Hey guys, So, apologies on the very long delay since my last post, it has been a very busy year this year. I still plan on writing about each of my trips, but I know there might be a slight delay in publishing them. This post I am going to dedicate to my good friends Meredyth and Drew Hunn. I am currently on a plane flying back from the US after attending their wedding. It was a good time and the ceremony was amazing. So, here goes!

I spent about a total of 10 full days in Chicago and Milwaukee as part of this trip, and it was great to see all my old college friends again. I arrived on a Monday, and was met by my good friends Scott Brooks and Erick Drobinski, along with Scott’s girlfriend Hannah. We decided to make some steaks, and wrapped them in American bacon (yum). Bacon is one of those thing that we don’t have in the UK, so it was a special treat to enjoy them. Thanks Scott for the meal! After some great catching up, the jet lag finally started to settle in, so I was in bed by 10PM. The next night I attended a ‘welcome back’ dinner organised by my good friend Christina Tincher (she actually planned quite a few get togethers for me while I was home). Christina, Jeff Tincher, Kristin Koh and I started with an Architecture boat tour around Chicago. After the cruise, my friend Pete Naramore joined us for dinner at a place called Hub 51. The dinner was GREAT and was followed by some drinks at a fun venue in Chicago. The place we went to had a live band, and one second I was dancing with some friends to the music, the next I hear someone on stage saying “my friend Belton is visiting from London.” I turned to see my friend Suzie Rotter up there with the band. Next thing I knew, I was on stage and the band asked me what song I wanted to hear. I told them to play the new LMFAO hit to which they replied ‘Dance’! All of a sudden, I was dancing to my request on stage in front of over 100 people, what a great time! The next day Pete and I made our way to Milwaukee for the Bachelor party! Drew had rented a boat, so 20 of us guys piled in for some fun on Lake. It was a perfect day, and we had a great time with the guys. We all then went to Summerfest, the World’s largest music festival, to see the Thievery Corporation. Let’s just say the rest of the night was fun and involved lots of Shenanagans with the last men standing being myself, Pete and Brad Vogel! Thanks for letting me stay with you Sara (no H)! Sunday, I met up with my Milwaukee friends for a delicious brunch at a place called Trocadero. Tim McDonald, Jenna Lara, Pete Naramore, Sara Schmitt, Drew & Meredyth Hunn and Tonly Alivo were all there to celebrate with me. Afterwards, we explored Milwaukee, since it was the first time I had been there for two years! On Monday, I went to one of the best restaurants in Milwaukee, Coquette Cafe, owned my by friends Chris Hatelli and Nick Burke, and had brunch with some of my old colleagues from before I moved to London (It was great seeing you Juanita Banks, Jenna Lara, Angela Halakma and Kathy Zdarstek). I returned to Chicago on Tuesday, for another welcome dinner (thanks again Christina!), followed by some great Karaoke at a place called Allison’s. Wednesday, Jeff and Christina hosted one great 4th of July BBQ, in which we took turns acting out various movie and television scenes. Finally the time was upon us and we headed back to the rehearsal dinner and the wedding. The rehearsal dinner was amazing, and was on the rooftop of Hotel Metro. Not only was it a special time with great friends, but the wedding party received the best gift ever, Rayban sunglasses! On the day of the actual wedding, a limo picked us up and drove us around the city for pictures, starting at North Shore Bistro country club, followed by pictures at the Milwaukee Art Museum (designed by Calatrava), and finally at Marquette University, where the bride, groom and myself all graduated. The wedding itself was amazing, as you can see from the picture of the bride and groom, and we heard some pretty amazing speeches from both fathers, the Maid of Honour and the Best Man. The bride has been a great friend of my for some time now, and as such, the Maid of Honour asked me to say a couple words at the wedding. As such, we wrote a song using the instrumental version of Postal Service’s ‘Such Great Heights’. It was one of our college favourites! I want to send a special thanks to all my old and new friends who made my trip home a special and great experience: Scott Brooks, Erick Drobinski, Christina Tincher, Jeff Tincher, Kristin Koh, Mike Heffren, Tim McDonald, Sara Krchmarik, Ally Beck, Sarah Chambers, Drew Hunn, Meredyth Hunn, Brad Vogel, Jenna Lara, Pete Naramore, Suzie Rotter, Chelsea Dobrinski, Sarah Michaels, Hannah, Julie, and of course, Alexa and Jim Naramore and Mr. And Mrs. Hunn! The only thing I missed this trip was a trip home to Texas to see my family. I love you Mom, Dad, Avita and Cicely! See you all at Christmas! Thanks all!