Manhandle South of the Panhandle

It has been a while. Last Monday marked year one of marriage for Kevin and I. We had heard "the first year is the hardest." When someone at work asked Kevin about it, he said it really hasn't been that hard, and they assured him it's really the first 7 years. So... I'll let you know in 6 years. We had a low key anniversary- we went out to breakfast, ate lunch at our favorite sushi restaurant, went to all our favorite thrift stores and watched our wedding video (Thanks S&M). On our anniversary of food and fun we saw a woman whose day was not going nearly as well as ours. I promised Kevin I would bake some cookies and so we went to Fred Meyer for the ingredients. As Kevin pulled into a parking spot I said, "Why is that car on the sidewalk?" As we got closer we saw that an old(er) lady had driven her car into the side of the building. It was actually pretty sad. Othe than being momentarily sad for her, we had a great time together. We spent the whole extended weekend alone which is just what we needed.

My title refers to a football game, Patriots vs. Dolphins. Leading up to it, announcers referred to the pending game as the "manhandle south of the panhandle" (because the dolphins suck) thus far it has proved to be true. At half time the score is 42-7 and all the Dolphins fans have left the stadium, their home stadium. Ouch.

We went to J&K's last night, we brought the food, they brought the fun. "Apples to Apples" may be my new favorite game. Bowzer was fun and hung out on my lap while I played the game. He's slightly larger than a lap dog, and so his paws would slide off my knees and he would readjust every minute or so.

I am halfway through my semester and I am anticipating Thanksgiving in California. Otherwise, things are pretty average in the life of the Martins'.

Link

Here's a link to the online version of the article I was photographed for! Kevin and I picked up the print copy today. Notice they misspelled my last name and I am not an employee, but rather an intern.

Interning Is G-L-A-M-O-R-O-U-S...yes

Yesterday was just another day at the office, complete with my very own photo shoot. I do feel a modelling career coming on. How can I deny my talents any longer?? I came into work and was told that a reporter would be arriving shortly to photograph a new therapy garden at our hospital. The photographer wanted to shoot some patients in the garden, but that is out of the question. The therapy garden is for patients who are dealing with mental illnesses. So, the marketing coordinator told me she needed me to play the patient in the photographs.

Yes. I know, it's weird. We walked the garden, where a therapist would point out plants and flowers for me to touch. We sat to act out a therapy session, at one point two therapists were "helping" me. Luckily (or maybe not) for me, the photographer only took pictures of me from behind.

By the way today is day one of 4 days off for me- no school or work. Kevin has Monday off and for the next three days we are going to relax and eat good food.

Thena and Truffles

Today was "Day of Outreach" at school. Two times each school year classes are cancelled so that students can spend the day serving the community. I picked a house that is on the street Kevin and I live on, in hopes of meeting a neighbor. I met Thena, and her dachshund "Truffles." We trimmed bushes, raked leaves, and did general yard work. Thena made hot cocoa and offered us mixed nuts for a snack. I had a lot of fun, and I looked cute in my flannel. I hope to visit them again, and maybe take Truffles for a walk with Kevin.

After my day of outreach was over I went to Kevin's work to have lunch with him. When he got in the car he said, "you smell like my dad." I was proud of that.