Happy 34th Anniversary, Mom and Dad!

Home Sweet Home, Barack

I'm not making any kind of political blog here, but I drove by Barack Obama's house last night on the South Side of Chicago and thought that was pretty awesome. His house is sweeeet.

Only 47 1/8 Days Left...

Ben left last Tuesday for India. He got there safe and sound and is enjoying the 103 degree weather and 85% humidity. His room luckily has air conditioning though. Tomorrow (well today for him) he starts work at the medical clinic. Before he left I made him a countdown book (kinda high school yeah? whatever), I have a countdown on our white board in the kitchen, and my sister even sent me one that I have in my classroom at school.  My sister Laura sent me a care package the next day after he left with a ton of goodies to cheer me up and get me looking forward to coming to Washington for the last month before Ben comes home. In that package she sent me random things that would remind me of Disneyland (since we're all going in July). The lovely hat and mug were a reminder of the Tiki room in Adventureland. I love my sister.

Ben left these for me as a surprise before he left. =( Cute huh? 

Ben the Bird Man

Normal people post their kids chasing birds and everyone thinks it's totally adorable (which I would agree with), but I only have a Ben and I don't necessarily think it's cute but pretty hilarious. So here he is chasing a bird at the zoo.

Who Needs Kids to Have Fun at a Zoo?

Many things are nice about the Lincoln Park Zoo in downtown Chicago. The main thing is that it is FREE - how splendid!

The welcome sign to the zoo was missing the "o" in Lincoln so I decided to replace it with my hands and Ben has chosen to use his mouth.

 I look exactly like a meerkat don't I?

 I love this shot!

 I don't know why I have to imitate all of the animals but this is my warthog look. 

 Ben staring down a black bear through (luckily) some thick glass.

 Ben was so impressed that they had these camels from Mongolia. 

One Fantastic "Last Meal"

Ben leaves tomorrow for two months in India where he'll be doing a research study at an eye clinic. Many people have asked about what I'll do and I'm sure I'll just shrivel into a tiny ball and hide until he gets back. Or.. I'll be super sad for awhile (or a long time), finish up my last two and a half weeks of school, host my parent's visit here in Chicago, fly home and hang out with my sisters, nieces, parents, friends, and extended family, and then fly down to California for a vacation where Ben will meet up with me after 53 days of torturous absence. So today we went to Wrigleyville and ate at Orange (an amazing brunch restaurant) and then went to the Lincoln Park Zoo and strolled around. Here are a few pictures from our adventure today.

Ben had an amazing cinnamon roll pancake with pecans in the middle and frosting (yummm..)

I had an omelet with avocado sauce, sweet leeks, bacon, and some other magical ingredient. And then we both split freshly squeezed orange/pineapple/mango juice. What a wonderful breakfast!

Jamie and Ben's "Needs"

So Jenny and Lesley have both done this so I thought I'd see what results came up. You are to go into Google and type your name and needs like "Jamie needs" and then it would list out what I apparently needed. Most of them are quite awkward. I did Ben too out of curiosity.

1) Jamie needs a kid

2) Jamie needs mental help (ouch!)

3) Jamie needs to shut the (you know what) up

4) Jamie needs to mind her own business

5) Jamie needs a drink 

6) Jamie needs to stop making horrible faces

7) Jamie needs a little wiggle room

8) Jamie needs our support

9) Jamie needs a China destination

10) Jamie needs a hug

* Don't I sound dysfunctional? 

Here's Ben:

1) Ben needs money (yeah he does!)

2) Ben needs a ride home

3) Ben needs to close the deal by Valentine's Day

4) Ben needs your help

5) Ben needs a big comeback

6) Ben needs a nap

7) Ben needs to be taken home

8) Ben needs to chime in

9) Ben needs your vote

10) Ben needs his own publicity without his wife ( I swear one said that )