The Birds and the Bees

I just received the best text of my life from my sister, Jana:

My niece, Camber: Do you think that Amy will have a Koreanish baby? 

Jana: Yep, it will be half Amy and half Warren. 

Camber: What?! How does the baby even know about Warren?! 

Jana, to me: Time for the birds and the bees talk...

Jana is also the mother of twin boys who once told Warren and me that they would "really love to have a new cousin" (hint, hint) because "we could teach him how to play football and checkers and stuff." 

Poor kids, they are just going to wake up day after day to disappointment...better to learn early, when they are still young enough to bounce back from the pain :)

Gulf Coast (and a Teensy Giveaway)

So this is kind of belated, but still awesome: I have an essay out in the current issue of Gulf Coast. It's called "Convergences" and it's all about Virginia Woolf, that flock of birds that fell dead out of the sky a few New Year's Eve's ago, and other such stuff! To tell you truth, like most of my writing, it's pretty dark/heavy. For instance, the first sentence reads as follows:

"I did not see the woman jump, nor did I see her fall, but I can somehow hear the faint swish of her skirt as she leaped over the rooftop's brick rim, sailed through the cloaked London sky, and landed with a crack on the sidewalk where bystanders gaped, shrieked, turned their heads, gripped their knees, heaving."

A barrel of laughs, no? But the whole essay is trying to talk about memory--both good and bad--so I thought I should begin it with one of the more chilling memories I have, when a young woman committed suicide near my apartment in London.

Anyway, Gulf Coast is one of my favorite literary magazines--not only is it real classy, but the editors are a dream to work with, and they care a lot about their writers. If you haven't checked Gulf Coast out, you definitely should!

Also, let's call this a giveaway (yes, it's kind of shoddy, but doesn't giveaway make it sound way more fun!?) So, Giveaway Time!!! If you would like, I have an extra copy or two of this issue that I would love to give to one of you! Just let me know if you're interested in the comments (or email), and I'll get it out to you!

Finally, I love writing but man, this whole full-time job is kind of a killjoy... One of these days, I'll get this thing figured out. I have two more essays slated to come out later this summer and fall, so I'll keep posted!

Not For the Faint of Heart

Well, we finally jumped on the bandwagon and created our 101 Things to Do in 1001 Days list (it’s basically a bucket list with a 2.5 years deadline). I got so excited about list-making that I threw in my 30 Before 30 (noted with asterisks). Yes, a list within a list. I just went all Inception on you. Minds = blown, am I right? Anyway, the list is long and winding but I think we were both realistic and specific in our challenges. 

Though I highly doubt that anyone will make it through our long list (I’m posting the whole list strictly because of #2—I’ll be blogging about some of the more exciting 101 Things in the hopes of being able to cross #2 off), I definitely recommend creating your own 101 Things List, just to see what fun surprises pop up in your dreamy selves. Like, who knew Warren was so into ergonomics (see # 77), though I suppose his exercise ball desk chair should have given it away. Thanks, Dwight.

Plus, putting it in ink can make a vague dream at least, according to my scientific calculations, 50% more likely to actually happen!

*Note: For those of you that live nearby and have children, you might want to check #37 out…we are completely serious, so take us up on it!

101 Things in 1001 Days

Start Date: June 1, 2012

End Date: February 27, 2015

Code: Green – Completed; Blue – In progress; Asterisk – 30 before 30

FAMILY

1.       Make this list     (June 4, 2012)*

2.       Blog at least once a week for three months straight         (Began June 3, 2012)*

3.       Call/skype/email one of our family members once a month for a year                   

4.       Plan and have a family reunion (Scheduled for March 25, 2013) 

5.       Create and maintain a family Google Calendar

6.       Visit Pittsburgh annually(2012, 2013, 2014)

7.       Visit Dayton annually      (2012, 2013, 2014)

8.       Visit Orlando annually    (2012, 20130, 2014)

9.       Send birthday cards on time for a year (Began June 2012)

10.   Update one of our picture walls with new family photos              

11.   Make a new 101 Things list and begin again March 1, 2015

ADVENTURE      

12.   Cruise to Mexico*          

13.   Visit Picture Rocks, Upper Peninsula      

14.   Visit Lake Michigan beaches       

15.   Explore Sleeping Bear Dunes     

16.   Visit Montreal  

17.   Explore a state we haven't been to (Maine, Washington, Oregon, Alaska, Hawaii, North Dakota)*           

CREATIVE JUICES             

18.   Write and illustrate Warren’s Hungry Pit Book (Use Shutterfly)  

19.   Create photo yearbook for each year (2012, 2013, 2014)               

20.   Create a recipe*              

21.   Take a photography class            

22.   Learn guitar basics          

23.   Learn 5 new ukulele songs, one must have picking

24.   Write 3 songs with the ukulele*               

25.   Send Just Because snail mail to 10 friends (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)*

26.   Throw an awesome 30^thbirthday*          

Learn how to properly sew piece of clothing – skirt, dress, etc.*

SPIRIT  

27.   Read scriptures/conference talks  together everyday for a month           

28.   Attend the temple at least 10 times a year (2012, 2013, 2014)     

29.   Keep a gratitude journal once a week for a month*        

30.   Do temple work for 10 family names (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)   

31.   Purchase Preach My Gospel       

32.   Use PMG lessons for FHE once a month               

33.   Attend the Job play       

34.   Play every hymn in the hymn book         

35.   Read The Mormon People together        

SERVICE

36.   Do the foster cat program at least once (Humane Society)           

37.   Babysit gratis for parents who need a well-deserved weekend away (2012, 2013, 2014)*

38.   Complete a meaningful service project during the holidays         

39.   Volunteer for a Detroit non-profit*        

40.   Take a Ford intern family out for a day  

41.   Volunteer at a soup kitchen       

42.   Shovel a neighbor's walk at least once each winter (2012, 2013, 2014)     

ACTIVITIES         

43.   See Michael Ondaatje give a reading*

44.   Attend a Tiger's baseball game 

45.   Attend a pro-Ultimate Frisbee game      

46.   Attend a red Wings hockey game            

47.   Complete an ethnic cooking class            

48.   Make bastilla, a Moroccan delicacy         

49.   Go curling           

50.   Go to the Ypsilanti Elvis festival*        

51.   Visit Aunt Agatha’s Mystery Book Store in Ann Arbor

52.   Attend a UM-MFA program creative writing reading each “semester”

53.   Go to opening night of a movie every year (2012, 2013, 2014)

54.   Have a family over for dinner at least 6 times a year (2012, 2013, 2014)

55.   Have a mocktail night* 

56.   Host a craft night*                          

57.   Read a non-fiction book together every year (2012, 2013, 2014)

58.   Learn how to can, pickle, or preserve*                  

59.   Have a monthly date out on the town   

60.   Fix-up Warren’s old tyme phone             

61.   Attend a production at the Detroit Opera House (or other downtown theater)

62.   Learn to make eclairs    

63.   Learn how to grill a perfect steak*

64.   Learn to make cinnamon rolls     (June 4, 2012)

HEALTH

65.   Warren rocks the 2013 Tough Mudder  

66.   Go meatless for two weeks (at a time) each year (2012, 2013, 2014)

67.   Amy runs a 5K*

68.   Warren runs a half marathon     

69.   Bike together once a week for a whole summer (June - Aug) (Began June  2012)

70.   Do all three of Jillian’s 30 Minute Shred levels in a row* 

71.   Use UM’s gym in the winter and go 2-3xs/week after work

72.   Have an annual physical exam

73.   Go sugar-free for one month *

74.   Go a month without popcorn* 

75.   Floss everyday for two months straight (Began June 4, 2012)*   

76.   Go a month without eating out (or doing take out)

HOME MANAGEMENT 

77.   Make a stand up desk   (June 16, 2012)

78.   Make window jimmy to keep windows locked  (June 14, 2012

79.   Plant a tomato container garden (and have it live)           

80.   Plant a vegetable garden (at least 4 different types of veggies)*              

81.   Have a full gas container stored for emergencies

82.   Compile two complete 72 hour kits         

83.   Have 30 gallons of water storage             

84.   Maintain a week's worth of food storage             

85.   Maintain a month's worth of food storage          

86.   Make shelves for kitchen by the sink     

87.   Have a “no spend” month*        

PROFESSIONAL LIFE

88.   Amy keeps a sketchbook/journal everyday for at least one month each year*

89.   Amy publishes six pieces   (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6)*          

90.   Amy writes rough draft of YA novel*     

91.   Amy gives a public reading or presents at a national conference*             

92.   We invite colleagues out to lunch or over for dinner 3 times a year (2012, 2013, 2014)

93.   Warren gets 3 publications          (1, 2, 3)

94.   Warren passes third year review             

95.   Warren presents at a conference each year (2012, 2013, 2014)  

FINANCES          

96.   Continue to revel in having zero credit card debt

97.   Warren begins UM’s sweet retirement plan

98.   Warren pays off 35% of student loan     

99.   Amy contributes at least 1-2% of wages to IRA/Roth each year, plus 5% to UM’s match plan*

100.                        Amy forks over her last student loan payment*               

101.  End 101 Things with a respectable nest egg stored for Future Awesomeness!    

Steel City Steals Hearts

Let it be known that we totally owned Memorial Day Weekend. While half of DC stayed in, and the other half went to Duck, Trish (ever the champ) met us in Pittsburgh where we played Tourist to the best of our abilities. We had cameras dangling from our wrists at all times and took about a million photos. (And yes, I finally figured out how to make collages in GIMP, thanks to this very thorough tutorial.) We visited Falling Waters, Frank Lloyd Wright's amazing piece of architecture built atop some lovely falls. 

Our constant camera clicking included many obligatory action shots, as well as the waning-in-popularity back2back poses favored by tween girls in the late 80s and early 90s. We are actively working on bringing this pose back, though we frown upon Charlie's Angels arms, preferring instead the original It-gals Blossom and Six's jaunty folded arms. If you're having trouble picturing this, worry no more:

I wish we had that sweet backdrop (remember grade school photo day?)! Anyway, we took a few pointers from them--minus the awesome hats--at the Big Mac Museum (famous mostly for housing the largest model of a Big Mac and an assortment of old Happy Meal toy collections) below:

It cropped up again at Pitt's Cathedral of Learning (where Trish would study 24 hours a day, if she had been able to study there in college)...

We swapped out the back2back pose with the much more fitting high fives and action shots on our way to the Pirate's game (we took the ferry to the stadium!). 

And no trip to the Pitt is complete without a ride up the Duquesne Incline and lovely views from the top.

A lot of Warren's family lives in Pittsburgh so we were excited to see them, and we were especially excited to meet his cousin's precious new baby, Charlotte (even though she looks kind of terrified). Ava, on the other hand, rallied in true ginger spirit, and used Warren mostly as a jungle gym. We polished the trip off by eating a Klondike bar on Grandma's porch swing (did you know Klondikes were invented in Pittsburgh? Neither did I). And that my friends, is how you totally knock Memorial Day Weekend out of the park! Though Memorial Day is old hat now, I hope yours was lovely!

Precious Moments

Two years ago...

 

Warren and I were wed for forever and ever. 

I love this photo of us (thanks, Meg Ruth--AKA best photographer ever!) because it totally captures everything that was perfect and lovely about that day. It seems unbelievable that we ever lived without each other. But I'm super glad we found each other because it gives us the perfect excuse to spoil each other rotten with the likes of rocking out at Andrew Bird concerts (that man is a genius with twirling shofars)...

And buying sweet new rides to celebrate Michigan's gorgeous spring....

 

And laughing hysterically at all the ample opportunities Warren gives to be mocked:

Last year we were in Korea for our anniversary. We admit that that's kind of hard to top... But though this year was more low key, it was still totally delightful. We rode to a new park on our aforementioned new rides...

Then came home and dined on a freakishly scrumptious steak with roasted potatoes. Seriously, you should go make this steak Right Now!

Justin Bieber even made an appearance! In our house! Glitter! Unicorns! Swoon!!!!

I think it's pretty safe to say that true love won in the end around here. Well, almost. It would have, if we looked like this on our wedding day:

But I guess this is will have to do...