Whirlwinds in life

Whirlwinds have caught up my normally busy bustling life and have caused it to hit warp-speed. I realized I’d not put up a blog post since October…  So I thought I’d catch everyone up on the general goings on.  Biggest event for Miki and I since October is that we got married on December 4th. W00t!  Thank you to everyone who sent us well wishes and helped us to celebrate in person or in spirit we really appreciate it.   We pressure tested the house with a reception/party on the 6th. 

I couldn’t wrap my head around 60+ people fitting into my house at one time but they did.  Of course we also started working on the workshop and garage in October to turn the garage into a usable party space.  Miki’s mother Betty truly outdid herself working on getting everything ready for the party.  We would come home and things like the workshop floor would have be epoxied.  The cabinets in the garage would have been cleaned out and all the stuff inside them would have been put into clear storage boxes with labels.  Rolling shelving would have been put together in the workshop and all the clear labeled boxes would have been sorted and stored…. she’s retired, and no she’s not coming  to your house next, she’s ours. nee-ner.   

We also went with Miki’s parents to Sanibel Island for Thanksgiving.  After all the stress of gearing up for the wedding laying back on the sand at night and watching stars shoot across the sky was just what we needed.  We walked on the beach at sunrise.  (I took pictures to document Miki actually being conscious and wearing pants pre-dawn on the beach.)  One of the highlights was going kayaking in Tarpon bay through the mangroves.  It is hard to describe just how quiet and how beautiful it is out there.  I could have joyfully gone again.  We took a pontoon boat ride at sunset out to just outside the bay.  We were entertained by dolphins jumping and playing for about a half hour.  We grilled Pork tenderloins in a Tequila lime and chili marinade for T-day dinner.  It was all really relaxed and wonderful.  I love going to sleep listening to the ocean outside.

I sang Christmas Carols with my co-workers for our office party.  I kind of got conscripted to sing, but given that my boss was also conscripted to get the entertainment together and he “got to” sing karaoke Elvis the week of his birthday, I guess I can’t complain too much.   I’ve really missed singing.  This time of year it can be a 2 edged sword.  December tends to be a very hard month for me emotionally, both of my parents have shed this mortal coil which makes all the festivities a field of landmines of both wonder and sadness.  One of the last memories that I have of my Mom is singing for her in the nursing home with Past Times (Medieval Madrigal Group).  I also have other friends who’s voices only join with mine now in my memory – so every so often when I’m singing, especially at Christmas I get this huge lump in my throat and end up all choked up and teary eyed and red faced.  (By the way if this happens while singing about Wassail  people look at you like you’ve completely lost your mind.)  So any time I make it through a set of Christmas music happy, dry eyed and overall cheerful I count it as a success and add it to the growing list of happy December memories.

The day after the reception/party I held auditions for the plays for Black Gryphon.  I’m directing the Wife of Bath’s tale and the Nun’s Priest’s tale by Chaucer.  I’m going to have 2 narrators and have all the actors pantomiming the action.  Tonight is the first rehearsal.  I’m nervous and excited.  I think it will be terrific fun but alot of work.  But as with everything as long as no-one is bleeding or on fire I guess it’s ok.   Bella and I are also gearing up to work on feast for Holly and Ivy.  I’m trying to not jump in and take over.  I’m using it to help me learn how to help guide someone without taking over a project.  When your baby book has a one of your first descriptions as being bossy, not taking over a project takes practice. 

So that kinda sums up the whirlwind of our latest adventures.  I’ll post pictures of the beach/wedding/ and reception as soon as I have time to get everything pulled off the cameras.