Category Archives: Fun for Couples

Jun 14 2013
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Food/Drink Fun, Friends and Family, Fun for Couples, Outdoor Fun, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Travel Fun

Day 263: New Love = Camping

This weekend was an adventure: new places, new terrain, new favorite outdoor activities. Over the course of the weekend, I rediscovered camping and hiking. I did a fair amount of camping in college but the hubs hasn’t been since childhood.

We drove up to Leelanau County in northern Michigan where our friends own a small piece of Heaven-secluded land and an old farmhouse. We camped on the land because, well, why not? And the house isn’t totally livable, though it does have running water (and good, no ghost vibes). Because the hubs and I were the last to arrive, our friends generously set up our new tent for us by the time we got there. All we had to do was blow up the air matress, lay out sleeping bags and pillows, and we were good to go.

After seeing a little of the nearest town (Empire, MI population 370) we settled into campfire, songs and dog playtime before hitting the sack. Now the hubs and I were most concerned about our dog, Elphie. Would she sleep? Or stay up growling and barking at “outdoor night noises?” We discovered that this dog was actually MADE for outdoor living. She hopped right into the tent and fell asleep on my feet, happy as a farm dog in a horse barn.

Our other big concern, with my RA, was my ability to sleep on the ground (hence the air mattress) and generally get in and out of the tent. I got into the tent ok. Getting out required a lift from the hubs-as does getting up from any low point like beach, ground, floor. This is concerning to me so I’m working on figuring out what muscles I can use and what joints I can put pressure on to get up on my own. However, I was comfy and cozy sleeping in the tent. I loved snuggling down into my sleeping bag with my husband and dog right by me. I woke up (at the actual crack of dawn due to some very energetic birds) feeling amazing and not at all stiff. Honestly I cannot wait to do it again!

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Jun 11 2013
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Chicago Specific Fun, Friends and Family, Fun for Couples

Day 260: Lower, Lower Wacker

Ok I may be writing about this day long after it happened, but let me tell you, I remember it well. I had been rushing around all day–work, appointments, things here and there. In my rushing around, I noticed the car about to turn from mile 99,999 to mile 100,000. How exciting right?

Cool. Great. More rushing around. Then, for the end of my day, I have an appointment downtown. And by downtown, I actually mean the Loop, a place I rarely go. So I’m running late. I find a parking spot and rush to my appointment. I get out of my appointment at 4pm. I head towards the car–now you know where this is going–and it is gone! I am stunned. Other cars are idling where my car was. I know I am on the right street. I think, it must be stolen. And I start panicking because my practically new MacBook Air is in the trunk (not because of the car–that hunk of junk is 100,000 miles old).

I cross to where the car was parked and notice a very common sign in downtown Chicago “No Parking 4pm-6pm.” I check my phone. 4:10pm. Really? REALLY?! Obviously not stolen. Obviously towed at 4:01pm. Obviously now hidden under Lower Wacker. Now I feel bad for thinking of the car as a hunk of junk, yet continue to worry for my MacBook Air (on which I currently type this post). I take a bus to the hubs at work. Our friend John picks us up and we spend about an hour trying to find the impossibly located pound. (Under Wacker is Lower Wacker. Under Lower Wacker, you might think you would find the river or maybe concrete, but no. There is a secret Lower, Lower Wacker where the city hides cars they tow one minute after no parking goes into effect. And it takes an hour because you have to drive through a mini suburb that you did not know existed in downtown Chicago but that you think you might want to live in some day because there’s a park with lots of trees and a bank and town homes with views of Lake Michigan, yet you don’t have to leave the city. In fact, you are in THE center of the city). And that drive, making both the discovery of Lower, Lower Wacker and Suburban Oasis was the fun part. Oh and the car turning 100,000 miles old.

Jun 01 2013
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Fun for Couples, Nightlife, Theatre Fun, Travel Fun

Day 250: Oh What a Night

The end of the New Harmony Project is always celebrated with a formal dinner with donors followed by an informal party in the Barn Abby. This has always been one of my favorite nights in New Harmony. People are excited about the plays they’ve seen or worked on. Everyone gathers to celebrate the writers and another successful project wearing their New Harmony best. Funders give generously to support the continued life of this amazing writers’ retreat. Then everyone gets crazy at the Barn Abby: flip cup, beer pong, dancing, drinking–its a UET style party with professionals. The vibe goes from formal to informal pretty much instantly. And it is amazing.

It was fun to have that kind of night where, by the end, your dress clothes are rumpled and sweaty and you feel exhausted but exhilarated at the same time so you go back to your hotel room and play cards for an hour before you can sleep. That kind of night.

May 31 2013
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Fun for Couples, Theatre Fun, Travel Fun

Day 249: Play Day

The hubs and I travelled to New Harmony for the New Harmony Project, a writers’ conference focused on new play development. Five plays received two weeks of in-depth work with actors, director, dramaturg, and, of course, playwright. Three other writers were in residence at the conference to just getaway and write.

Day 249 was packed with readings of the plays that had been in workshop for the duration of the conference; 10:00am, 2:00pm, and 8:00pm. We had just enough time to eat between readings–well, and I managed to do some work. I love new plays. I love that they are mid development. I love New Harmony Project for facilitating a thoughtful conversation afterwards. I love thinking about where those plays will go. I love talking about my thoughts afterwards with the hubs, friends and colleagues.

These three plays were all set in the 1970’s–a strange coincidence though I wonder if we’ll see more of that as modern technology can often fix some of the dramatic “problems” created in plays. I mean if Juliet could have texted Romeo, the whole thing might have turned out differently. Modern playwrights will either have to embrace or neglect or set their plays in the 1970’s…Anyway, even though they were all set in the same period, they were all quite different. Different styles, structures and voices. Being exposed to three plays in one day as well as sitting in a room full of creative minds got my artistic juices flowing. I felt so inspired by our whole trip (more on this later).

The whole mission of the New Harmony Project is to serve writers who provide positive artistic work in a world that can often be viewed cynically. The founders sought to fight the negativity often found in modern cinema and theater by investing in writers who focus on hope. Very similar to what I’m trying to do for myself with this blog…no wonder I found it so up-lifting.

May 30 2013
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Fun for Couples, Travel Fun

Day 248: Night Storm

Day 248 took the hubs and I to New Harmony, Indiana. Through a lightning storm that I found beautiful and the hubs found stressful. (He was driving).

We left Chicago a little later than we wanted, so we ended up in traffic. Then, I needed to stop at a coffee shop for wifi and send something out for work. Then, the directions led us on a route that was more direct, less miles, but not on the interstate. By the time we passed through an absolutely delightful and deserted town square, complete with bandstand, we found ourselves in a monumental storm worthy of the Back to the Future-esque clock tower in the same square.

I haven’t always liked storms, but I do now. I especially like them in the country where you can see them from miles away. I managed to get this picture as we drove through and around the storm.

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