M.I.A. - Kelly

Yes, I know I've been missing in action recently. But I have been BUSY!!! For any of you I haven't talked to recently, I was offered (and accepted) a position as a school director at Teach For America's Chicago Institute (where new corps members are trained). Institute runs June-July, but the job has definitely already started. Aside from the work I'm doing to get ready to manage the staff members at my school, I've been at conferences in Texas and Arizona in past weeks. All of this, PLUS I'm still working my regular full-time job.

I have to admit it- I'm not quite as insanely energetic as I was in college, but I love being so busy again. I definitely thrive on a full schedule. I'm trying to keep balance on the weekends I'm in town- Lucy and I have been spending a lot of time chilling on the couch, walking around out neighborhood, and terrorizing the neighboring dogs in the backyard. It's a nice balance to my jam-packed weeks!

Anyway, I'll try to post a little more frequently, but all you're going to get are work updates until July... :)

Miami/Key West Photos - Brady

Ouch. Coming home from Florida to rainy weather and another quarter of hard classes is tough.

If, like me, you need to be reminded of what sunshine and relaxation look like, click on the link below to see some pictures from Kevin and my recent trip to Miami/Key West!

Miami/Key West Spring Break 2010

(And yes, it's both thrilling and pathetic that I still get a spring break at 27 years old.)

Teaching - Brady

Someone I met at a coffee shop today gloated to me that "all the smartest people" in her high school class who were going to have "big" jobs ended up as teachers. I'm having trouble containing my frustration. I'm not being sentimental about teaching. I'm not idealizing it. I'm saying that this is a reality: we will have trouble, as a country, of doing anything, improving anything, if we don't have smart, dedicated, talented teachers. We would all be lucky if the smartest people we knew became educators.

Patiently Waiting... -Amy

As a first year teacher, my job is "up-in-the-air" to say the least. It has recently had a brand new twist thrown in with the crazy budget cuts that the whole state of Indiana has had to make in education. While first year teachers moving around is something I knew would be coming no matter where I went (most schools base positions on seniority), I still was not prepared for how fast the situation would be upon me.

Luckily, I have not been told that I have to move... yet. I love the people I work with, I love 4th grade, I love everything about it. I would be BEYOND lucky if I got to stay. I am crossing my fingers anyways!

You could cross yours too... if you would like.

Hotels - Brady

Love 'em. I'm in Hammond, Indiana. Kevin's doing a trial here, and since I was done with classes, I joined him at the Fairfield Marriott. I arrived on the South Shore last night. While he ate with his boss and their client, I ordered in pizza, checked my email, Facebook, and the blogs I read, and then worked on a research project. This morning, I slept in, went to the free Continental breakfast, worked out while learning about Helsinki on the Travel Channel, ate leftover pizza and a quarter of a Ritter Sport bar, and am now sitting in the lobby (checkout was at 2) waiting for the Kevster to come and get me.

I just really like hotels. I like to sit at the desks in the rooms and use my computer, check out the workout rooms, use the little shower products (Pantene Pro-V, here), and get the free coffee in the lobby. I also like how they smell like chlorine and how when you come back from wherever you've been, your room is magically cleaned up.

My Chicago - Brady

Amy's post about imagining her real-life life in Chicago made me think about my own experience here. I was in a situation similar to hers. Kevin and I were engaged. He was in law school in Chicago, and I was living with my parents and working for La Porte's school system. I enjoyed our weekends together, but remember Kevin being the one who was really obsessed with the city. I figured we'd live here until we were both done with school and then move back to Indiana. (Which happened. Kind of.)

When I actually moved in, though, Chicago started to become my city. And just like I said in my comment on Amy's post, the day-to-day routines were what really made me love it. Some of my favorites were:

• Summertime Tuesday night movies in the park with wine, snacks, and friends.
• My walk to the Sedgwick Purple Line stop through the narrow brick streets and gardens in Old Town (especially in the spring).
• Shopping for Christmas presents at the small local stores near the Armitage stop.
• Nights at River Shannon, a great neighborhood bar. Christmas lights + peanut shells on floor + local beer.
• Saturday and Sunday trips to the Green City Farmers' Market.
• Showing up at friends' warm little apartments for parties and movie nights after long, cold, winter walks up Clark Street.
  
• Drenching our workout clothes in Lake Michigan to cool off after long runs on the Lakeshore Trail.
  
• Eating dinner with Kevin in our studio apartment, listening to new music he bought on iTunes (Sufjan Stevens' Illinois and Michigan albums, Wilco, and Death Cab for Cutie were favorites during that era).
• Being surprised and thrilled at how easy it was to live without a car here.
• Ranalli's. It was right behind our apartment building, had white Christmas lights up on their patio all year round, and served this delicious double-crust pizza as well as beer from all over the world.
  
• Stopping in to interesting neighborhood restaurants, bars, grocery stores, florists, clothing stores, etc.
• Living amazingly close to famous landmarks. Second City was 3 blocks from our old apartment, and we went to church occasionally on Michigan Avenue, right across from the John Hancock building.
  
• The Chicago Tribune on our doorstep every Sunday morning.
• Being able to give tourists and newbies directions. I felt SO accomplished when I could do that!
  

I think that as Hoosiers who have grown up close to the big city we tend to think of it as scary, expensive, hard-to-navigate, and therefore a place you only go on vacation. I am still surprised at how much I love it here and how comfortable I feel. I never expected to be a city girl, but I am. And I'm thinking Amy will be, too. :)

I'll leave you with some pictures of my first year or two living in Chicago - a very, very happy time in my life:

At the Green City Farmers' Market with Cindy, my mother-in-law.

Movies in the park.

Painting our apartment blue.

The apartment itself, just about in its final form.

... -Amy

So....





This is where Roger and I will be spending August 2 (sorry Brady... Happy Birthday!) - August 8.

Suckers.

I can totally see myself living in Chicago next year! -Amy

I spent the weekend in Chicago, visiting Roger, as I have on many other occasions. This one seemed a little different, however. Roger and I decided we spent too much money on going out to eat, so we went grocery shopping instead. We got awesome food to make for dinner, and for the rest of the weekend. I can totally see myself making breakfasts, lunches, and dinners in Chicago next year.

We spent sometime downtown on Saturday during the day to watch the Saint Patrick's Day Parade. We met up with some good friends that we haven't seen in a long time who have either relocated to the area or decided to visit this weekend. I FINALLY got to see one of my best friends, Jordan, after MUCH too long. Jordan lives and goes to PA school in Downer's Grove, but is currently looking to move to the city. She is looking to live in the same neighborhoods that Roger and I will be looking at in a few months. I can TOTALLY see myself hanging out with Jordan in Chicago next year.

On Sunday morning, Roger and I walked to Brady, Kevin, and Kelly's apartment (although Brady and Kevin weren't there) and made breakfast. We were totally lazy and watched a movie. I can see myself hanging out with my sisters next year in Chicago.

I hate Sundays. This isn't how I've always been, because Sundays are lazy and relaxing, but I HATE leaving Chicago on Sundays. It starts the long work week of not seeing Roger. I can totally see myself staying in Chicago on Sunday nights.

I can see myself living in Chicago!

Wedding Update -Amy

I thought I would give everyone a quick wedding update since I have been wedding planning like a madwoman! Here is a list of the things we have been running around (in the AWESOME weather) doing:

1) Hired a harpist for the ceremony http://megrodgers.net/
2) Hired a DJ for the reception
3) Sent out the first round of "Save the Date Cards"
4) Finalized Roger and I's guest list
5) Started putting together all of the guest lists that have been coming together in bits and pieces.
6) Rented 250 white chairs to use at the wedding and at the reception
7) Scheduled a time for Roger to go check out Silver Palace (the reception venue)
8) Got rose petals for the aisle (Thanks Laura!)
9) Set a date with Roger to go register (March 20)
10) Started a wedding blog! Check it out: http://thetortoiseandthehappyhare.blogspot.com/

If you are going to be a guest at the wedding, or are simply interested in details, the blog or our wedding website
( http://theknot.com/ourwedding/AmyJones&RogerJackson ) are great places to check out details and info!

It didn't bother me that...-Brady

I couldn't do any work for my finals on the South Shore this morning. There are no outlets on the double - deckers, and my old Apple shuts off and resets itself to 1969 when not plugged in.

I missed the last Purple Line Express to Evanston, so instead of 0 train transfers, I had 3.

I spent all afternoon running errands and therefore didn't get to work on really, really pressing stuff until 4 p.m. today.

Why?

Because it was 60 degrees and (occasionally) sunny outside today. Spring seems like MAGIC to me, every single year. I've seen this happen 27 times now. I plan to see it lots more. I don't think I'll ever get over it.

Amazing how after months of winter... - Brady

cloudy, wet, 45 degree weather + afternoon coffee run without a jacket + plants poking out of the mulch = major excitement

I went out last night without wearing a coat. - Brady

Just thought you should know.

Otto and Otis - Brady

I don't think I believe in guardian angels. But I'm starting to wonder if giant dogs somehow follow me around and watch out for me.

When we first moved to Fort Wayne, a tough time for me, Kevin and I tossed and turned one really cold winter night because we kept hearing a big, mean-sounding dog barking very close to our house. I woke up at 5 a.m. to get ready to teach, and I found a GIANT black animal sitting on our front porch. It walked around to the back door, which leads to Kevin's and my room, and started pawing at the screen like it wanted to come in. We freaked out. Kevin insisted we put on gloves. (It was 5 a.m. I'm not sure either of us were very with it.) We opened the door. The huge Newfoundland immediately rolled over in the snow onto its back, wanting me to pet its belly. We put it in a back bedroom and fed it some tortillas. When I left for school, I opened the door to find it standing smack-dab in the middle of the room just looking at me. He hadn't chewed anything. Hadn't barked. Hadn't even laid down. After I left, Kevin took it to the vet listed on its tag and found out his name was "Otto" and that he lived on our road.

We never saw Otto (or his GIANT pawprints) again and never heard from his owners. Sometimes I wonder if Otto was at our house that night to scare something or somebody off. Other times I think maybe he was just there to give us a weird, fun, awesome morning.

Now, back in Chicago, going through another tumultuous time, I occasionally get to spend time with a 175-pound, tall enough to look at me eye-to-eye, Mastiff named Otis who lives in the coach house behind us. It seems like on the nights I'm most frustrated or angry, Otis is out back waiting for me. He even settled down a spazzy Lucy tonight by snuggling up to her on the stairwell. Chris, Otis's "dad," described him to me as "therapeutic."

I think I'd take an enormous dog over a guardian angel any day. :)

Spring & Blogs - Kelly

This post might be a LITTLE premature, but it is definitely starting to feel like spring in Chicago! The sun is shining, the snow is melting, and people are starting to come out of winter hiding. :) I even wore a cute pair of ballet flats instead of my usual boots and tights combo yesterday! It's been a busy and fun winter, but I'm definitely ready for this transition to spring.

On another note, I wanted to share links to some of my favorite bloggers for all of you. Over the past year or two I've found a slew of blogs I check regularly, and I hope you'll enjoy them as much as I do!

For the fashionistas

For the baby-lovers or new mothers

For a fun glimpse into NYC life

For a fun glimpse into Chicago life

For a fun list of things to do in Chicago

"Lunch" at Bittersweet - Brady

Breakfast was in the apartment at 11. At 12:30, Kevin and I went to my favorite neighborhood spot, Bittersweet. Tell me this isn't the best "lunch" ever.

For me:

Raspberry jam tart
Homemade hot chocolate

For Kevin:

Hot-cross bun
Cafe au lait

Runnin' Runnin' and Runnin' Runnin' - Brady

Kevin, Kelly, and I committed a few months ago to running the Indianapolis Mini Marathon at the beginning of May. Training officially started for us on March 1.

I can only speak for Kevin and myself because Kelly does her own training thing. But our plan is pretty chill. We ran the Indy Mini two years ago and 18 miles of the 2007 Chicago Marathon (they shut down the end of the race because of extreme heat). To train for both of those races, we ran twice, maybe three times, during the week (about an hour each time when we were marathon training and about 30 min to an hour each time for the mini) and then did progressively longer runs on the weekend. So, the first weekend of training we might run for 45 minutes. The next, we might run for an hour. And so on. We base all of our training on time rather than mileage, as we know more or less how fast we're completing each mile. We plan to supplement training this time with lots of yoga, which seems to pair really well with running.

Anyway, I'm really excited to be training for this. It gives me a little extra motivation to get outside in the progressively sunnier weather. I've noticed that if I can drag myself out of bed, there is really no better way to start a day than with an early morning run. In Chicago, I like to run for 15 minutes down Belmont to the lake, stand there and watch the ice melt or the sun rise for a minute or two, run back home, do some stretching, and then make coffee or tea. In Fort Wayne, Kevin and I try to run early Saturday before our 9:15 yoga class. It feels great to stretch out so well after training. And finally, in La Porte, I'm starting to use a jog as a break from the schoolwork I do while I'm alone at the house. My parents live right by a pretty little lake, so that's a perfect place to go for a run.

So that's my plan! Now you know more than you ever wanted to about a very amateur mini marathoner.