New Post ...New Spouse ... New Year ~ Woo Hoo!

Well, well, well. Just when you think it’s safe to visit the Cerebral Outpost, the Hag is back! I know … it’s about darned time.

Sometimes, when you’re a newlywed and you have an opportunity to spend your honeymoon at home with your marvelous husband while he’s on vacation from work, you just have to put everything else on the back burner and soak up the special moments like there’s no tomorrow.

Again, I find myself so grateful to everyone who stops here with their comments, game entries (memories) and their well-wishes! Words cannot express how wonderful it has been for us to pop in and read all the lovely sentiments everyone posted here. This has meant so much!

The wedding was picture perfect ~ cozy, personal and ever-so-romantic. I have a few pictures to share so I’ll bring in the New Year with this post and will be starting my blog rounds within the next day or so ~ I will be visiting every single person who has stopped by over the past two weeks so please understand if it takes me some time to make my way over. I have missed this activity VERY much and can’t wait to resume regular posting and visiting!

Ed & I moments after the ceremony on 12/17/05

In our backyard upon returning home ~ we thought the ice-covered pond and Lantern Hill would make a nice background ~ I hope you like it, we froze our patooties off

Here's the old ball and chain begging for one more shot outdoors ~ poor Ed

Here we are safely and warmly tucked away in our living room near the tree

Nothing says lovin' like a cozy hug with the man of your dreams ~ go ahead, all together now ~ "Awwww"

We will NOT be getting matching sweaters and we will NOT be buying matching cars ~ but this photo, to me, was too precious for words so I had to include it

And to wrap up the day's events, we enjoyed a scrumptious dinner for two at one of our favorite restaurants on a cove in Mystic

I know this comes a bit late but I would like to wish everyone a cheerful, healthy, prosperous and loving New Year! Perhaps in 2006, I can get the rest of my act together and be a better blog-buddy. Hugs to all!

UPDATE (1.2.06): Since two people have asked how I made it out to the dock in those heels, I thought I'd explain. It was all done with lights and mirrors.

No, in fact, the gallant gentleman that Ed is, he removed his jacket and placed it in front of my every footstep.

Okay ... truth be told, the ground was still quite frozen which made the heels sink in only about 1/16th of an inch instead of the usual 3 inches. I didn't care about the soiled heels ~ initially we wanted to be married in our yard in the fall with the pond as a backdrop ~ the outdoor photos were important to me somehow. :)

News and Such

I cannot tell you how much fun I had playing the game during my previous post! So many came out to play that it really kept me quite busy trying to match wits with your memories. The participation was greatly appreciated and with a “pretend past” like mine, I can’t even believe I’m still here to pretend-write about it. Many thanks to all who contributed and to all who read the entries!

Now for some news, appreciation, and more news …

Our Christmas Eve Living Room 2004

NEWS

Yesterday was the one-year anniversary of The Cerebral Outpost. Thinking back to a year ago and comparing it to today, I can’t even imagine that I had the time to begin this new hobby. Who begins a blog a week before Christmas? Sheesh.
This brings me to my next topic …


APPRECIATION

Historically speaking, I suffer from “lose interest in hobbies rather quickly” disorder. It’s a terrible shame really. Through the years, I’ve created my share of half-finished latch-hook rugs, half-finished children’s story books, half-finished organizational attempts (ugh), half-finished songwriting, and half-assed attempts to become a gourmet cook.

So what has kept me at blogging for a whole year and looking forward to much, much more? Well, it’s interesting. When I started out, I knew that I’d be blogging for myself – as a means to practice my writings, as a means to keep them somewhat organized and in one safe place, and as a means to document much of my past for the sake of my daughter who could one day look back on the nostalgic posts and realize “Oh, so that’s what made mom tick.”

Shortly thereafter, people started to read the Outpost and share comments and I don’t have to tell you how encouraging and comforting that is!

I’d like to make particular mention of some of my earliest and still current readers:
Don Swift (he first planted the idea of blogging into my head and then led me to Blogger.com – Thanks, DS … I’m eternally grateful).

Then, in the order in which they first visited, there was Beth, Dana, Grant, John, June, H&B2, PBS, Carol, Psuche, BugsButt, Mark, Jon, Hick, Walker and Dan. These people have been hanging around and contributing wonderful comments to the Outpost since as far back as January, February and March … and incredibly, they still come back for more. Thank you so much for your undying support!

(Special mention goes out to GEL because she’s gone back and read and commented on many of my early writings, which is quite rare for readers to do and is way cool of her)


APOLOGIES

I’ve been away from my computer more than at it these days, with the exception of keeping to my word on the game-playing responses in my last post.

Bless me bloggers for I have sinned. It has been around two weeks now (sometimes longer) since my last visit … there are reasons other than the obvious holiday madness, and I promise to make every attempt to make up for lost time as soon as my duck’s are back in a row … BUT …


MORE NEWS

I’m getting married on Saturday (tomorrow). Yay me and Ed!

Ed and I have been together now for just under six years after meeting on the Internet. We’ve been happy together since day one and have grown incredibly close. He is every woman’s dream of a solid, loving, caring, responsible and dedicated man (and he’s sexy too but I didn’t say that). He’s also a million other things to me … and I cannot wait to promise the rest of my days to him.

We’re having a very simple yet romantic ceremony in near-complete privacy which was something we have talked about and planned for quite some time now. It’s just the way we like things ~ quiet, calm, and simple.

There you have it ~ I’m excited as hell and can’t possibly put into words what this means to me. I feel like I finally got it right.

I’ll be back soon ... but incase it’s not before next week, please be safe, warm, reflective and happy throughout your holidays and the coming year. And thank you again ~ everyone ~ for helping to make this a truly wonderful year for me! Hugs to all.

Carol

Come Play With Me!

I have been suffering all week from a love-hate friction with Blogger. Between comments being screwed with and various other glitches, I don’t know which I’m more upset about. They seem to have gotten with the program now, so I’ll try posting this fun, interactive ditty in hopes that things are finally squared away. Please, if you have any trouble with my blog, use the email provided in my profile so I can let the techtards know as early as possible. Thanks!

Okay readers. It’s time to sharpen your pencils and your imagination. Hopefully, I’ll get to sit back and read some fine entries – and the best part is – there’s no time limit. Read the rules below and let the games begin. My one request for this particular post is that lurkers jump in for a change. I’d be most interested to see what you all have to say!

Oops, I almost forgot to mention the most important part – I got this directly from my favorite tree-hugger buddy. Visit her, she’s a hoot.

RULES

If you read this, if your eyes are passing over this right now, (even if we don't speak often) please post a comment here on my blog with a COMPLETELY MADE UP AND FICTIONAL memory of you and me. It can be anything you want - good or bad - BUT IT HAS TO BE FAKE.When you're finished leaving your comment, post this little paragraph on your blog and be surprised (or mortified) about what people DON'T ACTUALLY remember about you.I think this will be fun for all; like a bowl of Skittles and M&M's mixed; a color and a flavor for everyone! "

I know I don’t usually do this, but I’ll be responding (in “comments”) to each memory I read.

Ready, set, GO.

It's Hagtoid Time

Hagtoids, as some may recall, are factoids about Weary Hag.

My first installation was posted on May 19, 2005 and the second on June 6, 2005. I guess it’s about time to post the third.

Picking up where I left off:

65. I think velvet is pretty to look at, but I cannot stand to touch it. I get that fingernail-running-down-a-blackboard feeling all over if I do.

66. I love most veggies, but my favorites include farm fresh corn on the cob, spinach, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, sweet potato, artichoke, kidney beans, and chick peas.

67. I get such a kick out of listening to little kids trying to explain things and elderly people reminiscing.

68. When I’m not nice, I’m extremely not nice. I have a really hard time finding gray area when something truly twists my bra.

69. I would rather play a board game for hours with good company than go out to a movie or play.

70. Most of the many games in our house are word or phrase related (“creative” games). Monopoly can be fun for about thirty minutes; strategy games tend to annoy me after a short time. AND … I try not to keep score because – well – see next entry.

71. I am no good at all, under any circumstances whatsoever, with numbers. Mind you, I was an excellent cashier; my cash drawer was always dead-on, but I perceived those kinds of numbers as “money” instead. Don’t bother trying to tell me it’s the same concept. I hate math and will just get pissed off at you. No really, I will.

72. I don’t like to do dishes but I’d rather I did them than Ed because he really, really hates to do them and he’s such a good man. The only part of dishes that I cannot stomach is cleaning out the little sink drain when I’m done. Those soapy food particles just turn my stomach inside out. I usually ask him or SJ to take care of that.

73. I always have and probably always will love a hot-sounding muscle car. Notice I didn’t say hot “looking” because I don’t care if it needs paint – if it makes my chest rumble when it goes by – I am lovin’ it.

74. The first car I ever drove (and learned to drive on) was a fully worked ’69 GTO. I think I burned out three clutches but my grease monkey boyfriend back then didn’t seem to mind.

75. Dave Barry and Gary Larson were the first truly funny writers I ever paid any attention to – and I quickly became hooked on both (thanks to my dad pointing them out to me back in the early 70s).

76. One of the coolest quotes I’ve ever read and can no longer find anywhere online is “If I want to read a good book, I’ll write one.” I hate that I can’t cite it – I know I wasn’t dreaming – it wasn’t too long ago that I read this and it was spoken by someone everybody would be familiar with. **update** See Kathy's comment - she knew the quote! Also, see Kathy's blog! She has been a great inspiration to me.

77. Shel Silverstein is my favorite children’s author. His writings were so darned cute. He inspired me to write children’s stories; too bad inspiration is only half the battle.

78. I was the youngest of four girls yet I’m the tallest, the heaviest (now), the most congenial and for much of our adult lives, the poorest. I was also the only one who was bald till about two years old and then remained a blonde till now. The others had light colored hair as toddlers but it quickly turned to medium and dark brown.

79. My oldest sister was a Catholic nun for twelve years. She had to get the Pope’s permission to divorce God. Lucky for her, he kept the kids.

80. I wrote in chalk on the outside brick wall of our school building. I got caught by Sister Mary Rita and she made me walk to the convent with her and bring back a bucket of soapy water and a big brush. I didn’t mind this so much, but it really pissed me off when she made me scrub off the crap other kids had written as well. The next week, a friend and I went back and as I stood guard at the corner of the building, she drew a large, anatomically-exaggerated picture of Sister Mary Rita. Good times.


It's supposed to snow here in beautiful New England tomorrow morning. I don't know how this is possible but I truly look forward to, AND dread it at the same time.

Enjoy what's left of the weekend!


"I have never let my schooling interfere with my education" (Mark Twain)