– I have been trying to wake myself up every morning a little early so I can spend some time writing. The soul searching and creative writing exercises have been beneficial and therapeutic. I have about 39 pages of a “memoir” in the works. And now I think I’m stuck. It’s hard to get all the details I want, especially when I left those details out in my journals. I suppose all that’s left to do is push through and just keep writing.

– This week I haven’t been as successful as getting myself up early (that snooze button keeps getting pushed an extra time), but I’m cutting myself some slack. Work has been stressful, and I’ve had some ear problems that have been wearing me down pretty bad. I’ve been trying to medicate it myself, but I think it’s time for a doctor visit. Ugh.

– I wrote a previous post about how I’m tired of running away from my dream of songwriting. I am trying to be diligent and follow through with pursuing this, even in little ways. I have been trying to write some poetry in my journal every night, just short little snippets that may hopefully get the juices flowing. I know I don’t have enough energy to tackle an entire song every night (especially after a long day when I’m feeling totally uninspired) but I hope that the constant, daily exercise of word writing will perhaps unblock the songwriter’s block.

– Speaking of words and poetry… I had an idea this week that might be good to get the creative juices flowing. I want to break out the magnetic poetry that is stuffed in one of my kitchen drawers. These used to be on the fridge of our old place, but haven’t made it onto the new fridge yet. I think having tangible words I can touch in front of me will help me to write. One of the difficulties in lyric writing is pulling words out of thin air. Having a selection in front of me will be extremely helpful. I’m not sure what I might come up with… the sets we have are the love and romance set (bought this for Drew thinking it would be a fun way to leave messages for each other, and it has been) and the sexual innuendo set (Drew followed up my purchase with one he thought would be fun.)

– Also in following through with my songwriting goal… I’m trying to get back into practicing guitar. I was doing really well at this about a month ago. I was practicing a little at least five days a week. I was noticing improvement. And then life happened and I stopped. First it was just one night, and then it turned into two, and then weeks. I’m continuing the course I found on this great website, and I am trying to challenge myself with some tougher strumming rhythms. Practicing guitar easily becomes not fun to me, and then I stop. I really want to push through until it becomes fun.

– After writing this post, I explored the magnetic poetry website and found their story. Kind of cool… guess my idea of using it to help writer’s block isn’t so original.

In the few bits of spare time I’ve had over the past couple of weeks, I’ve started my wedding scrapbook. I have greatly enjoyed looking through the great pics our photographer took and reliving that great day. I’m so glad I married a guy who knows how to have fun. He definitely teaches me not to take life so seriously.

I remembered that my wedding photographer was not the only one who had shots from that day. My dutiful bridesmaids had snapped pics while we were getting ready and had captured some memorable moments that my photographer simply was not around for.

Like this story.

I woke up the morning of my wedding having gotten just enough sleep to feel rested. I know I had been awake for awhile the night before, butterflies and excitement about the upcoming day keeping me awake. I threw on some shorts and a t-shirt and quietly slipped out of the guest house I was staying in, trying not to wake my two sleeping bridesmaids. I took a peaceful walk down the nature trail nearby, relishing in the quiet and getting giddy over the fact that I was actually getting married in just a few hours. Everyone I passed, I wanted to shout out, “IT’S MY WEDDING DAY!!!!” I refrained.

I returned to the guest house and slipped into the shower. When I emerged from the bathroom, Emily and Jessica were awake and brewing coffee. They excitedly greeted me good morning, with shouts of “You’re getting married!” We finished getting ready, and gathering our bags for the day, we walked to the car to drive to the salon.

I allowed myself to be pampered as my hair and makeup were done. Then we marched next door to The Coffee Pub, my place of employment at the time. I had asked for permission to change in the office upstairs, to save time, and so we could go straight to pictures. I think I remember Drew calling me while I was being slipped into and tied up in my dress. A coworker stood downstairs, singing, “Going to the Chapel” while washing dishes. We finished and walked downstairs, my sister being oh so careful to keep my train lifted and out of any stray coffee grinds.

Stopping at the register, I pretended to buy a cup of coffee (my nerves wouldn’t let me drink any coffee that day), and got a much needed photo op.

Weeks after my wedding, I had customers say to me, “Weren’t you in a white dress the last time I saw you?” Ah, what a great story.

But it doesn’t end there.

We hopped in the car, this time with me stuffed into the back seat and Jessica at the wheel. We were on our way to get pictures done and I was just enjoying the ride, basking in the glory that is my wedding day, when for whatever reason I lifted my right arm.

“I forgot to shave one of my armpits!!!” I shrieked from the backseat.

For some odd reason, my scatterbrained bridal brain had only shaved one armpit that morning. Not a huge deal, and it wasn’t too much hair, but it was still noticeable. I wanted to say, “Don’t worry about it, I’ll be fine,” but all of a sudden it was a HUGE problem. I would have spent the entire day like I was in one of those Sure/unsure deodorant commercials. Jess and Em realized that, and with no eye rolling or sighs of frustration, they offered a solution. Jess pulled off into a parking lot and Em bolted from the passenger side and to the trunk, rummaging through my luggage and emerging with my toiletry bag. She brought it to me, I found my razor, and did a quick dry shave.

And what did Jessica do? Like any good bridesmaid should, she snapped a picture.

Yes, she helped me forever immortalize that embarrassing moment.

Aw, heck, I would have done the same. And now it’s for sure going into my wedding scrapbook. It makes me laugh every time I think about it.

Thanks Jess!