Happiness, year one

We were with some author friends this weekend and one took this picture of us... dubbing it "anniversary picture" because tomorrow we'll finish off our first married year.

I can't predict what's ahead but if any of the rest of them are half as good, it'll be just another confirmation of how blessed we are. Because of work schedule, we are celebrating in an oh-so-appropriate bookend style, with mountain time in Estes Park, CO [pic taken outside of Smokin' Dave's excellent BBQ joint] and ocean time this weekend. We head down to Charleston, SC on Saturday, for a couple of days of beach and friends and seafood.

Since last May 19th, we married, adopted our dog, bought a house, hosted Mom Marchese twice, Thurman and Kim and Jenny and Eric visited, we traveled to Las Vegas, Orlando {SM only}, Baltimore, Atlantic City, Philadelphia, Richmonds in Ohio and Indiana, Columbus, Santa Fe, Alburqurque, the Grand Canyon, San Francisco, Browning, Montana, and around Colorado, we both turned 36, we both experienced the rocking-and-rolling of our companies by the recession. We read a lot of books, watched too much TV, cooked loads of food, most good - some not, expanded our midsections, so we exercised. We cut grass, raked leaves, shoveled snow, hired a plumber, killed ants, walked the dog, did laundry, cleaned house, had the soil tested. We volunteered at the Humane Society, helped a out bit with youth at the church, used a nail gun with Habitat for Humanity, sponsored Lucy through World Vision, we could have done more. We worshipped at Chapel of Our Saviour, partook of the elements, attended Lessons and Carols and Ash Wednesday and Stations of the Cross, chatted during coffee hour, and we are mourning our minister's retirement in July. We missed our family and friends deeply.

And we've fought and cried some, asked for forgiveness and forgiven lots, laughed even more, talked for ages. Hopefully, we have done as the Book of Common Prayer expresses, and made our lives together a sign of Christ's love to this sinful and broken world, that unity may overcome estrangement, forgiveness heal guilt, and joy conquer despair.

If not, then we know we have something planned for this year.

Bradyn and Old Bear

Our Montana niece. She is adorable... and a friend to the animals.

Pointless Post Two

That header picture, by the way, is the view from our house. It's not our house. Just what we see from the kitchen, family room, front porch, office... And there's currently snow on the mountain. :)

Pointless New Post to Get Back into the Habit

The Marchese television viewing habits are a lot like seventh grade crushes.

I like you, I ignore you. Don't sit next to me on the bus to the field trip, okay? Why haven't you written me a note lately...I wrote you five! Yes, it's true... I don't want to "go" with you anymore.

Our schedules are inconsistent and we forget when things are on. They move a show to a different time slot and we're not paying attention. Sometimes we'll catch it online... or not. We'll talk about watching a lot of things, but we watch a little of many different things and not a whole lot, consistently. Not since Battlestar Galactica ended. {Tear... Sob}

But my new crush is on Saving Grace. I flirted with this show when it first came out, but I'm never quite sure if I like Holly Hunter or find her too chihuahua-like, a tiny aggressive thing. But as we have watched a few consecutive episodes of the second season, I'm becoming such a fan of the performances and the faith/you have a purpose themes - even with the kooky angel theology, lack of Jesus, and sometimes lackluster plot wrap-ups. Paul likes it too, but his attachment is more casual. I can't recommend it to others, really, unless I know they won't mind that Grace is a self-destructive, foul-mouthed, mostly-functioning drunk. But there's heart in this crew and the Oklahoma City setting makes you thank God for big belt buckles and cheap beer and die-hard college football fans. A place more like home for the rest of us, sandwiched between coasts.

We watched the Unusuals, a new cop show, last night. Nathan Fillion in Castle is adorable even if the plots are recycled CSI shows. Dollhouse got pretty interesting when I started having busier Fridays, but getting attached to a Joss Whedon show is certain heartbreak. I still love my House but struggle to get home for it's early Monday night slot. And they don't put the shows online for a WEEK. We catch 30 Rock pretty consistently and it makes us laugh until we "liz" a little.

With our new flings... we've let old relationship fade away. No more Grey's Anatomy. The Mentalist was a bust. Ugly Betty let the guest stars ruin it. BSG is completed. I'm Iron Chef-ed out. Project Runway is stuck in legal mud and Top Chef and Leverage are on break.

Grace and Earl and Ham and Reta and Bobby and Butch might break up with me. But the beauty of a seventh grade crush is you'll also have that one slow dance to Against All Odds before you change partners.

Baby, it's cold outside

Our first deep freeze is here. It's 6 degrees out, even with the brave sun shining his little heart out. He is doing a good job making the snow-crusted trees and grasses sparkle... like vampires in a Stephenie Meyer novel.

The cold inspired me to read from Laura Ingalls Wilder's The Long Winter to Paul last night as we were settling in. Reminds me to be thoroughly grateful that we don't have to break the ice in the water bucket in the morning or get the wood stove going to heat up our shanty. We had a productive weekend of household "improvements" that included finishing up the decorations {on the much-warmer Saturday}, revamping some old furniture, a trip to Lowe's for the highly-anticipated new dining room light fixture, restocking the empty kitchen cupboards. If you are looking for a chandelier, perhaps as set decoration for a Robin Hood revival, please let us send you the one we are replacing. It is heavy and medieval.

We did organize our time enough to make it to the Lessons and Carols service at church last night, which was definitely worth the hustling. The cold seemed to scare off much of a crowd, but our choir is so beautiful and the musicians, so talented! I left humming and skipping to Bring a Torch, Jeanette, Isabella and my husband is further convinced that I am indeed, a dork.

And while we have a tree of the traditional fir variety, we took Buffy's laid-back nature as an opportunity to show off her holiday spirit. Alas, the lights and hat didn't stay but she seems downright jolly about the string of bells we keep looping around her.

Food Blog

As I stirred, this 36Th birthday morning, I received a text from my sister, letting me know that I'll be getting my gift from "the heart of Wawa Pa". As it is our 6 month anniversary plus two days, it is a reminder of things I miss about home and an early conversation with my wife at the South Street Philly Wawa. For those in the know, Wawa is my favorite coffee and cheap gas and good fresh, quick food store in the world " Coffee and no ATM fees"… 

In preparing to clean and mop the floors of our house, I put on the TV for some back round noise. Low and behold "Pizza paradise" on the Travel channel. Another reminder, N.Y. fold the slice at Ray's, New England thin crust in Little Italy R.I., Chicago deep dish at the 1St ever Uno's, and ending with a $1000 caviar and lobster pizza, that costs $750 just to make! What, no Marzellas or Pizza Box on the list??? Also, No Rita's Italian Water Ice out here, BUMMER! Sure the steak is going to be great Saturday night.

Chow 

Six Months!

Let the celebration continue... amidst economic downturn, work woes, and sinus infection... we're loving the journey.