The big ToDo in Iowa

Charlie and Meg, both from UD, got married and so he gang got together in Iowa for some good ol fashioned wedding fun.  It's nearly the same story every time, but with more characters.  We will never tire of the wedding parties.

Firstly, you may notice a change in the 'style' of my pictures.  It's because I learned how to use a fancy new iPhone application that makes my photos look much more 'artsy' than my own capabilities would allow.  Those are the sort of skills that blossom when you are with your best friends from college.  

Lets go through the usual wedding fun......

A party bus, obviously we are all well seated and behaved on the way out there.

Some amazingly patriotic shades.

A nice dinner with the people that were, are, and always will be your best friends for life.  Below is Katie, she is my oldest friend (25+ years friendship) and Kate, my roommate freshman year.  I couldn't ask for a more awesome person to help you through that trying time literally 1000 miles away from home.

Bags sets in an orchard with a baby......

 and another little one....

Here's about when it starts to get a little wild.....


A golf cart piled high with balance lacking people.

The women wear the ties.

Late night snacks with a raised pinky

 Karate chops

Happy blurry edged pictures

Fully blurry pictures

A fabulous ending with unsurmountable spirit.

Actually if i remember correctly it ended with flips and bottle caps.

A change of direction

Tomorrow is my last day at my current Job.  I am extremely excited to close this chapter and open another (and of course slightly nervous, unsure, and anxious as would be expected)........ You are going to have to wait in suspense to see what happens in the next chapter.

Milwaukee's Best Happy Hour?

 I wish that I was savvy enough to know every happy hour in the city and what deal is at each bar/restaurant each day of the week.   Unfortunately I have other aspirations in life.  Based upon my limited knowledge and limited pocketbook, my favorite happy hour so far this summer has been the Bradford Beach BYOB.

Drink of choice was the piña coBradford.  A named coined by Dan (pictured above).  It involved Mando and parrot bay and sprite.  Very tropical and perfect for the heart of Downtown Milwaukee.  My only advice to others who try the Bradford Happy Hour:  There is a no glass ordinance.

Milwaukee Summer Fun

Not too long ago I was asked if I was going on any vacations during the summer.  The answer? Aside from my recent wedding trip to gorgeous IOWA, I am avoiding leaving Wisconsin as much as possible.   Milwaukee is filled with endless fun during the summer.  Approximating that summer is June, July, and August- that limits me to about 12 weekends!  So the run around has begun......

Chill on the Hill: Chill on the hill is just what the title describes.  It takes place every Tuesday  in Humboldt Park.  We went a couple weeks ago to see Mel's husband play....

 Above is a portrait that I like to call "Mel and the sunset".   When I took that picture I was I wanted to have the big light ball of sun coming out of her head.  It's a great symbol for society and a lesson to all of us to let our light shine out into the world..... Okay just kidding- it's a horrible picture - but these days you can pull anything off and just call it 'artsy.'

 Above is the pavilion where the musicians play.  The whole event has a really relaxed atmosphere.  There is tons of space for everyone and since it's on a hill you don't have to worry about blocking anyone's view or having a bad seat.

 Above is Mel's son Donovan.  He is dancing to his dad's music.  I love that he thinks it completely normal that his father is up on stage playing the music that Donovan knows.

 Here we are chilling and below is Tonka.

Laying it Out there.....

I got in a PhotoBooth fight.  I think I lost.....

The cutest little origami I have ever seen

Whenever I see origami things, it makes me think of the time that Desarae and I procrastinated from doing homework in college by trying to fill our entire living room with cranes.  We filled the entire coffee table, but let's be real... how many cranes can you make before you're bored enough to find homework appealing.  Anyways this is BY FAR the coolest little origami i have ever seen......

As per the usual.

Over Memorial Day weekend we headed out into the great known kentucky armed with camaraderie, 2 gallons of home-made chex mix, and hopes of climbing great, tall, rocks.  We found it all, along with great weather and lots of mud. 

Climbing is secretly a good sport for a lazy person.  Sitting around and lounging is a very important part of any climbing trip.  If you can't sit around and chill climbing may not be a good sport for you.

David and Shea lazily lounge in a hammock in the shade.

Although it is rare to see Melissa Nimmer climb, she can crush just like the rest of her family.

 Off- roading is an essential and muddy part of any trip to the Red River Gorge.....

Below is a portrait called "David"

 See Caitlyn be awesome.  Because she is awesome and a super strong climber and not a scaredy cat like me.

Can you find a venomous snake in the picture below?  This is one of the many reasons why I can be quoted as saying "I hate nature" on every single trip to Kentucky.  I like trees and I like rocks, but I hate wild venomous snakes, and bees, and going to the bathroom in non-flushing toilets.  

After a hard day of climbing nothing quenches the thirst like a bottle of Ale 8 ginger ale accompanied by a candy cigarette.

 The last sight as we drove back to Wisconsin and work.  Good bye until next time, Kentucky.

 Below are pictures from a weekend trip to Devil's Lake with my brother, Mark.  It's always exciting for me when he comes out to climb.  This was the second time he came out there and he climbed really well.  It was a joy to have one of my best friends and brother come out to do one of my favorite things in the world with me.

 He's got natural ability (good climbing runs in the family) and I secretly hope this is just the beginning of his climbing career.... alongside his skateboarding and golfing careers.  

Every once in a while we go down to enjoy the Lake at Devil's Lake.  I love being out there because it definitely feels like I am away from home and work and everything.  I am amazed by people who don't get to head out anywhere on the weekends.