Update of Ben's life so far: I stay busy with all the crazyness lately. I have my own apartment. I even managed to find my own bed. It and all the furnishings didn't cost much. Even got some free couches with "matching throw pillows" whatever those are. ,'o) So the place is pretty well furnished and packed full with all the things Dad made me take home from Kentucky, 'cause he didn't want them in his garage anymore. ,'o) I haven't had too many free Saturdays. Today is finally one that I can do bunches of homework! I went and visited Mom and Dad with Michelle and Balsa a couple of weekends ago. We worked on the roof with a group of guys from church. Daddy and I got the van "seemingly working", more on that later. Then the Friday after that (the 15th), Michelle and Balsa helped me move into my great big apartment. It actually is a good size for only me. I have a kitchen, bathroom, a multipurpose room (AKA the living room) and one bedroom. That Saturday, Michelle and I helped her Uncle and Aunt clean out their basement. Highland, Indiana (where they live) had a flood that week. Their basement got enough water to ruin everything on the floor. We even had to throw out this nasty carpet that had cat litter all over it, that was... gross. (Michelle says they have Black Mold growing down there now. Anyone who went down south after Katrina knows that is the worse kind and very allergenic!) Last weekend my van died about 8 billion times. Ok maybe only a couple but we had a fun old time trying to get it back to my apartment. At least I had fun working on it with Mike at church the next day. ***Michelle's portion of the update*** This past week (September 27th) was our one year Birthday of dating. At the last minute Ben's van was working again so that he could actually finish making plans for the date (since we could actually go). I met Ben in Chicago thus starting our date. We walked to a bus stop where I opened her Birthday (of dating) card. Eventually we found the right bus to get on and rode for a good 20 minutes or more. Then we arrive at *drum roll please* (I didn't know where we were going) The Lincoln Park Zoo!!!!!!!!! I was so excited! At the Zoo we saw Lions and Tigers they were great. Oh wait of course I made a big deal about us seeing the Bears. I even sent Sarah (my twin) pictures of the Lions and Tigers. I forgot to take pictures of the Bears with her camera phone so later Sarah called and asked "Where are the Bears?" Ben had this great plan to ride in these cute little two person paddle boats but they were closed. I pointed out it was probably for the best, because girls make up silly rules like "if you ride under a bridge on a boat you have to kiss". It doesn't matter if you are in Vince or not. Since we are saving the kissing for engagement it would have been hard for both of those rules to stand. I was willing to have Ben cover my eyes for the under the bridge part, but I am glad I get to keep my silly rule  Next we left the park and went on another bus to this mysterious place I did not know about. Ben took her to this Restaurant that was amazing! We almost didn't go in because we felt that we were not dress for the occasion. Hoodies in a really nice restaurant just feels sort of weird. We decided to go in anyhow and we were seated in a cute little corner. Ben had a Salmon mango spicy meal and I had a Garlic Chickeny sort of meal. I want to go back just for their amazing green beans. The date defiantly gets an A+. I had great fun goofing off in Chicago. (If you notice all the sentences I (Michelle) typed had double spacing at the end of the sentence. ) | 
