Happy Father's Day!

Happy Father's Day! 

I am blessed to have so many great memories with this man. Today is a day I can look back on his life and be thankful that I got to be a part of it. 


For those of you with fathers today, don't let the day go by without telling them how much you love and appreciate them. For those of you who have lost a father, smile on the memories you have. For those who have never really had a father figure, keep in mind all of those people that love and cherish you. 


Here's three cheers to breakfast at Grandma's, a mother who brings me watermelon when I'm sick with a fever, and a best friend who stays up 25 straight hours to surprise me upon her arrival from Europe. 

"Its the little things that matter, that add up in the end, with the priceless thrilling magic found only in a friend." [Elizabeth Dunphy]

Attractiveness circa 2009.

Dear Dad- You taught me a lot about how to do sweet little things. Like the mug you brought me home from Virginia or the two candy hearts mom now carries around in her wallet. You taught me how to show love in the littlest of ways. Dear Mom- Thank you for being my eternal motivator. You were so productive today which really inspired me to get off my butt and do the same! Thanks for really cracking down and helping me out cleaning today, your love amazes me. Dear Grocery Shopping- I got you done in time and under-budget. And I only got lost twice(vinegar and butter), so that's pretty impressive. Also, apparently I find the need to talk to myself a lot while I am grocery shopping, so hopefully the other customers didn't get too scared. My thoughts are pretty scrambled, kinda like this. Dear Best Friend- Please hurry home soon so we can watch dumb movies, laugh until our tummies hurt, and take really awesome photos(see above). I am aching to finally see you after this extraordinarily long time apart.


Humanity High: Today, a woman in my adult swim class who was probably in her mid-forties, told me about why she's taking the class. She said she's always been afraid of the water, especially deep water and having her head under. She then went on to tell me that her husband does triathlons, has taken master swimmer classes, and has the telltale swimmers shoulders. She said she's never been able to swim, but it's on her bucket list to learn how to swim. HOW FREAKING COOL IS THAT?! People amaze me. 

Life Intelligence

Sometimes I worry that my intelligence is decreasing. Or that I'm not learning enough. I expected that I'd go to college and come back speaking french, quoting philosophers, discussing novels, and citing the dates and artists of certain paintings. Okay, so these were obviously not realistic expectations in the least, but I still sometimes fret that I haven't learned anything in college. The more I think about it though, the more I realize that I am learning so many valuable life skills. Although life skills can't be outwardly flaunted or admired, I still think they are important, and I need to consider them when I think about what I've learned in college. So, with that in mind, here's a list I've started about things I've "learned" in college.

I have learned...

...how to live on less and live without spending unnecessarily. 

...how to talk to a professor. 

...how to go to an event where I don't know anyone. 

...how to enjoy working.

...how to keep up long-distance relationships.

...to try for something I don't think I can achieve. 

...the importance of getting my "extrovert" time. 

...to fail. 

...to ask for help. 

...that it is okay to cry and cry often. 

...that it is okay to just relax and have fun, school is not everything. 

...that I CAN become the person I've always envisioned myself being. 

...to trust in God in all things. [1. 2. 3. 4.]

Humanity High: [In place of P.S. I am going to be doing Humanity High for a while. This is basically where I write something that I see that gives me hope for humanity, because I tend to overlook the good in people, which is something I want to change.]

Today at work, there was a woman in the water fitness class who just went out of her way to put everyone else first. When she found out there was a deaf woman in the class, she restated all of the directions so the woman could read her lips and know what exercise to do next. This incredibly selfless woman also took the time to put away everyone's noodles and get them all water weights (all 20 people!) I was just inspired by this woman's altruism in an every-man-for-himself society. 

"I figure life’s a gift, and I don’t intend on wasting it. You never know what hand you’re gonna get dealt next. You learn to take life as it comes at you, to make each day count.” [Jack, Titanic]

Over the weekend I had a cliche good time with friends, festivals, and sun. 

Loads of LOTR chess.

Congratulations Austin!

On the boat! (Gotta love the white sox...) 

Photocredit: Jillian 

Walleye Weekend...what did Sam & Skylar talk me into? 

Cheesing.

Photocredit: Jillian

Frisbee!

Photocredit: Skylar

Austin's flower crown that Jillian and I made. 

Photocredit: Jillian

(I know it's hard to believe, but he didn't end up wearing it the rest of the party.)

 Thursday
...Annette, Jill, and I picked up Garrett from the airport and the whole fam headed over to Fratellos for some delicious pizzas. 
...We spent the afternoon at Hetricks, playing chess, sitting in the sun, and taking graduation photos.
...I spent the night with Mara, watching this movie and making failed pastries. 


Friday
...After cleaning the house and a long run, I packed up for a day at the lake. 
...Jillian, Garrett, Chelsea, Austin, and I drove out to Winneconne for a day at the Sather's lake house. 
...We started the afternoon by sunning when the boat wouldn't start, but finally got out on the water and went swimming. It was great just being in a lake again, plus we got to enjoy walking on the cloud (muck), watched me embarrass myself doing butterfly, had a diving contest, and got bruises trying to get back into the boat. 
...We had some snacks back at the house and took some pictures before I headed out to Fond du Lac. 
...I met up with Sam and Skylar for Fond du Lac Fish Fest, where I ended up meeting a lot of their friends, and also saw a great deal of shirtless, pregnant, and drunk people. (Though luckily I didn't see any shirtless, drunk, pregnant people.)


Saturday
...After sleeping in, I headed out to Hortonville with my mom for a grad party, where I ate my weight in pasta salad. 
...I went thrifiting and got a new shirt and shorts, which I'm pretty pumped about. 
...My mom and I made dinner and then had a mellow night watching this thriller. 


Sunday
...After church, Skylar came over, and the two of us biked over to Austin's grad party.
...Jillian, Skylar, and I spent the afternoon at the party, taking pictures, making flower crowns, looking at old pictures of Austy, throwing frisbees, and chatting with Garrett, Chelsea, Molly, and Mariah.  
...Skylar and I spent the rest of the night at my house watching a classic chick flick and chatting until he had to go home around 9 (lame.) 


All in all it was a FANTASTIC weekend. Thoroughly unproductive, but I am so happy I got to spend time with so many of the people I am close to. 

"Your absence has not taught me how to be alone, it merely has shown that when together we cast a single shadow on the wall." [Doug Fetherling]

A map of all of the cool places my friends are this summer. 

(click on the photo to make it larger)

Dear Dad- Lately I've been using your old bike as my main mode of transportation. I got shiny new gears and brakes put in and I am just loving my silver two-wheeler. Dear Stay-cation- You are the perfect way to spend my last week before work starts to really get busy. Having the house to myself for midnight feasts, dancing to country music, and sleeping in a queen-sized bed is kind of awesome. Dear Skylar- Thank you for sticking by me even when I am irrationally crabby. Your forgiveness inspires me. Dear Friends- This summer you are scattered all over the globe. Sometimes this means I get bored and sad, but it also means I can hear all about your amazing adventures through skype and phone calls.


P.S. The next fews days are filled with a lot of friendships and joy and excitement. I feel so blessed to have weekends like these to look forward to.