A Big Post to Catch You Up on Little Liz

As you may know, Liz and I will be getting married later this week! So I thought it was an appropriate time to post about what we’ve been up to the last three years.

I “met” Liz at work March 2020, the week before the pandemic really kicked in. I mean, I met her while I was at work, but she wasn’t there.

Then we “met” again a week or so later after lockdown had totally kicked in. The pandemic was a great time to get to know someone over the internet.

And just 13 short months later Liz drove out to New York for a weekend and we met once more.

After I took my vaccination vacation, I went out to Columbus and met Cornelius for the first time. And went to Cedar Point!

Then 4th of July weekend Liz came back to New York. We watched the fireworks in my neighborhood! And went to Montauk and also Roll n Roaster.

And then, after a little covid bump in the road, I went out to Columbus in September and we went to the air force museum!

In October Liz flew to New York for the first time and we got a tlayuda and spent that Sunday making meatballs and cavetelli for Ned and Garrett.

Thanksgiving in Columbus! Met all the Columbus Woolleys, took a drive to Indianapolis, and had dinner with the Rasmussens at the Golden Lamb.

Then Liz dashed out to New York for a few days the weekend before Christmas and met Patricia and we ate Sweetgreen after watching Spider-Man.

Then, Christmas evening, Liz drove to Oak Park and met Mom, Dad and Emily. I got really really sick while she was there. But we still took a trip up to her old Wisconsin stomping grounds. Not pictured: any of the stomping grounds. Pictured: How cold it was in Wisconisn.

Then, in February, we were going to have this big amazing weekend in Los Angeles that turned into an amazing almost 2 days because of some horrible flight experiences Liz had. Perhaps you saw the post about our trip to Disneyland that weekend? Well we also ate dumplings.

Then I took a March trip to Columbus where Liz took me to see the world’s biggest picnic basket AND on a trip to Other Worlds. Other World? Something like that.

Then, later in March, Liz came back to New York and we had dinner at Cosme in preparation for our upcoming Mexico City trip.

Then we celebrated my birthday with Mom and Dad at the Indianapolis Speedway.

And THEN we took our big trip to Mexico City with Kristen and Cory. Here’s the big post about it.

As an encore to that, Liz came out to NY for Memorial Day weekend.

Different trip, same outfits? I went to Columbus for Juneteenth weekend. Liz showed me a Finnegans Wake pub and took me to for my first Cracker Barrel meal. We also had pancake balls.

Then, ooh boy, Liz was going to drive out to New York this one Friday in July except, well, her dad died that morning. So I got out to Ohio ASAP and tried to be supportive and provide appropriate distractions.

Then in August Liz came out to be a big helper when I got my knee tune up surgery.

Then we met up in Chicago in September for a fun Chicago time where I was a lot more healthy than the last time we were there together and I was a lot more mobile than the last time we had seen each other.

Then, also in September, I was back to Columbus and we took a fancy trip to the Spaghetti Factory.

Then Liz came to New York Halloween weekend and we walked the whole dang length of Manhattan. And we also took a legendary photo at Cafe Sabarsky.

My second Thanksgiving in Columbus! Spent some time at the mall and had a momentous viewing of Star Wars. And we went to the Ark Encounter experience! (This is also the trip where we got engaged)

Then there was an extremely quick little trip to Utah (Liz was on the same plane as my folks!) for the family Christmas party. And for Liz to meet Andrew.

Then, a few weeks later, Liz took her last trip as a single woman to New York. We took our engagement photos that weekend. As a reward for scrolling down so far, I’m now posting 2 of the outtakes from the session.

Then we spent a nice long Christmas and New Years in California together, bouncing back and forth between San Marino and Santa Clarita. And between Homestate and other restaurants. And we took a great trip to the top of Mt Wilson with Grandma. We also watched the Rose Parade!

In February I went to Columbus for Liz’s birthday weekend. We had some nice meals and also we worked on invitations!

And then just a few weeks ago we met up in Utah for Liz’s bridal shower festivities. I got to come the end of the party and participate in some classic bridal shower fun and games. But you know what? It turns out I don’t really have any pictures from the shower I can post here. So. I guess this is the end of the catch up?

And, well, after knowing each other for slightly more than three years Liz and I will be getting married this upcoming weekend. Holy Smokes! I don’t think I’ll be taking many pictures that day but maybe I’ll get my hands on enough of them to blog my own wedding. Holy smokes!

Here’s one more selfie of me and Yung Liz. And here’s to no more airport drop-offs. Or at least to far fewer airport drop-offs

Disney Trip 2023

AND THEN last week I was back in LA for a minute and Collin took me to do the full Disney.
But first, some of us had to go to Day Care.

And then we were on our way to the Happiest Place on Earth! Glad the trams are up and running again and everyone’s got their ears right once more.

We started our day at California Adventure where we made quick work of Webslingers, Soarin’, Radiator Springs and Guardians. AND ate lunch at Pym’s Test Kitchen.

And then it was time to Get Real and go over to Disneyland! It was both a clear, beautiful day and an ominously cloudy day. True California weather magic for a truly magical California adventure day.

Our first stop was going to be Rise of the Resistance but it was broke down when we got to it, so we walked across Star Wars Land and then. It started hailing! Or snowing? Or something? Wintry mix? Slushing? Whatever it was, it was surprising weather.

And then we cut across Fantasyland to get to the new Runaway Railroad Ride which was ALSO shut down. Disneyland was off to a bumpy start! So we backtracked, and rode Haunted Mansion and Pirates, got a snack at Bengal BBQ and took a Jungle Cruise.

Then we walked over to Splash Mountain, it was closed, and finally got our Rise of the Resistance ride.

And THEN we bounced back and had our Splash Mountain ride, plus Winnie the Pooh.

And then we made our way across New Orleans Square, Frontierland, and Fantasyland to try to get on Runaway Railway once more and guess what? We did and it was totally cool!

Then we took a Small World cruise.

Then I took a long-awaited roundtrip ride on the Disneyland Railroad.

Then it was dark. And we rode Pinocchio, Thunder Mountain, the Matterhorn, and one more Runaway Railway ride.

And then it was time to tell Disneyland good night. What a night! Did you know there’s a tall person water fountain by the parking garage? How lucky for me!

But, before calling it a night: a few tacos from Brothers Cousins! (The true Happiest Place on Earth?)

Disney Trip 2022

I was out in Los Angeles last February and, through the magic of Collin, was able to go to California Adventure on day and Disneyland another. The idea was to go both days with Liz, but the weather and air travel had other ideas. So day one was a magical California Adventure adventure with Mom and Dad.

A proper Disney day begins with an early, early morning in San Marino. And getting in some of your day’s reading.

Collin met up with us at the Mickey & Friends parking garage. I love the feeling of Disneyland in the morning! The cool sunny ear, the feeling of possibilities ahead of you.
We were there in their early post-pandemic days where some ridiculous policies in place, like no tram to the park. So you start your day with a dang long walk. I’m glad my knee was operating fairly well back then.

Rope drop took place in the park—for a minute we headed with the throngs to Radiator Springs but then decided to start with the new Spider-Man ride, instead. It was pretty cool! Dad was very impressed by the effects during the ride’s pre-show.

Then Dad had his first ride on Tower of the Galaxians. And THEN we took our Radiator Springs Ride. What is it about that Radiator Springs Racers ride? It’s just go the Disney magic all bottled up so tight. They really outdid themselves with it.

Then we rode the Ferris Wheel which I LOVE but also comes stocked for people who do not love it. Then we passed through Chinese New Year-oriented celebrations, tried to ride Soarin’ except it broke down the minute we were taking off (we were able to come back and ride it later) and then enjoyed lunch at the Pym Test Kitchen, which is fun!

After lunch we rode most the rides a second time, plus some more rides that I don’t have pictures for, and did some exploring. Did you know that California Adventure embraces both kinds of otters? Meaning: the Good Kind and the Horrible Kind.

A fun thing about California Adventure is you can do everything a couple of times and around 3pm say “You know what? That was fun. Let’s go home.” It was nice to have a nice time with my nice parents. I probably hadn’t been to a Disney park with just the two of them since the time they took me when I was 3 and we went on Space Mountain and I didn’t ride another roller coaster until I was 13. This time went a little more smoothly!

Okay so then a few days later Liz had made it to California and we were up early for a trip to Disneyland! This time Dad decided he’d stay home and read, but Mom is a Californian and not one to pass up a Disney opportunity! Collin met us at the park once again and we took that long walk together and he got us right into the park. What a guy!

I love this little sign! Going to Disneyland is so exciting! Look how excited Mom is! They did rope drop right up at the edge of everything. We headed straigh to Space Mountain and I just don’t get how the line can already be so long when it seems like we’re some of the very first people to get there.

From there, a nice little visit to the Matterhorn

Then we passed through Fantasyland and checked out the new, less scary version of the Snow White ride. A service dog was learning to ride rides there!

And then…we took Mom to Galaxy’s Edge! It was her first time in Star Wars land, she was really impressed. I had been there late summer of 2019 during a quick evening visit before Rise of the Resistance had opened. It was great to be back and have a chance to check that ride out. And we also had a real fun time on Smuggler’s Run, too.

After that, Haunted Mansion, Pirates, and a corn dog lunch!

Then we rode Thunder Mountain. A bummer about Disneyland is that it can get to around 3pm and you’ve got to get one of your party to the airport and you feel like you just got there. Oh well. It was still a Ton of Fun! Aaaaand who knows…maybe I’ll go at Disneyland again soon?