Darek + Stacie

We spent Christmas in Amarillo this year.

I promise the Mexico pictures are coming, Crispy.

Too many cameras!!

Darek’s Christmas morning hair:

Velcro loves to torture Dad by trying to be friends:

Janaye hates Christmas.

Or just tomato vampires.

I have this picture from every family gathering.

Phase 2 will be the Egg segment of the day.

About 6 months ago I got a jury summons. It was at a very inconvenient time so I was thrilled when I got there and they collected our little summons strips and told us thanks for fulfilling our service; the courts were not meeting that day for some reason. Score!

But a few days ago I got another one. There’s a place on the slip to claim an exemption if you “have appeared for a jury summons in Collin County within the last two years. See ‘Jury Service’ below.” Under jury service it says “If you have served as a juror in a city court in the past two years, you must include proof of service from that city.”

So my question is…

Does anyone out there know if showing up for that jury summons 6 months ago but not serving on a jury counts? I tried calling but only got the automated junk.

If anyone knows please let me know. I was under the impression that it qualified but I get confused with all the stuff on the form and online. I don’t want to do the wrong thing and get in trouble with the law. : )

I will love you forever.

EDIT/UPDATE: I finally noticed the email address on the summons and asked them. They replied within 45 minutes:

Yes, this does count as serving.  You may claim your exemption.

Thank you, legal system.

At some point in my early days of trying to figure out how/where to advertise for wedding photography, I signed up for a weird service that utilizes some sort of bidding system. I usually just delete the emails but this one caught my attention:

I can’t tell if this is a joke, but I’m tempted to put in a bid. I’ve always wanted to shoot a pig roast.

Last summer a kitten showed up on my next-door neighbors’ doorstep during a rain storm. Cute, cute, cute. They kept the kitten and named her Milo. Super cute.

When I went on my mail check today, my neighbor told me that Milo was recently hit by a car in front of their house. While she and her two young kids were outside.
I asked if the person driving stopped; she told me that when the driver saw the family watching, she took off very quickly.

I try very hard not to pass judgment on other people. I really do. I try to give them the benefit of the doubt. But seriously – what kind of horrible, terrible, soulless person keeps on driving when she sees small children witness her running over their cat?

I don’t know about this whole working-for-myself thing.

It’s hard.

I think we have like 10 or 15 weddings booked between now and November. I don’t know, I can’t keep track anymore. I think we have one Summer date available. If that.
I started my 3 days a week schedule 3 weeks ago and I feel busier than ever.

But we got our taxes done and again I was pleasantly surprised. So pleasantly surprised, in fact, that I’m going to start the process for looking into maybe actually buying a car for the second time (first time was back in 1998).

I’m thinking Honda Civic. Perhaps Toyota Corolla. Mostly likely used. I hate the idea of having car payments. Hate, hate, hate. Won’t do unless absolutely necessary.
I’m concerned about driving my car. It’s on its last leg, I think. It’s been back and forth between Texas & Connecticut numerous times. It’s been to Novia Scotia (far east Canada). It’s been to Arizona. California. It’s tired. I’ve written about its problems. I’m starting to have serious fears about Darek’s car (also getting old) breaking down on the drive between a ceremony and the reception. So it’s time to start the search.

Any advice?

Suggestions?

Help please.

february 14: packing for austin

i’m only a few days behind right?