Our Rustic Christmas

I’m not big into holidays. Not really my thing. I dislike Christmas music and easily get fired up about insane consumerism/materialism of the season (of which, unfortunately, I often participate in. ugh.) But this year, my goal is to embrace the holidays and learn to enjoy the nonstop twitter tirade of “Just tuned in to the 24/7 Christmas music station!” and “Starbucks finally has their gingerbread/apple cider/acorn delight lattes!” Why am I such a Scrooge?!

This year will be different though. I WILL BE A JOLLY GOOD ELF! Even if it kills me…

Happy as a Clam: The Glorious Benefits of Marrying Up

This weekend we received some pretty terrible news. I’m realizing that when I get stressed or upset I shut down and sleep. The Bong? He cooks.

During our honeymoon to Seattle, we had dinner one night at a place called Palace Kitchen. Oh, goodness. I won’t say that that was the highlight of the honeymoon, but it was amazing. I had clams for the first time and fell in love.

Too Much of a Good Thing

Last week Portland hit record highs of 100+. I kept thinking all week that this shouldn’t be a big deal-I’m of hearty stock, being a third generation Okie and all, right? Wrong. I cried like a baby. Portland has yet to discover the only thing that makes Oklahoma survivable during the summer, a novel invention called AC. When I moved into my studio apt, now fondly referred to as the “Lovin’ Oven,” I was assured that no apartments in Portland have AC. Some Portlanders even called it “unnecessary.” I’m pretty sure that those same Portlanders cried this week as well.

Home Sweet Home

As someone who has lived in the most obscure random places in the world*, the longing for a home intensifies each year.  That and the fact that I HATE moving. But then, I have yet to meet someone who gets psyched about putting all of their crap into boxes, carrying it up the inevitable 3 floors and then leaving said crap in boxes until the next move.  I digress. Home.  Where you can just be.   You can let the ugly out and it doesn’t frighten anyone.  In the past, I have mistakenly thought that home would be destination, a finally resting place.  A place where all my junk could have its own special and permanent place.  Oh, but I’ve learned that it is so much more than that.  Recently, I happened to fall into marriage most unexpectedly.