More Than Nothing

So it's been forever since I've put anything on here and I've been real busy. This isn't really an update. Mostly I just can't sleep. I was out of work all last week with an ear infection, bronchitis, and "flu like symptoms." Today (in about 3 1/2 hours actually) is my first day back at work. Tonight I mostly just read in bed, waiting for sleep to catch up to me. It didn't. So here I am, working on this thing. So what's been going on since the last post?
-Dad had his surgery, and is having a difficult time in recovery.
-Jed quit his job (hurray!)
-Emily started back at school
-The band kind of dissipated
-I'm still doing guitar stuff, working now more on construction and ebay doodling than technique.
-I got obsessed with reggae (the whole going to Jamaica thing)
-I read bunches (see the reading list for specifics)
-I saw bunches of great movies (Outlander, Band Slam, and Ponyo are the faves that spring to mind)
-Emily has been busy with knitting, sewing squishy monsters, keeping me healthy, and learning (slowly) to love the Star Trek!
-The library must hate me because of my constant use of their online queue system (did I even spell that right?). I didn't think they even noticed my use of it until two of them at different times made a comment about it (I was a little embarrassed!).
-I joined the gym!
-I quit smoking, again! (brief explanation: I quit smoking last year, taking a drug from the doctor that made me terribly sick. I swore I would never smoke again just so I wouldn't have to quit. Months rolled by and I began my final semester at school. I won't say I was driven to smoke from the stress, mostly because that would be a lie. I did it because I liked it. And I'm sure some chemical part of me was still hooked on it. There was no smoking of normal ciggies for me though, I only smoked cloves, believing at the time-erroneously-that they were less harmful. I never really smoked them that much or that often, but I would definitely say that they were a habit. Now I'm trying to kick them, without drugs or anything that makes me poo/puke.)
-I like to find guitars for cheap on Craigslist and ebay and buy them. I get too many and sell some. Then I cry and buy more. Overall I don't lose that much money, but it is an annoying little trend that I think Emily may strange me over. My current faves are a Xaviere tele, a Regal acoustic, and a super cheap First Act. Total price for all three combined? $135!!!
-Emily and I are moving to a new house and performing the slowest paint job in the history of mankind. We have a nice brown stove. And yellow ceilings.
-I bought a mower!!! Emily has already named it "Grasshopper."
That's it for now. I'm tired.

Making Plans

Today Emily and I put down the deposit on our wedding, and we are sailing forward with all due speed. Please excuse the nautical crap, I just read a book about a guy who sailed a raft everywhere. Stuff like that kind of sinks in! We ended up deciding on Jamaica, and are staying at Tower Isle (formerly Ocho Rios, which was formerly Tower Isle...). We are having a beach wedding (I think) at 10 AM on Jan. 12. Hurray! Tomorrow is going to suck because my pa's having surgery and I just can't imagine how scared he must be. We will be heading up as soon as I'm off of work to check in and see how everyone is doing. Sorry to end on a sour note, but I'm all bushed. Okay, here's a few happy things:
-I saw my beautiful niece today and she looked a little like a pumpkin. Up until today I didn't know that we could pick our "nicknames," but now I do. Though they may try and call me JJ or uncle JJ I'm pretty sure that it won't take too much convincing for Audrey to call me my Uncle Name of choice: Uncle Butt. It makes me smile just to write it!
-A friend of mine has just reentered my life recently and I had a great conversation about the more spectral aspects of our world this afternoon. It was fun.
-I got 4 cds from the dollar store today that should have cost a lot more. I got the last two phish cds, the last Bjork, and one other that I won't say in case it embarrases Emily (the first name is a city in France, and the last is a hotel chain). I'll just say that the artists name rhymes with Flaris Bilton and leave it at that.

Here's some recent photos: 2 from turtle paw practice, the Decemberists show, the tree of life in animal kingdom, and the summer solstice.

All This and All That

Hi again! Today Emily and I went to check out our options for a destination wedding, and it sounded really cool. So far I think our favorite is Jamaica. At first I was sort of anti-Jamaica, wanting to see some ruins and stuff south of the border. But the travel guy told us how much more difficult it was to get married there (whereas Jamaica is super worry free). The resort is all inclusive and it looks like the best deal financially. Emily was super excited.
In other news, we went over to my sweet niece's house the other day for a fun cookout (we kind of crashed it), and saw my dad and meyka after they had gotten back from their retreat. The retreat sounded fun and it seemed to have done them good, which is really all you want from something like that I suppose. It was the first time I had seen Dad in forever, so that was really nice. Mitch got me some new guitar strings put on, and Audrey bit my finger. A very satisfying evening.
Some people from work and I have been just messing around and jamming in the living room on some evenings. It is really fun and collective-y, less stressful than trying to be "in a band." My chops (never that good to begin with) really deteriorated after my surgery, so it has been a long road even getting back to where I was. The nice thing is that no one is really a virtuoso, so we all just have fun with it.
Speaking of music, I have run into an old high school friend a few times in the last week or so--Justin Hanna! He is doing well and it's really a kick in the pants to see someone that takes you back so much. Those may have not been the best years of my life and I was extremely unhappy (and also a little snotty as Anna remembered the other night!), but it makes me feel good to see people and realize how far I have come just as a person.
I'm heading out to the library now to return some books and a cd I could have sworn I returned (but then found sitting on top of my computer). More later!

If anyone is out tonight come to the Blind Tiger to see the Brand New Life. They're a really great band and super fun. Plus it's free.

Mobile

Today has been a pretty busy day so far. Emily and i woke up late and went to do laundry, then she went out to lunch. it looks like my battery is dying so thats all for now!

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Sent from AT&T's Wireless network using Mobile Email

Big

Wow, I don't even know where to begin. I suppose the biggest news is that Emily and I got engaged. I was pretty relieved when she said yes! We have decided to try and get into peace corps as a married couple, and we are looking for a new apartment. Also I am hunting for jobs and selling stuff on craigslist/ebay/amazon like crazy. I work some (not enough hours) but it feels like it eats a lot of time. Emily is back in school. I got a new phone. That's all I can think of right now, but will try to (at some point) get back on a regular schedule of blogs. This absence is pitiful!

I think its time 2 look 4 a new job

I got my phone charger so now i can do this from work on my breaks. I have tons 2 write about soon