough passion to care about Human Rights, then perhaps it is time for a little shift in position! I started my masters in Organizational Leadership and Policy Study…and am SUPA excited to be back in the classroom. I have class one night a week and I am really enjoying what we are doing…it is so crazy to have reading and homework again. In classic class fashion, I skipped last week to go see a movie with Brett. It is the only time I will be doing it this summer, but Brett offered a much better option of dinner and a movie downtown and I could not resist. Turns out a little “class skipping” is good for the soul. In my every so educationally Type-A personality, though, I still did the reading in advance and felt ever so guilty the next day so I called a classmate to get the notes ASAP. Some things will never change!

Not much new in the mens department…still a drought:-) We will see what comes with the rest of the summer. There have been some interesting prospects-ya know, the ones where you think there might be something but just aren’t sure enough to ask-but none that have come to fruition. You know me, I am a wuss...I can't ever tell if someone likes me...I am literally the worst at this nonsense (somewhere both Brett and Lauren just have a big "mmmhmmmm she is") I wonder what the month of July will bring? My friends are all seemingly having trouble with their respective boys and girls, so maybe it is for the best...however, if you have any suggestions speak up!

This summer has been more than fantastic…it really is beginning to be one of the better summers I have had thus far! Work hasn’t been crazy, class has been great, and there have been tons of fun weekend things going on! I spent a weekend at a with some very good friends at their parents place in Lake Geneva, a couple of trips down to Champaign including a reunion weekend where I got to see a few friends I haven’t seen since graduation, a wedding shower for my brother’s fiancée the Wee (complete with a very fun night out with her and the dancing Mr. Jeff H. in Chicago), a couple of Cubs games, my aunt and cousin in town from Sedona, my sister and perfect little nephew in town from Florida, great nights out at the bars, PRIDE party/Brett’s birthday party and then the PRIDE parade the next day with a delightful afternoon of just chillin and talking, a super fun b-day party on Fox Lake with my bestie and her family, some concerts, Wednesdays are the new Thursdays, making new friends, a few bad dates and a few good ones, my good friend Nick moving up to Chicago and the GREAT news of two very good friends-Adam and Josh-moving up on August 1st, and most importantly an apartment in a kicky location with one of my very very best friends in the world who continually keeps me laughing and happy (and he cleaned this weekend while I was gone)!! There is even tons of stuff that I haven’t mentioned!

The funny thing is, it is only July 10th and there is SO MUCH MORE TO GO, including a visit from Mindy, Adam and Josh this weekend for a Cubs game and a WEDDING in August filled with family and friends! I seriously cannot wait to see what the rest of the summer brings.

Italy won the World Cup…FORZA AZZURI...with an incredible game against Germany to go on to the finals against France!

I want to send a very special “Tanti Aguri” to my bestie Lauren, who celebrates her 25th birthday today. Thank you for letting me come down and celebrate this weekend! Cheers to another year filled with growth, change, family, friends and fun. I hope it is magical for you!

Baci baci to you all and have a fantastic week!