..summer..

These two goofs are my cousins. They're from Hurley, SD and are standing in Gus's (the one in the John Deere shirt) hog pen. His dad informed me he has 44 pigs named Susan (Susan is my mom's name, so I thought this was a pretty funny joke, and a possible band name)

This is probably my last true summer.  And let me tell you, it's been pretty incredible. Visiting my cousins a couple weeks ago made me a little weepy about summertime and saying goodbye to the long, hot days of freedom and enter into adulthood. 

So here are some summer highlights so far...

1. Nothing will top the "Oregon or Bust" roadtrip last year. Just so you remember how gReAT it was, here is a reminiscent photo: 

2. SSCG and KKas are two of my favorite people. See above. 

3. Matt and I went to DC for a day and we saw an Obama girl walking the family dog (B0) on the white house lawn!!!!! just to reinforce that, WE SAW AN OBAMA GIRL ON THE LAWN OF THE WHITE HOUSE. 

4. My 'rents took me out to a new restaurant near home for buffalo burgers and beer. Please come visit so I can take you there. 

5. I SAW A BEAR. not joking. Some med school friends and I went to a cabin in Wisconsin for the 4th of July, and A BLACK BEAR was WANDERING ACROSS THE ROAD. 

6. Yesterday, I injected a lady's knees with cortisol all by myself. That's a surgical procedure because you go into a joint space, so it's kind of a big deal. 

7. We had a family picnic in Hurley when I was there, and my cousins shot off fireworks for us afterward. One of them was poorly aimed and got a little too close. My grandpa (who can't really hear) mutters "Holy balls..." under his breath, not realizing we could hear him. We about died laughing. 

8. I was running at home and really had to go. so I popped a squat in a seemingly safe place (no snakes, I checked), relieved myself, and looked up only to see my neighbor working on his fence 50 yards in front of me, in clear view. oops. 

9. I've been listening to some great jams that we got in Roch and from the Gudes' collection. Love it.

10. RAGBRAI is coming through Corning on Monday!!! I can't wait to see this event that we have all heard so much about :-)

Our Weekend in Roch

What a WONDERFUL weekend in The Roch! We decided that we could be inside a cardboard box and we would still have a blast. That's true friendship for you.

We did not hang out in a cardboard box this weekend, though. There were lots of fun things to do in Rochester! Our highlights:

-a wonderful Zumba workout at the Healthy Dan Center

-meeting the crazy friends of KKas! Wheewww, there is A LOT of drama going on in that friend group. We got the 4-1-1 on it all. HOLY MOLEY.

-St. John's Block Party, including our favorite new band, Six Mile Grove! We bought their CDs and got to talk to the lead singer! He described their music as, "Americana, root rock, and alt country." AKA amazing, wonderful stuff to listen to and enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ITE-rS0TrGs

-People watching at afore-mentioned block party! There was a super awkward first date unfolding in front of us that we analyzed the heck out of. We really should be writers for Cosmopolitan or (even better) Country Singles. Who needs med school?!?

-KKas signed up for a half-marathon! (and SSCG is going to find a triathalon to sign up for!)

YEAH FOR FRIENDSHIP!

Roch Road Trip!!!

As I type, the lovely and talented Tracy and Sarah are in my kitchen!!!!!!! Yay! They safely made the trip from Iowa to Southern Minnesota and brought lots of delicious goodies :). Yesterday we had supper and took a long walk outside with a couple of pitstops. Today we are going to the gym and to a concert. Happy morning!