Birthday Part Deaux

So the rest of my Birth day...Cadence and I rode a couple buses and made our way to Trader Joe's in time to help Ted finish grocery shopping after his shift.

With the rain and all, there was a LOT of splashing involved while waiting for buses and walking to Trader Joe's from the bus stop. Thank goodness for Kidorable boots!

And I couldn't believe that someone left this bike outside in the rain in front of Trader Joe's. That's got to be the rustiest bike I've ever seen, and no wonder. They didn't even bother to park it underneath a covered area.

My cousin Kris and our friend Connie came over for dinner. My brother stopped by and ended up staying too. We got carry-out from an Indian restaurant (YUM!), drank some Tripel Karmeliet and homebrew, and reveled in the goodness that is Tres Leches cake from Rolf's Patisserie.

And look! For once, I actually have a photo of the whole group. I'm pretty bad about taking photos when I'm with friends, but I made sure we got one in. I was going to do it with a timer, but I like the look of the Arms Reach Self-Portrait.

Alright. Off to bed for me.

Roadtrip!

We leave tomorrow (actually, today) morning bright and early for GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN! Awwz yeah! Say yes to Michigan, baby! And we're staying in a hotel! With a pool! And a King Sized Bed! We're gonna see my friend Lori and her family!

We're going cuz the Tim Lowly band (for whom Ted drums) is playing a show w/ Ben and Bruno, who came all the way down to Chicago in Friday traffic to play a show w/ the Lowly band at our church tonight. The show was awesome. I was quite blown away by Ben and Bruno. Anyhoo, more on that later.

*Heart*strings

Today is the five-year anniversary of the day my dad died. Yesterday would have been his 69th birthday. We went to the cemetery with my mom and brother yesterday early evening. I hadn't been there in a long time. I understand that some people derive comfort or the fulfillment of some sense of obligation or duty by visiting their loved ones' gravesites. I used to think that I would too, but every time I would visit, all I felt was a big emptiness, so I stopped going except to accompany my mom on momentous occasions.

There is a part of me that is irreparably wounded due to the experience of watching my father die. In some ways, I've closed the door to that compartment of my heart that is made of a mangled, bloody mess. I don't talk about it to my mom or my brother or anyone else. I don't talk about it even to myself. And I'm okay with that for right now.

I happened to be driving behind this truck going down Devon Ave on Sunday afternoon. I've seen it parked in our neighborhood, and it always makes me mad, like what the f*ck do YOU care where I'd go if I were to die today? Can you do a scan of my soul and tell me whether I'd make the cut? I'd really like to write a letter to stick beneath the windshield wiper that says, 'I'M GOING TO DISNEYLAND, WHERE ELSE YOU MORON?!' It really annoys me when Christians use fear to coerce people into "saying the sinner's prayer."

Well, my dad DID die one night 5 years ago, so where did he go? To be with Jesus, I suppose, but WTF does that MEAN? I don't understand what Heaven is. I don't understand Eternity. I don't understand why every day I wake up and I still can't believe my dad's not alive. I still see him in my dreams a couple times a week, and he's so real that when I wake up to the reality that it was only a dream, it's like another little kick in the gut. Not quite the kick in the gut as when he REALLY died five years ago, but nevertheless, a little kick.

And yet, there is a part of me that can't help but believe that someday I will see my dad again. That someday, he will get to hold his granddaughter whom he's never met, whom he would have fallen totally head-over-heels in love with, more so than he ever had with me. I don't know how all that works out logistically; I mean, I would like Cadence to have a long and healthy life, so I don't know if she'd be a little girl in heaven or a grown-up version or what, and I'm starting to sound really crazy as I'm writing this, but it's my blog and I can be deranged if I want to, I guess.

Family Time

Last Monday, I took a vacation day so we could hang with Ted's sister Lauren who was visiting from Sweden. Although the temps were still on the chilly side, the sun warmed things up so we ventured out to a playground nearby.

As you can see, Cadence comes from a family who takes their playing seriously. It's no wonder she's such a good jumper.

I have a feeling that recess will be Cadence's favorite subject in school. That's if recess isn't outright abolished in schools by then, in which case we'll keep her at home.

We're sad that a great big ol' pond called the Atlantic separates us from Lauren, but we're glad we had some one-on-one time with her while she was in town. Cadence definitely enjoyed hanging out with her auntie.

Friday was Ted's Dad's birthday, so we met up with the family for dinner at Brass Restaurant and Brewery in Barrington. Cadence was so excited about it being somebody's birthday, and she made us practice singing 'Happy Birthday' in the car ride. I think Grandpa was pretty tickled when she sang for him, although there was no cake, which was what I think Cadence was really looking forward to.

Don't these two look good together? Yeah. Good genes. Hurray for families!

Best Shot(s) Monday--All About Style

We're not much about fashion in our household, but we did have some fun this weekend with some funky sunglasses and an outfit I absolutely adore. I don't have much time to elaborate, as I'm on a vacation day and we've got stuff to do, so I'll just post my favorite photos from this weekend.

She looks so serious here that it's almost funny.

My favorite smile of the weekend. I like how she's looking off to the side and not directly into the camera.

And here is my favorite outfit ever. The t-shirt was a thrift store find that I absolutely adore. I wish I could get away with wearing Baby Legs and a pleated denim mini-skirt.

And here's a cute one with Daddy. They look like best buddies!

Go see other folks' Best Shots at Tracey's Picture This.