I'm moving forward with Becky to get us more organized. With me working from home, I have to be and, we as a couple have been in an organizational torpor for too long.
(There, I used a two dollar word that I've only seen used on vampires before)
Key to this plan are action lists. I'm creating excel grids for every day of the week with checkmarkable things like feed/water dog 1 and feedwater dog 2. clean litterbox, light vacuum, light pickup, dish roundup, take meds, etc. These may seem to be elementary items, but even my top one - showerbrushteethshave (newspeak?) - was one that I wouldn't always do until I was rusing around. I mean, if you can do your work from home and don't have to shave and could get by with a quick bath, you might skimp to. I thought it was all about not having to see anyone. Really, it's all about feeling the part of being professional. Who knew.
I organized Beck's closet yesterday. The first time I did this, I thought she'd want me dead. Instead, she was thrilled. What an awesome wife I've got.
One of the reasons I bring up the whole organizational thing is to explain why we havent posted in so long. Things have been a bit out of whack, but we're really trying.
Steve
Saturday, December 18, 2004
Monday, December 13, 2004
If only this were true...
The trip to the Red River Gorge is a go! - $35 per person for two days at a beautiful cabin in the hills of KY!!
Eight of us (so far) have made reservations to rent a Cabin at the Red River Gorge (about 2.5 hours south of Cincinnati in the hills of KY) for the weekend of Jan. 15, Martin Luther King Day Weekend
WHO
So far Becky, Steve, Adam, Laura, Kajy, Quintina, Alanna and Gideon are committed to staying two days
DETAILS on CROWS NEST CABIN - PICTURES!
http://sceniccabin.com/crows-nest.phtml
ACCOMODATIONS AND COST
Basically, there's six bedrooms and sleeping for a dozen and, at a rate of about $300 for the weekend, it works out to be about $35 per person (though this will go lower if we get more people)plus gas, food and drinks.
WHEN
January 15-17
We're talking about heading down on Saturday 1/15 and coming back
Monday 1/17 (MLK day many folks have this off work) We could carpool or drive seperately. CARPOOLS WILL BE AVAILABLE! Some folks could come down later. Whatever.
If you want to come, let us know soon! We have space for only 4 or 5 more folks.
Steve and Becky Novotni
Steve and Becky Novotni
1746 Mills Ave. | Norwood, OH 45212
Tel/Fax: 513.841.9729 | Yahoo IM: xraymagazine
http://www.goxray.com | steve@goxray.com
Blog: http://www.beckyandsteve.com
Wednesday, December 01, 2004
Aaron Klinefelter's Homily (from our wedding)
Marriage Does Something To You
by Aaron Klinefelter, our friend
Steve and Becky, I am so blessed to participate in this special day. Your relationship has and will bless so many. Those who gather here today are a testimony to that. I know that this day has likely been blur thus far, so I want you to take a minute and turn aroundÖ look out at your family and friends who are here to celebrate and bless you.
In fact, here, since this day, and even this moment, may be seem fuzzy after the fact I brought my digital camera so you could take a few pics of all these people, go ahead snap a few shots, I want to take just a few minutes and share some thoughts with you about marriage. The craziness of this day is, Iím sure, overwhelming. And I’m pretty convinced that that is not only due to the myriad of details and emotions that have been running through your mind and heart. I think weddings are overwhelming for another reason. Whether a wedding is simple or elaborate, inexpensive or “break the bank”, I think that something powerful happens, and is happening right now, at a wedding. This is because marriage is more than an agreement between two romantically inclined lovers, it is even more than a means of procreation.
Marriage does something to you.
I’m not exactly sure how to explain it, but it changes things. And Iím not really talking about external things, the stuff that people can see. It’s the change inside and it happens very slowly over time. When two people enter into this covenant of marriage ñ and I use that word ìcovenantî very deliberately and especially when it is entered into with God as a participant, lives are altered, grace is bestowed, and people notice.
You see, marriage is one of those means of grace that God uses like a furnace to form you into who he is creating you to be. This covenant that you share with one another is a beacon of light, proclaiming by symbol and action that peace is possible. Divisiveness is not our only recourse it may be the hardest thing you ever do, but it may also be the most holy.
I know Steve and Becky have a huge place in their hearts for the marginalized, disenfranchised, and the poor. And I know that their life together has and will address those pressing needs. But I think that on an even deeper level, the simple reality of their union is a testament to God’s transforming power. Their marriage is a testimony to unity in a fragmented world. In time when our society is in flux and unstable, marriage shows up in stark contrast.
And I think that’s pretty much what God has mind for marriage. It shows the world a glimpse into God’s Kingdom. That is not say that there won’t be times of difficulty, discord, or pain there certainly will ñ but when that happens you move together toward reconciliation. When you hurt each other, you choose to forgive. Surely this is a lesson that our world needs hear ñ and marriage is the prophetic lived-symbol of that learning.
But let me be clear to whatever extent that marriage is a testimony God’s reconciliation in the world, it remains such NOT because we chose it to be. As much as we enact our marriages, we are acted upon through them as well. God uses marriage to make us holy. I’m not sure how that sounds. Does that resonate with you? Or repulse you? Perhaps it just seems sort of odd? And, in fact, it is.
It is quite odd indeed, to say that the God of the universe the Alpha, Omega, beginning and end, the creator of all that we see chooses to use an imperfect person in an imperfect relationship set in an imperfect world in order to make us more like him. And yet, I think it is true. If we are to be God’s ambassadors of reconciliation bringing sight to the blind, release to the captive, food to the hungry, rest to the weary ñ then God has to change us. And even more basically, if we are to truly love our spouse in the way Leslie read in the scripture earlier we need help. We need God to enter into our messy, self-consumed lives and awaken us. If we are to be intimate and vulnerable with our spouse, we need God to remove those walls that separate us. You can’t do it alone. God uses marriage to do this transforming work.
I think that a story probably best communicates this process. In C.S. Lewis’ Chronicles of Narnia we meet the boy Eustace. He and his friends witness the death of a dragon, upon which Eustace discovers the dragon’s treasure. This new found wealth consumes him with greed and he becomes a dragon himself. I suppose this would be fine if he was meant to be a dragon, but it is not who he is created to be. The pain and loneliness that this causes is overwhelming and he longs to be set free. Then something happens, it seems like a dream and yet it is real. We hear Eustace telling his friend Edmund that he met a lion who lead him to a well of water. The lion asks him to undress so he can enter the water.
(read story)
I think that this is what marriage is like. The Lion Aslan Christ must peel away those yucky, sinful, restrictive layers so that we can be the boys and girls that he has created us to be. He uses marriage like a claw that frees us from our skin and allows us to truly love one another.
And it is by this redemptive work that our marriages become signposts for the Kingdom of God in a misdirected world.
My prayer for you, Steve and Becky, is that you will allow Christ to peel away everything that separates you from one another and him. In this you will find true freedom, the ability to love one another even more deeply than you do right now, and much peace. May God bless you abundantly and bring you deep and abiding joy. Amen.
==================
At this time Steve and Becky will exchange their vows, which they have each written, and rings.
==================
Iíd like to invite Steve and Becky’s house church and anyone who would like to offer prayers of blessing for their marriage to come gather around them. While some of us pray for them here, Adam and Laura will take two small lanterns to the back. Please pass the lanterns from person to person so that they make their way up to the front, ending with Steve and Becky’s moms. These flames represent Steve and Becky’s marriage and as you pass them along it is a symbol of your role in helping them care for that flame. And donít worry, if the candle goes out, simply re-light it and keep passing.
Please join me in celebrating the marriage of Steve and Becky Novotni.
With much joy, I present to you Steve and Becky Novotni
by Aaron Klinefelter, our friend
Steve and Becky, I am so blessed to participate in this special day. Your relationship has and will bless so many. Those who gather here today are a testimony to that. I know that this day has likely been blur thus far, so I want you to take a minute and turn aroundÖ look out at your family and friends who are here to celebrate and bless you.
In fact, here, since this day, and even this moment, may be seem fuzzy after the fact I brought my digital camera so you could take a few pics of all these people, go ahead snap a few shots, I want to take just a few minutes and share some thoughts with you about marriage. The craziness of this day is, Iím sure, overwhelming. And I’m pretty convinced that that is not only due to the myriad of details and emotions that have been running through your mind and heart. I think weddings are overwhelming for another reason. Whether a wedding is simple or elaborate, inexpensive or “break the bank”, I think that something powerful happens, and is happening right now, at a wedding. This is because marriage is more than an agreement between two romantically inclined lovers, it is even more than a means of procreation.
Marriage does something to you.
I’m not exactly sure how to explain it, but it changes things. And Iím not really talking about external things, the stuff that people can see. It’s the change inside and it happens very slowly over time. When two people enter into this covenant of marriage ñ and I use that word ìcovenantî very deliberately and especially when it is entered into with God as a participant, lives are altered, grace is bestowed, and people notice.
You see, marriage is one of those means of grace that God uses like a furnace to form you into who he is creating you to be. This covenant that you share with one another is a beacon of light, proclaiming by symbol and action that peace is possible. Divisiveness is not our only recourse it may be the hardest thing you ever do, but it may also be the most holy.
I know Steve and Becky have a huge place in their hearts for the marginalized, disenfranchised, and the poor. And I know that their life together has and will address those pressing needs. But I think that on an even deeper level, the simple reality of their union is a testament to God’s transforming power. Their marriage is a testimony to unity in a fragmented world. In time when our society is in flux and unstable, marriage shows up in stark contrast.
And I think that’s pretty much what God has mind for marriage. It shows the world a glimpse into God’s Kingdom. That is not say that there won’t be times of difficulty, discord, or pain there certainly will ñ but when that happens you move together toward reconciliation. When you hurt each other, you choose to forgive. Surely this is a lesson that our world needs hear ñ and marriage is the prophetic lived-symbol of that learning.
But let me be clear to whatever extent that marriage is a testimony God’s reconciliation in the world, it remains such NOT because we chose it to be. As much as we enact our marriages, we are acted upon through them as well. God uses marriage to make us holy. I’m not sure how that sounds. Does that resonate with you? Or repulse you? Perhaps it just seems sort of odd? And, in fact, it is.
It is quite odd indeed, to say that the God of the universe the Alpha, Omega, beginning and end, the creator of all that we see chooses to use an imperfect person in an imperfect relationship set in an imperfect world in order to make us more like him. And yet, I think it is true. If we are to be God’s ambassadors of reconciliation bringing sight to the blind, release to the captive, food to the hungry, rest to the weary ñ then God has to change us. And even more basically, if we are to truly love our spouse in the way Leslie read in the scripture earlier we need help. We need God to enter into our messy, self-consumed lives and awaken us. If we are to be intimate and vulnerable with our spouse, we need God to remove those walls that separate us. You can’t do it alone. God uses marriage to do this transforming work.
I think that a story probably best communicates this process. In C.S. Lewis’ Chronicles of Narnia we meet the boy Eustace. He and his friends witness the death of a dragon, upon which Eustace discovers the dragon’s treasure. This new found wealth consumes him with greed and he becomes a dragon himself. I suppose this would be fine if he was meant to be a dragon, but it is not who he is created to be. The pain and loneliness that this causes is overwhelming and he longs to be set free. Then something happens, it seems like a dream and yet it is real. We hear Eustace telling his friend Edmund that he met a lion who lead him to a well of water. The lion asks him to undress so he can enter the water.
(read story)
I think that this is what marriage is like. The Lion Aslan Christ must peel away those yucky, sinful, restrictive layers so that we can be the boys and girls that he has created us to be. He uses marriage like a claw that frees us from our skin and allows us to truly love one another.
And it is by this redemptive work that our marriages become signposts for the Kingdom of God in a misdirected world.
My prayer for you, Steve and Becky, is that you will allow Christ to peel away everything that separates you from one another and him. In this you will find true freedom, the ability to love one another even more deeply than you do right now, and much peace. May God bless you abundantly and bring you deep and abiding joy. Amen.
==================
At this time Steve and Becky will exchange their vows, which they have each written, and rings.
==================
Iíd like to invite Steve and Becky’s house church and anyone who would like to offer prayers of blessing for their marriage to come gather around them. While some of us pray for them here, Adam and Laura will take two small lanterns to the back. Please pass the lanterns from person to person so that they make their way up to the front, ending with Steve and Becky’s moms. These flames represent Steve and Becky’s marriage and as you pass them along it is a symbol of your role in helping them care for that flame. And donít worry, if the candle goes out, simply re-light it and keep passing.
Please join me in celebrating the marriage of Steve and Becky Novotni.
With much joy, I present to you Steve and Becky Novotni
Wednesday, October 06, 2004
We're back!
It’s almost six in the morning on Monday and I’ve put this off long enough. I thought I’d be saying something like, “I felt I needed to write this before I returned to my normal life,” but the truth is, I’m not – we’re not going back. I do need to write this while it’s fresh in my memory, though. There is some validity to that.
Ghost is here with me. He’s my White German Shepherd, btw, and one big baby who needs a lot of love from his master who’s been absent a week. Ghost is laying at my feet now. He seems a lot calmer after spending a week with my dad. (thank you, dad!) I feel a lot calmer after spending a week exploring with my wife.
There are a lot of stories I have to tell about our wedding; there’s the 12am-3am bolo toss my best man Jason and I did on the morning of the wedding to get that drapery up over the event. There’s all the work and love and friends that worked so hard at making it happen. We were overwhelmed by gifts of time and labor and money and stuff and food and all the myriad everything that went into our wedding day. There was how awesome everyone looked and all that they had to say – for some things, like Aaron Klinefelter’s homily, there’s a transcript I’ll be able to get. For many others, their words were as ephemeral as the last warm day of summer we had for the celebration. There was the drag queen, the decorations, my dad crying, my mom, Beck’s mom and dad and my grandma crying, there was me crying (!) and the wonderful food and wine and the gifts…there is so much to say about the wedding! So many stories that will reach your ears an so many that won’t. The honeymoon – The five breakdowns and kind strangers on the road, god’s presence along the way, my brother and sister-in-law’s place in Mississippi and the cop who thought we were trafficking crystal meth, our neice and nephew, the long, sometimes crabby drive to Cumberland Island, Julie Gross’s awesome tent we borrowed, the deserted beach and the armadillo (and dozens of other animals we saw) the dinner on the island and our new friends from northern GA. The trip to the Okeefenokee Swamp and our guide, Omar, the big hotel room and how great the hot tub felt after camping in the wilderness, the dinner at Bogden’s (sp?) Creek in St Mary’s, the headlight that went out and the hitchhikers we picked up, the barnstorming plane and the abandoned slave houses in Georgia. The drive home at 4am! (so tired) Ghost’s tail and wiggling butt when he saw us come up the drive and breakfast with Kenny Oster on his 36th birthday after we snoozed a little while.
Ahem.
These things are all parts of the story we’ll slowly be telling you over the course of (I imagine) the next few weeks. But what I really want to tell you about now is the feeling, the emotion, the spiritual closeness to my wife and god that I felt in the last week. That’s the thing, more precious than the memories, that I want to hold onto. I want to keep a little fragment of these blessings bottled away in a mason jar like the sand I took from the island. I want it to remind me in hard times that I and we are loved in infinite ways beyond description.
I shook with exhaustion and emotional overload when I stood up there with Becky on that day. Since then, god removed the cause, but not the symptom. I’m still shaking in awe on this morning. And Ghost, Tony and Angel (dog and two cats) are glad we’re home.
Steve Novotni
October 4, 2004
Ghost is here with me. He’s my White German Shepherd, btw, and one big baby who needs a lot of love from his master who’s been absent a week. Ghost is laying at my feet now. He seems a lot calmer after spending a week with my dad. (thank you, dad!) I feel a lot calmer after spending a week exploring with my wife.
There are a lot of stories I have to tell about our wedding; there’s the 12am-3am bolo toss my best man Jason and I did on the morning of the wedding to get that drapery up over the event. There’s all the work and love and friends that worked so hard at making it happen. We were overwhelmed by gifts of time and labor and money and stuff and food and all the myriad everything that went into our wedding day. There was how awesome everyone looked and all that they had to say – for some things, like Aaron Klinefelter’s homily, there’s a transcript I’ll be able to get. For many others, their words were as ephemeral as the last warm day of summer we had for the celebration. There was the drag queen, the decorations, my dad crying, my mom, Beck’s mom and dad and my grandma crying, there was me crying (!) and the wonderful food and wine and the gifts…there is so much to say about the wedding! So many stories that will reach your ears an so many that won’t. The honeymoon – The five breakdowns and kind strangers on the road, god’s presence along the way, my brother and sister-in-law’s place in Mississippi and the cop who thought we were trafficking crystal meth, our neice and nephew, the long, sometimes crabby drive to Cumberland Island, Julie Gross’s awesome tent we borrowed, the deserted beach and the armadillo (and dozens of other animals we saw) the dinner on the island and our new friends from northern GA. The trip to the Okeefenokee Swamp and our guide, Omar, the big hotel room and how great the hot tub felt after camping in the wilderness, the dinner at Bogden’s (sp?) Creek in St Mary’s, the headlight that went out and the hitchhikers we picked up, the barnstorming plane and the abandoned slave houses in Georgia. The drive home at 4am! (so tired) Ghost’s tail and wiggling butt when he saw us come up the drive and breakfast with Kenny Oster on his 36th birthday after we snoozed a little while.
Ahem.
These things are all parts of the story we’ll slowly be telling you over the course of (I imagine) the next few weeks. But what I really want to tell you about now is the feeling, the emotion, the spiritual closeness to my wife and god that I felt in the last week. That’s the thing, more precious than the memories, that I want to hold onto. I want to keep a little fragment of these blessings bottled away in a mason jar like the sand I took from the island. I want it to remind me in hard times that I and we are loved in infinite ways beyond description.
I shook with exhaustion and emotional overload when I stood up there with Becky on that day. Since then, god removed the cause, but not the symptom. I’m still shaking in awe on this morning. And Ghost, Tony and Angel (dog and two cats) are glad we’re home.
Steve Novotni
October 4, 2004
Saturday, September 25, 2004
Dig it: See our wedding LIVE VIDEO RIGHT NOW!!!!
See our wedding live right now in one of two ways:
lower quality, now download
1) go to http://www.webcamnow.com
- Click on "VIEW WEBCAMS" - its the top left link
- A pop up window opens...
- Click of "Friends and Family - general area"
- Click on "beckysteve" from the available cams.
better quality, but you need yahoo i messenger
- satr up yahoo im and find us online "xraymagazine" is our name.
- ask to chat and someone will hook you up
Steve
lower quality, now download
1) go to http://www.webcamnow.com
- Click on "VIEW WEBCAMS" - its the top left link
- A pop up window opens...
- Click of "Friends and Family - general area"
- Click on "beckysteve" from the available cams.
better quality, but you need yahoo i messenger
- satr up yahoo im and find us online "xraymagazine" is our name.
- ask to chat and someone will hook you up
Steve
Monday, September 20, 2004
Five days to go
Almost there and we have a ton to do.
WEB CAMS AND LIVE FOOTAGE SATURDAY
I'm working to overcome some technical problems I've had with getting my cam to work with our server. The fallback plan will be having folks connect to our cam using Yahoo Messenger - not ideal since someone will have to be on hand to accept the connection and since you'll have to have YahooIM to see the wedding.
Please give me some feedback on this idea. We're working on making it all a go with just the web site.
ICE
Would anyone be willing to pick up ice on the day of the wedding?
WEATHER
It looks like all will be clear on Saturday for the wedding. Thumbs up!
Steve
WEB CAMS AND LIVE FOOTAGE SATURDAY
I'm working to overcome some technical problems I've had with getting my cam to work with our server. The fallback plan will be having folks connect to our cam using Yahoo Messenger - not ideal since someone will have to be on hand to accept the connection and since you'll have to have YahooIM to see the wedding.
Please give me some feedback on this idea. We're working on making it all a go with just the web site.
ICE
Would anyone be willing to pick up ice on the day of the wedding?
WEATHER
It looks like all will be clear on Saturday for the wedding. Thumbs up!
Steve
Tuesday, September 14, 2004
Tennessee Tuxedo
I have to say that I'm a little disappointed with my tuxedo rental experience.
The place we went to advertises $69 tuxes. I've seen them for less, butthey said they were quick and that's what I needed. (johnny come lately)
I went with the double breasted mafia style outfit pictured here:
img src="http://www.saxonuniform.com/tux/tuxpix/DBTUX.jpg" width=85 height=200 border="1">
Then they tell us the shoes are $20 extra. Okay. That's a lot for 3 days worth of shoes, but I guess I'll have to deal with it. Then I'm told $8 to ship the tux to the shop (!) and $3 to insure it (!!) This means my $69 tux is now $105! I would have walked if not for a few things:
- Kenny Oster, Jim (Beck's dad) and Joe (Beck's brother) were all with me.
- I need a tux in 11 days
I have to say I feel a bit screwed by deceptive tactics on the part of this store. Oh well, what can I say, we needed the suits - quickly.
This reminds me a little of how Beck and I were screwed with by Home Depot last year. See, we were buying our first home and I said I wanted an appliance we had never had - a dishwasher. There was a particular GE portable at HD for about $300 - this is a pretty good deal for a portable. I tell the guy that we'll take it and he says it'll be three weeks and $90 for delivery.
I can understand this, they need to have stock in the store, but I tell him to call me when it gets in and I'll pick it up. I don't need delivery.
"Oh, it'll still cost $90," he says. "That's the fee to deliver the unit from our store in Lexington."
I insist that I don't need it delivered and he insists that the delivery fee is not optional. Whether I pick it up or they drop it at my door there's still a $90 fee for them to stock their own store (!!!) Then the guy tells me there's no way I can fit the dishwasher in my car when I know that I can.
The place we went to advertises $69 tuxes. I've seen them for less, butthey said they were quick and that's what I needed. (johnny come lately)
I went with the double breasted mafia style outfit pictured here:
img src="http://www.saxonuniform.com/tux/tuxpix/DBTUX.jpg" width=85 height=200 border="1">
Then they tell us the shoes are $20 extra. Okay. That's a lot for 3 days worth of shoes, but I guess I'll have to deal with it. Then I'm told $8 to ship the tux to the shop (!) and $3 to insure it (!!) This means my $69 tux is now $105! I would have walked if not for a few things:
- Kenny Oster, Jim (Beck's dad) and Joe (Beck's brother) were all with me.
- I need a tux in 11 days
I have to say I feel a bit screwed by deceptive tactics on the part of this store. Oh well, what can I say, we needed the suits - quickly.
This reminds me a little of how Beck and I were screwed with by Home Depot last year. See, we were buying our first home and I said I wanted an appliance we had never had - a dishwasher. There was a particular GE portable at HD for about $300 - this is a pretty good deal for a portable. I tell the guy that we'll take it and he says it'll be three weeks and $90 for delivery.
I can understand this, they need to have stock in the store, but I tell him to call me when it gets in and I'll pick it up. I don't need delivery.
"Oh, it'll still cost $90," he says. "That's the fee to deliver the unit from our store in Lexington."
I insist that I don't need it delivered and he insists that the delivery fee is not optional. Whether I pick it up or they drop it at my door there's still a $90 fee for them to stock their own store (!!!) Then the guy tells me there's no way I can fit the dishwasher in my car when I know that I can.
Monday, September 13, 2004
12 days and counting
This has been a very busy week!
The plans for the wedding are still coming together, though Beck and I are feeling the heat. Here's some stuff we've completed:
- I've got my ring. It's 100 years old and from Prague. It was my Great Grandfathers and my Grandma gave it to me. I had it resized and I'm picking it up today. We'll try and post pictures of our rings this week.
- Becky and Laura have drafted a day of the wedding schedule for Becky. I heard a bit of it and it's rather complex. Mine is less so. Get my hair fized up, dress and be there. I may be missing something, though...
- 9.11 illustrated is done. 8 films, 40+ people attended. It went pretty well and I think it beat the hell out of just lighting candles for the victims. FYI - I highly recommend the Naudet brothers' film 9/11. It was shot on the scene of WTC 2 in the lobby after the first plane hit. It's the best coverage you'll see of the event. Outfoxed, chronicling the lies and misdeeds of Fox news, was pretty damn good to.
- I built a fence for our dog, Ghost. It's chain link and I put in one side and a gate. I used no concrete and tied in the panels to neighboring fences. The fence was free via http://www.communitypress.com classifieds. I took it down from a person's house in 45 minutes ( 72 feet! But I had a lot of energy to burn) Put it up in a total of about 6 hours. The gate was something I had to purchase. Total cost was $60. Not bad!
- I quit my job at Saab. Last day is Oct. 9. I am officially looking and in the market for something. Let me know if you know of anything. (I need a job when I get back!)
- Becky and I have put together a checklist of all the stuff we've got left to do. We also made a list of what we have to pack for the honeymoon. We did this over breakfast - long and lazy - at Sugar'n'Spice on Reading Rd., which I highly recommend.
More later.
Steve
The plans for the wedding are still coming together, though Beck and I are feeling the heat. Here's some stuff we've completed:
- I've got my ring. It's 100 years old and from Prague. It was my Great Grandfathers and my Grandma gave it to me. I had it resized and I'm picking it up today. We'll try and post pictures of our rings this week.
- Becky and Laura have drafted a day of the wedding schedule for Becky. I heard a bit of it and it's rather complex. Mine is less so. Get my hair fized up, dress and be there. I may be missing something, though...
- 9.11 illustrated is done. 8 films, 40+ people attended. It went pretty well and I think it beat the hell out of just lighting candles for the victims. FYI - I highly recommend the Naudet brothers' film 9/11. It was shot on the scene of WTC 2 in the lobby after the first plane hit. It's the best coverage you'll see of the event. Outfoxed, chronicling the lies and misdeeds of Fox news, was pretty damn good to.
- I built a fence for our dog, Ghost. It's chain link and I put in one side and a gate. I used no concrete and tied in the panels to neighboring fences. The fence was free via http://www.communitypress.com classifieds. I took it down from a person's house in 45 minutes ( 72 feet! But I had a lot of energy to burn) Put it up in a total of about 6 hours. The gate was something I had to purchase. Total cost was $60. Not bad!
- I quit my job at Saab. Last day is Oct. 9. I am officially looking and in the market for something. Let me know if you know of anything. (I need a job when I get back!)
- Becky and I have put together a checklist of all the stuff we've got left to do. We also made a list of what we have to pack for the honeymoon. We did this over breakfast - long and lazy - at Sugar'n'Spice on Reading Rd., which I highly recommend.
More later.
Steve
Saturday, September 04, 2004
Three weeks and counting
A short 21 days 'til the big day. Here's some updates:
WEDDING NEWS
Becky's Bachelorette party was last night, Friday, Sept. 3. About 15 of her friends showed up. Beck's friend Laura Bosse had a fun time embarrassing her. I'll let Beck tell you about the details, but I'll tell you it was both raunchy and sweet (from what I hear) I gave Laura a bunch of personal info to use against Beck and there was a game where everyone shared a memory about Becky. She said she was really touched by the nice things people had to say. I know she felt and feels really loved. I just heard about all this stuff, btw, I was chased out of the house and ended up sleeping on the couch at the Brown House (that's the old rectory across the street where many friends live.
NOTABLE LOVED ONES OF THE DAY
Laura Bosse - for all the care, energy and time she put into making the Bachelorette party a success. I know she spent probably 8-10 hours to make that happen. Thanks, Laura!
John Wayne Klink, Steve's Dad - Dad's been really helpful and caring and has been a great person to complain to when we've been in the thick of all the madness that is planning a wedding. Dad also had two pets, his dogs, die recently. He really loved those animals. Please keep him in your prayers and thoughts.
OTHER NEWS
Steve's project, 911i, is a go!
See the day we'll never forget through a prism of different viewpoints. Nine films and two performance pieces make up 911 Illustrated, scheduled for Saturday, September 11 at the Mockbee Gallery on Central Parkway at Brighton - directions at http://www.themockbee.org
The films run from 1pm to 1:30am
Admission is a suggested $3.00 donation to the Independent Media Network. Full event details at http://www.indynet.org
WEDDING NEWS
Becky's Bachelorette party was last night, Friday, Sept. 3. About 15 of her friends showed up. Beck's friend Laura Bosse had a fun time embarrassing her. I'll let Beck tell you about the details, but I'll tell you it was both raunchy and sweet (from what I hear) I gave Laura a bunch of personal info to use against Beck and there was a game where everyone shared a memory about Becky. She said she was really touched by the nice things people had to say. I know she felt and feels really loved. I just heard about all this stuff, btw, I was chased out of the house and ended up sleeping on the couch at the Brown House (that's the old rectory across the street where many friends live.
NOTABLE LOVED ONES OF THE DAY
Laura Bosse - for all the care, energy and time she put into making the Bachelorette party a success. I know she spent probably 8-10 hours to make that happen. Thanks, Laura!
John Wayne Klink, Steve's Dad - Dad's been really helpful and caring and has been a great person to complain to when we've been in the thick of all the madness that is planning a wedding. Dad also had two pets, his dogs, die recently. He really loved those animals. Please keep him in your prayers and thoughts.
OTHER NEWS
Steve's project, 911i, is a go!
See the day we'll never forget through a prism of different viewpoints. Nine films and two performance pieces make up 911 Illustrated, scheduled for Saturday, September 11 at the Mockbee Gallery on Central Parkway at Brighton - directions at http://www.themockbee.org
The films run from 1pm to 1:30am
Admission is a suggested $3.00 donation to the Independent Media Network. Full event details at http://www.indynet.org
Wednesday, September 01, 2004
Honeymoon Getaway
Kickin'. I found a honeymoon getaway that is:
1)Remote - we can get away from all technology and people
2)Warm - Weather in the 50's to mid 80's
3)Breathtakingly beautiful - Wow.
4)Cheap - Once we get ourselves there, we're talking about $300 for the week including food.
This picture is from somebody else's vacation there. I'm keeping this a secret from Becky 'til we get there. (I've told her it's a secret and she's on her honor not to peek.)
So here's the links if you want to know more -
DON'T TELL BECKY! AND BECKY, DON'T LOOK!
What we're doing
The main page for this thing
A really nice description of this place.
Someone else's photos of this thing
Steve
Tuesday, August 31, 2004
Sychronicity
Okay, so today I'm talking with Gina Gartner, Independent Media Network Committee Member, and she says okay to the changed date of the ime and 911i.
I spoke with Chris Daniel of the Mockbee prior to my conversation with Gina and he told me two dates were available - the weekend of Saturday the 23rd or Saturday the 30th - Halloween. I said, "Yeah, the 23rd, then. The 30th would just be inappropriate for a 911 themed event."
Later, Gina said to me that was too bad. Her group, The League of Pissed Off Voters, really wanted to do a voter drive on that weekend - also the last weekend before the election. But what about the bad taste thing, I said. What would we have, the Twin Towers of Fear Haunted House?? But then again, what if we changed the theme. Maybe, yeah...
Dig it: Hamilton County, seat of the Repub. stronghold (stranglehold) core of conservative support. So goes Ohio, so goes the election. Last weekend before the election.. 911 Illustrated. The Independent Media Expo. Not in flow for 9/11, but damn, what we could do on 10/30...
From Star Trek Next Gen, Episode 19, Yesterday's Enterprise:
Picard bites the bullet and wisely sides with Guinan:
Picard: "....The war is going very badly for the Federation, far worse than is generally known. Starfleet Command believes that defeat is inevitable. Within six months we may have no choice but to surrender."
Garrett: "Are you saying that all this maybe a result of our arrival here?!"
Picard: "One more ship will make no difference in the here and now, but twenty two years ago one ship could've stopped this war before it started."
Hell yes. Let's break the back of those NeoCons.
- Cap'n Steve
I spoke with Chris Daniel of the Mockbee prior to my conversation with Gina and he told me two dates were available - the weekend of Saturday the 23rd or Saturday the 30th - Halloween. I said, "Yeah, the 23rd, then. The 30th would just be inappropriate for a 911 themed event."
Later, Gina said to me that was too bad. Her group, The League of Pissed Off Voters, really wanted to do a voter drive on that weekend - also the last weekend before the election. But what about the bad taste thing, I said. What would we have, the Twin Towers of Fear Haunted House?? But then again, what if we changed the theme. Maybe, yeah...
Dig it: Hamilton County, seat of the Repub. stronghold (stranglehold) core of conservative support. So goes Ohio, so goes the election. Last weekend before the election.. 911 Illustrated. The Independent Media Expo. Not in flow for 9/11, but damn, what we could do on 10/30...
From Star Trek Next Gen, Episode 19, Yesterday's Enterprise:
Picard bites the bullet and wisely sides with Guinan:
Picard: "....The war is going very badly for the Federation, far worse than is generally known. Starfleet Command believes that defeat is inevitable. Within six months we may have no choice but to surrender."
Garrett: "Are you saying that all this maybe a result of our arrival here?!"
Picard: "One more ship will make no difference in the here and now, but twenty two years ago one ship could've stopped this war before it started."
Hell yes. Let's break the back of those NeoCons.
- Cap'n Steve
Monday, August 30, 2004
Something had to give
Well, it was all a little too much for me. As you'll read, I've asked the team of local media folks I've been working with to postpone our annual events, 9.11 Illustrated and the Independent Media Expo. You can read about these at http://www.indynet.org
Sometimes you have to make tough choices.
- Steve
August 30, 2004,
Dear ime2004 Committee Members,
Six months ago when we first began planning 9.11 Illustrated and the Independent Media Expo, September 11 seemed like the ideal day for the events. It was historically significant, far enough in the future for the planning to be imaginable and, of personal importance to me, was to be two months * after * my wedding, ensuring me that there would be no conflict between these events ; one close to my heart and the other a part of my professional vision for the media projects I have made central to my life’s work.
Things changed in mid-July when our wedding date was pushed back to Sept. 25. Suffice to say that there were time conflicts with the usage of the reception space, minister availability and other issues that made that date the best fit for us in order for us to be married this year. This was very important to me and my fiancé, despite the obvious conflict with 911i and the ime.
Things have proven more difficult than I believed and I have found that I am being overwhelmed by the combination of projects and personal issues I am facing. On this day, 12 days before the Expo is supposed to start, we only have eight of 16 films we planned to show, the speakers able to make the Expo are fewer than expected – at this point no one from CityBeat, the Herald and a number of other outlets have confirmed that they can come – and our band lineup for the Saturday night show is questionable. I also feel that promotion for the event – key to getting folks to come – has been soft.
What I’m saying is that, rather than run with the event as planned and have it fail on a number of levels, I think we should push it back to the end of October. I believe the Mockbee (location of the event) has a weekend open before the election (though I’ve CC’d Carissa and Chris of the Mockbee)this letter to find out) and if they do I think it would be wise to take more time and make this event the best it can be.Also, as we have already promoted the events and CityBeat ran a promotional on the weekend in their current CityLights section, I think it would be wise to move forward with a truncated film event using the films we have in hand – online at http://www.indynet.org
We could show the films on Saturday afternoon through the night as a simple and dignified memorial.I apologize for the poor timing on my part. I have tried and am still doing my best to make this something we can all be proud of and an event that will inspire others to do good works. I look forward to hearing your thoughts on this matter.
Sincerely,Stephen Novotni, IMN Coordinator
Sometimes you have to make tough choices.
- Steve
August 30, 2004,
Dear ime2004 Committee Members,
Six months ago when we first began planning 9.11 Illustrated and the Independent Media Expo, September 11 seemed like the ideal day for the events. It was historically significant, far enough in the future for the planning to be imaginable and, of personal importance to me, was to be two months * after * my wedding, ensuring me that there would be no conflict between these events ; one close to my heart and the other a part of my professional vision for the media projects I have made central to my life’s work.
Things changed in mid-July when our wedding date was pushed back to Sept. 25. Suffice to say that there were time conflicts with the usage of the reception space, minister availability and other issues that made that date the best fit for us in order for us to be married this year. This was very important to me and my fiancé, despite the obvious conflict with 911i and the ime.
Things have proven more difficult than I believed and I have found that I am being overwhelmed by the combination of projects and personal issues I am facing. On this day, 12 days before the Expo is supposed to start, we only have eight of 16 films we planned to show, the speakers able to make the Expo are fewer than expected – at this point no one from CityBeat, the Herald and a number of other outlets have confirmed that they can come – and our band lineup for the Saturday night show is questionable. I also feel that promotion for the event – key to getting folks to come – has been soft.
What I’m saying is that, rather than run with the event as planned and have it fail on a number of levels, I think we should push it back to the end of October. I believe the Mockbee (location of the event) has a weekend open before the election (though I’ve CC’d Carissa and Chris of the Mockbee)this letter to find out) and if they do I think it would be wise to take more time and make this event the best it can be.Also, as we have already promoted the events and CityBeat ran a promotional on the weekend in their current CityLights section, I think it would be wise to move forward with a truncated film event using the films we have in hand – online at http://www.indynet.org
We could show the films on Saturday afternoon through the night as a simple and dignified memorial.I apologize for the poor timing on my part. I have tried and am still doing my best to make this something we can all be proud of and an event that will inspire others to do good works. I look forward to hearing your thoughts on this matter.
Sincerely,Stephen Novotni, IMN Coordinator
Sunday, August 29, 2004
An Eventful Wedding-Planning Weekend
As much fun as we've had this weekend doing everything imaginable "wedding," we're about ready for a break from planning this whole getting hitched thing! The weekend began with a dinner meeting at our home Friday night to discuss details of the wedding ceremony. The ceremony will be participatory in nature, involving close friends and family. Steve and I are in the process of deciding on which songs to include for both the ceremony and reception. We are also ironing out the details on the sequence of events as well as the content therein.
Steve and I are feeling a lot more relaxed about wedding-planning due to the generous support of our family and local church community, who are helping out with all aspects of the event. We are very grateful to everyone who is stepping up, as your input has been very much needed and appreciated!
The rest of our weekend involved mattress shopping with Steve's mom and grandma, who ended up buying us a very nice mattress and box spring set from Value City Furniture. I also went with Laura Bosse, Sarah Carothers and Carol Novotni to Target on a couple of occasions to update our gift registry. It's a lot of fun to scan things with that gun and not have to worry about paying for anything! I would recommend Target as a great store for anyone getting married or having a baby shower.
Steve and I are making the remaining invitations tomorrow and will be sending them out soon. We have a lot more wedding stuff to do, but are making definite headway. What a fun and exhausing wedding-planning weekend!
-Becky
Steve and I are feeling a lot more relaxed about wedding-planning due to the generous support of our family and local church community, who are helping out with all aspects of the event. We are very grateful to everyone who is stepping up, as your input has been very much needed and appreciated!
The rest of our weekend involved mattress shopping with Steve's mom and grandma, who ended up buying us a very nice mattress and box spring set from Value City Furniture. I also went with Laura Bosse, Sarah Carothers and Carol Novotni to Target on a couple of occasions to update our gift registry. It's a lot of fun to scan things with that gun and not have to worry about paying for anything! I would recommend Target as a great store for anyone getting married or having a baby shower.
Steve and I are making the remaining invitations tomorrow and will be sending them out soon. We have a lot more wedding stuff to do, but are making definite headway. What a fun and exhausing wedding-planning weekend!
-Becky
Commenting on these posts
My mom told me that it's a little hard to comment on the posts on this site - FYI - you do not have to register with Blogspot - just post anonymously - We'd love to get your feedback!
Steve
Steve
Thursday, August 26, 2004
Online video and pictures
We're hoping to put a live Webcam feed from the wedding on this site on the day of.
I think, since our friend Kenny O's room overlooks the courtyard where we're having the wedding and reception, his window would be a good spot to have the cam. (we have to be connected to a computer too, of course)
OK, so this Saturday we're having as many folks from the wedding party as possible come over for dinner - so if that's you, please come! All of you should know that when we resume "normal life" after we get married, we'll resume our Saturday night potluck dinners. Over the past year we've had several dozen people come and it's been a great way to get to know everyone better and keep up with old friends.
- Steve
I think, since our friend Kenny O's room overlooks the courtyard where we're having the wedding and reception, his window would be a good spot to have the cam. (we have to be connected to a computer too, of course)
OK, so this Saturday we're having as many folks from the wedding party as possible come over for dinner - so if that's you, please come! All of you should know that when we resume "normal life" after we get married, we'll resume our Saturday night potluck dinners. Over the past year we've had several dozen people come and it's been a great way to get to know everyone better and keep up with old friends.
- Steve
Wednesday, August 25, 2004
Cool pictures of Becky at her first live performance in six years - The Bands Against Bush show, Aug. 20 at the Southgate House in NKY.
http://gallery.hookahheads.com/gallery/album804
-Steve
http://gallery.hookahheads.com/gallery/album804
-Steve
One month 'til our wedding
We've just thirty days now until we'll get to see all of you and there's a lot to do!
We just met with Adam Diamond and Laura Opfer - old friends and an old married couple we know ;) They helped us plan the ceremony and it's going to be really cool. This is a very difficult process, but we're working though it, and it is really a lot of fun, too.
- Steve
We just met with Adam Diamond and Laura Opfer - old friends and an old married couple we know ;) They helped us plan the ceremony and it's going to be really cool. This is a very difficult process, but we're working though it, and it is really a lot of fun, too.
- Steve
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