I'll pretend it hasn't been year...

So this will be the first of a couple of update posts. Not that we have a regular readership, but since we don't keep a journal or anything it'll be cute for our grand kids to look back and laugh at how "they used to have the Internet on computers."
One of the more exciting events during the holidays was the Ugly Christmas Sweater Party we had at our house. Brandon, Anna, and Grant Shirley, Paul Merten, Patrick and Debbie Newey, and Darin Poulsen came over (so basically it was a Bulgar Fest) so as to be festive with each other.

Much eating of fancy appetizers and drinking of seasonal beverages was done by all. My questions are, #1 - What is that thing emanating from Brandon's crotch, and #2 - How does Paul still look like a freaking model even whilst donning an ugly sweater?
Of course, after the eating came the merry-making. The women left us men to our competitive machinations and we indulged ourselves in a couple hours of Mario Kart 64. And, as usual, I had by butt handed to me on a regular basis.

Here's Amber and I enjoying ourselves. I like seeing Amber ham it up like that. I think it's cute.

Oh yeah, and Amber has brown hair now (as you'll see by the picture). Naturally, I think it's hot. I'm not sure if I prefer blond or brunette - they both are just so becoming. Here's a super-hot picture of my babe while driving.








Stay tuned for the next post where I'll update you, the insatiable reader, on my Sundance 2007 exploits!

remember when it was warm?

i miss warm weather. i was looking at photos of us this summer and thought i'd post them because they're cute. here is wes and i at a friend's '60's party.

and the other cute picture won't upload because it's from wes's phone. so i'll paste some from this Fall.

amber

Sundancing

Much of my time this week has been consumed with volunteering at the Sundance Film Festival in Park City. This is my 4th year up there and all four years have been spent at the Yarrow Hotel venue. For the past two years, the Yarrow has been exclusively a press venue, and also facilitates all of the discussion panels. So far I've seen a handful of excellent films, including the Danish films Adam's Apples and Allegro, a film Tilda Swinton produced and starred in called Stephanie Daley, and a film that Matt Dillon starred in called Factotum. I was also lucky enough to watch the panel discussion called Brave New World: Entertainment and Social Change, which featured Robert "The Sundance Kid" Redford, Pat Mitchell (president of PBS), Jeff Skoll (founder of Ebay and president of Participation Productions which made such movies as "Good Night and Good Luck," "Syriana," and "North Country."), among others.
Anyway, if you're at all interested, click on the links.

This post may not have the usual spark - heat, if you will - that my posts usually have. It's because it's been almost two days since I've seen my muse. I slept over in Heber City (where I work) last night after my Sundance shift, so I haven't been down in the valley for about two days. It's cold up here. Really cold.

Single Life . . . Again

Yeah, this isn't taken before I met Amber. Or even before I found out about girls. This is me, Friday evening on January 13, 2006.
Amber is in Florida for business (helping Bad Ass Coffee open up a couple new locations) and I'm reduced to organizing my bootlegs and concerts, and playing Myst 5.
It's not fun. I couldn't even get my roommate, Jonathan (seen here jinxing Dave whilst bowling) to take the picture for me. He didn't want my lonely-Friday-night-loser cooties.

This is how my first healthy Friday night in 3 months was spent. Man was not meant to be alone.

hot couple gets stalked by paparazzi at central park

ok maybe it was just my sister. but still. look at what she caught us doing!

that day was so freezing i don't know how we all lasted outside for so long. but now you all know how awesome we look together so it was all worth it.

i love my wessie he's sweet as can be.....

when i met wes he was to me like sunshine on a frozen lake. he taught me to love without cautioun and without fear. he is a dream. our first date we talked for 4 hours straight missing both drive-in movies completely. he informed me that although i am 2 1/2 years older that he is 2 1/2 years smarter - because he's 5 years smarter than most people. i loved him on our first date. and then a week later i was sick and he brought me soup and medicine everyday. he slept on the couch because he said i looked so sick he daren't leave me alone.

he softens me and i push him. where i am blunt he is tactful. where he is lazy i am quick. where i am curt he is sweet. where he procrastinates i deliver. he is understanding and patient. he covets me and still allows me to shine brightly and fiercely without either of us needing to apologize for it. he is what i wanted and more - a true partner, one who accepts and loves me as i am and as i want to be, he is loving and faithful, he is devoted and smart, he is witty and sly and i've never laughed or smiled more than when i'm with him.

-amber

liberty enlightening the world

i took a tour inside this beautiful green lady. i'm an expert now. ask me anything - i'll know. why is she green? because she oxidized. why is the original torch sitting in a museum? because americans poked holes in it trying to make it light up. where is she from? she's a gift from the french - they conceived the idea of ending all grievances between USA and france with a big lady. who is the architect? gustave eiffel (of the eiffel tower). how many shipments did it take? over 300. what is her waist size? 35 feet. yay. what is her favorite date? november 24th. who is her favorite couple? wes and i. and she's our favorite statue of liberty :) she is where it all began. right on that corner of the pedestal in the freezing wind. it was beautiful.

-amber

"Good tidings of great joy..."

Here's Amber admiring her rock. It was Thanksgiving eve and everyone was hard at work. I was helping to clean the kitchen. Cyndi (Amber's sister in New York with whom we were staying) was finishing up some pre-turkey day cooking, Dave (Cyndi's husband) was doing something manly, I'm sure. And Amber was spreading the good word of my proposal of marriage. She spread it hard and she spread it fast. Wild fire has nothing on her.

Ruminations on Registering

To register or not to register.
To include in the wedding announcements that wiley, easily lost piece of paper detailing through whom you are registered - or not.
There seems to be two differing schools of thought on the subject, and it just so happens that I (Wesley) belong to one, and my dear fiancee belongs to the other.

As most of you know or have already assumed, I am and probably always will be the lesser informed one of the relationship when it comes to social graces, niceties, and the such. In fact, I'll probably always be the lesser _______ (fill in the blank) in the relationship, which is why I am marrying my sweetheart - it's a form a self-improvement. But I digress.
So I've always assumed the conjoining couple is in a way obligated to include this nugget of information - it eases the buying burden of those looking to temporally bless the burgeoning bride and her lesser half. People want to help the happy couple and any direction, by way of a registry, that can be provided is, I've always assumed, appreciated.
My lovely, blushing bride-to-be believes it shows too much chutzpah and effrontery on the part of the new couple. After all, it's basically a shameless announcement proclaiming to one and all to "buy us stuff!"
Both sides of the argument present convincing and valid points. I was tempted to agree with Amber and not register, but the selfish git in me wouldn't allow it. Ever comprimising and accomodating, Amber suggested this alternative - we register at a couple of places, leave announcement of it out of the mailed marriage announcements, and post links to where we have registered here on our blog.
So now, for those of you gracious and kind enough to help us out in beginning our new life together, and needing some suggestions or guidance in what you can get us and where, links to the places we are registered with are provided in the links portion of this site, right there on the side of the page.

A big "THANK YOU" goes out to everyone that has helped, is helping, and continues to help us out.

-Wesley

PS - I typed this entry while listening to Glen Phillips' album "Winter Pays for Summer" which he released earlier this year. Glen Phillips is the former lead singer of Toad the Wet Sprocket. It is a most excellent album which would appeal to listeners of bands like Jars of Clay, Toad the Wet Sprocket, early Elton John, Wilco, Billy Joel, and other good music. Contact me if this appeals to you and you're interested in obtaining a copy.