took me long enough...

More than a month. i apologize to the thronging masses that have been left desolate and disillusioned by my blogging absence. Yeah, whatever.

So- Lis wants to know what prompted the accolade that comprised the last blog entry... i have no idea anymore. *grin* just kidding. that was written in the final moments of my working day on that Friday, when i was supposed to leave at 11, then at noon, and i don't even know what time it was when i finally left. cindy had busted her tush getting the car packed at home without me, and despite her own frustrations had managed to come downtown to pick me up to head to Indiana and brought me lunch as well. the whole day just reminded me of how blessed i am to have a sister who is also a great friend.

We were going to Indiana on the day in question (Friday, Nov 11, 2005) because that was my grandparent's 60th wedding anniversary. yes, sixty. amazing. Saturday the family planned and executed a big bash. A lot of out-of state family (literally from both coasts, come to think of it) were able to come, and Lloyd and Gladys Leinbach had all 4 of their children, 6/8 of their grandchildren, and 5/5 of their great-grandchildren (with 2 more in-womb) on hand to celebrate. They were each heard to say more than once "Just LOOK what we started 60 years ago!" I have been deeply blessed to know my grandparents as an adult, and being away from them was, and is, one of the harder aspects of moving to Chicago.

In honor of their 60th, i re-wrote the lyrics to just about every Sound of Music song to tell about their life, and i was joined in singing it for the family dinner that Saturday night by my mother, my aunt Dove, and my cousin Nikki. we did OK considering that we practised *once*- about 30 minutes before performing.

the very next weekend, cindy and dana and i welcomed 4 women and a baby into our home! 3 of cindy's college friends came up from Indy area (mostly) and one of them brought her 4 month-old son as well as her younger sister. somehow, we crammed chicago-style pizza, the Sears tower, the Art Institute, Chicago-style vienna beef dogs and polish sausages, cheesecake, Millenium park, the El, the subway, the bus, an Ethiopian dinner, and a sprained ankle into approximately 42 hours. whew! it was a blast! (exhausting, but a definate blast!)

So, the next weekend was Thanksgiving. and cindy and i drove home to Indiana (of course), leaving our place in Chicago at 4:30 a.m. (NOT of course...), and enjoyed the much more laid back family atmosphere (after the 60th celebration, quiet was good.) we had wonderful food and wonderful company, and we met our aunt and uncle's new dog, Rusty. a beautiful "mutt" (i can't remember what the mixes are in him), he has beautiful markings and a great demeanor. He was wonderful around the little kids. oh, wait, you know what- we met Rusty the weekend of the 60th... getting things all messed up...

well, i gotta run, ride's here. i'll go ahead and post this much, and finish catchin' ya'll up later!