Where's Abby (+ Dylan and dogs)

If this trip didn't deserve a blog, I don't know what would. Mom and I just had a blast on our first (stateside) road trip together.  Mom started of the trip in perfect Julie Ross fashion, packing a picnic lunch for us along the way.  We made our way to Hendersonville, NC to the cutest little lodge at Highland Lake. It was a lovely little retreat with a lake for kayaking (in warmer weather), an organic farm, chickens, and fall leaves. Saturday We had a lovely reunion with her friend Jenny and her hubs who are always so good to see. Italian dinner Friday night and downtown shops and lunch the next day with this wonderful couple. From lunch, Mom and I ventured over to Carl Sandburg's house, a must see for anyone in the area. I didn't know much about the guy before but now I love him and his wife and their goats. (If you want to be surprised on the tour, skip the next paragraph!)  A Swedish immigrant longing to be American, writing poetry ab

Maybe over the last month a slew of things lead me to a plastic rampage the other day. It's everywhere. It's excessive. Plastic cups, straws, balloons, cans (ok aluminum too) all over the beach. Snack packs at Publix have made me maybe the most outraged-- wasteful packages with 3 pieces of cheese and some nuts or a spoonful of salsa with 5 tortilla chips in a double decker plastic bus for convenience? Bleh. I'm actually writing Sabra to express my extreme discontent with their entire company. I'm so feisty about this! I'd close em down if I were president. End rant, onto action.  So here's how I'm starting out.  Drinking and Eating  Keepin' on with the Nalgene everywhere and also taking my own coffee cup to cafes. Apparently several (Dunkin for one!) will give discounts too.  Saying no next time I want ice cream at school if they only have plastic options. Ice cream can wait, can't it, Earth? Take my own container for leftovers at res

As most of my friends and family know, I'm not a fan of summer. I'm not a fan of Florida Summer is maybe more accurate. It's hot. It's sticky. The dog can't walk between 7am and 8pm with his 10lbs of fur... We gotta close all our blinds to keep the apartment cooler... It's a challenging time for me. But the other day, during a good old beach day with franz, some stranger offered us watermelon. This watermelon turned around my summer brain. I realized we need to milk summer for all it's worth and learn to love it for what it is before it's over. "Dylan! We gotta celebrate summer! With watermelons! And pina coladas!" (I've never even cared for watermelons that much with all other fruit options available, but with it's juicy coolness as well as its summer-food stereotype, it won me over). I went on brainstorming what things make summer summer to come up with hot dogs, lemonade, fruity salads... We gotta swim in the pool and dip in

If you follow my Instagram, it may look like my whole life is laying on the bed with my puppy, but it's actually been quite a busy summer! I quit work July 25th to have a month off before school starts and I've been enjoying every minute of it.  The day after my last day, I flew right out to Omaha for my baby cousin's wedding. Pre-wedding, we ventured to the zoo which was quite impressive-- you would need a full day to see it all. The wedding was a blast at the  Strategic Air Command Museum.  Liesl and I sat back and admired their Georgia Tech friends' dance moves. We laughed at our incapabilities to move our bodies in such cool, uninhibited ways. Grateful for all the time chatting with Aunts, Uncles and Gramps. Man we got some good fam.  I learned new things about Uncle Kenneth and Mama at dinner downtown. I never knew Kenneth was such a classical music enthusiast and mama was so involved in women's rights back in the day- protesting to wear pants in high s

That's exactly what this summer has been and it's been great .  On Memorial Day weekend, Dana, Martin, and baby, Leslie and Steve and I reunited for a surprise house-warming visit at the Hendersons' new lake house. We had a weekend full of baby cuddles, hiking, and good old times. We all went for a hike in search of a waterfall, but found ourselves on a buggy, muddy, humid, manure-filled path on which we gave up on the waterfall. The next day, just the girls headed out for a hike up to Amicalola Falls with the pups. Best part about this hike was our pitstop at the lodge for a Smoky Mountain view, food and drinks before wandering back down the mountain. I've never laughed so hard on a hike before.  Father's Day Weekend was spent with the Ross fam (Dad's side with his brother and all their family) at a Silver Springs cabin. Addie that could be found attached to my hip during our whole wedding was found in the same spot this day. I loved catching up with cou

Early mornings   three a day   meeting strangers along the way She changed our walks   Low protein food   what kind of leash How much her sickness gave us grief She changed our talks   Daddy dances Mama brushes Attempting smelly teeth brushing   She changed our roles Cozy mornings   Cuddles with Papa I fry the eggs as I cherish this view She changed our mornings Hormone altering bringing excitement to see the other one as mom or dad She changed our love Slowly walking   pausing for smells chasing the birds, soaking in the sun She changed our pace   Finding joy in her joy watching her prance on the trails  accepting all strangers with a wagging tail She changed our views Our first pup bringing us closer together so much love and adventure   She changed our lives

It's still very strange without our Sisi Laroo around. I still picture her sweet little face light up with excitement at the sound of kiddos on the beach. And b-lining to the beach when I ask her if she wants to go. Frolicking in the grass at Howell park and taking over our pillows whenever we get out of bed. She was the sweetest dog.  But we welcomed this little guy into our lives and he's been filling it with a whole new set of excitement. We picked him up in Bristol, TN of all places, and didn't even stop in to say hey to King College. On our drive back, we empathized with the little one, thinking of how he had no idea he was going to move from the mountains to the beach with a whole new family in one day. He had no idea about this whole lifetime of adventure ahead of him. And he had no choice but to accept it. Get ready for all the beach walks, hiking, biking, nose pinchings (thank Dad for that one), and travel, little Hobie man!  He's teaching us the pati

Inspired by Todays Letters , I decided to host our first celebration of this important guy.  We packed our apartment with (almost) everyone we invited! We watched his speech and educated the kiddos on his history while we ate some of Martin's favorite foods: collard greens  (and a veggie version minus the bacon, add the tomato),  mac and cheese,  and  fried chicken . Next time I'll make some homemade fried chicken and follow through with the pecan pie plan.  An hour before the party started, I figured I'd bring in some activities and created a trivia game and scavenger hunt around the apartment revolved around Jr.'s life. The hints included Sexo y Amor en Tiempos de Crisis, his hometown, Ginsberg's Howl poem about racism and society, curry spice next to some knives  and more. I think we'll make this a tradition.

Well hey guys, I found this in my long list of drafts. In the wondreful year of 2017, I... Filled a house with  10 of the loveliest ladies in Savannah for my bachelorette.  Had that monumental day I dreamt of since I was like 8, snagging Dylan forever Explored Savannah with two dedicated Aussie wedding guests Celebrated Leslie and Steve's monumental day in Georgia AND Dylan's cousin and her man in California  Had a mountains, surf and seafood-filled honeymoon in Portugal and Spain   Hosted our 2nd Annual Mardis Gras party  Hosted our 1st Annual Midsummer Fest Enjoy so much cuddle time and hikes with the best Sisi Dog.  Started a relatively successful garden, harvesting FIVE jalepenos! That cauliflower should be ready soon (Update: I harvest 5 bushleses a tad too late but enjoyed some of them). Spent my 28th birthday in Boston and Maine Switched clothes with Dylan for Halloween and howled down the street.  Applied to grad school round DOS. All your wel