A wedding planned 1200 miles away by my future mother-in-law and 2 hired wedding planners was the backdrop for a long awaited memory. Four and a half years of dating and 14 months betrothal was certainly the greatest test for two star-crossed lovers – but we made it.
When the clock struck 7 o’clock, I was down the aisle, looking into the eyes of my future. We didn’t know exactly what this future would hold, but we did know that we were more than ready to get to the holding part!
Well, we did it! We’re looking back at 7 years and looking forward to another 100. Mark, you are my beloved, my best friend, my lover…yep, you’re my favorite.
Here’s to us!
Over New Year weekend, Mark & I went to Portland and stayed with Brian, Jenni, Chance & Paxton. We sat around the dinner table and just let the camera roll.
He said and she said videos are available for your entertainment and education (not really)…
unfortunately, with great moments come great breaks in blog world.
sorry about that.
And things aren’t looking like they’re going to progress in this shadeless minefield for a while.
So, let’s make it easy for the two of you who may still frequent me.com…you may want to halt, as one may say, b/c I’m not looking to update this thing anytime within the next few months. So, if you’re looking for some light reading, go here.
Thanks for the love and link love – i am appreciative, and stinkin tired.
Most people think they have to feel good first in order to laugh. But you can start from nothing, you can even start feeling unhappy and just laugh as a form of exercise, and happy feelings follow.
well…seeing that blogging has been more of an afterthought of mine…after thinking about work, food, and of course, chocolate. I’m reposting these “you’re-cool-b/c-you-wear-your-hat-backward” ideas from days gone by to offer that good ol’ kick in the pants…or skirt for the lady in the audience…
Do you find that even though throughout the day you say, “wow, I should really blog about THAT”, you actually get blank-page-phobia once you begin to write a post? Or you skip a few days b/c you feel there is nothing of which to write? Well, one of my favorite blogging resources, skelliewag.orgprovides an infinite array of how to’s, tips, ideas and inspiration for every type of blogger: the novice, the average and up through the veteran [to me, anyone who began blogging before 2004 is considered a veteran].
One of my most viewed skellywag posts endows its readers with the top 20 ways to come up w/ amazing blogging ideas. It embellishes each proposal, so if you want more meat than I’m providing in this vegetarian version of the post…go here. Otherwise, here they are…top 20 ways to come up w/ amazing blogging ideas:
Carry a notebook.
Keep a list.
Exercise.
Driving.
Read a lot.
Find inspiration.
Listen.
Find twists.
Examine your life.
Question everything.
Trawls through fresh resources.
Bounce stuff off others.
Reader emails.
Forums.
Ask.
Magazine rack.
Look deep inside yourself.
Learn from your mistakes.
Be inspired by nature.
Music.
As wonderful as these are, I’m sure there are others.
Time to outshine the stars, people!
A home either welcomes you or keeps the unwelcome away (however, my speculative cooking does the same thing).
It has its own smell, recognizable only by the first inhale and hides in the corners of the brain for later days of nostalgia (some credit febreeze, i credit the fairies that come to my house when we’re asleep & sprinkle it w/ fragrances – that idea is much prettier.).
It has its own sounds and shadows (some creepy and some creepier. Again, i like to blame the fairies. it’s late.).
It offers peace in storms and lies awake to offer company during sleepless nights (let’s just call the fairies Lottie, Dottie and Moe).
So this, my friend, is home (friend. *sigh*).
And although we don’t have all of our things (they’re lost somewhere between ohio and oregon).
and although we have only one finished room (the guest bath below. b/c we’re good to our guests like that. everyone likes a nice bathroom.).
We’re home (come over, use the bathroom, and meet the fairies. Ok, maybe just two of the three work just as well as the others.).
I suppose you’re itching for an update and neither the homemade Benadryl nor the scattered tweets here and there aren satisfying you, eh? As I tend to avoid making me.com a venue for pretentious naval gazing, I do aim to please. So, here you go…
While we’re acclimating to beauty of Southern Oregon, sweet Oregon is welcoming us home. In the past week since we’ve arrived, we’ve learned much about its enchanting history, irresistible food & beverage, captivating culture, riveting landscapes, irresistible shops & boutiques, enthralling people, and coffee, coffee and more coffee. Right now, we’re just calling it plain old heaven!
We got the keys to our place and after we did our fair share of the happy dance, we began to perfect our mastery of the art of domestication. I’d like to believe everyone does a version of this when they get a new place…like sanitizing every corner, making sure every shelf is lined, and mentally placing each piece of furniture w/ precision. Yes, I said mentally, not because I’ve finally decided to publicize the fact that we have mental issues at this very moment, but because we’re still waiting for our belongings to arrive in the two separate loads from ohio and florida. Grrr. Let’s just say we’ve learned that moving companies are primarily in it for the green. No, not the eco-friendly-smell-the-recycled-cardboard-and-look-down-on-all-others-with-unmistakable-pioty “green”, but the all-i-care-about-is-your-money “green”(with a few minor exceptions to the rule, of course). So, here we lie, sleeping on the floor each night and finding our next-day’s clothing choices through scattered suitcases and miniature hotel shampoo bottles. We’re adapting like Chevy Chase on one of is uncanny adventures, but we’re really ready to “settle down” sometime soon. Nevertheless, while this is a major inconvenience, we’re making some major memories in the midst of it.
Posted by cathi stegall 
{photo courtesy of
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