Pools out for the summer!

Happy Summer! The pool at our apartment complex opened yesterday, so we made a family event out of it and graced it with our presence. The great thing about our pool is it has a baby pool and a regular sized pool, there were only 2 other families there and they have a life guard on duty. I didn't know small pools likes this did that, but it seems to be the standard around here. We don't plan on having to utilize the skills of the life guard, but it is a nice thing to have around, no?
We plan on spending a lot of time at the pool. So instead of buying disposable swim diapers, I bought some reusable swim diapers. Here he is modeling one of them. I think they are so dang cute. So far I'm very pleased with them.

It is kind of nice to have an excuse to go swimming again. We all had a great time. Thankfully, we won't have to drag the camera along next time. No need to document the second time swimming.

Now for a PSA:
Do you guys remember these things - the swim tube trainer? Please don't buy them! When I was a life guard, I saw kids wearing these things and they would inevitably tip over when their parents weren't looking and get stuck with their legs above water and head below. Don't do it, they should be banned from the market. Worst idea ever.

The flavors of summer

Since we are city slickers, having a garden really isn't possible. I shed a few tears over this every year. But alas, we have a balcony so I decided to plant a few things. 1. Basil. I love basil and it is outrageously priced at the grocery store. 2. Tomatoes. What, tomatoes on a balcony, never! Yes it's true. My friend Cami told me she bought some balcony tomatoes at the store just the other day. They only grow to about 2-3 feet high, and the fruit is only a few inches. So, we are giving them a try. I was worried, because last weekend was the end of the world and I would be very upset if I didn't get to taste the fruits of my labors. Aren't we lucky that the world didn't end? Tomatoes will be here in July. Asher is a good little helper. Bad picture, but what kind of a face do you expect when you taste dirt? It did look like chocolate cake crumbs, easy to confuse.
Bring on the flavors of summer: blt's, panzanella, pizza, and caprese salad.

Julie/Juli@ Project

Bill and I went and saw Julie & Juli@ last weekend. I liked it. Or maybe I should say, I liked Amy Adams and Juli@ Child. I mean, who doesn't like the woman who brought French cooking to servant less American women. I remember seeing her on TV, and unfortunately, I ignored her. She was kind of weird, had a weird voice, and it seems like it came on right after my other least favorite show, This Old House on Saturday mornings. But alas, after seeing this movie, I was inspired. So I picked up the book (that the movie is about) and I've discovered, as much as I like Julie's writing style, I don't like her. All the narrations in my head are by Amy Adams. I think it is time to move on to Julia's book asap. But in tribute to Julia, Bill and I are cooking a fine gourmet dinner. Frozen pizza and deep fried oreos. I'm sure Julia would be rolling in her grave.

Bon Appetit!

House/Dog Sitting

Did I mention we are house sitting for 3 weeks. Yep, it is true. One of the doctors I work for is taking a 3 week vacation at a beach house on Lake Michigan. It even has a private beach. That is what people do here, go to their beach house in the dead center of a continent. Anyway, she has already called to brag about how wonderful it is. Life is hard, isn't it? Anyway, we are staying at their house, taking care of the dog, Molly. She is a German Shepard/Golden Retriever mix, I think. I mean look at those ears (see above picture), I know she is at least part GS. And she sheds like I've NEVER seen before.My boss told us we could bring our cat, because lets be honest, 3 weeks is a long time to leave a cat. They live close enough to us that we could go back and forth, but we are happy to have him here. We introduced Molly to Cass and vice versa, the result - they couldn't care less about each other. I've never seen to animals so indifferent to each other. In fact, Cass just sits around and watches old Molly (see above picture).
But I'll tell you what, staying in a house, albeit old, is nice. We have a washer and dryer (heaven), a garage, a small yard, and a BBQ. I could get used to living in a house again......really fast. Except, it feels weird not having a million barriers from the world, you know, door to apartment building, door man, key to get through to the elevators, and another key to get into our apartment. I almost feel like we are vulnerable with only 1 locked door between us and the great outdoors. Anyone else feel this way?

1 week down, 2 more to go.

Summer is for Baseball

White Sox vs. Royals.
White Sox 4
Royals 5
Nothing hurts worse than being beaten by the worst team (insert Royals) in the country.

Go Royals!!!

End of Summer

This summer is finally over! Why is that? Because Bill is coming home today! Huzzah!

Annapolis

I'm in DC for the weekend, and we went to Annapolis yesterday with my sister and her husband to eat Maryland Blue Crab. All I have to say is those were some yummy little suckers.

My New BFF

Yesterday I bought this. I LOVE it! I've been kind of looking for a city bike for a while. I say kind of because everyday when I walk home from work, I see all these bikes, like this one, chained up to the gates around apartment buildings, and I contemplate taking one. No one would notice, right? Okay, I would never steel, but I sure did covet. I also perused cr@ig's list occasionally for a bike that fit and didn't require a major overhaul. And yesterday I had success, I found this sweet puppy out in Aurora- the home of Wayne's World. I made A go with me to pick it up all the way out in suburbia, and I felt somewhat giddy at the prospect of being in a place with so much grass and open space. And then I realized when we were cramming the bike into my car that the lady probably picked this up at a suburbia garage sale for cheap and was re-selling it to some city slicker (aka, me - they don't have garage sales in the city, no one has garages/yards) for a fat profit. Yeah, I think I got taken, but oh well, you find something that is perfect and you snatch it up.
You know, maybe I would be able to get to work on time now that the buses have a weird summer schedule. That would be great! And I love the baskets, perfect for my groceries, or library books, flowers, farmers market, beach crap, and maybe even a puppy (j/k - we aren't getting a puppy, yet). Now I just need to buy 2 bike locks, because that seems to be the standard around here. Maybe one u-lock will suffice.

Car Spindle from Wayne's World. It no longer exists.

image from Whateverland

New Haircut, New Shirt, New Home

So I felt it was time to reveal my new haircut. Oh hallelujah, my last haircut was......ugly, I hated it. Luckily, I found Dave, my great hairdresser, who had changed locations, thus my last crappy hair cut. But he has been found and great yet expensive haircuts can resume!
Oh, what? You don't care about my cute vogue pose to showcase my hair? You are wondering about my adorable shirt? Well it is worth wondering about because this will be our location for the summer. Well kind of, the location for the summer will be in Washington DC, but all the cool people I know live in Virginia and Virginia IS for lovers. I'm a lover, not a hater. So there you have it. Bill will be working for this firm (see below), and we are really excited. So if you live in the vicinity, or will be in the area for the summer, let's be friends.

Eat your heart out

Did you know that I'm an accomplished golfer? With wiffle balls that is. Eat your heart out Christa.

Seersucker Thursdays

I know, I should probably do this post on Thursday, but life is so calm right now and I can't think of anything else to post. So today, we are going to talk about Washington D.C. also know as the District, and all of its idiosyncrasies. I like D.C., don't get me wrong, but there were a few things that I encountered while I was there that I couldn't help but laugh at. One of the things that I learned about was how during the summer, the Senate has Seersucker Thursday, a day when they all wear their Seersucker Suits of course. Feast your eyes above.
I also had the opportunity to see what I feel is the epitome of the east coast, guys wearing chinos, long sleeved collared shirts with the sleeves rolled up and shirts tucked in, and of course a nice pair of summer loafers (I can't remember what they are called). They kind of reminded me of Carlton Banks. I suppose it was amusing because you just don't see that style on the west coast, but it seems to be prevalent in the east.
Does anyone else think it is weird that D.C. has no skyscrapers? Feel free to comment on any idiosyncrasies that you've notice, you know, for kicks and giggles.

The end

(P.S. I really like D.C. for all of its quirks)

"Hell Hath No Fury Like a Woman Scorned" and boy do I feel SCORNED!!!

Dear girl,
We rented our home to you for the summer clean and nice, and you left it like a bull in a China shop. But let me just thank you for a few things that you thoughtfully left for us. Thank you for the the black disgusting mold on the caulk of our bathrooms and kitchen. Thanks for the shrimp tales surrounding the garbage. Thanks for the tomato (plus seeds) that were ground into the tile. Thanks for killing my plant. Thanks for the greasy face prints that were left on every window in the apartment. Thanks for leaving the kitchen floor more sticky than the floor of a dollar theater. Thanks for leaving beer caps all around the house, I've had a grand time finding them all. Thanks for using up every type of oil that I own, I'm sure that had we left our car, you would have siphoned the oil and gas out of that too. Thanks for leaving juicy rotten garlic in my wooden bowl. Thanks for my more than doubled electricity bill. You really have outdone yourself. You are the most disgusting person I've ever had to deal with. Thank you for showing me that having faith in humanity is futile. Feel free to come by and pick up your crap. I'll give you a knuckle sandwich for the drive home.

Sincerely, your disgruntled lessor,

Kate

I love swimsuits!

I'm doing a vintage photo day, thanks for the idea Paige. The reason I decided to to this post is because I love swimsuits so so much. I'm always on the look out for the latest and greatest swimsuit. And even though I don't go swimming that often anymore, you should always be prepared, especially when you are expecting a 110 degree day or more for the summer. Did I mention that my reason for my great love of swimsuits? It's because in my youthful days I lived in a swimsuit because: I was on swim team, taught swimming lessons, saved lives everyday as a lifeguard, and last but not least, swimming is just something you do in the summer with your friends. Plus, Layers has a bunch of really cute swimsuits and I want them.In case you were wondering, I'm the one on the far right, the short one, and yes, swimsuits with legs are cool, everybody's wearing them.
Total number of swimsuits I own: around 65, though most of them are not wearable anymore. But I've been holding on to them all these years because one day, I'm going to make an awesome quilt out them.

Viva Las Vegas!

The rumor is true, we are moving to Sin City for the summer. (Those of you from Las Vegas, do you hate that your city is called Sin City?) Bill got an externship with Judge Bybee of the 9th district. For those of you who don't know what that means, it means that he has a job and we are delighted! So when spring quarter is out, we will be headed to Vegas for an excellent yet sweaty summer. And I'll make a shout out to Phill, thanks, you are Bill's idol! Citymama, you and the offspring will have to show me where the loosest slots are, can't wait to live the viva loca (and eat at In and Out). And finally, great job Bill, I'm so proud of you!

It's Hammer(Burger) Time

There is nothing that means summer more than a good ol bar-b-que. Well I suppose I should qualify that, bar-b-ques are great but hamburgers are wonderful! I have always loved hamburgers, (and turkey clubs- but that is a different story). Wonderful juicy burgers on the grill with fresh onions and tomatoes from the garden and lettuce. Oh I can smell it now.....YUM! Burgers with chips and potato salad and soda- all that is wonderful. And lucky for me, we have had then 3 days in a row. Yes this is a little much, but when you won't have access to a BBQ for the next few years, you take what you can get. So I thought I would grace you with a pictures of a big fat juicy hamburger- to end the summer, since summer was officially over on Friday Aug 31.