After a wonderful week in St. Charles (near Chicago) and the pig roast in Coloma, we are finally home again! Well, at least some of us are home. Sam's in France. Of course, all of us (even Sasha) miss her, but this is a great experience for her, and she is going to have an amazing time with Gabrielle and Josephine.
In Chicago, we went to see "The Bean" at Millenium Park. It's pretty cool for a sculpture. I think I get the whole idea of being a part of the sculpture, both individually and with others from different viewpoints. Of course, we also went to an Italian restaurant in the Gold Coast area for some deep dish pizza, brushetta and calamari. Then, it was onto Navy Pier and the Shanghai Circus. Finally, we took a water taxi back to Union Square to pick up the train!
I'm so glad I don't have a long commute to work. Geneva and St. Charles are lovely, very wealthy towns, but an hour and a half on the train in the morning and evening seems like an awful trade off for a nice car and pretty shops. Just driving around the western "burbs" drove Phil crazy. There were the long (for us) waits at stoplights and the inevitable rush hour traffic during the afternoons and early evenings. I guess that's why so many people from Chicago are willing to drive 3 hours to Wisconsin for a little weekend relaxation.
Ronnie and Gilles were the best hosts. We are really lucky to have them as friends and part-time neighbors. In fact, we are pretty blessed all the way around.
Sunday, July 31, 2011
Sunday, July 24, 2011
An Absolutely Lovely Day
It was a gorgeous day on the lakefront. I had forgotten how beautiful the boats could move across the waves on a sunny day. Phil wants to live on a sailboat and travel along the world's coasts. I could do that as long as we have a snug, little cabin, and we don't go on some sort of around the world endurance test.
We also went to Discovery World. The highlights were the overhead fish aquarium, the flight simulator and the bed of nails. The girls went to the Design It lab while Phil and I toured the other parts of the museum. At least four people liked the shirt I bought for Phil that says, "Teach Me How to Bargain."
Around two o'clock we strolled over to Harbor House for a luxurious lunch. (It's hard to believe the restaurant is in the same building that used to contain the dark Pieces of Eight restaurant). Phil and I had oysters for an appetizer, but we couldn't get any of the girls to try one!
Next, we each rented a Segway and went all over the lakefront, art museum and war memorial. It is different than I thought it would be. You go forward, backward and stop using pressure from the toes and heels of your feet. Some people (me included) got a little crazy fooling around, but no one got hurt, so it's okay, right?????
On the way back to Portage, we stopped at Texas Roadhouse BBQ. YeeeHa! Everyone was "tuckered out" by the time we got home, and for once we all went to bed before midnight.
We also went to Discovery World. The highlights were the overhead fish aquarium, the flight simulator and the bed of nails. The girls went to the Design It lab while Phil and I toured the other parts of the museum. At least four people liked the shirt I bought for Phil that says, "Teach Me How to Bargain."
Around two o'clock we strolled over to Harbor House for a luxurious lunch. (It's hard to believe the restaurant is in the same building that used to contain the dark Pieces of Eight restaurant). Phil and I had oysters for an appetizer, but we couldn't get any of the girls to try one!
Next, we each rented a Segway and went all over the lakefront, art museum and war memorial. It is different than I thought it would be. You go forward, backward and stop using pressure from the toes and heels of your feet. Some people (me included) got a little crazy fooling around, but no one got hurt, so it's okay, right?????
On the way back to Portage, we stopped at Texas Roadhouse BBQ. YeeeHa! Everyone was "tuckered out" by the time we got home, and for once we all went to bed before midnight.
Friday, July 22, 2011
In Praise of Eating Slowly
We have had a number of late and leisurely dinners with our French visitors. Of course, we do not get much done. Unless lovely meals and conversations are the goal! Tomorrow, we'll visit Milwaukee, and then we will spend a week in Chicago until Sam leaves for France.
Today, was the last day of summer school. It was a wonderful experience, but I came home ready for a rest. Getting up early and staying up late having fun is wearing me out (in a nice way). While the kids went to Cave of the Mounds and out for sushi, I stayed home. It was good to nap a little, read a little and watch The African Queen. I rented it for Gabrielle who is trying to watch the 100 top movies on a list from one of her teachers in France who teaches cinema. While she was here, she watched Singing in the Rain and Meet Me in St. Louis (both on the list). Along with Sasha and me, she likes classic old movies. Phil (who rarely likes movies made over ten years ago) wants to see Friends With Benefits. Sounds like a date!
Today, was the last day of summer school. It was a wonderful experience, but I came home ready for a rest. Getting up early and staying up late having fun is wearing me out (in a nice way). While the kids went to Cave of the Mounds and out for sushi, I stayed home. It was good to nap a little, read a little and watch The African Queen. I rented it for Gabrielle who is trying to watch the 100 top movies on a list from one of her teachers in France who teaches cinema. While she was here, she watched Singing in the Rain and Meet Me in St. Louis (both on the list). Along with Sasha and me, she likes classic old movies. Phil (who rarely likes movies made over ten years ago) wants to see Friends With Benefits. Sounds like a date!
Saturday, July 16, 2011
Viva La France
We are having so much fun with our French visitors, I feel like I am on a wonderful vacation every day! Today, we went to Madison's farmers' market and Maxwell Street Days. Then, we went to Sasha's violin recital and all the violinists including Sasha were incredibily talented. Afterwards it was on to The Melting Pot for a wonderful four-course fondue meal. Gabrielle said anyone who dropped something had to do a dance on the table and say, "Life is Good." Both Ronnie and I had to "do the dance." Then, everyone had to give a speech. It was hilarious and fun.
Yesterday, we went on the Jet Boats in the Dells and got soaked! Most of the group also went to Wizard's Quest. After Papa Murphy's pizzas and a relaxing dinner, Sam, Gabrielle and Josephine played games and watched movies while Sasha went to a slumber party with her friends from school.
On Thursday we went to Devil's Lake for a cookout, swimming, sailing and kayaking. The weather was perfect, and the park wasn't too busy. Later, we raced over to Rachel's fast-pitch softball game because Gabrielle actually plays softball in France! Afterwards, everybody celebrated a last inning victory with frozen custard at Culvers. Once again, "Life was good."
Yesterday, we went on the Jet Boats in the Dells and got soaked! Most of the group also went to Wizard's Quest. After Papa Murphy's pizzas and a relaxing dinner, Sam, Gabrielle and Josephine played games and watched movies while Sasha went to a slumber party with her friends from school.
On Thursday we went to Devil's Lake for a cookout, swimming, sailing and kayaking. The weather was perfect, and the park wasn't too busy. Later, we raced over to Rachel's fast-pitch softball game because Gabrielle actually plays softball in France! Afterwards, everybody celebrated a last inning victory with frozen custard at Culvers. Once again, "Life was good."
Sunday, July 10, 2011
Soccer
USA! USA! USA! We watched the most unbelievable soccer game between the USA and Brazil! This year we continued our World Cup watching "tradition" of driving down to a Madison sports' restaurant to watch the games. We have converted a lot of sports fans to soccer, and today there were about a hundred people cheering when the USA finally won!
The first time we drove down this year, we had to ask them to put the game on one of the screens. Today, they actually had more than half of the screens turned to the game and even had sound throughout the place! There were two girl basketball teams and their families who stayed for the whole game and the overtime and the final shootout.
The USA plays France on Wednesday at 11:00. The girls from France will actually be here, and we can't believe we have to teach summer school until 12:00. Since Phil is teaching soccer, we all thought maybe the kids in his class could watch the game. Now I just have to figure out a way to work in the math!
The first time we drove down this year, we had to ask them to put the game on one of the screens. Today, they actually had more than half of the screens turned to the game and even had sound throughout the place! There were two girl basketball teams and their families who stayed for the whole game and the overtime and the final shootout.
The USA plays France on Wednesday at 11:00. The girls from France will actually be here, and we can't believe we have to teach summer school until 12:00. Since Phil is teaching soccer, we all thought maybe the kids in his class could watch the game. Now I just have to figure out a way to work in the math!
Friday, July 8, 2011
iPad Presentations
Last week on Friday, we went out to dinner at Chula Vista for all-you-can-eat crab and a full buffet! It was so good. The crab with butter tasted like lobster, so tender and sweet. With Ronnie and Gilles we planned activities for the French girls when they arrive on the 13th. We've got a list of about twenty activities from sailing on Lake Michigan and visiting the water parks to making earrings and scarves. S'mores, brats, chili, pizza and fondue are some of the different "American" foods we thought the girls might enjoy.
I spent a few hours each day this week unpacking boxes and setting up my classroom.Yesterday I worked with someone from the Apple store, and it all seemed pretty easy so I got started working on two presentations right away. It's fun, but I'm way too proud of them!. Maybe I can do something for each unit, and then post it online. Tonight I'll finish up my lesson plans for next week, and then go back to lazying around this weekend.
I spent a few hours each day this week unpacking boxes and setting up my classroom.Yesterday I worked with someone from the Apple store, and it all seemed pretty easy so I got started working on two presentations right away. It's fun, but I'm way too proud of them!. Maybe I can do something for each unit, and then post it online. Tonight I'll finish up my lesson plans for next week, and then go back to lazying around this weekend.
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Education Update
It is fun to read any book I want just with a click of the iPad. Last night I finished a biography of the Duchess of Devonshire, and it brought back memories of the romances I read when I was very young. All the people from the Prince of Wales (Prinny) to William Pitt, the Dukes, Earls, and Lady this or that were the same. Yet, the truth was both better and worse. Women like the Duchess did more than think of romance and the next ball. But, unlike the fiction, they did not find true love in marriage, and there is no denying that their lives as women were terribly circumscribed.
I fear the movie, The Duchess, based on the book would end up more of an R-rated Barbara Cartland novel than an actual biography. But, that's because there is more of an audience for romance novels than biographies! Phil says I'm probably the only person to even have a favorite biographer (David McCullough), but at least a few of his biographies have been made into mini-series (even if it is just on HBO and PBS)!
In other "education" news, I read the new fourth grade social studies text and started to set up my new classroom. Today, I'll do a little more unpacking, at 1:00 we leave for Madison to watch the USA vs. Sweden's World Cup game. Then, it's on to Sasha's softball game in Sauk. Yesterday, when we lazed around Madison and enjoyed a relaxing evening at home is the only type of day I like better than this one.
I fear the movie, The Duchess, based on the book would end up more of an R-rated Barbara Cartland novel than an actual biography. But, that's because there is more of an audience for romance novels than biographies! Phil says I'm probably the only person to even have a favorite biographer (David McCullough), but at least a few of his biographies have been made into mini-series (even if it is just on HBO and PBS)!
In other "education" news, I read the new fourth grade social studies text and started to set up my new classroom. Today, I'll do a little more unpacking, at 1:00 we leave for Madison to watch the USA vs. Sweden's World Cup game. Then, it's on to Sasha's softball game in Sauk. Yesterday, when we lazed around Madison and enjoyed a relaxing evening at home is the only type of day I like better than this one.
Monday, July 4, 2011
Fourth of July
Oh my gosh! The fireworks at Rhythm and Booms are so incredible, they almost ruin you for anything else. Even without the fireworks, sitting around Warner Park was a wonderful, lazy, fun experience. We played soccer and frisbee. Then we laid around, played cards, and read books.
Probably the best entertainment during the daytime hours was watching people walk right past a quarter lying in the middle of the road and a dollar on the curb. What? What is so great about that you ask? Hundreds of people, many of them actually looking at the ground, just walked past and even stepped right on the money without noticing it! It took about twenty minutes for a woman to pick up the quarter, but fifty minutes for someone to pick up the dollar. One guy sat right next to the bill. Another actually kicked it with his foot. By the time the winning gentleman picked up the bill, we immediately stated screaming and laughing. When we told him he was the big winner, he tried to return the money to us. However, there was no way we would take back the best entertainment $1.25 could buy!
Probably the best entertainment during the daytime hours was watching people walk right past a quarter lying in the middle of the road and a dollar on the curb. What? What is so great about that you ask? Hundreds of people, many of them actually looking at the ground, just walked past and even stepped right on the money without noticing it! It took about twenty minutes for a woman to pick up the quarter, but fifty minutes for someone to pick up the dollar. One guy sat right next to the bill. Another actually kicked it with his foot. By the time the winning gentleman picked up the bill, we immediately stated screaming and laughing. When we told him he was the big winner, he tried to return the money to us. However, there was no way we would take back the best entertainment $1.25 could buy!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)