"If I could be wasting my time..."

Oh Maryland you feel like a visit a lifetime away already. Crazy to think I won't be back again until the week before the wedding! Which is also right around the corner. When was someone going to tell me this? So many contracts and knick knacks to sign and create.... I've started on the wedding guest book quilt. I decided the worst I could do was cut too many squares or make them too ragged, and well, a patchwork quilt is a patchwork quilt so I need to suck it up and just cut. Invites are almost ready to be sent out (so sorry for the delay guys, I know they were supposed to be out by the start of the month), just waitin' on one last piece and they'll be out the door. Bunting is also being cut out as we speak... I had my first dress fitting in Silver Spring... which was good and bad. Good because my dress fits perfectly and always has and only needs minor adjustment in the bustline so I don't end up flashing everyone... bad because I had kinda hoped to lose more weight even though that isn't necessary in the slightest. Ah well... still have another 2 1/2 months (um, what?!) Ed's working on plans for the games and photobooth we're building. It's coming together slowly, and I have more moments of panic these days but c'est la vie. Nothing here is unanticipated.

The MD visit was a good one. Way too short. I've missed my family a lot and it was so nice seeing them and seeing friends. Thanks to everyone for coming out, I know there was bad weather and bad health and heavy drinking and flight delays and chaos in general, but Ed and I really appreciate everyone taking time out of their schedules to hang out with us and also put this crazy wedding together. You've no idea how much we miss you all and appreciate your support. And also spending a night with Omi reminds me that I am no longer the partier I used to be. I was the one saying uncle and calling it a night :)

That all being said, I'm not sure if Ed felt the same, but boy did I feel out of place. It's strange that being away from a place for a year, doing something new and different, starting your own little family (no, am not pregnant), can so change what you consider home. Maybe I said it last time I visited too, that California and my little apartment with Ed feels like home more than anything now, but this was the first visit where I actually felt odd being there in MD. A sort of not-belonging? Hard to describe... but very strange and kind of sad.

Coming back home was not exactly a picnic, I was massively hungover (terrible way to fly) from a great send off with friends. And poor Ed was sick. And now we're both sick, though he is certainly Patient Zero and suffering the most. So instead of getting down to business I've been laid up reading. Finished Fifty Shades of Grey and Sarah's Key and The Year We Left Home and I've started in on The Angel's Game. Feels good to be reading so much again. I seem to go in phases.

Weight loss and fitness... well... I've sorta stalled there. On the bright side I didn't gain a SINGLE POUND while visiting home. That's right, take THAT vacation time. I even ran while in MD and that pretty much made me feel like a winner. :) Being sick however has really kicked my butt so I've been slacking, only doing Jillian Michaels videos for 20 mins a day. My eating is just fine, I'm not putting on any weight, but I ain't losin either. I can and will do better, it's a work in progress. I'm still so proud I'm doing it on my own and can fully own this as my own personal choices and hard work. Not that I would turn down a genie if one showed up... ;)

Last note, it's been getting WARM here on the west coast. Holy moly... 90 degrees yesterday and probably the same today. This weekend for Father's Day we're taking a trip to Half Moon Bay to meet Dad and Debbie for some lunch and beach time. It'll be really good to see more family and to get out and enjoy this life out here.

"Hello Louise, you look so good"

Time flies! I can't believe my visit back to Maryland has already come and gone so quickly. And still things seem to be happening at the speed of light. My body unfortunately has rebelled against all this activity and I've been laid up quite painfully on the couch from some mystery illness. It seems to be getting better and I've been able to accomplish a great deal today. I went for a hike yesterday with Ed and my father and it was really wonderful but it was about all I was good for that day. I sorely needed all that fresh air and sunshine. Maybe I can attribute that to today's improvements?

One area being sick has actually helped in is my reading goals. I signed up for GoodReads so I could see what my friends are reading and show what I'm reading (I'm a huge sucker for a good book discussion and I can never find enough people to talk to about books). I also decided to set myself a goal for # of books for the year. I arbitrarily picked out 35... but I've already made it through 5 books this January so now I'm leaning towards... 60? I think that's about 5 books a month. I know I'll have to read extra per month to make up for months like August/September when I'll be swamped with wedding activities... but I have a good feeling about this goal. :)

Speaking of goals and plans and lofty ideas.... I signed up for a 12k! Well, giving credit where credit is due, Dad and my stepmother Debbie asked if Ed and I wanted to do Bay to Breakers (a highly popular race here in San Francisco involving costumes, nudity and drinking - lately they've cracked down on the drinking). Ed was extremely excited, he's a big runner. I thought, 'oh yes I can imagine if someone did that it would be fun... oh wait you want ME to do that?!' So here we are. All signed up! And Ed's made a training plan for me. I'd like to note, Dad and Debbie have both run multiple marathons. Ed has also done marathons and is considering running the San Francisco one this summer. My last race was in Gettysburg, PA, which was 1 mile long, and I wept from my hurting ankle, walking most of the way. This was 15 years ago. So I'm a bit haunted by my poor past and my current intimidating company. Still, it feels kind of awesome to strive for something so big. And to not be able to back out. I'll let you know how training goes...

My visit home was amazing. Seeing friends and family was so needed. I missed a couple friends and didn't spend enough time with family, but I suppose everyone feels that way when they come home. There's never enough time to revisit with everyone and everything. It was just a perfect visit. There was even snow!! I've been complaining to Ed how I miss winter weather and my wish was granted. It made the visit to the wedding barn all the more beautiful. 

We worked out the kinks in our catering plan (we think) and have our BEAUTIFUL save the dates.. I just need to figure out how to work all this damn technology standing between me and the stupid labels... We got all of the bridesmaids outfitted... Found my wedding shoes, which remind me so much of Downton Abbey I love them to death...

I picked up my beautiful dress with Ck. My sister cried when she saw it. :)

I even strong-armed Ck into lightening my hair more and putting a teeeensy bit of red in there (I have to feed the addiction or else I'd end up looking like Claire Danes in My So Called Life out of the blue on a stressful day). It was just so nice to visit. I won't be there again until summertime for dress alterations. 

I should be posting soon... I'm going to attempt canning this week and lord knows that can only end with hilarity. I also need to get back on my cooking game, try new recipes and concoctions. I don't know if I even posted about the mind-blowing, delicious-in-every-way, pots de creme recipe by Tyler Florence I made for New Year's. If you come visit me, I will make it and force you to eat it. It's just that damn good. Much more to come :)