my random ramblingsan infrequent (and these days, mostly Mira related…) blog

signed Mira up for some skating lessons, so need some skates… picked up a pair for everyone, hopefully means my skating will improve this winter as well. late lunch / early dinner at a new sushi spot in Lake View.

Mira’s harness arrived, and i’m very impressed. headed to Brooklyn Boulders late afternoon to try it out. fun time, Mira did pretty well and wasn’t too scared when it was time to get lowered. evening bike ride in the park and stopped at the playground before heading back home.

afternoon climbing with the girls at the massive new outdoor walls in Maggie Daley Park. pretty lucky to have this right across the street, and shocking that we’re only now visiting for the first time. awesome setting and decent routes, but a really hot day. quick certification for Лена and i, then played around between some top rope and bouldering. happy they didn’t have an issue with Mira hanging out with us. once i get a harness and shoes for Mira, Лена can hopefully start taking her every day. quick stop for dim sum and a few groceries before heading home. long walk back as Mira wanted to roll down every grassy hill we passed – which i of course encouraged… 🙂

day at home, packing and enjoying our last day together. brunch outside at 7 Lions with Лена, fortunately no rain. easy process to the airport and getting her mom checked in and through security for her first flight towards home. sad for Mira, as they had grown so close over the last month and a half.

brunch at the ROOF on the Wit. cool spot, although the view wasn’t as spectacular as i was lead to believe. relaxing day, night spent at home.

in the office during the day, yet another interview. quick stop by a nearby preschool – will continue to noodle that expensive decision. fun dinner at Rainforest Cafe, one of Mira’s favorite spots.

back to Navy Pier for an early afternoon cruise on the lake. fun time, great views, and surprisingly decent food. back home for a relaxing night.

hot afternoon at Navy Pier. hour plus wait at Bubba Gump’s so walked around a bit before grabbing some lunch. finished up on the ferris wheel before taxiing home.

outside Minneapolis meeting with a client for the week. casual dinner event on a paddle boat river cruise after work – nice change of pace.

afternoon drive out to the north suburbs and a visit to the botanic gardens. started with the butterfly garden before a well-timed stop in the cafe to avoid a set of massive thunderstorms. eventually headed back into the gardens stopping to see some bonsai, dwarf conifers, and the Japanese gardens. fun time, pretty place.