A Wedding Trip to Utah

August 20: Liz and I got on an airplane in Columbus and got off of that same airplane in Utah (with no stops in between!) A quick trip to the Avis counter and we were on our way to Utah County. First stop? Saigon Cafe in Provo to meet up with our friend Elizabeth, Liz’s college bestie/brother-in-law’s sister. OK but why did we go to Utah? Because my nephew Blake was getting married! Who is nephew Blake? Well this old post would be a good place to start learning about him. (but he was a lot younger back then)

We went over to our hotel in Lehi for a bit and got ready for the big night-before-the-wedding Garden Party at Kristen and Cory’s. It was a lovely evening of food, speeches speeches speeches, and certain wedding-party members jumping into the pool.

Did some late-night walking in the gym to work off all the wedding party excitement after the wedding party. I don’t get many chances to take gym selfies.

August 21: Up and at em and taking a walk around our hotel’s neighborhood. I want to add that it was a pretty ok but always a bummer when the pool is closed for renovations and using our phones to open all the doors was a little convenient but not as convenient, you know, tapping a card on things. But I guess it was nice to never speak to a desk person?

Now here’s something … during the party the night before we learned we had misunderstood the wedding dress code, so we had to rush over to the nearest DI to find something new for Liz. 30 minutes later, she’s found the perfect outfit that everyone goes nuts about all afternoon. She’s got it. To celebrate we went and got Liz her first Swig.

At Kristen and Cory’s — everyone getting ready!

And then … off to the Timpanogos Temple for the sealing! I’ll just mush the before-wedding and after-wedding photos together here. Dad got to marry them and did an excellent job. And a quick job! They told him he had 8 minutes and we were in and out of there real quick. Family of rule followers.

After the wedding: An out of nowhere decision to go to Sonic so I could try their pickle cheeseburger and pickle slushy. And Liz had a corn dog! That pickle slushy, though … not for the faint of heart, even among pickle-likers. You gotta be a real pickle lover to enjoy it. To the point of perversion, perhaps. Oh! But the big thing about this Sonic visit is that Liz took these incredible photos of me, I look so dang cool in them! Coolest guy at the Sonic, that’s me.

And later that evening — the big reception at the Springville Art Museum. The invite had asked for black, formal attire but I tried to skate by with just semi-formal. No one got on my case about it. It was a great reception, lots of family and fun and while my tux was a hit, my vote for best dressed would be Uncle Duke … look at that shirt!

And after the party it’s the after party … at Don Joaquin’s!

August 22 — You’d think this post was going to be over since the wedding has now happened but NO! We still have two days of posts to go! Started Friday with a walk with Mom and Dad to the Jordan River.

And then we were like…what do we do what do we do? After a little time at Kristen and Cory’s (and a lunch at Cubby’s) we went down to Provo to get food for poor Tawna who was sick and then didn’t take any pictures with her and then we went up to Salt Lake for Spaghetti Factory with Doug and Amy — and you know Spaghetti Factory is always gonna hit! After that we met up with Carol and Jendar and Lauren and … uhh… Kim? But also no photos of that but apparently I did take a picture of the side of the bakery where we met them so there’s that.

August 23 — We felt like taking a nice walk in nature, so we asked Kristen for a suggestion. She suggested this hike from American Fork Canyon to a place where you can see the back of Timp. It was a beautiful hike! But also — challenging? A challenging, rewarding hike that left us feeling good. Can’t beat that!

Back at Kristen and Cory’s … a pool party! And some sitting with dogs. And then it was time to go back to Columbus, via Greek Souvlaki, of course.

See ya later, Salt Lake! Best wishes, Blake and London!

Mid-July to Mid-August 2025 in Columbus

Hello, here are pictures of things that happened in July and August 2025!

July 10 & 12: You know we take walks around our neighborhood in the morning and in the evening!

July 12 & 13: Walking around High Street and then a little concert by one of Liz’s graduating students. She was great!

July 19: More walking! Getting those steps!

And then that afternoon/evening … we went and saw the documentary “Rebel With a Clause” starring and made by neighbor’s of Joel’s New York uncle. And then we got our books signed and THEN we went to Xixia Noodle House and Whooooah yeah that’s the food for me!

August 2: Liz’s first Saturday without clients (they all got moved to weeknights) so it’s time to get up early and enjoy the city! First stop — the Motors and Rotors car and plane show at nearby Bolton Field!

From there we went to German Village to try out this great bakery, Pistacia Vera, and to check out what they were selling on the sidewalks and in the parking lots.

And then we headed to High Street and environs to look for thrifty vintage finds. Why? Find out next post!

August 8: Liz visited me at work since it was near where she was working that afternoon! And then that evening we tried a new (to us) taco spot, Don Deme, near our house and it was a massive hit! Then we watched the new Naked Gun movie and shared quite a few laughs.

August 9: Up and at ‘em and taking a walk! We saw a snake! And then we went Chinese grocery shopping with our friend Rola for a hot pot evening we hosted the next evening. (Oops! No photos of that.)

Then that night Liz provided music entertainment for a teen hoedown at the Gardner home.

August 11: I ordered a 75mm and 21mm lens. Ultimately, I did not decide to keep them but they were fun to check out. 21mm was just too wide to be practical (as expected) and 75mm I just don’t imagine myself using that much and isn’t that different from 50mm (except it totally is).

And so, that was our mid-July to mid-August! I hope you will agree that it was anything but mid.

Back soon with a post for a history-making long weekend!

Fourth of July in Oak Park

July 2: We left for Oak Park after work, made pretty nice time, and, if I remember right, called it a night.

July 3: And then we woke up in Oak Park! Cornelius is getting more and more comfortable in my old home.

Started the day off with a nice Oak Park walk which culminated with a visit to The Daly Bagel.

And then the family gathered together and we got the L out of Oak Park and down to downtown to watch rehearsals for the 4th of July Concert.

Then we took a little walk through Millennium Park over to the Jollibee — well, let’s be honest, lots of things went pretty wrong at that Jollibee but when we finally had our food, well, let’s be honest, there’s no denying that it’s really good food. And now I’ve finally tried their spaghetti!

Then we went on over to the Art Institute to see what’s good right now. And it turns out there’s plenty! For starters: Raqib Law’s gigantic painting “Paradise Lost” — you can get real lost in this one.

Then there was the Gustave Caillebotte exhibit … seemed like a cool dude. Also, saw signs (literally) that the NASCAR race would be zooming by that weekend.

And then there’s all the other great Art Institute stuff!

Then we took the train back home again and a little later had our first Milly’s Pizza in the Pan pizza. Wow! What a gorgeous and tasty and exclusive pizza! (and then Emily took us on a walk to see something spooky)

July 4: Our Independence Day started off with a bang with an early morning trip downtown to walk along the lake towards or around Montrose Beach and environs. In all my Chicago days I’d never before been on a lakefront walk.

We got back to Oak Park just in time for one of the village’s greatest traditions … the Oak Park Fourth of July Parade!

After the parade I zipped up to Santa Masa Tamaleria with Mom to pick up lunch and boy were those tacos and tamales nice! Heavenly tamales, to be honest. And my first taste of green chorizo.

Here’s an unexpected 4th of July treat … NYC Buddy Jamar was in town with his family investigating Oak Park and stopped by to pay us a visit, too!

Relaxed a bit on the renovated sun porch while Cornelius tried to eat the plants.

This Fourth was our fortieth anniversary of having moved into the house so celebratory photos were taken, then hamburgers were eaten, and finally cake slices decorated.

And then, after night had fallen, it was time to go chase the fireworks (as Oak Park doesn’t host its own fireworks anymore. boooo!) Good thing we have the good people of Elmwood Park to keep us patriotic!

July 5: Up and at ‘em! Walked with Dad to the Farmer’s Market, got donuts and such, came home and soon hit the road and headed back to Columbus, just like that.