Seattle

Yesterday Cely and I drove up to the Ikea just outside of Seattle. It was a great day. Cely has been missing the quiches that we used to get at Ikea in Schaumburg and missing the cool and cheap home stuff. So we hopped into the car for a drive. Not very smart with how the price of gas has been lately but being smart has not stopped us ever in the past. We got up there at about 3pm after stopping at the IHOP in Salem for breakfast and a 3 and a half hour drive from there. When we got up there we discovered that they weren't making the quiches in Seattle. Maybe they have changed there menu all over. It has been awhile since we made an Ikea visit. Of course we ended up buying some Swedish sweets and cheese, a couple of cheap throw rugs and a table top grill. You cannot go into that place without spending some money. This Ikea was really different from the one in Schuamburg. I think what they did was just take over a couple of existing warehouses. That made it less attractive to shop in. I wonder if this was one of the first Ikea's in the US or if it is just a temporary store. It is even placed in an area zoned for light industry and warehousing rather than shopping.

I didn't take any pictures on this trip so here is a picture of some the beautiful rhododendrons that grow around here. They are starting to fade but when they are in their full glory they are spectacular.

Alexis' Commencement

I haven't written in this for almost two months. That does not make for a very interesting blog. But then, I don't think much about this blog will be very interesting. I just need to keep writing.

On Mother's day weekend Cely and I went back to the Quad Cities for Alexis' graduation. It was a perfect weekend because Adrienne's birthday was on the 12th, Alexis graduated on May 13, and Mother's day was May 14. Adrienne flew in on Friday night so the whole family was there and we were all at June's house.

So, Cely and I took the red eye on Wednesday night and got into the QC on Thursday morning. That night we went to Iowa City for an awards banquet at the University. Alexis got the College of Arts and Science Dean's Academic Achievement award. It was very cool.

A funny thing happened at the banquet. I ran into a guy I knew from Arlington High School, John Keller. He is the Dean of the Graduate School and was there to give the award to one of his students. It was fun, John and I caught up on what had happened to us since high school. Alexis had a great night. Cely and I were really proud.

On Saturday Adrienne, Cely, and I picked up Alexis for commencement. It was fun to see Lex cross the stage but it was a really long ceremony. Afterwards we went out for dinner at Biaggi's in Davenport. Afterward June had the family over for dessert. Vincent, Jutta and Jordan were there. So was John with his kids Jake and Kate. Ernie and Debbie were there too. It was really fun. Vincent entertained everyone with his tales of his new job as a letter carrier. He could be a stand up comedian.

Here is a picture of the girls. We had a birthday cake for Adrienne and a graduation cake for Alexis. Cely and I stayed until Tuesday but the girls had to go back on Sunday. Lex went back to start moving to a new apartment and Adrienne flew back home so she would be ready to be on call. Cely and I were able to spend some time with June.