Well it's about time again for another update from team Vyn - once a month is pretty weak-sauce, but until someone decides to pay me for my quips you'll have to be satisfied with the incremental doses of dry sarcasm found herein :)
Now that we've been in Denver for almost two years - and married almost four months! - we're finally starting to feel as though we're growing some roots. Between the small group we joined and the couples community we attended recently, we're starting to meet some awesome folk from our church and are feeling more connected. It's nice to show up on Sunday morning and actually recognize some people, and not just share those awkward handshakes during the meet-and-greet part of the service.
Beyond the idea that we're actually starting to make friends, we also enjoying the Denver area more and more. We've been gradually exploring the city, mostly by way of its coffee shops - which are not nearly as plentiful as was the case in Portland, sigh. Nevertheless, we have been enjoying our study dates as we each work on our lessons and tests etc. - almost makes us feel like we're back in college again!
Amanda recently discovered the artist inside herself that she didn't know existed. She went to a painting class with a friend of hers and came home with an impressive piece that will soon be hung above our bed (picture to follow). It only took her one glass of wine to become so inspired and talented... imagine what she might have come home with if she had a few more glasses!
This weekend we're headed down to Texas to spend Thanksgiving with all of us siblings. We're very excited to see the latest addition to our growing family, and to just hang out as brothers and sister (+ spouses and offspring, of course) for the first time in quite a while. If you can get a sense for the level of dry sarcastic humour spewing from my pores, you can imagine what a reunion of this nature might produce :)
Well, I'm off to pick up my big sis, and then it's six hours down to the Lonestar state. Happy Thanksgiving to all of you Americans!
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Yay for Fall Break!!
Right now is when it pays to be a teacher... well, sort of :) These two days off have been more than deserved, and while I'll likely spend most of the time either planning for next week or doing the chores around the house that I've been neglecting because of our busy schedule, it's nice to simply get away from school for a while. With any luck I might even squeeze in some time to go for a bike ride (something I haven't done much of lately, which is mildly depressing!)
The past couple of months of teaching have been interesting to say the least. Making the transition from teaching elementary one year to high school the next is challenging enough for anyone - however, switching from teaching in an upper middle-class, predominantly white neighborhood (with helicopter parents to boot!) to an inner-city high school full of pubescent teenagers of so many different races that I undoubtedly fall into the category of 'minority', has made things even more interesting! However, now that I've gotten over the culture shock I'm really starting to enjoy my job. Sure, it requires A LOT of extra hours each week (I'm teaching 6 classes when 5 is the norm), but it's been amazing to see how much these students are able to understand and produce after such a short amount of time - and that's why this job can be so rewarding.
Our foreign language program in the district has a very supportive network which I like to refer to as a cult. I fell into this cutting edge way of teaching which is very different than how I first learned the language. We do a lot of storytelling (with the kids being at the center of the story lines and adding in all of their personal details) and reading to build proficiency rather than learning vocabulary lists and taking chapter tests over material that will quickly be forgotten. I could go on for hours about this method, suffice to say it has been a very interesting journey learning the ropes and watching some of the masters of this teaching method show me how it's done.
Enough about me and teaching... Amanda is participating in a retreat this weekend for her nutrition class. She's very excited about it as she has been learning a lot and making some new friends too. She'll be here in Denver the whole time, but at classes each day. We're also hosting another student from out of town, so I'll be playing house-husband as she will be busy all weekend! Her homework load for the class is becoming more and more difficult to manage; thankfully, she will soon be getting some extra help at work so that her case load will be lessened.
Last weekend we took a quick trip out to Glenwood Springs, about 3 hours west of Denver. It's a quaint little mountain town, not far from Aspen, that has natural hot springs. We stayed at a Swiss-style motel and visited some vapor caves too. It was a short mini-vacation, with an afternoon study date too, but it's always nice to just get away for a few days.
Anyway, I need to get working on my To-do list for the day.
The past couple of months of teaching have been interesting to say the least. Making the transition from teaching elementary one year to high school the next is challenging enough for anyone - however, switching from teaching in an upper middle-class, predominantly white neighborhood (with helicopter parents to boot!) to an inner-city high school full of pubescent teenagers of so many different races that I undoubtedly fall into the category of 'minority', has made things even more interesting! However, now that I've gotten over the culture shock I'm really starting to enjoy my job. Sure, it requires A LOT of extra hours each week (I'm teaching 6 classes when 5 is the norm), but it's been amazing to see how much these students are able to understand and produce after such a short amount of time - and that's why this job can be so rewarding.
Our foreign language program in the district has a very supportive network which I like to refer to as a cult. I fell into this cutting edge way of teaching which is very different than how I first learned the language. We do a lot of storytelling (with the kids being at the center of the story lines and adding in all of their personal details) and reading to build proficiency rather than learning vocabulary lists and taking chapter tests over material that will quickly be forgotten. I could go on for hours about this method, suffice to say it has been a very interesting journey learning the ropes and watching some of the masters of this teaching method show me how it's done.
Enough about me and teaching... Amanda is participating in a retreat this weekend for her nutrition class. She's very excited about it as she has been learning a lot and making some new friends too. She'll be here in Denver the whole time, but at classes each day. We're also hosting another student from out of town, so I'll be playing house-husband as she will be busy all weekend! Her homework load for the class is becoming more and more difficult to manage; thankfully, she will soon be getting some extra help at work so that her case load will be lessened.
Last weekend we took a quick trip out to Glenwood Springs, about 3 hours west of Denver. It's a quaint little mountain town, not far from Aspen, that has natural hot springs. We stayed at a Swiss-style motel and visited some vapor caves too. It was a short mini-vacation, with an afternoon study date too, but it's always nice to just get away for a few days.
Anyway, I need to get working on my To-do list for the day.
Monday, September 20, 2010
Where to begin
It's been a while now since I've posted a blog and a lot has been happening... so rather than rambling on about each separate episode which could very easily spawn into its own separate blog post, I'll spare you the details and go bullet point on this one:
- My jury duty came and went. My juror number wasn't called - in fact none of the 200+ jurors were needed and we all got dismissed early!
- We made almost $300 dollars at our first ever garage sale (not selling the wedding gifts, but rather the old things they are now replacing!)
- We joined a small group at our church which we're very excited about. Almost half of the group are Calvin alumni - strange coincidence since we go to a non-denom church :)
- I had a coronary artery scan done and the results show zero calcification (plaque build up). So much for the "modern medicine" theory that elevated LDL = heart disease!! I'll keep eating my red meet and other cave-man foods thank you very much!
That's the cliff notes of what we've been up to. For the full digest give me a call or send me an e-mail!
- My jury duty came and went. My juror number wasn't called - in fact none of the 200+ jurors were needed and we all got dismissed early!
- We made almost $300 dollars at our first ever garage sale (not selling the wedding gifts, but rather the old things they are now replacing!)
- We joined a small group at our church which we're very excited about. Almost half of the group are Calvin alumni - strange coincidence since we go to a non-denom church :)
- I had a coronary artery scan done and the results show zero calcification (plaque build up). So much for the "modern medicine" theory that elevated LDL = heart disease!! I'll keep eating my red meet and other cave-man foods thank you very much!
That's the cliff notes of what we've been up to. For the full digest give me a call or send me an e-mail!
Saturday, August 28, 2010
Routine?... What routine??
After coming back from the honeymoon I think we were both looking forward to settling into something of a 'normal routine'... you know, working Mon-Fri and relaxing in the evenings and on weekends... Well, this hasn't exactly happened as of yet, but we're getting there!
So when we got back to Denver our house became an instant disaster and since both of us had to get back to work without much time to unwind, our house remained in disarray for several weeks. Slowly but surely we began tackling one room at a time, starting with the kitchen of course (we both love to eat, and boy do we eat well!). We have now organized ourselves to the point of need to have a garage sale! So if we can get our act together amidst our strange schedules and lack of time for anything remotely social, we will be having a garage sale next weekend :)
I'm slowly settling into my new job and am loving the new challenge. When I got to the high school, I found out I was taking over from an older lady who left me a decorated class and many resources. This was both a blessing and a curse as I was told that I could develop the program however I wanted. I didn't realize when I took the job that I AM the French department (aside from the French International Baccalaureate teacher who pretty much lives in another world with the IB program), but I am grateful to have fallen into a fantastic network of foreign language teachers in the district, including my fellow Spanish teaching neighbors. I joke around with Amanda that they're a cult (since they're not only passionate about what they do and how they do it, but they're also somewhat elitist and exclusive!), but they are extremely supportive and a very like-able group of people. I'll write more on the chaos of making up a curriculum as I go later - meaning, once I'm out of the smoke and in the clearing... so maybe by next June? :)
Anyway, jury duty round one came and went unceremoniously for team Vyn. Amanda reported for duty this past Wednesday (on her only day off, might I add) and came prepared with a good book. The Denver Post hasn't given the official count on the number of pages she read that day, but rumor has it it was nearly 1000 pages. She waited patiently while dozens upon dozens of others were called, and then at about 12noon she was released. We're betting this was because none of her current information (new last name, new address etc.) matched what was printed on the jury summons. While she was excited to be let go, she was also feeling well prepared to analyze and deliberate the local court proceedings, having just finished the first two books in the series by Stieg Larsson. Well, I'm next up to bat on Sept. 14th, and somehow I'm suspecting I won't have the same fate as my bride (nor will I break her record of 1000 pages read).
Well, I'm off to work another valet shift at the country club where I'll again be driving cars that are potentially worth more than my own house! A bientot.
So when we got back to Denver our house became an instant disaster and since both of us had to get back to work without much time to unwind, our house remained in disarray for several weeks. Slowly but surely we began tackling one room at a time, starting with the kitchen of course (we both love to eat, and boy do we eat well!). We have now organized ourselves to the point of need to have a garage sale! So if we can get our act together amidst our strange schedules and lack of time for anything remotely social, we will be having a garage sale next weekend :)
I'm slowly settling into my new job and am loving the new challenge. When I got to the high school, I found out I was taking over from an older lady who left me a decorated class and many resources. This was both a blessing and a curse as I was told that I could develop the program however I wanted. I didn't realize when I took the job that I AM the French department (aside from the French International Baccalaureate teacher who pretty much lives in another world with the IB program), but I am grateful to have fallen into a fantastic network of foreign language teachers in the district, including my fellow Spanish teaching neighbors. I joke around with Amanda that they're a cult (since they're not only passionate about what they do and how they do it, but they're also somewhat elitist and exclusive!), but they are extremely supportive and a very like-able group of people. I'll write more on the chaos of making up a curriculum as I go later - meaning, once I'm out of the smoke and in the clearing... so maybe by next June? :)
Anyway, jury duty round one came and went unceremoniously for team Vyn. Amanda reported for duty this past Wednesday (on her only day off, might I add) and came prepared with a good book. The Denver Post hasn't given the official count on the number of pages she read that day, but rumor has it it was nearly 1000 pages. She waited patiently while dozens upon dozens of others were called, and then at about 12noon she was released. We're betting this was because none of her current information (new last name, new address etc.) matched what was printed on the jury summons. While she was excited to be let go, she was also feeling well prepared to analyze and deliberate the local court proceedings, having just finished the first two books in the series by Stieg Larsson. Well, I'm next up to bat on Sept. 14th, and somehow I'm suspecting I won't have the same fate as my bride (nor will I break her record of 1000 pages read).
Well, I'm off to work another valet shift at the country club where I'll again be driving cars that are potentially worth more than my own house! A bientot.
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Amanda got a hair cut and I got a new job... and we both got jury duty!!
Wow, where do I begin... First, I should tell you about the wedding and honeymoon (I'll give you the skinny on the title a little further down the page. Just trying to keep a captive audience all the way through the post!).
The wedding went off without a hitch. I remembered my lines and put Amanda's ring on the right hand, eventually :) Honestly, it was a very smooth and memorable service - many thanks to Amanda for being so meticulous with the program, Dave and Tom for the touching sermon and reading respectively, and of course to the musicians who did a fabulous job! Thanks to our wedding party for standing behind us (and a little to the right or left, depending on the gender), and enduring the picture parade through downtown La Crosse. Thanks also to Megan our photographer - the pics we've seen so far look amazing! I feel like I'm writing an acceptance speech for receiving a Grammy award...
On to the honeymoon... We stayed at an all-inclusive resort in Playa del Carmen, Mexico. It felt a little strange at first to be served hand and foot, but we got used to it! We quickly assimilated to a life of luxury and relaxation where our most difficult decision was whether to sit by the pool or lay out on the beach (that, and "should I order a pina colada or a margarita?"). We did venture out one day to visit a natural aquarium and tour some old Mayan ruins, but otherwise we were quite content to stay at the resort and make sure we ate at every restaurant at every possible meal.
Now, for the lead stories:
Amanda had been growing her hair out for the wedding, and it certainly paid off - with help from our sister-in-law, Sarah, her hair looked great! Nevertheless, she was very excited to get it chopped off to a more manageable length now that the wedding is over. She waited till we got back to Denver (we didn't want to pay 5000 pesos at the spa in Mexico!), and is quite happy with the new do.
I was just offered a job today as a French teacher at a local high school in Denver, and guess what - I start tomorrow! This was a long story with about as much drama as your local theatre company - don't worry, I'll spare you the details. I applied for the position about a week before the wedding, and when I called to follow up, the Assistant Principal said they would like to interview me. My two options for interviews were either Friday (the day of our wedding) or Tuesday (while on our honeymoon). I chose Tuesday and purchased a Mexican calling card. The phone interview went well, and after a few days I heard back that I was a finalist. I then had an interview with the principal the morning after we returned to Denver, and that also went well. This is where things got a little sticky though, because I was still under contract with the elementary school in Colorado Springs and teacher work days began Wednesday. Well, after several phone calls and e-mails with licensing programs, the department of Ed., and HR folk, I was finally offered the job today. I said my goodbyes to the staff, turned in my letter of resignation to the principal and drove back up to Denver for the last time. It is a great relief not to have to commute that distance anymore. My new high school is within 5 miles, so I may even be able to bike to work :)
Oh, and upon our triumphant return home, we both opened our mail and found out that we've been summoned for jury duty - what a nice way for the state of Colorado to welcome us home! I thought jury duty was a random selection... I think it's less than a coincidence that we're both summoned at the same time, and we both got our driver's licenses on the same day... Anyway, I'll fulfill my duty as a citizen of this nation - but I won't do it with a smile on my face, unless of course Joe Pesci happens to be representing the defendant!
The wedding went off without a hitch. I remembered my lines and put Amanda's ring on the right hand, eventually :) Honestly, it was a very smooth and memorable service - many thanks to Amanda for being so meticulous with the program, Dave and Tom for the touching sermon and reading respectively, and of course to the musicians who did a fabulous job! Thanks to our wedding party for standing behind us (and a little to the right or left, depending on the gender), and enduring the picture parade through downtown La Crosse. Thanks also to Megan our photographer - the pics we've seen so far look amazing! I feel like I'm writing an acceptance speech for receiving a Grammy award...
On to the honeymoon... We stayed at an all-inclusive resort in Playa del Carmen, Mexico. It felt a little strange at first to be served hand and foot, but we got used to it! We quickly assimilated to a life of luxury and relaxation where our most difficult decision was whether to sit by the pool or lay out on the beach (that, and "should I order a pina colada or a margarita?"). We did venture out one day to visit a natural aquarium and tour some old Mayan ruins, but otherwise we were quite content to stay at the resort and make sure we ate at every restaurant at every possible meal.
Now, for the lead stories:
Amanda had been growing her hair out for the wedding, and it certainly paid off - with help from our sister-in-law, Sarah, her hair looked great! Nevertheless, she was very excited to get it chopped off to a more manageable length now that the wedding is over. She waited till we got back to Denver (we didn't want to pay 5000 pesos at the spa in Mexico!), and is quite happy with the new do.
I was just offered a job today as a French teacher at a local high school in Denver, and guess what - I start tomorrow! This was a long story with about as much drama as your local theatre company - don't worry, I'll spare you the details. I applied for the position about a week before the wedding, and when I called to follow up, the Assistant Principal said they would like to interview me. My two options for interviews were either Friday (the day of our wedding) or Tuesday (while on our honeymoon). I chose Tuesday and purchased a Mexican calling card. The phone interview went well, and after a few days I heard back that I was a finalist. I then had an interview with the principal the morning after we returned to Denver, and that also went well. This is where things got a little sticky though, because I was still under contract with the elementary school in Colorado Springs and teacher work days began Wednesday. Well, after several phone calls and e-mails with licensing programs, the department of Ed., and HR folk, I was finally offered the job today. I said my goodbyes to the staff, turned in my letter of resignation to the principal and drove back up to Denver for the last time. It is a great relief not to have to commute that distance anymore. My new high school is within 5 miles, so I may even be able to bike to work :)
Oh, and upon our triumphant return home, we both opened our mail and found out that we've been summoned for jury duty - what a nice way for the state of Colorado to welcome us home! I thought jury duty was a random selection... I think it's less than a coincidence that we're both summoned at the same time, and we both got our driver's licenses on the same day... Anyway, I'll fulfill my duty as a citizen of this nation - but I won't do it with a smile on my face, unless of course Joe Pesci happens to be representing the defendant!
Friday, July 30, 2010
The day is upon us!
Well, it's our big day - the one we've been looking forward to and planning for a LONG time :) Despite some last minute panicks, it appears as though things will go smoothly.
We enjoyed a beautiful boat tour with family and friends last night, along with a couple heart-felt speeches thanks to Eric, Rob, and Randy. Be sure to bring your handkerchiefs tonight - not for the emotional sobbing but rather for the fitful laughing due to unending cheesy jokes and embarrassing stories :)
Well, after a light round of golf with the boys, it's time to go to the chapel. I'll see you all there!
We enjoyed a beautiful boat tour with family and friends last night, along with a couple heart-felt speeches thanks to Eric, Rob, and Randy. Be sure to bring your handkerchiefs tonight - not for the emotional sobbing but rather for the fitful laughing due to unending cheesy jokes and embarrassing stories :)
Well, after a light round of golf with the boys, it's time to go to the chapel. I'll see you all there!
Thursday, July 15, 2010
A tale of two traditions
Although I hardly feel like a foreigner anymore (I've been a citizen for 2+ years), I do come from a heritage that has somewhat different traditions than can be found here in the U.S. One such example is the way in which we celebrate marriage...
In the Dutch-Canadian tradition it is well known that the wedding reception is an opportunity for close friends and family members to roast the bride and groom. Embarrassing and funny stories, whether truth or tall tale, are shared with all gathered there - often these are the stories that either the bride or groom may have tried to forget or even omitted to tell their significant other. Well, all of this comedy gets amplified when you are one of the last ones in your family or group of friends to get married, and you've shared at all of their weddings... simply put, payback can be ______! For those of you not familiar with this tradition, I should explain that it's not out of spite or any ill feelings; on the contrary these embarrassing stories are shared out of love and good humor - if you can't joke with/about your family or best friends, with whom could one jest?
On the other hand, Amanda's German-American heritage is somewhat more conservative with regards to wedding celebrations. More closely aligned with a typical American wedding, she is used to a smooth progression from dinner to dance, with toasts from both the best man and maid/matron of honor, and possibly a slide show as well.
At any rate, our differing perceptions about the on goings at the reception require us both to make compromises (sounds a lot like marriage, no?) in order to respect both of our traditions and make it a beautiful day to remember. All of this means that yes, there will be some lively banter and embarrassing stories - mostly directed at me I would imagine, hmmm - but it will not be the main attraction.
Leading up to our big day, we're still crossing our Ts and dotting our Is. I'm even helping out occasionally with Amanda's creative and crafty genius :)
In the Dutch-Canadian tradition it is well known that the wedding reception is an opportunity for close friends and family members to roast the bride and groom. Embarrassing and funny stories, whether truth or tall tale, are shared with all gathered there - often these are the stories that either the bride or groom may have tried to forget or even omitted to tell their significant other. Well, all of this comedy gets amplified when you are one of the last ones in your family or group of friends to get married, and you've shared at all of their weddings... simply put, payback can be ______! For those of you not familiar with this tradition, I should explain that it's not out of spite or any ill feelings; on the contrary these embarrassing stories are shared out of love and good humor - if you can't joke with/about your family or best friends, with whom could one jest?
On the other hand, Amanda's German-American heritage is somewhat more conservative with regards to wedding celebrations. More closely aligned with a typical American wedding, she is used to a smooth progression from dinner to dance, with toasts from both the best man and maid/matron of honor, and possibly a slide show as well.
At any rate, our differing perceptions about the on goings at the reception require us both to make compromises (sounds a lot like marriage, no?) in order to respect both of our traditions and make it a beautiful day to remember. All of this means that yes, there will be some lively banter and embarrassing stories - mostly directed at me I would imagine, hmmm - but it will not be the main attraction.
Leading up to our big day, we're still crossing our Ts and dotting our Is. I'm even helping out occasionally with Amanda's creative and crafty genius :)
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
One month and counting!
We're crossing out T's and dotting our I's now that we're getting down to the final month of preparations. Don't forget about two of your own deadlines - if you haven't RSVP'd or booked your room at Stoney Creek Inn, time is winding down. Please be sure to RSVP by this Friday, July 2nd (or risk getting a call from me or Amanda!) - e-mail the bride-to-be at amanda.n.schneider@gmail.com or call her at (319) 471-3940. You also have until Friday, July 9th to book a room at Stoney Creek in our reserved block of rooms - call (608) 781-3060.
We're very much looking forward to the big day, and having many of you join in the celebration. I'll keep you posted with any pertinent information as time gets even closer. See you soon!
We're very much looking forward to the big day, and having many of you join in the celebration. I'll keep you posted with any pertinent information as time gets even closer. See you soon!
Friday, June 18, 2010
Hooray for summer!
I've been on "summer break" for a little over two weeks now, yet this is still only my second day off... I was in class (summer session for my teaching license) for six days and am also back working at Cherry Hills Country club, so I haven't exactly had much time to decompress after school let out (I'll write a reflection on this past year in a later blog).
Hopefully everyone has received their invitations by now - don't forget to call or e-mail us your response when you get a chance. We've had this nagging feeling that we've been forgetting something or leaving someone off our list - Excel spreadsheets are only as good as the information you put in them! As time gets closer (only six more weeks!) we keep wishing we would have hired a wedding planner. We're down to the nitty gritty now: music, programs, decorations, transportation etc. This weekend we're actually back in Wisconsin for the wedding of a friend of Amanda. Maybe we'll bring a pen and pad of paper to take notes and make sure we're not missing anything in our preparations :)
We're also getting our second set of engagement pictures done on Monday in "The Cities" (Minneapolis) before we fly back home. Amanda's friend Megan will be doing our wedding pictures and she has offered to do an engagement shoot too. I hope we won't come across as narcissistic when people come to our house for the first time and all we have up for decorations is pictures of ourselves!
Well, we're going to watch a local baseball game tonight - Amanda's brothers, Tim and Dan, are playing for Sparta Miller. "Take me out to the ball game..."
Hopefully everyone has received their invitations by now - don't forget to call or e-mail us your response when you get a chance. We've had this nagging feeling that we've been forgetting something or leaving someone off our list - Excel spreadsheets are only as good as the information you put in them! As time gets closer (only six more weeks!) we keep wishing we would have hired a wedding planner. We're down to the nitty gritty now: music, programs, decorations, transportation etc. This weekend we're actually back in Wisconsin for the wedding of a friend of Amanda. Maybe we'll bring a pen and pad of paper to take notes and make sure we're not missing anything in our preparations :)
We're also getting our second set of engagement pictures done on Monday in "The Cities" (Minneapolis) before we fly back home. Amanda's friend Megan will be doing our wedding pictures and she has offered to do an engagement shoot too. I hope we won't come across as narcissistic when people come to our house for the first time and all we have up for decorations is pictures of ourselves!
Well, we're going to watch a local baseball game tonight - Amanda's brothers, Tim and Dan, are playing for Sparta Miller. "Take me out to the ball game..."
Monday, May 17, 2010
Invitations on the way!
Be looking in the mail in the next week or two for your invitations! Amanda was back in Wisconsin this past weekend and was working hard to make sure they get sent out asap. She was also able to enjoy some time with her college friends for a day at the spa and a bridal shower on Sunday.
Keep in mind if you are booking a flight that there is an airport in La Crosse, WI (LSE), but it's often very pricey to get there. The closest major airport is Minneapolis (MSP), and it is about 2 and a half hours from La Crosse.
Also, we do have a block of rooms reserved at Stoney Creek, but there are several other hotels nearby as well. If you're reserving a room at Stoney Creek online, be sure that you are reserving a room in the Onalaska location (there are several other Stoney Creeks in the Midwest).
Keep in mind if you are booking a flight that there is an airport in La Crosse, WI (LSE), but it's often very pricey to get there. The closest major airport is Minneapolis (MSP), and it is about 2 and a half hours from La Crosse.
Also, we do have a block of rooms reserved at Stoney Creek, but there are several other hotels nearby as well. If you're reserving a room at Stoney Creek online, be sure that you are reserving a room in the Onalaska location (there are several other Stoney Creeks in the Midwest).
Friday, May 14, 2010
Our new diet...
I've hinted at our new diet in the past few posts, and I think I've held you in suspension for long enough.
I should preface my description of this diet with a disclaimer: First, I am neither an expert nor a scientist, and therefore my description of the diet and its inherent benefits may not sufficiently or accurately represent its intricate nature. Furthermore, I am not a paleontologist, and the beliefs indirectly expressed by the framework of this diet are not indicative of my personal beliefs.
We began this diet* shortly after scoffing at a friend of mine, Rob, for consuming copious amounts of bacon and other red meats while visiting us in Denver over Spring Break. Well, after a significant amount of research we realized the value in his diet and have since discarded “conventional wisdom”, replacing it with what is known as Paleolithic Nutrition. Essentially, we eat only what a caveman would have eaten some 10,000 years ago. So we eat plenty of grass-fed beef direct from farmer John (that’s his name, honestly!), as well as bacon (mmm…) and other products that are high in natural saturated fats. The reason being, fat is what our body needs in order to remain satiated throughout the day. By avoiding all processed foods and anything containing sugar (especially the worst of them all – high fructose corn syrup), we are able to regulate our bodies’ insulin levels and therefore decrease the cycle of hunger so frequently experienced by the typical “western diet.”
This is where the critic chimes in and says, “Dude, what about your high cholesterol? All this saturated fat is going to give you a heart attack!”… To which I reply, “Wrong!” First of all, there is no scientific evidence that high cholesterol is linked to cardiovascular disease. The conventional wisdom which tells us that high cholesterol is a risk for heart disease is fed to us by the same industry that is lining its own pockets with the sale of drugs that, while they keep your cholesterol level (measured by an obscure formula) down, don’t actually prevent your chance of heart attack. Cholesterol, I have learned, is actually necessary – it binds to the walls of the artery to heal the lesions caused by inflammation which is so rampant among Americans due to our diet of processed foods. Cut out inflammation and you significantly decrease your risk for heart disease. I could go on about this for hours, suffice to say I have stopped my statin intake and monitored my diet so as to decrease inflammation.
Now, I know this will sound strange (and may even offend some agricultural types out there), but we have also cut out all wheat and corn based products. This is where my lack of scientific expertise becomes evident… anyway, I’ll give it a shot. Starches and grains inhibit our body’s ability to absorb nutrients, and so by giving up grains we will be better able to process the foods we eat and benefit from their nutrients. I feel a little awkward ordering a burger without the bun, but it’s a small price to pay for long term health!
We do still eat vegetables and some fruit – although even some naturally occurring fruit will contain large amounts of sugar which we try to shy away from. We also just started getting whole milk delivered to us the old fashioned way – dropped off at our door every week! Did I mention the fact that I eat loads of bacon yet (reason enough to give the diet, ahem, lifestyle change, a try!)?
Anyway, I could go on, but I feel like I’ve already lost half of my loyal readers (what, maybe 3 or 4?), so I’ll pull the chord for now. If you have any questions about any of this or if you want to write me and tell me how crazy I am, please do so. Otherwise, to check out any of the real science on any of what I rambled on about, check out the following two sites:
www.marksdailyapple.com
www.paleonu.com
* Diet should instead read, “Lifestyle change” since diets are almost always short lived and this is a more permanent shift in our way of eating and living.
I should preface my description of this diet with a disclaimer: First, I am neither an expert nor a scientist, and therefore my description of the diet and its inherent benefits may not sufficiently or accurately represent its intricate nature. Furthermore, I am not a paleontologist, and the beliefs indirectly expressed by the framework of this diet are not indicative of my personal beliefs.
We began this diet* shortly after scoffing at a friend of mine, Rob, for consuming copious amounts of bacon and other red meats while visiting us in Denver over Spring Break. Well, after a significant amount of research we realized the value in his diet and have since discarded “conventional wisdom”, replacing it with what is known as Paleolithic Nutrition. Essentially, we eat only what a caveman would have eaten some 10,000 years ago. So we eat plenty of grass-fed beef direct from farmer John (that’s his name, honestly!), as well as bacon (mmm…) and other products that are high in natural saturated fats. The reason being, fat is what our body needs in order to remain satiated throughout the day. By avoiding all processed foods and anything containing sugar (especially the worst of them all – high fructose corn syrup), we are able to regulate our bodies’ insulin levels and therefore decrease the cycle of hunger so frequently experienced by the typical “western diet.”
This is where the critic chimes in and says, “Dude, what about your high cholesterol? All this saturated fat is going to give you a heart attack!”… To which I reply, “Wrong!” First of all, there is no scientific evidence that high cholesterol is linked to cardiovascular disease. The conventional wisdom which tells us that high cholesterol is a risk for heart disease is fed to us by the same industry that is lining its own pockets with the sale of drugs that, while they keep your cholesterol level (measured by an obscure formula) down, don’t actually prevent your chance of heart attack. Cholesterol, I have learned, is actually necessary – it binds to the walls of the artery to heal the lesions caused by inflammation which is so rampant among Americans due to our diet of processed foods. Cut out inflammation and you significantly decrease your risk for heart disease. I could go on about this for hours, suffice to say I have stopped my statin intake and monitored my diet so as to decrease inflammation.
Now, I know this will sound strange (and may even offend some agricultural types out there), but we have also cut out all wheat and corn based products. This is where my lack of scientific expertise becomes evident… anyway, I’ll give it a shot. Starches and grains inhibit our body’s ability to absorb nutrients, and so by giving up grains we will be better able to process the foods we eat and benefit from their nutrients. I feel a little awkward ordering a burger without the bun, but it’s a small price to pay for long term health!
We do still eat vegetables and some fruit – although even some naturally occurring fruit will contain large amounts of sugar which we try to shy away from. We also just started getting whole milk delivered to us the old fashioned way – dropped off at our door every week! Did I mention the fact that I eat loads of bacon yet (reason enough to give the diet, ahem, lifestyle change, a try!)?
Anyway, I could go on, but I feel like I’ve already lost half of my loyal readers (what, maybe 3 or 4?), so I’ll pull the chord for now. If you have any questions about any of this or if you want to write me and tell me how crazy I am, please do so. Otherwise, to check out any of the real science on any of what I rambled on about, check out the following two sites:
www.marksdailyapple.com
www.paleonu.com
* Diet should instead read, “Lifestyle change” since diets are almost always short lived and this is a more permanent shift in our way of eating and living.
Sunday, May 2, 2010
Weekend Getaway
For Amanda's birthday I decided to surprise her with a weekend getaway. Well, she knew we were going up into the mountains, but not much more than that (she had to at least know how to pack!).
I found a really cute Bed & Breakfast in a tourist town on the edge of the Rocky Mountain National Forest. It's a beautiful setting, right on a lake - too bad the weather was so cloudy that we couldn't ever really get great views of the surroundings. Apparently, this time between winter and summer is their off season, aka "mud season". We quickly found out why, as all the snow was melting and creating a soupy mess.
Anyway, the main surprise was going to be taking her to the Hot Sulphur Springs Resort for a good soak... (Note to self for future reference: plan more than just the clothes needed for an event such as this). She was pleasantly surprised by the idea; however I hadn't planned anything beyond taking a couple swim suits for her. I hadn't taken flip-flops, or lotion, or any other necessities, and didn't even have quarters to be able to rent a locker. I rented a private pool first thinking that would be nice... wrong! The water was filthy, the walls were grimy, the air was stifling, and it was just a little overwhelming. Thankfully, things got better when we went to the outside pools - they were much cleaner, and it was quite pleasant - snow was lightly falling on occasion and yet it was quite warm sitting in the sun. We both even managed to get a little burnt on our shoulders after a couple hours.
Over-all this has been a very enjoyable mini-vacation. We did break our diet with the amazing dinner and dessert last night (cheesecake was a weakness for her, crème brulée for me!), but it was worth it! Today we're heading back to reality, but stopping in Winter Park at a market on the way to stock up on organics and other scrumptious primal foods :)
I found a really cute Bed & Breakfast in a tourist town on the edge of the Rocky Mountain National Forest. It's a beautiful setting, right on a lake - too bad the weather was so cloudy that we couldn't ever really get great views of the surroundings. Apparently, this time between winter and summer is their off season, aka "mud season". We quickly found out why, as all the snow was melting and creating a soupy mess.
Anyway, the main surprise was going to be taking her to the Hot Sulphur Springs Resort for a good soak... (Note to self for future reference: plan more than just the clothes needed for an event such as this). She was pleasantly surprised by the idea; however I hadn't planned anything beyond taking a couple swim suits for her. I hadn't taken flip-flops, or lotion, or any other necessities, and didn't even have quarters to be able to rent a locker. I rented a private pool first thinking that would be nice... wrong! The water was filthy, the walls were grimy, the air was stifling, and it was just a little overwhelming. Thankfully, things got better when we went to the outside pools - they were much cleaner, and it was quite pleasant - snow was lightly falling on occasion and yet it was quite warm sitting in the sun. We both even managed to get a little burnt on our shoulders after a couple hours.
Over-all this has been a very enjoyable mini-vacation. We did break our diet with the amazing dinner and dessert last night (cheesecake was a weakness for her, crème brulée for me!), but it was worth it! Today we're heading back to reality, but stopping in Winter Park at a market on the way to stock up on organics and other scrumptious primal foods :)
Sunday, April 25, 2010
3 months and counting...
There's just a little over three months now until the wedding. Sometimes it seems like way behind on planning, other times it seems like we're ahead of the game. We go in spurts, really.
Hana (one of Amanda's bridesmaids, friend from U of Iowa) was in town this weekend and she was helping us with the music - she brought two burned cds with everything from Lady GaGa to, well... other things that will make you want to dance (even if you're Dutch and you know you full well have no rhythm!).
Amanda enjoyed her first three day weekend in quite a while. She's been working for over a year at an assisted living community on Saturdays (in addition to her 9-5 job at the University of Colorado) and this was one of the few weekends she took off to spend some quality time with her friend. Between planning the wedding, working and sleeping she hasn't had much time for anything else... except researching the new diet we're on and cooking meals that will keep me around longer! (More on this diet in another post)
At any rate, she's enjoyed some well deserved rest. And next weekend I'll be taking her away from her job again up into the mountains, weather permitting, for a little birthday adventure :)
Hana (one of Amanda's bridesmaids, friend from U of Iowa) was in town this weekend and she was helping us with the music - she brought two burned cds with everything from Lady GaGa to, well... other things that will make you want to dance (even if you're Dutch and you know you full well have no rhythm!).
Amanda enjoyed her first three day weekend in quite a while. She's been working for over a year at an assisted living community on Saturdays (in addition to her 9-5 job at the University of Colorado) and this was one of the few weekends she took off to spend some quality time with her friend. Between planning the wedding, working and sleeping she hasn't had much time for anything else... except researching the new diet we're on and cooking meals that will keep me around longer! (More on this diet in another post)
At any rate, she's enjoyed some well deserved rest. And next weekend I'll be taking her away from her job again up into the mountains, weather permitting, for a little birthday adventure :)
Saturday, April 17, 2010
Date Night
Our typical Friday night lately has consisted of watching Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution. Last night we had every intention of returning home from our date night to watch the show, but our artistic side got the better of us... or maybe it was our lack thereof which led to a three hour painting extravaganza!
We went to a craft shop called Color Me Mine where you can paint clay pottery of many shapes and sizes. Amanda painted a plate while I decorated a vase, which was obviously hand selected by Amanda, with the less than subtle hint that something needs to go inside it! Anyway, despite our collective grumblings about a lack of creativity we managed to produce two pieces that we were moderately proud of. Now we have to wait a week before we can pick them up, to allow time for them to fire and glaze them. Soon enough we'll have some decorative pieces to match our blank walls...
At any rate, our outing was very much worth the cost of missing our weekly program. Now I'll have to surprise her with flowers soon... conveniently, her birthday is less than two weeks away :)
We went to a craft shop called Color Me Mine where you can paint clay pottery of many shapes and sizes. Amanda painted a plate while I decorated a vase, which was obviously hand selected by Amanda, with the less than subtle hint that something needs to go inside it! Anyway, despite our collective grumblings about a lack of creativity we managed to produce two pieces that we were moderately proud of. Now we have to wait a week before we can pick them up, to allow time for them to fire and glaze them. Soon enough we'll have some decorative pieces to match our blank walls...
At any rate, our outing was very much worth the cost of missing our weekly program. Now I'll have to surprise her with flowers soon... conveniently, her birthday is less than two weeks away :)
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
SNOW DAAAYYYY!!!!!!!!
This is no April Fool's joke... I am currently enjoying a sunny snow day in beautiful Denver, CO! We got 2-3inches of snow last night - most of which has since melted - but my school district felt it good and right to let us have the day off. I think this is more a gift due to sympathy for teachers' stress levels, having to deal with restless kids who already seem to be mentally checking out for summer break... still 8 weeks away!
Anyway, I got to finish off my paper (for my Saturday licensure class) and catch up on grading, so it wasn't as if I was outside all day building a snowman and making snow angels... oh wait, the snow's already gone so I couldn't do that even if I wanted to!
Amanda's birthday is only a couple weeks away now - she'll be my age for just over a month! I'm still trying to think of how I can top last year's gift of spa treatment... any ideas?
Well, I'm currently sitting in the library at University of Colorado (I know, it was so sweet of me to drive Amanda to work in these "treacherous conditions"!), and it's bringing back some fond memories of the time I spent in school. Almost makes me want to go back... minus the loans and late night study sessions :)
Anyway, gotta go pull up the car so we can get out of here shortly!
Anyway, I got to finish off my paper (for my Saturday licensure class) and catch up on grading, so it wasn't as if I was outside all day building a snowman and making snow angels... oh wait, the snow's already gone so I couldn't do that even if I wanted to!
Amanda's birthday is only a couple weeks away now - she'll be my age for just over a month! I'm still trying to think of how I can top last year's gift of spa treatment... any ideas?
Well, I'm currently sitting in the library at University of Colorado (I know, it was so sweet of me to drive Amanda to work in these "treacherous conditions"!), and it's bringing back some fond memories of the time I spent in school. Almost makes me want to go back... minus the loans and late night study sessions :)
Anyway, gotta go pull up the car so we can get out of here shortly!
Saturday, March 27, 2010
Bachelor Weekend & Dog Sitting
Last weekend, Rob, Randy and Eric (friends from Calvin) came out to Denver for a bachelor weekend. Granted the wedding is still 4 months away, but this was the best time to meet up with just the guys since I was on Spring Break and the guys were all able to take off for the weekend. We did the usual tourist things like visit the Coors brewery, check out Red Rocks, go hiking, and wander around Boulder etc. We also went up to Copper for a day of skiing and had some beautiful weather! All of these activities were naturally accompanied by intellectual conversation, most of which centered on Libertarianism and Rob's new Paleolithic diet. We toasted to crony capitalism as we tuned in live to the health care reform vote in the House on Sunday evening.
All the while Amanda was dog sitting for her boss at our house, so she was able to keep a close eye on us :) Oliver is a combination of a Yorkie and a Terrier and weighs only about 5 lbs, but tries to act as if he's a tough dog... even though he was afraid of his own food dish! It was fun to have something resembling a dog in the house for a weekend. If anyone else has a dog that they would like us to dog sit for a while, I think Amanda would be happy to do so. Plus, if we do this often enough then we won't feel the need to buy our own dog and have to deal with all the extra expenses and hassles that go along with the pleasures of owning a dog!
Anyway, my Spring Break is now coming to a close, and I'm trying to get ready for the coming week. My parents are in town for the weekend as well, although right now they're down in Texas visiting my brother Justin for his 30th birthday. Only nine more weeks till summer break, but who's counting!
All the while Amanda was dog sitting for her boss at our house, so she was able to keep a close eye on us :) Oliver is a combination of a Yorkie and a Terrier and weighs only about 5 lbs, but tries to act as if he's a tough dog... even though he was afraid of his own food dish! It was fun to have something resembling a dog in the house for a weekend. If anyone else has a dog that they would like us to dog sit for a while, I think Amanda would be happy to do so. Plus, if we do this often enough then we won't feel the need to buy our own dog and have to deal with all the extra expenses and hassles that go along with the pleasures of owning a dog!
Anyway, my Spring Break is now coming to a close, and I'm trying to get ready for the coming week. My parents are in town for the weekend as well, although right now they're down in Texas visiting my brother Justin for his 30th birthday. Only nine more weeks till summer break, but who's counting!
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Playing host
Last weekend Amanda and I played host to Justin and Ginny, friends of Amanda's from Wisconsin. Some highlights of the weekend were a mystery murder dinner and an Avalanche game - not to mention some stellar meals (thanks Amanda and Ginny!) and stimulating conversation.
The murder mystery dinner production was called 'Murder at an Irish Wake'. I somehow got roped into being the pall bearer, and couldn't help but laugh the whole time cuz the actors were hilarious... I guess that rules out a career in acting for me! Anyway, this was a first time for all of us, so we had a blast. At the end of the show each table had to guess who the murderer was and decide what the punishment should be. Amanda's medical expertise helped us solve the case - acute radiation was the cause, and Dr. Murphy was guilty... kinda felt like a live game of Clue really.
The Avs game was equally entertaining. Justin's dad pulled some connections and got us club seat tickets. It was great high-scoring game, and we had some really good seats as well as a few free drinks! We capped the night off with a riveting game of Monty Python Fluxx... if you've never played it, I suggest... no I command thee to go forth and purchase it post haste.
We're looking forward to playing host again very shortly... tonight that is, when our friend Adrian stays over with us before returning to Portland. , then again in about a week when some of my college buddies come out for a pre-bachelor party and spring break trip. That will then be followed by a visit from my parents.
Gotta love living in an extremely popular city!
The murder mystery dinner production was called 'Murder at an Irish Wake'. I somehow got roped into being the pall bearer, and couldn't help but laugh the whole time cuz the actors were hilarious... I guess that rules out a career in acting for me! Anyway, this was a first time for all of us, so we had a blast. At the end of the show each table had to guess who the murderer was and decide what the punishment should be. Amanda's medical expertise helped us solve the case - acute radiation was the cause, and Dr. Murphy was guilty... kinda felt like a live game of Clue really.
The Avs game was equally entertaining. Justin's dad pulled some connections and got us club seat tickets. It was great high-scoring game, and we had some really good seats as well as a few free drinks! We capped the night off with a riveting game of Monty Python Fluxx... if you've never played it, I suggest... no I command thee to go forth and purchase it post haste.
We're looking forward to playing host again very shortly... tonight that is, when our friend Adrian stays over with us before returning to Portland. , then again in about a week when some of my college buddies come out for a pre-bachelor party and spring break trip. That will then be followed by a visit from my parents.
Gotta love living in an extremely popular city!
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Does this sound kosher to you?
Amanda had yet another productive wedding planning trip home to Wisconsin last weekend. I felt my weekend was equally productive, however mine involved less wedding bells and more soap suds and sponges :)
Besides hand making all of the invitations with her mom and several bridesmaids, she also found our musicians and planned most of the music with them. The way she found them was rather unconventional – but when you’re planning a wedding from such a long distance you need to get a little creative. She was at her parents’ church Sunday morning where there was a small musical performance. After the service, Amanda boldly introduced herself to both a trumpet player and a violinist and quickly proceeded to ask what their plans were for July 30th of this year. The trumpet player (and vocalist) agreed almost immediately and he and Amanda spent the afternoon picking songs and talking about plans for the ceremony. So, while we don’t have a strong personal connection to this artist, Amanda did already hear him perform and was impressed.
Staying behind in D-town while Amanda was away, I took advantage of the opportunity to roll up my sleeves and clean house… literally! I reached a new high of male domestication with this; the second half of my valentine’s gift to Amanda. She was delighted to return home to a clean bedroom, kitchen, and bathroom - yes, I even scrubbed the toilet and shower! In case you’re wondering… I’m not planning on renting out my cleaning services just yet – I’ve got plenty of work to keep me busy for now, between the new house and Amanda’s apartment :)
Sounds kosher to me!
Besides hand making all of the invitations with her mom and several bridesmaids, she also found our musicians and planned most of the music with them. The way she found them was rather unconventional – but when you’re planning a wedding from such a long distance you need to get a little creative. She was at her parents’ church Sunday morning where there was a small musical performance. After the service, Amanda boldly introduced herself to both a trumpet player and a violinist and quickly proceeded to ask what their plans were for July 30th of this year. The trumpet player (and vocalist) agreed almost immediately and he and Amanda spent the afternoon picking songs and talking about plans for the ceremony. So, while we don’t have a strong personal connection to this artist, Amanda did already hear him perform and was impressed.
Staying behind in D-town while Amanda was away, I took advantage of the opportunity to roll up my sleeves and clean house… literally! I reached a new high of male domestication with this; the second half of my valentine’s gift to Amanda. She was delighted to return home to a clean bedroom, kitchen, and bathroom - yes, I even scrubbed the toilet and shower! In case you’re wondering… I’m not planning on renting out my cleaning services just yet – I’ve got plenty of work to keep me busy for now, between the new house and Amanda’s apartment :)
Sounds kosher to me!
Monday, February 8, 2010
An early Valentine :)
Since Amanda will be heading home this coming weekend to take care of some more wedding business, we decided to officially celebrate Valentine's day on Friday (and unofficially every other day of the year).
Since I'm terrible at keeping secrets, and Amanda doesn't like having secrets kept from her, I told her to keep Friday evening open but didn't actually plan anything until that morning. Where else would you look to find a good idea for a date but craigslist, right? So I found some tickets for a wine tasting, dinner and theatre production, and arranged to pick them up after work. The play didn't particularly have a Valentine theme, but I figured it would work anyway.
I left work a little late to be able to pick up the tickets before meeting Amanda and heading downtown, so we had to pick them up on the way. After a seemingly shady, yet smooth transaction with the seller of the tickets (he met me on a street corner, but it was a nicer part of town...), Amanda saw the tickets and started to piece together where we were going. I was still a little skeptical at this point whether or not the tickets were real, or some high quality reproduction made with an expensive printer.
Thankfully, we were admitted into the tasting and dinner. It was a delicious meal with a knowledgeable host who explained many things about various wines. We faked our way as we talked about the various components of each wine, as did the other amateur couples seated at our table! Then came the interesting part – the play…
Our tickets said wine tasting and play, however everyone else at the dinner had a separate ticket to get into the play. Acting completely ignorant (which wasn’t hard to pull off since this wasn’t far from the truth), we approached the box office staff and said that we paid for the dinner and play, but that we didn’t have the tickets for the play. They kindly printed off tickets for some of the best seats in the house – honestly, we were front and center!
After the play we began thinking that we might have just gotten a little more than we paid for. The play was extremely well done – like, we’re talking almost Broadway quality! It would have been a reasonable deal if we had only gotten to do the wine tasting and dinner (which apparently was all that we were supposed to have done!). We got home and looked up how much the tickets should have cost, and let’s just say that we paid one fourth as much – oops!
Since I'm terrible at keeping secrets, and Amanda doesn't like having secrets kept from her, I told her to keep Friday evening open but didn't actually plan anything until that morning. Where else would you look to find a good idea for a date but craigslist, right? So I found some tickets for a wine tasting, dinner and theatre production, and arranged to pick them up after work. The play didn't particularly have a Valentine theme, but I figured it would work anyway.
I left work a little late to be able to pick up the tickets before meeting Amanda and heading downtown, so we had to pick them up on the way. After a seemingly shady, yet smooth transaction with the seller of the tickets (he met me on a street corner, but it was a nicer part of town...), Amanda saw the tickets and started to piece together where we were going. I was still a little skeptical at this point whether or not the tickets were real, or some high quality reproduction made with an expensive printer.
Thankfully, we were admitted into the tasting and dinner. It was a delicious meal with a knowledgeable host who explained many things about various wines. We faked our way as we talked about the various components of each wine, as did the other amateur couples seated at our table! Then came the interesting part – the play…
Our tickets said wine tasting and play, however everyone else at the dinner had a separate ticket to get into the play. Acting completely ignorant (which wasn’t hard to pull off since this wasn’t far from the truth), we approached the box office staff and said that we paid for the dinner and play, but that we didn’t have the tickets for the play. They kindly printed off tickets for some of the best seats in the house – honestly, we were front and center!
After the play we began thinking that we might have just gotten a little more than we paid for. The play was extremely well done – like, we’re talking almost Broadway quality! It would have been a reasonable deal if we had only gotten to do the wine tasting and dinner (which apparently was all that we were supposed to have done!). We got home and looked up how much the tickets should have cost, and let’s just say that we paid one fourth as much – oops!
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Wedding info update
We have begun to send out the save-the-date cards for our big day, hopefully you’ve already seen our smiling faces in the mail :)
As the postcard indicates, we are having a Friday wedding (July 30th). The ceremony will take place in the afternoon at English Lutheran Church in La Crosse, WI. The reception will follow at Stoney Creek Inn in Onalaska, which is also conveniently the same place where we have a block of rooms reserved for guests. Check out the website here: http://www.stoneycreekinn.com/locations/index.cfm/LaCrosse. When reserving a room just mention the Schneider/Vyn wedding.
We'll continue to add more information as the wedding planning progresses. If you have any questions please feel free to e-mail me: r_vyn@hotmail.com
As the postcard indicates, we are having a Friday wedding (July 30th). The ceremony will take place in the afternoon at English Lutheran Church in La Crosse, WI. The reception will follow at Stoney Creek Inn in Onalaska, which is also conveniently the same place where we have a block of rooms reserved for guests. Check out the website here: http://www.stoneycreekinn.com/locations/index.cfm/LaCrosse. When reserving a room just mention the Schneider/Vyn wedding.
We'll continue to add more information as the wedding planning progresses. If you have any questions please feel free to e-mail me: r_vyn@hotmail.com
Saturday, January 23, 2010
A Bittersweet beginning to 2010
On a more serious note, the beginning of this year was bittersweet. Within 24 hours I heard the news of both the passing of my Aunt MaryAnn and the birth of my nephew, Brenan. I returned to Ontario for a short, but very meaningful, trip. It was very sad to see our aunt pass away at such a young age, and leaving behind a young family that I had the great fortune of growing up alongside. Words can’t describe many of the emotions and difficulties that now rise up for my uncle and cousins, but we continue to pray that God will sustain them. Witnessing both death and new life in such a short time span is a strange combination of emotions to encounter – joy and sorrow don’t often come as a package deal. But it was beautiful to be able to hold a 5lb bundle of joy, and to feel his hiccups shake his whole body! Brenan was an eager one to come out – he arrived a month early, but thankfully both mother and child are healthy. Now Rich and Tara have the tough decision of how to divide up their 12 months maternity/paternity leave :)
Once again...
Surprise, surprise... I'm doing a lousy job of holding up my end of the bargaining in the wedding planning - it's been over a month since my last post, and certainly not for lack of things to write about!
Without further delay, here's a quick re-cap of our lives since the last post:
Shortly after moving into the new house we were able to host Amanda's family for Christmas. We shared a very atypical Christmas day, dawning paint brushes, rollers and my old high school t-shirts instead of... um... well whatever people would typically dawn for this festive day. With 14 hands hard at work we were able to finish all but one room of the main floor. Any self-respecting Dutchman can recognize the value of family labour. We did offer in return an afternoon of snowshoeing in the Rocky Mountains, which provided some great scenery for next year's Christmas card :)
The New Year was much more eventful than we would have preferred. Having gotten my top two wisdom teeth removed that morning, we decided to have a low-key evening with our friends Adam and Megan. We celebrated the New Year along with the East Coast, and I was ready to cash in my chips by 10:30pm local time (lame, I know!). Before going to bed I took a vicodin - not so much for the pain, but just so I could sleep comfortably through the night... well, that didn't happen! I woke up around 2am to go to the bathroom and ended up passing out twice in the bathroom. The second time I didn't come to for a bit. When I did, Amanda had already dialed 9-1-1. Anyway, the long and short of it was I got an ambulance ride (for fear that I might pass out on the way to the ER again) and spent two hours in the ER just to have them tell me I was dehydrated - oh, and did I mention that I drank 5-6 glasses of water that evening! I'm not a doctor, but if one drinks that much, AND gets up in the middle of the night to relieve one's bladder, the likely scenario isn't dehydration - but like I said, I'm not a doctor. Anyway, I've since recovered and am waking up to the reality of insurance bills - who knew EKGs and labs could cost so much? I really shouldn't complain too much though - I am very fortunate to have my health, and not to mention a beautiful fiancee who strives to maintain it... was that too cheesy?
Without further delay, here's a quick re-cap of our lives since the last post:
Shortly after moving into the new house we were able to host Amanda's family for Christmas. We shared a very atypical Christmas day, dawning paint brushes, rollers and my old high school t-shirts instead of... um... well whatever people would typically dawn for this festive day. With 14 hands hard at work we were able to finish all but one room of the main floor. Any self-respecting Dutchman can recognize the value of family labour. We did offer in return an afternoon of snowshoeing in the Rocky Mountains, which provided some great scenery for next year's Christmas card :)
The New Year was much more eventful than we would have preferred. Having gotten my top two wisdom teeth removed that morning, we decided to have a low-key evening with our friends Adam and Megan. We celebrated the New Year along with the East Coast, and I was ready to cash in my chips by 10:30pm local time (lame, I know!). Before going to bed I took a vicodin - not so much for the pain, but just so I could sleep comfortably through the night... well, that didn't happen! I woke up around 2am to go to the bathroom and ended up passing out twice in the bathroom. The second time I didn't come to for a bit. When I did, Amanda had already dialed 9-1-1. Anyway, the long and short of it was I got an ambulance ride (for fear that I might pass out on the way to the ER again) and spent two hours in the ER just to have them tell me I was dehydrated - oh, and did I mention that I drank 5-6 glasses of water that evening! I'm not a doctor, but if one drinks that much, AND gets up in the middle of the night to relieve one's bladder, the likely scenario isn't dehydration - but like I said, I'm not a doctor. Anyway, I've since recovered and am waking up to the reality of insurance bills - who knew EKGs and labs could cost so much? I really shouldn't complain too much though - I am very fortunate to have my health, and not to mention a beautiful fiancee who strives to maintain it... was that too cheesy?
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