More for me to remember, less for anyone to enjoy.

July came in like a lion and is leaving like a lamb. It started out innocently enough with family visiting, but then it it took off in about eighteen different directions.

1. John and Jo Ann visit Chicago.
Tim's mom and her husband came down to visit. John lived in Chicago for 20-25 years, so it's always a treat to spend some time in the city with him. We met several of John's friends from Northwestern, including a former professor of his he referred to as "a prince among men." We also got a tour of John's old haunts, favorite restaurant spots (I literally gained five pounds), and had our best meal in Chicago at Francesco's Hole in the Wall. John actually knew the owner when he was a fifteen year old bus boy at another Italian restaurant his parents owned near Northwestern, and John requested and received the Chicken a la ______ (the mother's name, which I can't recall at the moment), although it wasn't on the menu. Francesco had it made, however, and it was some amazing chicken. Also, the calamari was the best I've ever had, and this is in a suburb of Chicago. Holy sweet maryandjoseph, it was amazing. There was spinach bread that was almost 50% pure cheese. Huhuuuuuuuuooooo. The best part was driving all over Chicago in the back seat with John in the drivers seat, continually amazed at the amount of people and saying "wow, this all new! None of that was hear before...just fields....hey, none of THAT was here before..." By the end of their stay, he couldn't wait to get back to his south Fargo home, where dogs outnumber children 3:1.

2. The Best Bachelorette Party EVER.
I could write a whole post on this alone. Basically, our friend Stephanie is getting married to Kaye's brother. They've been dating for over 11 years now (I think), and they've finally found time to make it official. Kaye invited several out-of-town friends and her older sister, Molly, to have a weekend sleep over. Friday night involved lots of cheese and pasta, as well as listening to Michael Jackson non-stop. Good times.

Saturday morning, I had a freak out and had to stay at home and clean all day instead of joining everyone at the beach. According to facebook photos, they had a great time. I hooked up with them later for dinner out, and it was really fun giving Stephanie advice for her wedding day and her future as a married woman. Janet, another attendee, shared excellent advice on always being able to draw a line when arguing---some things you just can't take back. Too true, Janet, too true.

After a delicious meal at Cafe Babareba, we tried to decide what to do next. Private karaoke room? Dancing in a large circle together at a bar? We're all wearing dresses, Stephanie, let's get some mileage out of them! Um, says Stephanie, I'd really rather just be at home with all of you. So sweet, we think, but that's not happening. IT'S YOUR BACHELORETTE PARTY, LET'S GET CRUNK. Well, not crunk, but let's make it a night to remember, right?

Hmm, says Stephanie, I just don't want to be around a big group of people. Ruth puts her brain into overdrive and tries to think of a place that is close to Logan Square, usually deserted, but has lots of music to dance to and a floor that is also available for dancing...hmmm...no, hmmm...let me think...

PANCHO'S. Sweet lord, Pancho's.

We all jump in a van cab with a young African man in a white tank top driving and wearing sunglasses at 10 p.m. He takes us to Pancho's and as we all tumble out of the cab, Pancho, his young bartender, and lone patron are drawn outside by the mere chance that these women are on their street. Are you coming HERE? asks Pancho incredulously, having obviously been turned down by many groups of young people making their way up Milwaukee. Yes! I cry. We came here just for you! This is our destination! All three men smile and race into the bar. They generously pour our cab driver a shot of Jag for being physically responsible for bringing us to their establishment.

Of course, the place was empty. However, there was tons of Latin dance music, fog, and lights n' lasers for our enjoyment, and Pancho and the gang taught us a few dance steps, poured us drinks, gave us free drinks, and even indulged us by dancing in front of Stephanie in their sexy Latin ways. Yay Pancho's! This place has never, ever disappointed. Two for two, Pancho, two for two.

As the evening winds down, Pancho grabs a giant sombrero and maracas and hands them to Stephanie. Hmmm, time to go, we say, but only after taking multiple pictures. It's raining so we walk in pairs back to Stephanie's apartment and eat more chips and cheese, open a few more bottles of wine, and cure Stephanie of her addiction to Spanx. Seriously, best ladies night ever.


3. Mimi had butt surgery.
We all know Mimi is a husky, but her weight and size have had some complications we didn't foresee: she developed inflamed anal glands due to an infection because she couldn't clean herself properly. Tim's mom, Jo Ann, got to forgo a trip to the Art Institute and instead accompany Tim to the vet on Monday. Mimi ended up having surgery and we had to employ friends to be her in-home nurse while we were out of town. Poor Mimi. The care included forcing pills down her throat twice a day and spraying her shaved, tuna steak butt with a cleaning solution. Sigh. She is okay now, but she and Birdie, formerly of spooning and paw holding fame, are now enemies and have screeching, hair pulling cat fights daily. They're teenagers! said Tim.

4. Seeing Liz and Scott off to Europe.
Good bye! Be safe! Enjoy your multiple meditation retreats and by the way we're really jealous.

5. Night at the Doug Stine nest.
We left Chicago Wednesday evening and made it up to Tim's Dad's house, which was a real treat to have some quality time before we hit the 70+ Stine Family Reunion on the 4th of July in Alexandria. Tim and I had some table time with the kids, chatty time with the grown ups, and got to see Teresa's mom, who Tim refers to as one of the Nicest People in the World that Also Smokes. She is also the woman who gave us a bag of Belly Flops from the Jelly Belly candy factory, so I'm making no arguments. We also got to see all the Stine animals, including rabbits, a horse in the front yard, the springer spaniels, and the most flexible cat in the world, Cammie. She's a black tabby of some sort, and tolerates being hefted, squeezed, and cradled by Tim's little sister Olivia.

The next morning we packed up again and napped Tim's other sister, Gabbie, who is no longer little because she is officially taller than me. A couple summers ago, her hips were the same height as mine but she was shorter. She's playing volleyball and gave us tips on what the kids think are cool. Tim and I are crossing our fingers that she can come down and visit this year. We need some cool tips, Gabbie!

6. Seeing Baby David, Momma Jess, and Daddy Dave.
On the way to Alexandria, we stopped for lunch and baby gazing with my older brother's family. He took the day off to prepare and relax before his 30 mile trail run on Saturday. Dave, really, you're making the rest of us look bad. Also, we started a unique tradition that lasted through the weekend called "having beers with lunch." Yay for the Mebergs!

7. Stine Family Reunion
Again, too much to put down. I almost need a mini-list inserted into this list to highlight the weekend:
a. Saw all the favorite cousins, and got to give Grandma Stine a big, big hug. Also, beat her in Whist. I think she was either taking it easy on me, or the Marilyn Monroe cards I brought were too distracting for her partner.
b. Stayed up late with the cousins and played games with the Doedens. Experimented with new party game Relish---part Catch Phrase, part Pyramid, part Charades. The first round you describe words for your team to guess, the second round you can only use one word, and the third round you mime them. It was funny when someone wrote in "Oregon" and someone else wrote in "organ." Liver? Kidney? Mountains? OREGAN!
c. Went to small town bar/banquet hall and watched 22 family members pay $5 each to take a shot of Petron with a live minnow in it. Oh yes, they also got a t-shirt.
d. Almost cried when cousin Katie announced her engagement to third-Stine-Family-Reunion-attending boyfriend, Andy. They are both in Georgia, he is newly the captain for his ambulance EMT team, and she is doing ultrasounds of hearts, which she really loves because it employs some of the lessons from her piano background, something about the unltrasound being similar to the damper pedal. They are some of my favorite people, and I'm so happy they are happy!
e. SLEPT IN. Spent Saturday on pontoons, hanging out with the Jim Stine aunts and uncles, and welcomed friend Ricky Gion to the Reunion. Always good to see him, as he's very entertaining. He got a text from a girl inviting him to visit her nearby at a cabin and it was like watching a junior high kid get invited to a Sady Hawkins dance.
f. Played the bag game with all the cousins---got to the final round, but definitely not the most flexible. What's the bag game, you ask? You must not be a Stine. Too bad for you.
g. Best fireworks show ever.
h. Scotty and Liz got officially selected to plan the next Reunion as they were the only Stines not in attendance. They will never live it down. Woo hoo, Wisconsin 2011 here we come!


8. Moriah and Jason plus one, also known as, Moriah and Jason plus Linden.
Our good good friends in Fargo, Moriah and Jason, had their second baby in January. She is a little doll named Rowan. Moriah and Jason just happened to be in Minneapolis for the weekend to attend a No Doubt concert (and were returning this weekend for Beyonce!!!) We got to hang out with just the oldest sibling of the family, Linden. Right before we left for Cincinnati three years ago, we got to hold Linden the day after she was born. It was so amazing to see her, play with her, chat with her, and see what great parents Moriah and Jason are. And again, we had beers with lunch.

9. Dinner with Ryan.
Tim and I spent that evening hanging out at a Spanish bistro in Minneapolis and enjoying dishes sent out by our friend Ryan. Our good, good friend Ryan. It was magical and delicious, but not magically delicious, because technically, that would be Lucky Charms. And it was so much better than Lucky Charms. There was soft shell crab, plantains, enchiladas, salmon, mole sauce, guacamole and radish towers, and freshly made churros. And perfectly grilled skirt steak. It was enviable, we texted photos and descriptions to our friend Dana and laughed, laughed I tell you, just thinking about her drool. I invited Ryan down for BaconFest in October, and I hope he opts in.

10. Home.
Yay, we're home! We've been lots of hanging out and cleaning up and loving on Mimi and her butt. Next step is giving her a bath, and I've just been too scared to dive into that so far. I've also been biking to work quite a bit, and really enjoying the break between work and home. I've not been running too much, and this should be rectified.


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