Stepping Away from the Edge

The Calling of Your Hearts

When I first read this week's Ten on Tuesday email, announcing the topic, my reaction was. . . well, let's just say . . . less than enthusiastic.  Now, I'm not a Wedding-Scrooge or anything. . . but I haven't been to many weddings lately, and I just haven't been thinking about weddings. . . let alone what I love about them!

But I let the topic simmer for awhile.  I started thinking about my own wedding . . . 30 years ago!  It was a fairly low-key affair.  Small.  Church.  Cake-and-champagne at my parent's house afterward.  Things were simpler in 1981!  Not such big productions when it came to weddings back then.  Just the basics.

Eventually, I even got out my wedding photo album and took a little trip down Memory Lane.  I warmed up to the topic.   Here are Ten Things I Love About Weddings (inspired by my own):

1.  Music - We had this song at our wedding:

 

I'm sure it's not a common song at weddings these days, but back in 1981, it was de rigueur.  Last fall, Tom and I went to a wedding and there was a string quartet before the ceremony.  So lovely!

2.  Bridal Fashion - I love to see what the bride chooses to wear -- and how she dresses her wedding party.  My own wedding?  Oh-so-1981 and all coordinated and matchy-matchy!  (I made all the bridesmaids dresses.  Can you believe it?)

I love the newer trends where the bridesmaids don't all match. Several years ago, a bride I knew had all of her bridesmaids choose a navy blue dress they loved.  Any style.  Any length.  Everyone looked great; everyone had a dress that suited them.  It was perfect! 

3.  The groom's face - I'm such a sucker for romance, I just love to see the look on his face when the bride walks down the aisle. 

4.  Personal ceremonies - I love it when the bride and groom write their own vows or do something unique to make the ceremony their own.  Tom and I wrote our own vows.  At the time, it was still pretty "new" and "out there" to do that -- and we had to get permission from the minister.  (We really pushed the boundaries there, in our little matchy-matchy outfits!)

5.  Cake - I love wedding cake!

6.  Shattering expectations - I like to see a wedding with personality!  We had a Spiderman groom's cake at our reception (there's a story there. . . maybe someday. . . ).  My grandmother nearly died of embarrassment, but it was pretty cool!  I really do like to see couples doing something a little. . . unexpected.  Whether it's dancing down the aisle, having a "Man of Honor" (sometimes, the bride's best friend is actually a guy...), or having a "groomswomen" --- I like to see couples doing weddings THEIR way.

7.  Champagne - Wouldn't be a wedding without a little bubbly!  (And maybe a keg . . . out in the garage. . .)

8.  Clinking the glasses at the reception so the bride and groom have to kiss.  I never heard of this until we moved to Michigan, so I don't know if it's a regional thing or not -- but it's a fun way to play with your place setting at sit-down dinner receptions.

9.  Ritual and commitment.  When it comes to making a lifetime commitment to each other, I think the ritual of ceremony (however defined), witnessed by friends and family, is the perfect setting.

10.  Remembering.  Whenever I'm at a wedding, I think back to my own special day.  It always makes me smile!  (Especially when I look at the photos!)

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Now Everything is Easy

Soundtrack:

 

Once upon a time, there were two college students. . .

who met, and fell in love. . .

and decided, what the heck, let's get married. . .

Today. . . it's 30 years later!

That's 30 years. . . over three states, six moves, five degrees, three houses, two kids, five pets (not including gerbils and goldfish), nine cars (not including the kids' cars -- that would be a Ford Fiesta, two Mazda sedans, two minivans, the Exploder Explorer, and three Subarus), three downsizings, one major building project, one bout with cancer, two marathons (and No More!) . . . and more happy memories than I can count.

Happy Anniversary, Tom.

Come to me now . . . and rest your head for just five minutes . . . everything is good!

Everything is easy. . . 'cause of you!

Love Locked

As we walked along the Seine River in Paris, on our way to the Louvre, something on one of the bridges caught our eye.

Turned out to be locks.  Lots of locks.  Hanging on the Pont des Arts (a pedestrian bridge over the Seine; near the Louvre).

Closer inspection of the locks revealed initials and dates.  Of the "KR + TM 4EVR" variety.  In many languages.

Couples from around the world come to the Pont des Arts and symbolically lock up their love -- then toss the key into the Seine.  4EVR.  (Or, until the City of Paris decides to clear the bridge of locks - which happens periodically.)

Industrious street vendors near the bridge sell locks to passersby -- some with custom printed names, dates, and messages.

I did see one combination lock.

Made me wonder if they threw the combination into the Seine.

Very sweet -- and a little romantic.  If I had been to Paris with Tom, I would have SO locked up our love on the Pont Des Arts.  And then. . . thrown away the key!

All You Need

Happy Valentine's Day!

 

Love is all you need.

It really is.

The Fire I Breathe

Happiest Birthday to you, Tom!  Here's a little soundtrack for your special day. . .

Age suits you . . . just fine!

No Limits

Definitely a soundtrack day. . . (And, yeah.  I know it's only a cover.  But it's a Metallica cover.  And Ozzy, himself, is in the crowd.  Looking pleased with it all.)

At Hope College, every fall (since 1898), the freshmen and sophomore classes compete in a tug-of-war across the Black River in Holland.  I used to hear about this and think . . . how charming!  What a nice way to build team spirit and class camaraderie.  Oh.  My naivete! 

 

The Pull, as it is called, is no charming event!  It is a grueling challenge - physical and mental - that is steeped in tradition.  Over the 113 years of The Pull (it is the longest-running collegiate event in the country), the art and science of "pulling" have been refined . . . to create quite a spectacle!

 

Here is this year's freshman team ("Even Years" -- based on the year of their graduation - 2014) in action last Saturday!  And my son?  Well, he's the first head of dark hair you can see up from the bottom!

Each Pull Team is made up of 18 "pullers" and 18 "moralers."  The pullers . . . pull. . . down in the pits . . . in a highly choreographed effort.  Their coach is up front (the guy standing in my photo), making strategy decisions and calling the moves.  The moralers . . . act as the "eyes" for the pullers -- because they can't see the coach or any of their fellow pullers . . . and basically, keep the pullers going.

 

Here's Brian, looking for direction from his moraler, Christy.

And how long does this go on?  Well. . . until one team takes the rope of the other team . . . or three hours.  Whichever comes first! 

What's going on on this side of the river. . . is also going on on the other side of the river.

 

The event is steeped in tradition.  The "even years" wear red shirts and painted blue jeans and bandanas.  The girls braid their hair.  They have black paint under their eyes.  (The "odd years" wear maroon shirts and white pants!  They shave their heads and paint their faces; some have severe mohawks.  I didn't see them. . . because I was on the "even year" side of the river. . . but I have seen photos.)  Neither side wears gloves! 

Fan support is strong!  ("Even years" vs. "odd years" ---- going back for classes upon classes upon classes!)

 

 

The Pull Teams practice for three weeks before the event.  Intense, grueling training for an intense grueling event!  The bond they form as a team, though, is even more intense.  Brian says he's never experienced anything like this bond before! 

And the moralers?  Brian says they couldn't begin to do it without them!  The moralers do much more than "cheer" the pullers on (which was my original notion).  They are the connection between each of the pullers; they keep spirits up in the darkest moments; they encourage; they tend; they watch.  It's also incredibly intense -- and they train alongside the pullers for the event.

I am iron man. . .

 

Has he lost his mind . . . can he see or is he blind?

 

Can he walk at all. . . or if he moves will he fall?

 

In the end. . .

 

this year's Pull went the full three hours (which means there was no obvious winner -- neither side got the rope of the other team) and had to go to the judge's measurements.  The Odd Years won. . . by just a matter of feet.  (The sophomore class has a huge experience advantage and typically wins in less than three hours.)

Brian survived.  In fact, I would say he thrived.  He learned a lot about himself through The Pull -- like how to dig deep within himself; how to REALLY work as a team; how to find stores of energy and mental willpower that he never dreamed he even had!

 

And as for a Mom's view?  Well.  I'm really happy he did it.  I am SO proud of him.  I was a wreck, though.  It's hard to watch your child go through something like this!  Here's a photo of me that my dad took during the event. . . 

 

keeping my eye on my kid!  Especially because. . . the Pull is dangerous!  Broken ribs are common; pullers pass out on the ropes; it is not for the weak-at-heart!  I appreciated the presence of this guy . . .

 

who monitored the participants throughout the event.  (There have been Pulls in the past that have been "called" because of the health of the participants.)

Anyway, this Mom also got a little teary-eyed from time to time during the event.  Like when I saw how Brian had decorated himself with "super Vs" --- a mom/son tradition since his kindergarten soccer days!

 

(And a chemical structure . . . because he is, after all, a chemist!)

 

(That's another Super-V there, too!)

And I teared up when I watched Christy, his moraler, so focused and committed to my kid.  She was AWESOME!

 

Wow!  What a day!  Bud, you ARE an Iron Man!  And I couldn't be prouder!  No Limits!

Flown the Coop

Soundtrack. . .

Going. . .

 

Going. . .

 

Gone. . .

 

Just the Way

Soundtrack time. . .

Time flies, doesn't it?  Where did those . . . 29 years . . . go?

Happy Anniversary, Tom!  I love you just the way you are!

A Locavore Day in the Neighborhood

Saturday was a perfect day. . . to be a locavore.  First stop:  the Farmer's Market.

 

Where the colors. . .

 

and the selection. . .

 

and the variety. . .

 

and the freshness. . .

 

and the scent. . .

 

never fail to to inspire!

 

Next stop:  Bell's Eccentric Cafe. . . to be more specific, the beer garden . . .

 

for some local brew.

 

Tom. . . likes Two-Hearted . . .

 

while I sip Oberon.

 

Last stop:  Home. . . and a locavore dinner -- including

 

Beets!

 

Cherry crisp!

Yum. . .

TGIFriday!

News Flash!

I was at a meeting earlier today when I heard this:  Today, for the first time in recorded history, there is snow on the ground in each of the 50 states! 

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Love (1,000)

After going back and forth several times, I finally made the decision to actually sign up for the Ravelympics.  Team Michigan.  I'll be participating in the Sweaterboarding event. . . and I'll be making a zipped vest for Tom.  Here's my little "training swatch."

I've been wanting to make this vest for Tom for quite a while.  He's very enthused about it -- cooperating most heartily through the measurement phase, and the yarn selection phase, and even the swatching phase (although he was mostly losing interest by then). 

The most fun part was choosing the yarn.  Tom is color blind.  Like, really color blind.  (I could have a lot of fun with this . . . but I'm a Kind and Loving Wife. . . so I am Helpful when it comes to color-matching.)  I gathered up appropriate stash yarns in "manly" colors and presented them to Tom -- under a really good light, of course.  We considered a nice olive green (which, to Tom, appeared. . . brown) and a heathered forest green (which, to Tom, appeared. . . brown) and a lovely greyish-rust color (which, to Tom, appeared. . . brown) and a warm cocoa brown (which, to Tom, appeared. . . brown).  In the end, we went with. . . brown (as if that mattered).

I look forward to casting on tonight - during the opening ceremonies.  It's going to be nice to make something for Tom.  He is always appreciative of my efforts when it comes to knitting --- and very supportive of my little habit.  (He also likes warm vests!)

{Note to Rachel:  I was sorely tempted to join you for the Ropes event.  If the moss stitch on this vest gets to be a little too tedious - which is a distinct possibility -- I will join you for a few "laps" on the Ropes!}

{Note to Lynn:  I was also sorely tempted to join you in making the Every Way Wrap.  I'm going to be watching your progress carefully -- because that is next on my knitting agenda (I think. . .)!}

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Hard Head Hat

Brian's hockey team has a little locker room award the coaches give after every game.  It's the Hard Hat, and it goes to the player that has made the biggest effort/difference in the game.  Wednesday's winner of the Hard Hat. . .

 

Great game, Bud!  (And that game winning goal was pretty dang awesome!)

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Stranger-Danger

Jenny and I go for a walk every evening.  During the summer our routes vary, but during the winter - when the roads are icy and snowy - we tend to follow the same path day after day.  Jenny knows our path Really Well.  She knows where the fenced dogs live; she knows where the loose dogs live; she knows where the loud-dogs-barking-in-the-houses live.  Not much surprises her during our winter walks.

Until yesterday.  We were walking along in one of the no-dogs segments of our route, when she suddenly freaked.  Her hair stood up on her shoulders and she growled and started walking sort of sideways.  She was beside herself.  It took me a minute to figure out what she saw.  It was this:

 

A tiny little snowman (with racing flags????) in someone's yard!  This snowman is about 2 feet tall!  What a goofy dog. . .

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Birds of a Feather

Don't forget -- this weekend is the Great Backyard Bird Count!  It's fun and easy to participate.

 

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Fermentation Continues

So far, so good on the sourdough starter.  After nearly 48 hours, I have no trace of any blue, pink, or green liquid in my starter.  Just a very yeasty-smelling mixture with the consistency of pancake batter.  Sourdough. . . here we come!

 

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Happy Valentine's Day

 

Have a great weekend -- with plenty of Olympics, knitting, and chocolate!