Wish I were in Chicago

I wish I were in Chicago because that is where I was last weekend and we had a great time on our little "vacation". All week we knew we wanted to get away for the weekend but neither of us had the time to really research or make any substantial plans.

Thursday evening we had it narrowed down to three random places, somewhere in Pennsylvania (maybe the Hershey factory), Tennessee, and Chicago. Friday morning we decided, "okay, Chicago it is."

I've never been less prepared for a get away. Normally I like to scout out all sort of restaurant options, find things off the beaten path, maybe a nearby random festival to check out. This time we shoved our clothes in a suitcase, Adam packed a cooler and found a hotel on priceline. We also decided to just buy a GPS on our way. We had an awesome time!

Friday afternoon I'm turning off the computer and saying goodbye to the pooches. Friday evening we are enjoying our super swank hotel in the middle of Greek Town, trying to decide where to grab a late dinner. The hotel was in an excellent location and we were able to walk the path of Greek Town, smelling all the foreign (to us anyway) food. We decided to stop at Athena Restaurant, which is located on Halsted Street. Adam got the loin of lamb and I ordered a combination dish so we could try a little of everything. Adam even tried eggplant (his only known hated food).

The next morning we took our time getting the day started and ended up finding lunch instead of breakfast. You can't go to Chicago and not try "Chicago Style Pizza". We enjoyed an excellent pie at Giordano's. We kept twirling the cheese, and twirling the cheese until we had big lumpy forkfuls of the best tasting pizza. The folks at Giordano's were happy to point us in the direction of all the shopping and the Navy Pier, though they warned us to not try to walk it. We ignored them and went on our way only to find ourselves in a nice sprinkling of rain. Great! We discussed walking back to the hotel (they had free umbrellas we could use) or just buying one along the way. Then we decided to rough it and just walk and see how the weather panned out. It turned out to be a wimpy rain and not even close to getting in our way of a good time.

The estimated 4 mile walk seemed like nothing. We ducked into shops when we got tired of the rain. By the time we reached the "Miracle Mile" the rain had stopped and we were in need of new shoes, our feet were killing us with our old sandals. Who knew we were going to be doing this kind of walking? So we bought new ones and Adam spent the rest of the day trying to bait people into taking the Eddie Bauer bag containing his shot out sandals. While I shopped he had a great time putting the bag down, casually walking away and then watching people as they looked two or three time at the tempting shopping bag. It drove me crazy because I was just waiting for someone at these upscale shops to report a suspicious bag left in their store. Adam loved it and was having a great time chatting with people, giving out candy to kids (another thing I figured someone, someday, will file a report about).

The weather finally cooperated and we spent the whole day walking around, visiting Navy Pier and riding the huge, giant Ferris Wheel, which was more scary than I had anticipated. We ended the long day with a trip to a "greasy spoon" sort of gyro shop down the street from the hotel. Excellent, excellent gyros. We even discussed going into a bar to check out the music but decided to turn in instead.

Sunday Adam tested his Chicago driving skills and couldn't believe how fast people honked. Red light, red light, green li - HONK! Along with the GPS we drove around all the other areas of the city, Little Italy, China Town and a few others. Before we left town we stopped to check out the House of Blues, which wasn't really open but since they had just finished with their gospel bunch we were able to walk in and just sort of check the place out. We'd like to get back and catch a show there. From there we stopped in at Harry Carys restuarant and looked at all the pictures in their lobby. We walked around just a bit more before hitting the road and heading back home.

I'd love to hear of great places to go in Chicago if anyone has any suggestions. Our little get-away was a great time. Probably my only regret, and one I didn't think of until now, is that I didn't take advantage of the GSP and the fact that we went past Ft. Wayne. We could have looked up Harry and Helens old address and seen the house where they lived.

hello . . .

What a crazy couple of months. Weddings, weddings, weddings. That's all you people seems to be doing is getting married. Luckily for me (in a business sense anyway) that I've been busy with invites, programs and all sorts of fun stuff.

However, I'm just starting to feel like I'm getting my life back. The garden is overgrown, the dog are barking, and a vacation is finally in the near future.

I don't even know where to begin with updating this blog. I guess I'll just go the easy way out and post a couple pics and submit a new Harry & Helen letter. My friends Mel and Chiara have been asking.

On that note I should give a couple "shoot outs" to friends and their websites. Melanie Stucki and Chiara Cameron are the brains behind The Family Fun Finder. This website and their company are a great asset to our community and general area. Looking for something fun to do with your family - check out their site and see what they have to offer.

My dear Make Up Artist, friend, Kellie Keck needs a mention. She's got a great site called 419Bride.com. I know I've mentioned her before but I want to give props whenever I can. Hey Kellie - we need to do lunch again soon!!!

A new gal on the scene is Rachel Post of Boutique Sweets in Mercer County. I'm excited to discover that her website is up and absolutely amazing. She has beautiful and tasty cakes. And I should know. You all know how I loooove my cake. I've had the pleasure of sampling several of Rachels offerings and I have to say, my fave is a vanilla cupcake with strawberry buttercream. Yum!

Another person I always forget to talk about that comes to mind right now is Mary Hoelscher of Rainy Day Purses. She's got a relatively new site as well and now sells her popular purses online. The holidays are coming (according to my mom who shops at Hobby Lobby) - check Mary out and get your Christmas shopping done.

Another thing I can mention is WiB. That is short for Women in Business Networking Association. This is a great new organization spearheaded by Sandy Matthews and the St. Marys Chamber of Commerce. Sandy is affiliated with EZ Promotions out of St. Marys, Ohio. I urge all women of the Auglaize and Mercer County area to join us for a monthly luncheon. I believe it's going to be the second Tuesday of each month. You can call the Chamber for more info - 419-300-4611. This past meeting we enjoyed a great lunch by Creative Catering of St. Marys, Ohio (419) 394-3231 and then took part in a "speed dating" sort of event. You get to meet a lot of fun ladies.

Okay, I found more to talk about than I thought. Still I don't want to disappoint Mel and Chiara so here's what Harry and Helen were up to in July of 1945.
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July 9, 1945 - Herabruck, Germany
Hello Darling,
Today I recieved my pictures and a June 10th letter. That and a few others have been floating around a long time somewhere. Picture #5 is almost Kaput. It was taken at Sinzig. Tommy is on the left, myself and "Deacon" Douglas. #6 is Lt. Ward, Sgt. Ward & Sgt. Barton. The trucks in the background is the one we used in our travels and laying wire. Overhead you cn see some of our work. (Note: Harry continues to describe each photo to Helen. Sadly in all three boxes of letter I don't have any photos. The photo desciptions aren't terribly exciting so I'll omit them)

I have some water heating on our small Owens cook stove. It only weights about 1 lb. Pretty handy gadget. I need a shave. It's murder for me to shave with cold water. My face gets same as the dickens.

I'll answer June 10th letter. (Note: what follows is a random mismatch of conversation) You had been to the Hitching Post with A&E. I think the army gives a fellow a bit of spunk. It is essential or else a guy would be a doormat. I sure wish you would tell Edith off when she gets on one of those rampages. (Note: ohh, this sounds interesting) When she said, "I hate you" I'd tell her I was glad I knew where you stood and then conduct myself accordingly. I have seven rolls of film in the process of developing if they ever get around to finish them. (Note: ugg - just like a man - talk about something interesting and then change the subject to something stupid like film developing) I won't send any more to them. I'll send the exposed ones to you for development.

Well darling, my water is boiling. Guess I'd better go shave. I'll wind up this little deal by telling you I love you so darned much it scares me. Scares me in the sense that I won't be able to be everything for you that I want to. You mean everything to me honey. I'll love you always and I belong to you. Heart, body and soul. Yours until eternity. So goodnight sweetheart. Pleasant dreams. Devotedly, Harry

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I'll end with a picture of a new item I can now offer. How cute are these? They can be customized to your wedding colors.

A Beautiful Bride

She was so nice, so organized, and best of all thorough. Which made it easy to design and produce wedding stationery for Julie and her fiancee Bradford with almost 2,000 miles between us. For awhile there I had her Phoenix, Arizona address memorized.

Lately I've been getting requests to do invites for people who aren't exactly local. Friends of friends who aren't ever going to be cruising through the sweet little town of New Bremen, Ohio. With phones, texts, and good old "snail mail" it can be done.

Here are a few photos of Julie and Bradford's day - April 18, 2009.

The photographers name is Stephanie Fay and she does beautiful work. http://www.stephaniefayblog.comThat is the menu I did for Julie.

Perspective - more than just a big word

Today was the first day I've been truly happy in about a week. My printer is fixed! Anyone who has spoken to me in the last couple weeks knows I've been scrambling to get things taken care of and I've been stressing out because I have deadlines and well, it's not my style to miss deadlines. Anyway, I'm thrilled today because the service techs fixed the machine. Probably they were even more happy than me, I don't know. They are super nice guys but when they are here it means there is trouble so we're all glad when they don't have to make the trip here to see me.

Anyway, while it's been distressing being behind in my work I like to remember that things could always be worse. That nagging pop up could have been a virus that would ruin my hard drive. On my emergency trip to Columbus I could have blown a tire. The list is endless. Now that I'm listening to the hum of my printer churning out some beautiful wedding invites I'm happy and full of the calm that comes with knowing everything is going to turn out after all.

We watched the movie "Pearl Harbor" last night. Not a real great movie to watch while you're trying to doze off. Watching a movie like that put things into perspective. As usual anything that has to do with WWII reminds me of Harry and Helen. I dug through "the letters" looking for something on the anniversary of Pearl Harbor, which happened on December 7, 1941.

Still in the Woods, Dec. 7, 1943 (note: Harry's letter was written on nice Fort Bragg stationary)

Hello Honey,
Well, here it is 2 years from the day that the Japs started this mess and here I am in the woods learning how to get it over with. I haven't heard any news this week so I don't know much of what is going on. We fired for practice in rapid fire today. I didn't do so good . My gun jammed a couple of times & I didn't get to fire all my rounds. Today turned out to be swell, about 65 degrees.

Well, it is so dark I can't see to write outside anymore so I've lighted my candle. My steel helmet is my candlestick holder as well as my wash basin, bathtub, etc. I also wear it. It's heavy as heck.

Tomorrow we have a 4.5 mile speed march. HECK! We ride about everywhere we go around here. I am just beginning to see the mechanized part of the army.

I am sorry honey, but the advantages of having that pants presser would be almost nil here. Whenever our pants need pressing we can have them done for $.15 or $.20. I am glad to hear that Chet and Amabel was glad to get the letter. I am not writing much this week. I'll try and get a pass this evening and make an effort to get something for Xmas. I have to hurry, won't I?

We didn't wear blouses on guard. O.D. Pants and we had our field jackets cleaned. Guess we were pretty spiffy. We had a superior rating in personal appearances.

You should be here now. The moon is shining through the pine trees, it's really beautiful. As far as I am concerned thats about all that is pretty in this state. This is the official end of our basic training. We really do our specialized work in our last 9 weeks. It won't be long.

Well honey, the order just come to clean our guns so I'll have to tell you I love you so much and that you've been a swell sweetheart and girl friend and wife. A man couldn't ask for a better one. I'll close now. I can't send these air mail as I forgot to get stamps before we left. Lots of love and my unending devotion . . . Harry

It's Picture Day

Got a little camera happy today. The first picture is of the dogs. Okay, we have a terrible yard. It's a nice, large fenced in yard, but the ground inside the fence is absolute crap. The perimeter of our yard has a nice worn path from the dogs running up and down the fence line. There are little holes here and there where the dogs got a hankering to dig. The garden in the corner is usually a little too overgrown but whatever. Let's not even talk about the "land mines" dotting the surface.

We're like the people who have a terrible couch but don't see the point in buying a new one until the kids are older. As fussy as I am, when I see the daily abuse our lawn receives, I totally "get" that mentality.

Anyway, there is one particular spot in the yard where there used to be a stump. Adam had pulled it out and planted grass but nothing every seems to work so every year it ends up being a dead looking part of the yard. It's also the place the dogs love to relax. On sunny days they take turns laying in that spot (though Junior, the lazy one, seems to hog it the most). In this picture they are ALL enjoying the weather and catching some zzzz's. Pretty rare thing, really.

Next is a photo of the cool display stand that I scored at my church's garage sale for $.25

Pretty sweet huh? It's a nice brass base with some bendy arms.

Here are some close ups of the invites featured on the rack.

She'll be coming round the mountain when she comes . . .

Mountain of wedding invites that is. With businesses gearing up for spring and the grads graduation, printing and invites are flying out of Sara Paper day and night. Holy cow is it busy!

And speaking of Spring - where the heck is it? Adam is going to a Reds game on Sunday. I would be jealous except for the fact that it might be sunny and nice but who knows, it could be snowing.

I have to admit that we had great weather for the community garage sales last weekend. I made it out to a few of them. Found a nice display rack for invitations so I was happy.

Now a shout out to Administrative Professionals. Today is their day. I "celebrated" in traditional Sara Paper fashion and ate cake. It's not that I eat cake all the time. I really don't. It just seems that I happen to have cake on the days I decide to post here. Today I attended the "South Western Auglaize County Chamber of Commerce Administrative Professionals Day Luncheon." Wow, say that three time fast. I had a booth with the newest designs and joy of joy, Susan Kreig of The Pie Shell was there with her CARROT CAKE - my favorite. Thanks Susan!

Yeah, ummmm, "Hi, how have you been?"

It's been awhile since my last post. Things have been craaaaazy. Just nuts. But in a good way. My apologies to anyone who had to wait for anything. I think I'm FINALLY caught up (opps, just jinxed myself, didn't I)

Because Easter is just a day away we'll revisit Easter Day, 1944 with Harry and Helen (you are welcome Chiara and Melanie - I know you've been waiting)

April 9, 1944 - Happy Easter Darling!

You probably didn't receive a letter from me yesterday, as I was pretty tired when I got home last night and felt it would be better if I didn't write when I was so tired - and rather provoked. More about that later.

I have to reconsider Saturday's happenings first. First of all, I had two swell letters from you, honey. One was one of the nicest I've ever received from you. It was the one where you reminisced about 1937 and of us in general. I've come to the conclusion that we are madly in love! And honey, when you come on that furlough, it will be just like getting married all over again. (note: GO, Helen! Yeeeeah) One, thing, I'll bet we'll have plenty of entertainment - if you get what I mean. (note: umm, yeah Helen, we get it.)
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Then Helen goes on at length about her friend Adeline is being a pain in the butt. (My words - not Helens) In my opinion, Helen has a tendency to be "high maintenance" but she seems justified in this particular tirade and I had to feel sorry for her. Helen is pretty depressed and juding from the sound of this letter - badly in need of a man. Anyway, I digress . . .
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Now for Sunday's activities. Got up at 7:30 this morning and washed then got a chicken dinner. I had sinus so went to bed at 2:00 and staryed until 5:15. I felt much better when I got up. The people here didn't get much of a chance to show off their Easter finery as it rained the whole day. Let's hope that next Easter we'll see the Resurrection of Peace over the world. With this hope in mind I look forward to Easter in 1945.
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Helen goes back to her laments about her girl friends before launching into her sentimental mode.
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Honey, speaking of Sept. 29, 1937 - how I was in hopes you'd kiss me!! Didn't we have a wonderful time though? Remember how I sat on your lap coming home and what a terrible time Carl had to fix the date? Honey, when you stop to think, doesn't fate deal funny hands? I hope you will always feel that I have been a good wife. My ambition is to be the one to you and to make you love me forever. I know that I shall love you unto Eternity.

You surely know by now that I love you very much, but I must keep on telling you so you never forget it. Darling, you are what I live for and believe me, I'm proud of the fact that it is you. Darling, I realize all the sacrifices you are making and know that the inconveniences I'm put to by the war couldn't possibly match those you have and the loneliness you experience. Sometimes I feel better than other times, but all the time I remember I have you to love and to love me. You make the world go round and make things worth doing.

Darling, I'm proud to be your wife and don't you ever forget it. Also, remember dear that the most important job at the present time is serving as a private in Uncle Sam's army. You know how you'd feel if you weren't in it.

Devotedly, Helen

And on that note: Happy Easter to all! Say a prayer for those who are currently serving our country and not able to be with their families. Pray also, for those who aren't able to pray freely. I know I'll be counting all my blessings on Sunday.