Season of Thanks

Last night, Rob and I stood amongst 250,000 Chicagoans united in our quest for change. A sense of hope and love and strength filled the air. You couldn't help but notice how unified we all were, standing shoulder-to-shoulder, back-to-back -- cheering in a dawn of change. It's so easy to become negative and bully-ish during the political season, especially when it is one that happens to occur during a particularly stressful national and international climate. I tried to be diplomatic during this presidential election and I think that I was, for the most part. My passion for politics comes not only from the fundamentals my family taught me but from being someone who has had the privilege of experiencing life events well beyond my years. Most of the time, these experiences were drenched in heartache and sadness, however without these, who knows if I would be willing to work so hard for issues I know in my heart are necessary and right.

Today, when I left the gym at school, I walked past a small bulletin board that posed the question, "What are you thankful for?" Hokey at first glance but for some reason the question stuck with me. I realized that I have so much that I am thankful for, especially on the dawn of this new political era of hope and positivity. So here it is, my list of things I am thankful for in 2008:

1) Rob. He's my true companion. He stands beside me in life and supports my quest to make the most of our lives by contributing our talents to any community, local or national. He's also just really fun to be with.

2) My family. My family is huge because I don't define family as just my immediate family. Instead, I see my family as extended (my grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins), marital (in-laws) and closest and dearest friends. I am lucky enough to have so many wonderful people in my life that I need to define what family means to me. A definite reason to give thanks.

3) My education. I cannot believe that I am finally in full nursing swing and that I am closing in on the finish line. My dad told me once that you know you are truly lucky when "your vocation is also your avocation." Nursing will give me the tools to go into the world and be "the change that I wish to see."

4) Chicago! I am so proud of our wonderful city and so happy to say that I feel at home in the Windy City. I think I've found my geographical niche. :)

5) President Obama. Since I can remember, civil rights issues and access have touched my heart, fueled my discussions and offered me endless amounts of topics for school papers and projects. To see a man that embodies most of my values and parlay them into a political movement is still unbelievable to me. I know that with Obama, more movement and change and progress is possible. Even with the overwhelming disappointment I feel regarding Arizona, Florida and California's ban on gay marriage that paints my Mom, Julie and a handful of my closest friends as citizens undeserving of a legalization of their love, I know that we are on the verge of a positive revolution.

There is so much more that I am thankful for...numbers 1-5 will never be enough to give my complete thanks. It would be easier to just give a plain old general thanks to everything but I feel like I do that too often; now it's my chance to give a wordy bit of thanks that will hopefully be a more consistent reminder to be aware of all that I have and why I count myself as unabashedly lucky.

I'll see your 13.1 and raise you 26.2 (???)

Rob and I are back from our East Coast Adventure--as Rob perfectly named it. Last Friday night we flew to Providence, RI to visit Debbie, Noah and dog baby Milo. Their apartment is in a beautiful multiple unit historical building that looks just like a doll house. We spent our evening drinking tea--Rob asked for the Miller Lite flavor and was disappointed to know that it doesn't exist but I'm sure inspired to create it. Can't you hear it now? "For the man who loves beer but is forced to drink tea, we bring you Miller Lite tea. A tea that says testosterone."

In the morning we went to a local bakery for pastries and coffee--a subject Debbie knows quite well. And then I proceeded to buy the largest avocado known to man from a fruit stand on our walk back. This avocado traveled with us all weekend and even made it back to Chicago only to be opened Monday morning and, much to my sadness, realize size does matter. Big avocado = little flavor. Lesson learned, lesson learned.

We loaded up the car and dog baby Milo (who sat in the middle of the back seat between Debbie and I) and went to Brown University to check out the campus for a bit. What can I say other than, it's beautiful in Providence! I fell in love with the homes and the community. Seems like a great environment to learn and live.





We then returned back to the car and were off to Portland, ME! Noah's parents live in Portland and were so gracious to host all of us on Saturday and Sunday. Once in Portland, we went to pick up our race day numbers (1301 and 1302) and then we traveled downtown for some flatbread pizza, micro brews and window shopping. It was time then to head back home for some sleep as race day was less than 12 hours away!



Rob fell asleep quickly that night and I tossed and turned. For some reason, I had an overwhelming amount of anxiety regarding the race. I am not so sure what it was that made me so nervous. Would I forget how to run? Would I be the last one to finish? Would I be able to do it without my iPod (a serious concern)? All of this was of course very silly seeing as I followed my training to a tee and even exceeded the training guidelines but I guess there is something different in the air that night as all I could focus on was 6:15am when Debbie would "wake me" --which implies I was asleep--and then we would be off. No turning back.

The time came and Debbie knocked on our door to "wake" me. I stumbled out and we greeted each other with anxious smiles. I geared up, brushed my teeth and went downstairs, ready to finally attempt what we spent so long training for.

Finally, we were there. At the race. Ready to go. Or not. And *bang* the gun went off. Debbie and I were happy to get started as all the anxiety coursing its way through us had to get out in one way or another and also it was pretty chilly and we were happy to warm up. We missed Rob and Noah sending us off but did see Noah's mom yelling support. The initial miles were fun and just full of dodging faster and slower runners. Finally at mile two, we heard a familiar voice--Rob's! There were Rob and Noah at mile two sending shouts of support and love and encouragement. Rob even jumped in the race for about 50 fee to get an action photo of us.



I'm sure you can figure out what happened for the next two and a half hours---lots of running. I will not bore you with a mile-by-mile account of the race. But I can say that it wasn't as bad as all my anxiety made me think it would be. Having Debbie running beside me was not only comforting but wonderful. To come such a long way from running around the block in junior high (and being extremely out of breath afterwards) to chatting it up at mile 7 in our late twenties was an amazing feeling. To know that your body is strong enough to get through hills and valleys and 13.1 miles of foreign terrain is the most empowering feeling I have ever felt.

When mile 13 was at last before us, we took off in a sprint using energy that neither of us thought we had left. We crossed the finish line triumphantly and enjoyed a stinky embrace. Our husbands were there with flowers and smiles and they even hugged our sweaty selves---which is true love. After recovering, we went home to enjoy some fresh lobster the boys wrangled while we ran, a hike by Noah's house and of course, we recounted our race day experience for the rest of the night.








Monday morning it was time for Rob and I to head home as work and school were waiting for us. The flight was easy and once in Chicago, it seemed as though we had never left. The trip was wonderful. Seeing the east coast, spending time with Debbie, Noah and Milo, running the half, hiking and lobsters. So much fun crammed into such a short space.

The next adventure begins soon. Training for the Big Sur half marathon will start up again in May. Andy and possibly even Nicki have agreed to join me in that one. Coast to coast races is the way to go. Maybe it will even lead to a full marathon someday soon...

It's running time!

It has been a bit since our last post. I'll summarize why:
-Summer softball league
-Vacation to Disney World
-RUNNING
-Roadtrip to a Virginia family reunion
-School started full time for Janey--meaning Rob has to cook dinner 2 nights a week
-RUNNING
-Rob working full time and committing to be a complete commuter/Janey working part time
-Training to be a PAWS volunteer
-RUNNING






So there you go! Life has been a bit hectic, to say the least, but we welcome all of the opportunities and challenges that have come our way as of late. I think it's safe to say that we look forward to the time when life seems a bit more routine but then again, the energy surrounding the unknown is always fun too!

Rob, and my feet, will be especially happy to cross one item off the list above--RUNNING! I have truly developed into the runner that I never thought I could be and I must thank Debbie for that! Without her crazy idea and long distance support and encouragement, I think I might view running 13.1 miles as more of a death sentence than a fun reason to vacation.

My running confidence is high and I plan to continue running throughout the fall, winter and spring and revisit a race or two, starting with the Shamrock Shuffle in March. (Don't tell anyone, but I am also flirting with the idea of running the Chicago marathon next October...we shall see!)



So there it is! The race is 3 days away and while I feel the anxiousness creep over me as I type that small number, I can't help but be excited and proud. Thanks also to Rob for all of his love and support (this is starting to sound like a cheesy award acceptance speech) and bestowing lots of high-end running gear gifts on me. He's the best and I promise to never make him run a half or full marathon with me (not to say that I wouldn't encourage him though...)

See you at the finish line! :)

We celebrate one year and Rob turns 31!

This past weekend was a busy one for us! We had a lot to celebrate as we have officially passed the one year mark in our marriage and Rob is officially into his early 30s (that doesn't start until 31, right?)

On Friday, Mania and Shawn took Rob and I to see a play about the trials and tribulations Cubs fans experience every year. The show is call "Wait Till Next Beer" and it was such a great time. We all enjoyed the show and especially enjoyed the Ron Santo impressions.



Saturday, Rob and I celebrated our first wedding anniversary with some amazing Spanish seafood at Dorado and capped the night off by watching The Dark Night in Evanston.



For Rob's birthday, we had the Hilgart clan over to our house for a fiesta in Rob's honor. Lots of tacos, fajitas and Rob's favorite, queso fundido (thanks Linda!)





Rob was also gifted with some great toys (Guitar Hero, a video camera, grilling tools) and EVERYONE had a lot of fun playing with them.







All in all, a great weekend! We are so thankful to everyone for anniversary and birthday wishes and feel so thankful for all that we have to celebrate.

Now it's off to Disney!

Fruits of the Garden

It's been a bit since our last garden update (and I know you are all just chomping at the bit in anticipation!) Since our last update, our Coleus has grown tall and strong and quite beautiful. We even purchased a fancy new planter for it.



We've also produced some green beans!



Currently, our herbs are growing like weeds and one of my favorite things to do is just walk outside and plant my face right in them to gather all of the aromas. I think that fresh herbs from the garden has to rank on my top ten list of worldly pleasures.



I think one of our favorite flowers currently is our moss rose. They are very finicky and only come out during the afternoon, typically when no one is home. The best part is the surprise of color that bursts.





One morning, while making pancakes, Rob noticed that we had a butterfly in our flowers. I quickly halted pancake production to grab the camera and snap a few shots. It was magnificent and goes to show that even city folk experience nature up close.

STAY THIRSTY, my friends

For a while now (read over six years), I have asked Rob to please grow out his facial hair. I don't know what it is about facial hair (maybe the fact that I can't grow any?) but I love it. Rob however, is not a big fan of facial hair. He feels that unshaven = unkempt, dirty, careless...on and on. I disagree. Soooo...I made Rob a deal; if he will grow out his facial hair, I will wake up each weekday morning to make his breakfast, pack his lunch and groom his beard (see what happens to your time when you quit your full-time day job?!)

The best part, and the most unexpected, is that while working on Rob's beard---trying to convince him that if groomed appropriately, his "beard" would be work-acceptable---Rob started to impersonate the Dos Equis beer guy. What followed was an hour long photo shoot of Rob, his growing beard and his impression of the Dos Equis man. Laughter and this blog entry ensued.

Enjoy and as he would say, stay thirsty, my friends.

Urban Coolness

After over a year of looking, we finally found and purchased a piece of art to go above the family room couch. It took some time for us to locate something that fit the style of the room, but the wait was definitely worth it.



The artwork is made up of tightly folded newspaper and paint canvas remnants. The colorful inner square contains the canvas pieces, with the newspaper creating an interesting border. Our new addition proves that urban coolness can be achieved using recycled materials. Going green looks great!

A Visit from Grandma Joyce

Grandma Joyce beat us to the visit punch this past Sunday! We will be going to Florida to visit Grandma Joyce and Bob in August but we were lucky enough to be able to see her before then at Bob and Linda's. We enjoyed a great BBQ with lots of Hilgart snacks and grilled meats and then finished the evening with a bunch of rounds of "Left, Right, Center" (an awesome dice game.)

Oh and we played with real money...dimes...don't laugh, it was enough to provide Rob and I with plently of wings on Monday's 10 cent wing night after softball!



Abby had to make this post as she took up most of our time that day and ended up being the main subject in all of our photos (as always.)

Sunday Morning Muffins

For a while now, Saturday mornings have been pancake mornings. This past Saturday was no different--except there was a twist. This Saturday the pancakes would have fresh blueberries! They were so delicious however, we still had blueberries left. No worries, Sunday morning turned into muffin morning. Blueberry muffin morning.




As long as the summer keeps providing us with yummy blueberries, I think Sunday morning blueberry muffins will become a tradition!

Blueberry Muffin Recipe
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons baking powder
1/2 cup sugar
1 stick unsalted butter, melted
1 egg, slightly beaten
3/4 cup reduced fat milk
1 1/2 cups fresh blueberries
1/2 cup granulated brown sugar or white sugar

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 12-cup muffin tin.

In a bowl, combine the flour, baking powder and sugar. In another bowl, combine butter, egg, and milk and mix well. Pour the wet ingredients into the flour mixture and with a spatula, stir until just combined. Do not beat or over mix; it's okay if there are lumps in the batter. Gently fold the blueberries into the batter.

Spoon the batter into the muffin tray, filling each cup about 2/3 full. Bake for 10 minutes and remove from the oven. Sprinkle the tops of the muffins with the granulated brown or white sugar and return the muffins to the oven to bake for an additional 10 to 15 minutes, until the tops are golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center of a muffin comes out clean. Cool for about 10 minutes in the pan before turning the muffins out.

Weekend o'Independence

Ahh...summer holidays are truly the best! I find that summer days free of work and open to any and all possibilities are rehabilitating and bring out the same feelings experienced during childhood summers off from school.

Rob and I celebrated our weekend of American independence as well as responsibility indenpendence Friday, Saturday and Sunday. We visited Bob and Linda on Friday for a lovely BBQ full of lots of food, drinks and fun dice games. Then Saturday, we woke up bright and early and rushed off to North Avenue beach for a full day of beach volleyball, picnic-ing, and dives into the icy cold waters of Lake Michigan. The weather was absolutely perfect. We could not have asked for a better beach day. Oh, and Rob was also quite the volleyball pro...playing all day long and even taking a volleyball to the face!

Later in the evening, Mania and Sophie came over for a low key BBQ at our home and we took the opportunity again, to enjoy our summer day and sit outside well into the night talking and eating. Perfection.

The rest of the weekend was spent recovering from more than our normal share of fun, sun and activity by hitting up Costco and completely blowing our anticipated budget. Oops! At least we got a meal's worth of samples out of the visit.

Weekends like these really illustrate to Rob and I how lucky we are to live in such a wonderful city and have such wonderful people to celebrate with. Now we just have to wait in anticpation for Labor Day...