Green Bay - Revisited

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  Chicago, Illinois, United States
Monday, October 13, 2008

I was so excited Friday morning to get back to Green Bay. I went to Starbucks to write a bit more for my blog, had a hot dog for lunch at Leon's on 27th St in Milwaukee ( $ 1.77 with chili, soooooo good!) Then onward (or in this case upward) to Green Bay. It was only a few days ago that I drove this road but the leaves were more colorful. Again, passing Luxemburg, Belgium, it's like going thru Western Europe in 2 hours....No time or desire to stop, I'm on a mission, get out booties back to Green Bay.

Arrived at about 5 p.m. Cathy (Glenn's' sister and her lovely, smart and funny daughter Mikeala were at the house too. And of course Jet, the beautiful puppy girl who gave us a welcome ritual that only puppies can do. It's sooooo wonderful to see Johannah and her getting it on. So funny, Jet is goofing all the time, running in circles around Johannah, egging her on while barking so once in a while and Johannah with her bigger body is not using as much of her energy, she only has to turn around to keep up with goofy Jet and so after a half hour or so, Jet is out cold and Johannah is still ready for more. She's such a good lady...

The plan was to go out with Glenn and Patti to their bi weekly bowling tournament. Their team consists of Glenn, Patti, Patti's brother Gary and his girlfriend Trish. So off we went, Cathy and I sat at the bar most, cheering from a distance and we ended up sending "gifts" back and forth (for the insiders) and after that we played darts (Patti and I were on 1 team and she won it for us). Back to the house and hanging out a bit more before all heading to our designated beds. ( Shout out to Buddy, the cat, for graciously allowing us to use his downstairs palace).

Glenn woke us up the next day, he told me it was afternoon!! I can't remember the last time I slept this long, I was so comfortable here, it knocked me out. I could have gone on for a bit longer.....Jet was ready and willing to give Johannah her good morning-play-rumble.
Patti and Glenn invited a bunch of friends, neighbors and family for a cook out that early evening so I wanted to contribute with a typical Dutch dish, Stampot Boerenkool met worst and spek and Ellen's Mac'n Cheese. So Mikeala and I went to the store and after that I started cooking, Glenn and Patti had beef cooking in the Crockpot all day for sandwiches, Addie (Glenn and Cathy's mom, who also lives with them) and her niece Cathy, who visited for the weekend from Chicago, made a salad and a desert dish. So it all came together so easily.

The guest list that evening: Jim and Mary - next door neighbors, Jim's nephew Josh, Patti's brother Rick and his wife Sally, Glenn and Cathy's parents, Rose Marie and Dave (with the magic blue liquid, lemonade is optional, hahaha), Patti's cousin Vicky and her boyfriend Marc and their friends Cathleen and Derrick, Patti's cousin Cathy, which is Aggies' niece. (Just want to make sure that I make this a bit more difficult to figure out, hahaha). Patti's nieces Lilly Agnes and Abby and Carson, a cute/adventurous boy who Patti is been taking care of since he was 3 and of course Aggie, Patti's mom. She is such an inspiration. I hope that you are feeling a lot better by the time you read this, and that you will find your way back to work, which you do so gracefully, you are in my thoughts...

Jim, the neighbor, plays in a band with a few friends and I wish I could see them play next weekend but I can't keep coming back so maybe another time. He gave me a t-shirt from the band and I want him to know: Jim, you're getting around the country, I wore it when I left town. Maybe we'll have a January Birthday Bash with the "Capricorn Women". Patti, Cathy and I have birthdays in January and Johannah is going to be 10 too in January... and if that is going to happen, I would love for you to play! His wife Mary wants me to send her a pair of wooden shoes, Mary: you will be getting my pair, I should have left them right then and there but I will send them to you so you can hang them up and put some plants in them...
It was a great evening, fun conversations and it's just so good to be amongst good people that make you feel so welcome. Sunday was a rest day for all of us. I went out to Pulaski to visit Cathy and Mikeala to see where they live, it's about 15 miles outside of Green Bay. Chatted a while with Glenn Sunday evening, hardly saw Patti that day, she had a well deserved lazy day by herself. Said goodbye to Glenn because he had to get up early for work. I did some Laundry this morning, repacked things, re arranged some stuff around, watched Jet and Johannah playing one more time, said goodbye to Patti and Aggie who were on their way to hopefully win big bucks at the bingo...

Another chuckle when I left town. I'm so glad that I came back. Glenn and Patti, thank you again for your kindness/hospitality and take us in like you did. We'll stay in touch. Lot's of love and respect. L and J.

We're in Chicago now and time to get some pizza somewhere in the neighborhood, because we're going to bed early, tomorrow will be a long day of exploring Chi-town... night-night

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