On June 21, 1999, Pennie and I exchanged our marriage vows on our screened porch in the presence of her daughter, and my parents. Our dogs, Molly and Chase, looked on from the back yard. The brief ceremony was officiated by the Mayor and it was perfect. I'm very happy that our lives crossed and intertwined. I'm happy that she chose to marry be 9 years ago today. Life is certainly complicated at time, but having someone share it with you can make things go much better. Happy Anniversary, my love.

My lovely wife spoiled me this Christmas.

I slept in a bit this morning and was up around 9 or so. We left the dogs downstairs and enjoyed the antics of Penguin as we opened our gifts. I gave Pennie some Godiva chocolates, 3 cartons of Penguin sugarless caffeinated chocolate flavored peppermints, and a pair of boot slippers from LL Bean. I also picked up a heater for use downstairs when it gets really cold outside as it doesn't stay warm down there when it drops into the teens or below outside. I suspect that it will stay warmer once we insulate the walls, but that floor needs to be dealt with first. Her big present is really for both of us, though it is something she wanted for a while now and I was originally against. On the day of my Jury Duty last week, knowing that she wouldn't be home when I was released early, I stopped at Lowe's and picked up an over the range Microwave oven for her. I may need to get an electrician in to provide an outlet in the upper cabinet, but I'll be installing the oven myself.

There was quite a pile of presents for me, too, hence the subject of this post. She was most certainly tired of my baggy pants, especially the fact that all of my casual work pants bunch up in the back for my belt to tighten then. She bought me a great selection of pants that fit me very well. I tried them all on and left one on for our trip to visit my parents. She also got me a new belt since the one from last year is on its last notch and it is still a bit too large. This one is now perfect. I asked for an received a hooded black zipper sweatshirt jacket that is just perfect. She found a new Hallmark Nightmare Before Christmas ornament for the tree and got me a cute and interesting combination mister/watering can for the plants. The giant surprise is something I never expected in a million years! She gave me a 19 inch LCD television for my bedroom. I already hooked it up and the picture quality is wonderful. I hooked up the DirecTivo and also my MSNTV2 unit to it. The MSNTV2 picture was terrible on the old Sony tube TV I've had for years, but it looks nice and sharp on the new Sanyo LCD unit. To top it off, she actually went to Wal-mart to get it! I'm thrilled with it. So, I'm spoiled.

We went to my parents' house for a visit after Pennie made her trip (of three daily) to her dog sitting job that she has through the 1st of January. That was a depressing experience for both of us. Mom was not doing bad, but it was bad enough that it made Pennie cry on the way home. It *is* very hard to take and it upsets both of us that my father continues to insist that she cannot go to a nursing home and that he does not need more help for Mom. Well, my useless sister got an e-mail from me this evening requesting her assistance in convincing my father that he needs to get 24 hour care if he intends to live much longer as he is killing himself slowly by trying to do more than he is capable of and it also means that Mom is not getting the care and attention she needs and deserves. I will continue to work on my father each time I talk to him and see him, but perhaps my sister's input will be what finally sways him. I hate this disease.

I didn't mean to end that on a down note, but it is a big part of my life and saddens me. I do what I can to remain upbeat and not let it bother me - basically because I can't let the situation affect my health or relationship with Pennie as it was for a while. I can only do so much for my father and mother, especially when my father refuses to get the help that he really needs.

It's back to work tomorrow for a short 3 day week and then there is a nice 4 day weekend to enjoy. I think I'm going to try to get the upstairs hallway ceiling and walls finished. I may not get the floor taken care of yet, since it means stripping the stairs treads down and probably a fair amount of repair of the upstairs hallway floor, but at least we can get the walls and ceiling done.

Thank you for sharing your life and your love with me.  

I'm happy to report that Pennie arrived home about 4:30 this afternoon. The dogs were also thrilled that she arrived. She was certainly exhausted from the trip and headed to bed with the dogs not long after 9 tonight. I'm heading up now and I'm happy that she is home!

On August 10, 1997 I was in Syracuse, NY. UPS was dealing with a national strike and management personnel, myself included, had been dispatched to move packages through the system in an effort to get them to their destinations. I was loading trailers in Syracuse. When I wasn't in the hub or soaking my aching muscles in the whirlpool at the hotel, and had some free time, I was checking email and newsgroups on my laptop in the hotel room. Back then I was a regular in the Poppy Z. Brite newsgroup. It was a low traffic newsgroup that I joined because of my interest in Poppy's writings. Another regular in the newsgroups was "ceri" who was also interested in her writings. I posted to the newsgroup about my experience in Syracuse. On the 10th of August I received a nice email from "ceri" wishing me well. We had never communicated outside of the newsgroup, and since I tended to lurk more than post, we really hadn't communicated with each other all that much in the newsgroup. Well, I responded to her email and therein began a relationship with the wonderful woman who is now my wife. I'm forever grateful that she chose to send that first email to me and that I responded.