Updates:

So, things have been CRAZY for me lately, in a good way. Work is very busy, and I also have some promising projects on the horizon. I am in full on Viva Las Vegas prep mode, so I apologize if the posts seem shoe and/or Marilyn heavy. I can't tell you how much I'm looking forward to this Spring.

My brother, Jackson, will be coming to visit me for a week or so next month. I'm so thrilled because he's growing up into a really cool person and I love that we are connecting so much. I can't wait to really show him Colorado.

We got the Paris trip paid off, and now that the passport applications are sent off, we're just working on saving money for taxes. Bleh Taxes. I can't even think about them without getting a lump in my throat. Being self employed is TOUGH.

We went and did a little bit of hiking at Red Rocks this weekend, preceeded by running the stairs in the amphitheater. Well, it started out like running and then slowed down to a crawl. That is HARD. I thought I was going to die before I made it to the top. We've really got to get more cardio in our lives. I can't wait until it warms up a bit and we can start riding our bikes more.

I've been a little slack on my cooking lately because I'm really trying to watch my weight, which makes cooking for the both of us really difficult. I've got all my faux meat, veggies, soy, blah blah... and Tim just wants a pile of smoked and shredded pork. Don't worry, I'm not starving, but it's been a whole lot fruits and veggies at our house. I'll have more recipes to come soon.

That's all for now,
~e

Um, I'm a procrastinator!

When I was a child, I was a bit of a procrastinator. I would put things off until the last minute, claiming all the while that I "work best under pressure." I've learned, as I've gotten older, to be more proactive and I'm now much better at creating plans and executing them inside the designated time frame.
In some ways, I'm still like a procrastinating child, which is why I waited until yesterday to get my name officially changed. (I've been married for 3 1/2 years...) It has a lot to do with the awful experience I had last time I was at the SSN office. Also, I hate lines, and I hate being touched by strangers, and having to sit on things that I KNOW are filthy. The SSN office in Aurora smells like feet, sausage, and body odor. Yuk!
However, yesterday I went to the downtown office, and it was pretty painless. I came in at 11, got a number, and sat reading Atonement for an hour and a half until they called my name. I had to field a few strangers asking strange questions and fanning themselves loudly with crinkly pieces of paper, but all in all, it wasn't as horrible as I remembered. So, now I am officially, Erin Louise Cooper AND I can get my passport for my international adventures!!!

Resolute

2008: a year to acquire the desires of my heart

This promises to be a big year for Tim and I. The two events in the forefront of my mind, are the trip to Paris for my birthday, and after that, the start (hopefully) of our little family. I have wanted to go to Paris my entire life, and decided to wait until 6 months before the trip to start learning french. :) So, hopefully that goes well. As for starting our family, the plan has been in the works for some time. 29 seems like a good age to begin that adventure.

I gave up meat, caffeine, and smoking 2 months ago and have committed to those goals with quite a fervor. I told myself that there was simply no option to go back. This is not a New Year's Resolution, but a lifestyle shift. My resolutions are much more direct and mostly everything I do in my daily life is to prepare for these two events. I always crowd my New Year's Resolution list with too many goals, so this year, I'm keeping it short and simple.

1) Go to Paris.

2) Start a family.


They have subgoals, to be sure. Things like:

1) Learn French (right now I only know, "Un fille sous une avion!"
2) File for official name change (so that my passport has my married name)
3) Get Passport (with a flattering picture)
4) Buy a beret (hahahaha, just kidding!)

and:

1) Quit smoking (check!)
2) Cleanse body to ensure optimum health (working on it!)
3) Lose some extra pounds and build some muscle (working on it!)
4) Buy house with an extra bedroom for the baby (yikes!)
5) Get Tim to buy into the gaelic spelling of the names I like (yeah right!)
6) Get Tim to cut down his bacon habit to 2 slices a day. (sure!)

At any rate, it's going to be a busy year and promises to be very exciting. I think this will be the year that I have the most to talk about. I'm excited at the prospect of learning another language (in more ways than one) and as my mother put it, "learning to put others first." Being married requires some degree of sacrifice, but Tim being as easy going as he is, allows me a lot of freedom to be pretty selfish. I'm preparing for a paradigm shift in that respect. I'm trying to wrap my head around the idea of caring for someone else more than myself. I'm sort of giddy at the prospect, actually.

I hope you all had a happy New Year and I wish you the best of luck in accomplishing your resolutions.

~erin

Merry Christmas!

I'm off to Oregon in mere hours. I hope you all have a wonderful holiday and I'll see you when I get back!

~e

Christmas time is here...

Well, the holiday season so far has been wonderful. So many great memories with friends and still more to come. Tim and I head out on Wednesday and I have tons to do before then. I wanted to share a few pictures from last night. We went to Jay & Alison's house for a "Thanks for helping us move" Party and a White Elephant Gift Exchange. It was so hilariously fun.









Click here for more images.


Oh and to finish up... A few shout outs. Thank you to Joe & Megan for your wonderful gift and for sharing your talents with us. It's wonderful to have photogs in the family. Thanks to Dane for being our dearest friend and for being a surrogate cat owner. Thanks to Lena for always being such a bright light in our lives. Thanks to Gillian for always being there and for being my partner in crime. We're lucky to have such wonderful friends.

Happy Holidays!

On My Mind...

The party is just a couple days away, so I've been busy hustling and bustling. Wrapping gifts, cleaning house etc. Yesterday I sequestered Tim in his office so I could focus on cleaning the house whilst rocking out to Christmas music. As I was scrubbing the oven, and listening to "Little Drummer Boy" I started thinking about that story. I mean, I've known that song since I was a kid and if you believe the stop motion Drummer Boy movie, it's really not about worship...some little kid wants to get the Baby Jesus to heal his lamb that got ran over by a Roman soldier.



In my head, the little drummer boy is a busker. Probably an orphan, who plays on the street corner for a few measly coins. He probably goes hungry a lot, he probably sniffs glue to make his stomach feel full. He has nothing and has no prospects of improving his life. To play his drum for the Baby Jesus was probably just a way to get some money from the Wise Men. But when he sees the babe, wrapped in swaddling clothes with all the people paying homage...he realizes that this is someone special. With nothing to offer but his talent, I imagine that he stands by the manger with his beat up Djembe and plays a beautiful rhythm that soothes the baby.

It's just a song. No mention is made of the Little Drummer Boy in the Bible. But I think that song does a great job of illustrating a point. Now whether or not the Baby Jesus was the son of God, I'll never know. It could just be a story, or maybe it's the truth. To me, the point is that when you believe in something, (whatever that may be) you give what you have to the cause. Share your talent. If your cause is politics or charity or whatever, you give what you have.

My mother grew up with next to nothing. Her family struggled and were poor for nearly her entire childhood. One year, they were living in an old warehouse, literally squatting there. The Salvation Army came at Christmas and gave each of the kids a toy and supplied a bountiful Christmas Dinner. My mom tells me that story nearly every year. Every time she sees the man ringing the bell outside a department store, she digs deep and donates whatever extra money she has. That's her cause...

This year I've donated to SAME Cafe. (So All May Eat) They are a non-profit Organization that serves organic food to the less than fortunate. They use all organic food in their menu. Instead of a cash register, a donation box is available for one to pay what they felt their meal was worth, or to leave a little more and help out someone less fortunate. If a diner does not have enough money to leave, they are encouraged to exchange an hour of service in the restaurant for a full meal voucher. It's a wonderful cause, and of course it supports the organic movement.

I encourage you to find a cause that means something to you and donate time, money or other resources this holiday season. (climbs down from soapbox)

Thanks for listening,
~e

Happy Holidays....

Our Holiday Website is up and running!

We've got music, pictures, games and more... get thee to www.timanderincooper.com and immerse yourself in holidayishness.

A big Thank You to Neilochka for including us in his Christmahanukwanzaakuh Concert.