First Night in Chicago

Sweet Sarah and I decided our Christmas gifts to each other would be a short getaway to Chicago.

We got in late afternoon yesterday. After some awesome recommendations from Facebook friends (I love love love that people, literally around the world, willingly and quickly respond to an ask for recommendations!) we plotted our course and hit the town.

First, we headed to the John Hancock Tower for a drink. The line to the elevator was snaked around the hallway, so we both thought we'd have to wait awhile to get up there. And then it was anyone's guess whether we'd get a table at the lounge on the 95th floor lounge.

Surprisingly enough...we waited less than 5 minutes. And walked right in to an awesome seat. (Actually our first table was ok. But after about 10 minutes the couple seated next to us RIGHT NEXT TO THE WINDOW got up to leave. I, of course, without missing a beat insisted we switch tables. Sweet Sarah thought better of it. I insisted. We moved. Turns out Sarah was content not being any closer to the window...she's not a fan of heights!)

Here's some pics from up there!


After that we headed to Pizano's for a deep dish pizza. And it didn't disappoint!!!! (They also have killer margaritas! HOLY.MOLY!!!!! KILL-ER!!!!)

Today's agenda??? First some coffee, some time at the spa (yes please!), then hitting the Mile for some people watching, window shopping and the art museum!

A Blessed Christmas filled with Peace

May your Christmas be filled with peace. May you be surrounded by those you call family. And may you stop long enough to recognize the gift born in a smelly barn, to a teenage mother who probably couldn't have been more scared. Yet she shared her baby boy with a world that didn't want him, but certainly needed him.

As I read the headlines, listen to others' stories and reflect on the past year it's even more evident that we still need him....even more.

As we wait for his coming birth, may we in one voice say "Come. Oh, come, oh, come Emmanuel."

Sweet Sarah's Dream Dinner

She may have had it last night. Well, in theory at least.

On our way home from an appointment last night and stuck in Hahribawl (that's my Long Island version of horrible) snowmeggedon traffic we decided to get off at the next exit, grab dinner and hopefully avoid the rest of rush hour.

We landed at Melt. A famous Cleveland establishment----think grilled cheese on crack!

And low and behold, the special for the Month....wait for it. Wait for it. Waaaiiiit.....

First, let me say that when I met Sweet Sarah if there was a kids menu, you could be sure she was ordering from it. Chicken tenders? She'll take them. Spaghetti? Perfect! MACARONI.AND.CHEESE??? SHUT THE FRONT DOOR !!! It's her favorite meal of all time !!!!!!!

And fast forward a few years and now Sweet Sarah has probably crossed the threshold to Food Snob (or at least she's near the entrance). But. But. But let's not go too far. Good ol Mac and Cheese still reigns supreme for her palette!

Which now concludes my preface and brings us to last night. The monthly special? That's right. You probably guessed it.....

The Mighty Macaroni Melt!!!! A grilled cheese sandwich filled with deep fried Mac and cheese.

Look at this beast!

As you can see, Sweet Sarah was one happy camper!

It's Coming on Christmas

Look at this snow at the back of The Drayer! We are expecting 6 inches. Perhaps I'll break out the cross country skis tomorrow!

The Drayer

the drayer

I've had a couple people ask about The Drayer.  What is it?  Who is it?  Where is it?

The simple answer: The Drayer is our house.  

The longer explanation:  Built in 1873 the house was once occupied by Otto and Gladys Drayer.

     sidebar:  You don't often hear the name Otto.  But, strangely enough, it actually happens to be a family name on my mother's side.  My maternal grandmother's father was William Otto and his son's first name was Otto. (Did I get that correct, mom?)

(Equally strange....Otto Drayer was a signalman for the Pennsylvania Railroad.  My maternal grandfather was a switchman for the railroad.)

And here she is, in all her 139 year old glory!

  

Random Bits

Well, it's been a few days since I've posted.  I'm actually quite surprised at how intentional I have to be to keep this up.  Sitting down long enough to write thoughtfully (although, I'm not promising all posts will be thoughtful) takes energy and attention....both of which I seem to be short on of late.  'Tis the season, as they say!

Thought I'd give a few updates....

YUMMY!

I pinned this recipe quite some time ago.  And made it on a whim this week while I was working from home.  Try it.  I'm thinking it'll become a staple at The Drayer.  You know....one of those, "oh my gosh there's no food in the house and I'm starving but need something filling" meals.  I ate it plain with crackers as a side.  But I'm thinking it'd be good in a flat out.  Sweet Sarah can't wait to try it in a toasted sandwich!

Avocado Egg Salad

MESSIAH

Sunday I read in the paper that there was going to be a Messiah sing-along with full orchestra Monday evening.  Sweet Sarah quickly put together a plan to make this happen......(involving a downtown work drop-off, dinner reservations and a checklist of items----gift card for dinner, messiah score, etc).  

        sidebar:  Whilst also reading the paper, I learned that                    Cleveland has one of the top 3 symphonies in the world.  WHO KNEW????

the list

I'm proud to report I've logged 20 miles on the bike this week.  Just over 20 actually.  And when I say "the bike" I'm referring to this beauty

She sits in the basement patiently waiting for me to join her and spend quality time.  I'd like to say I'm a die-hard cyclist and get out in the cold weather as long as the roads are decent.  But the truth is....I'm not.  I'm just a wanna be.  maybe someday.  (note: completing THE LIST is going to require some die hard training days.  so time will tell.)

two non-movie recommendations

Our good friends were here over the weekend.  We all agreed that staying in and hanging out together sounded perfect.  In preparation we rented a few movies.  [Sweet Sarah would want me to clarify that I rented two movies. In my defense, I always feel like renting from Red Box is like "renting under duress"  You're outside.  It's cold.  You [I] don't keep up with ANY current trending movies or new releases.  ALL the pictures and titles look decent....at least from what you can tell since you didn't bring your glasses.  Then you realize there's a line forming behind you.  And people are waiting.  And you can't quite figure out the difference between a romantic comedy and a comedy if they both star Meg Ryan.  Does Meg Ryan do comedy?  I want to phone a friend.  But I can't.  The line is getting longer.  And now I'm cold.  And WHAT IS THAT BEEPING?  WHY IS THE MACHINE BEEPING?  WHAT DOES IT WANT?  AND...AND...AND...you [I] forgot your glasses and the glare and the squinting you're [I'm] doing isn't really helping.  AND THE MACHINE IS STILL BEEPING.  What?  What's that? No, No thank you little 9 year old girl behind me I DON'T NEED HELP WITH THE MACHINE!!!!  I've got this.  Fine.  Fine.  Ok, there are two in my cart. I've got this.  I do.  Ok, swipe the card.  Swipe.  Swipe the card. Slower this time, swwwiiipppeee.  Swipe the card.  Flip the card over.  Swipe.  sigh.  Vending movies.  Lord, I hope they come with a chaser!  Grab movies, wind my way past the line.  Into the car.  Sweet Sarah asks, what did you get?  Oh, the new comedy with Meg Ryan.  The one about the marriage.  With Tommy Lee Jones.  Sweet Sarah....you mean, Meryl Streep?  Ahem.  As I was saying.  Duress.]

AND....I digress.  Needless to say, here are my two DO NOT RENT Movie recommendations:

Hope Springs (yes, the one with Meryl Streep)

2 Days in New York

oi vey!  Not worth your time.

christmas preparations at the dryer

As usual, things are well under way here at The Drayer.  Sweet Sarah and I successfully turned out four pounds of peppermint bark.  At least a pound of it was shipped to my sister and her family in California today.  The FedEx clerk, after inspecting the contents of the box, told me it was likely to not make it to California.  She said it looked too good to ship!  

Next up....white cookies, buckeyes, thin mints and cut-outs!

Music expresses that which cannot be said
and on which it is impossible to be silent.
~Victor Hugo (1802 - 1885) ~

In all the extremes of emotions in my life--happy, sad.  joyful, sorrowful.  numb, stinging with pain.  In all of those variances I am drawn and comforted with music.  

In those moments in life when I'm left speechless, sometimes there is silence.  And the silence speaks.  It works.  It expresses what can not be expressed or made tangible.  

Most often, though it's music.  

Today, after hearing about the unspeakable tragedy in Connecticut my prayers come in songs.  Lyrics.  And moving instrumentals.

First this by the amazing songwriter Alice Parker (I tried to find a video of this piece, but was unsuccessful.)

When our lives are torn by sadness,
heal our wounds with tuneful balm;
when all seems discordant madness,
help us find a measured calm.
Steady us with music's anchor
when the storms of life increase;
in the midst of hurt and rancor,
make us instruments of peace.

Turn our sighing into singing,
music born of hope restored;
set our souls and voices ringing,
tune our hearts in true accord:
till we form a mighty chorus
joining angel choirs above,
with all those who went before us,
in eternal hymns of love.

I often think of these lyrics when I hear of tragedy or sorrow or grieving.  Perhaps because it came to me in a time of my life when I was grieving deeply.  

I love how she weaves the idea of sighing--an emotion of sheer exasperation- turning into something that slowly evolves because of hope.  Exasperation can be turned to a thing of beauty because hope.  And faith.  Who among us can't imagine the day when we are able to sing again with those who have already passed?  (Shiver!  The idea gives me chills!)  

And then, my next knee-jerk prayer(you know, the kind you're uttering before you even know you're praying?) was the ultimate (in my theological mind's eye) striving prayer for Christians...St. Francis's Prayer.  

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace,
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy;
O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

I could write more, but instead I'll invite you to join in prayer with these beautiful children for all of those effected by the shootings today.

NH Now Children's Choir

Do I already know a classic?

Ever since I was in college, it has been impossible for the Christmas spirit to officially be stirred in me until the annual community chorus performance of Handel's Messiah.  As a student I attended the event, sitting in the near top row, almost always by myself. (I'm not sure why this was, but it was.  Did I have friends singing in it?  I don't remember.  I'm not even sure why I even attended my first one....perhaps it was a course requirement.  Thank goodness I did!)

Neverthless, I was hooked.  What an amazing masterpiece Handel created.  A few interesting facts:

• It was originally intended to be an Easter and Lent piece
• Handel wrote the entire piece in 24 days.  TWENTY-FOUR DAYS!  (ummm, wow.)
• It debuted in 1742
• Handel was born the same year as Bach (1685)
• Handel was 56 years old when he created Messiah

Of course, there's so much more to this piece and this man.  And I, by no means am a music historian.  (to be perfectly honest, the facts above came from various sources on the internet.  I cross checked to make sure they are close to true.  :) 

This morning on my way to my meeting I selected the Messiah from my playlist.  As I drove in early this morning, I wondered, "Did Handel think this piece would become so famous?  That we would still be creating annual traditions around it around the world 270 years later?"

Or.

Did Handel's friends know what a genius he was?  When they were sitting around on a Friday night eating the 18th century version of a carryout pizza and beer did they realize he would become a classic?

And then.

Do I already know a classic?  Will one day I be able to say, "oh yeah, one time we had just ordered a pizza and were sitting around when he/she said....."

And then, of course.....

Did Jesus's childhood friends know the true miracle that was in their midst?  Did they still argue whether he was safe at first base?  Did they make fun of him for being scrawny?  Or did they know he would some day be larger than life?

"For unto us a child is born!"

My Cup Overflows....

What a wonderfully rich weekend!

Friday evening we officially celebrated my birthday.  This past fall Sarah and I met a wonderfully talented artist at The Ohio Mart Fall Festival who also happens to teach in home classes.  To be fair, I should say that we weren't looking for an artist to teach a class.  Rather, it was more like the artist's husband caught my ear when he said, "hey ladies, take a card.  Kristina also does in home classes.  Have a bunch of friends and wine (OK, this is what caught my ear) and she'll do a class for you."  I immediately turned to Sweet Sarah and said, "that's what I want for my birthday."

Fast forward a few months and Sweet Sarah had pulled off planning and executing a GREAT night!  Both of our moms and my sister, Julie, came over for dinner (made by Sweet Sarah).  We cracked open a few bottles of wine and brave Kristina arrived.

We had a blast!  And I think we even surprised ourselves!

Judy is just not sure about this! 

Mom went to town on her earrings immediately!

Julie couldn't wait to PLAY WITH FIRE!!!!  (Note the intense instruction and Julie's total disregard! :))

Still not convinced

Sarah's favorite part....soldering!

Yep, still not sure and only playing along to be nice. 

Mom showing off her finished product.  (Judy,  still playing along)

Apparently, Kristina wasn't amused.

oh yeah!!!!!

Judy's earrings.  She's a BELIEVER!

Julie's pendant

The final products:
Top row: Sarah's tree pendant, my earrings, Judy's earrings
Bottom row: Julie's pendant, Mom's earrings

What a fun, fun night!  

And lest I forget....Sweet Sarah also mastered this AMAZING birthday cake, per my request.  OH.MY.LANTA!!!!!!   HEAVEN IN A CAKE!

Here's the recipe.  Wow.

Christmas Poke Cake

On Saturday we headed to my mom's for the annual Spann Family Christmas.

And my cup continued to overflow.  I'm just convinced that no one can make me laugh harder than my sisters and cousins.  No one.  We laughed.  And laughed.  And laughed.  Food for the soul, my friends.

Oh and we also witnessed my adorable grandma eat 4 plates of desserts!  Man, Oh man! Why didn't I get her genes?!

How beautiful is this woman?!

My family fills my cup!

And my cup overflows.....

Surprise Date Night 1

Well, I'm officially five days in to this deliberate year and working on the list.  And yep, according to Sweet Sarah, I pulled off a GREAT date night.  (Hoo-ah!)

I thought it would be fun to start the first surprise date night "old school".  Dinner and a movie.  (I know, I know....super creative!  But give me a break, I pulled it off during a week night!  Now THAT'S a big deal!)

I made reservations at the North End, a place we had not been.  Now this, you understand, is a bit risky....taking Sweet Sarah to a new place, especially on a week night.  I've learned, quite quickly, that when she's tired and it's too late, she wants a sure thing---nothing fancy, nothing exotic, no foo-foo.  (And this is the rub....90% of the time I want to try a new place, regardless of meal, time or location.)  Sooooo, I was taking a risk.  Aaaaaannnnnddd, lucky for me, it played in my favor.

North End, as it turns out is this great little wine merchant/restaurant.  Great menu, good ambiance and relatively reasonable in price.

Post dinner we headed to the movie theater.  We've been on a movie kick lately---or I should say, a movie theater kick. And we had been wanting to see Lincoln, but we just couldn't get it to play into our schedule.  So, I thought it would be fun to surprise her with this mid-week.

It.was.___________.

[I'm drawing a blank as to finding the perfect word to describe it]

It.was.perfect.

Yes, I think that's a good way to describe it.

So, so so well done.  

If Daniel Day Lewis and Sally Field (ADORE HER!  "The sanctuary looks like it's been hosed down in pepto bismal.") don't win and Oscar it will be shocking!

I'm anxious for it to come out on video so I can watch it again. 

Go see it.---especially while it's in the theater.

On the way home Sweet Sarah declared, "well, I think surprise date night was a success."

good enough for me! :)

Caribbean Beef Stew

This was the Sunday evening meal at The Drayer. (wait, before I reveal it.....I'm wondering why I hesitated as to what the label was for yesterday's meal.  Dinner or Supper?  Sunday Dinner is the meal immediately following church with family gathered around the table, usually consisting of a roasted piece of beef or pork, right?  Sunday Supper is a light meal, usually consisting of whatever you can scrape together in the kitchen to put on a plate.  No?)  Anywho, in case you were wondering, my favorite Sunday Supper is popcorn.  Yep!  That's right.  Sunday night popcorn supper.  I'm told by my Mennonite friends this is an old farmer's tradition.  I'm not sure.  But I love it.  And I even prepare my taste buds and stomach for it all day!

Ok, where was I?  Oh yeah.  The Sunday Breaking of Bread at The Drayer yesterday.  I subscribe to Food Network magazine.  If you don't already get it and you like cooking....well, you need to put it on your Christmas list.  For Foodies, it's a monthly must-read.

This was a weeknight cooking meal.  Very good, though I would recommend the low cook time over 7 hours instead of the high cook over 4 hours.  The beef was a little tough.  But excellent flavor!!!  Served with a side of special recipe, Jackie Wells corn bread.  (1 package Jiffy corn bread, 1 can cream corn.  Bake.  YUMMY!)

UMMM, no this isn't my picture.  But it DID look this good!

Here's the link to the recipe

Slow Cooker Caribbean Beef Stew

Overheard at The Drayer

Occasionally,  Sweet Sarah and I will be in a conversation and she will inadvertently say something that is uber hilarious!  (It is important to note, that she isn't always particularly proud of these moments, but she knows I won't keep it to myself.)

Early this morning, we were out running errands.  It was one of those days running around doing errands because somehow in the timing of our house we are ALWAYS out of essentials at.THE.SAME.TIME. I mean, how does that happen?  Qtips?  out.  Toilet Paper?  Need it.  Main grocery staples?  Cupboards are bare.

Needless to say, while we were out and about I picked up some Asian Apple Pears.  (One of my favorite winter fruits).

Once we got home and were eating lunch, I remarked that I was also going to have an Apple Pear.

Some time passed.  Silence.  eating.  (The required NFL Sunday Ticket Red Zone Channel was maniacally jumping from game to game in the background.  WHAT IS THAT CHANNEL????  Oh.my.goodness!!!!  CHAOS, I TELL YOU!  THE CHANNEL IS CHAOS!!! ---I do believe that could be an entirely different blog post!)

Ahem, I digress.  So.....

After a few minutes, Sweet Sarah says:

SS: "So tell me about those Apple Pears.  Are they like an apple and a pear?"
Me:  "Yep.  Pretty much!"

Later Sweet Sarah's comment to me...."I think I'm going to end up being half of the blog!"

Yep.  Pretty much!

(I can't make this stuff up!)

A Full Birthday

In 39 years, I'm not sure it's ever been 55 degrees on December 1st in Hudson, Ohio.  (I tried to check this assumption, but the little spinning disc on my safari bar wouldn't come to a halt.  I ran out of patience and came back to my blog.  So, feel free to check this fact and correct me if I'm wrong.)

Anywho, the warm weather made for a very productive day!  S and I got all of our outside decorations put up....and VICTORY at The Drayer----nearly, all of the lights worked!!!!  (Nearly, because I had to replace to little bulbs.  Not bad, not bad at all).

It did, of course, include the requisite trip to Lowe's.  (I <3 LOWE'S!  I HEART LOWE'S!  LOVE LOVE LOVE LOWE'S!  I love to peruse the aisle's looking for the hidden bargain.  The little gem of a little somethin, somethin, that no one else has found.)  I tried to convince S I should probably go by myself since it was my birthday and all. She was having none of it.  That's ok though, she has come to enjoy Lowe's nearly as much as me!  So it's fun to poke around in there together.

We did pick up one of these handy gems...

A 3 way multidirectional extension cord.  HANDY DANDY!  

Perhaps I'll snap a picture of The Drayer all lit up and post it.

After a quick nap (yes, I know, I took a nap!  Rare, rare, rare!)  We headed out for a nice dinner and a musical.  S had made reservations at Crave.  A fun little spot in downtown Akron.  The food was great. But OHMYLANTA!!!!!  The dessert was SLAP YO MAMA GOOD!!!!  Peanut Butter Brownie with Salted Caramel Ice Cream!!!!!  SHUT THE FRONT DOOR!!!!  Wowza!

Then we headed over to catch the really fun musical, My Mother's  Lesbian Jewish Wiccan Wedding, at the Actor's Summit Akron.  Very fun.  (This certainly wasn't on The List, but I might consider adding, "taking in the arts as much as possible!")

Here's to another warm December day!

THE LIST

A DELIBERATE LIFE

The List*
(in no particular order)

1. Practice the piano for at least 1 hour/week
2. Ride 20 miles at least once/week
3. Write letters of gratefulness and forgiveness (I'm not in AA, but I think this is such a cool thing!)
4. Explore/experiment (what IS the proper word here?) with different types of prayer
5. Learn cyclocross
6. Become conversationally fluent in Spanish
7. Host bi-monthly dinner party with themes
8. Plan a bike trip/tour
9. Join and become involved in a church community
10. Explore the option of joining Crossfit or a group accountability exercise program
11. Read one book/month
12. Plan a date night surprise once/month
13. Volunteer---hospital, senior center
14. Take a BFF trip (we're hoping for a 5 day getaway)
15. Have a regular 3 way call with my sisters
16. Schedule a day with Grandma Spann to play Skip-Bo and go to a meal with her
17. Schedule proper tea with Grandma Mitchell
18. Virtual Cocktail Hour with host Robin Carroll*

*This was suggested by my friend Robin who lives in Wisconsin.  We are going to try a new classic cocktail once per week and host a virtual tasting party

And so it begins...

As my 30th birthday approached, I declared that I was going to put together a 30th year cruise, inviting all family and friends (pay your own way of course, because goodness knows I couldn't afford it!)  And so my 30th came and went and so did life.  and.....well.....we never took a cruise.

Fast forward 10 years.  Where has life taken me? Oh so many places!  Back to live in Ohio near my family, a 180 degree career change, new friends made, old friends lost, major life impacting change with the unexpected loss of my dad, love, marriage, another career move and who would've thought......as I was getting a massage one day, face down smooshed in that weird donut face pillow (that never fits me right and leaves me with weird wrinkles as if I've been asleep for 100 years!), "oh.my.goodness.  I'm getting ready to start LIVING in my fortieth year of life.

WWWHHHHAAAATTT????

yep.  it was a true statement.  (or a true thought.  I don't think I said it out loud).

And then the next thought, right behind it, as if the first thought had slammed on it's brakes unexpectedly as they were racing around my brain playing chase, and BAM!  a read end collision.  SO WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO SPANN?  IS THIS THE LIFE YOU THOUGHT YOU'D HAVE?  IS THIS WHO YOU WANT TO BE?  HAVE YOU DONE ALL THE THINGS YOU WERE SUPPOSED TO DO?  SAY?  EXPERIENCE?  

bam!  crash!  crunch!

so much for enjoying  a massage.  

So here I am.  Today, I've entered my fortieth year of living!  (shout out to my young-at-heart-doesn't-look-her-age mama.  HER BABY IS IN HER FORTIETH YEAR!!!!)

And I've decided, I'm going to live deliberately.  Sounds heavy.  Sounds so isolated and intentional and life changing.  here's to hoping.  

it also means, it's going to be fun!

I've been making a list of things I'm going to do.be.try.risk.change.adopt.create.embrace (I've posted it here  The LIST).  And I'm going to blog about it.  (And this is where in my mind I slowly build thousands, nay, millions of followers.  I learn what a widget is.  I start getting offers to advertise on my cleverly named blog.  I begin blogging as a guest blogger.  Many, many people link to my blog.  I quit my day job.  I write in my pajamas with a fresh cup of coffee at my side........ahhh, sigh.).  Ok, that was my initial dream of course.  Who knows, it could happen.  But likely not.  

Now after thinking and planning about this blog for about a month, I'm hoping it's just a good place for me to record and reflect on this blessed life.

We've only got one you know!