Notes from Beyond

Tim went to college a few semesters before me. We affectionately refer to this time as his "BE" life (i.e. before Emily). During that time, he had three buddies that were like brothers to him - Charlie, Duane, and Damien. From the stories I've heard they had a lot of fun in those days. Eventually the group spread out and moved all over the state, but every once in a while when they were in town they'd meet up for a "boys' night". Each time they got together it was like no time had past, even as girlfriends (and later wives...) were added to the mix. A couple weeks ago, Charlie got married. It was a gorgeous ceremony right on the St. Johns River. Afterward Charlie and his bride sent a very nice thank you note that included a CD of pictures from our wedding.

Charlie, Tim, and Duane at our wedding.

As I was flipping through the pictures, I found one particular picture that might just be my new favorite. We were suppose to have the ceremony outside next to a gazebo. The wedding was held in July (i.e. the middle of hurricane season) and as it turns out there was a hurricane brewing across the state (which ended up dumping several feet of water under my parents house). Due to winds from this hurricane, the ceremony ended up being moved indoors. We still got pictures next to the gazebo (like the one that's been up for ages on the Kook Tales sidebar). They turned out beautifully, but in a couple of the shots you could see the wind blowing my skirt, crinoline and all, backwards. The picture below is now one of my favorites from the day. While most of our wedding pictures are reminders of how wonderfully perfect the day was, this one immediately took me back to that moment in time, imperfections and all.

Emily & Tim, July 2005

Four More Years!

Tim & I have now been married for 4 years, together for 5 years before that. That amount of time seems crazy - it simultaneously feels like the blink of an eye and forever.

In memory of our first married days together, here's the story of how our marriage almost ended right after it began:

We left on our honeymoon the week after our wedding. The goal was to drive down to Ft. Lauderdale, board the cruise boat and be on our way for a week of fun and no worries. The trip should have taken between 5 and 6 hours so the morning of our departure we were sure to leave plenty of time to get there. On the ride down we got STOPPED on the interstate due to, not one, but two accidents along the way. We ended up being almost 2 hours behind what we should have (i.e. cutting it very close). I'll be honest, the mood in our car was quite tense.

As we got into the area of the cruise terminal, we were both super stressed and afraid that we'd miss the boat, literally. Tim was driving like a maniac and I was on the phone with the cruise people trying to explain that we'd be arriving at any second. They were adamant in telling us that the boat could not be held for individual passengers and that if we didn't arrive in time we'd have to fly (at our own expense) to the first port of call to catch the boat there. We completely understood the cruise policy, but it only added to the seriously stressful mood in the car. As we pulled up, the cruise folks had several people waiting on the curb to take our bags and valet park our car so that we'd be able to make it on-board in time. Without their helpfulness, we wouldn't have made it. We ran aboard just in time and were actually standing right there when they pulled in the gangplank behind us. In that second, our mood shifted from incredible tension to complete euphoria. So, yeah, thank you cruise people, you saved our marriage!

We made it!!!

Our knight in shining armor
(i.e. the man who scurried us aboard)

Then we immediately called everyone we knew!

Finally relaxing!

Timily Through the Years

I'm feeling a little nostalgic...

2002: Looking quite young.


2003: In Pensacola for a friend's wedding.


2004: In the Grand Canyon on a trip with Tim's family.


2005: Our wedding rehearsal dinner.


2006: Signing papers for our house.


2007: This is one of three pictures of us together during 2007... only three!!!

2008: In North Carolina with my family last December.

Decidedly Positive

The following are reasons why the year 2008 is my least favorite:

• our cat died
• my husband had to have surgery
• the a/c broke (both units!!)
• our truck won't start
• his cell phone is still broken
• our hot water heater is broken

I'm beginning to wonder if one of us unknowingly walked under a ladder, broke a mirror & opened an umbrella indoors.... all on the same day. Saying we are stressed is an understatement. We've both lost weight, probably due to the extra calories we burn up worrying (most would be happy to drop a couple pounds, but honestly Tim & I need every pound we've got). Talking to a friend (who was acting as a pseudo-counselor) last night, we were reminded to "think positively & positive things will happen." Wise advice! So today, I'm sending positive thoughts out into the Universe:

• I am happy because anything we go through, we go through together.
  
• I am happy because we have family & friends that love us unconditionally & support us in whatever we do.
• I am happy because we have our cats to remind us what's really important in life.
• I am happy because we have a beautiful house in a great neighborhood that we wouldn't trade for anything (does anyone else hear Talking Heads when you read this bullet?)
  
• I am happy because we both work in a job that we love & it allows us to be at home together & exercise our creativity.
• I am happy because we have electricity.
• I am happy because my birthday is next week.
• I am happy because our problems, for the most part, are temporary.
• I am happy because we're still breathing.
• I am happy because we get to see family for the holidays.
• I am happy because a stranger, out of the blue, gave me a compliment last week.
  
• I am happy because I know we are blessed with so many good things in life that it’s ridiculous not to be.

One more - I am happy because Joe sent us this:

Looking on the Bright Side

Tim & I met around this time of year back in 2000. For all intensive purposes, we lived a fairy-tale courtship through our college years. Senior year, my good friend, Liz, pulled me aside & caught me off guard with her frankness - "You know you're lucky, right?" I had no idea what she was talking about. "You went to school & met the love of your life... you're graduating, have a job lined up, and you're planning your wedding." No one had ever condensed my life into such simple terms. She was right - I'm lucky.

All my college professors warned against having 'major life changes' during our first year teaching (rumors spread about a friend of a friend of that brown-haired girl in Educational Psychology... apparently she completely lost it & was last seen giving her wedding guests DIBELS & sending her students thank you notes for the delightful shower gifts). Needless to say, I didn't listen. I graduated December 10, 2004; started teaching on December 13, 2004; and got engaged on December 31, 2004. For the next seven months, I was legally insane. I'm quite certain that somewhere among those wedding contracts, it read, "Mental facilities that govern kind, rational thought and behavior will not be functioning properly again until after the big day." I wasn't a bridezilla... oh no, quite the opposite actually - my husband was forced to be involved in the wedding planning. Much like Dory, those months were filled with trying to "just keep swimming" through the piles of school & wedding stuff that slowly filled every corner of our apartment. There were many times that I thought I would lose it - I mean, strap me into a straight-jacket - lose it!

The end of the school year came. I survived. I was stronger for it.

Our wedding arrived; it was a blissful swirl of celebration! Momentary perfection. Most of all, however, it was our own. Something that (with the help of our family) Tim & I were able to dream, build & create - together! Our wedding went & the honeymoon came. It was about that time that I began to regain mental facilities enough to recall what my friend had told me earlier... yup, I'm still lucky.

We knew that everything was right. We could feel it. That rainbow of perfection hung in our sky through the first eight years of our relationship. It ended on May 18, 2008. Suddenly we were unprepared... struggling to deal with something that seemed so simple before... our life. Although the next couple months were filled with bright summer sunshine outside, it was a stark contrast to our feelings. With heavy weights on our hearts & gray clouding our mind, we found ourselves fumbling through some of the hardest experiences we've been dealt thus far - everything felt uncertain, unstable, & completely not normal.

Why am I telling you this? This week the normalcy has returned. I can't quite pinpoint what has changed or how or why, but something is different. Something feels lighter. For the first time in a while, we can feel, just a little, carefree... without guilt or sadness. Our outlook is restored... and yes, we're very lucky.

A Mid-Afternoon Tale

We're rather excited that school has started back...
it means we can spend our lunch break
lounging at an utterly deserted pool.

Who could ask for anything more?

After a short swim, I took some pictures while Tim exercised his knee. He hasn't been using his crutches for almost a week!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Tim also rescued a salamander from the pool drain.
It was a fun break from the daily grind!

A Day Off

Tim & I have been hugely busy over the past few weeks & are having a tough time deciding what we'd like to do on our next day off.... for me, it's like the carrot on the end of the stick. Motivation.

So that's where you come in!

The poll is called, "What should Tim & Emily do on their next day off?" & is on the right sidebar.

Days off seem to come so few & far between this time of year, we want to make it fun! These are all things that we want to do so we've agreed that the activity that gets the most votes will be our itinerary for the day. We will, of course, take the camera along for our adventures & post about it later.

So what do you say? Can you spare 5 seconds to make a couple of kooks really happy?

Meanwhile on the Homefront

Our neighbors put in a fence a couple weeks ago. This is *great* news for us because it means we have one less side to cover when we finally get around to fencing our own yard! In doing this, however, they also cut our line to the Internet... in the middle of a work day. It was a complete accident and required just a little scrambling on our part. We packed up the office & headed to the closest WIFI location for a field trip, and lunch! (Bless Panera for my beloved Blackbean soup & the scrumptious Strawberry Poppyseed Salad). We were able to get everything we needed done for the day & our Internet was restored the next morning. On a side note, we've been getting bad late afternoon thunder storms lately. Check out the video below of the one that rolled in while we were in Panera. It was a little scary... all that separated us from the whistling wind & sky-to-ground lightening was a thin glass window! We closed up shop just in time & waited the storm out while we finished eating. In added bonus, we went home with 2 cinnamon crunch bagels for breakfast! :o)

Grown-Up Boys

This is what happens when our local Mexican Restaurant is playing cartoons behind me... my husband's eyes were averted slightly upward & to the left almost the whole meal! :o) Although his head nodded along at appropriate points in conversation, I think it's safe to say he probably doesn't remember much of what was said. How did I keep this from bothering me, you ask? After being married over 3 years & dating for 5 years before that... I think we're starting to get this stuff down. It's very simple. Tim gets to be distracted by cartoons during dinner... & I get to stop next door at the scrapbooking store before we leave! Compromise. Did I mention that they were having a 75% off after Memorial Day sale? I love, Love, LOVE discounted craft supplies!

Butterflies & Baseballs

Tim & I spotted this butterfly while out
throwing the baseball the other day.

Back in college, we'd walk over to the tennis courts by our apartment to play catch. I think we both agree that having a backyard is far better!

This event is, of course, not without great kookiness... we figured out early on that our old gloves tend to turn our hands colors (i.e. the sweat & the leather collide - yuck!). So now we wear gloves under our gloves. Yes, I admit, a little of Tim's OCD has rubbed off on me.

Lucky Me

I received the following message from a former co-worker: "Your kiddos keep asking about you...they want you to visit. ______ actually said that since you aren't teaching, you shouldn't be busy and you have to come visit."

It's good to be loved!!! :o) I went into school yesterday for a visit and I think I was just as excited as the kids (keep in mind that this is their last week)! It was like going home... so many familiar faces & sights. It was really great to see both teachers & students alike. I'm reminded of that little part of me that misses teaching, although I absolutely *love* the work I do now. On the other hand, it also reminds me how easy it is drop in for a few hours & the volunteer coordinator (a good friend of mine) was quick to point out that she could really put me to work with some struggling readers. I now have plans to volunteer/mentor next year. Luckily, my boss (ahem... Tim) fully supports this. Can I just say how lucky I feel in my life right now. I have previously unimaginable levels of flexibility in making life exactly the way I want it to be.

Weekend Montage

Joe came to visit this weekend! This was our 3rd visitor in 3 weeks. *Yay!* We have a fourth lined up too... Tim's parents are coming next week to help us get started on some home improvements! :o) On another note, have I mentioned that we live near an airport? We don't really hear the airplanes much, but if you go on our back porch in the morning... contrails galore!

One of the baby birds exploring our backyard.
(Excuse the blurriness, this picture was taken through a window)

And a friendly Flutterby.

On the Verge of Spring

Tim & I spent a good part of the day yesterday outside enjoying the sunshine & breeze. We cleaned up our flowerbeds from the winter & were happy to find some petunias already blooming! Lucky for Tim, the pollen hasn't been too bad so far this year (and for those days that it has been bad, Zyrtec is now available over the counter)! We spent yesterday evening at our friend's house, he wasn't feeling well so we picked up some soup on the way over. I think everyone appreciates a little pampering when their sick... plus that means I get some Panera's black bean soup! Have I mentioned I *love* it? I've been known to order the 'Soup for a Group' just for myself...

The Return of Joe

Joe emailed us Thursday evening with the news that he was stuck in Georgia for the weekend with nothing to do... that means, of course, we had a house guest!! Joe arrived Friday with all of his gadgets in tow. He always has a new toy of some kind to check out & this trip was no exception. The weather was so nice that we ending up grilling on both Saturday & Sunday!! We had a great visit!! :o)

Calendar Bliss

If you know me, you know that I've always been very dependent on my calendar. It started in middle school & continued through my teaching days. Balancing 2 jobs, a college career & a personal life required me to schedule out my time. It also cemented my dependence on that trusty little date book. I always had my planner with me. The entire itinerary of my life was held within those black, pleather walls... appointments, important dates, addresses, phone numbers, all of it.

Since transitioning to working from home, I lost the need for that pocket version of the real thing. My phone now holds all the numbers & addresses, but there's something about having my important dates digitalized that I can't deal with. I need that physical, spatial reminder. That being said, my parents found this *awesome* calendar & it shows an entire quarter at a time (3 months). Perfect for work!!! :o)

Approached by a Stranger

Tim & I popped into Wal-Mart to get a few essentials this week. We split up to cover more ground & while separated, Tim was approached by a teenage boy... this kid followed Tim around for a minute & then proceeded to tell Tim that his "dad just dropped him off" and he "needed to buy bullets for hunting season." He asked Tim to buy bullets for him!?!

Ummmm.... Can you believe that?!? What is this kid thinking?? Tim let him know he's not comfortable doing that & walked away.

Forget the fact that this KID is asking us to buy LETHAL components (COMPLETELY OUT OF QUESTION!!!). What really gets me... out of all the Good Ole' Boys wondering our local Wal-Mart... this kid chose to ask Tim?? The guy who considers himself somewhat flexitarian, refuses to eat calamari because of his respect for Squid & has never hunted a day in his life?? I know none of those things are tattooed across his forehead, but didn't this kid look in Tim's basket?? Tofu probably means you should move on to the next person...

Call us old fogies, we ratted him out on the way out of the store.

Break before Breakdown

Despite the fact that I haven't posted in forever...
we are alive and well!

We've been so busy that I'm not even
really sure where to begin...
these pictures were taken
in a moment of quiet serenity.


A peaceful afternoon in the midst
of December craziness!

Gobble, Gobble

There is so much for us to be thankful for today. Every day, really. The appreciation & love for our family runs so deeply. Without all of their support & laughter our lives would be much less worthwhile. What am I most thankful for this year?

To my love on Thanksgiving... thank you -

• For being the Original Kook.
• For keeping our relationship (mostly) drama-free.
• For saying dinner tastes great... even when it doesn't.
• For knowing "I do what I want!" & "That's my pot pie, kitty!!"
• For being my best friend.
• For listening to hours of off-key singing at the top of my lungs.
• For knowing "beans instead of beef," "egg & cheese only," & "it's for a vegetarian."
• For listening to J.T.
  
• For watching Project Runway & Oprah...even though I think you might secretly like it a little bit.
• For letting me be the little spoon.
• For "life, wife, work."
• Because where ever I go, you are my home!

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!!

Starfish the Dog

"I can't come home with you??"

The Tie-Fighter (our car) had an unexpected visitor over at our friends' house... Starfish hopped in and was ready to go home with us. There's very few dogs that I would consider taking home with me, but Starfish is one!

Looking for the Silver Lining?

The sky was *beautiful* today...

You see, we need a little silver lining around here.
Tim came down with a virus/stomach flu,
and it has not been fun for either of us.
I haven't caught it yet! *knock on wood*
I credit my years of antibody building teaching
for not getting sick.
Tim's resting up & getting better!
Hopefully we'll be 100% again soon.