Thursday, December 4, 2008

8 hours with a friend

Here I'm modeling my new UGGS that I love.

Horse drawn carriage in front of the Chicago Water Tower.





Some of the American Girl store. The picture doesn't do it justice.





Lunch at Tavern on Rush Street.








When I started this blog almost 18 months ago, I had no idea where it would take me. I thought it might be a way to support others by being honest and positive about adoption and how it's changed my life, talk about my family and post some pictures. I had no idea that I would be making lifelong friends and being supported on my own journey with adoption. Yesterday I had the great pleasure of spending the day with my friend Lea. If you don't know this already, I live in the Madison, Wisconsin area and Lea lives in Toronto, Canada. She traveled to Chicago this week and I drove down to Chicago's Loop to see her. We had never met in person but have gotten to know each other through this little world and culture of blogging. What I knew about Lea was through her blog and written words, pictures and emails. She has become a good friend and support to me. What did we do yesterday on Chicago's Magnificent Mile? Shopped at the amazing American Girl store on North Michigan Avenue at Water Tower Place. Lea bought some Christmas gifts for her Granddaughter and I bought for Miss Grace. I think Lea and I enjoyed the store as much or more than Grace and Rory would have! We walked up Rush Street for some lunch where we sat and talked and stayed warm. After that we found an amazing UGGS store and of course had to buy boots. I would have liked one of each style I think. And we did some more shopping. Lea and I have a great deal in common...we talked about our grown children and the joys and frustrations sometimes with raising them, our husbands, family, our addiction to blogging and adopting from China. What did I learn about her that I didn't already know? She is very funny and makes me laugh, has a beautiful soft Canadian accent and her name is pronounced 'Lee'. I was saying it Lee-ah. Thank you Lea for spending the day with me. I loved everything about the day and honestly had so much fun! We talked continuously for those 8 hours spent together and could have talked more I'm sure. And I meant to take more pictures but I was too busy talking! LOL. I know we'll get together again. Next time with Bill and Dan.

20 kind words:

Karen said...

Sounds like a perfect way to spend a December day!
Hope to get to the AG place sometime with Maggie next spring-

By the way, that picture of all of you is just so wonderful!

Half Gaelic, Half Garlic! said...

Hi Gail,

I am so glad that you two had such a good time together.....it sounded like the perfect day....and what a great city to explore...so much to do and see!!

I started my blog for a lot of the same reasons you started yours.....I am amazed at the incredible people I have met and some of the life long bonds that have been formed in such a short period of time....I am so thankful for this wonderful community!!

The pictures were fantastic!!

Have a good night!

Lisa

Kim said...

HOW FUN!!!!
Sounds like you had an AMAZING Day..
The blogging world is an AMAZING place...
HUGS..

OH MY #6 said...

We ARE the "UGG Sisters"!! I had a fantastic day! We just connected. I knew we would. A friend for life!

Love you, my friend, oh I mean UGG SISTA!

Lea

Alyson and Ford said...

Wow, isn't it great the way we love our bloggy friends! So glad you met Lea... we have been following her blog for a long time too.
Happiness to you both!

Thanks for visiting my blog(cupcake carrier giveaway!)
Merry Christmas!
Alyzabeth's Mommy

Laura L. said...

Yay! So happy to read about your wonderful day together. Friendship is one of life's greatest blessings. How sweet to read about your fun time together, at your first meeting.
I'd love to see photos of the UGGs. :)

Unknown said...

so glad you had a good time..i love the pics

Jill said...

What fun to meet a bloggy friend!
Sounds like you guys had so much fun!!

a Tonggu Momma said...

It is so, so cool that you met Lea. She seems a really, really neat lady. (And I love my uggs!)

Laura L. said...

I do like your boots very much. :) It makes me want some. Ha. A girl can never have too much footwear.

Denise C said...

OH what a fabulous day you two girls had together!!! I totally agree..this blog world is absolutely amazing!!1 I, too, have met and made some of the sweetest friendships...that will be lifelong! So glad you girls had so much fun shopping...and eating...and laughing...and just being together!! Dear friends are such treasures!!!
Love the Uggs, very pretty!!!
Hugs and love to you...and now..I am off to have a bloggie meeting of my own!!! Here I come Gwen!! hee-hee! I can't wait!

Anonymous said...

Gail,

Thanks for telling us how to say Lea! I must say her name right, friends simply must do that :)! How fun for you two girls to meet!! My dream is to meet my fellow bloggers at some conference. We have to do it someday!

Kim N Jeff said...

Looks like the two of you had a great time in Chicago!!! I just love Tavern on Rush and can't wait to get to the new AG store!

redmaryjanes said...

Look at that, two great ladies meeting in my favorite city. Wonderful!

Steffie B. said...

Ugh...so jealous......but so glad you had fun...who couldn't have fun with either one of you girls? ;)
Have a great weekend.
Hugs,
Steffie

kitchu said...

I'm saving you to my bloglines!! You have a very, very special name, one that I hold very very close in my heart.

It is the name of my mom. Gail. One I cherish so much. :O)

Shawnstribe said...

i'd love to meet so many of you girlys in America, i too have made so many supportive bloggy Friends.
It has been a real honour : )
xxx
s

suzanne said...

I so love Ugg boots and am so jealous! Yes the friends we make, and the support we gain on our adoption journeys are incredible.

Catherine said...

Hi Gail,

I'm so glad you were able to meet the wonderful Lea! She's a treasure to know and so happy that the 2 of you were able to spend such a great day together. The American Girl store and UGGs all the same day? Wheee! Hope you're able to meet again and if you're ever in the Toronto area I'm sure she'll get together with you and hopefully bring some of the rest of us along too.

Catherine

Life with JJ, Starr and Spice said...

How wonderful that you got to meet this lovely woman. We are all very lucky to have each other and I look forward to the day that we get to meet and chat it up for hours!

 
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