Rod Collier's

Rod in review

sometimes life gets dirty...

Life is a journey, so it is always hard to decide where to begin…

…let’s look at the basics first:

My name is Rod Collier.

I am an architect living in Indianapolis, Indiana.

I am one of the owners of Rottmann Collier Architects, an Indianapolis-based architecture and interior design firm.

You can visit Rottmann Collier Architects by clicking here

While I am only a half-century old in this lifetime, I’m usually the oldest soul in the room. I’m not just old… …I’m downright ancient.

My life is filled with love, laughter, and a whole lot of travel. Yes, I travel as much as possible. I've realized that life is too short to not do something, so I take every chance to be surrounded by my dear husband, family, and friends as I travel near and far.

I used to keep a written journal, but decided in 2017 to start this website as a personal way to chronicle the winding path of my life and share my joys and sorrows.

Although it was initially intended to be a private introspective web diary for just me, I made it public when I heard from several others that they enjoy walking with me along the way.

Like everyone, I have my ups and my downs, but I never hide the fact that I wear my heart on my sleeve.

Just keep scrolling down to see where I am or what I am doing; I hope you enjoy the journey with me.

[FYI: The most recent adventure starts at the top, but keep scrolling down to see where I have been]

DecEMBER 2023

ROLLIN’ on the River

Flying with pod beds makes the transition easier…

DEC' 23

7-18

We started December with a second attempt at a Christmas Markets Cruise down the Danube River. If you remember, Susan, Chad, and I tried a Christmas Market river cruise in December of 2021 right as Covid Omicron was shutting down the world again.

This time around, John was able to join the tour. We flew into Budapest a couple of days before departing on the amazing AmaMagna.

We set sail up the Danube River from Budapest with stops in Slovakia, Austria, and Germany.

Running around the Turkish baths at midnight

The view from our room at the Hotel Clark in Budapest

An outdoor hot spring at the Turkish baths in Budapest

A surprise sighting of our ship before we even got onboard! It sailed past us while we were staying in Budapest, so we knew we were in the right place.

Alyssa was the first to photograph us on the ship

One of several Christmas Markets in Vienna, Austria

The AmaMagna is twice the width of a standard river ship. It was designed to specifically fit the 16 Locks on the Danube River (normally two ships enter a Lock together). She is quite the ship. 192 passengers in larger suites, more restaurants, and more amenities. This trip started with the Danube River rising due to heavy snowfall the week before. By the time we reached the border between Austria and Germany, the river had risen too high to get under the bridges near Passau. We docked in a small port at Wesenufer to bus into Passau for the final day of excursions. This ship also has some amazing food onboard. Here’s a little food porn from this trip

Final Christmas Market in Munich, Germany

Sept + OCT 2023

Cars, Planes, and Boats, Oh MY!

SEPT' 23

9

The entire Collier Crew had not been together for quite some time, so it was really nice when my sister, Terri, hosted the family reunion. Over 160 family members assembled to share memories and great food together. We had so many family members with historic cars and trucks, so we had a car show! It was amazing to see my 1959 Skyliner parked next to my Uncle Lew’s 1967 Corvette (that once belonged to my parents).

My dad had my 59 looking and running great, so it was so nice to have her out on the road for a nice long drive. What a fun Day with the family!!!

OCT' 23

6

Susan and I were off on another adventure. Unfotunatley, John did not have enough vacation time, so Susan and I were off on another adventure together without him. We flew into JFK airport and spent a night at the TWA Hotel. It was a bucket list item for both of us, so we spent the evening before our cruise departure the next morning.

We had an amazing hotel room overlooking the Saarinen designed terminal. They have an old airplane set up as a bar. The old lounges have been converted to bars and restaurants and the main terminal still has a working ticker display (now displaying artsy messages instead of arrivals/departures). There even is a rooftop pool where you can watch planes departing and arriving at one of the busiest airports in New York. If you ever can get a really long layover in NYC, spend a night at the TWA Hotel.

Our next cruise adventure was a New England cruise from NYC up through Canada and back to NYC.

Our itinerary included Newport, Rhode Island, Boston Massachusetts, Bar Harbor Maine, Saint John and Halifax in Canada. After a rainy departure, we had lovely weather the entire week! The Emerald Princess was another large ship, but a little smaller than the cruise ship we were on in July. The ship still had great food, amazing shows, and lovely accommodations, but I am looking forward to getting back to some smaller boats on our next trip (an AmaWaterways Christmas Market river cruise on the Danube in December).

OCT' 23

7-14

OCT' 23

28

Oh Halloween, you know I love you. Halloween is my Christmas. This year, the Collier Family Bash returned once again to my parents; a tradition that I started with a few college friends back in 1995 has grown over the years. It’s a fun tradition… …and a great party.

JUly+August 2023

in search of otto

Barcelona Bound

JUL ’23

11-29

It had been almost 30 years since my last visit to Barcelona. At that time in 1994, I was just a young college kid traveling Europe after a summer semester in Berlin. I had stayed in youth hostels and slept on trains between cities.

Now in 2023, I don’t think I would be able to revert back to those accommodations. I’ve grown spoiled.

Our dear friend, Leonard, invited John and I to join him at a lovely apartment in the heart of Barcelona. We spent 10 days exploring the city and it’s rich culture of architecture and food.

We visited Gaudi’s masterpieces.

We dined and drank.

We explored together.

John even got to visit the Barcelona Pavilion- it was his primary goal to visit one of his favorite buildings in the world while we were in the city. It was lovely.

We saved the greatest of Gaudi’s buildings for our final day in Barcelona. The Sagrada Familia truly is amazing. When I was there in 1994, only four of the side towers were complete. Now that technology is assisting in the production, it is moving right along. The organic nature mixed with the beautiful sculptural quality of the design combine to become a truly spiritual experience. I think the thing that hits everyone that walks through the powerful doors the most is the ethereal color of light and volumes of space. The building is sculpture. Gaudi lived in the building at the end of his life; you can see it was his muse… …and his obsession. Due to be completed in 2026, I want to go back to see it again.

And then there was a search for otto

After 10 amazing days in Barcelona, John and I flew to London for an evening. We were able to meet up with Sarah, Susan, Greg, Suzie, and Brian. The next morning, John departed for the airport while the rest of us went to Southampton to board my first ever BIG SHIP! We took a train to board the Sky Princess (along with 4200 other guests) for a Scandinavian cruise to Norway and Denmark. The large ship is impressice, but it is a floating city! I partially chose the Scandinavian route to try to find my final Kay Bojesen songbird named Otto; hence the theme name of our adventure. Greg nicknamed the trip- “In search of Otto.”

“Sunday was a day at sea. Monday was Kristiansand, Norway.
What a gorgeous and walkable city.
Most of you don’t know that I started a fun new collection back in late 2021 when Susan and I found a Danish modern bird named Alfred while on a river cruise in Germany. Several birds later…
My new collection of Kay Bojesen birds has now grown to include what I thought was every bird except for “Otto”. Otto is nearly impossible to find.
Greg nicknamed this Scandinavian cruise the “in search of Otto tour”, but today Susan yelled at me to come into our first shop in Norway. There I found a pair of sparrows in a medium size that I didn’t know existed. Damn. I wasn’t looking for sparrows. I need Otto.
Multiple shops latter, Otto still eluded me. I just keep telling myself that It’s Norway. Not Denmark.
Tomorrow’s port is Denmark. Otto, I’m looking for you.
The search continues.”

— Facebook, Rod Collier, July 24

“Just another Princess day… Champagne waterfalls, Kristiansand shopping, bird hunting, Norwegian wood, and an amazing chef’s dinner…”

— Facebook, Rod Collier, May 25

“Still no Otto, but it’s been an amazing adventure in Copenhagen trying to find that damn bird.
Maybe I’ll have better luck in Oslo.
Here Otto, Otto, Otto. Chirp chirp.”

— Facebook, Rod Collier, May 26

This is an image of Otto- just in case any of you do know a little Danish lady that is looking to sell him to a collector.

“Oh Otto. You’ve eluded me.
We searched several locations in Oslo, but it just wasn’t meant to be on this trip.
Oslo is an absolutely gorgeous city. We did a hop on hop off bus tour to get a quick lay of the land, but then we set out on foot to explore (and bird hunt).
The opera house at the end of the fjord was stunning. It feels like a graceful white marble glacier merging seamlessly into the Norwegian water… you actually can walk up the roof of the massive building for dynamic views over the city.
This city feels so comfortable; I’ll be back for sure.
The “in search of Otto” tour was so much fun even without him joining my flock. However, if any of you know a little Danish lady that has a Kay Bojesen bird collection, feel free to let me know. Otto is out there somewhere…”

— Facebook, Rod Collier

APRIL+MAY2023

Regina, REV, and a blue-eyed boy

APRIL ‘23

21

John and I have so many friends with birthdays between my birthday on March 15th and John’s birthday on April 28th. We figured out that there were 9 people just in our closest group of friends. How do you celebrate all of them at once? Perhaps with once of our all-time favorite chefs in Indianapolis, Regina Mehallick. Regina had one of the best restaurants in the city, R-Bistro. She created a sumptuous multi-course meal- I curated a collection of wines from my cellar to compliment.

Oh what a night- and it was finished off with her famous sticky toffee bread pudding. John’s favorite!

REVX

MAY ‘23

6

A very special restauranteur client offered me several tickets to The Rev at the motor speedway. It’s an evening of high fashion, unlimited cocktails, and delicious food.

Racing around the track at 140 mph doesn’t hurt either.

May ‘23

17

Chad and I were able to attend an amazing wine dinner at Tinker Street.

Did you know that “Molly Dooker” means “left-handed” in Australian?

The blue-eyed son of the winemaker, Luke Marquis was the wine host for the evening. We ate amazing foot that was accompanied by spectacular wines.

I even won the lottery for a bottle of the prized Velvet Glove.

March 2023

A hand for my birthday

Wait, I turned 50! How did that happen?

MARCH' 23

4-11

“50 is not old.
I keep telling myself that. Over and over.
50 is going to be fabulous.
It’s one week away.
As I wrap up my final week in my forties, John and I were able to escape to Puerto Vallarta for a break from work and a little relaxation. We are very fortunate to be able to also bring two of our nieces with us as well as Greg and Todd. We were even able to meet up with Penny and MA while they were visiting from Canada too. It really is an amazing place to prepare for my fiftieth… the margaritas help, but ultimately it’s the great time with friends and family.”

— Rod Collier, via Facebook March 9, 2023

I was fortunate to start my birthday month with a quick trip down to Mexico. John and I were able to host our nieces, Claire and Cora, for their spring break while I started the big 50th celebration early. Todd and Greg were also able to be there for part of the week in paradise. I was ready for this… …I swear. By the time my birthday rolled around in the middle of March, I was able to celebrate in style with one of my favorite chefs.

Happy Birthday to me.

A little hungover from a night of celebrating…

I found a sculpture at a local gallery that spoke to me the moment I walked in the door. The “untitled” piece by the artist James Tyler. James is known for his series of very large brick heads. Although the artist resides in New York, we have a couple of his head sculptures in Indianapolis. I did some research and found a contact for the artist; James indicated that he lost his records in a hurricane, but that she was likely created between 1995 to 2000.

My husband had nicknamed her Goldie. However, since she was a 50th birthday present to myself, I changed that to Haun (a fun little spin of Goldie Hawn).

Haun is slang for “Hand” in Scottish.

Her hands are so expressive.

She is a loved addition to our art collection. Once the pedestal is built, she will greet us at the back door when we enter the house.

JANUARY+FEBRUARY 2023

A wEDDING continues

JANUARY + FEBRUARY 2023

JAN' 23

7

Love is Love, so why not celebrate a wonderful new marriage between two of your best friends over the course of several months. The first reception was a small dinner for close friends. Greg and Todd asked each of us to contribute something to one of their many gatherings. For the first dinner, John was to create the infamous “strawberry cake” for dessert. Oh my, I tested so many iterations of that cake in the weeks leading up to the dinner party… …I was tasked with pairing wines with each of our many courses. We had some wines with an absolutely delicious dinner.

FEB' 23

5

As the month of celebration continued, we joined Greg and Todd for a larger gathering at the Garden Terrace at Newfields. It was a wonderful evening full of fabulous food, friendship, and love.

nov+Dec 2022

beverages, birds, and belize

NOV' 22

19

Hanging with the Foodie group usually means amazing food, but it also typically means delicious cocktails. Fancy smoked glasses with fancier stamped ice (that is crystal clear) creates a fun and festive drink.

NOV' 22

25-27

We change up the holiday decorations every year, but this year we had to figure out where my Danish birds were going to migrate to during the holiday season. Instead of relegating them to a shelf or distant area of the house, John suggested that they remain on the dining room table.

Great Grandma Gradeless’ ceramic Christmas tree usually graces the console upstairs, but this year it landed smack dab in the center of the dining room table too! Add the bottle brush trees to the mix and it was beginning to feel a lot like Christmas!

I wanted to add fake snow (like the Christmas villages from the 50s).

John said no.

We placed the birds and trees, but it was still missing something.

Guess what, we have snow. Glitter and all.

I LOVE IT!

DEC' 22

6-11

We took a quick trip down to Belize to celebrate a couple birthdays of friends. 6 days of relaxation, snorkeling, boat trips, and fantastic food!

Sept-oct 2022

Fascinators, Family, and the machina man

SEPT' 22

3

Sometimes you just need to add a fascinator or two to feel good about yourself. Throw in a few cocktails around a pool and I’m usually good to go. We finished off the day with a trip to Greg’s Bar. We had not been out to a gay bar in years!

SEPT' 22

10

Did someone say ROMPER? Add animal prints? Hell Yeah!

John and I attended a fundraiser for Horizon House at the Indianapolis Zoo. Supporting a great cause (and rocking a romper).

After several years, Harvest nights at Newfields has become bigger and bigger. 30,000 real pumpkins, 10,000 fake pumpkins, a haunted walk through the woods, and a great projection show on the Lilly house make for a memorable evening with my cousins and their friends! Such a fun way to prepare for the holidays.

OCT' 22

15

OCT' 22

31

By now you know I love Halloween. John and I hosted a small group for our annual Liquor Treat. Yes, my costume may have been a little revealing, but the “Machina” one-piece was pretty awesome. John’s “Frankenstein” was equally as amazing. The kids wore one of my oldest costumes [Bert and Ernie] that I made about 25 years ago!

SEPT' 22

4

Unexpectedly, John lost his mother on the morning of September 4th. We had finally just gotten her settled at the new apartment and her health had been returning steadily. We did not see this coming. John’s brother, sister-in-law, step sister, and niece came to Indiana in late September to scatter Barbara’s ashes together as a family.

We bid you a fond farewell.

Goodbye Barbara.

JUly+August 2022

wine, food, and friends forever

20 years coming

If you could turn back time, would you? John and I are rapidly approaching anniversary number 20, but it seems like we just started dating. Playing around with a face App, I decided to take a few years off our love-worn faces. Oh, if only it could work this way.

AUG ’22

7-12

John and I were supposed to go to wine country with the wine gang back in 2020, but a combination of Covid and rampant wildfires kept us delayed until August of 2022. Unfortunately, John decided that he would not be able to join us on this trip (due to our recent European trip and several work commitments), so that left Leonard, Jeremy, Scott and I departing for Napa without him. Of course there’s nothing like a week of wine and amazing food with best friends… …it doesn’t hurt that John doesn’t know how much wine I really bought. LOL!

Jeremy and Scott in the LUME at Newfields

Rod, Mark II, Mark I, Leonard, Jeremy, and Scott at Farmstead

Just a little tasting at the Caves of Soda Canyon

AUG ’22

26-29

With all that California wine and food under my belt (or under my expanding belt), what else could I do in August to gain more weight? Why not go on an extended weekend trip with our Indianapolis Foodie Group! Off to Asheville, North Carolina we went. Several amazing meals (and a fabulous day at the Biltmore) later, I was fat again. LOL. Ok, no more travel until December… …I promise.

APRIL+MAY+JUNE 2022

Cruising along just minding my own business

I was honored to have been able to work with Newfields on the redesign of the historic Clowes Pavilion inside the core of the museum. Having designed the new ceiling way back in 2017, the new digital ceiling was finally unveiled at an event on April 6th, 2022.

APRIL ‘22

6

MAY ‘22

25

Our amazing son, Ross, was in Sweden, so he searched for any of my final missing “birds”. He found POP! The bright red and green songbird has joined the rest of the flock- THANK YOU ROSS! Now I am just down to two missing birds…

APRIL '22

20

You all know that we love working with Two Chicks and HGTV’s GOOD BONES television show! After several seasons as their architect, Rottmann Collier Architects helped them develop their new corporate offices too. Congrats to Mina and her amazing team.

A Cruise delayed…

JUN' 22

8-23

We were supposed to be on a cruise in Croatia back in 2020. Covid delayed it until 2021. Then Covid delayed it once again until 2022. This time, we were going no matter what! After a two year delay, Susan, Rod, and John departed for Dubrovnik on June 8th. Yes, we upgraded again for the flight across the pond. After a frantic sprint through Toronto’s airport to catch our Air Canada flight, John’s first time with a sleeping pod has pretty much assured that I will always have to upgrade for long flights, but I am ok with that. It’s the only time I can sleep on a plane, so it is worth every penny.

Connecting through Paris, our flight finally landed in Dubrovnik. Initially, it was just Susan, John, and I that checked into our hotel. Within a few hours, the rest of the gang began to join us. Chad, Jim, Mike, Sarah, Wendy, Chris, Lynn, Paul, Suzy, and Brian joined the cruise crew. We had two days to explore (and eat) in Dubrovnik before we were to disembark on the yacht.

After 8 glorious days on the yacht, our band of friends [new and old] broke apart. Susan, Sarah, John, and I departed Split, Croatia for Rome. A quick drive from Rome up to Tuscany, delivered us to the absolutely amazing Fonteverde Spa and Resort. Thermal pools heated to over 100 degrees by natural springs, pampered our bodies.

JANUARY+FEBRUARY+MARCH 2022

A wEDDING, A BIRTHDAY, AND a new flock

JANUARY 2022

Happy Fucking New Year... With Omicron raging across the country, we stayed in for the start of the year.

JAN' 22

1

JAN'22

8

With a slight lull in the pandemic, we were fortunate to host a wine tasting for 10 people at the house. Nestled below the red leaf hibiscus growing in the center of the table, we enjoyed several sips (and bottles) of wine with close friends.

After 16 years, the house needed a refresh on the interior paint (at least that is what my husband kept saying…) I didn’t really notice the difference, but it seemed to make him happy. Despite my anxiety for a week, the house does look fresh and clean again.

JAN' 22

11-15

February started with a bunch of snow… it never seemed to stop. Although I could not get our snowblower to start, we had great neighbors with bigger snow blowers that kept our main walkways open. I shoveled our secondary walks about every 6 hours to keep up.

My new birds are flocking to the house.

february 2022

FEB' 22

3-6

l to r: Alfred, “the sparrows”, Ravn, “the lovebirds”, and Sunshine

You may remember that I found a lovely wooden bird designed by Kay Bojesen when I was in Passau Germany in December of 2021. Little did I know that “Alfred” and the “lovebirds” would soon be swarmed by their missing songbird siblings. I am always a sucker for curating a “collection” especially when it is a mid-century modern design series, so this gathering of wooden birds (designed in the 1950s in Denmark) was no exception. I still have more birds joining the flock, but had to slow down for a minute… …They aren’t cheap little chirpers. Luckily my husband thinks they are cute too.

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday

The temporarily roosted in the wine cellar

Georg, black lovebirds, Ruth, Ernst, and Kay

Claire says “I do”…

Like the scene out of a fairytale wedding in a Hallmark movie, our gorgeous niece, Claire, was married in Indianapolis. The Scottish Rite Cathedral provided a dramatic backdrop for this small, yet lavish, family affair. John and I hosted Claire the week before the wedding and even arranged the flowers for her head table. Congrats to Claire and Cory!!!

FEB' 22

11

MARCH' 22

4

Office functions rarely call for a tuxedo, but my associate, Haley, joined me for a formal gala benefitting one of our clients. At 8 months pregnant, she has that glow and looked amazing! I’m getting so excited to meet the little guy!

Capitol Construction and Rottmann Collier Architects crew at the Angel Fund Gala

Haley and Rod [rarely seen in a formal attire]

Two Chicks? Not as fun as the Two Chicks and a Hammer that we work with for HGTV, but still fun!

MARCH' 22

17

St. Patrick’s Day and the kick off of March Madness all on the same day… …calls for a party in the office. We all seemed to love an afternoon of day drinking. It was needed.

NOV+DEC 2021

Cher and the Dead Christmas markets

NOV' 21

9

PS: I love you

Our first time traveling for pleasure (with flights) since the pandemic began… Oh, Palm Springs, we love you. John and I started the vacation with just the two of us staying a couple nights at the amazing Santiago Resort. We then joined a group of friends at a home once owned by Sonny and Cher! Yep, I swam naked in the same pool that Cher once swam in!

Charcuterie on the veranda at Sonny and Cher’s house

Only home for a few days, we then jumped back to Louisville for a relaxing weekend getaway with more friends. We stayed in a lovely suite at the Hotel Distil in downtown- what great views! Everyone knows I love a good upgrade when I can… …after so many months of not traveling- I upgraded! We had an adventurous weekend with horse racing, restaurants, and gay bars… just what the doctor ordered.

NOV' 21

19

The living room in our suite in Louisville

Overlooking the entry at Churchill Downs

Matt, Rod, John, Josh, Fernow, and Stoney at the club at Churchill Downs

I’ll be the first to admit that I am extremely spoiled. I work very hard in life, but I treat myself to “extra” extravagance when the opportunity is right. Susan asked if I would go on a river cruise with her to see the Christmas Markets of Germany, Austria, and Hungary. I said yes before I even knew the details. Flying business class was the right way to kick off my first European vacation since 2019. Unfortunately, Covid had begun to surge again in Europe, so lockdowns began days before we departed .

DEC' 21

1

My pod on Air France for the flight to Prague

My first time actually sleeping on a trans-Atlantic flight

Prague

Susan and I flew into Prague for a few days before our river cruise began. I had never been to the city and several friends had previously told me that it was one of their favorite cities in the world. Prague did not disappoint. It is a gorgeous city will with history and charm. I will go back.

“Yes, I’m traveling during Covid. No, I’m not panicking. I’m Double vaccinated and boosted again so this has allowed me the opportunity to return to Europe after more than 2 years of not traveling.

Susan Davis and I are going up the Danube River on a river cruise. We decided to spend a few extra days in Prague before the cruise. Even in midst of a pandemic, Prague is a magical city filled with beauty. This magical mystery river cruise (so named by Susan because our itinerary seems to ebb and flow each day and we still are not sure where we will be each day).
The Christmas Markets have all been shut down, but Susan and I have done an amazing job of finding gluhwein (hot mulled wine) throughout the city.

Even more exciting has been the opportunity to meet my “new” first cousin, Melissa Spiszer, for the first time. Melissa lives in Germany and she and her husband drove over to Prague to meet me for the first time. She’s amazing! I have loved spending the last two days together and realizing how much our DNA gives us our looks, mannerisms, and voices.

We woke up to snow this morning. Prague became a winter wonderland!
After yet another negative Covid rapid test, Susan and I are now cleared to depart tomorrow morning for our ship in Germany.

The journey continues…”

— Rod via Facebook

We found a “rogue” Christmas Market in Prague

I call these statues “creepy babies”, but technically, they are Crawling Babies

Rod and Melissa (with Gluhwein of course).

Meeting Melissa

I have a “New” 1st cousin. Ancestry.com revealed a new family member a couple years ago. Melissa lives in Germany now, so my trip to Prague gave us the opportunity to meet for the first time in person. She is amazing. I loved every moment of getting to know her (and her great husband) for a few days. She has so many family traits; we will be hanging out again…

Art Deco details galore- it’s enough to make an architect’s head spin

As a travel agent, Susan has graciously allowed me to travel with her several times. We travel very easily together- I love her like a sister, so I’m always up for an adventure. The Danube River Cruise that we signed up for was called “Iconic Christmas Markets”, but Covid shut down all of the markets in Prague, Bavaria, and Austria. In fact, Austria closed the borders, so we would no longer be stopping in that country. We briefly met up with my friend, Chad Secrist, in Nuremburg just before he departed to get on the boat. Susan and I were finishing our pre-cruise tour of the city, so we met him at the boat later that afternoon. Having been to Nuremburg together once before, we ran around to a couple of our favorite sites, but then settled down for a few Gluhweins before heading to Regensburg to hop on the AmaBella. Chad had already been on the boat for a few hours by the time we arrived, so he joined us in our stateroom for a glass of honey brandy while we unpacked. All of the Christmas Markets in Bavaria had been set up and ready to go, but they were still closed. Therefore, we started collecting photos of “dead markets”.

Danube River Cruise

Another visit to our favorite fountain in Nuremburg

Designed for 161 passengers, the AmaBella is a 5-star hotel on water with a crew of 59. For our cruise, we had only 35 passengers. Yep, 35 with the full crew of 59. We wanted for nothing… except Christmas Markets.

Cookie decorating during our long sail through Austria

Final night in the pool with Budapest’s Parliament in the background.

Sept + OCT 2021

Oh Baby!

We have another one! Our third Great nephew was born just after midnight on September 9th. Oh what a hairy little man! Just like the two that came before him, he is perfect! My niece Taylor had the first boy, then John’s nephew Jason, and now my nephew Connor.

Grrrr…

A fundraiser event for Horizon House was themed with “animal print and sneaks”… Oh yes, we did. A great night with our besties raising money for a great cause.

The annual Collier Family Halloween Bash was begun back in 1994 when I brought a small gaggle of fellow students from Ball State University back to the farm for a hay ride and bonfire. The party grew and grew over the years and continues to be a family favorite. With costume contests, hayrides, and hobo stew (and a few cocktails), the party never fails to surprise.

LABOR OF LOVE

SEPT' 2021

6

SEPT' 2021

9

SEPT' 2021

11

OCT' 2021

23

JULY + August 2021

finally going places

July' 21

1

The photos of Becka and John below pretty much sum up my life in two images… I live in a technicolor shit show- I laugh all the time.

We were excited for Becka to spend her summer here in Indy, but we knew our work schedules and the carriage house construction project would prevent us from focusing on her during her visit. We therefore decided it would be best if Becka joined us once the carriage house project was complete [originally hoped to be some time in July]. Due to delays in getting construction materials, Becka arrived at the end of June for a short visit even as construction continued. Even best laid plans don’t always come to fruition.

While construction of the carriage house space continued during Becka’s short 3-week visit, we didn’t see that project finished because several materials continued to be difficult to acquire during the pandemic. We are still waiting on cabinets, but the space is looking amazing. You can check out the ongoing project by following the link called LAIR to the right.

LAIR

WORK Travel IS ON!

You didn’t have to ask me twice. Yes, please!

I jumped at the first chance to go anywhere. Business took me back to Nashville for a brief visit- it was nice to get away. Since 2017, I have been very fortunate to have an amazing client, White Bison Coffee, in Nashville, Tennessee. Their growth of their new coffee shop concept typically requires that I visit the city every few months. However, Covid-19 restrictions meant I had not been to Nashville since February of 2020. It was so good to be back.

JULY' 21

NASHVILLE

18-19

JULY' / AUGUST 21

LOUISVILLE

30-1

They had no idea of the artwork behind them…

Just days later, I found myself in Louisville with the boys! Our bubble has become so close during the pandemic. It was great to finally be able to travel together to a nearby city. It had been years since I stayed in Louisville, so it was perfect to have some city experts driving the bus for the weekend. I joined Greg, Todd, Jonathan, Stuart, and John as we galivanted around the city. Great food. Great drinks. BEST FRIENDS.

Sometimes it takes an image like this for people to realize just how much is going on in John’s head.

Oh, it’s been some time since we stood at the cloud gate

It didn’t look like rain when we left the hotel, but downpours happen…

AUGUST ‘21

CHICAGO

6-8

After so many months of not even taking a weekend off, it was weird to have traveled three weekends in a row! John and I were supposed to have been in Chicago with our foodie group, but that got canceled due to restrictions on parties of 9 in restaurants. Therefore, John and I kept our reservations at The Thompson Hotel in Chicago. We made it a weekend for just the two of us. Of course we ran into friends there.

JUNE 2021

be yourself

Love is love. People are people.

It doesn’t matter how we choose to identify,

Whatever we are, we are all human.

Love is love.

Love yourself.

Be proud of who you are.

Be proud of who you love.

It is so important to let your voice be heard. Let your voice carry.

Love is love. No one has a monopoly on love. We are all different and we are all equal. Let’s celebrate our diversity, in all of its glorious colors, shapes, sexes, and sizes.

Have pride.

Love is beautiful.

JUNE' 21

pride

I always love a quiet moment on the front porch

Stocking up for RuPaul’s Drive N Drag- Yes Way Rose…

JUNE' 21

2

What Pride month would be complete without a little Drag… …we went so long during the pandemic without any bars, drag shows, or entertainment, but the outdoor venue of RuPaul’s Drag-N-Drive made up for that. Our bubble of boys were herded to our VIP corrals with a great view of an all star cast from Drag Race. Although it was weird watching the show from a shopping mall parking lot in Greenwood, Indiana, it was a great way to kick off pride month! Yes, rose wine was involved.

RuPaul’s Drive-n-Drag lineup, Indianapolis

JUNE' 21

12

Wait? MORE DRAG?

Yep. Just 10 days later, we did a Drag Brunch at the Skyline Club in downtown Indianapolis. Great Friends, Great View, and a Great Show. The bottomless Mimosas didn’t hurt either. Even Cher stopped in for a cocktail with the boys.

Celebration Delayed

A birthday delayed… Greg got to finally celebrate his birthday with friends a couple months after the actual day. Surrounded by love in the sanctuary of his amazing back yard. Such love…

It’s always been common knowledge that I love my family beyond words. I was able to celebrate Father’s Day out at the farm with the entire family- the youngest of which chose to take the blaring hot day to run along the horse fencing sans his pants. A week later, we also celebrated the high school graduation of my nephew, Dale at the cabin of my sister, Terri. Great food, good conversation, and a proud uncle!

Fathers and Family

sept 2020-mar 2021

WTF-where did the past 6 months go?

Like so many during the pandemic, somehow I lost the last 6 months…

Life feels like it went into hyperdrive. I can’t seem to slow down long enough to really update the site, so here is an abridged version. Work never stopped- it only got crazier.

SEPT' 20

15+20

September 2020: Becka departed. WORK.

Stuart’s Birthday. WORK.

Bring Back the Chefs #1 [Alan Sternberg]. WORK.

October 2020: Columbus Visit. WORK.

Bring Back the Chefs #2 [Tracey Couillard]. WORK.

Anniversary. WORK

OCT' 20

2+25

November 2020: VOTED.

WORK. NO Thanksgiving.

Bring Back the Chefs #3 [Eli Laidlaw]. WORK

NOV' 20

3+22

DEC' 20

4+13+31

December 2020:

GOT COVID-19, WORK (from home),

Christmas. WORK. Columbus NYE

January 2021:

Tooth Extraction. WORK.

Inauguration. WORK.

JAN 2021

1+12+20

FEB 2021

21

February 2021:

WORK. WORK. WORK.

Bring Back the Chefs #4 [Ross Katz]

March 2021: WORK. WORK. WORK.

Birthday Dinner.

Bring Back the Chefs #5 and #6

MARCH 2021

2+25

JULY + August 2020

It’s not all unicorns and margaritas

No Fireworks, so everyone seems to create their own. It was a loud beginning to another month in a pandemic.

July' 20

11

On the 11th, John and Becka went out for a bike ride with Todd and Greg. Little did they know that mother nature was about to unleash a mighty hail storm on the city. Luckly, they made it to an underpass by the interstate, so they had to ride out the storm while our house was deluged with hail, wind, and water. The street in front of our house became a flowing river… We’ve had plagues and storms, so I am just waiting for the locusts to arrive.

July' 20

15

Well, it wasn’t locusts. It was a Covid-19 surge in Florida that shut down Unk’s surgery. I had planned to fly down to Florida to assist Unk before, during, and after hip replacement surgery. Despite the fact that his femur was dissolving, the doctors still listed his surgery as “elective”. Due to Covid, they would not perform the surgery.

read the rest of the UNK story here

JUNE 2020

A lack of PRIDE and fleeing Florida

BLACK LIVES MATTER. Period.

The end of may and beginning of June were tipping points for the the BLM movement. It was long overdue. Unfortunately, even the normally respectful/reserved and quiet city of Indianapolis saw demonstrations with some rioting and damage.

Finally a pride flag arrived that finally fits our house

Pride month without a parade… it was sad to see that all of the major pride events were canceled due to the continued spread of Covid-19. Social gatherings ceased. Contact ceased. Everything seems to just keep getting worse, but our little Herron-Morton Place neighborhood decided to have a socially-distant neighborhood pride. I purchased flags, handkerchiefs, flowers, etc. to adorn the little red wagon. Becka had moved up to Indy from Fort Myers, but we had not finished the carriage house as previously expected. Hey, we have had a few things going on in the past 7+ months! Becka moved into the lower level, so our home has become a sitcom for “threes company”.

JUNE' 20

2

JUNE' 20

9

JUNE' 20

27

A rainy Saturday morning led to the delay, continued delay, and eventual postponement of the “pride parade”. John and I had to depart for Columbus, Ohio to visit Jeremy and Scott, so we were going to miss the postponed parade; Becka walked the parade for us!

John and I had a lovely getaway weekend visiting friends, but it was also the first time we had stayed in a hotel (the lovely boutique hotel, Canopy, in downtown Columbus) since March and the beginning of the pandemic.

May 2020

Wear your damn mask, Karen!

MAY ' 20

10

A Setback with Unk

While continuing rehabilitation on his pelvis and leg, Unk suffered a devastating setback on May 20th. Unbeknownst to his doctors, therapists, and me, Unk’s femur ball had developed necrosis shortly after his initial surgery. He had a feeling that something just wasn’t right, but it was during a difficult therapy session that the femur ball completely failed. Unk had to wait several days before he could get back in to see his surgeon- who said he needed to get a new replacement hip…

I also spent several evenings documenting what was left in my cellar

Oh the food!

Of course it couldn’t keep going, right? Apparently, yes.

Cinco de Mayo sucked in 2020.

Mother’s Day was “socially distant”. While I did get to see my mother on Mother’s Day, there were no hugs. John and I were only allowed to see his mom through her front door, but my family finally got together after several months without contact.

Our planned vacation on a yacht in Croatia was canceled.

Traveling of any sort seemed to have ceased to exist.

MAY ' 20

20

MAY ' 20

23-25

Thank god the wine shipments keep coming…

speaking of wine…

I had gone a very long time without hanging with friends. Finally by the end of May, we felt comfortable letting a few more friends into the house. A long Memorial Day weekend allowed for us to host Leonard, Jeremy, Scott, and Randy. Just a year earlier, this amazing group of friends had been jet-setting around Italy with us- we still were able to cook and drink together. Over the course of 3 days, we were able to make a considerable dent in the oldest vintages in my cellar.

We do love to eat good food. From the leg of lamb that cooked in the sous vide for 24 hours, to the beef tenderloin, to the egg bites, we never were far from foodie paradise.

March+April 2020

A virus-induced moment of solitude

The last several months have been a blur. Several new projects, several old projects, and several trips to visit Unk since November.

Someone turned 50, so John and I arrived in proper attire.

I always love March. It’s my month.

It also is Jamie’s birthday month.

It is Unk’s birthday month.

Even half of the associates in my office have March Birthdays.

March is also the month that has “David Day”. We now celebrate March 13th.

“Happy David Day!

We celebrate March 13th as “David Day”.

David Strachan was one of the most amazing men I’ve ever known- I’m so very fortunate to see so many of David’s best characteristics inherited by my husband, John Strachan. His warm heart, gentle soul, soothing voice, and amazing smile often hit me in a direct reflection through his son.

David was born on March 13th.
David left us on March 13th.

While we celebrate him every single day, March 13th will always be his.

Happy David Day!!!”

— Rod Collier [via facebook], March 13, 2020

MARCH' 20

15

MARCH' 20

5

MARCH' 20

13

Maybe it was the death veil I wore entering the room.

Jamie and Chris celebrating the end of another decade

“Day 3 of my birthday weekend... “Backing the Stache”

I’ve held a long tradition of starting with a no-shave November, growing a beard through the winter, and then shaving it off on my birthday. My husband hates my facial hair, so I’ve at least been shearing it down frequently.

This year, I started reducing the hairy mass 3 days early and shaved a little bit more each day as part of my birthday weekend.

My big beard became a goatee.
The goatee became a Fu Manchu.
The Fu then became a monster mustache (the “Jimstache”, pornstache, or Freddie Mercury... depending on each person I saw today).

At my parents today, my lil sis couldn’t stop giving me the scary side eye- I apparently creeped her out with my mustache. I certainly gave my dad a run for his money, but he’s been rocking the stache for longer than I have been alive...

We got some much needed Charlie James baby time followed by a quick trip back to Indy for an amazing evening with our neighbors.

Thanks for all of the lovely birthday wishes today.

I’m sitting here staring at my razor and thinking this caterpillar on my lip is about to die.

My husband is smiling.”

— Rod Collier [via facebook], March 15, 2020

I am my father’s son… …but no one liked my mustache.

By mid-March, I finally finished a project that I began about two months ago. The house is now rewired with smart Lutron switches, so we can control the lighting and sound systems of the house with our voices. 32 switches later, I now fully understand electrical wiring on an entirely different level.

No matter what you are doing during your quarantine, please stay safe.

We will get through this…

Little Did I know What would happen just 5 days later…

Of course the biggest news of the month of March is the ongoing battle against the spread of the Covid-19 virus. The global pandemic continues to spread, so most communities around the world have moved toward sheltering-in-place or self-quarantine.

It means empty offices.

It means empty shelves in grocery stores.

It means a lot more working from home.

It also means boredom.

Even with every streaming service and full cable, there is nothing to watch.

this much wiring for just two switches???

It felt like I lost my footing. I was slipping with nothing to hang onto. The terror of Covid-19 had entered our home on March 20th, 2020.

It started for John with just a really bad headache on the evening of Friday, March 20th. Then the low-grade fever and body aches started Saturday morning. We clearly knew John was sick, but didn’t want to think about this being Covid-19. By Monday morning, we knew. A virtual doctor’s meeting confirmed our fear (even without the test- there were no available tests unless we checked him into a hospital). Our amazing doctor gave us a timeline of what to expect… We were warned that day 8 or so would likely be the day he started to exhibit respiratory issues.

He was sick, but was going to be fine. I kept telling myself that he didn’t have the breathing issues, so he would be fine. I initially respected John’s wishes to not tell his family right away.

A couple days later, I told a couple friends. By day 4, I had shared the news with my family- It was no longer just about his sickness; I needed the emotional support. While John was struggling with FATIGUE on a massive level, I was struggling too. Sure enough, day 8 brought shallow breathing and a cough.

MARCH' 20

20

John had a bad headache while visiting friends.

I finally posted publicly on Facebook just before midnight on Day 10. I was scared.

MARCH' 20

30

““We will get through this! Come heaven or high wine time. “

I actually said that in a message tonight to two of my dearest friends.

Fear is a driver. Anxiety is a consequence.

Day 10 in a house of Covid-19 is not an achievement. It’s a curse. I’m hoping none of you experience this. I’m healthy, but my better half isn’t. Typically, John is a far healthier and a far better man than I will ever be; after 10 days of infection, he’s been reduced to a shadow of a virus through this experience.

For those of you stupid enough to think this won’t affect you or won’t get to you, it will.

It’s insidious.

It’s coming for you. Worse yet, it’s coming for your loved ones.

Stay in.
Don’t risk it. Do it for them.

I’ve been fortunate to emerge from this viral pandemic with nothing more than a sore back for two days. Chances are you won’t be so fortunate. Don’t risk your life. Don’t risk the life of a loved one.

Yes, I’ve had more wine in the last 10 days than normal. I’m even cracking open bottles from my wine cellar that I once held sacred. I even pulled a bottle of my 2004 Dom Pérignon of the top shelf the other day. Oh-I didn’t drink it! That bottle’s worth about $250, but I thought about it...

Why wait?
Life is too short- don’t make it shorter. Stay inside. Wash your hands.
Love your family.
Love your friends.
Tell them.

It’s been a rough couple weeks-Drink good wine and send John some healing energy.”

— Rod Collier [via facebook], March 30, 2020

MARCH' 20

31

Just minutes later [at 12:01 AM], John’s sister sent me a message.

She wished she had known earlier. We talked for quite some time, John sleeping soundly beside me, while I listened to his breathing.

Barely awake the next morning, Becka called me from Florida. Yes, I had my ass handed to me. It was kind of a “How dare I not tell them what was going on”… I agreed.

It was good to have people reaching out to see what they could do…

We were very fortunate to have great friends and neighbors that were helping us with random requests.

Our neighbor, Hannah delivered a lovely flower arrangement while placating John’s random craving for Cheerios.

Our friend Todd seemed to make a delivery to our front porch every time he returned from Costco.

“What a difference a day makes!
Today, I’m optimistic that we are finally turning this ship around.

An update on John:
This morning I saw a difference...
His color is better (the gray tone he had yesterday is gone)
He still has a cough, but we’ve got that managed with meds.

His fever is down to just 101.3°.

He actually asked for Cheerios (despite my having never seen him eat cereal in the past 26 years that I’ve known him), so I was just excited that he was wanting to eat something!!! Our amazing neighbor, Hannah Sullivan Brown, was going to the grocery and picked up the cereal for him. I’d like to think the lovely flowers she left on the front porch with the cereal were for me, but they look pretty great next to John.

He’s lost 10-12 pounds (which he didn’t really have available to lose), so now I have to start fattening him back up. The virtual doctor appointment went well this morning. Dr. Blackwell prescribed an anti-nausea med to help him get his appetite back, but agreed that his color looks so much better and the reduced fever is a positive step. Overall, everyone was feeling positive today. They might seem like baby steps, but I’ll take them!!!

Thank you to everyone that reached out with words of support and encouragement. It makes a difference.”

— Rod Collier [via facebook], March 31, 2020

April 2020

Covid and Kidney Stones

One day you’re up- the next you’re back down. We would take one step forward and two steps back. Day after day, John continued to lose weight- the lack of appetite and extreme fatigue were taking their toll.

I found myself posting random things on social media. From a new fascination for the color green (which I seemed to wear almost everyday) to the chaotic curly length of my hair.

Speaking of my hair, John got sick the week I was supposed to get my hair cut. After nearly 10 weeks without a haircut, I thought my hair had it’s own personality as it grew and grew.

It was epic…

APRIL' 20

1

APR' 19

28

Spoiler Alert: He survived…

After John lost more than 18 pounds, I finally asked if we could take John off his medication (yes, that horrible medicine that our president said would help). Immediately, his appetite returned, his temperature dropped, and his nausea reduced. Within a week, we felt confident that he had turned the corner and was on the mend.

By the middle of April, we had cleared 10 days without any symptoms and were released from full quarantine.

I finally got a haircut and returned back to work in my office.

On April 28th, I surprised John for his birthday by having Brooke and Chad over for a socially-distant dinner. There was cake. John was very surprised. That night, John surprised me too…

Around midnight on his birthday, John began symptoms that I clearly recognized as a kidney stone. Yep, not funny. Luckily, I already had strong pain killers in the house and did not have to go to the emergency room. By our morning virtual doctor visit, he had officially been diagnosed with a kidney stone. Yes, it was Covid-19 related. Apparently, 16+ days with a temperature at or above 102 degrees can dehydrate someone enough to get a kidney stone. Back in the caregiver role again, I dealt with this the same way I have since Unk fell in November. I added humor to the situation. I named John’s kidney stone Cal. I prepared the nursery, but John miscarried Cal 2-3 days later. I was glad April was over. Surely it couldn’t get any worse…

Wow, I was unable to update this website for several months… I blame my Unk.

You can see the last 5 months of our story here.

UNK

JULY 2019

Demolition and dirt

July has been HOT! John and I kicked of July with a wonderful dinner and fireworks view of the Indianapolis skyline as seen from the penthouse of our dear friends Jamie and Chris at Riley Tower. It was spectacular as usual. We then departed for a couple days up on Big Long Lake at our friends Scott and Mike- what a lovely relaxing time… Our friend Leonard came down for a nice Bastille Day Dinner at the amazing Tinker Street Restaurant at the end of our block. Delish! Very quickly, the month got dirty! As most of you know, I have been very fortunate to have my architectural firm be the architects for HGTV’s Good Bones television show. My business partner, Todd Rottmann, and I are often part of their demolition crew and we have so much fun with Karen, Mina, Thadeus, Austin, Cory, and the gang. We have had several demolition filmings for Season 5 that will be out next year. Keep watching the current Season 4 too- Todd and I will me making some appearances on the upcoming shows too!

Todd, Mina, Rod, and Karen on demolition day for HGTV’s Good Bones

Mina and Karen filming additional dialogue on Demo Day

July' 19

4-6

JULY' 19

16-22

View of the fireworks from the top floor of the Riley Tower

May/June 2019

Nashville, Italy, and France.. Oh, My!

Nope, not Athens. It is Nashville’s exact replica of the Parthenon!

MAY ' 19

18-21

buses lose their tops in Nashville and are filled with Bridal parties…

Europe 2019 Begins

Our dear friend, Leonard, hosted John and I (and a few friends) at a villa in Umbria, Italy that he rented for his birthday! We flew into Rome on May 25th and met up with Leonard, Randy, Jeremy, and Scott for an amazing week in Monteleone d’Orvieto. It was so beautiful there. We then drove down to the Amalfi Coast for another week before we wrapped up our holiday in Paris. Click the link to see the highlights from the entire trip.

John and I took a quick trip down to Nashville, Tennessee in the middle of May. I had to be down there once again for work, but John was finally able to go with me this time. It was his first trip to Nashville, so we stayed right downtown and walked A LOT!!! We even were able to squeeze in a surprise concert of KC and the Sunshine Band. The only bad thing about this trip was that the Dream Hotel valet service wrecked my car! Yep, the valet scraped the side of my car down a column and wall (and did not say anything to their manager).

If you are going to Nashville, DO NOT STAY AT THE DREAM HOTEL OR USE THEIR CAR VALET SERVICE!

MAY ' 18

25-

JUNE ' 18

9

Europe 2019

A long day of flying- John was not nearly as excited as I was to be in Rome!

June is not only pride month, but also the busiest month for marriage! We went to our first Bachelor+Bachelor party. What fun with such great friends- Congrats to Sean and Joe…

April 2019

The BIG 50 for my Hubbie

Ashlee with “the door” at John’s Big 50th Birthday!

APRIL' 19

23

APR' 19

27

John’s picture in the speedo at 4 years old versus John’s picture in a matching speedo at 50 years old! Priceless!

John wanted a big party for his 50th birthday, so we delivered! about 100 people filled our home in celebration of John… He was surrounded by dear friends and family for the week before and after his birthday on April 28th. Becka was the first to arrive on the 21st of April. We were able to squeeze in a Broadway show mid-week. Waitress is wonderful in case you have not seen it yet. GO! It is very good. We had a couple Canadian friends, Penny and Heather, arrive for the party. John’s gorgeous sister Kristi also was able to come over from Missouri to spend time with the Birthday boy. 6 giant bottles of vodka, 36 bottles of red wine, 12 bottles of white wine, and several candles later- I was exhausted [but still did a nightcap with the Canadian Ladies and Kristi at 5:00 AM]! What a party…

April 4th 2019

Saying Goodbye to the Matriarch

Valda vere

Saying goodbye to a Matriarch of a giant family is never easy, but unfortunately there comes a time when it is necessary.

Valda Vere Fruit Collier married Charlie Collier. They had 8 children. Those 8 children had 26 grandchildren. Those 26 grandchildren had 60 great-grandchildren. Yes, you read that correctly.

With spouses, my grandparents had 134 stockings hanging on her very large fireplace for Christmas of 2018.

We lost Grandpa in 2014. On April 4th, 2019, Grandma transitioned out of this life as well. She and Grandpa are together again.

Guilty

From my April 2nd, 2019 facebook post:

I’m feeling guilty.
I’m feeling guilty because I’m not there with my family today to say goodbye to my loving grandma.
I’m feeling guilty because I said goodbye last week while we still had time. During an unplanned visit to grandma’s house, I had the privilege of getting alone time with her and my aunt Marsha in front of the fireplace. Just us-no distractions. I was able to sit right in front of her and hold her hand as I gazed upon that face that carries a thousand stories. I was able to truly feel her.
I’m feeling guilty because I told grandma that afternoon that I was going from her house over to the cemetery to sit with grandpa too. You see, I had missed stopping to see him on his birthday; I was missing him. When I told her I was going to see him, I could see that she was missing him too. She lovingly reminded me that he just had his 99th birthday. Although I could feel their years together, I could feel their years apart even more.
I’m feeling guilty because when I was tearfully chatting while sitting on the ground in front of grandpa’s tombstone, I decided to be very candid with him. I quietly and with great trepidation said out loud, “grandpa, I think it’s time for you to come get grandma. She’s ready for you.” Grandma had told me previously that she was ready to go, but I think she’s been hanging on because she doesn’t know how to say goodbye to this monstrously large (and loving) family that she and grandpa created.
We love her to the ends of the earth.
I’m feeling guilty because I know she and grandpa are going to be together again and I’m not sad. Don’t get me wrong-I’ve cried a lot today, but I’m not sad. My tears are joy. I’m so sad for my dad, mom, sisters, aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews... all 134 stockings are hanging their heads today. To each of you I say, “Don’t be sad.”
Realize the glorious beauty that this little firecracker brought to our lives (by bringing us into the world).
I love you grandma. Sleep well and give grandpa a great big hug (one of those really painful back smackers you used to give us). God I miss that fear of your hug!!! It’s ok to say goodbye and let go. Safe travels.

Dreamweaving a 2nd goodbye…

Most people don’t know that in 2014 when grandpa left us, he came to me in a dream to say goodbye. He gently nudged me into clarity while dreaming. I treasured that moment of seeing him. It gave me closure. That moment also makes me talk to grandpa quite often.

I had a couple Seven7s the night Grandma was leaving us to feel closer to grandpa (and I encouraged him once again to come get grandma).

Therefore, as time with grandma was drawing to a close that night, I was anxious and hopeful that she would visit on her way out too. I fell asleep with a wish to see her. It wasn’t grandma that woke me in my dream; once again, grandpa gently nudged me into clarity. While I was so happy to see him again, I was briefly sad to not see grandma. Until she popped her beaming little face around his shoulder and made a similar face to the photo above. She was so full of life. There wasn’t even a wrinkle on her face. She wrapped her arms around grandpa from behind and squeezed him tight. No words were said. They weren’t needed. When they turned to leave, she had a skip in her step- it was good to see her walking again.

I felt so at peace as they faded from clarity.

It’s funny because in my dream they are both so young. Younger than when I can remember. Grandpa looks about the age in the photo of him fishing. I could still smell his pipe as the dream lifted...

I hadn’t checked my phone that morning when John cuddled up behind me to make sure I was ok. He had already read a post that grandma had passed in the night.

I already knew she had transitioned, but loved that he wanted to comfort me. Grandma and grandpa had already comforted me too.

The Collier Crew loves you both- thank you for making us who we are.

l to r: Mark, Marsha, Grandpa, Sharon, Lew, Chuck, Grandma, Jim, Colleen, & Tim.

This photo actually never existed. When they went to Hawaii on their 25th Anniversary, they were greeted by [and photographed with] a local man and woman. I took the man and woman out of the original photos and photoshopped Grandma and Grandpa toget… — This photo actually never existed. When they went to Hawaii on their 25th Anniversary, they were greeted by [and photographed with] a local man and woman. I took the man and woman out of the original photos and photoshopped Grandma and Grandpa together into one photo. I wish you could have seen Grandma’s face when I showed her this photo. She said, “I’ve never seen that photo before- where did you find it?”

March 2019

Wigging out over my Birthday with a bunch of Canadian Ladies

March is for me. It’s me, me, me. Not really, but I do love the month of March for several reasons. Spring is in the air, wigs are on, and we have our lovely friends visiting us from Canada.

Brooke and Rod at the Wiggin Out party at Rob and Johnny’s house.

We kicked off the month with Rob and Johnny’s Wiggin’ Out party. Oh what fun.

By mid-month, we flew Becka up for a great visit and to surprise the group of Ladies that were going to be visiting us from Canada for my birthday. A little back story… After meeting Mary Ann, Rosemarie, Penny, Teresa, Heather, and Krista at the airport in Zurich, Switzerland in 2015, we spent 8 lovely days together on a river cruise down the Rhine River. They became family. John’s dad, David, left us just one year ago. Becka flew up on March 13th- David’s birthday and the anniversary of the day he left us. We now refer to the day as “David Day.”

I had a great birthday weekend.

Yes, the Canadians brought me ketchup-flavored potato chips.

MARCH' 19

2

MARCH' 18

15-19

February 2019

Pals, Pizzas, and Unicorns

Oak Farm Montessori School’s Tall Oaks Gala 2019

FEB' 19

1 -28

February is the shortest month, but this February 2019 flew by way too quickly. Between hanging out with friends, cooking, and the occasional unicorn in the office, it was a usual month- just really fast.

January 2019

Scottsdale and the first of many fifties

A clean house on New Years Day always feels so good.

Kris and Joe came for a lovely visit to Indy in the middle of a snowstorm. Thank goddess we had plenty of wine.

some really, really good wine. Thanks Kris and Joe!

Of course the cellar was fairly well stocked, so we were not running out of wine any time soon.

JAN' 19

18-21

JAN' 19

1

JAN' 19

5-6

John and I started off the New Year with a bang. Literally, someone popped an explosion of streamers above my head at the bar.

Scottsdale, Arizona

Kristi’s Birthday kicked off the start of a year for several 50th Birthday parties…

JAN' 19

25-27

December 2018

134 stockings and a Case of you

Yes, my grandmother really had 134 stockings on the fireplace for her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. It is just the immediate family and it is fabulous!

DEC' 18

2

A quick photo with Grandma Collier at my parents home (where Grandma grew up).

It took me a couple weeks to get it all done, but the Holiday decorations were finally all hung with care. The second tree returned this year, so the house once again was balanced with a tree at each end.

DEC' 18

12

WINESCHOOL

was a success! We had an amazing group sitting at the long table while we sampled several (and several more) wines from Italy. Letizia Ciappi, niece of winemaker Pierluigi at the Tenuta Torciano Winery in Italy, taught us all about great Tuscan wine. I may have ordered a few cases along the way (and I don’t remember going to bed that evening!!!).

Sam, Megan, and I clowning around (all in black) in the office.

DEC' 18

22

DEC' 18

25

Bradley, Greg, and I out for a night on the town!

134 Stockings on my grandmother’s fireplace this year

Niece Taylor and John in the kitchen of her NEW HOME!

DEC' 18

29

One more trip to Winterlights at Newfields with Susan, Jen, and Debbie! This time with a new hat… …The tree on my head seems to blend in with the landscape with so many lights.

NOVEMBER 2018

Pride Part 2 and shining lights

I think I have become a Winterlights junkie. In the month of November, I went to Winterlights 4 times! It never gets old!!!

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I flew home from Florida late on October 30th. We did Halloween at the house on the 31st. John and I then got up at 3:45 in the morning on November 1st and flew to Palm Springs! Our dear friends Jamie and Chris have a beautiful 2nd home there, so we went out for a visit (and it just happened to be PRIDE WEEKEND)!

OCTOBER 2018

Blues, Booze, and Boos

I love Fall. This year, October started out very warm, but by mid-month we had cooled to the typical warm weather I love. Work has been absolutely crazy since my return from Europe, but my team in the office is amazing! The darker mornings make it more difficult to wake up, but at least I get to wear sweaters!!!

Blues at the Slippery Noodle in Indianapolis

John and I joined several friends for the first Halloween Costume party of the season! I love dressing up in a costume!!!

Kevin and Tim were amazing hosts for the Freak Show

I am so humbled and honored to have been able to travel to Florida at the end of October to help a beautiful friend finish her transformation… …it made me realize that we are able to choose our family. She is my family and I am so happy to have been able to help. Her body now fits.

I also got to see Uncle Tom while in Fort Lauderdale. TOTAL BONUS! It is always so great to see him.

Yes, I look very nervous… …my fear of clowns kicked in.

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We kicked off the first weekend of October with Susan, JoAnita, and Jen from Richmond coming into town for a little Jazz and Blues at the Slippery Noodle in downtown Indianapolis. It was actually my maiden voyage to the oldest bar in Indiana. What a fun night of music and friendship.

Someone wasn’t happy when I said he looked “tired”!

The next night John and I made a trip up to the Dinner Dance in Fort Wayne. It was the 30th anniversary of this amazing LGBTQ event- I have been going since 1994!!! The main headliner for the evening was the absolutely hilarious Leslie Jordan [aka Beverley Leslie from the television show Will and Grace].

Leslie Jordan camping it up for the crowd [trying to sell a painting of himself]

AUGUST & september 2018

European Adventure

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John and I love going to visit our friends Jeremy and Scott in Columbus, Ohio. They are such amazing hosts [and we tend to drink just a few bottles of wine while we are there- ok, more than a few… …way more than a few]. Leonard, Randy, John, and I were hosted to a wonderful home-cooked meal at their condo overlooking the city. Thanks Jeremy and Scott!

Lovely dinner with the boys in Columbus, Ohio

Columbus, Ohio weekend with Rod, John, Jeremy, Scott, and Leonard (Randy was taking the photo)

There may have been mass quantities of wine involved…

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Brooke’s “Hello Kitty” themed birthday… …meow meow meow.

I wrapped up August with a trip to Europe with our dear friend Susan. John had just begun his Master’s program at Herron School of Art and Design at IUPUI, so he was unable to join me on the European adventure.

First off, I will just say that I LOVE LOVE LOVE the new nonstop flight from Indy to Paris! Wow, what a difference it makes to fly direct. We were basically cramming 3 trips into one.Susan and I were joined for part of the trip by her friends, Jen and Jo from Richmond, Indiana. We did a Seine River cruise on the new and youthful U by Uniworld.

The B, an amazing boat for U by Uniworld

The best way to see Paris is from a motorbike and sidecar

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The first part of our trip was a river cruise, second part was a lovely trip out to Reims and visits to the Champagne region of France. Susan and I then took a train ride from Reims down to Santa Margherita Ligure in the Cinque Terre region of Italy.

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JULY 2018

50 years of Love

My parents were high school sweethearts. When my dad returned from 2 years of service in the Army, my parents were married on July 5th, 1968. WOW! 50 YEARS OF LOVE!!!

The Entire Collier Clan. LtoR: Taylor, Chris, Connor, Robin, Tim, Caitlyn, Terri, Doug, Linda, Dale, Claire, Jim, Rod, John, Cora, Kendyll, Heidi, and Deric

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Flashbacks of my parents (with Sister Terri)

Terri, Rod (me), and Robin [Yes, we were very close in age]

Collier Clan at Lone Acres Farm (my parents homestead)

My parents are my greatest inspiration and role models. Growing up, I never thought I would be able to have the love and commitment that they have myself. While I proved that wrong, they still remain an absolute driving force in my life. I am who I am because of the two of them.

I love you MOM AND DAD!!!

JUNE 2018

Penthouses, parades, and pools

Jamie and John hanging out in the penthouse

Once again, June just is packed with events and festivals. I love it!

We started out June while finishing our California Wine buying trip, but quickly jumped into the full swing of June. We joined Jamie and Chris for a day by the pool downtown with cocktails. Then, just days later, we had more cocktails as Pride officially kicked off at Greg's Bar (with a festive round of Drag Race). John imbibed a bit more than normal and did't quite remember the walk home. We jumped right back into cocktails the next night with a viewing of "but I'm a cheerleader" movie at the IMA. Unfortunately, John had to depart for Chicago, while I went with Greg and friends to Indianapolis' Pride Parade. Oh what fun!

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Who knew that 5 vodkas could do so much damage

May 2018

Graduation, Mothers, and the adventures of Bendable Posable Jesus

IUPUI graduation ceremony at Lucas Oil Stadium

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Buttons adorned his sash for each family member that could not attend his graduation ceremony.

Happy Mother's Day

I am a momma's boy- tried and true. I love my family so much, and everyone knows that I will do anything for my mom and dad. They are such an inspiration for me- they are approaching their 50th anniversary with continued love and laughter [with their 4 children and 7 grandchildren].

JOHN GRADUATED!!! He not only received his degree, but he did it "with dinstiction". I am so extremely proud of this amazing man. He had the strength and courage to get a college degree starting in his mid-forties. He was a mentor and inspiration for those young kids in his classes. He worked so hard and I am so happy for him.

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After a day with my beautiful mother, I was also able to visit my grandmother on Mother's Day.

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The annual wine buying trip to California was fantastic this year. While Leonard, Randy, and Jeremy had previously toured the Central wine region around Paso Robles several years ago without me, they were so kind to return with a few extras this year! John and I joined Scott and Jeremy, Leonard, and Randy for an amazing wine tour. They had been accompanied on their previous trip with a wine mascot- the adventurous "Bendable Posable Jesus." The Notorious BPJ once again jumped at the chance to turn water into wine with the boys...

Leonard's planning provided us an incredible rental house and fabulous restaurants as usual! WOW. just WOW.

April 2018

Rolling on the River and a Celebration of Life

April started with the Collier Crew staying in a couple cabins along the Ohio River. The much needed solitude and relaxation did both John and I a world of good. We hiked the Hoosier National Park that was connected to our cabin along the river.

Our Cabin, "Castle Colucci", overlooking the Ohio River — Our Cabin, "Castle Colucci", overlooking the Ohio River

Overlook of the barges on the Ohio River

David Strachan

March 13, 1941 - March 13, 2018

To honor David's request for "no funeral and no memorial", we instead hosted the Strachan Clan for a Celebration of Life. For the first time in a very long time, we gathered all of the family together in our house.

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John and the twins on a joyride in the mercedes with a llama and a camel...

In preparation of our Celebration of Life for David at the house, our dear friend (and neighbor) Greg surprised us with fresh new flowers/plants in the front planters on the porch. Thanks Greg!

When David and Becka moved to Florida last September, we inherited several boxes of old photos... ...John and I went through those memories a few days before everyone arrived at our house. We found photos that no one in the family had ever seen before. It was amazing. We also took some new photos while the family was together to create our own memories and help say goodbye to David.

The most amazing photo of David at age 6 that I found in a collection of photos from John's parents.

My cute husband playing football in his youth...

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The Strachan Clan - front row [l to r]: Bentley, Casey, Alec, Kristi. Middle row [l to r]: Kelsey, Jason, Becka [with photo of David], Dana, Dave. Back Row [l to r]: Scott, Jenny, John, and Rod

You are forever in our hearts, David. WE love and miss you...

March 2018

Mexican Margaritas and a very hard goodbye

March has always been my favorite month because of my birthday, but it has been hard this year. On March 13th, John lost his father, David Strachan. March 13th was also David's 77th birthday. Words cannot convey the loss we feel. My heart breaks for Becka, Scott+Jennifer, Kristi+David, John, Jason+Kelsey, Dana, Alec, Bentley, and Casey. I am so honored to be a part of the Strachan Clan.

We love you David.

Rod, David, Becka, and John, Collier+Strachan Wedding 2014

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Jennifer, Scott, Kristi, John, and David

David and Becka with us in Switzerland, 2015

John and I were in Mexico when David passed away. We were with several close friends, so everyone worked very hard to help keep us distracted and entertained. Thank you to Chris, Jamie, Brad, and Mark for keeping us going during a rough week. You made us laugh when needed and allowed us to cry when necessary.

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The Grand Mayan in Riviera Maya [south of Cancun] is lush and lavish. We were able to relax by the pools and ocean, take a trip to Mayan ruins, swim in a cenote, and even experience CIrque Du Soleil's Joya show [on my birthday].

February 2018

New Orleans

Commander's Palace: Chocolate Banana Bread

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Despite the fact that everyone seems to think I travel all the time, I actually don't take as much vacation time as I used to. John and I have committed to getting out there and seeing the world while we still can, so I jump at any chance to travel somewhere new! This month, our New Jersey Street Foodie Group made the trek to the food mecca of New Orleans. It was amazing... ...and I am sure I gained back at least 5 pounds...

Brunch at Commander's Palacel to r: Brad, Sheila, Jeff, John, Michael, ME, Fred, Bill, John Pope, and Susan — Brunch at Commander's Palace
l to r: Brad, Sheila, Jeff, John, Michael, ME, Fred, Bill, John Pope, and Susan

New Orleans certainly is a city of great beauty, wonderful food, jazzy blues, and some eccentric characters. While I loved strolling the gorgeous small streets of the French Quarter, I did not really enjoy Bourbon Street. It was a bit "too much all at once" for my own personal tastes. I will certainly go back... ...the food alone merits a repeat trip.

January 2018

Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers, and Scottsdale

Becka, John and Rod at the "winter" farmer's market in Fort Myers

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John and I had a short layover in Fort Lauderdale to visit Uncle Tom for the new year. We love seeing Unk and spending some time in the warmth... ...unfortunately, there was only one day of warmth on the beach before Florida descended into the cold depths of a freak winter. WE WORE OUR WINTER COATS THE ENTIRE TRIP!

Oh that look...  ...he gets me every time. — Oh that look... ...he gets me every time.

I was shocked to see a blue elf (Jamie even had an elf on the shelf too)

Our time in Fort Lauderdale and Fort Myers went by way too quickly. It was great seeing David and Becka, Scott and Jenny, Dana (and boyfriend, Nate), Kristi and David, and of course our youngest nephew Casey!!!

21C Hotel: Do not disturb was disturbing

A quick overnight trip down to Nashville, TN for business was a welcome surprise. My work on several coffee shops continues in this amazing city!!!

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Rod, Susan, and John on our early morning hike

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January travels continued with a quick trip out to visit our close neighbors. Fred and Susan have spent a month or two in Arizona for the past few years, but they took the plunge and purchased a condo right before our visit! We loved our hikes and the furniture shopping (for the new condo), but the highlight was our first visit to Frank Lloyd Wright's Taliesin West. Wow. Just WOW.

A hike to the top of Brown Mountain in Scottsdale, Arizona

A gorgeous 4 1/2 mile hike up to the Taliesin Overlook...

A surprise visit to a Frank Lloyd Wright house while at Taliesin!

December 2017

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The start of the holiday season just would not be the same without "dinner in the loft" at Wally and Ron's cabin in the woods near Angola, Indiana.

Kris, Joe, John, and Rod at Dinner in the Loft

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Decorating for the holidays is always a treat. This year I had a bit more difficulty since I was still recovering from my surgery. In lieu of the two 10 foot trees that we normally decorate on the first floor, John appeased my request to only do one tree.

I always take such joy in putting up my Great Grandmother's ceramic tree; I am honored to have it in my home. Family is everything to both John and me.

Decoratig the offices of Rottmann Collier Architects with a vintage aluminum tree and color wheel

For the first time, we had a fun office to decorate for the holidays. I went all out with 5 trees and several decorative accents.

Did I mention how much I love my coworkers? We are a fun bunch! Every day is a joy and pleasure to work with this fine team (and group of friends). Thanks!

Rottmann Collier Team

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Beer:30 at the office led to decorating our own stockings... ...yes, we are a crafty bunch.

Rottmann Collier Pre-Holiday Dinner with cocktails at the office

The Collier Crew at Winterlights at Newfields at the IMA.

Part of the Strachan Clan visited on December 18th-20th. We took a quick tour through the Indianapolis Motor Speedway light show. Psst, Winterlights is WAY BETTER!

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Christmas Day just would not be the same without lunch at Grandma's house. The mantle is running out of room, but it grew by 4 stockings this year. Grandma also has a tree adorned with photos of all 80+ of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

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Oh yes, I am rocking the huge 70s collar and leisure suit

The 127 Stockings on Grandma's fireplace.  Yes, she puts something in every single one (well, this year it was an honor to do it for her-under her very watchful eye) — The 127 Stockings on Grandma's fireplace. Yes, she puts something in every single one (well, this year it was an honor to do it for her-under her very watchful eye)

NOVEMBER 2017

Say hello to Pfennig [Penny in German], my new 2018 Mercedes GLA250 4matic with all the bells and whistles.  I love her. — Say hello to Pfennig [Penny in German], my new 2018 Mercedes GLA250 4matic with all the bells and whistles. I love her.

Saying goodbye to Pearl Hailey was easier than I thought it would be. Although she was only 6 years old, my Ford Edge was replaced with the bright copper colored Pfennig [German for Penny]. My new 2018 GLA250 with all the bells and whistles arrived safe and sound from Germany. Having waited over 3 months for her arrival, she stole my heart and made me forget I ever even had a Ford.

I was so honored to be asked by Tinker Street Restaurant to help raise funds for The American Red Cross California Wildfire Relief by hosting a private dinner at their restaurant. Over the course of 5 evenings, Peter George and Tom Main raised over $40,000.

Claire and I at the opening night of Winterlights.  It was amazing... — Claire and I at the opening night of Winterlights. It was amazing...

Winterlights at Newfields at the IMA had it's inaugural opening on November 14th. John had class, so Claire joined me for the preview evening of what is sure to become my favorite holiday tradition. 1.6 million lights are magical.

After years of dealing with an umbilical hernia, I had surgery on the 17th. While in surgery, they discovered a second tear. Recovery was rough, but my devoted husband spoiled and nurtured me back to health just in time for Thanksgiving at Grandma Collier's house.

Grandma was a twin.  We have several in the Collier Crew — Grandma was a twin. We have several in the Collier Crew

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Tinker Street Fundraiser for California Wildfire Relief

Fat November 2016 versus thin November 2017

John and I also joined Brad and Mark to carry on the tradition of viewing the Monument Circle Tree lighting in downtown Indianapolis.

OCTOBER 2017

Mackinac Island

October brought an end to the Summer of Destination Weddings with the marriage of our niece, Taylor Olivia, to Chris on the quaint island community of Mackinac Island. After picking up Claire at IUPUI, we had a great time on the long drive up to the top of Michigan. A very quick ferry ride over to the island, gave us plenty of time for the Collier Family to hike around and explore the island that we all grew up loving. Taylor had said as a little girl that she would get married in that Little Stone Church on Mackinac Island- she did. It was beautiful.

The Collier Crew on a hike on Mackinac Island

Everyone knows that Halloween is my Christmas. I love it. The Collier Bash was themed as "Freak Show" this year and it certainly did not have a shortage of Freaks. With twins as Siamese Twins, tattooed ladies (sisters), and plenty of freaks, I made costumes for both of us. John was a target board for a knife thrower and I was half-goat/half man. Not settling for just one night of fun, Rottmann Collier Architects also had our employees dress up for the holiday- I pulled out the Scottish Kilt! For the first time in the 11 years that John and I have lived in the house, we ran out of candy... ...our little house in the hood is now one of the most desireable places to live in the city. Children (and parents) were dressed up in droves. At least I had wine to make me forget how cold that kilt was while standing on the porch for a couple hours.

Running out of candy with an hour to go...

Theme for the Collier's Annual Halloween Bash 2017

Heidi, Terri, Claire, Mom, Kendyll, and Caitlyn

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Claire, John, and Rod on the ferry ride to the island

Sister Robin, Niece Taylor, Mother Linda

Me and my sister Robin, Mother of the Bride

The Rottmann Collier Architects Gang: LtoR: Me, Lourenzo, Haley, Sam [ghost], Todd [bag lady], Adam

Lunch Lady, Iron Woman, Lourenzo, and a Ghost drinking wine

September 2017

New York CIty, Neenah

Flying into New York CIty on Labor Day weekend

John and I had so much fun with Fred and Susan in Pennsylvania that we joined them for long, Labor Day weekend in New York City. We took in so much of the City... It was John's first real visit to NYC. I had not been there since November of 2001 [WTC was still in rubble]. I experienced more in one weekend with Fred and Susan than I had in all of my previous trips combined.

Friday: Check-in, Central Station, Chrysler Building, St. Patrick's Cathedral, Rockefeller Center, Top of the Rock, Central Park, MOMA, Dinner, Times Square and the show "Come From Away" [the best musical I have ever been to]
Saturday: Museum Day- A lovely walk through Central Park to The Met, The Guggenheim [another FLW masterpiece], Dinner, Times Square and the show "Beautiful".
Sunday: Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, World Trade Center Memorial, WTC Museum, and WTC Transit Center, an amazing meal at La Masseria, and then a late night cheesecake dessert at Juniors.
Monday: Walked the High Line, Chelsea Market, Stonewall, a "Heart of the Village Walking Food Tour", Washington Square Arch, shopping along Union Square and at ABC Home, Flatiron Building, and a walk by the Empire State Building on the way back to the hotel
Tuesday: Having averaged about 9 miles of walking per day, we were exhausted by the time we flew home.

John and I at the base of the Statue of Liberty

Susan, John, and Fred with the NYC skyline in the background

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John's halo was showing in the Grand Central Station

Fred, Susan, and John on our walk the first day

The amazing view from The Top of the Rock

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Ghosts of the original WTC as you enter the memorial

John, Casey, Kristi, and David at Jason and Kelsey's Wedding in Neenah, Wisconsin

Destination Wedding number 2 took us to Neenah Wisconsin for the nuptuals of our nephew, Jason Strachan, and his lovely new bride, Kelsey. John and I flew with his nervous mother, Barbara, to Appleton, Wisconsin. The outdoor wedding was beautiful and it was great to see the Strachan Family celebrating together.

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The early morning flight required several mimosas

I think this is what sibling rivalry looks like

Photo by Kristin Reuter Photography with Kelsey, Jason, Becka, and David Strachan

Kristin Reuter Photography Website

AUGUST 2017

Going to the Indiana State Fair is a tradition.

Unfortunately, it was a tradition that John and I had begun to grow tired of. However, this year we found ourselves at the Fair three times with new people and loved every minute of it! The first visit was to watch our niece, Claire, compete with her lambs. Our second visit was with friends, Mark and Brad- How did we eat that much? Third visit was with our dear friend (and my frequent travel companion from Florida) Susan to see a concert [apparently the bands were from the 60s, so I didn't know any of the music]. Of course we ate too much, saw too much, and had a blast. Because we walked so much, I still managed to lose weight that month.

Rod and Susan on the Indiana State Fair midway

Leonard Helfrich joined us for a lovely mid-week visit, so he and I decided to clear out a few older sections of my wine cellar. Our wine buying group is finding that the wines we accumulated in California over a decade ago are not holding up! What's better than opening bottle after bottle in pursuit of finding the perfect sip? Sharing it with a friend!

John spent a considerable amount of time in August in Fort Wayne, Indiana. He was assisting his parents, David and Becka, with the purging of their home in preparation for the final move to Florida. After decades of being in Fort Wayne, it took several weeks [months] to disperse the artwork, furniture, and memories to their children. John earned his second sainthood during this experience [the first sainthood was when he married me].

August also brought our niece, Claire, one step closer to Indianapolis. Feeling like her "gay dads", I fought back tears as John and I dropped her off for orientation at IUPUI; the best part was finding out that all the other students thought that John and I were her gay dads too! [she didn't correct them...]