Praises for Marriage #1-3

Shelby & I were married one month ago today! So, how is married life??

GREAT. I would definitely recommend it. You are:

1. Required to spend at least some portion of each day with your best friend.
2. Allowed to have bad breath without fear of ultimate rejection.
3. Given a chance to take a better Driver's License photo.

There are certainly MANY more praises for marriage than these three. An infinite amount, to be exact. Like many others in this blog, this post is one of many to come in a series. Don't want to give all the secrets of marriage away at once!

#1 Louisville!

Louisville was voted America's Most Livable City by the U.S. Conference of Mayors this year!  The Courier-Journal reported that Louisville topped Las Vegas, Orlando, Seattle, and others in the Large City category.  Personally, I find the city very livable - and likable!

Eco Green vs. Green $$

In the past 2 years I have become more environmentally conscious and currently subscribe to a few blogs and newsletters about how to live your life a little greener.  I've also come across advertisements and promotions for green products that are possibly a marketing strategy for making a profit on the hip green trend.  It's true that most eco-friendly products are more expensive than their biohazard counterparts, unless of course you are performing duty #2 of the Reduce, Reuse, Recycle mantra.  (I love an antique store or consignment shop - and you can find some great quality stuff!)  

While I regularly check these eco-blogs, I also check my friend's find-a-bargain blog more enthusiastically and regularly.  Admittedly, I have purchased many a sale item I found from her blog.  I realize that while I may strive for green living, I am much more interested in saving some dough (the other green).  Until organic cotton goes on sale, I'm afraid I won't be motivated to buy it.  

For my fave eco-blogs and my friend's save-a-lot blog, see "Links I Check Too Frequently."

Song of the Cicada

While we were in Virginia for the wedding, summer arrived in Kentucky. No need to look for a cute jacket or cover-up until October. Along with the blistering temperatures, I've noticed summer's sweet song of cicadas playing continually for the entire 10 days we've been back. Summer's here - great! Now would somebody turn the cicadas down?

It seems like every year I'm more attuned to some part of nature that has never bothered me before. One summer not too long ago I distinctly remember noticing how very hot summer is for the first time. (Children don't seem to notice temperatures like adults do, or maybe can't articulate or remember complaints about it yet.) One spring I was very attentive to how much it rained and rained and rained... and rained some more. Drip, drip, drop little April showers. This year, I am acutely aware of the deafening hum of bugs in the woods. Country, city, or wherever I happen to be! I've had to check the windows and doors of the house, office, and car to make sure they're all closed because it really does sound like they're wide open, based on the volume level of the bug noise. Call me crazy, but these bugs are really belting it out this year!