....DRIVING THAT HOT....ROD...LINCOLN.....

Yep, that's what you get when you get into the Houston Airport 3 hours late.

It's huge. And very deluxe, from it's 'sitting in the living room interior', to the trunk, that for sure you could stash a few bodies.

Riding in it reminds me of being a kid, only they were always black.. it was the funeral color du jour. Been a long time since I've come in behind the Lincoln hood ornament.

Dad, this one's for you~

ONE OF THOSE MOMENTS........

Forever,  I've wanted a black standard poodle. Always.  Even had the name picked out.

A couple weeks ago, my sister, who fosters for a rescue, had one. The perfect one. I hemmed and hawed and finally brought it up to Mark, who, looked at me like I was crazy. We decided against it.

It bugged me.

Really bugged me.

Bugged me like I couldn't stop thinking about it bugged me... And lo an behold, another one came into rescue...

I went to meet him, and he was magnificent. I really liked him. He had a couple 'issues' though... the main one being a boogery nose...

I've never seen a dog sneeze actual boogers...have you? And the rescue lady (who wasn't my sister) said, 'oh, he had kennel cough and is being treated, so they didn't give him that shot, but the antibiotics should clear it up.'

Hum...

So, I needed a minute to mull it over. Then it occured to me...Clemmie.

Sweet psycho Clemmie.....

Clemmie, has problems remember? She has that Protein Losing Enteropathy which is an autoimmune disease. The treatment is a steroid that suppresses the immune system. She can't have her 'shots'. She could catch it, it could kill her.

So I took a pass...

And in retrospect, it was the right decision ~ What, am I crazy???? Two doglets is more than enough.

They both have the attitude of a big dog, actually more the attitude of a wild hyena.

Whew...

VACATION???

Nah, not really. But Mark DID take the week off.

Sort of....

And it was busy.

We spent time sailing, driving around in the convertible, getting the oil changed, hanging out in the hot tub, eating out, running errands, spending money. Just usual stuff...

But, as with all good things, it's over. Actually it ended yesterday, when he had work to do. Today we headed to the boat, and had Jessica and Blain join us. It started out gloomy, but burned off and out came the sun, and a lovely breeze. The Mac started today. That's the sailboat race from Chicago to Mackinac Island. We were in the midst of the start... well, kind of.

We enjoyed the day, Jess and Blain were staying in Chicago tonight, and we had to high tail it home, as..........Mark has work to do.

We did take a little detour, and checked out the new Marilyn Monroe statue by artist Seward Johnson... she really is larger than life.

I didn't get out and look myself, but I did hear her lace knickers from the movie are even in place...my, my...can a girl have NO secrets???

BLOG GIVEAWAY...

A blog I follow, Creating from the Heart is hosting a giveaway with tremendous gifts. Check it out... you could win. And even if you don't, you will enjoy her blog!

MY KIND OF TOWN......

Spent most of yesterday on the boat, had some friends join us... it was a beautiful day!

Perfect wind, and temperature, we sailed around, came back into the harbor to grill out and 'host' another boat for a tie up!

Some good friends were in today with their boat and tied up for a bit. I guess I was so excited to be hosting another boat, I forgot to take any pictures of our little party. My bad.

After our 'little party', we headed back out for a sunset sail.

It was a delightful evening, and we enjoyed watching the city lights come on. As always, I tried for a perfect picture at night.

This time I came pretty darn close.

TIMBER...............

That's a myth, they don't yell that...

I know this because the giant tree in front of my house was cut down today. I'm pretty verklempt about it...it was a great OLD tree. It offered a nice nesting place for my squirrel population and some serious shade for my bedroom and porches. And, it was a totally cool treehouse feel for my upstairs porch. Sitting up there, you really were hidden and felt like you were indeed in a tree house...but, that's over.

The tree guys came early.  And I was planning on sleeping in...not happening.  The doglets assumed their place, on the back of the loveseat looking out the window... only, today, when there really WAS something to bark about, they didn't.  Go figure... Anyway, this was a tree in my parkway, so the Village arranged for the removal. I tried to get some pictures, but didn't do so great, I got a large piece of floating sawdust in my contact and gave up.

But, here you have it..

And actually, I don't so much mind how it looks... here's an old 'before' shot,

and here's the 'now' look

Don't mind the shavings and the cone... they eventually did disappear. And I did sweep up a ton and I mean a TON of shavings...ugh...

Oh, and one other thing... my sister has a foster dog I really, really want.  I just need to figure out a way to make Mark think like I do.  Actually on more points than just this dog, but for the moment...small steps~

EXHAUSTION....

 




Whew... I'm so glad the weekend is over. It was a FUN one, but we RAN, all weekend.

It started on Thursday night, Mark came in (finally). OF course the 'ever efficient' O'Hare, allowed his plane to land, but then kept it on the ground, on the tarmac for over an HOUR as they didn't have an open gate. Really? UGH, I just love spending a couple hours at the Oasis, in the middle of the night.

Anyway, Friday we headed to Ravinia to see Maroon 5.

I had a lot of food, beverage coordination to do for that, and we had to leave EARLY so it consumed the day. My whole family went, and my sister and brother in law.

  We had a FAB time. Music was awesome and the weather honestly could not have been better. It was just a beautiful night. It's an hour and a half up there, so we got home late, very late.

Saturday, we hit the pool for Corbin's birthday, that is really today...

Had the whole crew (minus Scarlett and Dan and the new granddog, Jet)

Is he not cute?? He's a Yorkie Poo...mostly Yorkie.

My niece Chloe made the birthday cake for Corbin, she just completed a cake decorating class. Needless to say, she excelled at it!!

Sunday, we headed into the boat with Corbin and Ally.

It was a little hazy, but finally burned off, and was a great sailing day.

Interesting thing... Saturday, at mom's, Mom and Corbin were getting something out of the closet and an old hat of my dads fell out. Mom gave it to Corbin, he wore it on Sunday to the boat.

(looks pretty good on him huh?) This photo hangs in our boat, note the a fore mentioned hat on my dad... it's the same one!

Pretty cool huh? Dad would love it, that Corbin is sporting it, especially on a sailing adventure!!

After all day on the boat, we hit dinner on the way home. Corbin and Ally headed off to DeKalb, and Mark and I loaded up the t-bird, top down and headed to fire works.

Monday morning, we headed BACK to Chicago, to the boat. This time, Dan and his mom (who's here visiting from California) joined us.

Not much wind, but a whole lotta sun..it was a gorgeous summer day. After sailing around, we met Scarlett for dinner and then met up with their friends Heather and Matt and headed back to the boat. Hung out there, and watched the lights come on throughout the city, and finally fireworks from Navy Pier.

 ( No, Dan doesn't have a cigarette)

Dropped the two couples at their respective apartments and headed to a hotel at O'Hare. Mark had a VERY early flight, back to Houston, to rest up, from the weekend.