Two Roads, our website, has now been updates with some wedding photos we've gotten from friends who were at the wedding. Our offical photos won't be along for another week or so. Enjoy!

ETA: Okay, so we blew our bandwidth...I'm working on the issue. ETA2: Fixed! Go look!

Well.

Sara and I started dating "offically" on a Monday night in April, nearly 6 years ago. Unoffically we'd been going out for an extra day, as the previous night, before the opening curtin of the high school musical, Brigadoon, our best friend Erin called us together, linked our hands and say "Just go on with it." It wasn't until the next evening, on the phone, when Sara reminded me that I hadn't actually asked her to go out with me. So I did. (Corny, yes, but we were juniors in high school, and prone to that kind of high drama). She ran the spotlight in that show, (I was the lead actor) and she was also the captain of the varsity math team, widely considered to be one of the brightest girls in the school. That was one of the reasons I had scouted her so heavily for the varsity quiz bowl team. She had a wit sharper than most razors, and when you got her going, she had a creative streak a mile wide.

I asked her to marry me two years ago this past November, standing halfway between Washington Hall and Lee Chapel on a cold, starlit night, dressed in our formal wear after leaving the W&L Presidential Gala. It was the culmination of a tumultous night. We *had* a dinner reseveration that evening, and everything was seeminlg timed perfectly, but when Sara got to her car that afternoon to drive from Williamsburg to Lexington, she discovered one of her front tires was flat. She spent the next several hours getting the car towed, tire replaced, and then finally on the road. Meanwhile, we were missing our dinner reservation at the Southern Inn, and I'm wearing a hole in room 201 of the Sigma Nu House, frantic, because I had been planning this evening for nearly 4 months. She finally gets to Lex Vegas, and she has time to throw on her dress, and we mingle and munch down cocktail crackers and cheese at the house reception, before heading over to the Gala. We stay for a while, dance a bit, and finally she says, "Bernie, I'm tired, I'm hungry, I have a headache and I'm grumpy, can we please go home and get a pizza?"
So plan A, which was a romantic walk by Woods Creek in the moonlight went out the window, and I settled for plan B, which was walking the long way home. When I finally managed to stammer out the question, all thoughts of flat tires and missed dinner reservations were forgotton and we raced home to call friends and family. And yes, we ate Domino's pizza on the floor of my room, in our formal wear.

And on Friday, we will be married at the same alter that at least 6 generations of my family have been married at. I have no reservations, no regreats. People have been asking, "Nervous?". Hell no. As long as we've been together, if I'm still not sure about this, there would be something very wrong. Nervous about things getting screwed up, like slipping on ice and breaking an ankle? Or the church burning down (HAD A NIGHTMARE ABOUT THAT!)? Yes. Nervous about marrying Sara? No way. She is the best thing about me. The greatest gift ever given me.

The guests began arriving today, and we have a wonderful time re-connecting with Corey and Emily, Anderson and Johanna, and Jake. Tomorrow the bulk of the folks show up, barring any craziness (like a general transport stike in sympathy with the NY transit workers (Also something my nightmares are made of)), and the rehersal is tomorrow at 6. It's all come down to the next 48 hours. Wow.

I want to thank everyone who has put up with rants about planning, gripes about in-laws, and total sapiness on both our parts. I only wish that you could be here to share in it with us, because you've all been a big part of it, at least from my perspective. Thank you so much.

We'll have wedding pictures and pictures from the cruise when we get back in January, and we'll be happy to share.

Merry Christmas everyone. Happy Chanunakah, and a Happy New Year.

Does it make me a complete sap that when I was wrapping Christmas presents, (Sara's to be exact) I got to write "To: My wife. From: Her Husband." and it made me giggle like a little school girl and want to dance a little jig? (Be glad I didn't, my dancing is not pretty)

Anywhoo...wedding in FOUR days. There's still quite a bit to be done, but it's all little stuff. And there's Christmas too. I noticed a pattern about myself this evening. I'm usually pretty good about presents, but cards? Usualy, it's like two days before Christmas, and my sister says, something like "Do you want to sign the card for Grandma for both of us?" and I'm like "Oh! Cards! Right!" and I run off to Hallmark to get cards for mum, dad, and baby sis. Well tonight was that night for me, and tomorrow, I'm off to Hallmark for cards.

Most of my wrapping is done, just a few more things to clear up, and cards to sign, and Christmas will be done. Wedding stuff? Gotta pay the balance on the DJ, the Hall, and pay for a couple other minor things. Sara's got some scurrying to do, she needs fake flowers for her throwing bouquet, more thank you cards, and she needs to drop off the cake topper at the baker...among other assorted things. I'll be an honest man and admit that I didn't quite follow the whole list she reeled off at me, I just got the highlights.

I'm going to try to post one more time before the wedding. That's it for now!

I'm not sure where to begin. It's been a while.

Subbing is still sucking my very will to live. I had a class this afternoon who refused to obey the simplest commands. And the worst part was, they weren't nasty about it, they just treated me as if I wasn't there. I told them you must work independantly, with no talking. In a matter of moments, they pushed all the desks together and were talking up a storm. I told them, they had to work independantly, and to move the desks back, and they just kept talking as if they hadn't heard me. I'm sure there's plently of people who are reading this, and are like, well you should have done this, or that. But I was just so blown away, I decided to save my breath, and wrote a long note to the teacher. I happen to know this particular teacher, and she will not be pleased, I'm sure. But it just blows me away....where are these kids learning to disrespect authority like that? How on earth are these people going to be productive members of society?

On another note, I had a nice weekend with Sara up in Hanover. On Friday we cleaned the apartmnet, and on Saturday we hosted for the first time. We had another couple over for a dinner and games night. In the afternoon, we played Settlers of Catan, and then had a lovely dinner of beef stroganof (cooked by Sara), with fresh baked bread which John and Angela brought. For desert, Sara had attempted and succeded to make a pumpkin pie, which was enjoyed by all. After dinner we played a rousing game of 3 on 1 Trivial Pursuit. I would have won if I hadn't been giving out outragous hints to the three of them. After that, a round of Cranium closed out the night. It was the most fun I've had since the summer. Sunday, Sara and I went to church, and then just hung out and watched football while Sara did homework. I stayed thru till Monday, and took several hours to drive around and gather up subsitute applications for area schools. Now I have to fill them all out. *sigh* I really didn't want to leave Hanover, we had such a nice weekend. I really can't wait for the wedding so I can be up there all the time. I was so nice to be on my own with Sara, out from the 'Rents. I love them dearly, and for the most part we get along, but it's been so hard living at home after being in my own apartment last year at school.

 ( New England Sports Rant )

Another large disspointment from the weekend was my NaNoWriMo progress. I haven't updated my word count yet, because to do so would be highly embarassing. After a roaring start, the story completely stalled. While I'm slowly overcoming the hump, it's been a struggle, but one I'm determined to push on through.

Wedding planing is slowly starting to grind together. I need to book a limo, and I also need to hire a team of bounty hunters to hunt down my groomsmen and haul them bodily into tux shops to be measured. Once that's done, my responsibility for the most part is over, except for helping to make sure all the bills are paid on time.

So, to review: Subbing sucks. I can't wait for the wedding to be over. Indy sucks. SHS football and CTV6 rock. My groomsmen need to get their act in gear. And NaNo needs help. That about sums up my life in a nutshell.

Came up to see Sara this weekend. It rained most of the weekend, and because it rained today, and there's no school (no possibility of subsituting today), I played hooky from the golf course and stayed up the extra day. I'm going to head home sometime this afternoon. Sara's off at class now. I think she's turned a corner in terms of her classes, and while I won't necessarily be all down hill, it at least won't be the tough sledding that the last week was.

We did a bit of exploring in downtown Hanover Saturday inspite of the rain. Found a nice used book store where we found a couple of books. Notre Dame had the weekend off, so there was no afternoon football that we were interested in. Penn State was on at 7:45, and we got back in time to watch the Nittney Lions knock off the Buckeyes. Whohoo! I love JoePa. Penn State is BACK! Next weekend, should be interesting week. Penn State and Michigan, and Notre Dame against USC. That game in South Bend will be one of the biggest of the year, I think. Let's go Notre Dame!

Sunday we checked out St. Dennis's, the local Catholic parish. It was nice service. Lots of kids, which made Sara coo and awww. Then the Patriots made it far too exciting against the Falcons. I love Adam Vinitieri, but it would be nice once or twice to not need him to kick last second field goals for a change. The defense needs serious help. Got to get some people healthy on the D, or things will be tough sledding.

All the good football this weekend has made me almost forget that the White Sox swept out the Red Sox. *sigh*. I can't complain too much after last year's series, so I guess it's See You In April for the Beantown boys. Football is the main course from now forward.

Sara's shower is next weekend, and here's hoping that everything is all set and going okay.

After months of stalling, we have FIANALLY engaged a photographer. I think it was fate/kismet/divine intervention, what have you.

I went up to see this guy's portfolio, and we exchange a little small talk, blah blah, kind of thing. I mentioned that I was trying to be an American history teacher. We're watching his photo slideshow and he asks me what my specialization is, I tell him military history. We then proceeded to spend the next half hour talking about the Civil War, how Jackson was a genius, trench warfare at Petersburg, the whole shebang.

We had such a great personal rapport, and his pictures were dynamite. Things do work out after all.

Other than that, I've been doing a lot of subbing. Mainly at Middle Schools, which is NOT my chosen field, and with good reason. Middle schoolers, I've found, with a few exceptions, are far harder to control than high schoolers. Middle schoolers are just plain too rambunctious. *Sigh* But it pays, and it keeps us in the black, temporarily.

I'm too excited about the photographer to get down on my current state of employment though.

Oh so many things to talk about.

( “Patriots )

( “Saturday” )

( “Mother-Out-Law” )

So...my sister is finally back at college in Philly. My parents took her down on Friday. Which means I've had the house to myself this weekend. Good and bad, I guess. Good, because I've had some time to myself without being nagged to pack, or clean, or paint. Bad, because rattling around the house when it's empty is very lonely. Can't win em all I suppose.

Sara and I had a long chat. Nobody's perfect, and there are still some things we're ironing out between us. But that's what building a good marrige is all about. Communication and compromise. The discussion mainly revolved around kids...not *if* of course, but rather *when* and *who will be primary caregiver*. We've got some time to figure those things out, since the *when* won't be for a few years anyway, that much we've agreed on.

Been all at odd ends lately. Mainly the job situation is bugging me, obviously. I mean, I didn't go to college and get my license to be a subsitute teacher...*sigh*. That's part of what was fueling the afortementioned conversation w/Sara, is my feeling to total uselessness as a potential husband/breadwinner/founder of the feast. I mean, I know I'm a recovering Neanderthal/Chauvanist, and I've learned to deal with the fact, that as a chemist, she will undoubtely make more money than I will as a high school teacher. But what bothers me is that thought that we *couldn't* live off my salary if we wanted/needed to. Sara working, and making more money than me? Doesn't bother me. The idea that she *needs* to work? Bothers me. Yes, I know, I'm a caveman. Just call me Og.

Well, to make up for long chat with Sara, we did a little candlelight dinner here at my house, since with my 'rents away, (especially mum), we were able to have the run of the kitchen. Sara made up a pork shoulder (which I bought for her, because she loves it), and I dug out a tablecloth, found some emergancy candles, and washed a couple plates from our recently aquired China set, and had a lovely candlelit dinner, at 4:30 in the afternoon. We were too hungry to wait for it to get dark. Afterwards we just kind of sat around and were lazy for most of the afternoon/evening.

And it seems as though my muse has deserted me for the moment. Sara promised to look at DTR Chp. 8 tomorrow, maybe she'll have some suggestions.

Oh, one final note. I'm keeping all the folks in NawLeans in my thoughts and prayers with Katrina bearing down on y'all. Hope everybody finds some good solid high ground, and maybe it'll turn away.

It's raining.

I am dry now. I was not previously.

Had to work this morning, in the rain. Not terribly fun.

But enough about that.

I'm now the proud owner of a used lazyboy, which, of course, I will have to fight my fiancee for the right to sit in during football season.

Wedding bands are in, and they're gorgous. I've picked out tuxes for my side of the bridal party. We're doing tails and white gloves. Nice and classy.

My Kingmaker game arrived, I'm very excited about it. Now I just have to teach Sara to play.

Oh yeah...still no job.

Okay, I was worried before, and now, I've moved onto minor panic. Give me another 5 days, and I'll be into full blown panic. It's August. I don't have a job. We're broke. Sara's car has been in the shop for days and we still don't know what's wrong with it. We have wedding expenses yet to cover, and as of September 1, Sara's gotta pay utilities, food and rent.

Oh, and I called to confirm that my application arrived at one of the places advertising for a social studies teacher. The position has been filled.

Trying not to scream. Trying not to scream.

Hoping for a window to open, wishing my blessings didn't always come in disguise.

Vacation off to a good start. Spent the weekend up at the family vacation house, and wend to the local church fair with Gram on Saturday morning. Sara and I found a beautiful china set, 140 pieces, 25 dollars. Some of them are chipped and cracked here and there, but we don't really need service for 20 anyway. We may try and add to the collection via E-bay as well, since we found several examples of the pattern among the millions of items over there. Also picked up a few books (naturally) and some board games.

Saturday afternoon, we (my sister, Sara and I) spent baking (Gram had to come back home for something here in town). This week is my 'rents 25th Wedding Anniversary, and we baked a cake for dad, and an apple pie for mum (she doesn't like cake). We suprised them when they made it up late Saturday afternoon. (Dad had spent the morning in the office, finishing up a few things before his week off this week).

Sunday morning we went to church, and then Sara and I drove back home to celebrate our friend Erin's brithday. Before dinner though, my Gram called and said she found a drop leaf kitchen table at the Goodwill store, and did we want to go look at it? Yes, we went up, and yes we bought it. It's square with drop leaves on both sides, and with a little bit of wood polish, will look very nice. Now we need four matching chairs.

Had a lovely dinner with Erin and her current "flavor of the summer". After dinner, Sara and I came back home to watch Big Fat Greek Wedding, which Sara claimed was supposed to make me feel better about her family, because it's not as bad as the one in the movie...I'm still not sure it helped, but the movie was pretty funny. One thing though, that bugged me. Is Hollywood stupid? Because they insist on using the Greek letter Sigma to represent the capital letter E. Don't they know that Sigma is S?

And I don't have to get up at 4:30 tomorrow morning. Hal-le-lu-jah!