So some might say...

What the heck have you been doing these days? You haven't posted in a bunch of days.

I know. I get an F for blogging this month. Here is a smattering of what I've been up too...

Knitting.

Yep thats about all I've done these past few weeks. I've been knitting a couple of projects.

First up was the project I started prior to the wedding extravaganza. It is a short sleve cardigan with two buttons and hook and eye closures. This cardigan is pretty plain in terms of the knitting aside from a reversable cable that runs around the collar and down the button band. (The pattern can be found in the Fall 2009 Interweave Knits magazine) I've knitted it out of alpaca/merino wool blend that is a bit thicker and has tweed flecks through out. The color is a rich gun metal grey and very warm. I'm all done with the knitting finally. I finish that last week on Wednesday and will finish my hook and eye closure sewing this week.

Also, in the process of knitting the sweater I took a pause and knitted a chemo cap for someone very dear to me. She was diagnosed with Breast Cancer right before my wedding and after initial thoughts that all was removed during surgery, a few rogue cells showed up and she has now started a year's regiment of Chemo. So she needed a nice hat to cover her head whether she loses the hair or not. The hat is made with a bamboo/angora blend of yarn. The pattern can be found here.

I've also made four ornaments for various reasons. Two were made for the work holiday craft and bake sale that benefits our chosen charities. I made a miniture stocking and a star out of scrap yarn I've had laying around the house. The other two were made for the Holiday Party and Onament Exchange shindig at our friends The E's house earlier this month. I made a knitted pickle and miniture sweater for that.

This party was a good time indeed. Mr. E is the keyboardist in the band and is married to the wonderful Mrs. E. who is a delight. She and I share a nerdy obsession with Twilight and all things pop culture. She also happens to be almost 5 months preggers, so more knitting for babies to come. All who attended the party bellyed up and brought some great ornaments. R and I went home with a golfer and the Wicked Witch ornaments. Oh it was a fun time.

This weekend, R and I didn't do much of anything except eat and watch some movies. However, because of suspected icky weather, I ran to the yarn store on Friday night and picked up some new yarn for two new projects for Christmas knitting. My brother and his beloved are getting combo Christmas/Birthday knits this year. So I started on M's present and have it almost done. I wont link or mention what it is even though she already knows what the basic premise is. Brother's present is next and I should have both of those ready to ship by this weekend.

So that is what I've been doing. After my sweater and the Sibling knitting is done, I'll be on to another cardigan for me. Maybe a new hat for R or another scarf. Who knows. When you belong to Ravelry, it's hard to say no to multiple projects.

Thanks

So this being the day before Thanksgiving and tomorrow R and I will sit around our little bistro table and be thankful we made it thought this year without to much maiming or bloodshed, I wanted you all to know the things that I am thankful for this year.

One
My wonderful, loving, caring, patient and infuriating Husband. He is a great man and I am so lucky he picked me. He helps me everyday be a better me.

Two
That my wedding was perfect. This is due to the numerous family members that made themselves available to my every possible whim. Thanks to Mom, Dad, MS, Brother, KF, KE, SW, JF, GE, MJ, and all who attended. It was a great time, I just wish it didn't go by in a flash.

Three
My parents. You guys truly are the greatest parents. Now Mom, I know you are going to be all Debbie Downer saying you did this wrong or that wrong. But it doesn't matter, if you look at the whole shebang you did a wonderful job and are great to this day. Brother and I a lucky to have you for parents. There isn't anything you guys wouldn't do for us and because of that we've lived our lives knowing our safety blanket is pretty nice. So thank you for being there then, and continuing to be there now, not only for J and I but now also R and M. Its great to know they like you as much as we do, and they aren't required too, they choose to love you.

Four
My great work colleagues. I have a great boss and great peers. Coming to work everyday is an adventure because you guys make it easy to pass the day. You all are so easy to work with. Thanks for making bad days bearable and good days great.

Five
My dear friends. Some of you are here and others of you are far away, but you are the family I choose and are fantastic choices. AF... all the way up there in CNY, thank you for bearing the plane trip and coming to see me on my big day. I know it will be a very, very big thing for you to get on another plane for me but to see you again, in a better city and with a great guy, was just icing on the cake of one of the best days of my life. KF oh how I wish you guys were here. I know we've planted the seeds of interest in your husband.. now we have to be good gardeners and tend to that and nurture that interest into full blown willingness to take a chance on the PNW. Your help at the wedding made it what it was, perfection. Thank you for putting yourself almost two weeks behind at work just to enjoy the day. KE you bring all kinds of comic relief to every situation you enter. You make me smile and help remind me everyday to just take a minute and remember there is some funny ass crap in this world. So just move here so this can continue and "an martini" nights may resume. TG thanks for opening your world here in town to me. You've helped me extend the roots just a little bit more and make this town feel more like a home than just a place to live. You are so understanding and a great sounding board. Thanks for all the venting and Slurpee runs this year. DM you are the only guy in this category, feel special, or feel upset, whatever. Thank you for everything over these last almost six years. I can't believe it's been as long as it has, but time flies by when we spend 90 percent of the time making fun of each other. Thanks for keeping me humble and reminding me to laugh at the absurdities of myself sometimes. NJ is a great woman, you guys are great together, I can't wait to make fun of you for the rest our friendship and have her back me up. She's a great girl. To all the other friends I didn't call out specifically, each of you gives me something each day that I cherish. Thanks for being my friend even though it can be a pain in the butt sometimes.

Lastly,

Thanks for the year and here's to a new one.

CHEERS!

Sorry for the delay

Good morning.

So what can I tell you about? Married life is great. R and I have settled in to this nicely. The rest of life is a bit chaotic though.

I've been going through horrible bouts of insomnia with no real clear cause. I've been pretty much in zombie mood all week. R is sick and dealing with computers that just seem to be against him.

Our wedding photographer got our proofs to us and R and I are so damn impressed by what he was able to do. His pictures are just gorgeous. I look half pretty in them. Thank you to modernartphotography.com for the lovely job. You are fantastic. If anyone wants a reference for him I will gladly give it to you. You can see a smattering of his shots here.

Last weekend we went to Seattle to see our friends S and D. The plan was to scout out camping locations for the next spring and summer. R and I are almost ready to start camping. My Dad's cousin bought us a great tent for car camping so now we just need to get some sleeping bags and some other basic equipment and we can start weekend car camping.

This is great because S and I grew up together spending numerous summer weekends with our parents car camping in the wilderness of Kansas. So that fact that we've met up and can do this as adults is very cool to me.

We went to Deception Pass in Northern Washington to look at two sites on Whidbey Island in the Puget Sound. Deception Pass is so very beautiful. The water that surrounds the island is emerald green and flows different directions depending on the tides and current. We saw kelp forests and sea lions and lots of fast moving whirlpools.

The two camp sites look promising and we are resolved to go to one this summer.

Yesterday at work was our yearly Charitable Giving luncheon. One of the ladies in my office sponsored me to challenge the head attorney and Deputy COO of the office to a tricycle race. All the money gets split between the eight or so charities we donate to. However, in my heat the Lawyer and DCOO all cheated and sabotaged my run. The Lawyer held my wheels and then the DCOO cut me off and made me fall, therefore they all took off and looked like big men because they won... I even think I hear a grunt and there was a banging of a chest or too.

This weekend will be filled with writing thank you notes and packing up honeymoon presents for mom and dad and my brother.

Twiddling my thumbs

Well, now what the hell do I write about?

My life is pretty routine for the most part. R and I are homebodies. We like to curl up and just couch lounge. So I don't know how to keep you all reading.

I was thinking in between reading two books this weekend, what should I do with this journaling medium. I could bore you with timelines of R and my non-adventures. I could review things that I've read, seen or listened too. I could just give it up and let it be the R and S Adventures in Honeymoonland and that be that.

But to be honest, I enjoy the self-indulgance of writing to you all about my comings and goings.

So, if you wish, stick around and read while I post my little nothings in this world. Some things you can expect to see... knitting projects pre- and post- gifting, reviews on anything I feel like, my mundane thoughts for the day and a smattering of trips and going's on of the G household.

For the few that will read and check in to see whats up in my little corner of the universe, this is no excuse to not call or write.

So here is my unveiling of the newest adaptation of the SG Musings blog.

Okay so this one time...

So you want to know how the rest of the honeymoon went??? oh realllllly. Okay so here we go.

Wednesday:
We woke up to more sun, waves and fantastic temperatures. Surprise, surprise. :) Well we had lots to do. Off we went to the Fishhopper resturant for a breakfast of goodness. I had pancakes with mac nuts and syrup. Nom nom nom nom. R started the morning with scrambled eggs, rice, bacon and toast. That has pretty much been his staple for the whole trip. Hey, he likes it, so I'm happy.

From there we walked up to Kuakini Rd to Intrigue Salon and I chopped off 8 whole inches of hair. It was time. After driving around for 2 days with the Jeep top off, my hair was getting a bit out of control. So the lovely Noelle cut and styled my hair into my new married bob. I'm pleased. It's taking some getting used to. I keep reaching back to bundle and bun my hair, but there isn't much back there to bundle.

From there we went back to the harbor and bought mom a thank you/trip gift from a lovely little shop that shared the same space with Atlantis, our submarine guides for the morning. At 11:30 am we boarded a ship that took us out to the sub and down we descended. It was only 30 min of sub ride, but it was so cool. There were tons of fish and it was very cool to see them so close. We went down at the deepest 104 ft under the water. R and I were just awed and from there determined to snorkle.

After the sub ride we grabbed our snorkels and headed to Two Step next to the Place of Refuge. It was a quick 20 min drive south. We found a quick parking spot and stepped cautiously off into the water. At first I started without my sandals. This wasn't a smart idea. Two Step gets its name from the two levels within the bay. There is the first that gets about 4 feet deep then there is a big cropping of rocks, from there it drops off to about 7 or 8 feet, another out crop and the final drop off into rougher and much deeper water.

The reason swimming without sandals or water socks is because when a big wave comes in and you are trying to swim over the first rock crop, and you lose the depth when the wave passes, you end up scraping your foot along the rock that is rutted with little hidy-holes were sea urchins are minding their business. So I fell victim to two sea urchin barbs in my big toe and immediatly went back to the beach to put my sandals on. From there it was so awe inspiring to see all the fish. Many of them weren't scared of R and I floating around. One even tried to taste R's hemp ankle bracelet. But the fish were so close it was just too cool. On our way back into shore, we spotted three green sea turtles. At one point, I almost stepped on one, they aren't skittish around swimmers, so he just glided past me and I'm not ashamed to say that I squealed. I'm serious. I saw the first turtle and all out squealed.

From there, we ended our evening with dinner at Lulu's and watched part of the Blazers game.

On Thursday R and I drove to 9,000 ft above sea level and visited the Mauna Kea Gemini Observatory Visitors Center. We couldn't drive past there because it would then void our car rental agreement. The way there was a bit bumpy and lots of curves. We passed some great scenery of extinct cindercones and drove in the clouds just before the visitors center.

After that we drove back to Kona and decided it was time for some more snorkeling. However, we didn't want to drive some more so we went to the bay by the King Kahmehameha Hotel. We didn't think this would be too populated with fish because it was a popular spot with swimmers and families. But thankfully, we were greatly mistaken. There were fish everywhere. Some different types that we missed at Two Step. After taking a break with R in the shallows, a local pointed out a Honu to us. For you non-hawaiians out there, Honu is Turtle in Hawaiian. Down I plunged and right there in about 5 feet of water was a huge Green Sea Turtle. It was about the size of one of those sled saucers kids use when sledding. This turtle was just checking out what was going on, so R and I kept our distance but followed it out a ways. I think that was the highlight of our snorkeling experience. Just so cool.

On Friday we were off to drive to the southern point of Hawai'i. On the way there we stopped at The Coffee Shack. This was a great resturant recommended to us by some of the locals. It was good. It over looked a bay from about 1,000 ft up. It was just beautiful. The restaurant also put out little jelly pots for the geckos that are abundant. This keeps them from coming into the resturant and gives us something to look at.

This is the furthest south point in the United States of America (I'm not including territories, because technically Guam is futher south). It was beautiful, we passed some ranches, retired wind turbines and some new ones as well. It was just amazing looking out and knowing there wasn't anything else south of us for 1,000s of miles.

On the way back north we snorkeled at Two Step one last time. We entered from a different angle and it was just another awesome sight. We looked for more turtles, but didn't see any. It was a bummer, but since we were so lucky the day before, cosmic forces even things out.

From there we drove back to the hotel and took it easy. R and I are total old farts, we didn't go to bed any later then 9 or 10 each night, but then of course we were up about 6 or 7 every morning. Our days have been packed full with non-stop going.

On Saturday we had a lovely little wake up call from our hotel fire alarm system. We were told by the hotel staff after someone showed up who knew how to turn it off that it was some kid who decided that pulling the alarm was a good idea... and not a punishable offense. So up we were at 6, whether we wanted to be or not. R and I tried to sleep in a bit more, watched some cable and relaxed.

From there we went and did more shopping, got some lunch and did lots of walking. We went back to the hotel and took a nap. The nap was very needed, especially after the oh so loud fire alarm.

In the evening R and I went back to the main drag of Kona, Ali'i Drive and got our last major dinner for the honeymoon. R relented and let me get Sushi. He thought he could have some Kara Agi and I'll engorge myself on raw ickieness (as he calls it). So we went to Wasabi's. This place was great. I alone ate $40 in sushi. The owner came out and convince R to try some O'no sushi. She discovered the reason he didn't like sushi before was because of the seaweed. There for she suggested soy paper and made him a special roll. And news flash, he actually liked it. So now we know how to get him to eat sushi. It was a quite lovely dinner, a bit bittersweet, but lovely all the same.

Kona also shut down Ali'i Drive for Halloween and threw a big block party. They had tons of street vendors and three performance stages. It was fun. It looked like most of the nearby people all showed up. It was fun. But again, we left around 8 and headed back to the hotel.

As we were sleeping, we kept being awoken by loud halloween revelers, and around 1 pm we were woken up by another false fire alarm. So we headed down stairs and chatted with the lovely front desk lady who was already working over time to try and evict people from the premises who weren't supposed to be there. So R and I offered her any assitance we could and headed back upstairs. About 45 minutes later we were alerted to another false alarm. So we couldnt really get settled again, about an hour later we had another fire alarm. This time R and I contimplated not getting up, but then the alarm lasted longer then the others. So we again got dressed and headed out to see if we could help. The front desk lady told us one of the residents actually smelled smoke this time, so the fire dept. was on its way and she needed help letting everyone else know that we were going to have to evacuate.

So R and I helped her out and alerted the 7th floor and headed out to the front of the hotel to wait to be allowed to go back in. After a full search the fire marshall let us all go back in. It wasn't anything, the burning smell was from idiots doing dounuts in the parking lot. So back to bed we tried to go. It was just a big stressful hassel. R and I really felt for the front desk lady K. She was so sweet and was the only person there and the back up rent-a-cop was useless. I really comment her ability to keep it cool and take it in stride. She finally got off work about 5 hours after she was supposed to.

Not really the way we wanted to spend the evening at the hotel. Oh well it's a story for the later years. Its pretty crazy.

Sunday was full of packing, checking out, eatting one last meal. We headed back to the Aloha Theater. It was just as good as the first time. It a lovely last breakfast. We turned in the Jeep from there and headed to the airport. We got there early and learned my suitcase was too heavy. So we shifted some gifts and stuff around between the two suitcases and got it under the weight limit.

The flights were fine, but the long flight from Maui to P-Town was awfully long, made longer by the fact that the movie screens didn't work at all and the radio was crappy quality. So we just read and tried to rest as best we can.

T picked us up at 11, our flight was about a half hour early. So we got home and spent the first night in our house without the Buddha boy. It was sad, but it was nice to be home.

The honeymoon was lovely and everything I wanted it to be and more. But home is home and we are happy to be back and resume our lives, only this time as Mr. and Mrs. G.

Umm yea.. Sorry about that.

So I fell down on the posting in Hawaii.. now that I'm back I'm falling down the on the posting again. I do hope to finish out our trip's last days here in the next few days.

I hope all is well. I'm back at work, there was lots to do the past two days and now again, its slowing down.

More to come soonish.

Oh what a beautiful morning.

Good morning to you all.

I've been having too much fun to blog. So here is what R and I did the last two days.

Monday was filled with "lets get in the jeep and see where it takes us." So up we got and off we went. We had some fantastic breakfast at the Aloha Theater about 15 min south of our Hotel. Oh it was good... R and I both tried something new, Portagues Sausage. Oh my was it tasty.

From there we were off to head south.. But then I saw a shop called "Just Ukes." We stopped and met Paul as he was just about to open the store. Paul helped R find and learn the basics of Ukuleles. We purchased an electric/acoustic one for R to start practicing and incorporate into his music. Paul recommended we make a stop at Pu'uhonua O Honaunau. He drew us a map and off we went.

From there we went back to the hotel to drop off the Uke so it wouldn't get lifted from the Jeep.We stopped at Kona Joe's to look for some Chocolate Covered Coffee Beans for my brother and tasted some fresh roasted 100% Pure Kona Coffee. I really did like it. It wasn't as bitter as any other coffee I've tried. Then we made a stop at the Kona Coffee Heritage Farm. This place is a 80+ year old coffee farm that is run by the Hawaii Historical Society. The family that ran it before th HHS took it over worked and live at the farm from 1925 to 1994. The house they lived in is still there are was the same house for all those years.

Then we made the trek south futher to Pu'uhonua O Honaunau. We got a bit lost and ended up in a pretty bay. From there we righted ourselves and went further south. We arrived at the national park just when the parking gate attendant was off duty. So we didn't have to pay to park, but R and I made a donation that would have covered our enternace fee. This place was where the Kahuna lived and was where Hawaiians escaped to when they broke a Capu. These Capu (laws), if broken we punishable by death, but if you could make it here, the Kahuna would absolve you of your sins and you could go back to the village.

It was just beatiful. Very peaceful and heavy in the sense of history.

We left The Place of Refuge and went north to the Painted Church. This church is beautiful. It holds maybe 50 people and the walls are painted with religious scenes.

We made our way back to town to pick up some masks and snorkles, there is a great beginnner snorkle spot next to The Place of Refuge called Two Step that R and I are going to try out.  From there we did a little window shoping along Ali'i Drive and got some great burgers at Splashers in Kona.

Yesterday we took a Circle Island Tour all around the island of Hawai'i. This was very cool. We started the morning at the Royal Coffee Co then to the Sweet Bread Bakery at the southern end of the island. We saw turtles at the black sand beaches, stoped at the Volcano Country Club and Course for lunch, went to Volcanos National Park, traversed the Thurston Lava Tube, ate fresh macadamia nuts at the Mauna Loa factory, saw chocolate covered dryed squid at the Big Island Candies factory and ended our evening driving through Parker Ranch, the third largest (interms of head of cattle) cattle ranch in the US.

We ate like pigs through out the day so R and I didn't grab dinner last night, he taught me to snorkle instead. Today is filled with a hair cut for me, a submarine ride and going snorkleing at Two Step. From there we might make it 13,000 feet in the air to Manua Kea to the Observatory.

Stay tuned. Miss you all. Wish you could be here to see it all.

HOLY COW I'm Married!

Aloha to you all!

Oh my word what a whirlwind weekend R and I've had. For those of you who don't know... We up and decided to get married on Saturday.

But first, let’s go back to Thursday.  Many, many more showed up for our wedding weekend extravaganza. The girls split from the boys after the quick wedding rehearsal and went off to a Greek Show and then to Huber's for a night of fun. The boys were off paint balling and to Kell's for drinks and long conversations over god knows what.

Friday was a bit of a sad day for R and me. We had to say bye to our little boy. We dropped him off with his Cousin Bob. Buddha boy wasn't happy, and we were so very sad to leave him. But leave him we did, and off we went to finish the last minute packing and off to the Wedding Venue we went.

We settled ourselves just in time to head back to the hotel everyone was staying at. We decided against a rehearsal dinner and opted for a meet and greet finger food and drink thing that was lovely. It was so great to see everyone. People came from so far to be at the wedding it was just splendid to spend some real time talking.

Then nothing much happened Saturday... Hahah it just feels like that because it was such a blur. We got up... (Sleeping wasn't really an option when you have too many last minute to dos on your mind). We grabbed some food with our wedding party and then off to the venue we went to set up. Got the room set up better than I expected. It was just lovely. Then I ran and had my hair placed and make up done. (THANKS A!!!!!) Got the dress on and the minutes just flew by.

We were about 15 minutes late to meet up with the guys for pictures. Oh and the shoes be damned. It was such a rainy couple of days before the wedding, the ground, no matter where we stepped was muddy and soggy. It was a beautiful day. It just was freaking sunny and warm. Perfect. It probably couldn't have been any better. Then we got married. That was pretty much perfect. Ugh, I just can't even describe how happy I am... It’s great.

Then on Sunday we flew to Maui, HI and jumped over to Kona. We didn't get a first class upgrade but we did get a free mini player that helped pass the time on the 5 hour flight from Portland to Maui.

Once in Kona, we got our luggage within 5 minutes of deboarding and off to the rental car place we went. We are now the "owners" of a bright yellow Jeep Wrangler Soft Top for the whole week. It’s great. Though we keep thinking we are looking for our little Aveo.

We did a bit of last minute didn't get done shopping for R and then off to dinner we went. We were total tourists and went to Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. for dinner and it was SOOO good. I finally have an appetite again, so I ate my weight in Hush Pups and Steamed Clams. R went out on a limb and tried Mahi Mahi. Granted it was Fish and Chips, but for any of you that know him, it’s a big step. Both of us loved our meals. Pictures to follow soon. I left my camera in the room as I'm sitting in our hotel atrium that all outdoors enjoying the sun rising above Manu Lau and Kea. It is just wonderful. 

 The next days will be filled with a submarine ride, a tour of the whole island, a trip to Volcanoes National Park, Kayaking and snorkeling, oh and maybe a Zip Line Tour.

Talk to you all soon.

PS... Thank you to all who came. You made the day more perfect than R or I could imagine. It was great to see you all. We hope to see you soon.

MUAH!!!!!

My, things they are a-changin'

Well oh well, this is the first moment since Mom and Dad arrived that I've had five minutes to sit and breathe. R, along with Mom and Dad are off to check in to the hotel and pick up the brother from the airport. So I get to fill you all in.

So Monday, R and I did some last minute errands, dropped off some picture files to be printed and got lots more wedding prep done. Then we just sat on our hands until we couldn't wait to call and egg on my Father's lead foot and have them arrive already.  They made it safely into town at around 6 and we went to a lovely dinner at the Springwater Grill. Yummy and relaxing. I truly am so lucky to have parents that I like. Hell yes they annoy the bejesus out of me, but I love them so much and enjoy spending time with them.

Tuesday was spent running ever more errands, getting Mom and Dad acclimated to the PNW and our neighborhood. Dad needed to get his bearings, because the last time they were here, we lived all the way out in east boonies. We ended the evening with pizza delivery and a early shut eye.

Today was filled with running some last minute errands and getting programs finaled and printed. Most all the errands aside from vegan cupcakes and some other things are done. We just now have to wait for eveyone to arrive and let the fun begin.

Tomorrow is going to be a bit crazy. We await K, my Matron of Honor to zoom into town, pack up the Bachlorette Grab Bags, do the wedding rehersal and then off to the bachlor and bachlorette parties. Oh the fun. I'm so very excited to see everyone.

Now people just need to get here and lets get this show on the road.

Let them eat cake!

Well it was a lovely last day in the office. I really do enjoy the people I work with. They are some great people.

They gifted me with a fantastic chocolate with raspberry filling and light butter cream frosted cake masterpiece made by the one and only E. H. She makes some of the greatest cakes ever tasted. Oh it was so good. I had two pieces... Wedding dress be damned. E out did herself once again with this great cake. They also gave R and I a bit of spending cash for the Honeymoon. Thank you to everyone in FRS, you are great people and I'm truly lucky to work with all of you. Thanks for the lovely send off and the musical rendition of "I'm a little teapot."

Other than that, the Friday was a good day. R and I got the new wedding ceremony layed out and shipped that off to my aunt and worked on the program a bit more. I spent the rest of the evening knitting a bit of my new sweater and watched a bit of television.

Saturday was the first day of checking yet more things off the list. I couldn't sleep so up I got and spent the early part of the morning cleaning off my hard drive on the good old laptop. Apparently I was down to only 19 G of space on my hard-drive.

R woke up and we immediately into clean mode. And by immediately.. I mean we sat around, made tea, watched some TV and fiddled about. Eventually we did get our butts into gear. R and I cleaned the house top to bottom. This place would make my mom proud. Hopefully it stays clean enough for her to enjoy the sparkle about the house.
 
After the vacuuming and swiffering was complete, I  left R to his own devices and ran some errands.

Heard from mom and dad around 3 pst. They made it to Cheyenne, WY, in great time. Tomorrow is their really long day. They are going from Cheyenne to Boise, ID. Gosh willing the weather stays good for them. Today was a pretty drive mom said. So here's hoping for more pretty driving.

All in all it was a good day. We have more things crossed off the list.

Oh and just in case anyone was wondering... it's only a short 7 days until we are officially hitched.

Spinning, Spinning

I'm just sitting here.. I feel like the wheels are turning but not going anywhere. I'm just ready to get out of the office and on to "the future."

In all reality, I'm just ready for time away from this place. Its been crazy here. My boss has been on an extended leave and work product is stalled because everyone needs to finish their end of work before I can do my end.

I just feel like a little kid going to Disney World for the first time.. I wanna... I wanna... I wanna go.

The ants in the pants has hit a new high.. I want it to be here already darn it. Okay enough already. I'll sit on my hands and sush now.

Hitch in the Get-up (update)

Got a phone call from my Uncle. My aunt had surgery this morning. They installed three stints and she is awake and doing well. They probably wont make it. But that's okay. I'm just happy she is doing well after surgery.

Thanks for all your well wishes.

Hitch in the Get-up.

So yesterday marked the first small speed bump. As most know, this whole thing is a huge family affair. My uncle officiating, my aunt djing and speeches and all those good things.

Well unfortunately my uncle called me yesterday and let me know that his wonderful wife/my sweet aunt is in the hospital. Unless she makes a dramatic turn for the better and the hospital kicks her out, they probably will not be at the wedding, which means my Uncle will be unavailable to officiate.

Okay first reaction...."F***!!!" And the hyperventilation begins. My palms get clammy and my heart starts to pound. Well son of a bocce, what the hell. Breathe.. now spring into action.

So I wished my uncle the best tidings. I tried to convince him that there is nothing more important than him being with his lovely wife right now and that I would be overly mad at him if he left her right now. But the curse of our family is we always feel responsible for things out of our control. I do hope he knows that I'm not mad. Bummed, yes. Worried about my Aunt S, yes. But not mad at him in anyway. This course of events isn't his fault, nor is it anyone's. It just is the roll of the dice or the hand that was dealt.

I called my dad and R and filled them in on the breaking news flash. I then called my Aunt, the DJ.

Me- "Hi Aunt G. You know that umm... just in case scenario that you and I were laughing off the other day.. umm... well yeah.. Uncle P just called me and that just in case needs to become the new plan.

Aunt G- Okay, well I think I'm legal in all 50 states (she is a registered pastor with Rose Ministries) so I can do the service if you'd like.

Me- Okay, I'll call the Marriage License place and make sure they recognize Rose Ministries and we should be all good.

Aunt G- Great and I'll call my people and make sure they think I'm good and that there isn't anything more I need to do.

So after about an hour and a half of phone tag and informing all necessary circles of people, we have a backup plan that R and I are happy with. Aunt G will be fantastic, and I couldn't be happier with the solution than if it was Uncle P who was up there.

Oh there was some other wedding drama yesterday, but all in all that wasn't really my drama aside from people projecting their drama on to me.

I'm please it all worked out and we have a backup plan. Now I just need to think happy thoughts for my Aunt S in the hospital. I am sending all good karmic healing thoughts to her that she makes a speedy recovery and that everything will be golden for her and my Uncle. I love them and only want good health for them both. If you want go ahead and send your own good karma to them in my honor. It’s the best wedding present I could ask for.

And now back to your regularly scheduled programming.

What's a girl to do?

Ugh. My future sister-in-law M said this best. "Theknot.com's to-do list makes you feel inadequate as a bride."

No I'm not hiring a calligrapher.. Stop reminding me too. Why in the hell would I? Am I supposed to? Is that something I need to have to make this wedding a "true" wedding? And then the OMG snowball of what else am I not doing, doing wrong or forgetting careens down the hill and splats into the wall of "ACKK! I suck as a bride" meltdown mode.

My anal retentive side wants me to check off all the little to-dos they have posted up there. Why? Because I cannot have things to do glaring at me. Thanks Mom, (I blame you for this anal retentiveness, but I love you).

Why would I need to have all these things? I wish they had an option to hide or click "Not Applicable, Stop making me hyperventilate over these things I haven't accomplished, aren’t using or don’t want." I cannot check them off even though I'm not doing them, because that would be lying.

I mean seriously, are all these things needed to make every wedding a real wedding? Does it not really count unless you check all 708 to dos? Will someone materialize saying “I’m sorry S and R your wedding doesn’t qualify.. please return to start and try again.” Yes, I know "Of course not, you crazy bridezilla." But then why do I care about checking off a little box.

Okay, I’m being a bit over-dramatic; I do know, I’m just annoyed.

I'm just ready for this wedding week to start. That is really all it is. I'm stuck at work and then I come home and try to cross things of my own personal to do list, find out people may or may not show up... I'm just antsy.. I have ants in my pants kicking my butt to make time go faster... Where, oh where is Superman to make the world spin faster and then slow it way down on the day of the wedding?

If someone could help me contact good old C. Kent, that'd be peachy. Anyone?

Who's on First?

So this weekend was full of list checking and to-dos. In all the hullaballu before we kick off this marrige R and I don't find much time to go out and be a couple.

Boy oh boy, we made up for it this weekend.

On Friday we got a bit domestic and went to the grocery store and did our twice-a-month chore. It was good times. We splurged and purchased three large pumpkins. We reasoned that since we are going to be in Hawaii for Halloween, we should carve pumpkins early.

I love carving pumpkins. Fall doesn't really truly start until you've drove your hands into some ewwie, gooie, stringie pumpkin innards. I think this year held special pumpkin carving meaning. It was R's first time ever. It was lovely. We got our patterns picked and he asked me a couple of pointers and then we were off. Both of us sitting on our little concrete patio in the back yard scooping and scraping the insides of our pumpkins clean. We let B run around in the back yard and sniff out all the new fall smells.

After the three pumpkins were cleaned out, in we went to the slightly warmer kitchen and carved until we had a bit of carple-tunnel. I think I got the worst of it from all the knitting I'm doing these days. We finished two on Friday and Rick finished the third on Sunday. We have one for each member of our little family and they came out so good. I doubt they'll make it to when the family arrives, they are already getting a bit droopy, but it was great fun and a happy time for us all.

Then on Saturday, after checking more things off the wedding to-do list, R and I treated ourselves to a fast food dinner and a movie. It was nice. The theater by our new place is pretty cheap and has a good set up. We saw "Zombieland" and it was great. Total camp and good gorey fun. It was one of the better zombie moview R and I've seen together. There was gore and jumpy points but enough comic relief that the movie was a good buy. R and I spent the rest of the evening discussing "what ifs" and "how would wes" just incase it ever does happen.

All in all a lovely weekend with my little family. I so look forward to many more that we will have. We've had a great many in the time that we've been together, but I wanted to take the time to acknowledge the moments that we didn't spend planning a wedding. While I'm so very excited for the wedding, its the moments that make the marriage, not the ceremony at the beginning.

What's in a name?

As time goes, I'm slowly running out of it. Well my life as an "E" is fast melding into my life as a "G."

R says that nothing will change, in for the most part, he is right. There is that small part of me that thinks "what does it mean to change a part of your identity?" Am I really changing all that much? It's just a name. I'm still me, I'll wake up and still be S.. so is there really anything to lament?

In all, no. I don't gain a third arm or my blood doesn't change. But it will take some getting used to being Mrs. G. I'm happy to take his name, just sad to see the other one go. I wont miss the horrible mispronunciation or mangling of the simple name that is my maiden name. My married name is so much easier, but not without new name callings and comparisons for my possible future off spring.

I think that is going to be the biggest change for me. I know it sounds silly and trivial. I'll still call myself and "E" but I'll now also be a "G." A new identity to forge within this new distinction. Only time will tell what will happen within this new path. I am excited.

A new adventure is upon both R and I. We are off to drive each other crazy and make each other smile. My wish above all else is to be as crazy about us as my parents are in 30, 40 and maybe 50 years... if we don't kill each other first.

In 15 days, the new beginning will officially start. He and I start what we've been doing for over two years now. Being a team, (something I'm not great at, but I'm learning and he's patience with me so it's good), helping each other through what ever may come, compromising and sacrificing a little here and there.