Just a head's up for guests staying in Minneapolis or Saint Paul this weekend. I know we have mentioned a time or two that the Twin Cities Marathon (the most beautiful urban marathon in the world) is on Sunday, but perhaps did not stress enough the expanse of space that the marathon takes up (I mean, it is 26 miles!) and the way in which it makes traffic in Minneapolis and Saint Paul a bit silly.
Check out this link for road closures: https://www.tcmevents.org/events/medtronic_twin_cities_marathon_weekend/spectators/road_closings/. You can also see the race course on TCM's webpage. If I were you, I would just stay and watch the marathon until all the roads open back up.... but that's just me.
NOTE: If you are staying in a Twin Cities suburb (Eagan, Burnsville, Apple Valley, Lakeville, etc), these road closures will most likely not affect your drive.
Chill out!
Man, weddings get stressful, and people get crazy! Sometimes, you just need a little perspective:
Thanks Ricky!
In other news, in case you all are wondering, Kate and I have been selected to take part in Timberwolves media day 2013 on September 30 (the Monday before the wedding). We've been told to prepare questions for all of the players.
It works out great, because we can finally ask Ricky and Kevin Love what the delay has been in sending back their wedding RSVP's.*
See you all in a few,
Aaron
*Yes, we did. We invited both of them.
Thanks Ricky!
In other news, in case you all are wondering, Kate and I have been selected to take part in Timberwolves media day 2013 on September 30 (the Monday before the wedding). We've been told to prepare questions for all of the players.
It works out great, because we can finally ask Ricky and Kevin Love what the delay has been in sending back their wedding RSVP's.*
See you all in a few,
Aaron
*Yes, we did. We invited both of them.
RSVP ASAP
Hey people, ask yourself the following questions:
1 - Did I get an invitation to Kate and Aaron's badass wedding/dance party/funfest?
1 - Did I get an invitation to Kate and Aaron's badass wedding/dance party/funfest?
(If so)
2 - Did I send back my RSVP card?
(If so)
Congrats! We'll be happy to see you there, and remember to check out all the random details on this website to make your wedding experience all the better!
(If not)
SEND IN YOUR RSVP CARD NOW! YOU ONLY HAVE UNTIL SEPTEMBER 15 - THAT'S IN LESS THAN A WEEK! IF YOU DON'T SEND IT IN, THERE WILL BE NO DELICIOUS FULTON BEER, NO ENJOYING DJ BE-EASEY'S DANCE STYLINGS, AND NO OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU TO ANNOY US BY CLINKING YOUR FORKS CEASELESSLY AGAINST YOUR GLASSES!
That is all.
The Honeymooners
Hello folks,
A lot of people ask us where we're going on our honeymoon. The answer is (drumroll please)... the beautiful (so I've heard) island of Kauai, Hawai'i!
Why Kauai, as opposed to say, Arkansas? Oh, I don't know.
But yes, thanks to a very generous donation of a timeshare week by a certain Father of the Groom (FOTG), we were able to scrape together two plane tickets to the 49th state a week after the wedding. I, for one, have given repeated notice to my employer that upon departure, I will be ABSOLUTELY UNAVAILABLE until my return 10 days later.
And what will we do for 10 days? I plan to be very aggressive in my wearing of aloha shirts, which should not come as a surprise. I also plan to be very aggressive in lying on a beach with a tropical drink featuring a tiny umbrella, and I plan to be reaching for said drink just as soon as I finish my morning cup of Kona coffee. Maybe a suckling pig can be procured? Apart from that, I believe there are plans to take a few surfing lessons, which if all goes according to plan, will be but the precursor to quitting our jobs and becoming professional surfers, where "work" will require us to travel to Tahitian beaches.
We are also planning on hiking the Kalalau Trail, a 22 mile round trip jaunt along the Na Pali coast to Kalalau Beach. Given the length and nature of the trail, this is going to be an overnight affair, and I think, the first overnight backpacking that either of us has ever done. So that is pretty exciting, as the two of us share a great love for the outdoors, camping, and overall adventuring (see Great Divide blog). I must say that as of right now, the Kalalau Trail is what I am most looking forward to. Do you want to help us traverse the Hawaiian cliffs and back again? Check out our sweet REI gift registry, where you can help us do just that! We are planning a bunch of gnarly adventures in the next few years, so anything off this list would be an awesome wedding gift, if you're into giving gifts! And if not, that's cool too!
What else will we do? Probably a whole lot of nothing. I do recall the phrase "rent mountain bikes" has come up in conversation, and I know there is somewhere an artfully prepared piece of mahi mahi waiting for me to eat it. Cruise around in our rental jeep?* The last day we're hopping an early morning flight to Honolulu to check out Waikiki and all that other fun stuff, so I guess we'll do that too!
According to the FOTG, Kauai is also infested with wild chickens, so maybe we'll hang out with them?
So yes, does this answer people's questions about the customary post-wedding trip commonly known as a "honeymoon"? If you have any other questions, comments, or concerns, drop us a line at aaron.kate.lifetimecontract@gmail.com.
*Are you sick of buying people "stuff" for their weddings? Does consumer culture just chap you out? Check out our travel registry, where you can rid yourself of the slick commercialism and "stuff" that so clutters modern America, and help us share in some experiences instead!
A lot of people ask us where we're going on our honeymoon. The answer is (drumroll please)... the beautiful (so I've heard) island of Kauai, Hawai'i!
Why Kauai, as opposed to say, Arkansas? Oh, I don't know.
But yes, thanks to a very generous donation of a timeshare week by a certain Father of the Groom (FOTG), we were able to scrape together two plane tickets to the 49th state a week after the wedding. I, for one, have given repeated notice to my employer that upon departure, I will be ABSOLUTELY UNAVAILABLE until my return 10 days later.
And what will we do for 10 days? I plan to be very aggressive in my wearing of aloha shirts, which should not come as a surprise. I also plan to be very aggressive in lying on a beach with a tropical drink featuring a tiny umbrella, and I plan to be reaching for said drink just as soon as I finish my morning cup of Kona coffee. Maybe a suckling pig can be procured? Apart from that, I believe there are plans to take a few surfing lessons, which if all goes according to plan, will be but the precursor to quitting our jobs and becoming professional surfers, where "work" will require us to travel to Tahitian beaches.
We are also planning on hiking the Kalalau Trail, a 22 mile round trip jaunt along the Na Pali coast to Kalalau Beach. Given the length and nature of the trail, this is going to be an overnight affair, and I think, the first overnight backpacking that either of us has ever done. So that is pretty exciting, as the two of us share a great love for the outdoors, camping, and overall adventuring (see Great Divide blog). I must say that as of right now, the Kalalau Trail is what I am most looking forward to. Do you want to help us traverse the Hawaiian cliffs and back again? Check out our sweet REI gift registry, where you can help us do just that! We are planning a bunch of gnarly adventures in the next few years, so anything off this list would be an awesome wedding gift, if you're into giving gifts! And if not, that's cool too!
What else will we do? Probably a whole lot of nothing. I do recall the phrase "rent mountain bikes" has come up in conversation, and I know there is somewhere an artfully prepared piece of mahi mahi waiting for me to eat it. Cruise around in our rental jeep?* The last day we're hopping an early morning flight to Honolulu to check out Waikiki and all that other fun stuff, so I guess we'll do that too!
According to the FOTG, Kauai is also infested with wild chickens, so maybe we'll hang out with them?
So yes, does this answer people's questions about the customary post-wedding trip commonly known as a "honeymoon"? If you have any other questions, comments, or concerns, drop us a line at aaron.kate.lifetimecontract@gmail.com.
*Are you sick of buying people "stuff" for their weddings? Does consumer culture just chap you out? Check out our travel registry, where you can rid yourself of the slick commercialism and "stuff" that so clutters modern America, and help us share in some experiences instead!
Captain's Log: Entry 1
Editor's Note: Today's post has been provided by Jasper, the sometimes sour/sometimes sweet, cat that also lives in our house. He insisted.
Captain's Log: Entry 1
Hello. This is the cat, contacting you for the first time from the inside. I have been held captive in this location for 284 days now, though I have been forced to share my living space with the female human for 803 days. The newer living arrangements are indeed an improvement-- there are more and larger windows for me to stalk the prey outside the home, there are more hiding spaces, and there is an intricate underground tunnel system that goes into each room of the house. The humans call this the "the furnace duct system." Though I generally find them quite stupid, their attempt at code to keep me from using the underground tunnel is cute. Stupid, but cute.
The male human, he is also new. I saw him once in a while around the smaller space the female and I once shared, but now I see him every day. Overall, he is extremely unfriendly, which makes it difficult to lure him in to any of my traps, particularly the ones in which I appear to open for and interested in being pet and then promptly attack any hand within a 5 foot radius. Since moving in, I have launched comprehensive psychological warfare against him. Successfully completed attacks include, but are not limited to: scratching the brand new rug he bought... every single day, sitting at the dinner table like a guest during meal time, and announcing my entry into or exit from every room with a loud, high pitch, tuneless cry.
The female human is an excellent pawn, and it is perhaps the perceived friendship between the two of us that aids me most in my efforts to gain complete control over the goings-on of the dwelling. Through this strategic partnership, I have more than once seen their computer files by simply jumping into her lap and purring briefly. Really, they are so stupid.
Shortly after we overtook the larger dwelling, the humans allowed our quarters to be infiltrated by a rather large critter. Though they continue to call it "dog," I am sure I have seen pictures of this animal before-- long, sleek, tall and tan, runs fast. Yes, this is not a "dog," but rather a deer. Distant relatives of mine, like the puma, hunt critters like this all the time. I have committed to carrying on the legacy of my ancestors. The dog, who is also quite stupid, often leaves large comfortable beds unoccupied, which I have now added to my empire. Though he can run fast, he lacks any agility and is utterly useless when it comes to getting behind or under any of the furniture due to his rather obstructive size. I am always sure to get away from his half-hearted attempts at chasing me.
The humans are planning this event they call a "wedding." I do not understand much about it, other than I was not invited and will seek revenge on them for that when the time is least convenient. I gave them just a taste of what is to come when I chewed through the corner of approximately 20 invitations and then shredded a burlap bag the female was going to use for decorations. You see burlap bag turned table mat, I see thousands of tiny strings waiting to be unleashed. And then swallowed, resulting in a potential medical emergency which will require that they female fawn over me for days, telling me what a "poor kitty" I am. Really, they are so stupid.
Captain's Log: Entry 1
Hello. This is the cat, contacting you for the first time from the inside. I have been held captive in this location for 284 days now, though I have been forced to share my living space with the female human for 803 days. The newer living arrangements are indeed an improvement-- there are more and larger windows for me to stalk the prey outside the home, there are more hiding spaces, and there is an intricate underground tunnel system that goes into each room of the house. The humans call this the "the furnace duct system." Though I generally find them quite stupid, their attempt at code to keep me from using the underground tunnel is cute. Stupid, but cute.
The male human, he is also new. I saw him once in a while around the smaller space the female and I once shared, but now I see him every day. Overall, he is extremely unfriendly, which makes it difficult to lure him in to any of my traps, particularly the ones in which I appear to open for and interested in being pet and then promptly attack any hand within a 5 foot radius. Since moving in, I have launched comprehensive psychological warfare against him. Successfully completed attacks include, but are not limited to: scratching the brand new rug he bought... every single day, sitting at the dinner table like a guest during meal time, and announcing my entry into or exit from every room with a loud, high pitch, tuneless cry.
The female human is an excellent pawn, and it is perhaps the perceived friendship between the two of us that aids me most in my efforts to gain complete control over the goings-on of the dwelling. Through this strategic partnership, I have more than once seen their computer files by simply jumping into her lap and purring briefly. Really, they are so stupid.
Shortly after we overtook the larger dwelling, the humans allowed our quarters to be infiltrated by a rather large critter. Though they continue to call it "dog," I am sure I have seen pictures of this animal before-- long, sleek, tall and tan, runs fast. Yes, this is not a "dog," but rather a deer. Distant relatives of mine, like the puma, hunt critters like this all the time. I have committed to carrying on the legacy of my ancestors. The dog, who is also quite stupid, often leaves large comfortable beds unoccupied, which I have now added to my empire. Though he can run fast, he lacks any agility and is utterly useless when it comes to getting behind or under any of the furniture due to his rather obstructive size. I am always sure to get away from his half-hearted attempts at chasing me.
The humans are planning this event they call a "wedding." I do not understand much about it, other than I was not invited and will seek revenge on them for that when the time is least convenient. I gave them just a taste of what is to come when I chewed through the corner of approximately 20 invitations and then shredded a burlap bag the female was going to use for decorations. You see burlap bag turned table mat, I see thousands of tiny strings waiting to be unleashed. And then swallowed, resulting in a potential medical emergency which will require that they female fawn over me for days, telling me what a "poor kitty" I am. Really, they are so stupid.
Polka!
We have started getting RSVPs back and we are loving everything about them-- the notes are sweet and we are happy you are all taking as much creative liberty with your responses as we took with designing the invites.
Though we have only received a handful so far, there is a decided trend in the responses to "A song that gets us dancing is:______________."
Polka. Y'all love to polka.
I said to Aaron the other day, "Aaron, I am sort of nervous about this. Everyone loves to polka, but I don't know how." Seriously you guys, 2 left feet on this bride-to-be. My version of dance is a little less 'step this way then that' and a little more 'jump up and down and just shake around a little.' Cool HandLuke Aaron said, "Dude, don't even worry. You just sort of run and two-step around the dance floor. It's easy."
Easy, he says. Well, let me just apologize now if we accidentally crash into you whilst we are running and two-stepping around the floor.
Though we have only received a handful so far, there is a decided trend in the responses to "A song that gets us dancing is:______________."
Polka. Y'all love to polka.
I said to Aaron the other day, "Aaron, I am sort of nervous about this. Everyone loves to polka, but I don't know how." Seriously you guys, 2 left feet on this bride-to-be. My version of dance is a little less 'step this way then that' and a little more 'jump up and down and just shake around a little.' Cool Hand
Easy, he says. Well, let me just apologize now if we accidentally crash into you whilst we are running and two-stepping around the floor.
Hello Friends and Family!
Last week we verified that we are, in fact, on the church calendar for our wedding day and then promptly dropped the invites in the mail to make their epic journeys to such exotic places as... Iowa, South Dakota, and Wisconsin. Oh! And Omaha, which we learned at a wedding a few weeks ago is "the city of romance."
I know some of you-- having received the invite that Kate stuffed, stamped and addressed (121 times) in under 36 hours-- are visiting our blog for the first time and to that we say "Welcome!"
There is some fun information here, like the 'press release' announcing our engagement, a little bit about us, and the leading ladies and gents in our wedding party.
And there is some important information, like where the wedding and reception will be and some hotel information. Of note, the Twin Cities Marathon is the same weekend as our wedding and hotels in Minneapolis & Saint Paul are filling quickly for the Most Beautiful Urban Marathon in the World. If you need a hotel room, or think you might need a hotel room, do not delay in making a reservation.
All of these things-- and more!-- can be found by clicking the page headings that are listed across the screen under the picture of the canoe (from our 2011 Boundary Waters Canoe trip).
As we approach October 5, you can come back to this website to read any important updates we have about the wedding, although mostly we post about biking, eating, and the dog. We really like our dog.
We are so looking forward to celebrating our wedding with you and have completely appreciated your support, love, and prayers as we plan the big day. Kate is, as she always says, 12/10 excited.
I know some of you-- having received the invite that Kate stuffed, stamped and addressed (121 times) in under 36 hours-- are visiting our blog for the first time and to that we say "Welcome!"
There is some fun information here, like the 'press release' announcing our engagement, a little bit about us, and the leading ladies and gents in our wedding party.
And there is some important information, like where the wedding and reception will be and some hotel information. Of note, the Twin Cities Marathon is the same weekend as our wedding and hotels in Minneapolis & Saint Paul are filling quickly for the Most Beautiful Urban Marathon in the World. If you need a hotel room, or think you might need a hotel room, do not delay in making a reservation.
All of these things-- and more!-- can be found by clicking the page headings that are listed across the screen under the picture of the canoe (from our 2011 Boundary Waters Canoe trip).
As we approach October 5, you can come back to this website to read any important updates we have about the wedding, although mostly we post about biking, eating, and the dog. We really like our dog.
We are so looking forward to celebrating our wedding with you and have completely appreciated your support, love, and prayers as we plan the big day. Kate is, as she always says, 12/10 excited.
New Blog/Online Timewaster
Hello friends,
This is a wedding blog. The wedding is on October 5, 2013. So, what will you all read on October 6?! Is getting married the only thing we will ever do?! Are we witty/organized enough to support ANOTHER blog?!
There are answers to your questions! Check out http://kateaarongreatdivide.blogspot.com/ to hear the details of our next great adventure, and follow along as well!
This is a wedding blog. The wedding is on October 5, 2013. So, what will you all read on October 6?! Is getting married the only thing we will ever do?! Are we witty/organized enough to support ANOTHER blog?!
There are answers to your questions! Check out http://kateaarongreatdivide.blogspot.com/ to hear the details of our next great adventure, and follow along as well!
Suits (not "lawsuits")
Internet,
What fashion conscious man doesn't love a good suit? I sure do.
I picked up the suit last week which I intend to wear at the event that is the subject of this blog. I procured from a fine men's shop in Saint Paul by the name of Heime's Haberdashery. Last month, I ambled in and explained to a very well-dressed gentleman by the name of Gus that I wanted a suit that looked neither: (a) like I was going to work, nor; (b) like I was headed to a funeral. Of course, attorneys are apt to wear suits to work (perhaps in the course of a "lawsuit," which raises the interesting question of whether a suit worn by an attorney should always be considered a "law suit"? Feel free to discuss.).
Therefore, this request necessitated a garment that was outside the parameters of typical menswear. Well, perhaps "outside the parameters" is too strong a phrase. It's not as if I'm showing up in a clown suit or what passes (laughably) as suitable attire for high school prom. Of course, so help me God, I am not showing up in a pre-tied tie. And no, for those of you sure to inquire, it is not Star Wars themed.
Not to say the galaxy far, far away will not make an appearance on Oct. 5...
MTFBWY
What fashion conscious man doesn't love a good suit? I sure do.
I picked up the suit last week which I intend to wear at the event that is the subject of this blog. I procured from a fine men's shop in Saint Paul by the name of Heime's Haberdashery. Last month, I ambled in and explained to a very well-dressed gentleman by the name of Gus that I wanted a suit that looked neither: (a) like I was going to work, nor; (b) like I was headed to a funeral. Of course, attorneys are apt to wear suits to work (perhaps in the course of a "lawsuit," which raises the interesting question of whether a suit worn by an attorney should always be considered a "law suit"? Feel free to discuss.).
Therefore, this request necessitated a garment that was outside the parameters of typical menswear. Well, perhaps "outside the parameters" is too strong a phrase. It's not as if I'm showing up in a clown suit or what passes (laughably) as suitable attire for high school prom. Of course, so help me God, I am not showing up in a pre-tied tie. And no, for those of you sure to inquire, it is not Star Wars themed.
Not to say the galaxy far, far away will not make an appearance on Oct. 5...
MTFBWY
How We Roll
Had a little bike adventure this weekend on the Gateway State Trail (Saint Paul to Stillwater and back). Happily out-biked the rain and treated ourselves to a post-bike ride Dairy Queen Blizzard.
The good life, friends.
The good life, friends.
Tuesday Thoughts
Dear Internet,
The wedding blog (wedlog, weblog, weddblog?) has been vacant recently, and seeing as our guest author is still recovering from the exhaustion of his trip to Apple Valley rec league softball last week, I figured it couldn't hurt to throw some stuff up and see if it sticks.
I'd characterize what wedding preparations there are as going smoothly, although really, I would imagine Kate and I are two of the most apathetic wedding planners ever. Not to say we do not care about the outcome of October 5, 2013, as that would certainly not be the case. Rather, I think we are both a little wary/disdainful of the monolith that is the American Wedding Industry, and the pressure said industry places on bright eyed brides and grooms to be to fill their wedding day with unnecessary baubles. I think a good visual representation of my thoughts in this regard is as follows (note that in this metaphor, I am Jeff Goldblum):
I remain shocked by the amount of glossy paged ink that is spilled upon crafting the MOST PERFECT DAY EVER, and the willingness of people to go along with the suggestion of a Wedding Expert, as an addition to your photography package, to certainly pick up the bedazzled "Bride" t-shirts. Apologies in advance folks, but if you were expecting to see me in an ill-fitting rented tux with a pre-tied bowtie come fall, you are going to be crestfallen.
I think our goal in planning our wedding is to force it to conform to who we are as individuals, rather than what the Wedding Industry expects, and honestly, that is a hard line to walk at times. I've had more than one person say to me, "you're going to wear WHAT kind of shoes to your wedding?" as a look of horror crosses their face. Please be aware that there is, in fact, a purpose behind these facially odd decisions. The idea is to have you, our guests, understand that this is a shared event, and hopefully, you will experience it as something we intentionally planned, rather than a show that was put on by someone else. If these decisions and the resulting experience strike you as odd, well then, consider who made them.
Looking forward to seeing you all in a few months.
A. Nyquist
The wedding blog (wedlog, weblog, weddblog?) has been vacant recently, and seeing as our guest author is still recovering from the exhaustion of his trip to Apple Valley rec league softball last week, I figured it couldn't hurt to throw some stuff up and see if it sticks.
I'd characterize what wedding preparations there are as going smoothly, although really, I would imagine Kate and I are two of the most apathetic wedding planners ever. Not to say we do not care about the outcome of October 5, 2013, as that would certainly not be the case. Rather, I think we are both a little wary/disdainful of the monolith that is the American Wedding Industry, and the pressure said industry places on bright eyed brides and grooms to be to fill their wedding day with unnecessary baubles. I think a good visual representation of my thoughts in this regard is as follows (note that in this metaphor, I am Jeff Goldblum):
I remain shocked by the amount of glossy paged ink that is spilled upon crafting the MOST PERFECT DAY EVER, and the willingness of people to go along with the suggestion of a Wedding Expert, as an addition to your photography package, to certainly pick up the bedazzled "Bride" t-shirts. Apologies in advance folks, but if you were expecting to see me in an ill-fitting rented tux with a pre-tied bowtie come fall, you are going to be crestfallen.
I think our goal in planning our wedding is to force it to conform to who we are as individuals, rather than what the Wedding Industry expects, and honestly, that is a hard line to walk at times. I've had more than one person say to me, "you're going to wear WHAT kind of shoes to your wedding?" as a look of horror crosses their face. Please be aware that there is, in fact, a purpose behind these facially odd decisions. The idea is to have you, our guests, understand that this is a shared event, and hopefully, you will experience it as something we intentionally planned, rather than a show that was put on by someone else. If these decisions and the resulting experience strike you as odd, well then, consider who made them.
Looking forward to seeing you all in a few months.
A. Nyquist
Save The Date!
October 5th. In case you forget.
If you haven't been to our website/blog before, take a look around at all the information, leave comments if you want, and be sure to contact us with any questions, concerns, requests, or dedications.
First, you definitely have to check out the Press Release drafted when the 'lifetime contract' was initially signed.
For some fun reading, you can learn more about us and our wedding party.
Be sure to check out the information page on where our wedding and reception will be (times are yet to be determined), see the map, and if you are traveling from out of town please check out our list of suggested hotels and book soon. The Twin Cities Marathon is the same weekend and hotels are booking quickly.
Most importantly, we are looking forward to sharing a wonderful day with each of you this fall!
162
I was made aware of the fact this morning that 162 days remain until the wedding that is the subject of this blog. Ergo, only a full MLB season remains!
High five!
High five!
Trombone Choir videos, because, why not?
Folks, lots of weddings have music. Lots of weddings have brass. But, may I ask, how many weddings have trombone quartets? Come October 5, I can think of at least one!
Actually, why don't we all just ignore what happened in the above video? We're practicing - I swear.
And for good measure, here's a clip from the 2013 Minneapolis Trombone Choir!
Actually, why don't we all just ignore what happened in the above video? We're practicing - I swear.
And for good measure, here's a clip from the 2013 Minneapolis Trombone Choir!
Chapter 2 - Since They Haven't Planned Anything, I'll Pick Up the Slack
Editor's Note - Today's post is courtesy of frequent guest blogger Basil the greyhound.
Good morning everyone,
Ostensibly, I'm told that this blog's intent is to provide updates and information of the upcoming nuptials of my housemates, Aaron and Kate. However, it doesn't appear to me that they have planned much of anything, unless you count their frequent discussions beginning with "we should really start planning our wedding," or the time spent googling pictures of people on bikes. Given this remarkable lack of progress, I have volunteered to, once again, pick up their slack and provide an update on the house activities.
If you recall, at the time of my last post, I had just moved into this home located in south Minneapolis. I believe that at that time, my housemates were still convinced that they would retain primary control over the household and its activities. That was a quite a foolish proposition indeed. Rather, it is I, the resident greyhound, that is the primary focus of the home's social order, and I generally call most of the shots.
As an example, my housemates initially provided me with a smallish square of fabric coated foam, which they claimed was suitable for use as a "bed." Well, that was clearly a lie, because they continued to sleep in a much larger queen sized bed. I quickly deduced their deception, and have claimed their bed as my own. And frankly, I am just not that concerned that the bed is approximately 5 feet wide, and that I utilize about 3 feet of it when lying comfortably. In terms of actual use, I sleep on the bed for the majority of the day; therefore, it seems presumptuous of my housemates to complain when really, they are infringing on my territory.
Anyways, when I am not engaged in the aforementioned struggle over sleeping real estate, I spend the majority of my time charming my housemates' friends, family, and acquaintances. I don't think it's a coincidence that most people come bearing gifts for me rather than the two humans - after all, they already have this jumble of furniture and other possessions, and frankly, the single rope/ball was not adequate. I am routinely invited to people's houses for purposes of meeting their dogs, and last week, I overheard Kate (that's the female) saying that I couldn't have a facebook page because I'd quickly gather more friends than Aaron and Kate combined. Well, my response was that it's not my fault if I'm more popular than the two of you.
When I'm not sleeping or making friends, I spend my days watching TV, listening to the radio, and running outside. Although, I must say, the size of the outdoor recreation area is a bit small for my needs. As a retired athlete, I am used to actually being able to run to top speed, rather than the constant cycle of accelerate/brake that I am forced to do thanks to the size of my space. Luckily for me, I am taking a holiday starting today in Apple Valley, where (I am told), there will be a much more suitable area for sprinting.
There is still the matter of the feline (ugh). He is just not polite. It's not surprising that I get most of the attention.
Despite these minor quibbles, I believe things are going well. I am enjoying myself, and I think the two humans are also enjoying themselves. My favourite thing to do is to go walking with one or the other, although it is usually Aaron who goes along. The other dogs in the neighborhood are jealous of my pimped out collar with the light up ball.
Until next time,
Basil
Good morning everyone,
Ostensibly, I'm told that this blog's intent is to provide updates and information of the upcoming nuptials of my housemates, Aaron and Kate. However, it doesn't appear to me that they have planned much of anything, unless you count their frequent discussions beginning with "we should really start planning our wedding," or the time spent googling pictures of people on bikes. Given this remarkable lack of progress, I have volunteered to, once again, pick up their slack and provide an update on the house activities.
If you recall, at the time of my last post, I had just moved into this home located in south Minneapolis. I believe that at that time, my housemates were still convinced that they would retain primary control over the household and its activities. That was a quite a foolish proposition indeed. Rather, it is I, the resident greyhound, that is the primary focus of the home's social order, and I generally call most of the shots.
As an example, my housemates initially provided me with a smallish square of fabric coated foam, which they claimed was suitable for use as a "bed." Well, that was clearly a lie, because they continued to sleep in a much larger queen sized bed. I quickly deduced their deception, and have claimed their bed as my own. And frankly, I am just not that concerned that the bed is approximately 5 feet wide, and that I utilize about 3 feet of it when lying comfortably. In terms of actual use, I sleep on the bed for the majority of the day; therefore, it seems presumptuous of my housemates to complain when really, they are infringing on my territory.
Anyways, when I am not engaged in the aforementioned struggle over sleeping real estate, I spend the majority of my time charming my housemates' friends, family, and acquaintances. I don't think it's a coincidence that most people come bearing gifts for me rather than the two humans - after all, they already have this jumble of furniture and other possessions, and frankly, the single rope/ball was not adequate. I am routinely invited to people's houses for purposes of meeting their dogs, and last week, I overheard Kate (that's the female) saying that I couldn't have a facebook page because I'd quickly gather more friends than Aaron and Kate combined. Well, my response was that it's not my fault if I'm more popular than the two of you.
When I'm not sleeping or making friends, I spend my days watching TV, listening to the radio, and running outside. Although, I must say, the size of the outdoor recreation area is a bit small for my needs. As a retired athlete, I am used to actually being able to run to top speed, rather than the constant cycle of accelerate/brake that I am forced to do thanks to the size of my space. Luckily for me, I am taking a holiday starting today in Apple Valley, where (I am told), there will be a much more suitable area for sprinting.
There is still the matter of the feline (ugh). He is just not polite. It's not surprising that I get most of the attention.
Despite these minor quibbles, I believe things are going well. I am enjoying myself, and I think the two humans are also enjoying themselves. My favourite thing to do is to go walking with one or the other, although it is usually Aaron who goes along. The other dogs in the neighborhood are jealous of my pimped out collar with the light up ball.
Until next time,
Basil
268 Days To Go, But Who's Counting?
Hello friends!
It recently dawned on me (this is Kate) that you haven't heard from us in a while. You haven't yet received a thank you card from the engagement party- sorry about that, you haven't (and won't) receive a holiday card with pictures of us holding our pets, dressed in silly sweaters- sorry about that, and we haven't been here updating our every single wedding detail- well, not actually sorry about that, because that would be ridiculous.
Unfortunately, our relative silence is not due to any transcontinental adventures. We were not saving baby squid off the coast of Japan. Nor were we cliff jumping into the Grand Canyon. We did not walk the length of the Great Wall of China, we did not run across the Sahara Desert in 100 days, we didn't even get tattoos. But we did sit on our couch and watch two documentaries about riding mountain bikes along the Continental Divide, from Banff, Canada to the Mexico border, so there's that.
What have we been doing, you ask?
Hmm... Well, we've been drinking coffee, daily. We once had to shovel 10 inches of snow from our sidewalk, walkways, front steps, deck, patio, and garage pad-- this was not any fun. We've been going to Timberwolves games-- these are fun. We've been enjoying Basil, the Noble English Gentledog. We taught him how to get into our bed and have regretted that decision on numerous occasions since. We enjoyed several wonderful holiday celebrations with friends and family. We "Cheers!"ed in the new year in our home with good friends. We discovered a delicious Chinese takeout place in our neighborhood. Aaron went skiing in the Colorado mountains and Kate began officially training for the 100% Irish for a Day 10 Mile Run in March. Kate promised Aaron she would try downhill skiing again this winter, for the first time in 15+ years, so be on the lookout for a blog post about broken bones/trips to the ER/lots of terrified crying.
And, wedding planning, per Kate's timeline of: We Shouldn't Put This All Off Until The End Because It Will Make Us Bitter and Sad and Stressed and Then We Will Not Be Fun People, has "officially" started as of January 1, but we haven't actually done much. Kate tried on wedding dresses for the first time this week with two of her best friends [insert girl squeal here] and had a wonderful time and will hopefully choose a dress later this month, but Shhh! it's a secret. Some honeymoon plans are materializing as well. Pretty dresses and tropical vacations? We know our priorities.
We hope you are all having a wonderful New Year!
Love,
Kate and Aaron (and Basil, the dog & J, the cat)
It recently dawned on me (this is Kate) that you haven't heard from us in a while. You haven't yet received a thank you card from the engagement party- sorry about that, you haven't (and won't) receive a holiday card with pictures of us holding our pets, dressed in silly sweaters- sorry about that, and we haven't been here updating our every single wedding detail- well, not actually sorry about that, because that would be ridiculous.
Unfortunately, our relative silence is not due to any transcontinental adventures. We were not saving baby squid off the coast of Japan. Nor were we cliff jumping into the Grand Canyon. We did not walk the length of the Great Wall of China, we did not run across the Sahara Desert in 100 days, we didn't even get tattoos. But we did sit on our couch and watch two documentaries about riding mountain bikes along the Continental Divide, from Banff, Canada to the Mexico border, so there's that.
What have we been doing, you ask?
Hmm... Well, we've been drinking coffee, daily. We once had to shovel 10 inches of snow from our sidewalk, walkways, front steps, deck, patio, and garage pad-- this was not any fun. We've been going to Timberwolves games-- these are fun. We've been enjoying Basil, the Noble English Gentledog. We taught him how to get into our bed and have regretted that decision on numerous occasions since. We enjoyed several wonderful holiday celebrations with friends and family. We "Cheers!"ed in the new year in our home with good friends. We discovered a delicious Chinese takeout place in our neighborhood. Aaron went skiing in the Colorado mountains and Kate began officially training for the 100% Irish for a Day 10 Mile Run in March. Kate promised Aaron she would try downhill skiing again this winter, for the first time in 15+ years, so be on the lookout for a blog post about broken bones/trips to the ER/lots of terrified crying.
And, wedding planning, per Kate's timeline of: We Shouldn't Put This All Off Until The End Because It Will Make Us Bitter and Sad and Stressed and Then We Will Not Be Fun People, has "officially" started as of January 1, but we haven't actually done much. Kate tried on wedding dresses for the first time this week with two of her best friends [insert girl squeal here] and had a wonderful time and will hopefully choose a dress later this month, but Shhh! it's a secret. Some honeymoon plans are materializing as well. Pretty dresses and tropical vacations? We know our priorities.
We hope you are all having a wonderful New Year!
Love,
Kate and Aaron (and Basil, the dog & J, the cat)
Chapter 1 - Racetrack to Minneapolis Residence
Editor's Note - Today's post has generously been guest-authored by Basil the greyhound.
Good evening ladies and gentlemen,
This is Basil*, reporting for the first time from what appears to be my new residence in the Northrup neighborhood of Minneapolis. For those of you whom I have not yet had the pleasure of meeting, I am a 17 month old ex-racing greyhound. I weigh approximately 80 pounds, and have a tan coat. For some reason, I am often mistaken for a deer.
I write this from the comfort of a luxurious pillowed bed, which undoubtedly the two saps who serve me purchased for an exorbitant sum. These two attendants, one male and one female, have been incessantly pestering me the past few days, patting my (up to that point) perfectly coiffed head, heavily enunciating "good dog" as if I had no concept of the English language, and needlessly shuffling me up and down staircases.
Despite these rather odd behaviors, they seem nice enough, and in any event, I appear to have already convinced them of my essential role as the emotional "glue" of this unit. Indeed, I recall hearing the female (Kathryn? Katie? Kate?) remark earlier tonight that she didn't recall what the dwelling had ever been like prior to my arrival. Success.
Then again, success should be no surprise. I am, after all, long and athletic, with a perfectly inquisitive mind and a knack for knowing exactly when to throw on the charm. Certainly, I grew up at the racetrack with the rest of the greyhounds, but unlike my less sophisticated brethren, I was not as easily swayed by the lure of the chase. The joke's on you suckers - you're never going to catch that furry squirrel. You know why? Because it's fake.
So, in lieu of spending my days in pursuit of such a pointless endeavor, I removed myself from the racetrack, and soon thereafter, by way of a hotel in Inver Grove Heights (enjoyed the accommodations, but truly, a bit overbooked), I found myself in delightful south Minneapolis. As I mentioned previously, I am disinclined to climb so many stairs, but I am begrudgingly doing so anyways. It is not so enjoyable to have all 80 pounds of oneself be hoisted upwards.
Unlike my new human friends, who are constantly cooing and fawning over my every move, I do not share their need to constantly shower attention. Quite to the contrary, I am rather content to simply spend my hours resting, eating, and working on my memoirs. I oft take my intellectual pursuits outdoors, and I have greatly enjoyed exploring the wilderness which, I am told, is called in these parts "the backyard." Amongst my other many hobbies are investigating how far I may fling food and water from my dinner area, stretching in various yogic poses, and watching documentaries on TV.
Although the human companions are at times somewhat overbearing, I generally hold them in high regard. Not so for the feline who also inhabits this dwelling. The feline has been nothing but rude, and it shocks my senses that such disregard for manners is tolerated. The male human (Erik? Aaron?) appears to share my distaste, so that heartens me somewhat.
All in all, I am happy, and feel as if this will be a good locale for me to live. There are plenty of places to stroll, and there is quite a nice bike shop just around the corner. If all goes according to plan, I will also very soon convince my two humans that the crude steel crate is really not a suitable accommodation for me during the daytime hours. But, for the time being, I can put up with it. As you can likely tell, I am patient.
Best regards,
Basil
*The correct pronunciation of Basil rhymes with "razzle dazzle" (should be easy for you Anglophiles). NOT as in the delightful herb.
Good evening ladies and gentlemen,
This is Basil*, reporting for the first time from what appears to be my new residence in the Northrup neighborhood of Minneapolis. For those of you whom I have not yet had the pleasure of meeting, I am a 17 month old ex-racing greyhound. I weigh approximately 80 pounds, and have a tan coat. For some reason, I am often mistaken for a deer.
I write this from the comfort of a luxurious pillowed bed, which undoubtedly the two saps who serve me purchased for an exorbitant sum. These two attendants, one male and one female, have been incessantly pestering me the past few days, patting my (up to that point) perfectly coiffed head, heavily enunciating "good dog" as if I had no concept of the English language, and needlessly shuffling me up and down staircases.
Despite these rather odd behaviors, they seem nice enough, and in any event, I appear to have already convinced them of my essential role as the emotional "glue" of this unit. Indeed, I recall hearing the female (Kathryn? Katie? Kate?) remark earlier tonight that she didn't recall what the dwelling had ever been like prior to my arrival. Success.
Then again, success should be no surprise. I am, after all, long and athletic, with a perfectly inquisitive mind and a knack for knowing exactly when to throw on the charm. Certainly, I grew up at the racetrack with the rest of the greyhounds, but unlike my less sophisticated brethren, I was not as easily swayed by the lure of the chase. The joke's on you suckers - you're never going to catch that furry squirrel. You know why? Because it's fake.
So, in lieu of spending my days in pursuit of such a pointless endeavor, I removed myself from the racetrack, and soon thereafter, by way of a hotel in Inver Grove Heights (enjoyed the accommodations, but truly, a bit overbooked), I found myself in delightful south Minneapolis. As I mentioned previously, I am disinclined to climb so many stairs, but I am begrudgingly doing so anyways. It is not so enjoyable to have all 80 pounds of oneself be hoisted upwards.
Unlike my new human friends, who are constantly cooing and fawning over my every move, I do not share their need to constantly shower attention. Quite to the contrary, I am rather content to simply spend my hours resting, eating, and working on my memoirs. I oft take my intellectual pursuits outdoors, and I have greatly enjoyed exploring the wilderness which, I am told, is called in these parts "the backyard." Amongst my other many hobbies are investigating how far I may fling food and water from my dinner area, stretching in various yogic poses, and watching documentaries on TV.
Although the human companions are at times somewhat overbearing, I generally hold them in high regard. Not so for the feline who also inhabits this dwelling. The feline has been nothing but rude, and it shocks my senses that such disregard for manners is tolerated. The male human (Erik? Aaron?) appears to share my distaste, so that heartens me somewhat.
All in all, I am happy, and feel as if this will be a good locale for me to live. There are plenty of places to stroll, and there is quite a nice bike shop just around the corner. If all goes according to plan, I will also very soon convince my two humans that the crude steel crate is really not a suitable accommodation for me during the daytime hours. But, for the time being, I can put up with it. As you can likely tell, I am patient.
.JPG) |
| Me. |
Basil
*The correct pronunciation of Basil rhymes with "razzle dazzle" (should be easy for you Anglophiles). NOT as in the delightful herb.
Home Sweet Home
Friends!
As of Friday we (and the bank) own and live in our new house! Well, the bank doesn't live there. Just us.
On Friday morning we did a final walk through and decided that we do, in fact, still love the house and were still interested in purchasing it.
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| Purchasing a house is cool. Thumbs up. |
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| Build Your Own Bloody Mary. Outrageously delicious. |
OR! You could come to our bar in our basement, "The Wolf & Bicycle":
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| So far, we serve Nordeast, Coca Cola, and a special cocktail called "Please help us move this/set this up/drive us to Home Depot." |
We cannot forget to thank everyone who helped us move on Saturday-- it was not an easy task! Between all the stairs at Kate's place, a cold misty rain, and the difficulty of getting furniture up and down the narrow and steep stairs at the new place, we really gave our friends an adventure. We are under strict order to not move again for several years!
Moving was smooth, we are making progress in the "we have two of these, get rid of it" game, and there are even some rooms that look positively put together.
Home sweet home.
On Gratitude
I (this is Kate) woke up this morning feeling like this:
"Life is all rainbows and unicorns, puppy dogs and cinnamon rolls, yellow flowers, good beer, and bicycling down a big hill! The sun NEVER stops shining! This is the best DAY ever! After the best WEEKEND ever! In the best SEASON ever! Of my best YEAR EVER!!!"
Guys, on a Monday I woke up feeling like that. Before I had any coffee. That's serious.
It is undoubtedly an optimism and excitement that comes from you and I want to take a moment to share our deepest gratitude to all of you for everything you have done so far.
You have done big things and little. You have shared gifts, time, and stories with us. You have offered help with party or wedding planning and you have offered to help us move even before you knew there were 54 stairs between my apartment and the curb. You have been delighted to hear the beginning chapters of our little love story, and I am delighted to tell you again and again and again. Most importantly, you have loved us so completely throughout our lives and supported our every endeavor and we can feel that love and support now as we embark on a very great adventure together.
I was truly overwhelmed at the number of you who joined us on Saturday to celebrate our engagement. I am humbled that many of you traveled from Iowa, South Dakota, and Wisconsin to celebrate with us.
A huge thank you to my big sister, Kim, and her husband, Erik, who opened their beautiful home to so many people, prepared delicious food, and hosted a perfect party that allowed Aaron and I to spend time with our family and friends. What a spectacular event held by the host and hostess with the most and mostest.
A big thanks to everyone who also helped with the party- from sharing a plate of food, lending us some folding chairs, washing dishes, to bringing coolers of beer- your contribution did not go unnoticed and you are so greatly appreciated.
To our parents and family, there are almost no words great enough. You loved us first and as our lives change there is a great security and stability in that kind of love. We could not do any of this without your guidance and we are so appreciative of all that you have done for us.
Life is rainbows and unicorns, puppy dogs and cinnamon rolls. Thank you all so much for being a part of our lives and we look forward to creating many more memories with each of you!
To every single one of you from every bit of us, thank you and we love you.