Catchin up: Phase One

Since I feel so heartbroken and miserable about the cobwebs and decay here on Big Plain V, I thought it crucial to invest some serious alone time with it – you know, before our relationship crumbles entirely. You might say I went back to bed after I put my kids on the bus and slept til eleven and didn’t have good time to really get in some good writing. You could say that, but it wouldn’t be entirely true (I only slept til 10:50). Anyway, what I have for you here is the first installment in my efforts to catch up. I’ll probably do more this weekend.

First off, here’s a supersweet treat for y’all: this link will take you to an online photo album where I’ve uploaded all of everybody’s wedding pictures – all 230 of them. Mike, Laura, Mom, and me. Anywhere you go that has an internet connection, be it work or just visiting friends, you can now share with them our special day. Admission is free, although small donations will be accepted to offset costs (cuz free photo-sharing websites are so expensive these days). Be sure to read the special disclaimer on the front.

Biiing-Boooong-Bing-Booooong (wedding bells)

And here’s some of my favorite reception pictures featuring ‘me’. I just love ‘me’. ‘Me’ is soooooo funny. ‘Me’ is not a dork at all. Despite what ‘they’ say.


The slide show is done and features nearly 300 pictures set to fifteen minutes of music. The songs are kind of a surprise, and there are some moments when I get a little goofy – I hope nobody minds. The only part of it I plan to blog is like the last three minutes: pretty much all dancing shots, like those in the collage above. Trust me, it’s fun.

So right now I’m in the process of putting this and the wedding videos onto DVD’s to send to everybody. And in the meantime, I need to know who all ‘everybody’ is. Here’s who I have in mind: Mom, Jamie, Laura (maybe), me, Uncle Brian, Aunt Valerie, and California Dad. That’s nine. Am I missing anybody? Anybody from Chris’es family maybe? I’m not looking for people who’ll shrug casually and say, “Eh, if you gave me one, I wouldn’t throw it away.” I’m only willing to invest the grueling labor and wads of cash on those who actually want to relive this cherished event over and over, on most probably a semi-nightly basis, replete with beverages and snack foods and boxes of tissues to catch the innocent, dripping reminders of how heart-rendingly lovely it all was. So if you know anybody like that, drop their names in my comment box.

One last thing: we’re looking at May 10th for having a Mother’s Day cookout here on my new deck (which I don’t actually have yet but fully expect to by May 10th). Early afternoon. All are invited. It’s the day before Mother’s Day. Which is a Saturday. Which was named after the Roman god of war: Saturn. Which is weird because most of the other days were named after Nordic deities (Thor and Frigga, and Woden – is he Nordic?).

http://thenameishailie.blogspot.com/ New link for Hailie's blog - there are actual posts. Poetry and a video of her singing. You'll want to check these out.

Updation

So here's why I haven't been updating this month: I have some monster momentum going on my writing. I wrote 18 pages today, 17 yesterday, 20 on Friday, and I've written pretty much 15 pages or more every day for the last few weeks. Not bad for a guy that gets less that 6 hours of sleep a night. Of course, one or two days a week I pass out from exhaustion and only get about ten pages or less done - damn my weakness.

As of today, my book has grown to 312 pages - by far my longest book so far - and I don't expect to wrap the first draft up in any less than 80 - 100 more pages. Hopefully by the end of next week. After that, it goes in a drawer for a few weeks, then I start the PAINFUL editing process, and then, hopefully by mid-summer, I can start querying agents. That's my plan anyway. Think I might dabble in a few short stories in the midstwhile.

So, yeah, I know I've neglected a log of blogging. I've got some soccar videos, the daddy-daughter dance, and some new construction on my house to blog about. And, I would be remiss if I failed to mention the reception/dancing slideshow which I fully intend to post. Do you feel tantalized? Intrigued? If you don't, you should, cuz it's good.

See y'all soon.

The Wedding of the Century

Congratulations Laura and Chris, we are all so, so, sooo happy for you. You're wedding was very touching and sweet and funny, and none of us will forget this day as long as we live.

Here are a few video highlights. But I have to warn you; watch Laura's speech to Chris with a box of tissues - even the stoniest heart will be deeply moved. I chose not to include Chris's speech to Laura because, well, it's the sort the kind of thing one would need to get express written permission to share with the public. But trust me on this: it was every bit as awesome.

The wonderful song that the girls sang during the bridal dance. I had a hard time deciding whether I should be filming the bride and groom, or the singers, so I kind of divided it between the two. Hope that's okay.

I'm going to get started making a big DVD for Laura and Chris. It will include the full video, and some photo slideshows, and I'm going to need your help. I have very few photos, mainly because my camera takes such terrible stills. Laura, Jamie, Mom, please get me a digital copy of all of your photos from the wedding, and well as any music files you think might be appropriate. Once the DVD is done, I want to give you all copies, and send some to Dad and Grandpa and Uncle Brian and anybody else who might want to reminisce about our wonderful night.

Lil' Cheerleaders

This post here's mainly for the aunts and grandmas that check my blog. All others are free to watch and read and whatnot, but I don't know how interested you'll be in four minutes of discordant yelling and jumping.


As promised: the little cheerleading video (and a couple of pics).

I asked Paige, "What do cheerleaders do?"

"We're supposed to cheerlead for the team, so they can have some energy... and help them win."

Ain't little girls cute?