Business Trip

Who doesn't like a four day business trip to Chicago? Not me! Chic-a-go is only my FAVORITE city. I'd move there in a heartbeat. Unfortunately, my current job (which I really like) keeps me in DC. I telework two days a week (my butt firmly planted in MD), but I think I'd be stretching it if I moved to Illinois and asked for a telecommuting arrangement! The conference doesn't begin until Sunday, which means Saturday will be spent walking Michigan Ave, coffee with a friend, and just taking in the city I love. I'm looking forward to two private museum tours - the Field Museum & the Contemporary Art Museum. If time permits, I'll check the baseball schedule to see if either the Cubs or White Sox are playing at home. Grandma Busardo is coming for a long visit. With her around, the twins won't miss me. Or......maybe they will.

I can gauge just how much Kathryn is mad when I leave her for more than a day. My 'missing mommy' system dates back to when the twins were just thirteen months and I left them for a business trip to Hawaii. From the moment Kevin picked me up at the airport, she wouldn't let me touch her (no hugs, no kisses, no cuddling) for almost two weeks. Her screams in the mini-van would have made you think there was a stranger abducting her. First I thought, okay she's mad I left. But when daddy would ask for a kiss and would get not one, but ten; I was hurt. I would ask and the head would turn, the hand would come out and I would get a resounding 'NO'. It was the cold shoulder for mommy. I wasn't going to fight it. I let her decide when mommy could come out of the dog house. Things got better in year two -- it only took about four days for her to warm back up. I'm thinking now that they are three and have many distractions (bicycles, pools, grandma), I won't get the evil eye when I return. Keep your fingers crossed.

If my camera can fit in my carry-on bag, I'll be sure to take lots of pictures of my favorite US city.

Kutztown Festival

This past weekend, Grandma Busardo and I took the twins for a quick trip to Northeastern, PA to visit the Ferrandinas. Our trip began with a stop in Kutztown for the town's annual festival. After funnel cakes, Quaker baskets, tuba playing and a quick afternoon rain shower we headed to my relatives home for pool time and good eats. Please enjoy the photos.