Well, I'm Gradded.

Thanks to everyone who helped me make it this far, and especially those who helped me make it to the actual ceremony. It was a special day... even if they did dress me like this!

Thanks!

Happy Mother's Day!

This is something the tot and I made for Mother's Day. I will hang it on the wall, despite the fact that it nearly drives me into sugar shock with its sweetness.

And if you do not think it is darling, I pity you your cold and withered heart. Or, you know, you and I have differing opinions on what constitutes darling, to put it in less dramatic terms.

(Day off from Defence Stuff today!)

Me and Declan - August 2008

Working

I am trying to hit a deadline for The Jewish Quarterly for Monday, so I'm kind of swamped. But here's a pic of Declan, instead of a post.

Some Baby Pics

Big Day

Today, Murph and I mark one year of marriage -- and we are actually in the same country to celebrate it!

Just What I Didn't Need

Monday night, it started with a dry feeling in my sinuses. Yesterday, it was a full blown head-cold. Let's hope it makes its run a limited one. Ugh.

Back in Ontario

Well, folks, I got back to K-W last night at around 8pm, and, after a quick bite, I found myself falling into a deep sleep for about 10 hours. That's what 13 hours on a bus will do to you, I guess.

Sorry for all the radio silence for the past few weeks, but, really, I was just concentrating on being there and having a good time. And I sure did. Murph and I camped out for two nights, swam nearly every day, shopped for the baby, watched a ton of movies, and generally relaxed and basked in each other's company. We even had a dinner-slash-pool-party for friends, just like a real couple! I am proud of us.

Sadly, I had to come home earlier than I had anticipated due to social/school obligations, but it was certainly good while it lasted. And if I cry randomly while wandering around my lonely apartment today, we'll just chalk it up to withdrawal.

So, I am back, Internet. Did you miss me?

PS> Felt the baby move for the first time a few days ago! Pretty thrilling, but also massively real, if you understand what I mean.

Ultrasound Pics

Sorry for the delay, but things have been crazy. Here are the promised pics - three images, each shown once with labels and once without. It was quite an experience - luckily, all is well. For more info, see here.

Heading for Ohio in the a.m.!

Stop the Drilling!

There is some sort of machine outside my window that sounds exactly like a dentist's drill - as awful as it seems, trust me.

However, Amanda has immortalized both Murph and I now, so that's some good news. We can finally get the respect we deserve - as cartoon characters! (Oh, and btw, she is available for commissions and does all manners of styles, so drop a line if you are interested.)

And the happy couple - Murph the Writer, and Holly as Center of Attention. Just right...

Six Months

Today marks six months of marriage for Murph and I - some ups and downs, but generally a lovely experience. Never one to encourage marriage in the past, I now have to say it can be a great thing.

Happy monat-versary, Scamp! Here's to many, many more!

When it Rains...

Well, what started out as a generalized blah and a few sneezes last night seems to have become a full blown cold this morning. My head, eyes, muscles and everything else hurt, and my lungs seem to be back to constantly smelling like processed meat to me. How could this have happened in just a few hours? So not fair.

Of all the times I can NOT afford to get sick - well, I just should have known. Why would fate waste a cold on a week when I don't have a conference and a major exam coming up?

It's perfect, really.

***

Oh, and how can someone this cute be so worried all the time?

I Have a Photgraph

Spent some time today scanning old pictures to share with old friends on facebook. Some of them are too funny to really be believed any more. Did any of us ever look like that?

However, those little captions only whetted my appetite to tell the full stories wrapped around some of the old photos I have in my giant shoe box of lost years, and my facebook is getting rather filled with freeze frames of good times. And it isn't really the right place for the bad times.

So I have decided to start a photo-blog. I refuse to call it digi-scrapping, mostly because I refuse to be both old and young enough to know that term. Instead, I have called it FotoBlog.

Mainly, it will be for me, and occasionally for the people I feature in it, but really it is to record memories. It is my penceive, I would say if I were a Potter nerd. Sometimes memories aren't much use unless you can write them out.

G&T Anyone?

Well, in the absence of my perennial chat buddy, I have been having a good Girl's Night with our mutual friend (and my dutiful bridesmaid) Amanda, who introduced Murph and I to begin with.

Life has gone full circle now, I guess.


(And the above pic is for any reader who has wondered what Amanda looks like -- she is quite possibly the most adorable girl in the world, so it was hard to choose which one to use, but this likely sums her cuteness up.)

(Oh, and for Murph, when he reads this: Don't worry; we were kind to you with the Girl Talk, I promise.)

Memory Lane

Recently, I have been leafing through the archives of my life and marriage. Old photos, old blog posts, old emails, old files... painful pleasure, so acute I don't know which one wins out.

Tonight I turned around to ask Murph if he was ready to head to bed. But Murph is in Ohio. For that split second, I was so sure it was November again, and we were safe and happy in our own home. When I looked back and realized I was alone, reality caved in on me.

Right now, I would give anything to make that moment's error reality - to be able to look over my shoulder right now, take his hand, say "Time to turn in, love," and wrap myself in that bliss I miss so much. So many times we did this in November. Did we ever take it for granted? If so, I can promise I will never take it for granted again, once he is home.

Did you ever want to crawl into a memory and stay there forever?

Why I Fight

Murph sends me a smile every once in a while, and I am glad for it. Sometimes, it is just nice to keep in focus the reason you do what you do. And what a handsome reason I have, too!

St Pat's is Here Again

Well, being that I am now a Murphy, I guess I should whoop it up tonight... but since I have always been a Pearse (a lesser-celebrated Irish name), I am not likely to change my old opinion of this blighted day.

However, I hope you all have the best St Pat's you can. As for me, you will fine me home with my head phones on, trying to avoid this day at all costs.

Wedding Announcement

Well, now that all those people who needed to hear the news in person have been cleared away, I can now officially announce on this blog that Murph and I did indeed get married on January 10 in Ohio, and I am thrilled.

Murph and I could not have been happier with the wedding, with the ceremony being very short and sweet (and very touching), and the dinner being a happy time amongst friends and family. We honeymooned in fantabulous Mount Orab, Ohio (don't all say "Where?" at the same time), and in Buffalo, NY.

I have placed the pics on a photobucket album for those of you who have not already seen the lion's share of them. They are lovely mementos of a perfect day.

Love is wonderful.
*