Rainy Days

The rain has been very comforting the past couple of days. The fog rolls in off the ocean and covers Newark. I've been sick, so it's been nice to stay in from the cold. James and I have been watching movies and snuggling on the little red couch. James has been using the bread maker (courtesy of Dave) and I've been wearing pin curls!

Married Life

James and I have been married almost two months! I can hardly believe it. In fact, when I realized it just now, I jumped out of my chair to shove James with surprise :) It took us about a month to get in our groove, and things are good. Better than good, even. I've come to understand a few things about being married: for us it's about doing things for the other person. For example, tonight when I arrived home from work, dinner was already made. James made Irish stew and homemade bread. We do things for each other as much as we can, because we don't get to spend that much time together. I work 9 hour days, and James studies until 1 am. I understand now why Scott will have his dinner breaks at home with Tara, who has cooked for him all day (my dear friends, the Calders). The best feeling in the world comes from seeing that other person smile. And, there has been a lot of smiling here in the great NJ!

I wish I had time to celebrate...

So I'm in my apartment, on the tenth floor of our building, and down on the streets a parade has been going by for four hours... It's the 47th Puerto Rican parade, and it is so noisy! James had to leave to do his studying somewhere else, and I'm trying to get work done as well. When will it end????

ps: the bread was delicious :)

james peterson, bread baker

i have, tentatively, baked my first loaf of bread outside of utah. it is a basic white bread, with some beer in the batter in place of water (the recipe came with the breadmaker elise and i got for christmas). i do not yet know if it is any good, as it is cooling on the rack as we speak, er, as i type. more info to come later.

A Romantic Date

Yesterday James and I awoke to a gray and gloomy day. We had french toast for breakfast, and while drinking our coffee decided it was the perfect day for an outing. I had been wanting to go into the city, so I figured this would be the time. Before we left, "Do you think we'll need our umbrellas?" James, "Nope, it's only a couple of blocks." So, we headed for the train station only blocks from our apartment, just as it started to drizzle.

The ride into Manhattan was quick. We chatted a little, but mostly watched the people come and go on the train. As we emerged onto the street at The World Trade Center stop, we were met by a downpour. I ran back inside, bought some small, cheap, umbrellas, and we hurried onto the soggy streets. AMC movie theatre, our destination, was around the corner. Our movie would be starting soon, so we rushed through the rain. Tickets: $24.00, Concessions: $17.80, Seeing "Dark Knight": priceless? (we loved the movie, but $50 dollars to see a matinee!)

After the movie we debated whether to eat in the city or go home. The vote, home, seemed the best option due to the lack of funds and the rain. We reached the train station, all in one piece, except for the umbrella which was now inside out. It was dark outside, and the rain was coming down hard. We reached the Newark Penn Station, and began the trek home. We decided to give up on the collapsing umbrellas and make a run for it. We laughed the whole way home and entered our apartment, looking like we just came from the pool.

After changing into dry clothes, we made left overs and settled on the couch. It was the perfect ending to the perfect day, and both of us couldn't think of a place where we'd rather be.