That First Anniversary Tradition

For some reason unbeknownst to the average individual, wedded couples participate in a bizarre tradition: the eating of the wedding cake one year later. For most newlyweds, this means reaching into the way-back of your freezer and pulling out the top layer of your $1298379q85948w65 wedding cake. Some people even keep the little figurines in there (which I think is kind of cruel).

But for us, if you were at our wedding, you know we didn't have a traditional cake. We had tarts. Delicious fresh fruit tarts from Whole Foods. Are we spoiled or what? Unfortunately, fruit tarts can't be frozen. We also ate all of our personal tart while waiting to board the plane to Costa Rica.

Even though we don't understand the tradition, Z and I decided we were participating in it. We went to Whole Foods, purchased a tart, and proceeded to re-enact the practice of feeding it to each other.

I think we'll make this an annual thing.

Until next year ...

Yet another reason why I'm the luckiest wife in the world

A few weeks/a month or so ago, I saw this online:

I loved it. I coveted it. I showed the picture to my husband. I said, "Look, isn't this amazing? I could really use something like that."

We don't have much of a pantry, so our canned goods end up ... well, all over the kitchen and laundry room.

Zak looked at the image briefly, answered in the affirmative that it was, in fact, cool. Then, he made me one. A better one. A more beautiful one. A perfect one.

My perfect sliding pantry:

It takes up almost no space. 

It just slips into the five inches beside the fridge 

that we were previously wasting.

All the 'foods' in their places:

Demonstrating the genius of it:

Rolling on its smooth rollers, the magic pantry APPEARS:

I mean, really. Who does that? 

My awesome husband does. That's who. 

Knowing that he was willing to take time out of his lunch hour,
to stay late after hours at work, to come in early to work,
in order that he could get this made for me,
knowing I would looove it,
just blows me away.

It is now a daily reminder that I am loved.
Every time I go to eat (which is more often than I'd like to admit)
Every time I go to get a cup of coffee
(or to make the second of my three daily pots)
I see it and I think, there is no way I deserve that.
But he made it anyway, because he loves me.
I'm riddled with flaws, irritating habits, stressful mood swings, immature antics--

But still he loves me,
despite,
and because of,
those things.


Yet another reason why I'm the luckiest wife
in the world. 

Virgin America is awesome

Z and I are sitting in the terminal right now, waiting to board the plane to SAN DIEGO.

That Chair Z is sitting in? That's a Virgin America luxury. They're all over the place.

This weekend marks the end of our first year of marriage. It's hard believe it's been a full year; I simultaneously feel as if it can't possibly have been that long, and that we've been married all our lives.

I am sure we will spend a lot of time in reflection this weekend, thinking over the things we've done, the goals we've accomplished, the dreams yet to come.

However, right now, I can only think of one thing:

SEA WORLD. SEA WORLD.

Image Source

To be specific:

DOLPHINS. DOLPHINS. DOLPHINS.

Images: Source, Source, Source, Source, Source

I love dolphins. I'm pretty sure only my sisters and cousins can understand my obsession with these creatures. Suffice it to say, I am stoked. So stoked I almost started crying in the car on the way to the airport. Because I was so excited. I am almost as excited to go to Sea World as I was this time last year to go to Costa Rica.

Almost.

Vision Statements and Common Thread Fails

My attempt at a "Daily Blog":  Repetitive Fail.

BUT we threw an awesome housewarming party yesterday. Pictures soon to come. 

And I am about to sew the final square onto Logan's blanket! 

Zak and I are working on defining what it is that we want to do in our life together (think "vision statement"). 

The first step in this venture is to decide what we (both on our own and as a couple) do well.

So far, this is what I have come up with for "what I do well": 

1. Pretend to be organized every third day of the week

2. Come up with at least six projects to start simultaneously

3. Begin all of aforementioned projects, and halfway finish half of them

4. For at least two weeks, make sure that the other half of those projects remain spread across the floor of the "study" where they remind me everyday how well I am not-doing them.

5. Kill and revive plants. All sixteen of them.

Common Threads; you have none

I wish I had blogged during Lent. And I wish I could say that I did not blog during Lent on some principal related to fasting and keeping computer use to a minimum.

Unfortunately, it had nothing to do with this. It is more a reflection of my laziness. Besides, what would I say? I'm beginning to feel as if I should either A. Delete my blog or B. Stop following everyone else's blogs. Everyone--and I use everyone to imply the world, so no, I am not exaggerating--is more interesting than me.

I was thinking, it may have something to do with the fact that my life does not have a common thread. Of course, these people just pretend their lives have one common thread, don't they?

"Hello. I am vegan. All I am is vegan. I write about is vegan things. Like cheeze."

"Hello. I am crafty all the time. Read my blog to see how crafty I am."

"Hello. This is my kid. Look at my million pictures of him at slightly different angles."

"I like Jesus."

"I take trips. Everywhere."

"I crochet."

"Cats."





Common Threads. If I picked a common thread, what would it be? I can tell you for certain, it would not be anything anyone would read. This is a story about. I am trying to say. Literature. Teaching Art. Church is. Wife.


I would not read that.

Sometimes I pretend I'm the best housewife ever

Today I made this: Stir-Fry Chicken Something with Paprika and Goodness. Only mine looked better than hers. Of course, Zak couldn't find the camera and, in his hurry to respond to my "QUICK TAKE A PICTURE BEFORE I EAT IT ALL!!!" he broke a glass bowl in the entryway.

Anyway, we don't have a photo of mine, but this recipe rocked. This is the first time I've ever cooked with alcohol, and I mean by putting it in the food. Of course I don't mean drinking it. While cooking.

Yep, I just did that. I posted a blog about a recipe.

I really love San Francisco. I went to the grocery store and bought enough food to last us three weeks, all for around a hundred bucks, due mostly to the plethora of Chinese produce shops lining Clement Street--which is a convenient block away from our new place.

Hello, 79 cent mango. Meet your eater.

There is snow in the house

It has been officially the Christmas season since five minutes after Thanksgiving dinner was over; however, I had yet to properly acknowledge the fact on this blog.

Now I have:

First time ever to have a "2-3 foot" tree. In the corner. It's magnificent. 

I also painted paper mache eggs to look like penguins

Zak and I have gone from this:

to this:

They all said marriage would make you round. At least we are tastefully decorated.

Merry Christmas season. Make it a good one

A long time coming

I am not sleeping because I have no need for dreaming.

In one month I'll be (one times two is one) and that's a good thing.

I have grown to appreciate the absurdities: one hundred and ten tiny flowers sprouting from bubble wands; the purposeful folding of a table napkin (is it white or eggshell?); should the hem be one or two inches shorter?; grand entrance and get-away; nail polish color; the height of a centerpiece ...

I don't even remember how write because all I do is build this fast-approaching wedding, piece by glue-gunned piece.

In the fall I might remember I am a writer. I might pick up a notebook and recognize the blankness of the space between the lines. Right now I'm a fiance. And in a month I'll be a wife.


Don't say those words out loud. I might wake up :)

You aint nothin but a Hound Dog

Hm.

Planning a wedding is quite the extravaganza.

Elaine told me to keep it simple and I PROMISE I am trying my HARDEST.

But I really want a cappuccino bar, live music, and a Mediterranean vibe.

As the guest list continues to involuntarily expand, not mind you due to the work of my own fingertips, I half-heartedly consider Zak's dad's suggestion of Vegas.

Elvis seems so much more practical at this moment. And when you're saying he's simpler than the vision in my head, you know our lives are getting interesting.



Today, when I went to pick up lunch for work, I got an intense craving for Skittles. Allow me to undo all my bridal bootcamp workouts with a 1lb bag of rainbow colored goodies.

Hello, Cavities, meet my sweet tooth.

Feb 1 - March 1 was surreal.

Well, how's THAT for overdrive?

It's been exactly one month today since it all started and I don't know how to catch you up. Maybe three-word phrases?

- We are Engaged
- Wedding's in July
- Vendors like Brides
- Stopped doing laundry
- and all homework
- TheKnot New Bestfriend
(that one cheated)
- All Dresses Ordered
- Photographer, Musicians - Check
- Afternoon Waterside Reception
-  Can't Remember Poetry

The reason behind this last one is that poetry--well, any writing--requires a time/space set aside for quiet contemplation and complete absorption in a world of make-believe.


Space moves silent
if treetops wave;
triptych waves listen:
trip frostbitten toes.


Dear World-Diary you are my oyster. I have diamonds on my fingers. The future rests on my nose.