Life on the Runn...

Teachers aren’t privileged to extended vacations through the school year, save Christmas and Easter, so summers tend to be the time for big adventures.  In our household, we sure take advantage of that time. This year, per my request, we decided to visit Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming. Brian, ever the adventurer, found a way to get as much out of one trip as possible, and I soon discovered that other stops had been added to our agenda; in fact, we’ll be gone for more than two weeks and cover some two to three thousand miles.  Along with a visit to Yellowstone, we will visit Ten Sleep, Wyoming, Grand Teton National Park, and Glacier National Park.  Provided I don’t have an encounter with a bear, all should be great!    I’m very excited to spend some of this trip with Tom and Ann, Brian’s uncle and aunt, and their two boys, Daniel and Xavier.  They’ll be with us to explore Grand Teton and Yellowstone.  The rest we’ll do on our own.   This will be the third anniversary that we will

I cannot get over what a difference a week makes as I look outside right now.  While I am greeted with sunshine and a cool breeze, last week the weather was humid and hot.  This combination brought about some very severe storms, as most know. In Itasca, IL, where my cousin Jenny, who has been much like a sister to me, married Louis, a great, kind man who puts up with all the Unti family antics, the weather was so extreme that power was lost as 80+mph winds tore through the city.  More on that in a minute.   Having had an outdoor ceremony myself, I know the stress that accompanies planning an outdoor wedding.  Jenny was supremely calm about the weather, and even laughed off the reports that called for possible morning rain.  It was easy to be optimistic when the sun was shining so brightly.  Fast-forward a few hours, and the girls were busy getting ready.  We took turns getting our hair done and relaxed during our tasty lunch.  Melanie, the matron of honor, Sean, the brother of the bri

BR and I have been busy with wedding festivities as of late. Last weekend, our longtime friend, who served as the best man at our wedding, married his lovely bride. It was much like a homecoming, as the entire college crew was reunited in Madtown to celebrate Bobby and Leah’s marriage. It was hot and humid for the rehearsal, but the weather cooperated on wedding day, and the couple had a wonderful ceremony at the Monona Terrace. I must say that BR made a very handsome groomsman (he surely can rock a pair of suspenders). After a fantastic dinner and a groomsman’s turned rap (featuring some Marquette slamming), Bucky Badger made an appearance. A picture with him was a must. Then it was back to singing along to Pat McCurdy. I knew it would be difficult to top this party; there were so many great moments. If anyone could do it, I was certain my cousin, the maid of honor at my wedding, could. She did not disappoint. And for more on that, stay tuned.