Midsummer Snapshots

So this week in lovely Peoria, temperatures will skyrocket to a cozy 100 degrees.

I am definitely more cut out for somewhere like Halloweentown, where it's sweater and cider weather all day, every day.

Anyway. My roommate Jess came back to visit this weekend, and we had such a good time! But the weekend went by way too fast. My mom's been out for the past couple days, too, so it's been a fun week!

Tom and I went to the Farmer's Market on Saturday...

...And ate berries and muffins on the riverfront!

Then Jess and I visited our baby chickens, who are no longer babies (they're the reddish ones in the back.)

My turkey friend.

Caitlyn, Jess and I went downtown for a girls' night

Club soda and lime, yum.

Summer bucket list item #25: Eat at Lou's Diner. Check!

I have been looking forward to this upcoming weekend for a long time and I am so, SO glad it's almost here. Tom and I head north to my hometown tomorrow after work for a wedding, a family party and some sightseeing. And we get to escape the heat (kind of) for a few days. 

Happy Wednesday! Or I guess I could just say "Decent Wednesday!" Wednesday is the most depressing day of the week, studies show. I kind of think Tuesdays are worse, but whatever. Science says Wednesdays are the low point. But I digress.

Homecoming & an afternoon with the river

I went home this weekend to see some family and attend my brother's graduation party (and eat. And then eat more. I'm that person who stands by the food table for the duration of the party.)

I missed everyone, so I was really excited to get home. I love my family for many reasons. But I think my favorite is the vast differences among them all, and the craziness that ensues when they all get together.

My parents are divorced, but the families are still amicable (my mom does my dad's side of the family's hair, for example.) Even more than amicable, really. So we still get to see everyone at the same party, which is nice. The issue with going away to school, and then staying out here for the summer, is my little cousins seem to grow exponentially when I'm away.

But anyway, there was plenty of food. Two cakes. And lots of people that I've really missed.

He likes to brag that he got the looks in the family, but that's obviously false with a face like mine.

But now we are halfway into the work week, and there have been some unpleasant surprises. Nothing that can't be fixed with a little brainstorming and ice cream, but stressful nonetheless.

And today, I will be doing something that I am absolutely terrified to to. Like, if I think about it I want to hide in my room and never come out.

Disclaimer: I am a HUGE chicken. About everything.

But today, for a story I'm working on, I have to collect sound of jumping carp out on the river. Sounds harmless, right? No. These fish are massive, they jump ten feet in the air, there are thousands of them, and the last story I heard was about some girl whose jaw was dislocated from one of these monsters. The real kicker is that the story was my idea, and I knew going into it that I'd have to do this. But this was before I heard that these things jump in the boat with you! IT MIGHT SLIME ME. 

And also, if there are bees or spiders in the boat that are just hanging out, enjoying the summer day, I might jump in the river with the carp. I can't decide which freaks me out more.

All in a day's work. At the very least, I can never say I'm bored. Maybe I have a stray helmet lying around somewhere. Wish me luck!