Auld Lang Syne Again

JANUARY 8TH 2011 - OUR 4TH DATE

I just read my year-end post from last winter and I'm stunned at what can change in ONE YEAR. Four days after I wrote that, I met Mark.

We met on January 2nd. That night I told Mama Bird I was going to marry him, and the next day I told my boss the same thing. My boss' response?

"You're fucking crazy."

Eighteen days after we met, we got tattoos together - a lock and a key.

No.



APRIL 16TH - ENGAGED!

 I'm not kidding.

On April 16th, Mark proposed. I believe his exact stammer went something like this.

Presents ring. Shuffles feet. "SO, YA WANNA DO THIS??????"

Who could say no to that?

On August 28th, we married.

The sound system accidentally blared Nina Gordon during the ceremony so we had to Take II, and during my dad's speech, a four-year-old hollered at the top of his lungs to ask when I'd be having a baby.

AUGUST 28TH - MARRIED

We sealed our vows with another stop at the tattoo shop and honeymooned on the couch.

This year I've gained a wonderful husband, another family, a stepkitty I shamelessly adore, a cranky grandma - which is much more fun than no grandma - and about ten pounds.

I've lost privacy and the urge to leave the house.

I moved again in 2011, which brings me to my 24TH MOVE in 35 years. For the love of all that is holy, I hope we find and afford a decent place this year that we can stay in for-everloving-ever. I'm getting a little burned out on moving.

This year I've played with paintball guns and trampolines. I've lounged on pontoons and inflatable rafts, and I've sat around bonfires with friends. My family flew in from all over the country for the wedding and we partied for two straight days. I won a giant flatscreen TV and - on an unrelated note, surely - the undying fidelity of my husband.

I competed in a Sex Short Story contest and lost after reading it onstage to a live audience. The winner wrote some creepy erotica that involved antlers, though, so obviously it's tough to beat that meat.

SEPTEMBER 10TH -
HEIDI'S WEDDING

My baby pseudo sister Heidi got married and I had a handsome young escort at the reception - until I got violently ill and my other handsome escort had to drive me home while I barfed in every bag I could find.

I've made new friends this year - in everyday life and through blogging. I got a hilarious Christmas card from my favorite resort owners in Wisconsin, a gorgeous handmade card from TJ in the Netherlands and a sweet card from a reader named Maria overseas.

Who can complain about life when they receive little bits of love from all around the world?

Mark and I were planning to spend tonight hanging out with my brother drinking champagne and playing Rock Band, but we're both sick with the generic Winter Crud. There's homemade chicken soup simmering on the stove - a chicken I tore the limbs off myself without vomiting - and a pitcher of OJ in the fridge that I squeezed myself. We may feel like ass, but we're going to eat a gourmet sick meal.

No champagne for our midnight cocktail and in fact we'll likely be in bed before the clock turns, but I have everything I need right now in my life, and I'm feeling pretty grateful for everything I was given in 2011.

MY MOM'S ENTIRE SIDE OF THE FAMILY!!

MY HOT LITTLE ESCORT AT
HEIDI'S RECEPTION

MY SWEET, SWEET STEPKITTY

MY BEAUTIFUL GIRLS

ME AND MY BABY

CHEERS TO ALL

WHO READ MY BLOG...

I LOVE YOU GUYS!

WISHING YOU A 2012 THAT BRINGS

ALL THAT YOU HOPE FOR AND MORE