Play in the City

The weekend ahead ...

The weather has finally cooled off a bit and we’re in for yet another action-packed Milwaukee summer weekend.

The Wisconsin State Fair starts today – mmmmm, I swear, I can smell the brownies and cream puffs from my desk as I write this. Not sure if I’ll make it this year due to my extreme poverty and my attempting-to-be-strict-because-my-first-wedding-dress-fitting-is-next-Saturday diet. But I have 11 days to cave into temptation.

The Nissan Xterra Midwest Championship is Saturday and Sunday down at Veteran’s Park. I attended this last year – but wussed out on the 5K. With food and music and activities, it’s sure to be a good time, and it’s also an excellent event that showcases Milwaukee to all the athletes and their families who come here especially to participate.

Ya know, after experiencing the high of completing a marathon, and then seeing Amanda recently complete a triathlon, I’ve been toying with the idea of training for another big physical feat – I think this could be a definite option for next year …

Moving on – of course there’s another ethnic festival this weekend – it’s what we do! African World Festival runs Friday through Sunday on the Summerfest grounds.

Then there’s another thing I’ve been meaning to check out – River Flicks. Tomorrow night at Pere Marquette Park, they’re showing Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom at 7 pm.

Whatever you decide to hit up this weekend, I hope you enjoy it. It’s August already! Is it just me or has this summer been the fastest one in the history of the world?

I gotta tell you, I’m going to be in wedding mode for the next ten days or so (ok, who am I kidding? I’ve been in wedding mode for months, and will be that way until I’m officially a Mrs. But I still felt the need to update you on my status.)

This weekend Dave’s going to St. Louis for a bit of a boys' weekend to see his beloved Brewers play down there. I’m taking advantage by visiting my future mother-in-law and my own mom and getting a lot of things taken care of – plus doing some heavy-duty girl bonding, of course!

Then – joy of all joys – I have a vacation week next week. My time at the agency worked out so that I have a certain amount of vacation time yet for my first year here and then my second year here starts right before the wedding, so I’m able to take more than a week off then, too. Ahhh, I can’t wait. My to-do list is about eight miles long and I’m so excited to get things checked off the list. I don’t know how brides who don’t get a whole week off get it all done!

It's. So. Hot.

Alright, this heat wave we're experiencing isn't very fun anymore. Yesterday set records in Milwaukee and today was even worse.

I sure do envy everyone with central air conditioning at this moment. Dave and I have a tiny one-room window unit that is currently providing little to no relief. Our thermostat still says 90 degrees, and that's in the room with the air conditioner. I dare say our kitchen is a scorching 115 degrees.

I sat on the couch all evening because it was too hot to do anything and I darn near went crazy. And now I can't sleep!

I am currently letting some wet towels chill in the freezer for a bit and when I'm done here I will be promptly applying them to my face as I try to fall asleep.

I think tomorrow is supposed to be the last REALLY hot day for awhile – thank God.

Come February when I'm complaining about the cold Wisconsin weather, I will have to look back on this. At least when it's cold, there's always more you can do to get warm – snuggle under more covers, light candles, drink some hot chocolate. In this, when you live in an older house without central air, there are only so many clothes you can take off and only so much you can do for a bit of relief.

I'm off to lie awake for a few more hours until sleepiness finally trumps my boiling body temperature. Good night, folks.