Tuesday, February 24, 2009

How We Got Married

Quite a few people have asked me for wedding details, so here they are. There really aren't many. We basically eloped! We got married in my parent's house and only invited our parents, grandparents, and siblings - in all we had about 20 people there. The ceremony was short and sweet. We got take-out Chinese food from Quan's - one of our favorite restaurants. There wer no bridesmaids, no groomsmen. No toasts, not dances, no stress!!!!!!! The evening was over by 9PM. And it was just perfect. We are planning on having a celebratory party this summer down camp and hope all out friends and family join us then. Details to come!

Monday, February 23, 2009

We're Married!

Jay and I got married on Saturday! Woo-hoo!! Here are some pictures of the big day:











Saturday, February 21, 2009

The Day Before the Big Day

I've been a little MIA lately, but I have a good reason. Jay and I are getting married this evening! We're kinda eloping, but not really. It's not a huge secret, but we only invited our parents, grandparents and siblings. It's going to be a very small and informal ceremony at my parent's house and we're getting take-out Chinese food from Quan's! I can't wait!

Here's what Mr. Hank will wear for the ceremony. Doesn't he look sooooo handsome?


This is where we'll get married. We're adding some flowers and the doors will be closed and the fire crackling. I think it'll be so pretty - although I admit it's kinda weird to get married in front of a couple guns and sword!

Yesterday I visited some of my favorite people: Jami, Andy, Drew, Grant, and EB. Here are my two favorite guys (besides Jay, of course!)

I have to thank Becky and Jessie for cleaning Momma Sue and Poppa Jim's house on such short notice. I couldn't let this opportunity pass me by -Jess suited up to tackle the upstairs bathroom which is desperately awaiting the remodel!
And here I am, contemplating my last day on Earth as a single woman! Oh, I CAN'T WAIT TO MARRY MY JAY!

Friday, February 13, 2009

My Week

1. My poor Momma Sue has kidney stones! She was in the hospital Monday through Wednesday. I visited her and made her laugh. She's home and getting better.

2. I met my friend Steve at Uno's to split a pizza pie. Steve was the one who taught me all about armored mud balls at the NEEEA Conference! He just had a geology tour pamphlet published through a grant program and it is GREAT!

3. I had a MEES meeting Tuesday night. We have a big conference coming up on March 4th and I think it's going to be wonderful. I love the MEES folks - they are so much fun!

4. Mr. Hankie had to go to the vet to get his vaccines. He whimpered when he got the shots and I felt sooooo bad. Needless to say, he got many extra treats!

5. Jami, Vicky, and I got together for Thai food and stress relief. I love my friends even more than Thai food! I was so glad Jami got to get out with Vicky and take a shower and enjoy some time with friends 'cause her life is super crazy right now.

6. I'm leading two V-day hikes tomorrow and I am so excited. I'm walking the routes today and bringing Hank. I love bringing my pup to work!

Saturday, February 7, 2009

25 Random Things

So if you are on Facebook, I'm sure you've seen this 25 Random Things floating around. Figured I'd share mine here....

1. From ages of 10 to 21, I always had a pet rat. The thought of it now makes me slightly nauseous.

2. I’ve spent every summer of my life in a cabin on a pond without electricity and plumbing. From age 19 through 24, I spent about 6 months a year living there.

3. I have probably caught more turtles than anyone else you know – seriously, I’ve caught thousands.

4. My sisters and I had a secret New Kids on the Block room in our house.

5. At the age of 11, my aunt taught me to make her favorite drink ‘Bitter Lemon’ and I served them to her as she lay sunbathing on the beach. When my mom found out, I had to make her one too.

6. I once spent an entire summer raising a baby robin. After he left me to live in the woods, I would visit him, whistle our special whistle, and he would fly to me and land on my finger. It was awesome and I have witnesses. I still miss Robin My Robin.

7. I love to read. My first thought on many of my days off is “What book am I going to read today?" I usually have 2 or 3 going at once.

8. I will not remember your name until I’ve met you at least 4 times. It’s terrible.

9. I have the most wonderful parents in the world. They gave me and my sisters the best childhood ever. It was idyllic.

10. I can roll my tongue and do the wave with my tongue.

11. I can also blow bubbles with my spit. Kinda gross, but I still do it when I’ve been driving for too long.

12. The Vice Principal of my high school was afraid of my mother and my sister caught him smoking in school. My sisters and I got away with murder.

13. I hate getting my hair cut. I do it just once a year on average.

14. Jay gives me a foot rub every night before bed. I love him so.

15. I am a very, very messy person. I struggle with it daily.

16. My dog knows me as ‘Mumma’ and Jay as ‘Daddy’ and I love that.

17. Jay and I went to preschool together; 28 years later and we’re getting married!

18. I once found a wallet on the ground when I was at the Southie St. Patty’s Day Parade. Jack and I took all the money and then gave it to a police officer. I still feel terrible about this and cringe when I think about it.

19. Although I don’t really believe in ghosts, I did grow up in a house with a ghost and saw it twice – once when I was 15 and once when I was 22.

20. My dad is my hero. I love him for many reasons, but especially for crying when our cat Inky died.

21. Typically, I hate minutia and details. I have no patience for it and it annoys the heck out of me.

22. If I could - I would read, swim, ride my bike, sit by a campfire and eat Thai food every day of the year.

23. I am allergic to myself.

24. I collect stained glass.

25. I've driven a baby-blue VW bug and a 1978 Mercury Comet.

Friday, February 6, 2009

S.A.D.

I miss summer.

I miss our favorite secret pond -


I miss dogs playing in the green grass -
I miss dad pecking away at the typewriter down camp -


I miss babies taking old-timey baths -
I miss camp in the evenings -


I miss babies swimming in the pond -

I miss Jay drinking beers and camping -

I miss kayaking and canoeing -

I miss watching Hank swim any place there is water -

I miss catching turtles -


I miss lying on a raft with dogs swimming next to me -
I miss walking along a Cape Cod beach -
I miss picking wild berries -
I miss green, mossy trails -


I miss being with Jay down camp -
I miss sitting by the campfire -

I miss catching frogs -

Monday, February 2, 2009

WILD ORANGE

Hank and I spent the weekend in Orange with Jess and Thea. I got there Friday at about noon and left on Sunday at about noon. As usual -Thea was a laugh riot! You'll see in the pics...


On Friday, Jess and I met my friend Jen at the Montague Book Mill for some dinner and a couple beers. We laughed and laughed and laughed. I love Jen and I wish she lived closer to me!


On Saturday, I went to Arcadia Wildlife Sanctuary for a Project WILD Gathering. Project WILD is an environmental education curriuculum and there are a bunch of environmental educators trained to facilitate this curriculum for school teachers in Massachusetts. I'm one of the facilitators for Massachusetts! The gathering featured a professor from UMass who gave a great presentation on the Worcester outbreak of the Asian Longhorned Beetle. While he was giving the presentation, one of the naturalists at Arcadia came in dressed like an Asian Longhorned Beetle!

Here are some pictures from our weekend:

Thea and Hank got along great. Here they are sharing Hank's dog bed next to the warm wood stove -
Then we dressed Hank in Thea's PJs --
He loved it (not) -
And Thea took a nap on Hank's bed!
She's always grinning - so cute!



Bath time! Ms. Thea loves the water.
Here she is showing Auntie Amy how she swims

Here's Patti dressed up as an Asian Longhorned Beetle (note: environmental educators are weird, I know)

Jen and I outside the Montague Book Mill -


Nana Sue sent some clothes for Thea May including this pretty purple scarf with butterflies.
Thea and Hank playing!


Look at that smile - how can you not eat her up??