I haven’t blogged for weeks. This is what I’ve been doing:
We went back to Massachusetts for our daughter’s wedding. Cody and her husband Paul got married in Salem on the pier, late afternoon, the weather was gorgeous. They had a lovely reception at Boston at Smith & Wollensky, the former Armory Castle built in 1891. It’s a beautiful restaurant and the food is outstanding, so if you’re ever visiting Boston and looking for an elegant meal …
Although we were in New England for 11 days, it was a working vacation for us so we didn’t get to visit with many friends. We were tethered to the immediate Boston area, and then Providence, and we never made it to the Cape. People always say to us, “Can’t you just take a few days off?” and the answer is no, we can’t. Oh we can go wherever we want, whenever we want, but the job comes with us. We work for a magazine and our job takes place almost entirely online (thank you Internet! with all the sarcasm I can convey), and there in lies the rub. You never really get a vacation, not really, not in the traditional sense. You never get to lounge on a tropical beach, say, or cozy up to a fireplace for two weeks with a stack of novels and newspapers to read. You visit, you work, visit, work.
We stayed at Cody and Paul’s awesome apartment, though, and that was a blast. Got a crash course in Wii. (I now have a Mii, and realized I CAN’T sing on key in Rock Band.) We had a great time and now we’ve got four kids, so that makes it all worthwhile. 
Below from left is Max, Cody, Paul, and Sam.
We’ve also been totally enthralled with watching TV online. We canceled our cable TV, and at night we’ve been watching movies and TV shows online. Hulu.com is a favorite of ours and allows us to keep up with all of our favorite shows with “little or no commercial interruption.” And we keep up with PBS shows like NOVA and POV on pbs.org.
And that’s about it. Nothing personal, I just haven’t been on WordPress. I haven’t even kept up with my email. I get burnt, I can’t help it. Buck is equally burnt, he caught a cold on the plane and is waiting for it to be gone.
I probably can’t get caught up on all my blog reading, but I am going to spend the weekend reading the blogs in my blogroll to at least say hi and see what you’re up to. I think about all of you and wonder how you’re doing. Corny, but true.
Hopefully I’ll get back into posting just in time for some holiday rage at the packaging of Christmas for the ultra-rich. Last year we all talked about our disgust with it, and I cut back because I wanted to, but this year I couldn’t afford Christmas even if I wanted to. I’m seriously thinking of making everyone a bookmark for Christmas, wouldn’t that be nice? Who doesn’t love a fucking homemade bookmark?
Great photos–you all look so wonderful and happy, even Buck looks happy in his own Buck way.
But how is it possible the kids are all grown up? I still think of Max as being 10 years old….
Sister B
Hi Sister B! I can’t believe they’re all grown up. I’m horrified, really, because that means I’m totally grown up now. Ugh.
I see Barbara beat me to it. Yes, you all look great. I’m glad the wedding turned out so well.
I know you were too busy to visit us so we need to figure out how I can drag Barbara out of the house and onto a train or bus (because we know she wouldn’t fly and we definitely know we couldn’t drive)) and get to your house. I think I would probably have to knock her out.
Sarah and I are making all of our Christmas gifts. I have a laminator. I actually think we will add fucking bookmarks to our list of home made fucking goodies. Ha! Ha!
Sister J
Hi Sister J! I used to have a laminator but I can’t find it…I need another one. It’s necessary when making bookmarks. I’d love to have you and Sister B come visit El Paso, but I doubt you’ll want to do it by train. I think that would take like 10 days. You should just fly out! On a plane, of course.
That’s interesting about your job but it is neat that you both do it. My sister also works for a magazine, but probably not in the same capacity as you. Your daughter is a cutie! And she married a nice looking man. How nice to see more of you and your family. I bet you enjoyed the time with your kids. Don’t stress yourself with blog catch-up. You do what you can and read what you want, when you want. Simple as that.
Actually, I like bookmarks. I never have enough of them! LOL.
Thank you, Teeni, Cody and Paul are a cute couple. We had a great time(‘cept for the minor glitch I told you about, but it didn’t effect our fun)! And I never have enough bookmarks either. Lately I’ve been using the perfume samples in magazines…all my books smell mahvelous!
So close, yet so far from the cape, poor baby. Well at least you had a good time where you were able to go.
Congratulations to your daughter and the lucky guy. 
Thank you, Peter! The weather was beautiful, and we had a great time.
Great photos, Wendy! Homemade bookmarks would be nice. It would only cost 42 cents to ship to the recipient, too, so that sounds like a good deal.
Yes. This year, bookmarks are the way to go. Maybe they’ll make Oprah’s list of “Favorite Things.”
YOur daughter is so cute!!!!!!!! Congrats to them!!
Thank you, Kaylee!!
Excellent pictures! Sounds like an awesome (yet busy) time. Weddings in Salem are always very nice. You had some pretty good weather up here for this time of the season.
Could that be telling you something?
Definitely. We had awesome weather, it was gorgeous. I hated to leave.
Wow– it’s so good to be back here in your blog. Have you been redecorating?
The pictures are so great– what a great looking bunch of happy campers. I’m sorry it had to be a working vacation/ wedding, but it’s great that you were there. Mostly it’s great to see you back here, filling us in on the details (I’ve been to the Smith and Wollensky in Columbus, OH, and it really was excellent).
How incredibly smart of you to give up the cable. No converters to deal with, no huge bills. Are you going to get a big screen computer monitor?
Please tell Buck that those Zycam nasal swabs are miraculous for colds. Really.
By the way, um…Ft. Worth is probably about ten hours closer to Joan and Barbara than El Paso is. EP is about nine from FW. I know I don’t have a home or anything, but…just sayin’….
I want a fuckin’ homemade bookmark.
Yeah, I like having no cable, but we do have to get the converter boxes. But we watch just about everything online…we were lucky enough to have a big widescreen monitor we weren’t using, so now it’s dedicated for watching TV. And of course you’re getting a bookmark!
I second MB, but I can’t force myself to swear…lol. Besides, if your bookmarks are anything like your Lily Diary, it will rock the hell out of any bookmark anyWHERE! Seriously. There’s nothing you do, dear Wendy, that is boring. Ever.
Glad your home. Sorry Buck got a cold.
To MB: What? Zycam nasal swabs? Never heard of them… I must look for some for the next cold I get.
Oh you’re too nice! You’re going to the top of my gift giving list. ♥
I’ve heard about those Zycam nasal swabs but haven’t tried them. I’m going to buy some (they’re on sale at Walgreens this week) and keep them handy…apparently you have to use them at the first sign of a cold.
I’m glad to hear all is well, if busy. Congrats on the wedding! We’re skimping out on Christmas this year- I think that will be the case for most people. Fortunately, the best part of the holidays is being with family and loved ones.
Hope you get a breather! Cheers~
I think most people are changing their Christmas habits, too. But I’m sure I’ll be spouting off about it again this year.
I wondered what the hell happened to you! Glad you had fun, and that the wedding was nice.
I’d love to hear more about what you do. Is working for a magazine interesting? I’d love to have a paying writing job. Exciting!!!
Hi GG! Yeah, magazine writing is interesting. I used to be a reporter for many years, and the pace of a magazine is much better in my opinion. But in this incarnation I write for the motorcycle industry, so that’s a little challenging for me. For Buck it’s a piece of cake. But I’m not a biker or motorcycle rider, in case you can’t tell.
Hey Sis…. Just talked to ya and I’m thinkin good thoughts about you. You should start feeling better soon. I just made you a nice cup of hot tea , your favorite blend. {whatever that might be . I know you have a few preferred flavors.}MMMMM… breath in the hot vapors .Ahhh… isnt that better ? I’m going to CVS,want anything ? Popsicles? No problem. Gingerale? Done. Coloring book & crayons ? Ah…okaaay….
Thank you!
I would have liked all those things. Buck brought home a bunch of sick foods, though, so that was cool.
I have to tell you the pics. really are adorable . Everyone looks so happy . Cody and Paul just sparkle !
I have a question,nothing to do with the happy topic of todays blog. How do I get my photo displayed with my comment ? Why do I have that” quilt pattern “every time I write in? I’m probaly the only one on your blog who doesnt know how to do this . sigh….
Thanks!
And…Ugh. You’ve got yourself a problem there. ;D
Awww…Joan, is Wendy sick?
Since I’m doing temp work these days, I’ll fill in for her and answer your picture question. You should be able to upload a photo by going to “my profile.” What you’re seeing is a default avatar, which is what shows when you don’t specify on. Here are a couple of links about it:
http://faq.wordpress.com/2007/02/27/what-is-an-avatar/
http://faq.wordpress.com/2008/06/19/new-avatar-options/
Wendy, I hope you feel better soon.
Hi MB! That was actually my sister JoAnn, but it’s all good. I was really sick. And thanks for helping her…because I wasn’t gonna. Too lazy.
I would cherish a fucking homemade bookmark if it came from you
…anyhoo I’m glad you checked in, and congrats to Cody and Paul on the wedding! 
Thank you Romi!
buck wish you could have made it to the cape.next time give me a call ,we’ll get a coffee , fish and chips or maybe just take a ride and swap lies t
Yeah. What a shame.
p.s. can’t wait for this years thanksgiving poster
Yes! We’ll be shooting a new one this year.
I am a bit twisted but I love anything with the word “fuckin” included, even a fuckin’ bookmark. Great Christmas gift idea.
Love the family pics. Gorgeous family… congrats to the newlyweds.
Thanks, betme. And bookmarksk are a great idea, aren’t they? You can personalize them, or just laminate a piece of cardboard and tell them it’s the thought that counts!
Congrats on your daughter’s wedding and thanks for sharing the pix.
Abso-fuckin-lutely on the xmas. If it’s one thing we Americans know is true it’s that the package is SO much more important than the contents.
And I would love a fucking homemade bookmark too. I’ve used up most of the ones I’ve received xmases past in all the books on the nightstand that I’ve half-read.
Thought of you last week, seeing a commercial on the SciFi network for a show (“Unexplained with George Noory”) with your buddy. Apparently he’s walking in the footprints of Leonard Nimoy, TV’s Mr. Spock. Fascinating!
George Noory’s new show, oh my God, I’ve been waiting and waiting for it to pop up on the Internet, the SciFi site, hulu, anywhere! I have so been waiting for this. He’s been talking about it for months. I only hope it’s better than the pilot he had on there a year or so ago. That one was so terrible, SciFi didn’t pick it up. Hopefully this one will be good. And I’ve added you to my gift giving list — you’ll definitely get a fucking bookmark.