I am usually very proud of the fact that I have been able to maintain this blog for over three years, never going an entire month without posting. But faithful readers will have probably realized that I completely missed July this year! Well, that is unacceptable to me, so I am going to do a bit of cheating. But it's not really cheating. I actually did write some posts in July, I just wasn't ready to publish them yet. So I will be publishing over the next couple days and pre-dating them for when they were actually written (mostly in July). I hope you will agree with me that this isn't actually cheating. If you are not yet convinced, here is another reason. I had extenuating circumstances because... we are having a baby! And I just wasn't ready to share that with the general public until now, but my thoughts (and my posts) have been on that general subject. So, without further ado, I will go ahead and publish my July posts. And if you're not interested in baby stuff or the (possibly ridiculous) wonderings of an expectant mother, I would advise you to just "Mark as Read" and move on.
Prayer
Sometimes I wonder if my baby can hear me when I pray. I always whisper my prayers because it makes me feel more like I’m having a conversation with God. Also, I find that my mind wanders a lot less when I pray out loud. So today after I said, “Amen”, I wondered if the baby had heard all that. And then I wondered if maybe the baby knew who I was talking to, because in its extreme innocence, maybe the only clarity is about its Creator. The Bible does talk about having faith like little children, because we are more accepting at that age and grow more and more cynical as we grow up. Maybe babies in the womb are the most accepting because they have actually met their Creator. In one of the books I’m reading, it mentions that no one still knows how the cells know how and where to divide to become a baby. But I know: it’s a miracle from God; He is directing their creation and giving them life. And maybe my baby knows that, too.
It probably all sounds ridiculous. But being a Christian and having a baby growing inside me has made me more and more in awe of my God.
Psalm 139
This Psalm has become particularly meaningful as I think about the baby developing right now. It is very comforting to know that God is tending for my baby, even when I don't know how it is doing.
1 O LORD, you have searched me and you know me. 2 You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar.
3 You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways.
4 Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O LORD.
5 You hem me in—behind and before; you have laid your hand upon me.
6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain.
7 Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?
8 If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
9 If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea,
10 even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.
11 If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,”
12 even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you.
13 For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.
First Ultrasound
Tomorrow is my first ultrasound and I’m surprisingly nervous! It never occurred to me how nervous I’d be about everything during pregnancy, but I am. So today I searched “nervous about first…” in Google and to my surprise and delight “nervous about first ultrasound”, “nervous about first prenatal visit”, and “nervous about first prenatal appointment” were among top things searched! I immediately felt better because that showed me that I certainly wasn’t alone. And how true that was! I read several forums and it turns out that it’s very common to be nervous about ultrasound appointments. I guess the thought of finding out that something is wrong is the cause of it. My nausea has also started in the last couple days. I’m more and more impressed with woman who have horrible nausea and have to work full-time. But anyway, I was actually happy that I have another symptom because it makes me feel like things are progressing normally. Plus, I have told myself that I do not want to complain about anything with regards to being pregnant, because I’m just so happy that I am!
I got two pieces of encouragement with regards to the nausea: my aunt says, “I’m glad to hear you’re feeling sick. Not glad for YOU. I remember that and it was not at all fun. But it really is true that it means the baby’s hormones are kicking in and that makes me happy.” I also got a text from a friend that said, “I’m sorry! But the good news is that if you have nausea, it lowers the chance of a miscarriage.”
So I guess this post is about being encouraged and finding encouragement in expected and unexpected places. And that’s sorta why I’m writing this blog. I wish my mother could remember more of her pregnancy experiences, so I thought maybe if I have a daughter, she can read my experiences someday and be encouraged.
In Love with Spring
Our Deck
I am officially in love with spring. What with the beautiful and warm weather, our new deck and outdoor furniture, and my resolution to read all those books, I've been enjoying this spring more than ever! I've never had a deck before, and even though it wasn't something we were looking for in a house, I am thrilled that the house we chose came with one. I go out and just sit outside, enjoying the warmth of the sun, the comfy chairs, and a stack of good books.
A Quote
I just finished reading Reaching for the Invisible God by Philip Yancey, so (just to warn you) you will be subjected to quotes from it for the next couple weeks! Here is the first, which I chose because I feel like it is talking about me.
A person reared in a Christian home, who has absorbed the faith along with other family values from trusted parents, will one day face a crisis that puts loyalty to the test. She may have had religious experiences, may have felt something of the closeness of God. Without warning, that sense vanishes. She feels nothing except doubts over all that has gone before. Faith loses all support of feeling, and she wonders if she has been living under illusion. At such a moment it may feel very foolish to hold on to faith regardless. Yet, as Ignatius [Loyola] counsels, now is the time to "stand firm." Faith can survive periods of darkness but only if we cling to it in the midst of the darkness.
My niche
My blog does not have any niche besides being my personal blog. I have thought of converting it to many different types of niche blogs that would go along with my various interests. I've thought turning into a craft blog, an organization blog (yes, I enjoy organizing things!), a TV blog, a cooking blog (recipes I've tried and love), or even a blog of just lists! Recently, in my role as Social Media Consultant for several small businesses, I've been reading up a lot on SEO or Search Engine Optimization. Simply put, it is using keywords to get the highest possible rank in a search engine (or at least that's my understanding of it - I'm no expert). I read an article that gave this useful tip:
Here’s a quick way to get started with smart SEO copywriting without having to know a lot about search engine optimization. Let’s start simple. Drop your website’s URL into the free Google Adwords Keyword Tool to see a list of what Google thinks your website is about. (Don’t worry with what this tool is supposed to be used for. That’s for another blog post.) What you’ll see is a listing of keywords, grouped by major subject, that Google thinks represents the content on your website....
Now, make a list of the major groups which accurately represent the content on your website or the products or services you sell. Go through the keywords Google suggested under those topics and pick out 5-10 keywords or keyword phrases from each grouping. Put those keywords in a spreadsheet or list under the appropriate heading. (See my sample one on the right hand side of the page.) Print that out and keep it handy when you’re writing. Refer to this keyword glossary to remind yourself of the keywords you wish to win and that you need to incorporate them into your content.
He says himself that it's a simplistic approach to writing for SEO, but I really liked the idea (especially for someone like myself that doesn't know much about it to begin with). So I went ahead and dropped in a few of the blogs I write, including this one. Well, should I have been surprised when these were the keywords for this one?
dark chocolate
chocolate gifts
gourmet chocolate
chocolate
chocolates
blog
So I guess I have a niche after all! A blog about chocolate! Who would have thought? But that's not what this blog is about at all. It's just about me. A girl who really likes chocolate.
Books Read in 2009
The list below is all the books I read in 2009 in chronological order. I will try to summarize my thoughts on each, but with some my memory is a bit hazy already. The ones I remember are probably also the best literature (with some exceptions).
The Tales of Beedle the Bard - Very cute book of short stories from the wizarding world, by J.K. Rowling.
Asking for Murder - To be honest, I hardly remember this book by Roberta Isleib. I gave it a 5.5/10, though, so take from that what you will.
Preaching to the Corpse - Another by Roberta Isleib that I hardly remember. It also received a 5.5/10.
The Alchemist - A fable by Paulo Coelho that I did not really enjoy.
High Marks for Murder - I was powering through these murder mysteries for a while. This one is by Rebecca Kent and I gave it a 5.4/10.
The Wind in the Willows - I actually wrote a review of this book by Kenneth Grahame.
Eragon - I really enjoyed this book by Christopher Paolini. My exact words from my "books I've read" spreadsheet are: "sooo good! can't wait to read the next 3 books; almost made me depressed at how good it is, because this guy was 15 when he wrote it! I wish so much that I could write a fantasy book like this. I love fantasy."
Ringing in Murder - Another that I have no recollection of (how sad is that?), by Kate Kingsbury. I gave it a 5.3/10.
Agatha Raisin and the Quiche of Death - I do enjoy M.C. Beaton's books, both the "Agatha Raisin" series and the "Hamish MacBeth" series. This was the first of all the Agatha books and I gave it a 7/10.
The Last Sin Eater - This was an excellent book by Francine Rivers. I didn't do a real review of it on the blog, but I did mention and quote from it.
Kissing Christmas Goodbye - Another "Agatha Raisin" book by M.C. Beaton. I gave this one a 7.5/10 (I have been enjoying her recent ones more than her earlier ones).
Mrs. Pollifax Pursued - To quote from my spreadsheet, "Mrs. Pollifax just seems a rather flat character after reading so many Agatha Raisin books." The book is by Dorothy Gilman and I gave it a 5/10.
Port Royal - This is the first in "The Buccaneers" series by Linda Chaikin. If you like Christian Spice (which I do), these books are for you.
The Pirate and His Lady - The second in "The Buccaneers" series. If you follow the link to the Amazon page, please ignore the cover art for these books.
Jamaican Sunset - The last book in "The Buccaneers" series. I gave these books a 9.1/10, 9.2/10, and 9/10, consecutively and I'm not ashamed to admit that. I found them to be both entertaining and uplifting. My comments from my spreadsheet: "loved this series; writing is very good, especially for a Christian author: she does her research very well as her settings are usually historical; also thumbs up for the bit of romance =)"
The Bachelor's Bargain - Another Christian Spice book by Catherine Palmer. I gave it a 8.9/10.
Anna Karenina - It may look like I was reading a lot of Christian Spice there for a while, but I was taking breaks from reading Anna Karenina, by Leo Tolstoy, which I found depressing. I did, however, give it a 7/10 and my comments were: "Every time I read a classic, I realize again how inadequate my rating system is. Most of the time I rank on pure enjoyment, but I can't really say I enjoyed this book (except the parts with AK, who I identified with, and that scared me), and I know I would probably appreciate it more with the proper studying of it, but I think a 7 rating shows a combination of the enjoyment factor as well as good literature factor (see ratings for 1984 and Little Women)."
The Secret Adversary - This is the first "Tommy and Tuppence" novel written by Agatha Christie. It was a very good mystery.
A Spoonful of Poison - Another "Agatha Raisin" novel, by M.C. Beaton, that I can't remember for the life of me. I gave it a 7.8/10, though, so I must have enjoyed it.
N or M? - Another good "Tommy and Tuppence" novel by Agatha Christie.
Postern of Fate - The final "Tommy and Tuppence" novel by Agatha Christie, which was surprisingly boring. I gave it a 4.2/10, as opposed to the 7's and 8's that the previous "Tommy and Tuppence" books received.
Agatha Raisin and the Terrible Tourist - Yet another M.C. Beaton book. I gave this one a 7.6/10, although looking back I think that was probably too generous.
The Skeleton in the Closet - Another M.C. Beaton... blah blah blah... 7.7/10.
Silk - First book in "The Heart of India" series by Linda Chaikin. Another excellent Christian Spice series.
Under Eastern Stars - Second book in "The Heart of India" series.
Kingscote - Final book in "The Heart of India" series.
Eldest - Second book in the "Inheritance" series by Christopher Paolini. I am really enjoying this series and gave this one a 9.2/10. My comments from my spreadsheet: "only gave it lower rating than Eragon because I found the parts with Roran to be a bit boring at times. Otherwise excellent and highly engaging."
It was good for me to write this list because I realized how few books are on here that I am actually proud of finishing. In fact, while many of these books were really good, entertaining, and/or worthwhile for other reasons, the only one I am proud of finishing is Anna Karenina. Now I know I have to set my standards higher this year. (That probably won't happen.)
If you have any questions regarding my list or would like further information about specific book, please feel free to email me or check out my "books I've read" spreadsheet for every book I've read since the summer of 2002 (when I first started it).
Hot Blog Posts of 2009!
Usually at the end of the year, I write a post listing five to six of my favorite posts that I've written over the past year. This year, however, has been such a full and exciting year for me, I have to list more! So take some time to re-read some of these, or read them for the first time. They are really quite entertaining.
Movie Review: Star Trek - A movie I didn't think I'd enjoy, but really did!
Happy Birthday to Me! - A letter that my grandfather wrote me on the day I was born.
Culture Shock, episode 3 - This still makes me laugh.
Book Review: The Wind in the Willows - A book I thought I'd enjoy, but didn't.
Charminar - A post full of videos to give you a taste of one of the biggest tourist attractions in Hyderabad.
Conversation at Charminar - This just strokes my ego.
Feel Free to Stare - Another that just makes me laugh.
Happy Birthday, America! - Things I don't want to take for granted again!
Culture Shock, final episode? - More things to get used to in India.
My Dent - Scary experience, but funny story!
it's getting longer... - Continuation of my short story.
it's getting longer...
This is a continuation of a short story written on this blog over two years ago. The girl had lived by herself for so long it was a hard adjustment once he had moved in. His lifestyle was so foreign to her, but she accepted him because she had loved him and longed for him since that fatal day. He had been on his own for so long, it was a hard adjustment for him living there. Her home was so distant from any other home that it made him feel lonely, even with her around. He loved the company of others, even if he was conning them in the process. But he couldn't leave her, now that they had found each other. It had to be a miracle, the way their paths had crossed. He had believed her dead, that he was all alone in the world, never knowing that family was just around the corner. But there had been more than family around the corner. It had occurred to him that she must be very wealthy, but did not know it. Now he stood to gain from finding her and being an heir himself. He knew he had to stay with her, because she would fall apart again if he left. But the longer he stayed, the more the sadness overtook him. He became morose and depressed even as she laughed and chattered all day long. She had even taken to visiting the town and talking with strangers, something she had never done before. He knew he was the reason for her happiness, but he continued to feel the urge to leave. One day he decided to wander around the forest, and, telling her he'd be back by nightfall, he left to explore. He fully intended to keep his word, because he cared for her more everyday, despite his misery. He walked for miles, away from the town's border. He knew if he went back to that town, he would not be welcome. He hadn't stolen from the villagers, per se, but he had made some promises he had never intended to keep. On and on he walked, away from her and the town. He didn't know what he expected to find, but soon he came across her house. No, it couldn't be her house, but it looked very similar. It was set in a large clearing and the evening sun shone on the leaves in just such a way to make it look like a painting. His heart beat fast in his chest at the thought of meeting new people. Perhaps even bringing her to meet them, too. He quickened his pace to the front door and nearly pounded it down in his excitement. But there was no answer. He waited, much longer than is customary to wait in these situations, pounding over and over. The sun was setting and he knew he should be getting back, which exasperated him. He had to know who lived here; it was a matter of his own sanity! So he grabbed the handle and pushed. It was unlocked, as he knew it would be. People who lived this far from the village never locked their doors. She never did because there were no other people around to keep out! His first step inside, he glanced inside and nearly fainted. There she was, happy as ever, smiling at him as if he had been expected. He looked around, confused. This was not the house he had left that morning. He had been walking away from her, away from the house, away from town. He had not circled back, he knew it. Besides that, though the house was similar, it was not the same. It was slightly larger and had different furnishings. She watched him gaze around the room. His confusion amused her. She didn't want to but she knew she must explain. So it was with a heavy heart that she told him what she had done with the money. She was letting him go, releasing him from his duties to her. She knew what it meant for her life and though she was saddened, she cared for him more. He had to leave for his sanity and just knowing he would occasionally come back to this house, his house, gave her some sanity, too. He loved her more than ever in that moment. His heart ached to leave her, but her solution seemed best. He had forgotten her inner depths that had realized what he was going through at her expense. He left minutes later, knowing he would be back, promising he would be back. But he would not come back alone. He had a mission, and he would fulfill it before returning here, before returning to her.
TV Shows I'm Watching
At the risk of getting the judgmental eye-roll from my father, I would like to share what TV shows that I'm currently watching. I am really only doing this because I feel the need to post on my blog, but also because I have 82 Google docs and have found that they make excellent blog fodder. Here are some examples if you don't believe me: my journal from India, books I've read, and my essay on To Kill a Mockingbird. And that's just to name a few! So here's my list of TV shows I'm currently watching, taken straight out of my Google doc of the same name (and please don't ask why I keep a doc of them).
Monday: How I Met Your Mother (lost some of its fun, IMO) Dancing with the Stars (believe it or not, my grandmother got me hooked this season!)
Tuesday: NCIS (highest rated show on TV and sooo good!) NCIS: Los Angeles (highest rated new show on TV, and it's pretty good!)
Lost (finally caught up!) more Dancing with the Stars (I fast-forward through most of it, just to see the results)
Wednesday: The New Adventures of Old Christine (gotten pretty stupid, might quit watching) Hank (if you read my Twitter, you know where I stand with this) Cougar Town (not nearly as funny as it claims to be) The Middle (very funny, especially for a new show) Modern Family (funniest new show, Ryan even watches it with me)
Thursday: The Office (still got it) 30 Rock (same) Community (very funny new show, yay, Joel McHale!) Parks and Recreation (I still find it funny, but it's Ryan's least favorite on Thursdays) Survivor (always takes some time to get into it, but always ends up being enjoyable) The Mentalist (one I watch with my parents, good crime/drama show!)
Friday:
Monk (last season! looking forward to solving Trudy's murder) Ugly Betty (just started and still seems good) Numb3rs (another I watch with my parents, interesting but not my favorite crime/drama)
Saturday:
Saturday Night Live (eh)
Sunday: Desperate Housewives (it's actually a very funny show)
We bought a house!
I am not going to tell you where or what it looks like because of all you stalkers and perverts out there. And if there's one thing I've learned from my mom about the internet, it's that it is full of perverts. So if I know you and love you, you will be getting an email with our address once we move in. As you know, I found searching for a house stressful. But I am learning that it is nothing to actually buying a house. And I can only assume buying a house is nothing compared to owning and maintaining a house! Why are we putting ourselves through this?! I shouldn't mislead you, though. I am more excited than nervous.
I'll keep you updated!
Fruit Tarts
IMG_5128
This morning I made Fruit Tarts for a luncheon my mom is putting on. They came out beautifully (and so yummy!), thanks to The Pioneer Woman's recipe!
IMG_5127
P.S. This post is going under the categories "truffles" and "unsweetened". Now you may think that these words don't apply to the above dessert, but if you read the definitions of my categories, all your confusion will be gone!
House Hunting is Hard.
My last several weeks have been all consumed with the house hunt. It has been tiring and endless. Although, if we weren't on a deadline, I might actually enjoy myself. But we are on a deadline so I'm just stressed. And what do I do when I'm stressed? I eat. And what do I eat? Chocolate. And what was the original point of this blog? The answer is here, but you should already know it! And so, to accomplish the original point of this blog, here I am writing a post on my frustrations instead of grabbing some M&Ms (which I'll probably do afterward anyway). The first house we put a bid on, we were very hopeful. It had been on the market for a while, was very beautiful, and was actually in our price range! But we soon discovered the owners had been somewhat dishonest. They had already accepted a bid and signed all the contracts a week or so earlier! And yet the listing was still active. This, as I have now learned, is a no-no in the real estate game.
The next house was a sweet little cape, and as much as I tried to keep my hopes from rising, they did anyway. But our bid was rejected and we found out later the same day that the owners received another bid and accepted it.
So here we are back at square one and feeling a little jaded. So why would I possibly enjoy myself if we weren't on a deadline? Other than the emotional ups-and-downs of the bid war, going into people's houses and examining every nook and cranny is kinda fun! It's amazing all you can learn about people from digging through their closets! (No, I don't dig around... I just look...)
Tomorrow we go out looking again. We are running out of neighboring towns to look in! But for now, I'm going to grab a handful of M&Ms.
My Dent
I had a massage recently, and the masseuse seemed to be quite uncertain about what I like to call my "dent" in my right thigh. Usually during massages, I comfort myself with the fact that these people have probably seen all kinds of bodies, so mine can't be much worse than the others. But I don't think she had ever before come across a mid-thigh dent. It got me thinking to what caused my dent and what a good story it would make for my blog. Let's begin by saying that 12 years old is too young for a boating license. So really, I blame the state of Connecticut for imposing this ridiculously lenient law. But I'm really not complaining. Aside from the occasional confusion of a masseuse, I rarely ever think of my dent. And I've had my boating license for 15 years now.
It was a sunny Saturday in mid-summer when my dad, cousin, and I attended the eight-hour long session that was (and still is) necessary to receive a boating license. Having passed the test at the end, we all were excited to drive my dad's brand-new jet ski down at the beach. But jet skis need motor oil, and when we realized ours' was nearly out of it, my dad put my cousin in charge (my cousin was a year older and never let me forget it) and left to buy some.
"Well, we have our boating licenses, so let's take this thing for a spin!" I don't know who made that fateful suggestion, but the other agreed to it! So my cousin hopped in the driver's seat, and I scooted up behind him and held on for dear life. He was driving so fast, with quick turns and the occasional 180 degree spin. I don't know if you've ever been on the back of a jet ski while someone else drove -and rather erratically at that! - but it's scary! So I closed my eyes to block it out and said nothing. After all, I could do anything a boy could do!
And then we stopped.
I opened my eyes and saw a huge sail boat motoring towards us. I don't know if my cousin thought the boat was stopping or if he thought he could beat it, but suddenly he hit the gas and we shot forward. Unfortunately, the boat didn't stop. And we didn't beat it. And that boat sailed right up onto my leg and sent me flying 20 feet off the jet ski.
I swam back to the jet ski. The owners of the boat reprimanded us, because we had been driving across the channel (a big no-no and something we had learned in our class earlier that day) and asked to see our boating licenses. We were humiliated and rather scared. We drove back to the beach, and while my cousin lamented the damage to the jet ski, I ran for my dad. When he found me, I was sobbing and limping, so of course he thought the worst. It was probably good for my cousin that he did expect the worst, because when he found my cousin safe and sound and saw the minor damage to the jet ski, he was only relieved.
Nearly my entire leg turned yellow, then black and blue, and swelled to nearly double its size. But the yellow, black and blue faded and the swelling receded. And all that was left was a dent. A dent the size of the bow of a huge sail boat.
Twitter is beating up my blog.
If you actually visit my blog (as opposed to reading it through your reader), you will know that I have started tweeting. And because of it, my blog has suffered. I really didn't think it would make a difference. But then I read an article (unfortunately, I cannot find it to link), the gist of which was that Twitter has made short, quick blog posts a thing of the past. I used to take a small idea, flesh it out a bit, and turn it into a whole blog post! But now I don't even have to put in all that work to get my idea out there.
For example, one of my Twitter posts yesterday was, "Pet peeve: someone correcting grammar in a library book...when it's in dialog!! Dialog doesn't have to be grammatically correct!!!" I could have turned this into a whole post about pet peeves or grammar or writing good dialog (which, I flatter myself, I do well). I probably could have even turned it into a series of posts on pet peeves or grammar or writing good dialog! For that matter, it could have become a new "Chocolate flavor" on pet peeves, or grammar, or writing good dialog.
But no, the lazy side of me enjoys Twitter for its simplicity and 140 character limit. And so soon after my 3-year bloggiversary (I don't think I coined that word), my blog suffers. I am committed to post here at least once a month, but for a while, I was posting several times a week! I'm afraid those days are gone. Perhaps they will resurface when I am back in a routine, but for now, look for me on Twitter. Or even just watch this blog for Twitter updates to the right.
Goodbye, Hyderabad
Today is my last day in Hyderabad, India. And while I am so excited to enter the next stage of my life back in the States, I will certainly miss some things about living here. So I want to take some time right now and remember some of my favorite things (a la The Sound of Music).
having my own bathroom (even though Ryan tried to poach it near the end)
bottled water delivered straight to our door for $2/50 liters.
days at the spa (for cheap!)
a wide variety of wonderful restaurants (for cheap!)
living here was something that made me interesting (am I revealing my inner insecurities?)
furniture made just how you like it (for relatively cheap!)
meeting people from all over the world
learning some Hindi (I hope I can continue learning!)
feeling like a celebrity (being stared at, people wanting my picture)
our beautiful, beautiful apartment (something I already miss, as we are staying in a hotel now)
our sweet driver (pic below with Ryan)
Ryan and Laxman
Of course, there are things I won't miss. But I prefer to remember the positives (in print, at least!). So goodbye, Hyderabad! It has been an amazing experience living here. I will always hold the city close to my heart.
Happy Anniversary to me...
...and my blog! July marks my three-year anniversary with my blog. This is quite an accomplishment for me. I start a lot of projects. Some of them I don't finish. OK, most of them I don't finish. But I've managed to keep this blog going for three years now, and to top it off, I have consistently posted at least once a month for nearly two years now. So I thought all this deserved a celebratory post. And here it is.
Yay me!