Been awhile

I know, I know. It's been a long time since I posted. I have no apologies; just an explanation. Over the past two weeks, Sarah and I got married, packed up our lives, moved to TN, closed on a house, moved into that house, and have started to re-acclimate to the hot hot August in southeast TN. On top of that, we're both getting ready for the semester to start, me at Lee and Sarah at both Covenant and Lee. So, we're busy.

But I'd be remiss if I didn't say what I've been thinking a lot about over the last two weeks (especially during the long drive down I81 in Virginia when I had plenty of time to let me thoughts wanted...) and that is this: thanks. To all of you. For your support, love, prayers. For helping with the wedding or just being at the wedding. For buying me knives (I love you, my Vermont friends!). For calling me or Sarah or writing on her Facebook wall. For being absolutely wonderful people and wonderful friends. We love you all. We really do.

Once things settle down, I'll start updating this thing more. But it might be awhile...

The awesome thing

Two things, really:

1. I'm getting married in, like, three days. Whoa.
2. The weather for Sunday keeps getting better. Hot dog and hallelujah.

Parking at Rye Harbor State Park

The good news: there's plenty of parking at Rye Harbor State Park.

Even better news: it's free. Sarah paid for it when she reserved the spot for the day. Just tell them you're there for the wedding...

What time the wedding is

Essential information, ain't it? The ceremony begins at 11am. A barbecue reception, hosted by very good friends of ours, will follow immediately. The rain will start later that afternoon.

Wear your helmet

My good friend Adam, who had a collision with a car while biking home from work Thursday, is doing remarkably well. Sarah and I met up with him, his wife Gina, and their daughter Louisa to get ice cream the other night. He's walking around, albeit slowly, but he went back to work yesterday. It's quite miraculous, really, and there's little doubt in my mind (or in Adam's, for that matter) that he's alive because he was wearing a helmet. If he hadn't been wearing a helmet, his head would have gone through the windshield. Who knows what that would have done to his head, neck, and spine.

As Adam was telling me how cracked and banged up his helmet is after the crash, I started thinking about a post my friend and fellow blogger Cassi wrote back in May. She talks about how her son, Mason, fell off his bike and ever-so-slightly cracked his helmet. She writes, "I can’t say for certain that his helmet saved Mason’s noodle, but looking at it afterward, I can only feel grateful that it came between him and the pavement." I think Adam can very safely say that his helmet saved his life. And neither Adam nor the driver of the car he hit were doing anything wrong. It was a fluke circumstance in which two people weren't able to see each other until it was too late.

So, for the sake of your own life, if you ride at all--even casually around town (Adam was less than a mile from home)--please, please wear a helmet. It really could save your life.

Jeff's Top Six Most Useful Posts

6. Directions to Rye Harbor State Park
5. Hotels in the Seacoast region of NH
4. Gift registry info for the many gifts you will buy us
3. Dress code for what you should most definitely wear
2. Wedding day details that are rather detailed
1. And the number one most useful post...

C&J Trailways

Those of you who are flying into Boston's Logan airport and who are not renting a car likely will be taking C&J Trailways up to Portsmouth or Dover. C&J is a bus service that runs between the Seacoast region of NH and Boston. They have the nicest buses I think I've ever been on: they're clean, they have comfy seats, and, if you bring your iPod headphones, you can plug in and listen to xm radio. And they navigate Boston traffic for you. A sweet deal all the way around.

But since Logan Airport is like the rest of Boston--hard to navigate and goes in circles--knowing where C&J will pick you up in each terminal helps. You can find a map and a list of where to wait for the buses here. If you have any questions, let Sarah or me know. All the buses clearly say "C&J Trailways" on the side, and the destination above the windshield should read "Dover, NH." I believe they pick up at Logan 10 minutes past the hour.

I've never seen one more than half full, so don't worry about not being able to get a seat. That said, you should buy a ticket before you leave to catch your flight. After it leaves Logan, each bus stops in Newburyport, MA, Portsmouth, NH, and then Dover, NH.