That’s been the theme of our week - food and family.  Oh, and lazing about.  =)

Wednesday, I went out to lunch with Bethany - it was great to see her one on one.  Since she’s been engaged and then married, she’s been too busy to spend any time with any one person - when she gets to socialize, it’s always in big groups.  We had a long lunch and talked - it’s good having my friend back.  =)  When I got back, so many people from my office had taken off early that my boss emailed and said to go home.  We met her at a hole in the wall pub and spent a couple hours laughing and chatting, then she and I went to an Aveda salon on Mass Ave.  I picked up this matter root shampoo and conditioner that add red tones to dark hair - and smell really nice - and then Dave and I drove to church.  When we got home, we played through the first third of Lego Star Wars (he brought the game home for me as a surprise).

Thursday, I got up at the crack of dawn - no, before dawn - and went to help the pastor’s wife and Bethany make some of the food for the church’s Thanksgiving dinner (which I was missing).  I came back and took a nap, then woke up and worked and lazed about.  David started writing his Aquinas paper - the last requirement from a class he took this summer.  That night, we went to his parents’ house and had Thanksgiving dinner with most of his Mom’s side of the family.  It was fun - I love that group of people.

Friday, I spent the ENTIRE DAY cooking and cleaning.  It’s been so busy around here that I haven’t had much of a chance to keep up with housework.  I would have waited until today (Saturday was the traditional cleaning day in my family growing up), but we had Dave’s parents, brother and sister-in-law, and grandmother over for a birthday dinner.  Usually on birthdays, his mother cooks whatever meal the birthday person requests and makes a cake.  Even on her own birthday, because David’s is the day after.  This year, we thought it would be nice if she didn’t have to cook - and it was a great excuse to get the family down to Indy to see our house.  =)

Today is a lazy day.  I looked around for things to do, but couldn’t find any cleaning left.  So, I’m taking it easy.  Updating things on the computer, watching a couple of episodes of a TV series, etc.  Dave’s still writing that paper, so I’m on my own.  Not that I mind - it’s been a full week of people and things to do and places to go.  Now… back to the lazing about…

At the NADDI conference.  I’ve enjoyed myself so far, and hope I’m making myself useful…  We do NADDI’s website, and I’ve been working with members all day who need access to the secure side.  I’ve got a list of things to do a foot long.

This is a nice hotel.  =)  I don’t often get to stay in a hotel this nice because a) there are less expensive places to stay, and b) we usually know someone with an extra bed everywhere we go.  There’s no need to stay in a hotel.

That’s it.  That’s all I had to say.  I’m in Louisville, I’m enjoying it.  We’re going home tomorrow, we’re going to the movies (007) with Steve and Rachel tomorrow night, we’re going to have dinner with the parents Saturday night, and we’re going to be in church all day Sunday. 

Sorry I haven’t called, Mom.  I still love you.  =)

I have pictures to show you.

These are from Randy and Carrie’s wedding (including a semi-clear shot of the YMCA-ing Aukermans), in no particular order:

Uncle Mike and Cousin Sarah.  Don’t know why they’re sad.  =)

Uncle Ron doing a “dollar dance” with Randy.  One of my favorite pictures.

The original John Aukermans.

A new Aukerman - Carrie.

Mom and Dad.

Me and David.

A very fun picture of Cousins Tim and Jen.

And last, but not least…

A heavily edited picture (it was dark) of the YMCA.
(this photo courtesy of Cousin Sarah)

Hey, cousin Roy!

Roy emailed me today, introduced himself, and asked if I were related in any way to a Leo, Ron, John or Paul Aukerman.  I said yes - in fact, they’re my uncles by marriage.  Roy is the son of Roy, the brother of Harry, the father of John, the father of my David.

I told him I’d post a picture of the brothers on this blog - and I’ve looked all in my picture files and through emails.  I can’t find it!  Bear with me though - perhaps someone else has one.  There were a lot of people around with cameras, not to mention the photographer at the wedding.  I’ll get on that.

In the meantime, imagine this:  the four brothers are sitting in chairs, all in a line.  Rather than all of them YMCA-ing (it was that part of the reception where the silly songs start getting played), each one had a letter.  Ron makes a very enthusiastic Y (and does a dance from the waist up).  Paul makes an M (on top of his head).  Leo makes a C (without moving anything but his arms - including his shoulders).  John makes an A (laughing very hard at his brothers).  It was hilarious.
You who were there - did anyone get a clear picture of this?  =)

I like pulling the long days when I have something to do - like today - but man, am I ready to go home.  (David should be on his way to pick me up now.)

I came in this morning thinking I could get a project done (printing this procedures guide I’ve been working on for two months - it’s the final handoff!) in a couple of morning hours - but after many printer issues (someone else was having them so it delayed the project) and a LOT of waiting, I realized that one printer printing 60 300-page documents, double-sided and hole-punched, was gonna take a lot longer than a couple of hours. 

So I went out to lunch with my team.  =)  It was a nice break - I knew I was going to be here late.  I just finished - at 7:45pm!  I’ve been here since 8:15 this morning.  I’m not complaining - this means I get to leave early on Friday OR pull overtime this week.  I like leaving early, and I love time-and-a-half pay!

It’s been a good day.  =)