If I Could Place Time in a Bottle…

Stop! In the name of Love! Before you move onto Middle School and break my heart! I was so excited to return to my sweet twenty-four loves! I know that each year will eb and flow in and out with its ups and downs, but truly, this year is something special! I am extremely saddened that I only have a little over eight full weeks left with them. They are each just precious and I love them so much. I never thought I could experience such bliss from students wanting to learn and me getting to pour it out each day. I am not drained emotionally or physically from arguing students or them yelling at me this year, I adore how they actually want to be in the classroom sharing my day with me. It really does make all the difference in the world to feel that for the first time in your career, parents and the students really connect with you and know that you have the best interest of their child at heart.

Not to say that I did not have one amazing spring break for the second time in my life. In the course of the last ten years, I have only traveled twice to a "fun" destination over my spring break. Senior year of high school to California and this year with Betsy on the Mega Bus to Chicago. Yes, for a mere, $30, less than a half tank of gas for many, I was able to take a bus to Chicago and back. Betsy and I started the break with a Sunday afternoon tour of the Boulevard Brewery here in KC. In all the years it has been here, I have never tried a Boulevard. Let me just say, I have wasted some serious years of beer enjoyment by not trying it. If you really knew me, you would know that I am a bit of a foodie…I love new foods, drinks and learning how to pair it with what I cook and how to use it in dishes I make. Needless to say the Moose Drool I bought over Christmas break, a 6-pack, two of which are still in my fridge…I savor it and I get creative in how I use it. This made Boulevard was quite the experience, I saw how their artisan beverages were created and then had the chance to try some of them. As usual, I loved the Dry Stout…I have a thing for dark beers…just like my aunt Laurie. I really enjoyed the spices in the Tank 7 as well as the Pilsner which they created. I was disappointed to learn that there was a chocolate stout which sold out in all seven surrounding states in the first few hours of its release. I am sure I would have loved it as well. After the tour, we packed up and headed down to the "station" at 3^rd and Grand to wait for our ten hour bus ride to Chi-cago!

After one of the most interesting rides of my life on a packed bus with an old man hacking in his sleep behind me and another older lady snoring with sleep apnea in front of me, I arrived in Chicago at 7:15 am. Betsy and I walked about two miles from Union Station from our bus to the Inn of Chicago where they graciously let us check in early and freshen up to hit the town. First stop…Deep Dish Pizza! I took Betsy a block or two over to Giordano's for some pizza, she loved it as did I…Could not compare with Pizzaria Uno's which was across the street which we enjoyed on Wednesday. Below is Betsy rockin' it at Giordano's and then us at Uno's later in the week.

We then took in the sights of the city. Walking to the Chicago Art Institute, Shedd Aquarium, Field Museum and purchasing trolley tickets for the next three days…a mere $35…totally worth it. Savoring the sights of the city aboard a double-decker bus is something special which everyone should have the opportunity to enjoy at some point in their life. We learned a great deal from the guides but also got to see the "green river" which was dyed for the occasion. In addition to this we saw Navy Pier and the John Hancock Observatory's Skyline Lounge which for the cost of a $5 sparkling water, you could see the same view as the $15 observatory admission. "I'll just have a water…with a side of limes. Thank you." J

Over the next few days we saw many places in the city and experienced some amazing shopping, Nordstrom RACKS!) fabulous food ($10 ice cream sundaes at Ghirardelli) and fun family which Betsy has. Her cousin Christina took us out for an amazing Mexican Tapas dinner.

We also got to visit an original speak-easy called the Redhead Piano Bar. If I had ved in the 1920's, mine would have been a corner pie cafe called Blondie's…which is the name Jimmy the bartender gave me. The bouncer here was really sweet as well, inquiring as to what we had for dinner since Bets and I brought our doggie bags from where we had already been in the city. We had previously enjoyed dinner at the Rosebud on Rush, an Italian restaurant. (If you look close, you can see our leftovers in the picture.) We met a very interesting server named Eddie who had worked as the head server at a restaurant on the 95 floor of the World Trade Center and was off on the day the planes crashed into it. He shared his story with us and discussed his life experience as a server etiquette and the book which he was authoring.

Overall, the most amazing place we saw was the Shedd Aquarium. I saw so many interesting creatures and fish in one day! I even found a pumpkinseed fish…yes, there is one! (Knowing me, my dad was always called me…punkin girl and I have a serious love affair going on with pumpkins anyways.) Some of our most fun was at the exhibit in the middle of the aquarium which was for small children on aquatic creatures at lakes. Pictured below are some of the fun we had at this mini-exhibit in the floor. I don't think I will ever grow up…I am mean to be a child at heart forever I do believe.

Getting to pet a starfish!

Apparently campin' has so much to do with the aquarium...mmm...bacon, eggs and pancakes!

Betsy was a beauty waving at the crowd on the shore...

I was my usual mature self...reinacting the lifeboat scene from Titanic...this one is full.
I wonder if you could toast these and season them with Jack Stack Rub too?

Returning home on St. Pat's I had my panel interview with BCBS and spoke with the doctor and panel about why my surgery should be covered. It was something very emotional to share with the panel and I was really proud of myself. NO TEARS! I find out tomorrow by mail if they will cover their tiny portion of the surgery. (HIS grace is sufficient for me.)

I did beat some of my personal goals for the month, one was to run 10k…I ran two of them over break in addition to a 5k. J Yep, feeling like a rock star. I beat my personal best mile of a 10:55…to a 10:18 on the 5k, so that was a pretty proud moment. I shared with students that my new physical goal was to run a 10:00 mile by the end of the year. I cannot wait to beat this goal. Hopefully Kelli and I will rock the Starfish 5k on Saturday morning with our amazing times!