"Big" Change

Everyone asks us if we feel any different now that we are married. We both say not much is different except introductions when you say "my wife" or "my husband".

One thing that is different is Chris's health attitude. One of his promises to me during our pre-Cana (pre-marriage) workshop was to take better care of himself. Chris usually waits to be near death or worse, waits until I get really sick too to go to the doctor. Now he evens goes to a few preventative appointments.

A great example of Chris's new attitude was Wednesday. We both were coughing and generally feeling terrible, so with a little less effort than normal we both went to the doctor's office. We have the same doctor and we were a walk-in so they put us in the same room. The picture is a perfect snapshot of that time together.

He's there, so I guess I should be happy no matter if he is sulking. That is a big change.

The Wedding Photos!

We are very happy to finally share our wedding photos. These photos are not for the faint of heart. It took two days to upload them to flickr and before you look at the 450 slide show monstrosity get a comfy chair, a drink and perhaps a snack.

I decided to upload so many (not all of them---we have over 650) because so many pictures had different people at different points in the wedding. So, when you are tired of looking at Chris and I you can look at the other beautiful people in the wedding.

Also, if you have pictures, I'd love to get a copy of your photos (high res preferred--I'll even buy a CD for you to burn them). I am going to start assembling our wedding album and many of you took great pictures that I would love to include.

We really liked our photographer and if you are interested in seeing more of his work click here.

The Iowa Caucus

I took a little trip to Iowa for five days to volunteer for John Edward's presidential campaign. Iowa was very important to his campaign so I wanted to my candidate to do well.

It was an adventure for me because of the incredibly cold weather and the slightly different tastes that I may have to most Iowans. I flew to Council Bluffs, Iowa on New Year's Eve and spent New Year's at the Harrah's Casino playing penny slots.

New Year's Day I started working phone banking and canvassing around the area. It was a really great experience talking to the Iowans about who they support and who they don't. The most surprising was how many people weren't sure.

I was also privileged enough to be an observer of two caucus at McClelland Town Hall for the Hardin and the Washington and York precincts. It was truly exciting to watch especially since it was a small precinct, which is what the majority of the precincts are like. Mine had 4 delegates with 1 going to Edwards, 1 to Obama, 1 to Clinton and 1 to Dodd.

Despite his second place finish, I am very pleased with his race. I thought it would be really difficult to pull out a first place win with all of the money that both Obama and Clinton raised, but I think the Iowa Causes showed that money isn't everything.

I have the campaign bug now and I really wish I could go to New Hampshire. But, I am hoping that I can travel to either Nevada or South Carolina for Edwards again.

I have some pictures of my trip on our Flickr page including a fuzzy one of me and John! (Why can't strangers take better pictures?)

New Year's Thoughts

For the first time in a few years, Chris and I did not spend New Years together. I decided to go to Iowa to volunteer for John Edwards campaign. It's the night before the caucus and I am having trouble sleeping. Thankfully, the hotel has a computer!

I've been thinking about the past year and the upcoming year, which is probably why I am not falling asleep. Here are some highlights:

1. One of the neatest things this year (besides being engaged and married of course!) is that my family and friends tell me that they read this blog--many without my soliciting emails. It's nice to think that we are not writing this in complete vain.

2. I am thinking about running a marathon OR a half marathon. This is a big deal because there is no one that I can't relate to more than those people with the 26.2 stickers on their SUVs. I also have two terrible characteristics for marthon runners: I get bored easily and I am impatient. Also, I can't think of many things besides sleeping and playing xbox that I can do for over 7 hours in row. Since I have friends that have run marathons, I'd welcome their comments on how I'd do.

My biggest motivation for doing the marathon is to lose weight yes, but the real motivation behind that is so I can buy more clothes. As a self-proclaimed fashion-holic, I've just become frustrated with the fact that shopping is just not as fun. So after a few years of fatty bliss in exchange for drib drab clothing, I would like to buy some really great clothes in the after-Christmas sales next year.

3. The guy in those Bayer commercials who is at the hospital is so weird. Why is a 40year old guy dressed like 20 year old? And why is he comforting strangers in a hospital and saying you shoulda taken some Bayer everyday? I have no idea, but the commercial bothers me and it keeps me up at night.

4. I love my new hair. I do not love the news that I will have to get it cut every 6-8 weeks.

My 7:30am wake-up is getting nearer, so I will again try to go to sleep, but not before leaving you with a couple teasers. Stay tuned for pictures of my wild time in Iowa and.......the wedding photos. The photographer emailed me and said he would be sending them in the mail in the next few days. Yay!