Saturday, June 4, 2011

Countdown to Cleveland - Day 3

DAY THREE THE KIDS AND I PACKED UP THE VAN EARLY AND SET OFF ON THE OPEN ROAD.  THEIR FINAL DESTINATION...MILWAUKEE.  MY FINAL DESTINATION...CHICAGO.  (JEFF STAYED BEHIND TO INTERVIEW AT MERITER HOSPITAL IN MADISON.)

BOTH SETS OF GRANDPARENTS GRACIOUSLY AGREED TO HOST OUR LITTLE ONES, SO THAT I COULD SNEAK OFF TO ENJOY A GIRL'S NIGHT OUT IN CHICAGO, AND JEFF COULD ENJOY A DAY OF MANLY FUN, WHICH WOULD INCLUDE 18 HOLES OF GOLF AND A MEAT-FILLED DINNER WITH THE FELLAS ON SATURDAY.

THE KIDS ALWAYS ENJOY THE FREEDOM OF NANY AND PAPA'S BIG BACKYARD. 
ME AND THE LITTLE MAN.
FINISHING LAST MINUTE DETAILS BEFORE TRANSITIONING TO MIMI AND DOC'S HOUSE FOR THE EVENING. 
WE FEEL QUITE BLESSED TO HAVE BOTH SETS OF GRANDPARENTS WITHIN 15 MINUTES OF EACH OTHER. 
FAVORITE CHAIR - CHECK.  LOVELY NEW DRESS - CHECK.  FRESH COAT OF LIPPIES - CHECK.  THIS LITTLE LADY WAS READY FOR A BIG NIGHT ON THE TOWN.

AS WAS I...


WITH MY SWEET ONES SAFE IN THE ARMS OF THEIR GRANDMAS, I BOARDED A TRAIN BOUND FOR CHICAGO TO REUNITE WITH SOME OF MY FAVORITE CHICAS.

DURING OUR TIME IN RESIDENCY, I HAVE HAD MET SOME PRETTY FANTASTIC WOMEN.  RESIDENCY BROUGHT US TOGETHER, BUT OUR LOVE OF FOOD (AMONG OTHER THINGS) WILL FOREVER UNITE US.  

A FEW YEARS AGO, A GROUP OF US DECIDED THAT WE NEEDED ONE MORE EXCUSE TO GET OUT OF THE HOUSE TO GATHER FOR MUCH NEEDED FELLOWSHIP.  WITH BOOK CLUB AND BIBLE STUDY ALREADY OUR SOCIAL CALENDARS, WE DECIDED THE OBVIOUS CHOICE WAS TO START A RESTAURANT CLUB.   AND, SO WE BEGAN MEETING ONCE A MONTH AT RESTAURANTS AROUND TOWN FILLING OUR STOMACHS WITH RICH FOODS AND OUR SPIRITS WITH DEEP JOY. 

LAST MAY WE MET FOR (A TEARFUL) MEAL TO SAY GOOD-BYE AS TWO MEMBERS PREPARED TO DEPART FROM MADISON.  WE WERE DETERMINED TO REUNITE, AND SOMEHOW THE STARS ALIGNED  ALLOWING US TO MEET IN CHICAGO FOR A VERY MEMORABLE RESTAURANT CLUB.

AND DINE WE DID.

DAVID BURKE'S PRIMEHOUSE
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS

FIVE LADIES NEED NOT ORDER FIVE INDIVIDUAL STEAKS ON THE BONE.  LET'S JUST SAY A CERTAIN HUSBAND WILL BE ENJOYING STEAK AND EGGS FOR BREAKFAST SUNDAY MORNING.


OUR EVENING WAS FILLED WITH DECADENT FOOD, LIVELY CONVERSATION, LAUGHTER AND THE MOST DELICIOUS RED VELVET CAKE WITH CREAM CHEESE FROSTING I HAVE EVER EATEN. 

I DID NOT EXPECT TO MAKE MANY FRIENDS DURING MY TIME IN MADISON.  HOWEVER, THE LORD SAW FIT TO BRING SOME PRETTY AMAZING WOMEN INTO MY LIFE DURING THE PAST FIVE YEARS.  I KNOW THAT BECAUSE OF OUR TIME SPENT AS "RESIDENT WIVES" WE WILL ALWAYS REMAIN A SPECIAL PART OF EACH OTHER'S LIVES.  AND, I CAN ALWAYS COUNT ON THEM TO ENJOY AN EVENING OF EATING AS MUCH AS I DO!

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