solo

Adam has been in Minneapolis all weekend for work. I didn't get home from Wisconsin 'til Friday night, so our trips overlapped a little, but it's been different to have a weekend to myself like this. I definitely miss him, I went to a wedding by myself last night which was really weird, but at the same time I also savor these times alone. I think there will always be a part of me that likes to be independent, even if only for a day or two.

I got up early and went for a long run (I'm training for a half marathon!). it was a beautiful morning, cool and quiet, just how I like it. Then I went to church (something I don't like doing alone. It is one place that people know me as part of a couple, so when Adam's not there, people don't ask how I am, but instead, where's Adam?) From there I bummed around the house, doing laundry, taking a nap, reading, making phone calls, all typical Sunday afternoon kinds of things, but Adam wasn't there to fill in the gaps. It's not that I would have done anything differently if he had been here, but it would have been fuller if that makes sense. Then I grabbed some dinner with a friend and enjoyed an Iowa sunset and watched the moon rise. It's almost full. Now I'm back at home hanging out some more before heading back to work tomorrow. It almost feels like I've been on vacation again since I've been out of the office since Tuesday. Kind of nice.

my job

I have been in Central Wisconsin this week on a media tour. That means I have been touring manufacturing plants of windows, doors, tile, cabinetry, shutters, etc and learning how they are made. 2 years ago I never would have imagined this would be part of my job description, let alone something I enjoyed. But the last 3 days have been a lot of fun. I get to ask as many questions as I want, wear a hard hat and safety goggles, and see some really cool housing products. The best thing about this trip (aside from the complimentary cheese curds—wisconsin people are serious about their cheese) has been that most of the other editors are young like me. That never happens, usually I'm trying to make conversation with people twice my age who have been in the industry for longer than I've been alive. So it's been fun to make some contacts and learn about their experiences and share horror stories.

Now I just hope I can get back to Des Moines. My first flight to Chicago was canceled, now I'm routing through Minneapolis and praying the storms have passed.

More Pictures

How beautiful are some of these pictures. The produce shot is from Pike Place Market in Seattle. I would love to shop there. They had gorgeous bouquets of fresh flowers, for $5. If I lived there I would have fresh flowers all the time. Our hotel room was so small and we were only there a few days so I didn't buy any, but maybe I should have.

Now that we're back from that trip Adam and I both have the travel bug and are trying to figure out where our next trip should be, even if it's only for a long weekend. Des Moines may not be the most happening place to be, but it is very central. Right now we're toying with taking a long weekend to Colorado in the fall...

The Cooleys in the Northwest

Adam and I spent a week in Portland and Seattle. We flew into Seattle early on a Sunday morning and rented a car to drive down to Portland. It was only a 3 hour drive and Adam loves seeing a new part of the country (aside from Hawaii he hadn't been west of Omaha) I highly recommend seeing both cities at once if you have time. I wish we would have had a few more days to go even farther north to British Columbia, maybe next time.

We got to have dinner with Lynette and Jon in Portland which was great. And Lynette picked cherries (now I know why she loves it out there) and made a delicious chocolate cherry cobbler. Sometimes I wonder why I'm still in Des Moines when it seems like everyone else has moved, but it's great to have people to visit around the country. It would be nice to have Lynette and Jon closer. I think we would have tons of fun hanging out with them (and Adam would love playing with their Wii). It's hard to find couple friends sometimes. I loved seeing their apt too since I had lived with Lynette for a few years. it was fun to see familiar things and be able to picture her at home.

Adam joked about moving to the Portland area and I honestly don't think we ever would, but it is something to consider. The city is beautiful and there is so much to do in the area. We drove over to the coast, went to wineries and orchards, did some hiking, saw waterfalls and mountains, pretty much everything you could ever want and no sales tax! And of course the Powells bookstore in downtown Portland. I could have spent an entire day or at least an afternoon there. Adam dragged me out after about 45 minutes, but it's a booklover's paradise.

It was our 2 year anniversary while we were there (the traditional gift is cotton if you were wondering) so we got reservations at Portland City Grill, a nice restaurant on the 30th floor of a building downtown. We had a corner windowseat, so we overlooked the city and ate amazing food. It was fun to get dressed up for a fancy dinner.

Other highlights of the trip included:
buying an 18 pound tuna in Seattle (we had it packed on ice and just checked it with our luggage)
eating the best crabcakes of my life in Seattle
riding a ferry to Bainbridge Island
buying coffee at the first Starbucks
hiking to the top of Multnomah Falls
wandering through flower gardens in Oregon
free wine tastings





Cannon Beach, Oregon
Too bad it wasn't a sunny day, but it was still beautiful.







Multnomah Falls