Anniversary dinner

Nothing better than revisiting the place of your first date - in our case it was Chuck's Steak House. I've now only been there three times - and all with Steven. You know when some people name tables at their weddings after significant places (Greg and Kasia...), well if we had done that at our wedding I am sure people would have loved sitting at the Chuck's Steak House table, the Brookfield recycling center table, and the Golf Quest table... needless to say we went with numbers instead of names. After a somewhat stressful day (anyone looking for a job as a secretary.... we have an opening), it was very nice to go to dinner with Steven. Even had a Harpoon IPA. Then we had a thrilling time at the Verizon store where he had to get a new phone (his thought his headset was plugged in and didn't have any sound with out it), and a quick stroll through Home Depot, it was back home... Can you tell we are sure exciting people? I did get a few presents to celebrate this our cotton anniversary. Steven's present isn't here yet - a whole case of hot sauce. He's excited.

Yea for May 30th

There we were two years ago today... right about 1:30 in the afternoon. Of course this year we have to go to work - not as much fun... Had a great weekend. Drove up to MA on Friday and saw my parents before they went to the lake. Went to Lisa and Steve's wedding which was so nice, then met Greg Kasia and Colleen in Newburyport - got to catch up on making fun of them in person which is always good. Then got to see everyone else at Mary's on Sunday - and Mary and Jim's new house which was great.

Memorial Day!

Well its Memorial Day weekend again - hard to believe that almost two years ago Steven and I got married. Feels like time has flown by. May has always been an interesting month for us. Our first date was on May 1, 2002, he asked me to marry him on May 31, 2003, then we were married May 30, 2004, and finally on May 13, 2005 we bought a house. Four years in a row of big things in the month of May! This year we've taken it easy - nothing earth shattering going on in the St. Germain household. We did buy a dogwood tree... that's about it! May 2006 will go down in history of being quiet. About time huh? Oh - we won't be around much this weekend - going to a wedding in Maine tomorrow, meeting up with Greg, Kasia and Colleen tomorrow night in Newburyport (no Firecracker...), and heading to our friend's for a BBQ on Sunday before making our way back to CT Sunday night. Unfortunately Steven has to work Monday but I do get it off.

Whoooo hoooo....

Taylor won! But we had to wait the two hours through somewhat cheesy performances to find that out. Of course we could have just watched the last ten minutes - but then we might have missed something. Well - not much else going on here - boring week...

Taylor's got it in the bag

By far, Taylor Hicks was much better than Katherine last night on American Idol. And the website, www.dialidol.com, has him winning this morning. Of course we won't find out until tonight who actually becomes "the next American Idol," to quote Ryan Seacrest. I've definitely got Steven hooked on American Idol. So tonight's two hour season finale will be watched in the St. Germain house. Taylor was one of our favorites from the very beginning.

Not much else happening here in CT - the weather is supposed to be great this weekend. Maybe a little rain in the morning on Saturday which would be too bad since we are going to a wedding that day. But the wedding is in Maine so maybe it will be fine there. I haven't been to Maine in ages - we are only going to York though so its not really like going to Maine.

First Ice Cream of the Season

Last night we had our first ice cream of the season. I wanted soft serve and Steven wanted cow tracks - and there is only one place to get both - this farm in Newtown. So we drove all the way out there last night after dinner. I have to say that the soft serve was good but not as good as a certain Dairy Maid in Moultonboro NH. At this place in Newtown they serve it in waffle cones. Where I just like having it in a cake cone with some chocolate jimmies. I didn't get jimmies last night - tempted - but didn't indulge. Cow tracks is a sort of vanilla hard ice cream with peanut butter cups and chocolate through it. I don't really like peanut butter ice cream - but Steven loves it.

Blue skies and sunny days

Its such a nice day in CT! After the rain last week, and then the rain yesterday, the sun feels good. Of course I'm stuck inside at work, but at least the view out of the window is promising. So at my workshop over the weekend there was this great session on grammer. I feel like it will help me a lot with my work and also with the story idea I've been kicking around in my head for the past year or so. I've run the story by a few people over the past months and they all like it (or they are just saying they do when I tell them!).

Steven's off fishing today - lucky duck with the day off - but he had to work yesterday when he wasn't supposed to. My car is in the shop getting the brakes fixed - so I have to wait for him to come pick me up. Maybe he'll get me early which would be great. The Da Vinci Code is playing at the movie theater in Bethel - so maybe we will go see that tonight. Anyone see it yet?

Walkin in Memphis

That is what I was doing this weekend. I had a meeting for work - the College Fraternity Editor's Association. What a great meeting. I really feel like it gave me a lot more to think about when approaching AEPhi's magazine and website. My fall issue of the magazine is already outlined and I have tons of ideas for using our website better. The best session, believe it or not, was on grammer. I didn't realize how much I'd forgotten from high school English. There are a few books that I think I'll get to help me out moving forward. Not much else to tell. Unfortunately Steven had to go into work this afternoon. The sun is coming out after the rain that we got this afternoon. Maybe I'll get something done or maybe just realx!

Away

Hi everyone - here is a quick note to let you know I'm away until Sunday afternoon for work. Going to Memphis. Steven's here - so call him and bug him :)

Coffee and Boy Scouts

I slept crappy last night and to make maters worse I didn't make coffee this morning. So I figured I would stop at one of the multiple Dunkin Donuts on my way to work today for my French Vanilla with cream and sugar. OK - so the one around the corner from the house had a long line at the drive through and inside, so I went on by. The one a little further up the street has a short drive through and the cars were piled out to the street. I kept going. I had my best shot at one without a drivethrough - but the light turned and I couldn't get across traffic. Then on Main Street the driveway was blocked. Oh well - guess I will stop across from the office and go in to get a coffee. I got off the highway and lately there have been tour buses stopping at the Micky D's across the street. There was a huge one this morning and as I waited at the light a group of 50 boy scouts crossed the street to head into DD. Geez! I couldn't win - so I called the office and told them I'd be going down the street to Starbucks this morning...

Raining cats and dogs

Well its continuing to rain here in CT. But at least we aren't as bad as what's going on in MA and NH today. My mom still doesn't have school and on Good Morning America they were reporting from Methuen. The Spicket River which runs through downtown still might break the 150 year old dam and if it does then the entire downtown could be flooded and the school and church are right down the street from there. There is supposed to be some flooding here today - but for now I think we are ok - soggy but fine. Steven has the sump pump working correctly and I heard it kick on a couple times this morning. Boston.com has some pictures of Methuen and the flooding. They are saying that it hasn't been this bad in 70 years or more. Steven and I decided last night that I should have gone into broadcasting because I like to know what's going on in everyone else's business...

Good book

So as you all know I've been frequenting the library in Bethel. I found a neat book which I am in the middle of reading called "A Barn in New England: Making a home on three acres" by Joseph Monninger. I found it in the non-fiction section so I think its a true story of this man and his wife who buy a two hundred year old barn and their first year fixing it up. It is is Warren NH - where it that? He mentions Route 25 and Plymouth. Plus his father in law is from Tilton. The part I read last night talks about how they will heat this huge place. I guess it was originally a summer place so only had a wood stove. They got these huge Bennigton Home Heaters which burn coal or wood. Interesting... Like I said - I'm only part way through the book but I think they are successful in fixing it up - wouldn't I love to think I can do something like that!

Sick in CT

Sorry there hasn't been much posted the past couple days - I've been sick. Yesterday I stayed home from work with the beginnings of a sore throat and by today its turned into a pretty good cold. Plus it doesn't help that its rainy and wet here. But today we went for a mystery ride which turned out to be a tour of area garden shops. By the last place - my favorite - we were even more confused as to what to plant in our shady backyard - but we've got somethings. I'll put pictures up soon. Well - I hope it doesn't rain tomorrow - Steven works in the morning and I have some planting to do...

Living in town

Growing up in Methuen we were right around the corner from the library. I went there a lot - as my parents can tell you. But of course I worked there too so I sort of had to be there. One thing I really like about living in Bethel is that we are also around the corner from the library. A little bit farther then in Methuen but still close. I can walk there in no time and so I've started to take advantage of it. We also live very close to the movie theater, dry cleaners, pizza place, video place, CVS, the grocery store, our bank, and the liquor store. Actually, the wall for the liquor store is that brick wall you see in our yard. Not that I walk over there much... But all are within a 15 minute walk of the house. Steven is even on a first name basis with Norma at our bank. Last night I had to return library books - it looked like rain - so I drove and felt guilty about it when I could have saved the gas and just walked. Oh well - next time.

Gray week

Its supposed to get very rainy here this week - but since Monday its been gray and cool. Very un - May like. Things have been really good for me at work. I was asked to be a fellow at Interfraternity Institute (which - for those non-higher ed folks - is a conference for new greek affairs professionals). They ask people who have been in the field for many years (which I chuckle at about me) to come back to lead the institute as fellows. When the guy who called me asked I seriously thought he was calling to talk to my boss. So it was nice to be asked to do that - and I've only really been out of grad school for 6 years but I guess that makes me an almost expert in Greek life! hahaha! Then the first issue of the sorority magazine came out that I edited and a few people have commented about the article I wrote. So that is good too.

New Patio!

So here it is - not what I expected but a good use of the brick that we had around the yard. Steven worked hard on it and they finished the path today. Now we just need a table and chairs on it! And to get the grass to grow... Before
Before

And After - path from the driveway

The landing by the stairs (which will be replaced soon too)

The new patio!

Instant Yard

So yesterday with some help from Simone, the guy that works for Steven at the club, we started cleaning up the backyard. Last year when we moved in we had tons of plans. But all we really accomplished was to dig up the crappy bark mulch around the yard and take out the deck and hottub. We also found that we have a ton of brick and have been gathering that all year. Yesterday we made a lot of progress. We moved a plant to help screen the garage and we took out the garden. The other areas of the yard were also all cleaned up so we took alot of stuff to the dump! Check back later today because we will have more progress. They just got here to work on the next big project...

The deck and hottub before

Most of the backyard before

Deck has been removed and we transplanted the rhody from against the wall to next to the yucky neighbor's garage

The garden is history!

TGIF!

I love Fridays! Especially today since its been a slow day - had lunch with a DZ friend of mine and maybe I'll get to leave early and enjoy the nice weather. Not much planned for the weekend - probably some yard work. Steven had a late day yesterday - lets hope that he gets in earlier tonight. But at least he has all weekend off!

The windows have arrived!

If you remember, we ordered new windows for most of the house from Home Depot. They finally came in! We went last night to pick them up and they almost didn't fit in the truck. But Steven got them in. I can't wait to put them in. We now have to decide if we want to paint or stain the inside wood which then determines what we need to do to all the wood trim in the house. Then we have to make a final decision on what colors we are painting outside so we can paint the outside of the windows as we put them in. All these decisions to make! I think we have the outside decided - going with a dark blue exterior, with antique white trim, and red doors. The inside is a different story. I painted the trim white in our office room and I like it, but Steven said we could replace the window trim on other windows and just stain it or leave it natural if I want. Too many choices!!

Wednesday ramblings...

I was wondering when they would start to sing two songs each. Last night was the night! Can you tell I truly enjoy American Idol. I know that its cheesy but I like to vote and see my favorites go through. It is getting harder and harder though with only five left. Taylor is still our favority. This week Paris has a chance of going home.

Other than that - not much going on - Steven is working a lot this week because the bubble has come down. They redo the courts before the summer starts. I've got some more planting to do around the yard. Then I think this weekend we are going to really work at cleaning out the stuff in the way back. The only bad part about backing up to a brick wall is that we don't have anywhere to toss leaves and clippings. That is the good part about having some woods or clear space. Neither of us really thought about that when we looked at the house. Not that that would be a deal breaker - but next time we go house shopping its something to remember.

Warning - Political commentary enclosed

OK - so stop reading now if you don't want to get into anything political. I've been thinking a lot about the immigration reform happening in Congress and the boycotts yesterday. I'm annoyed because we have many friends who are from other countries who have come here legally to work and are paying their taxes and trying to file their paperwork to stay here legally. Then there are those people who live here, work, don't pay taxes, but want government services. I have a problem with that. Why should someone here illegally have the same level of access to services that I do when I pay my taxes and they don't? Also, I have a problem with the current paths that people have to take to become a citizen. Why does the government make it so difficult for hardworking people to stay legal? For instance, when reapplying for a Green Card, why when all the paperwork is in order, does it take so long? There has to be a happy medium in all this. Why make it a felony to aid an illegal immigrant? That doesn't seem like it will work. I know people say that a lot of those here illegally now do jobs that no one else wants to do, and maybe that is true in some cases. So if so, let them have a clear path to becoming a citizen if that is what they want to do, have them pay taxes, vote like the rest of us, and then they can benefit from living in the United States. Sometimes I get so frustrated with our political system that I just want to move to Canada...

Monday morning update

So I don't get on the computer much at home anymore since I'm on practically all day at work. Hence no updates on the weekends. Steven worked both days this weekend so I did a lot of yard work. Basically I cleaned up around the garage and mulched. I'll have to take a few pictures. There are still a few more things I want to do before we do anything major. The back of the yard still looks yucky where the hottub was and we have to take out the vegtable garden and move the woodpile. But I need Steven's help for that. The bubble comes down over the courts this week so he's working a lot.