Weekend Photo Essay

This weekend Zach participated in a mountain bike race. He placed 2nd for the Beginner Men's Division with a time of 42:53. The race for beginner's was one lap of 7.5 miles, sport division was 3 laps and experts had to go a grueling 5 laps. It was pretty awesome to watch. Zach did a great job! The person who got first probably should have been in the sport division, so basically, Zach's the winner. But that's not all, I've got pictures.

This is Zach performing some pre-race lubrication on his bike. He's a responsible bike rider.

Anxiously awaiting the race instructions. They told everyone to gather for the mass start.

Some of the competition. The couple dressed in matching pink outfits there a little off to the right of center rode a tandem bike. A TANDEM BIKE. TO GO MOUNTAIN BIKE RACING. Never in 1 million years man. That's gotta be tough.

Making his final assault on the lap, almost to the finish line!

Crossing the finish line! Way to go, Zach!!

What's New in the World of Me?

Wondering what I've been up to lately? I'm assuming that's true if you are checking this blog. If you don't care then you probably aren't checking in here. But if you are checking here and you still don't care then that's sorta screwed up and I have no advice for you. I've gotten this off to a weird start.

I'd like to be funny again with some sort of theme. I guess I could try being funny without a theme, but I crave structure. Some might say I crave structure to a fault, but to those people I say, "back off!"

Ok, so nothing too new is going on. I've been married a year now. I'm still in school. I apparently started writing this blog entry with no agenda and it's devolved from there. Let's see, things to tell, things to tell...I'm going to go to PA in a little over a week! I think that will be exciting. Z's Grandma will be 96 and we are going to celebrate and see family. It should be awesome. I've been working hard lately in an effort to be able to enjoy my vacation.

I am going to come up with a theme to rejumpstart my posting. If you have any suggestions for topics write them in the comments (or you can email me privately).

I'll end on this note, I've been watching Hulu. If you haven't checked it out- you should. It's awesome. The only problem is that I keep watching tv shows that have been cancelled. I'm just getting into the show and all excited and then I find out that it was cancelled before I even started. That seems like a crime. Why does all the good television have to die? WHY?

Ok, I'm going to go do some more work and ponder how to bring back the fun and interest to this blog. I'll catch you cool cats later.

State of the Marriage Address

I decided this year before our anniversary that Zach and I should write each other letters detailing how we thought the year had went and how we felt about the relationship currently...a "State of the Marriage" Address if you will (and even if you won't). I figure that's likely to be something personal that we should only be sharing between the two of us, but then I thought, screw it, I need material for the blog. So I give you an open letter to my husband, on this, our anniversary.

There are several key points which I believe should be addressed here tonight. But first, I'd like to thank everyone for being here and for taking time out of their regularly scheduled programming to attend this address.

In the last year we have had our ups and downs. I've provided for you a summary of those ups and downs with some analysis. Let me first say that our marriage is strong and that the prospects for the future are good. I've had several analysts weigh in on this issue and we are all in agreement that the union is strong and profitable.

The minister of emotional issues reports that there are increases in the following areas:

The Anxiety Index is on the rise. We've had a definite increase in the levels of homeland anxiety this year. As you know, one member of the marriage has contributed disproportionally to this rise. I'd like to take the chance to apologize for this situation. Some of our top people are currently working on this issue and we hope to have it resolved by the Christmas season.

Worry about health - up. Yes, it's true, much of the anxiety is related to various health issues. We have reports that we're healthy, though you might remember that some of our key worries about health include: teeth and gums falling out/rotting away, some form of horrible disfigurement (like mouth herpes) and of course, death.

It turns out that some other levels are up in the marriage as well. Love levels appear to be at an all-time high. Hard to believe that the love could have grown over the past years, but it seems to be growing still. I know that I personally cannot get enough of you. I'm always happy to be with you, even when I'm not (you know what I mean).

Compassion from both parties seems to be up. Included in this category is patience, understanding and commitment to seeing the other person's side. As you remember from our last status report we talked about these issues as being important to our happiness. I am delighted to report that these levels have been increased due to hard work and passion from both parties.

The minister of finance reports that levels of savings are up. I enjoy saving money with you and figuring out what to do with it later. I hope that we some day own a nice little house with a cute yard and garden and maybe some dogs.

The archduke (as you know, we lost the minister earlier this year...damn that Minotaur's lair) of health reports:

Health - down, but on the mend. As you know, we lost the gallbladder in March. It wasn't an integral part of the relationship, so I can't say that I miss it. But I am glad that we were able to weather major surgery and come out stronger (and lighter).

Levels of bickering, pettiness and anger seem to be down this year as well. This is an encouraging trend that I hope continues.

Overall, I'd say that our union is strong. There are positive things on the horizon. I hope that we continue to grow and change and love together. I believe that we will. I am so happy to be with you and feel super blessed to be with the perfect compliment for me. Thanks for always being there for me. Thanks for being the rock for me to lean on (I like to think I help you out too).

Always and forever (for all eternity :-),

Your Wife - Rose

Night Terrors

The other night (Saturday if you want to be particular), I had a rather strange experience. I went to bed about 12:30 AM and at around 1:10 or so, I "woke up" and I say "woke up" because I a) didn't realize that I was asleep and b) thought that my eyes were open and that I was awake when I saw to my terror a strange man entering my bedroom. I screamed bloody murder. And Zach came running in from the other room to find me sitting up in bed freaking the hell out because I was absolutely convinced that there had been a man coming at me in the darkness. I guess I was still dreaming, but I was so convinced that it was real. My throat hurt really bad after screaming and my hands were shaking. Both Zach and I were really freaked out and I slept with the night light in the bedroom. THAT'S RIGHT...like an adult. It was so real and so scary. I have never had that experience before. I think that I've had dreams and though that they were real, but never like this.

Anyway, Happy Birthday, Mom! And Happy Anniversary, Zach! Love you both!

Things I Fear

Well, I thought about listing all the things that I fear in this post. Not ALL the things I fear because that would be way, way too long a list. But I thought about maybe doing all the things I feared right now as a representative sample. But then I thought, "how crazy do I want the world to think I am?" And so I guess I will forgo that list.

I will tell you this. I'm back, baby! I am not going to make that empty promise. But I'm going to try to post more. It's important for all of us to heal. I know that my words are a salve on this world. I often time write something like that last sentence and hope that someone who doesn't know me at all stumbles on this blog and thinks I'm serious. Because I bet that is awesome. I don't think that sarcasm is easily conveyed in the written word. Although I've had that experience in real life too. And there are few things more frustrating or discouraging than having a joke not go over well.

I'm working on a theme (like numbers or letters or whatever) because that encourages me to write each day and gives me focus. Apparently I need that in order to be productive.

Ok, I'm going to go now. I have some more work to do tonight and Zach will be home soon.

The Story and Other Ramblings

Hello. My name is Rose and I have a problem with not writing in my blog.

(Hi, Rose!)

Here's the thing about writing in the blog. I like it and all, but for the past, well, long time now, I've been so tired and lazy I guess. Maybe I'm not lazy. I think I've been doing a lot of work each day and it makes me tired. But I digress.

I want to try to keep writing. It's valuable on a number of levels, not least of which is the joy that my writing gives other people. You are welcome.

Anyway, the story of that picture is that my friend Haytee, who has many different crafting talents, made the dress I am wearing. It's a turquoise brocade that is just delicious. Not only did she whip that up, she made herself an outfit as well. We wore them to our friends' Jen and Jeff's wedding. On the eve of the wedding, Haytee, her husband Anthony, our friend Jesse (single, ladies, and quite a catch) and I were sitting around trying to decide what we should do to spice up the wedding. I don't remember which one of us threw it out there, but we all decided that we should make Jesse a matching vest and bow tie so that the two of us could match. Zach had to stay in Iowa and work, so Jesse was going as my date (platonic, like all of his dates...oh, no, that's mean, I'm sorry). So Haytee managed to sew a vest and bow tie in part of one evening and viola (the instrument, not the french phrase) we went to the wedding wearing matching outfits. If you have not yet heard of my love of matching outfits, you can see it here and here. As my brother pointed out the other day, whenever I am wearing the same outfit or accessory as someone I believe that we are TWINS! I LOVE IT.

Speaking of my brother -Happy birthday, Andy!! 27! Where does the time go?

Speaking of other things on my mind:

I have a lot of things that I need to get done. For example, did you know that in order to get a PhD you have to write a big, huge (probably at least 100 pages) dissertation? Huh...that's a bit of a challenge.

Our new apartment is A-W-E-S-O-M-E!! And perhaps best of all - no roommate!! Just two married people living their awesome married life. And we got a phone line today. So yeah, we're pretty awesome. I'll try to work on getting some pictures up, but you know how bad I am with pictures. I think it's my fear that cameras capture your soul in the pictures that keeps me away.

I've been listening to WNYC's Radio Lab (podcasts available from iTunes) at the suggestion of my brother and damned if I am not in love with that show. So many interesting facts to be gleaned and repeated as my own! But honestly, these shows are really awesome and they explain science in a way that everyone can understand which is really awesome. Plus, they seem to do a lot of shows about psychology which is fun for me.

I want to feel like I am more exciting than this, but honestly, I can't seem to come up with anything more amazing than what I've said. I think I'll have to give myself a writing challenge again. I seem to work better with a theme.

Oh, two more things:

1. My brother helped Zach and I move and was such a help. Then my parents came to town and then Zach and I ended up going to Chicago for the family reunion. So I've had a lot of family time lately. It really helped me feel better. I wish I lived next to everyone person that I like in the world. Seriously. That would be awesome.

2. Venture Bros. is a good show. I recommend it to you.

And one more...a little over a week (July 27) and then I will have been married for an entire year! Not like a year is a long time, I'm just saying, ANNIVERSARY TIME. This time last year I was still single and about to go up to Chicago to put the final touches on the best wedding ever (sorry to all the other married people in the world, but my wedding was so much fun). Memories.

There's a Story Behind this Picture

I'll tell you the story soon.