My Life in Cliff's Notes

Ahh! Boy, have we been busy. I still have photos from the U.P. with Anne and "Donuts" (real name, Jonas - perhaps I had one drink too many when someone said hello to the native Yuper, prompting me to mishear the pronunciation), pics from the national disaster storm and updates from Jon's mom's visit this past weekend. Here's the Cliff's Notes version:

View from Mackinac Island, a horse-and-carriage only town that is about as picturesque as it gets. Obviously we visited three bars. 

The Upper Peninsula is a series of islands. Main mode of transportation? Boat. 

  Sunset over the water and one of the many islands near Anne's cabin. Perhaps the most relaxing place I've ever been to. Check it out: http://www.michigan.org/Partners/Great-Waters/Default.aspx?NRC=TM_GG&NRX=TM9687&gclid=CJK0k6S6iaMCFaQ65Qod7XYlhg

Back in Milwaukee for? Thursday's Tornado

Submerged Parking Lot

Normally a very busy street, sans floating telephone poles.

Bystander's photo of the sinkhole. Looks like a Jerry Bruckheimer movie.

This person should A) be seriously concerned and B) in a scuba suit.

Flower birthday cake, a la Wednesday's flower arranging class, for Lynne (Una's mom). Also had my first cake decorating class, though it was not interactive. And no, we didn't get to eat the cake. Clearly not the class I thought I was signing up for.

Per usz, our weekend was centered around food, food and more food. Such as: Mexican, sushi, brats, hot dogs, crepes (above), custard, buttered popcorn (yes!), Comet Cafe and more. Of course we're chubbier.

Brady Street Festival - you can't be asked to listen to music without somewhere to put your drink! What kind of people ask you to stand and hold your beer? Rude people, that's who.

Wing Zone mascot. Embarassment factor: 1 jillion (that's more than a million or billion people, I made it up). Loving it? 100%.

Lounging on the porch. Just before Lynne nearly lost a finger trying to move her bone. 

Milwaukee skyline via a harbor/river boat tour. To be repeated with future guests - perfect weather and gorgeous views.

Anyone up for a visit?

Simon Cowell & A Sinkhole

After American Idol blazed through Milwaukee yesterday for one of its open auditions, a tornado and massive, violent thunderstorms decided to reap their wrath on the city. As Una, Una's mom and I drove across the bridge from our new place to dinner, we quickly found ourselves stranded at the top of the bridge with visibility of . . . 5 feet. Literally. Fog and rain surrounded us in torrents. By the time we got off the closest exit (to discover a manhole burst open and overflowing in a major downtown street) we realized we were complete and utter idiots for attempting to drive in such weather.

5 hours later we are currently stuck in the house as snake lightening (touching the ground - and two people - across the entire city), flash flooding and overall mayhem continues. 25,000 people have lost power, an Escalade tumbled into a massive sinkhole just blocks from our old house and the rain continues to build.

Photo vis JSonline.com

8 inches and counting.

Festa Lasagna

We made it to Festa Italiana Saturday night after packing everything we owned. I was so exhausted I referred to it as Festa Lasagna to the cashier. Most likely offensive, but not nearly as offensive as the food that was offered. Jon ate chicken parm, an Italian sausage and gelato. I had penne and meatballs and a bag of buttered popcorn. The butter gathered at the corner of the bag and leaked onto my right foot and flip flop. Still didn't stop me from eating all of it. 


While there was a tremendous sand castle that took 350 hours to build and stood 20 feet tall with a giant Pinocchio presiding at the top, the rest of the festival is really about eating. Here is a sample menu:

Yes, that is a fried sirloin sandwich called the "Steak Bomb," as well as a genius invention called "Pizza Fries." And still no one believes me back home when I tell them about the food here. 

We'll Just Bathe in Beer

Jon saw the inside of our new rental house Saturday at 4:00 PM and loved it. Whew! Thank goodness.


Though any excitement about the new place quickly dissolved into temporary fury over the forty sealed boxes blanketing the floor. How do we have this much crap?! We donated/threw out five garbage bags full of stuff. And this after the yard sale we had a few weeks back. Seriously - we had to make two trips in a 17 foot U-Haul. Una, our hired movers and I were drenched in sweat (thank you, 90 degree Sunday), while Veloc rested coolly with her summer haircut, with no responsibilities other than eating bones and panting in the dirt under her favorite tree in the old backyard. 


We have no internet access until Thursday, which I realized last night after we finished unloading boxes and Hagrid-sized furniture, finally calmed Panic Pants (the elderly just don't like change!) and then keeled over onto the unmade mattress in the air conditioned bedroom. Conclusion: I would give up running water to have internet access.


We'll just bathe in beer.

The Little Things, Such as Fried Cheesecake

I somehow managed to disappear into the U.P. just when everyone that knows I owe them something decided to get together and DEMAND. IT. NOW! My fault, really.

Now that I have returned into the 5th circle of hell, posting has not only fallen off the wagon, so has showering, dressing anything more than my bottom half, brushing my teeth and putting on deodorant. This last one hurts myself the most, as I am closest to my own armpits. Dreadful. Thanks, Allen genes.

I will resurface at some point this weekend most likely to gripe about the fact that we are moving into the new rental house Sunday and haven't packed a damn thing. I'm also pretty sure Festa Italiana will win out over actually packing dishes on Saturday, and that we will find ourselves throwing individual plates into the trunk of the U-Haul come 12 PM Sunday just so we can get ourselves some fried cheesecake bites dipped in chocolate sauce. 

I am also totally cool with this. It's the little things that matter.

Eloping on a Bluff by Providence Classic

No, not me! Another design board at Boutonnieres & Bow Ties for a majorly dreamy wedding on a cliff off the coast of Prince Edward Island: just the bride, her groom and their cherished pup in attendance. Sigh. Check it out at:

http://boutsandbowties.blogspot.com/

Lost in the Yupe

Visiting one of my college cronies in the U.P. (Upper Peninsula of Michigan) for a few days. Here's a sample of yesterday:

View into Lake HURON

Jane: King Charles Cavalier puppy

"Donuts," our tireless tour guide and chauffeur

More to come. Off for a swim!