One Year...

It's been one year to the date that Casey and I have been married. It seems like just yesterday since we were frantically putting together everything that's involved with a wedding. In the many months since... my father had a health scare but is doing very well now, our wedding photographer had her baby, we've changed neighbors on both sides (one was a foreclosure and their house is now on the market), Casey graduated from UK with her Master's, we visited Mexico, and we've attended THREE of our friends' weddings. And in the same time, we've only painted 1.5 rooms in the house. Hey, we're working on it.

Anything else to add, Casey?

"NOPE!"

Goin' to the movies

Oh yeah, I meant to write about this last week…

So Casey and I finally saw The Dark Knight (hereafter TDK) film last Sunday. We both liked it for the most part. Casey likes Batman Begins better, but I thought Heath Ledger’s performance in TDK set it apart from its predecessor.

Let it be known that I am not a movie guy (anymore). In my younger days, I would frequent more films. TDK was the first film I saw in an actual theater in over two years. Why is that? Two factors for me: price and quality. There doesn't seem to be a lot of fresh ideas coming out of Hollywood nowadays. I was always a fan of the independent films, but I suppose my interests have taken a turn away from film in general.

And let's not forget about the price. When I was a senior in high school, it was $6.75 to see a feature film. I remember saying with my high school friends that if it got over 7, I was done going to the theater. The matinee price for TDK was $7. THE MATINEE PRICE!!!! Features are now $9.75. So take the $14 for see to see the movie, $4.75 for a soda (optional, I know), and about $5 for popcorn (not optional for Casey :) ), and we're out $25 before the movie starts. I can't imagine how a family of four goes to a feature anymore.

So while I'm glad I got to see TDK in the theaters, getting the full experience, I'm not rushing back any time soon. I'll just wait for Casey to bring movies home from the library.

Just hangin'

I felt compelled to make a post to this blog since there's been no activity for over a month.

Well... Casey's still reading. I'm still doing computer stuff. The cats still whine for food. In other words, not much is new.

I did go to a heavy metal concert without Casey last Saturday. While the show was very good, I realize my mosh pitting days are long behind me.

I FINALLY got to play Western Hills Country Club!

You can't even write stuff like this...

So today, I was able to play Western Hills Country Club — a course that I have driven past probably thousands of times, but never had the opportunity to play. Those of you that know me know my parents live right off of Delhi Par 3 — a pitch and putt that's been in operation since 1955. Although WHCC was literally a half-mile from my parents house, I never had a desire to play it, although I often wondered what was behind the fence and gates. I didn't take up golf until the first trip to Kiawah in 2002 (this was NOT the trip during which Casey and I started dating). Regardless, Western Hills Country Club always remained sacrosanct and I was never sure that I would get an opportunity to play it.

The Greater Cincinnati Golf Association (GCGA) had two Open Play Days this year: one at Clovernook Country Club and one at Western Hills Country Club. Since the OVGA, the organization whose Web Site I am in charge of, is a member of the GCGA, I was able to attend both events. As excited as I was to be able to play Clovernook, I was ESTATIC to be able to finally have the chance to play Western Hills Country Club. Unfortunately, I played my worst golf of the year at Clovernook. Since then I've worked hard on my swing and even harder on my mental game. After putting together a couple of good rounds, I was ready to give Western Hills C.C. my best shot.



Making the right turn into the club off of Cleves-Warsaw Rd. and passing through the gates was so weird to me. I was finally within the barbed wired fence. I would finally get to see more of the course than the road holes (more on those later). I arrived at the club at 2PM for my 2:30 tee-time. I ended up playing with a very nice gentleman who's a member of Four Bridges Country Club in West Chester.

So how did the round go? Well, the front 9, I had good rhythm, made birdie on #8 and went out (term for first 9 holes) in 43. As I don't keep score during my round, I did not know this. What I do know is all the work I had done on my game was paying off big time. My concentration lapsed a bit on the first road hole (#11) and I probably hit my worst two shots of the day, ending up with a double bogey 6.



I made up for it on the next road hole, the 175 yard par 3 12th, hitting the green in regulation and nearly sinking the birdie putt, ending up with a 3. I told my playing partner, Jim, that I think the course was trying to tell me that it wanted me to join.



My streak of good holes continued. Bogeys at 13, 14, 15 were okay with me. On the last road hole, the par 4 16th, I crushed a drive and hit a 9 iron to 25 ft. Missed birdie by a foot and made par.



A bogey on 17 would bring me to the par 5 18th needing par or better to break my personal best of 87, that I shot at Brook Hill Golf Club last year. Again, I don't keep score during my round, so I didn't know this at the time. I crushed my drive, but messed up a bit on my layup shot. I had 165 to the middle of the green with a helping wind. I would normally hit a 6-iron from that yardage, but I went with the 7-iron because of the wind and because I'd rather be short than long. I hit probably the best iron shot I hit all day, a nice soaring draw that ended up 8 feet from the hole. I barely missed the birdie putt and wrapped it up with a routine par 5 for a score of 86!

Needless to say, it was an other-worldly experience. To be able to step foot onto ground that had been so long intangible; to be able to play the best golf of my life; I cannot explain the feeling I had when I finally went back through the gates to head home. My round at Western Hills Country Club was everything I wanted it to be and more. It's a fantastic course. The staff and other members were very welcoming.

Final verdict: If I ever get the invite to come back, I would do it in a heartbeat. If Casey and I can get some work done around the house and we're doing well off, perhaps we'll have the opportunity to join (Jr. Member rates are very reasonable). Until then, each time I drive by the course, I'll remember the great time I had there one late June afternoon in 2008.

We're Back!!!

Casey and I just arrived back from our honeymoon in Cancun and the wedding in Chicago. Both were amazing, but Casey and I need to grab some beauty sleep. Stories and photos to come later.

How Criss B. Pulled Off the Surprise.

Now for my two cents on the surprise party.

Criss is HORRIBLE with surprises. He has too many "tells," you know, like in poker. He was able to surprise me one other time but it was a very short time span and over the phone. That time he was in Florida on a golf trip but wasn't having the greatest time. I told him, "Come back early and see me!" but he said no, he was going to go to an amusement park and would keep his original flight. Little did I know he had already arranged an earlier flight and was waiting for me in the parking lot when I got off work. So cute!

This time, looking back, there were signs but I mostly chalked them up to Criss being his weird self. First, when a coworker asked me to work for her on Saturday his first reaction was an immediate "No!" I thought he just wanted to spend time with me but now I realize he was worried the timing would be off if I worked. Second, when we discussed what we were going to do on Saturday afternoon he said that he thought we would shop until about 6:30. At the time I thought, why does it matter how long we shop? Next, when we were getting ready to go out he wouldn't let me change from my work clothes. He said he liked what I was wearing and wouldn't even let me put on jeans. Turns out our friend Becky told him to make sure I looked nice so I wouldn't be embarrassed when a whole bunch of people were at my house. It was a really weird exchange between Criss and I though because usually he doesn't have much (or at least doesn't express much) of an opinion regarding what I wear (unless he's seen me in my sweatshirt one too many times). Finally, he wouldn't stop for food on the drive home and he drove the speed limit or under the whole way. If I hadn't been so sleepy and pretty much just napping during the drive, I would have said something. I wonder what his response would have been?

When we got home, my first clue that something was up was the fact that the cats weren't crying. It was well past their dinner time and usually they would be screaming through the window, but no cats. Then when I came in the door their was food on my table. I hesitated before going in but I still thought it was just going to be his parents. I was wrong! My whole kitchen was filled with friends.

This is probably one of the best things Criss has ever done for me and reminds me why I married him. I know how hard it was for him to get everything organized and keep it a secret and it means even more to me because of that. Thank you to everyone who made it. I had a great time!

SURPRISE!!!!!

Casey graduated from Graduate School this past Saturday. Since she wasn't doing any of the formal ceremonies down at UK, I thought I'd surprise her with a surprise graduation party. Those that know me know I'm horrible at keeping surprise stuff like that a secret. And it's not that I don't keep other peoples' secrets; I just can't keep my own.

I first made sure that my parents and Casey's parents could attend. I wanted Casey's brother, Matthew, to join us if he could; but since he's still in undergrad and had exams the week after, he wasn't able to join us. I invited a few of our other friends and they were able to keep the secret.

Keeping the details a secret proved to be easier than I thought. I finally got around to buying a grill that my father and grandmother contributed funds to. I certainly procrastinated long enough in buying it (bought it Thursday), but all worked out. I was able to deliver copious amounts of alcohol to my parent's house under the ruse of "picking up Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra tickets". And finally, on the day of the party, I was able to get Casey out of the house under the ruse of "shopping".

While Casey and I shopped around town, the parents helped set everything up and our guests arrived. As Casey was getting hungry and cranky, I did my best to stall our arrival. I tried everything from putting gas in my car at a slow rate, driving at speed limit, etc. When we finally arrived home, I made sure that Casey opened the door while I got our shopping items.

As Casey opened the door to our house, she could tell something was up. In the now immortal words, she said, "Criss B. Did you do something?" Then came the surprise :)

We had a great time with those that were able to attend. We christened the new grill with many hamburgers and enjoyed a rousing game of Apples to Apples. George, Casey's father, got to witness the "I'm the Juggernaut8...!" YouTube video. Never got his opinion on that one...

New Homeowner Lesson # 8: Septic alarms should not be ignored

About a month ago our septic alarm went off. We silenced it but could not get the stupid red light to stop flashing. I went through all the phases of house worry. First I was calm and figured it was probably nothing. Then I started freaking out that we were going to have sewage backed up into the house. Then I used my own minuscule amount of knowledge regarding septic tanks and decided that since it sounded like the motor was still running there was probably nothing to worry about. This thought was backed by a superior reference source, my coworkers :). Anyway, a month goes by and I'm too busy to really think about the septic tank and everything is still draining properly and there's no funny smell so I figure all is probably well. We also had our Hamilton County inspection and certification during this time in which our system passed as operational. This made me feel a ton better though it shouldn't have. This weekend, just days after our passing inspection, the septic alarm starts spazzing out. It turns itself on and then in a minute or less turns itself off. I think it was the alarm's way of getting our attention. I finally broke down and called someone to come look at it. Sure enough, some essential carbon pieces have worn out (which they are supposed to do every three to four years, something I did not know) and we need a GAST rebuild kit put in. Apparently, the motor has been running but not actually pulling in any air or doing anything its supposed to. When he took the lid off the tank he said, "You hear how the motor is running quieter than usual" and I was like "Um, no" and thought to myself "or I would have done something sooner." When I told Criss about the motor being quieter he said, "Yeah, I noticed that" and I said "Well why didn't you say anything?" This is just like how he would have double bagged the litter, but that is a story for another time. Luckily the guy was able to fix it for us right then and it only cost $139, which is a blessing considering how much our basement is going to cost to fix (yikes!). When the guy was leaving he asked how long we'd been in the house and when he found out it was only a year he said, "Getting hit with stuff already, huh?" and I said, "This is nothing compared to the basement." I wish all we had to deal with was a GAST rebuild kit. Oh, well, that's homeownership for you. The septic guy also taught me that there is an air filter I need to replace every 6 months (who knew?) and told me to call if I had any questions, which was very nice but emphasized how clueless I am about maintaining my own home sometimes. Live and learn. So the moral of the story is, call the septic people right away if the alarm goes off and won't stop flashing.

Snow Hill 2008

So I like to golf. Or is it play golf? It can be both a verb and a noun...

Anyways, I played Snow Hill Country Club last Saturday. One of my favorite layouts I've played in the Cincinnati area (shown is hole # 14). If I lived closer, I might consider joining as a member. Great old school layout with small greens that demands accuracy off the tee. Played with Chad Stewart, who runs the OVGA Tour, the weekend charity golf league who's Web site I run. Always great playing with Chad, as it's his idea for this tour that really increased my interest in the game and has allowed me to meet a lot of great people.

Through the GCGA, I have an opportunity to play Clovernook Country Club in a couple of weeks. Looking forward to that, since it'll probably be the last time I play before June. Golf in Mexico is a possibility, but not at $260 green fees.

MLIS here I come!

Yesterday was my last day of graduate school, though it will still be a week before I officially graduate, and I am very excited but a little sad. This graduation is much different from my undergraduate graduation. First, I don't have to move to a new place. Second, I'm not walking with a bunch of people I don't know to be handed a diploma holder w/o a diploma by someone I don't know and who would butcher my new name (side note: I am glad that I did the whole ceremony thing for my Bachelor's degree but I am not, in general, a ceremony type of person). Third, I am employed and therefore feel like a contributing member of the family even if it is still only part-time and not what I want to do with the rest of my life. Despite the difference, though, there are still a lot of the same apprehensions. First, I don't have a job as a librarian and I keep hearing horror stories about graduates that can't find jobs. Ack! I haven't let myself think about this too much since I haven't technically even graduated yet. Second, I've spent so much of my life in school (counting preschool, its been about 21 years) and, while I am excited to start a new chapter in my life, I am a bit sad to be leaving school. Now I have to do actual work, but at least I will get paid instead of paying an institution of learning for the privilege of homework.

For now I am focusing on finding a job, reading as much as I want, and looking forward to our honeymoon/happy graduation vacation to Cancun. And in a week I will officially be a librarian even if I am not getting paid to be one.

The Wonders of Oakley

Saturday night Criss and I finally got around to watching one of the many volumes of the BBC production Planet Earth. We have been trying for several weeks now to view these but something always comes up. We settled on the couch in the basement, got the DVD started, and just as I got comfortable I hear Amberley start crying her new location cry (yes, I can tell different things from the way Amberley cries) which means she is up to no good and has found her way into a closet or room or some space that she is not supposed to be in. It was this cry that alerted me that she was wandering around in the crawl space under our roof that has exposed insulation and the same cry she used when she found her way into the drop ceiling in the basement. I am very wary when I hear that cry. This time it wasn't something so dramatic; she was in the room where the furnace and water heater are. Not too surprising because the door is slightly ajar to allow a tube to run from our dehumidifier to the drain by the water heater. So, I got up, shooed her out, and closed the door tightly as I could with the hose blocking the door. In other words, the door was still cracked. This is a crucial point to the next step in the story. Anyway, I settle back down to watch Planet Earth and Oakley starts crying. I am not as adept at deciphering Oakley's cries, though they are as varied as Amberley's. It sounded like she was playing, which she does a lot, but she wouldn't stop. I called for her. Criss called for her. We both called for her at the same time. Her cries would stop for a minute then start up again. This probably went on for about 10 minutes or so and I could tell Criss was getting pissed so I went to find her hoping if I gave her some pets she would shut up. I went upstairs. No Oakley. I went into the bedroom. No Oakely. I went to the second floor where she often plays. No Oakley. I'm starting to panic a little. I go back to the basement and look under the stairs. No Oakley. I run all around the house one last time before going back to the basement where I found Oakley. She was sitting behind the door to the furnace/water heater room. The door that was slightly propped open. The door that if she has simply pushed on it it would have opened for her. Instead of easily letting herself out she stood behind that door for 10 minutes and cried. Oakley is the cat that was on the streets for the first year of her life before being taken to the shelter. After I had freed Oakley and she went on her merry way, I started to wonder how she ever managed to survive a year when she couldn't even push open a door to let herself out. I am very grateful to whoever it was that took Oakley to the shelter were we found her (a wonderful place called the League for Animal Welfare) because her survival instinct sucks and I'm not sure how much longer she would have made it! I still love her, lack of instinct and all (but I can't speak for Criss ;-) ).

This is a picture of the lucky-to-be alive cat.

I warned you about my cat obsession!

Welcome

So I am way into blogging now since I started my teen reading blog (avidteenreader.blogspot.com if you are interested in checking it out) and I got to thinking, maybe Criss and I can start a blog together so we can post stuff about what's going on in our lives. Criss' response to this was, "What, so we can write about how we lay around the house and surf the internet and read?" or something close to that effect but I swear, we do stuff! Plus we have two adorable cats with whom I'm obsessed who will surely be the subject of some wonderful posts until we have children (not for years though!) on which we can endlessly post. I will more than likely be one of those mothers that chronicles every spit up if my obsession with my cats is any indication. Getting back to Criss' response. So I thought he was going to be a big stinker about this blog thing and that he would never use it but then today I get an email at 10 am (during work time) from him about how I messed up the blog link and he fixed it. In fixing it he created a whole new blog on which he now has admin rights. He goes from no interest to admin in less than 24 hours. I am not complaining because it means that he's on board with the idea (YEAH!) but I found it funny :). That's my Criss B.

Anyway, so he and I are going to keep this blog together in hopes of talking about what's going on with our small family (do two humans and two cats constitute a family -- I say yes!). And hopefully if we see a lack in fun posts it will kick our butts into doing the traveling we swear we're going to do in the next couple of years. We'll see. Enjoy (I hope)!