The long awaited apartment photos...

I know I promised these pictures many, many weeks ago to all of you out there that are reading my blog. I have fallen down on my job of updating as frequently as I would like because of lacking internet at my new apartment. It's difficult to update my blog without ready access to the internet when I get home from work.

Luckily, I finally had a chance to take some pictures today of my new apartment. I have unpacked all of my boxes except for a few lingering ones that are milling around under the stairs. However, I think that's pretty good considering I've been out of town three weekends out of the past two months and working the other weekends. I have yet to hang any of my pictures so the walls are still bare, but most everything else is in order.

When you first walk into my apartment, the study is off to the left. It's small but perfect.


The great part is that the study has this skylight above it since it has no windows. The skylight brings in a ton of natural light during the day, which is wonderful.


The next room along the entry hallway is the bathroom. It was already conveniently painted this lime green color, which matches my shower curtain perfectly!


After leaving the entry hallway, you enter into the big open kitchen/dining room/living room space. I love the open-ness of it! AND I absolutely LOVE the floor to ceiling window!




Here is my bedroom--upstairs in the loft. I didn't make my bed today. My bedroom is still kind of a wreck so this is the only picture I have of it for now. At the other end of my bedroom, that open area looks down into the study and out the skylight. I am seriously considering curtains for that area because the skylight is much too bright at 8am on Saturday and Sunday mornings!


Looking down from my bedroom...


Another shot of the living room...


The kitchen and entryway, taken from the living room...


One last shot...

The Michigan 1969 football team...

The weekend after Alison's wedding, I flew to Michigan to spend the weekend with my dad and attend the Michigan vs. OSU rivalry game. (On a side note...it was probably my ninth round trip flight this year. That seems crazy to me but is true. I love traveling!)

Last year my dad and I went to a Michigan football game too--my first one in the Big House--so maybe we are starting a yearly father-daughter trip? Possibly. This year was the 40th anniversary of one of the years my dad played football at Michigan--1969. That was Bo's first year coaching Michigan football and they beat OSU, against all odds. (Here is an article and some video footage about the '69 team and the OSU game that year: http://www.annarbor.com/sports/forty-years-later-build-up-to-michigans-greatest-football-win-still-evokes-memories/ )

It was really neat to hear all the stories about Michigan football during Bo's time as coach and to have an opportunity to meet so many guys my dad played with during his time at Michigan! It was a memorable and priceless experience.

(Here is another article too: http://www.detnews.com/article/20091119/SPORTS0201/911190411/Bo-s-triumph-in-1969-should-inspire-2009-Wolverines )

We flew in Friday afternoon and went out for lunch after dropping off our suitcases. We saw this car on the road, and I couldn't resist capturing a few shots of it.


Friday night there was a dinner for the '69 team players. These are all guys my dad played football with at Michigan (at least the ones that made it to the reunion). Can you find my dad?


These pictures are from before the game started. My dad and his previous teammates were on the field waiting for their introduction. My dad's wearing a blue hat, in case you want to locate him. :)


The Buckeye marching band...




The Wolverine marching band...




This is when my dad and the rest of the'69 team were introduced and crossing the field under the "Go Blue" banner.


This is an up-close shot--my dad is jumping up to touch the banner.


A shot of the stadium...


The other side...


And the game begins...






At the second time-out, the '69 team was honored on the field. They gave some background information and showed some video footage of the game on the scoreboard screen. It was all very moving.


My dad's on the right hand side...


Here we are after the game. Even though Michigan lost, I had a great time with my dad reliving some of his really special memories from the past. Thanks for taking me dad!

My Best Friend's Wedding (not the movie)

November has been a busy month for me. Shortly after moving at the beginning of October, I flew out to Arizona to visit my brother. Shortly after returning back to Durham, I flew out again for Alison's wedding. It was a beautiful, fun, tear-filled (happy ones) wedding weekend. These are memories I will cherish forever.

Here are just a few of the many photos I took during that time...

Below are Alison, the bride, Alicia, Meg, and Amy (sister-in-law) at the Bridesmaid Luncheon Friday afternoon. We sat in the kitchen enjoying some hot potato soup while Alison's mom, grandmothers, aunts, and mom's friends enjoyed their lunch in the dining room. We mingled before lunch and then had some time to discuss our own age-related topics during lunch.


Meg and I waiting to head to dinner after the short rehearsal at the church.


Meg, Alicia, and Alison caught in a laughing fit during the pre-picture preparation.




Alison's dad, Rick, with her grandma (left) and grandmother (right). Aren't they cute?!


Alison with her cousins, Mariana and John.


Aww, the siblings cheesin' it up for a picture at the rehearsal dinner.




Alison hugging Chris' dad with his mom standing close by.


Alison with her wonderful parents!


Alison and Chris at Aunt Diana and Uncle Steve's house, for the rehearsal dinner part two, posing for a pic with Grandma's sister Deedee.


The bridesmaids (minus me, of course).


Wow! Look at all that family! Alison's extended family sits mesmerized by the exciting DVD (put together by Rusty--Amy's dad) chronicling the lives of Alison and Chris pre- and post-dating.


And now we have arrived at the wedding day...sitting in the limo with the gorgeous bride-to-be! Doesn't she look like a movie star?!


They're hitched!


AND dancing!


Best man-Greg, groom-Chris, bride-Alison (aka the friendship soulmate of my life), maid of honor-otherwise known as me.


Dancing it up, just like we love to do!


I am so happy for Alison and Chris, and I could not have asked for a better best friend-in-law!

Visiting Arizona

For those who have been patiently waiting for me to update my blog with pictures of my new apartment, I have to say it's going to be a disappointing post in those regards. I do promise that I will follow through soon and post pictures of my new place, but I really haven't had a chance yet. I just recently unpacked almost all of my boxes this past Sunday. Now, all I have left to unpack are my picture frames to make everything seem a little homier. Lastly, I'll hang the pictures on the wall to fill the big open spaces.

I do have some pictures to share though. A couple weeks ago we had a "fall break." I kind of felt like I was in college because that's the last time that I had an extended period of time off in the middle of October. It was really nice to have some time off at the end of the first quarter to recuperate and relax. If I had known when I would be moving, I'd have probably stayed home to get everything in order at my apartment. However, my tickets had been booked long before I ever knew when I would be moving. After visiting my brother this summer during my cross country trip with Jenn, I realized how much I miss having him in my life, so I booked a trip to see him during my first available long break--fall break. It wasn't as long of a trip as I would have liked it to be, but it was great nonetheless. My brother has consistently been one of the most important and influential people in my life since I was little. He's truly an amazing person, and I'm extremely grateful that we had an opportunity to spend so much one-on-one time during this trip. This time together provided us an opportunity to reconnect after such sporadic time together over the past 6 years, when he left NC for Arizona. My brother is a huge reason that I am the person I am today, and I will forever be thankful for having him in my life.

Who doesn't need a pair of these on their car?


Josh and I shared many great, insightful, heartfelt conversations over coffee while I was visiting.








Josh helped me correct my composition on the shot below by doing it better than me; so of course, I had to take the shot again to show him that I could compose great pictures, just like him. Ha ha. :) (competitive siblings? nah.)




Squint and move up really close to your computer, and you'll find the crescent moon.


Our cousin Derek's adorable daughter, Ella.










On my last full day there, we had brunch at a place that reminded me of Parker and Otis, here in Durham. Great food, great coffee, and great people-watching!

More coffee, please!