St. Petronilla

St. Petronilla is the Patron Saint of Mountain Travelers.

I have been away for more than a year. I blame lack of initiative and an overwhelmingly awful 2010. I am past this now and plan for this to be a regularly updated place. The next six weeks are going to be insanely busy due to the boy and I moving out to PDX.
WHAT?! Jenn and Joe leave Chicago, their home and hearth? Natives (particularly South Siders) never ever leave Chicago.

Well folks, we are out of here. Chicago, the home of bungalows, extreme political corruption, and our family graves just no longer feels like our home. Perhaps its the influx of other Mid-westerners who bring their bad driving and "bro" culture. Partly because of the Matriarchs and Patriarchs that ruled both of our working class, Union centric families have passed. Mostly because we have both promised ourselves that while we love our parents, aunts, uncles and large crazy families we really don't want to end up being just like them.

So we are packing up our little Mazda putting our little family out on the road and heading to rainy 50+ degree weather. I am very much looking forward to reconnecting with our extended 'family' out in Portland, and really letting go of all things that no longer serve me. When we told my parents they both just looked at us and said " I feel like you guys are getting out of prison. Good for you!" The boys parents said we were "delivering a dagger straight to the heart." I think I feel pretty much smack in the middle of both of those statements. Ohh the guilt of the Irish Catholics.


I have battled back and forth with joining Facebook and alas, just can't bring myself to do it. I will be on here regularly to keep up with the ones I love, so please stop by to see what we are getting ourselves into. Currently, I have the day off of work and am facing a mound of purging, packing, and a sense of peace coupled with the need for long deep breaths.