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!