::WHEN I REALIZED I WAS AN ADULT::

When I lived by myself, I realized I was an adult. All messes in the apartment? Mine. All bills sent there? Mine. All possessions? Mine. All secrets? Mine.

I had been with boyfriends and/or roommates since college, and there was nothing like ultimate responsibility to show me I was "grown up." More than getting married or paying for my own cellphone plan, even.

I will laugh at myself when I have a baby, though. I only THINK I'm an adult now.

 
MY HIP-HOP POSSE::

Weird Al Yankovic
He sports the chains and knows SO MUCH about rap already. A handy rhyming helper!

Bjork
She would make my clothing (and voice) seem less loud. Plus, access to Matthew Barney.

Jon Stewart
Extramarital sex, the best thing about being a rapper.

 
::IN DEFENSE OF MY VICE::

Bourbon Mint Tea by thebittenword.com

I've enjoyed aspartame since I was a wee one; "iced tea" in my household growing up had these little white pills in it. I hope they were indeed aspartame!

To this day, I prefer the taste of Sweet 'n' Low in my coffee and tea -- over Splenda and even over real sugar.

It's safe enough for rats to OD on, so it's safe for me to have a coupla packets a day. Also, any health issues from that are overriden by those from obesity if I eat all that sugar.

So there. And pass me the fake sugar, pink.

 
::A JOKE I MADE UP YESTERDAY::

Q: What do Spanish-speakers call a short German dance?

A: Un polkito!

(This joke is inspired by my class's Reading Buddies class, a clan of second-grade Mexican awesomes. They posed this joke to me a few weeks ago:

Q: What does a fish do all day?

A: Nada.

Hahahaha! I love Spanish puns, too!!!)

 
::AUTOPHOTOGRAPHICAL::

Dear god, it's been forever since I've posted. Being a teacher is time-consuming, 'specially when I want to be a good owner to Oscar, a good wife to Austin, and a good self to me.

But!

Wedding photos are up on Flickr! Taken mostly by Jason Kindig Photography (with a few from officiant Jeff or his wife thrown in because they rule), we're really happy with the pictures and portraits. Hire Jason if you need fabulous pictures! For real!

Choose your time-suck wisely. There are:

.:The best of the best

.:The good photos, by category, and

.:The Whole Thing.

Ideally, I'll have titles for them eventually. But please comment, if you have stuff to say!

You can also see Jason's favorites on his site here.

 
::::

Know what's rad? Being at home during sunset. On a work day.

I don't think this has happened since I've started teaching. It happened today.

 
::WELL, THAT HAPPENED! ::

I'm married now!

The wedding? Magnificent. The honeymoon? Fabulous. The return to real life? Harrowing.

But! Some of our pictures are up on our photographer's site: Link. Jason rocked! I can't wait to see all the photos.

Go to Weddings, then click on the photo for Portraits -- there are three of my bridal shots and one from our pre-ceremony photo shoot (jumping couple in white, lower-half-of-face bridal shot, me in front of the Best Wall Ever, me in the grass trying to keep my dress from blowing in the wind).

Also, while under Weddings, click on the photo to go to Portfolio -- there are some from our wedding there, too (ceremony shot of me with the ring, SUMMER & AUSTIN on the building, the blue room with silhouettes and clear glass globes, giant white wall with dancing and a little girl in an ivory tux).

Yay! Whaddaya think?

 
::THOM G. BIV::

The new Radiohead is perfectly titled. It's less harsh, decidedly less melancholy, and warmer than their previous effort. Whereas Hail to the Thief, with its electronic glitch and its superbly produced tracks, was made for mp3, In Rainbows was made for vinyl. It's still just as rich and wrap-around-you dense, but that density is woolen instead of Polyfil.

I mean, god, there's a sample of schoolkids saying "Yay!" in track one.

We can't wait until December.