Month: September 2013

Manic Monday

/ Erin May / 3 Comments

Happy Monday, my friends!

This weekend, Kyle finished an Olympic length Triathlon! It was incredibly impressive, and I’m really proud of him.

IMG_1111

So this is looking to be a busy week! I’ve got a number of wedding venues to visit, some friends to catch up with, and book club with my ladies! I’m looking forward to it, but also am anticipating being very busy. Also, did you know that wedding venues are all apparently booked up for every good summer weekend ever? Yeah, I guess I missed the memo that told everyone to get on booking their dates starting in Junior High. Anyway, wish us luck!

Here are some fun links for your week! This is an extra long list because I’ve been having difficulty with my blog reader (Feedly!) and have done some much-needed catching up in the past few weeks.

Reading Challenge: Complete

/ Erin May / Leave a comment

My 15 books in 15 weeks reading challenge ended last week, and I’m happy to report that I’ve not only met my goal, but actually forgot about it entirely and still ended up exceeded it! To recap, here are the 15(+) books I read in the past 15 weeks:

  1. Will Grayson Will Grayson by John Green and David Levithan
  2. When Everything Changed: The Amazing Journey of American Women from 1960 to the Present by Gail Collins
  3. Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers by Mary Roach
  4. Even Cowgirls Get the Blues by Tom Robbins
  5. Maus II A Survivor’s Tale: And Here My Troubles Began by Art Spiegelman
  6. Someday, Someday Maybe by Lauren Graham
  7. Life and Death are Wearing Me Out by Mo Yan
  8. The God of Animals: A Novel by Aryn Kyle
  9. Packing for Mars by Mary Roach
  10. A Visit from the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan
  11. The Things They Carried by Tim O’Brien
  12. Born to Run by Christopher McDougall
  13. The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky
  14. The Emperor’s Children by Claire Messud
  15. The Books of Magic Part 1 by Neil Gaiman
  16. The Shadow of the Hegemon by Orson Scott Card

This is a pretty diverse list! It includes modern novels, non fiction, graphic novels, sci-fi, war tales…my tastes have been pretty varied these last few weeks! And I can pretty much say I’d recommend all of these books as a good read, depending on your individual tastes and whatever mood you may find yourself in.

One of the best things about this challenge has been realizing the power of my commute time. In the 45 min-1 hour I ride to and from work each day, I am able to do something productive, enriching, and engrossing. It’s been a great reminder to make the most of my minutes, and to make time for the hobbies I really enjoy. Like reading.

And, while I’ve really enjoyed this challenge (and the reminder to keep changing up my reading habits), I’m looking forward to its close. No, I’m not going to stop reading. I’m just looking forward to enjoying a more leisurely pace, and allowing each book to take the time it needs.

That being said, I’m now looking for recommendations! Tell me, have you read any good books lately?

Remembering a Great Man

/ Erin May / 3 Comments

This past weekend, we held a service for my Grandpa Roy, who passed away a few weeks ago.

No matter how you slice it, memorial services are a strange thing. On one hand, you’re sad, and reflective, you miss the person you knew and are taking in what it means that they are no longer around. On the other hand, you’re remembering them and sharing these memories with loved ones in this great, communal, act- and you’ll catch yourself laughing a lot.

Grandpa Jaeger roy cabin

Saturday was a very powerful experience for me, because it demonstrated in so many ways what a great individual my Grandpa was, and how lucky I was to have known him. I loved hearing all these people telling stories about him- how he balanced his wild, trouble-maker side with an incredible work ethic and moral code.

My Grandpa taught me many things. He always kept a list of things to do every day, and made sure, if you happened to catch him in a moment of rest, to let you know all the things he had already done that day to deserve a break. He was an avid reader, and not only averaged 4 books a week, but also managed to read every book in the Lincoln City library. He loved a good laugh, and was a wonderful storyteller. And he was a man you could respect, and whose respect in return felt like a special accomplishment.

Thanks to him, I know the value of hard, honest work. I see where you can get yourself when you pull yourself up by your bootstraps. He always made a point of “doing things his way.”

Not a lot of people can say they grew up next door to their grandparents, and while I feel sad to have lost him, I feel so lucky to have known him as well as I was able to.

So Yesterday, I Got Engaged.

/ Erin May / 5 Comments

Oh man.

So, I’m engaged! And that means I get to spend the rest of my life with my best friend, the guy I’ve dated for a decade and who is so amazing I seriously doubt I am deserving of him. I couldn’t be more thrilled.

Seriously, constant butterflies.

One of the most amazing parts about all this happening (other than the guy I get to marry!) is realizing how many of our friends and family were over-the-top excited for us. Several of you squealed, a number of you cursed, and we are just blown away by how much you all seem to like us.

Because so many of you asked, here are some of the details:

  • He proposed yesterday, September 9th, on his birthday.
  • We were at our house, which was so perfect- what better place for something so momentous than the home we share??
  • He was nervous. I was crying. We were basically a mess.
  • We immediately went out for a birthday dinner to celebrate, and I remarkably didn’t crash the car in my excitement.
Here we are a little after dinner. Feeling pretty giddy.

Here we are a little after dinner. Feeling pretty giddy.

And because so many of you asked, here's my ring! I have to get it resized, but it's his paternal grandma's ring, and so unusual and lovely.

And because so many of you asked, here’s my ring! I have to get it resized, but it’s his paternal grandma’s ring, and so unusual and lovely.

The guy at his birthday dinner! 26 is going to be a big year, KP.

The guy at his birthday dinner! 26 is going to be a big year, KP.

Our first toast! Thanks to Shelley and Adam for bringing home the bubbly. :)

Our first toast! Thanks to Shelley and Adam for bringing home the bubbly. 🙂

I can’t tell you all how excited I am about this, and how much all your calls and comments have meant to me. I’m feeling like a big goofy loveball this week, and I want to let everyone know just how much I love them.

Have a wonderful week, my friends!