Actually... we are going to the chapel...

So, after our whirlwind trip to Garden Valley and Stanley we decided in the interest of making things as easy as we can on our friends and family (we do recognize that we are asking people that want to be at the ceremony to travel twice) we decided to get married in a chapel. Guess the title of my last post was prophetic. I would post pictures, but I keep loosing the cord that connects my computer to the camera so I will have to paint a picture with words.
It is a non-religious meditation chapel above downtown Stanley. The chapel itself was built in the seventies with logs making it look much older than it actually is. The views are stupendous (a full window behind the alter highlights a steep, craggy Sawtooth Mountain Range rising 11,000 feet into the clouds). The stained glass is magnificent (elk prancing in the sun depicted in jewel tones that shimmer in the light). Best of all, the mosquitoes are non-existent (trust us - 30 bites each after attempting to fly fish for a grand total of 20 minutes).
We know that it is kind of strange to make people drive all the way to Stanley and then get married inside, but think everyone that can make it will love it there. Stanley is one of both mine & MJ's most favorite places on the planet. My parents went to a wedding held in this chapel many years ago and upon returning home they told me that they had found the place that I had to get married. I guess that was a prophetic statement as well.
So, I'm just waiting for the guy to call me back before it is set in stone (although the on-line calender doesn't show anything scheduled for that day, so we're thinking we are pretty well set). That's what I know for now. Tonight MJ is running in the first annual Boise Beer Mile and I am timing it. Sunday we are going rafting with some friends.
Life is just so great right now. I hope that it is just as great for you and yours. Much love, -M

Going to the Chapel...

Well, I guess we're not really going to the chapel... but we are headed for the hills tonight with our dogs to find "the place" that we're getting hitched in four short weeks. We're going to stay at the cabin tonight and then drive over to Stanley to scope out how busy the lakes are during the week. We are hoping to find one that isn't filled with noisy jet skis. A bit different than the way most do it I suppose, but then thus far we haven't followed many traditions at all.
I am going to have a bridal shower on June 30, graciously hosted by one of my dearest friends - Dawn. I requested no gifts. We just don't have the room for a bunch of stuff in our tiny house. She came up with a drinking theme - people are to bring recipes and fixings for their favorite drinks. I think this is a fantastic idea and can't wait!
July 7 I am headed to Reno with five of my girlfriends. We are going to see one of my all-time favorite groups - The Indigo Girls. All but two of us going down are currently "with child" so it probably won't get too crazy. I am looking forward to a nice relaxing weekend while MJ and the guys from the shop go on a three day mountain biking/fly fishing trip. I am a little jealous - I haven't been able to get on the river yet this year, but we'll both get a chance to camp, ride, hike and fish our way back to Garden Valley for the reception from Stanley for a couple days after the wedding with our close friends and my brother and sister. I am really looking forward to that, we should have a great time.
So with any luck I'll come back with some pictures of where the ceremony will actually take place. I hope that everyone out there in cyberland is doing well and enjoying some fantastic early summer weather.

How to Train for a Marathon in 16 weeks...

This week Michael & I have started our training for the Bizz Johnson Trail Marathon in Susanville, California on October 6. We haven't actually signed up yet (I want to see how our training goes before we pony up the cash) but we have a training plan and we have followed it perfectly for the last 48 hours. It involves a lot of cross training - mostly mountain biking because that is MJ's strong suit and because it is not as hard on my hips. I was set to do this race on my own, but Michael decided last minute to join me. I think this experience will be a good one for our first year as a (gulp!) married couple. I hope it will be, anyway. What doesn't kill you is supposed to make you stronger... right?
MJ is not a runner, but he can usually run shorter distances faster than I can which helps me to stay out of my comfort zone. Tonight I am moving even further away from comfort as we embark on a ride in the foothills. Thus far my rides have involved pavement with some sort of goal at the end - work, food, entertainment or beverages. Tonight I can look forward to deep sand & mud, sky scraping endless hills (I know because I run them), random unleashed scary looking dogs, women talking loudly on their cell phones while their kids run around poking at things in the ground with sticks, testosterone fueled male cyclists on a mission to break the sound barrier on busy single track, and runners (like me - usually) that have their ipods turned up so loud that there is no way that they will hear me signal "on your left" in what I hope is a pleasant manner. Oh, and this is the first time that I will "clip in" to my pedals. That means that my shoes and pedals are attached to each other and if I start to fall I have to figure out how to get them unclipped rather quickly before tragedy strikes and I wreck my bike with my feet firmly attached to the pedals. So... I'm a bit (note the sarcasm) nervous. I have to take my inspiration from my fiance' who has exercise induced-asthma but decided to run 26.2 miles with me in October anyway so we can spend a bit more time together.
I guess this is what being married is all about.

Do Not Speak Unless You Can Improve the Silence

Sorry for the lack of posts as of late. We have been crazy busy the past few weeks with our yard. We roto-tilled, composted, and sodded 1300 sq feet in the back yard and added a new lower gravel patio with a fire pit. We planted the garden and mulched the existing flower beds. We built a new pathway and planted thyme that will hopefully take over. We constructed an arbor. Needless to say we are exhausted. Yesterday was screaming hot so instead of finishing the loose ends of our projects up we rode our bikes downtown in search of buildings with air conditioning. Hopefully it cools down soon so that our lovely new grass doesn't die. I'll take some pictures and post them when we are completely done.
I hope everyone is enjoying spring. Love to you all, -M