Cous Cous Salad

If you are looking for a way to use up some summer tomatoes, I highly recommend this Bruschetta Cous Cous Salad.  (I did not use the celery and cooked the cous cous in chicken broth.)  I served it with sauteed shrimp, but it could also work with chicken or as a stand alone dish.  Quite a lovely summer dish.

This morning my lovely husband and doggie took me for a chocolate croissant at one of our fave bakeries and on a walk at the Leroy Oaks Forest Preserve.  There were tons of prairie flowers blooming and it was nice to spend an hour strolling along together.  Someone has been in a pretty delightful mood considering what's coming up on Tuesday.  (Favorite comment of the week: "Things I should not have done: Google 'I'm taking the Bar in a few days.'")

Yesterday I accomplished a small goal: I swam the length of the pool with no kickboard and without stopping and while attempting to maintain proper swim/ breathing form.  This may seem like a small thing, but when I started my swim lessons in Eugene last year, I panicked when I would hold my head under the water.  Next stop: sprint triathlon (when I can afford a road bike.) 

Lunch Date

The Legal Beagle has been riding his bike to the Batavia Library to study during the week. (12 miles each way!)  Today Trooper and I joined him there for lunch.  It is 2pm and my phone says it's 72 degrees out.  My gosh, it's lovely!  After we ate, we walked Trooper along the river.  What a gorgeous summer day.  (The pic above looks a little grainy because it's an Instagram.)

We are both still searching/ interviewing for jobs.  I found out today I did not get one that I was really hoping for, but that's okay.  The universe will bring something my way that I enjoy and find rewarding.  And don't worry, I will let everyone know when my days of unemployment are over!

Summer

How am I supposed to ever get a book/ movie deal if I never post on my blog?

Summer evening bike ride along the Fox River.  Jim said, "Before we moved to Oregon, you would have never gone on a 7 mile bike ride to get a beer!"

It's hard to believe we've been in Illinois for almost two months!  Even on hot, humid days I still really like the Midwest.  Where else do you see lightning bugs at night?

Jim continues to study his buns off every day and night.  He will be taking the Bar Exam on Tuesday, July 30th and Wednesday, July 31st and will stay at a hotel those nights.  (It's better for all parties involved.)  He will find out his results (passing, duh) in October.

I am still tutoring kiddos part time and looking for a full time job.  I have had four interviews now, but nothing has worked out yet.  Patience, right?  Once we figure out what area we'll be living in, I will start looking for some volunteer activities.  My knees have finally recovered from the marathon (it only took two months) so I am back to running a few days a week, but nothing like those epic 2-3 hour runs.  (Insanity.)  It's been a good time to supplement running with swimming, free weights, biking, and lifting my wine glass to my mouth.

You are probably asking, "But how is the doggie?!"  Trooper is doing wonderfully!  He, too, is a Midwestern animal at heart.  (Did you know he was found wandering the streets of southern Indiana?)  He has adjusted to having four pug roommates and loves playing in the yard.  We have taken him off of his Cyclosporine and although he gets itchy, it is not bad enough to cause hot spots.  And, in general, he continues to be an angel.  Follow me on Instagram and you can see that mutt's mug shot.