Wedding: The Getting Ready Time

My favorite part of a wedding day is when I get to hang out with the bride and/or groom as they primp and preen before the ceremony. The atmosphere is addictive, all charged with anxiety and excitement, yet also relaxed at times. It's a private time, and it always feels like I'm being let in on a secret.

Sometimes, amid the chaos, the bride or groom will stop, take a deep breath, and close their eyes, and you know they're catching a beautiful, calm moment in an otherwise tumultuous day, before they go out and face all their guests and become the center of attention. It's quiet and perfect.

Adventure Log: The Acre House

In the spirit of our snow day and wishful thoughts of summer.

From August 2013 and January 2014 visits. This is the cabin in the Adirondacks that my grandfather built in the 50's and that my dad's been working on for the past twenty or thirty years. They are in the process of redesigning the structure, so the house might be torn down and rebuilt in the next few years.

February 2014 Check-in

Good morning, one and all. It's been a weird February for me already.

I'm severely limiting my goals this month to DO ALL THE TAXES. Oh, and I need to complete my Carmen Sandiego costume for Katsucon. I was actually pretty surprised at what an easy costume it is- red coat, red hat, black boots, that's really all you need for people to get the idea. I cannot wait for Katsucon and Tournaments in two weeks!!

Let me be real for a moment, here. I'm currently feeling overwhelmed by many things. Or maybe just a couple things, but they're big. Sometimes I question why I am making life difficult for myself by being an entrepreneur when life could be so much safer if I worked some 9-5 job like I'd been doing for the past couple of years.

I've been in a personal battle for maybe the past year where I've been weighing safety and security against... happiness and freedom. And the choices I have made clearly illustrate my propensity towards the latter.

Do I have regrets? Sometimes. But I know how unhappy I would be if I hadn't made the decisions I did.

So here I am, looking at my first tax season as a business owner, with my car in the shop, uncertain as to where I'll be living in a few months, trying to get more bookings during the slowest season of the year, and yet I can't help but feel excited and hopeful for the future. Through all this uncertainty, there's been a candle of hope that has never gone out, and I don't think it ever will.

If there's one thing I've learned, it's that if you want something to happen, you have to make it happen. Waiting won't do you any good whatsoever.

Sooo anyway, I wanted to share something awesome today. Over the past few months I've had the delight of being in the presence of a group of four generations- twice! One of which is part of my own family. How special is that?

I also held my cousin's baby, which I think is a first for me- I can't remember having held a tiny baby before! And I didn't even come close to dropping her or anything! I think that's a mega achievement.

Have a free and happy February.