Hi, we are Taylor & Whitney.

I used to collect hotel shampoo bottles. When we vacationed in Europe, I made my family wait while I wandered into more than one Paris hotel, just to ask if they had personalized shampoo bottles (it was a much less common occurrence than I was prepared for). Yes, it was weird and yes, my family loves me. This odd, yet at times extremely handy, habit came to a halt during another vacation when over half of the then sixteen or so bottles decided to leak all over the inside of my toiletry bag. That was the last of my only collection.

Now I’ve decided to start a new collection. I’m going to collect talents. Not the old ancient currency, actual abilities. There are many skills that appeal to me, so I’m going to try my hand at everything. It’s a year-old idea for me that I’m determined to start. So here’s the plan: one at a time, for one month each.

I know me, if I were to run after archery and master grilling at the same time, they would both be equally neglected. So each skill is going to get a month of my undivided attention when I’m not working, taking care of our house, keeping my wife happy, or spending time with family and friends. So.. yea, like an hour a week. Hopefully, by the end of the month, I will have gathered sufficient knowledge and/or practice to move on. Many I will most likely revisit to keep fresh, but at least this will get me started.

Here’s the plan as it just popped into my head twenty minutes ago:

• March – There are only seven days left. Nothin’s hap’nin.
• April – Catch up. Before I can devote free time to anything I have to have free time. By the end of April I will purpose to finish all of the projects I have currently in limbo.
• May – Piano. This one is slightly cheating because I’ve been playing since I was seven. But I’ve let it seriously slide for the past five years and I’m nowhere near where I should/could be. So May will be all about practice, practice, practice, practice..
• June – Guitar. Two subsequent music skills, I know. I’m hoping starting off with easy ones will help me stick to this whole plan. Not easy skills, easy for me to mentally prepare for.
• July – Painting. Definitely moving outside the comfort zone, but not too far.
• August – Parkour. I’ve wanted to do this for 2 or 3 years now. I just need to find a place to go train. O, and have the stamina of a gazelle.

And I’m out of ideas. More will come, I know, and I’ll add them to the list.

It’s on like Donkey Kong.

Today marks 4 years with my Taylor and somehow, I feel like it’s silly to celebrate it since we’re married now.  Whatever, it’s still a wonderful excuse to go to dinner and just hang out.  So that’s the agenda this evening.. dinner at Bonefish and maybe a movie.

I thought I would take this opportunity to express how thankful I am for Taylor and this last year together.  It’s been an absolute crazy one : graduation, a new niece, a new house, a wedding!  Its so very comforting to know that there is no one else I’d rather share any of it with than my love.  So even if we never celebrate another dating anniversary, I think I’ll be okay with it.  And if we do carry on the tradition, I think this one will be my favorite because it represents the most.

After all, who says you have to stop dating when you get married?

Tomorrow is the big day!  I really can’t believe how quickly the last 14 months have gone by.  Of course while living it, it seemed like forever but now the rehearsal is over, dinner is over, the boys are out galavanting in Orlando for Taylor’s bachelor party, and I just finished watching Father of the Bride with the girls.  Cliché, I know, but it was pretty perfect.

I would just like to document that my feet are quite warm and I’m nothing but excited about tomorrow!  Hope Taylor likes his wedding gift. :]

I woke up this morning feeling as if this would be a good day for reflection.  Therefore, enjoy one of my favorite poems by Robert Frost: The Road Not Taken.  Take it at face value but also find something more meaningful in it.  I promise it will greatly improve your day.

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth.

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same.

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I–
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

– Robert Frost