The Eternal Optimist

Chatham friends
I finally had a chance to visit my friends in central Illinois during this trip! My parents and I spent some time with Jim and Kylene; Amy, West and Andrew; and Cindy, Nate and Hannah (plus the twins, Ben and Bekah, who were in Cindy’s stomach at the time). Cindy was on bedrest due to the twins, so we spent most of the time at the house, chatting and playing with the kids. It was great to see everyone and to see Cindy and Nate’s new house.

Mizzou
I specifically planned my trip so it fell during both the Missouri vs. Illinois football game in St. Louis and an alumni committee meeting in Columbia, which was the following weekend. The football game was great. And I was able to see a second game (vs. McNeese State) the following weekend in Columbia. I was also lucky enough to chat with my former design professor, Joy, and to eat some Shakespeare’s pizza and drink some Boulevard Wheat.

I was in Columbia for a meeting last weekend. In my short time there (less than 24 hours), I saw a few friends, ate Shakespeare’s pizza and had Shakey’s frozen custard twice.

On my drive back to St. Louis, I passed a sign for “Ivie League Homes.” It struck me that it looks much less Ivy League when it’s misspelled. (Apparently the company spells it with an “ie,” though I don’t know why.)