​In the summer of 2003, I got a puppy.  She was the last of the litter.  Full of puppy energy.    I really had no business getting a dog, considering I couldn't really afford to feed myself, let alone bring a tiny puppy that requires vet visits and food and training and time and attention into the house.  But I met this girl and we fell in love.
​Unconditional love. 
​We lived in our little house on Hanssler Place where, after what seemed like years (it was only weeks really) she got the whole "housebroken" thing down, she loved to chase squirrels, go on car rides and would spend hours running along the fence barking at the twin girls that lived next door. 
She got me through some difficult times.  She was always there.
​In the fall of 2007, I got a promotion.  A promotion that would take me to Denver to live, and knowing that my schedule would be unpredictable, require a lot of traveling and find me living in an apartment, the difficult decision was made to leave Emmy with my parents.  I still think about leaving that dog.  It was the WORST. DAY. EVER.
​I couldn't get out of the house without crying.  I got in that Penske truck filled with everything I owned, headed down the road and for the next 8 hours had bout after bout of uncontrollable tears. 
​I settled in to life in Denver without a dog, and my mom and dad settled into life with a dog.  Emmy became their dog.   
On visits home, she would be happy to see me, but I could tell, she had moved on.
​She was now their constant companion.
​When I moved home in 2012, it was clear that Emmy was no longer my dog. 
​As the years passed, she started to slow.  She was getting older, but in 2014 Duff found me.  Another energetic puppy, left at the shelter, I immediately fell in love again.
​Duff put some spring back in Emmy's step.  They spent hours in the backyard at my mom and dad's chasing squirrels, chasing each other, barking at the mailman, begging and barking in unison for treats.  Duff was always the instigator, poking at her, getting her to make chase through the house....keeping her on toes.
​Late last week, Emmy got sick.  She wasn't herself.  A trip to the vet revealed her kidneys and liver were failing.  The hard decision was made, but she, in her own loving way, decided to make it for us.  She took her last breaths on her own.  She was gone.
​Our girl is gone.  We miss her.

Yesterday I attended  a gathering of friends, family, former coworkers and former students celebrating the life of a woman , who in one way or another had touched all their, or should I say our, lives.  
I knew Valerie for just about 2 years, not long enough.   I was always impressed by how she didn't let age or health stop her from living a remarkable, full life.  She was up for anything.  She had the greatest stories to tell and told them so well, and I loved to listen to her recall something funny.  She was a tiny woman with a big presence.  She loved to wear (and buy) anything red.   
  The last time  I saw her, Shawn, Bill, Valerie and I went to the movies to see "Florence Foster Jenkins".   Shawn had brought along a CD of FFJ and we played it in the car on the way to the theater....we laughed the whole way.  We laughed along in the movie and after,  we ate Fried Chicken and a splash or two of Southern Comfort.  The simplest of days, but a memory I'll have forever. 
​I learned a few things from Valerie's example.  First, be up for anything.  Don't let opportunities go by, enjoy life.  Secondly, in life and in her passing I am reminded once again of the amazing gift we all have in the friends who become our family.  And although there are many other things I can take away, the most important lesson?..... there's always room for something red. 
​XO Valerie, we'll miss you.

The rest of June was one celebration after another.  My mom celebrated her birthday early in June, Jacob turned 20, in mid June, Father's Day, my parent's 52nd wedding anniversary and then we celebrated Shawn's birthday at the end of the month.....lots of eating, lots of desserts.

July came and the 3rd and 4th found me celebrating the Independence Day at 2 different parties.  More eating...more desserts.  Dad's birthday came near the end of the month (more cake) and then I helped a friend of mine with a launch party for her new online clothing boutique ...more food, more cake....(check out Jessica's website at www.savagecurvesboutique.com). 

As July is coming to a close, I've got a couple busy weeks at work and then finally, a quick vacation to Michigan to spend a few days on the shore of Lake Michigan....I can't wait. 
​Hope you're all having a great summer!
xo
​Greg

At the beginning of the year, I posted a few "resolutions" that I wanted to work on this year.  The last resolution, the one we almost all have, was to get in better shape and maybe lose a little weight.   I've made a few strides toward that goal as the year is unfolding...one of which was joining a gym for the first time in probably 15+years.  No, I didn't just join, I actually go.  So, yay for me!
​Many, many years ago I used to run....or jog....or walk really, really fast and I even entered a few races, not with the idea that I would ever win a single thing, but just to participate and feel accomplished.  It's been over 10 years since I ran in any kind of race whatsoever.
​So, when I got an email that the Peoria Humane Society was hosting The HUMANe Race
​to raise money for the humane society, I thought what better way to support a cause that is near and dear AND give myself a fitness goal to work towards.  Well, that would have been great, had I actually worked toward that fitness goal.  Instead, I spent time on the elliptical machine, ran for no more than 5 or 10 minutes on a treadmill a couple times, ate like it's "two thousand zero, zero party over oops outta time".....and basically ignored the fact that the day of the race was fast approaching and then suddenly it was here....
​It had been a miserably, rainy weekend and my only prayer was that rain would overtake the day and the race would have to be postponed.  No such luck, so I drove to the park, sat in the car and tried to tell myself every possible excuse to not participate.  I mean, it was also a 1 mile walk...I could just do that.  No, I signed up for a 5k, I'm doing the 5K, even if I'm dead last and it takes me an hour......but truthfully, I did not want to be dead last and I was sure that I could walk it faster than 1 hour.  So, we line up, she blows the horn and we're off.  
​"Oh this isn't so bad"......
​"I'll just pace myself and stay here toward the back of the pack, then when they all get tired, I'll pass them....."
First hill.  "Oh God, why did you let me think I could do this?"
​"I'll just walk a few minutes..."  but there better be people still behind me.....
​Then, I started running, slowly and at a pace I could keep up.....it was kind of like riding a bike.  More hills, more walking, the front of the pack never did get tired....I never did pass them, but I kept going.  It seemed like I ran 10 miles and as I approached the finish, I expected to see at least 50 minutes or more had passed.  To my surprise, I saw the clock ticking at 34 minutes....WHAT?  IMPOSSIBLE!  They must not have started the clock when we started the race...there has to be a mistake!  But I"ll take it.  I did it.  I may not be able to move tomorrow, but I DID IT!  I couldn't be happier about accomplishing that.  I RAN!....AND I wasn't even being chased!    

Like a lot of my life, I tend to be an "all in" or "kinda sorta in" kind of person.  I'm all in on the diet wagon or I am getting drug alongside, occasionally throwing my leg back up on it...the same goes with this blog.  I really, really, really love writing and sharing recipes, stories, thoughts and design stuff with all of you who take the time to read it.  But, the sad truth is that when you work a full time job and you're trying to create delicious recipes, write life altering, hilarious stories and design some fabulous design something or other, it's a lot of work to keep up.  So this year, I wanted to dedicate a little more time to keeping this stuff current.  In an effort to make that happen, I decided to try for a once or twice a week post about any of the previously mentioned areas or maybe just what I had for breakfast.  I want to write honest posts that will inspire you to think, create, appreciate and maybe give you a laugh or two.  

'm not talking to a "work the room" or networking type of connection, although that's probably something I could work on.  I'm talking about connecting on a more social level with family and friends, both old and new.  I've been making lots of observations about how much of a really non social world we are living in and I want to spend more time with actual, living, breathing real life people.

I have a million and one ideas rolling around in this head of mine, and so many times I talk myself out of putting some of them into action....some of them may show up here on the website, some will show up in my work life and I have a few other things that  I won't tell you about just now, but you never know where else these crazy ideas may show up.

Come on!  You didn't think you would get out of here without hearing that one!!!!  I know that I'm just one of the billions of people who resolve to lose weight and get in shape in the new year.  When I moved back to Illinois from Denver 4 years ago, I was at a pretty good weight for me, and since then I have gained and lost and wrestled with nearly 25 pounds.  I feel like I've been making some "eh" attempts at losing it over the past couple years, but it's time to really get serious about it.  

Well, I think that's probably enough for me to handle now.
I hope you all stay tuned to this page and continue to read about all the things I love to do, because I really do love sharing it with you all.
Here's to a happy, healthy, successful new year for all of us!

After we got back, it was full on holiday prep.  I hosted a small party on the 19th, so there was lots of cooking for that.  It was a great evening....

Then before I knew it, it was Christmas Eve....I made a Buche de Noel for our Christmas dessert.  

And just like that.  There is where December went!
I hope you all had a very Merry Christmas and were able to enjoy the holiday season.
Wishing you a very Happy New Year!
xo
Greg

Late last month, I ordered a couple pair of glasses from Warby Parker.  I'm in love with them!  They are great quality and they start at only $95.  

I just started wearing a Jawbone Up2 Fitness tracker.  It keeps track of my steps and it's kind of cool looking too!!!

Grandview Drive.  If you're lucky enough to be in or around Peoria, this is the time of the year to drive up Grandview Drive, the colors and the views are spectacular.  Fall is my favorite season after all.

Vivian Maier, A Photographer Found
It's an amazing coffee table book of some beautiful photos.  There is quite a story behind Vivian Maier.  If you get the chance to see the documentary, don't miss it.

Lavender Essential Oil
Did you know that if you're having trouble sleeping you can place a drop of lavender oil on the bottom of your foot and it will help you fall asleep?  True.