So East Coast

We've had our fill of Jehrzee (New Jersey), Bah Hahbah (Bar Harbor, ME) and, of course, chowdah (New England Clam Chowder). Or maybe we've just had our fill of traveling. Either way, we're back home and glad to be sleeping in our own bed.

The whirlwind tour of the east coast was a success in patience, directions and more patience. It all started around 4am on the morning of the 18th. With only three hours of sleep, we packed what remained, piled into the VW and set a course for the Columbus Airport. The flight left early and we had landed, been shuttled to enterprise and set off to Boston before we knew it. We were in Boston shortly after noon and even got to get into our room which was great. The Collonade was perfect. Not too overdone, but they made sure the sheets were clean and it was right around the corner from Copley Square. Had a great time in Boston as the weather was beautiful and we were able to walk all over the place. Woke up Sunday and we were off to Locale #2... Maine.

We took the scenic route (Route 1) shortly after crossing into Maine. It was a good call as we had plenty of time to get to where we were going. With little fanfare, we arrived at the Moorings shortly after 7pm... which is straight-up nighttime in their neck of the woods. Again, this place ended up being perfect. We had plenty of room and it was in a great location on the island. In retrospect, we probably did too much, and that was probably my fault, but it was a great time nonetheless. We spent a lot of time near Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park. Acadia is stupid pretty. The whole area is for the most part. The area we were in was an actual working harbor. Dudes hauling in lobster and fixing boats. It was cool to be close to that and get a glimpse of a completely different way of life. I got in a few really amazing runs. One happened to be a trail run that I came across on accident that went along Long Pond... which is poorly named as it's miles long. Took a whale watching cruise, which ended up being pretty weak. Only one whale and he wasn't much in the mood for showing off, but the boat ride was nice. It was choppy as hell, but I was able to keep my lunch contained. Unfortunately, others around us didn't have such luck. It never seemed to bother Erica either. We were meant to be one with the sea. So Friday morning came too fast, and it was up at 4am again for a 5am departure in order to make a 3pm wedding ceremony in Newark.

The drive was nuts... especially when we got within about an hour of New York, but we made it to the hotel where everyone was staying. It took over eight hours. We were both pretty beat, but made the quick transition into a lovely couple. The ceremony was held outside at the Skylands Botanical Gardens in Ringwood, NJ and the bride and groom couldn't have ordered up more perfect weather. The reception was at this crazy cool Japanese place nearby and we ended up having an incredible time with everyone. The food was top notch, too, which helped because we hadn't eaten since leaving Maine. As much as we would've liked to have stayed up, we got to bed pretty early in preparation for the final leg of our journey... New York, NY.

We woke up and had breakfast with Erica's Aunt Barbara, then dropped the car off at enterprise... but not before trying to find gas in NJ... which happens to be my second experience with the matter and while this time was considerably better than the first, I would still recommend filling up in any or all of the adjoining states before entering Jersey. So we took a shuttle from the airport into the city. It boggles the mind how many people are there and why on earth they allow anyone other than a cab service to have cars on that island. But we made it to our gracious hosts' apartment with nary a scratch. We walked around some and ended up having a fabulous night out in the big city. After breakfast in the morning and a little more walking around, it was back in a cab and off to the airport for the flight home. Many thanks to Ryan and Carrie for putting us up for the night as well as a great night out.

It was a great trip and I honestly wouldn't have traded it for anything. I'm already looking forward to going back. The people were great and the land they live on is a treasure in and of itself. So many places to visit and so little time.

Numero Dos

Welcome Kendall Marie Tyler! She almost held out for the 16th, but decided the 15th was a better fit and snuck in just before midnight. She's little and beautiful and pretty perfect as far as babies go. I didn't get to stay long, but was able to take some pictures and hold her for a minute. It's amazing to think that the little person you're holding isn't even a day old. If you're ever doubting your own capacity for compassion, go look at a newborn baby.

I'm looking forward to hanging out with her more, but for now, we're off to the east coast. Flight leaves at 6:10am tomorrow morning. Yikes.

Norris '09

Had a great time down at Norris Lake this past weekend. We both wish we could've stayed longer. It only means we'll be more prepared next year. The wedding and subsequent honeymoon did make things logistically difficult, but we still made it, still got out on the water, still drank too much beer and still felt let down by the coaching staff at the Ohio State University. Oh well, I really don't see anyone backing out of the big games with the Bucks. The boys worked the surfboard pretty good. I wish I were able to get up, but I lacked the coordination, apparently.

Heading to Cincinnati in a couple of hours to see my brand new niece! Not even a day old. Pictures will certainly follow.

08.22.09

I know I'm making this so much harder than what it should be. I had a blurb all written out and I managed to delete it. Bottom line is that I wanted to thank a whole bunch of peoples that made all of this possible. Looking at these pictures makes me realize how lucky we are to live where we live and love who we love. Everyone should be entitled to this kind of happiness, not just us. Ross did an amazing job capturing the day. I keep going back through the images and smiling like it's the first time I've seen them. Bradley gets a special thanks for hitting the game winner as a freshman. In his ceremonial debut, he delivered one for the ages. I do hope they all are as good as ours was, but I can't see that happening. And while I may be biased, it really was perfect. My Uncle Chuck delivered a heartfelt reading that Erica's dad had written.

“It is generally recognized that a picture need not take for its subject an apple on a plate – though some good pictures have done so – and that a sonata need not be written in C-major and two-four time – though some music has dared to.”

But –

It is generally recognized that love cannot have too complicated a design nor be too comprehended in its scope. When (if) love becomes “too complicated”, if it becomes too abstract and we suddenly have too many places to go, too many things to do and too many excuses to expound – if suddenly it is too ordinary, too similar to what it always was, we become bored. As life becomes more and more complex, love must remain free and dependent only upon one’s feelings for the other. Your true and lasting feelings cannot be dependent on age, on career, on complications of life.

There is no easy way through life, there is no convenient way to stay in love.

A life together cannot become filled by too many good times, for it is not the good times that define a life of love. Love is not what gets you through the first years – love is what gets you through the rough years. Love is what helps you grow – as a couple, as a family, as friends.

But rest assured, love will, on occasion, seemingly disappear – to be totally beyond the moment, be impossible to even ever again consider. That is when you reach back “to when” . To when you chanced to look in the eye, to hold the hand, to be held and be silent.

The ability to prosper emotionally as husband and wife, as parents and as children, and friends and as lovers – that is the continuation of love, the painting of the apple, the composing of the sonata in C-major.

Donald C. Weiss
with many thanks to Dame Rebecca West

Everyone there made it great and I could go on with thank-you's for days on end. My family, especially, could have a whole day of thanks reserved just for them. My brother delivered a great speech and I enjoyed hanging out with him for most of the day. I was proud to stand up there with my mom and dance to the song that she wanted to dance to. And everyone that made the long trip to Cincinnati. It just all made for a pretty amazing day.

Later Summer

I'm breaking rank here and posting out of format... only because I'm not on my computer, thus have no access to Photoshop as I haven't cared to install CS anything on Erica's machine after her big HD meltdown. But there's been some things that have transpired in the last month.

For starters, the wedding's over. And by "over", I mean that it's happened and it really turned out better than Mr. Glass Half Empty could've expected. To say the least, it was perfect and everything came together in that manner almost on its own. It was as if it guided us, not the other way around and I thought that was pretty cool. So many times, people get caught up in the fact that their wedding "has to be" like this, or like that. And much like life, that kind of control is impossible. Now, I'm not saying that it was a walk in the park or there wasn't hard work put into it by a number of parties, but when you let people do what they do, it's great and wonderful things occur because of it. And one of the better parts is the honeymoon isn't for another two weeks. We have a bonzer vacation to look forward. Honestly, I was waiting on images from the photographer to post, but those are in the mail somewhere, so I will save that for another day. In retrospect, I do wish I'd have taken at least one photo the entire weekend. Many props to my sister for making it out with me for a run around Lunken to calm the nerves.

My brother and sister-in-law are expecting #2 any day now! Holy crap, what's it gonna be!?! I have money down in Vegas that he has four girls. I'm not sure poor Lauren is aware of the life-changing event that will soon be taking place in her little world. Maybe she'll be cooler with Uncle Jason, although I can't complain too much. Other than a little spell around Christmas, she's been more than willing to hang out and get picked up. She even let me put her down one night not too long ago. She twitches more than me when she's falling asleep.

Labor Day weekend is here. The unofficial end to summer. High school football is already two weeks into their season and the Buckeyes got away with one over the weekend against Navy. It blows my mind how tentative Heacock is with that defense. For years, he's played soft in the first half... always on their heels. Marathon training is well under way. My first 20-miler is this week, and it doesn't really let up for another month. It'll culminate at the Columbus Marathon as that will be my last "long run" before I taper for the Monumental Marathon in Indy. I can't wait. I feel good following the bike fiasco and I'm ready to put the hammer down on a BQ. My mileage is almost 20mpw more than what it was last year at this same time, and I'm hoping that it helps me come race day. I ran in the rain at the Leap for the Ligers 5K this morning at Griggs Reservoir. The rain was actually pretty nice, but I once again went out too fast and blew up in the end. I'm going going to get it right one of these days. I do have to keep in mind that this came following an 18-miler Friday morning and then seven miles of hills yesterday. But it still should be better than a 19:17 (noticed the official time on their site... my watch sucks). I think that's what it was officially, not entirely sure. Their clock was a little weird. But I met some great people and got in a good workout.

So that's about it. I'll have to get a picture or two up tomorrow when I'm in front of my computer at work. We spent the afternoon down in Hocking Hills yesterday. I love that place. It was too bad we couldn't have stayed. Hope everyone's Labor Day weekend was as good as mine.