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May 15, 2010 | Family

Photo by Sue Ranta

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2 college degrees
1 park
1 judge
2 violins
1 photographer
2 forlover
10 Norwegians
30 people in all
1 vase
1 rose
6 cities
4 states
2 countries
5 fireplaces
2 spiral staircases
1 barn
3 motorcycles
1 minivan
1 dip with piranhas by the coral reef
2 sunburns in London
1 La Fête Nationale in France
1 hilarious rollercoaster ride
3 beautiful children
17 years of marriage
20 years of togetherness
Thousands of laughs
Some tears
Unlimited hugs
Never enough time

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I totally stole this idea from Ilina over at Dirt & Noise.

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Photo by Sue Ranta

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Oh, how young and pretty we were. *sigh*

I removed my wedding dress from its sealed box two years ago on our 15th wedding anniversary. I could *almost* fit into it. I just needed a little exercise (or duct tape). I planned to rent a tuxedo, squeeze into my dress and have professional photographs taken. Then we moved to Iowa. I gained 40 pounds (and aged 10 years). So, yeah. Maybe in three years for our 20th. When we go back to Italy. I can lose that 40 pounds by then. I’m down 12 pounds since January, so that’s a start.

OK, but seriously.

I can’t remember where I found this, but I wrote it in a book I made for us 10 years ago.

Please take my hand
and walk with me a while.
We’ll talk of love beneath a tent of stars,
then journey through a life of golden days,
and I’ll be happy anywhere you are.

This is all I ask of life,
that our tomorrows be
as happy as the yesterdays
have been for you and me.

Just this I ask,
That every hour, each day, our lifetime through
will find you still in love with me,
as I will be with you.

To my husband: Thank you for showing me — every day — unconditional love, unqualified acceptance, true forgiveness, laughter, kindness, generosity and a beautiful human spirit. I’m so glad we found each other, oh, so many years ago. Happy anniversary.

Music: Choo Choo

January 31, 2010 | Music

I <3 Twitter. Don’t you? It is SO full of awesome. And, OMG, the music. I follow some of my favorite musicians on Twitter, and I’ve found some great music I probably never would have found otherwise. The Snake Charmers? Hello. Rock!

I’ve followed Choo Choo, a band from Switzerland, for a while (@choochootheband). I finally ordered their CD, and it arrived the other day, so I listened to it. Oh, what fun. They describe their sound as 1960s teenage beat and Indie pop. And, yeah, I hear the 1980s resurgence of the 1960s in there. They remind me just a touch of Southern Culture on the Skids (SCOTS are way more hillbilly, but something is similar, especially the frantic drums) with a dash of The Finnsters, who could do a mean Steppin’ Stone back in the day. They’re working on a new album right now, and I think it’s due out later this year. Go, Choo Choo!

(Speaking about SCOTS, did I ever tell you about them, Skipper’s and Stephen King? Eh, another day, then.)

Book: Lights on a Ground of Darkness

November 20, 2009 | Books,Iowa,Nebraska

I just finished reading Lights on a Ground of Darkness by Ted Kooser. Have you ever read Kooser, the 13th Poet Laureate of the United States? Oh, you must. You must!