Mellow Mushroom Addiction

Caroline did a bad bad thing to me...she got me addicted to Mellow Mushroom quite a few years ago. It was in the early 2000's, not really sure how to say that properly...but she took me there for the very first time and I fell in love with the pretzels, special sauce and that awesome crust...

So my obsession has turned to great excitement whenever I see a Mellow Mushroom and it seems that there is now one on one of my favorite islands in the country, HILTON HEAD...so long story short Thursday morning I will be at Mellow Mushroom, I think it will make a divine breakfast.

Even better, I just found out today that they will overnight pizza to what they call "remote locations" like Chicago!!! Pizza Party - party of 1!

BOOM....Body of One Messiah!

The SLAM year is about to start and we are team BOOM, Body of One Messiah! I am super excited for this year of SLAM, to meet the kids and really get to know a few of them well. We went out into Cabrini last night to make sure the kids all knew it started next Monday and had a truly blessed evening. EJ (Evangelist James)was our guide and he took us through his old and our new stomping ground. During our time in the row houses we talked with a few adults who just happened to be having a meeting of the Cabrini Governing Body - woo hoo, praise the Lord, they asked us in to tell them about SLAM and how they could partner with us!

We also stopped by to see Dorkus, her mom and miscellaneous nieces who were over at their place in the reds. Her mom Pam is such an amazing woman of faith and I just love talking to her. We met over the summer, watching baseball talking about SLAM and she remembered me...how fun! One of the little ones at her place was Tank, she is just cute as can be. A tiny little thing who dances with such enthusiasm, some of her dance moves would be questionable for a teenager or adult but Pam is working on stopping that.

Please pray for our team and all the volunteers and staff of SLAM. There will be challenges and celebrations this SLAM year and we could use prayer for all of them. Please also lift up the nearly 200 kids we expect to have in the program as well as the kids that are not there. Pray that they would find peace in Cabrini and in Chicago through Christ.

If you want to learn more about SLAM and GRIP the broader organization go to www.gripyouth.com

My Bestest!

My best girl was in town this weekend and we had a blast. It was a slumber party KU freshman year style with a thunder storm and all...but this time we allowed boys...don't panic it was just her husband and we didn't all share a bed! I think we ate very kind of amazing Chicago food possible, I am still stuffed and they left yesterday, pizza, hot dogs, steak...the list goes on. And you can't forget the awesome win at Wrigley - Go Cubs Go! And a true classic, when the game ended, Rob was like why are you all still here, um can't you see, we won! We're singing! Ha ha, I love this city! We hung out at the Field Museum on Saturday morning, which is also one of my favorite Windy City attractions and I took my first ever touristy picture with the bean. It's great fun having friends in town, you can do all the touristy stuff you'd tease everyone else for doing. It's fantastic! I miss them already, move to Chicago already Caroline!

The ramblings of a very tired Camille...

So I pondered said David Mrazek comment from last night...why because I was very tired then too, and every now and then I ponder. Why are you hearing about this now...well because I am still very tired...

I do not like to be "bothered" in the morning...this means that (A) if it's 8 am and a random co-worker is driving to work and can't decide if she wants to wear knee high boots, or heels and just needs to talk to me...hmm well, that's not my favorite thing. (B) a cat jumps on my face at 6:30 - said cat is no longer my friend! (C) I've only been up for 5 minutes and I'm asked a mission critical question that requires massive amounts of thought...no good....or the ever famous (D) I went to bed at 5am and someone decides I need to be up at 9, without any "authority" to say hey sweetie, I'd love it if you got up and came to home depot with me, or took a walk or WHATEVER!

Now the flip side of this is...if there is some good reason for me to be up and it isn't just someone who resents the fact that I am still not up...well then I'll get up and happily read the paper, go to the store, walk the dog, go on an erly morning ride. Whatever...then it's a different story.

Now anyone that went to Turkey with me can also tell you - that I require a certain amount of time to "wake-up" if I'm not provided adequate sleep. When we were in Turkey and running on 5 hours of sleep a night, I needed about 30 minutes to become "human" or a certain amount of chai! Generally about 3 cups...

The key here is this, if I am tired and cranky and yes they do tend to go together...but you are important to me and I want to be up with you, I can let it all go. If you are a cat, or you want random fashion advice...please don't bother!

There is a lot more behind all of this, but this is the breif version...if you ever really want the long complicated explainations of some of my quirks just ask...

Did you enjoy that...I bet! I just finished my coffee!!!

Are you dense...CREEPER!

So here is a tale of a very very very dense dude!

This story makes most guys in the world look pretty good, and this poor sap very desperate...not that I'm not a prize but...whatever, you'll see...

Roughly three weeks ago I receive a voicemail "Uh hey this is Kaushal, not sure if you remember me, looking forward to talking to you, give me a call 224-558-..."

Hmm, I have no idea who he is, I ask my friends, I scower FB and still no. This guy is a mystery to me. So of course why not be slightly avoidant and text back..."Can you remind me where we met?" "We met at Durkins, want to go out for a drink you seem cool."

(Insert long pause) I haven't been to Durkins in over 2 years...I can place who I was with and the event - Di has long since obtained a master's degree since I've been to Durkins...

So naturally the answer is no...well Kaushal doesn't like this answer and sends back some text that would suggest he expected a different response...um DUDE, I DON'T KNOW YOU!!!

Fast Forward 3 weeks to present time...

Yet another text message - it seems he figured it out, he knows me from PAWS. Wow, how in the world did he figure it out and why would that make me change my answer!

The number shall now and forevermore be saved as CREEPER!

For you and me...

Oh traffic...why do some people think it is not for them? They honk, they swerve, they try to get one car in front of you? Hello, lady we are all in bumper to bumper traffic, where in the world do you think that you are going? If you get jammed in between those 2 trucks you will not get any closer to where you are trying to go, you'll just be stuck between those stinky trucks! Please pretty please stop honking at me!

Traffic is a frustration to most everyone, and if you honk and swerve and curse and show me your middle finger it really isn't making it any better...so please stop getting mad at me because you chose to drive in rush hour traffic. But if you road rage fool must be on the road - please purchase a hover craft so I don't have to see you!

The ride that just kept on riding...

I went out last night for an evening ride and just didn't seem to turn around. There is a certain enjoyment that can be found in riding for miles and feeling as if you are free from the congestion and craziness of the city...this can be found on the south side. I always think of the south side as this crazy, dirty, dangerous place...but I was a bit surprised. Yes the bike trail does change a bit and there are a few more cops present but the scenery also changes...long prairie grasses line the trail and you feel as if you may be about to enter some alternate world far from the city. The only people keeping pace are other riders and you are alone in your own little universe. It was so peaceful and when all was said and done, the stress of the day and city were gone!

The craziness of course returned when I had to navigate Belmont to get home - but you really can't have everything!