tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-70196268462685246602024-03-14T10:43:38.466-04:00Gretchen and Jeff - a life journalClownfacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16219707395144242168noreply@blogger.comBlogger57125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7019626846268524660.post-34404074031154376852014-03-24T19:47:00.001-04:002014-03-24T19:47:34.624-04:00Mrs. Jeff Cutler?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiditD7cIuV0IIf45j1n_6XjUfZkeFUGHGXx4ClSan7UtaicZ98J0qntsYFl4vTSQU75QQPRquYlaamckW4CqK3dNVWJ-QAUZvG8H-izlgCvPFkJ9SpzZTO3KLmEicyUpqXpopMx6z3N-8c/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-03-24+at+7.46.28+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiditD7cIuV0IIf45j1n_6XjUfZkeFUGHGXx4ClSan7UtaicZ98J0qntsYFl4vTSQU75QQPRquYlaamckW4CqK3dNVWJ-QAUZvG8H-izlgCvPFkJ9SpzZTO3KLmEicyUpqXpopMx6z3N-8c/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-03-24+at+7.46.28+PM.png" height="320" width="192" /></a></div>
You can call Gretchen "Mrs. Jeff Cutler."<br />
<br />
Or call Jeff "Mr. Gretchen Kinder."<br />
<br />
Or call us "Mr. and Mrs. Cutler."<br />
<br />
Whatever.<br />
<br />
Just don't call us later for dinner. Or dunch. Or cocktail hour.<br />
<br />
Gretchen DID choose to keep her maiden name as her primary last name. She is still, according to the rule of law, Gretchen Lynne Kinder. She has no deep attachment to her surname, and in fact has not even seen or spoken with her father for 30 years. But, she is known by many people as "GK" and couldn't bear to let that moniker go. At least for now. And she didn't want to be one of those people who said, "I'm Gretchen Kinder at work, but Gretchen Cutler when I sign up for new dump sticker at the DPW, and Mrs. Jeff Cutler when I make charitable donations..." Life is too short for such complications.<br />
<br />
We're thinking about this now because we were shopping for a new car this weekend. A car salesperson asked for our names and, when we gave her the two separate names, she remarked, "That's so cool! You are so modern!"<br />
<br />
"Really?!" thought Gretchen? "How is this modern? In 2014? In Massachusetts?"<br />
<br />
In fact, Gretchen's friendship circle is such that the women who DO take their husband's last names tend to apologize for it. And she has two friends who took their hubby's surnames ONLY when their betrothed exclaimed not doing so would be a marriage deal breaker.<br />
<br />
While Gretchen has ambivalence about it, there is definitely a part of her that wants to be known as Jeff's wife, she is thrilled that Jeff sees her retention of the "K" in "-gk-" as a sexy sign of power.<br />
<br />
If you are the type who gets hung up about etiquette, <a href="http://www.emilypost.com/weddings/wedding-invitations-and-announcements/339-addressing-sending-wedding-invitations" target="_blank">you may address mail to us</a> as Ms. Gretchen Kinder and Mr. Jeff Cutler (the lady always comes first).<br />
<br />
If you are the type who seeks to needle couples about their modernity, please know we won't care if you address a card or gift to Mr. and Mrs. Jeff Cutler. So find another way to needle us.<br />
<br />
PS: Thanks for the gifts.Clownfacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16219707395144242168noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7019626846268524660.post-88692572445905426692014-03-11T19:23:00.005-04:002014-03-11T19:23:58.207-04:00Top Ten Reasons You Know Jeff is Out of Town...10. Gretchen makes a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Textured_vegetable_protein" target="_blank">TVP casserole </a>for dinner, and serves it with <b><u>brown</u></b> rice.<br />
9. When you turn the TV on, the channel is tuned to the <i>All Criminal Minds</i> rerun channel - not ESPN.<br />
8. The vacuum, and even the dishwasher, may be heard <b><i>after </i></b>6:00 PM on a <i><b>weekday</b></i> evening.<br />
7. The windows <b><i>and</i></b> curtains are open.<br />
6. There are no dirty dishes in the sink, but the fridge may be accidentally left open.<br />
5. Gretchen has only her anxiety, not Jeff's snoring, to blame for a poor night's sleep.<br />
4. If Gretchen isn't sleeping, she's in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shavasana" target="_blank">shavasana</a> in the living room, trying to relax.<br />
3. Gretchen's socks and shoes match because she didn't get dressed in the dark while Jeff still slept.<br />
2. Ducky (the cat) is crazily running around the house because there is no one home to monitor her comings and goings during the day.<br />
<br />
And the #1 reason you know Jeff is out of town...<br />
<br />
1. The wifi signal coming out of The Tiny Bungalow is full strength because Jeff isn't simultaneously editing photos, monitoring 18 different social media feeds, and playing banjo or bridge via skype with friends.Clownfacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16219707395144242168noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7019626846268524660.post-90813700131301455112013-10-10T08:51:00.004-04:002013-10-10T08:51:53.513-04:00Save the cats!<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXNrA7wHSCO4s1S1j4l5HS45pVEgGVPj8OyEhrZ9PchKGRTMIuGGfB6ArEA80a01uokuvb6YlRFD2I1CfC6GEH4mfyf8FD5S_hY76TN3CNiXwSTXVwrZmf69-OUYXT0K9ikAvk2FXdEdCf/s1600/throwing+cats.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" closure_lm_66730="null" height="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXNrA7wHSCO4s1S1j4l5HS45pVEgGVPj8OyEhrZ9PchKGRTMIuGGfB6ArEA80a01uokuvb6YlRFD2I1CfC6GEH4mfyf8FD5S_hY76TN3CNiXwSTXVwrZmf69-OUYXT0K9ikAvk2FXdEdCf/s320/throwing+cats.jpg" title="" width="320" xsa="true" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Picture shamelessly lifted from <a href="http://bridesthrowingcats.com/">http://bridesthrowingcats.com</a>.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Gretchen neither threw her bouquet nor threw a cat at the wedding earlier this year. <br />
If you think you would enjoy seeing brides throwing cats in lieu of bouquets, visit this website, <a href="http://bridesthrowingcats.com/">http://bridesthrowingcats.com/ </a>Clownfacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16219707395144242168noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7019626846268524660.post-70671447832710059202013-08-30T11:52:00.003-04:002013-08-30T11:53:29.909-04:00Getting Fatter (or Day One in Sonoma)We were in Sonoma Valley - the heart of California Wine Country - for two days. On our first full day we drank:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>61 ounces of beer (15, 3 oz. samples at Russian River Brewing Company in Santa Rosa plus a pint over dinner) - that's the equivalent of 5 bottles</li>
<li>70 ounces of wine (35, 2 oz. samples at Sterling, Benziger, Mayo, and Ty Caton Vineyards) - that's the equivalent of 14 glasses of wine or nearly 3 bottles.</li>
</ul>
It should be no wonder at all that, on our first full day in Sonoma we also ate (a) an entire pizza, (b) two mini loaves of bread, (c) two bowls of pasta, and (d) half a chicken.<br />
<br />
We are grateful that we are only in Sonoma for another half day. If we had to be here longer it is uncertain if we'd fit into our airplane seats for the trip home with all this eating and drinking.<br />
<br />Clownfacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16219707395144242168noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7019626846268524660.post-16992234930593334602013-08-18T07:53:00.002-04:002013-08-18T07:53:53.133-04:00Married!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEtDy4hlFdHUxbAPROg4vhy67SzoCHLqec1yaqLYaSbOePRaLJ3RrwyQje9z5_q3i4Z8ncvJq-A5ikuGbPNcXL7VHX5TPXjfZT0C3l4P00dbVgKwycm0-Fk-zLxiFdg3bh-IGT3cJIib-k/s1600/1170708_10151777555560218_810722646_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEtDy4hlFdHUxbAPROg4vhy67SzoCHLqec1yaqLYaSbOePRaLJ3RrwyQje9z5_q3i4Z8ncvJq-A5ikuGbPNcXL7VHX5TPXjfZT0C3l4P00dbVgKwycm0-Fk-zLxiFdg3bh-IGT3cJIib-k/s320/1170708_10151777555560218_810722646_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />Clownfacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16219707395144242168noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7019626846268524660.post-32442660930372543722013-08-18T07:44:00.002-04:002013-08-18T07:45:04.362-04:00Gretchen's Vows<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 16.0pt;">Do you
know where I am right now? I am fully present, right here, net to a GIANT duck.
In Brockton. Getting married to you. For richer for poorer, in sickness and in
health. I am choosing to tether my bliss to yours because, for some crazy
reason, I love you with all my heart.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 16.0pt;">Like me,
I know you have choices. You have control over what happens in your life. To
make sure you choose me – choose us – I vow to:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 16pt;">Pat you when you need it (and sometimes even when you just want it).</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 16pt;">Always have macaroni and cheese in the cupboard and drinks in the fridge.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 16pt;">Tell you what I need to feel safe and loved.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 16pt;">And go to social events with you, even if I'm exhausted or afraid. </span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 16pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">I PROMISE
to be faithful, to be honest, and to continually err on the side of life (not
work).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: 16.0pt;">You know
I believe that marriage is not happily ever after. Instead it is a commitment
to grow together on our respective life journeys. And I know – I know – that in
between the NCIS reruns and trips to Target, you and I will grow while experiencing
moments of pure joy, deep passion, angry struggle, and, of course, rich
laughter. Oh Jeff Cutler, I am so glad to be on this journey with you. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
Clownfacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16219707395144242168noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7019626846268524660.post-32068984233902041322013-08-17T16:32:00.000-04:002013-08-18T07:44:52.853-04:00"Fulfillment" by Langston HughesGretchen's mom read the poem "Fulfillment" by <a href="http://www.poets.org/poet.php/prmPID/83" target="_blank">Langston Hughes</a> during the ceremony. Enamored of the words and the sentiment, this is the only poem Gretchen has ever memorized.<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: white; color: #6e7173; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px; margin-top: 10px; padding: 0px;">
The earth-meaning<br />
Like the sky-meaning<br />
Was fulfilled.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #6e7173; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px; margin-top: 10px; padding: 0px;">
We got up<br />
And went to the river,<br />
Touched silver water,<br />
Laughed and bathed<br />
In the sunshine.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #6e7173; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px; margin-top: 10px; padding: 0px;">
Day<br />
Became a bright ball of light<br />
For us to play with,<br />
Sunset<br />
A yellow curtain,<br />
Night<br />
A velvet screen.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #6e7173; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px; margin-top: 10px; padding: 0px;">
The moon,<br />
Like an old grandmother,<br />
Blessed us with a kiss<br />
And sleep<br />
Took us both in<br />
Laughing.</div>
Clownfacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16219707395144242168noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7019626846268524660.post-44669072481582168012013-08-17T16:25:00.000-04:002013-08-18T07:46:46.572-04:00"Finish each day..." by Ralph Waldo Emerson<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%;">
<span style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">After some squabbling over whether it was appropriate for Jeff to pen his own exegesis on love to be read at the wedding (Gretchen won that fight), Jeff spent some time considering the sentiment he wanted reflected in a short reading during the ceremony. Of the four he picked, each focused on living every day as if it were a new day, with the goal of living a life that is brilliantly exhausting. This is the one he eventually chose. </span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="color: #181818; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"Finish
each day and be done with it. You have done what you could. Some blunders and
absurdities no doubt crept in; forget them as soon as you can. Tomorrow is
a new day. You shall begin it serenely and with too high a spirit to be encumbered
with your old nonsense."</span></span><span style="color: #181818;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> </span></o:p></span></blockquote>
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<span style="color: #181818;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">― <span style="color: #1800af;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/12080.Ralph_Waldo_Emerson">Ralph Waldo Emerson</a></span></span></span></div>
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Curious about the other readings he considered?</div>
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<i><a href="http://www.quote.by/quote/687/" target="_blank">How many slams does a screen door slam</a></i>, by Shel Silverstein</div>
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/quotes/47188-life-should-not-be-a-journey-to-the-grave-with" target="_blank">Life should not be a journey</a>..., by Hunter S. Thompson</div>
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Clownfacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16219707395144242168noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7019626846268524660.post-88264556308911314412013-08-17T16:20:00.000-04:002013-08-17T16:20:00.671-04:00Jeff's Vows - Wedding Day August 17, 2013<div class="tr_bq">
Here are the vows Jeff spoke during the wedding ceremony today...</div>
<br />
<blockquote>
<span class="s1">Gretchen.</span> </blockquote>
<blockquote>
Vows remind me of knights in armor and mediaeval settings. They remind me of heartfelt proclamations shared before a quest...or a journey. </blockquote>
<blockquote>
<span class="s1">Though I didn’t bring a horse or a sword today, the words I share carry a similar weight as those spoken centuries ago between knights and maidens.</span> </blockquote>
<blockquote>
<span class="s1">I vow to enjoy our journey together and to bring you happiness in all the ways I know how.</span> </blockquote>
<blockquote>
<span class="s1">I vow not to change, except to be more attentive to you every day.</span><br /><span class="s1">and I vow that we’ll never be homeless, because wherever we are together, that’s our home.</span> </blockquote>
<blockquote>
<span class="s1">That’s my simple proclamation to you Gretchen. And this is our quest.</span> </blockquote>
<div class="p2">
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Jeff Cutlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02095350031114092271noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7019626846268524660.post-3059835180276505622013-08-17T16:03:00.000-04:002013-08-17T16:03:00.104-04:00Our wedding vendorsWe are big fans of recommending people who do great work. With that said we want to share the contact info for our wedding vendors. If you need a caterer, a florist, an event venue - please consider using any of these people. They all provided great service at a reasonable price.<br />
<br />
<b>Venue</b><br />
<a href="http://fullercraft.org/" target="_blank">Fuller Craft Museum</a><br />
"Brockton? You are getting married in Brockton!?" The most frequently heard question about the wedding. Yep. We got married in Brockton at the Fuller Craft Museum and were thrilled. The venue was unique, the dedicated event staff was creative and generous, and we felt like we had a special and non-traditional event in a special and non-traditional venue. As an added bonus, Gretchen's pal Nikki is close friends with the event planner on staff (herself an artist), so we were REALLY taken care of while we were there.<br />
<br />
<b>Catering </b><br />
Cindy Laney with <a href="http://www.cateringtoyou.net/" target="_blank">Catering to You</a><br />
Cindy's team cooks elegant food in Brookline, and offers meticulous displays. Her service includes display accoutrement, including linens, plates, silverware, and serve ware. She keeps her margins low -which mean her office isn't fancy and she's often stretched too thin to be believable - but her food is unbelievable and the service is impeccable.<br />
<br />
<b>Flowers</b><br />
Kelley Sousa with <a href="http://www.afandg.com/" target="_blank">Alchemy Flowers and Gardens</a><br />
Recommended by a pal in Hingham, Kelley Sousa really understood what we were trying to the decor for the event. When I explained my vision to everyone else, I imagined blank stares and David Tutera's voice saying, "Chalkboards? Gramma's old tea kettles? Bird cages? This thing is a mess!" But not with Kelley. Kelley got it. I recommend her without reservation.<br />
<br />
<b>Photographer</b><br />
<a href="http://www.kristinjordanphotography.com/" target="_blank">Kristin Jordan Photography</a><br />
Recommended by Ben and Katie Cutler, Kristin Jordan expressed the most enthusiasm about photographing our wedding. Her enthusiasm, combined with her skills, made her a great choice for us. She encouraged creative thinking about our engagement and formal wedding shots, and delivered our products on time.<br />
<br />
<b>Cupcakes</b><br />
<a href="http://www.bakedthings.com/" target="_blank">Baked Things</a><br />
Baked in North Scituate provided nine different flavors of cupcakes for the events. After a cupcake tasting extravaganza that took us as far away as Dover, we ended up with a shop right in our own backyard. And, in the spirit of everything working out in the end, we learned that the shop manager is besties with our caterer!<br />
<br />
<b>Design and Printing</b><br />
<a href="http://sparkvites.com/" target="_blank">Sparkvites</a><br />
We are uncertain how anyone planned a DIY wedding before Pinterest and Etsy came along. Were it not for Etsy we would likely never have found our designer/printer, Irene and Blake with Sparkvites. Their spirited and eclectic designs appealed to Gretchen and Jeff, and they were more than happy to make our vision work.<br />
<br />
<b>Gretchen's Hair</b><br />
Deja Vu Salon in Hingham, <span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 16px;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">(781) 749-9769</span></span><br />
Sarah Curtin, Gretchen's hair stylist for more than five years, is relaxed, encouraging, and really enjoys doing updos (who knew?). Special thanks to neighbor Angie for helping with the creative vision.<br />
<br />
<b>Gretchen's Nails</b><br />
Nail Flair in Hingham, <span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">(781) 749-5800</span></span><br />
Rick and his team, over the course of two days, prepared not only Gretchen's nails, but those of all the women participating in the wedding.<br />
<br />
<b>Gretchen's Make-Up</b><br />
It was the amateur hour in the make-up chair. But not really. Professional writer and nearly professional lover of all things product related, gal pal <a href="http://www.megfowler.com/" target="_blank">Meg Tripp</a> did make-up as her wedding gift to us. Thank you!<br />
<br />
Have a question about who did what when? Please drop Gretchen a note and she'll answer as quickly as she can. Email is your best bet, gretchen.kinder @ gmail.com.Clownfacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16219707395144242168noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7019626846268524660.post-28847984551301375732013-07-10T19:54:00.002-04:002013-07-10T19:56:14.268-04:00Wedding FAQs (or everything you ever wanted to know about Gretchen and Jeff's wedding)Yay! You are thinking about coming to our wedding on August 17th! But maybe you have some questions before you say yes?<br />
<br />
Here are the answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about our nuptials.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7019626846268524660#Question1">1. Brockton? Who decides to get married in Brockton?</a><br />
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7019626846268524660#Question2">2. How do I get to the ceremony?</a><br />
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7019626846268524660#Question3">3. How long should I plan to actually get to the Fuller Craft Museum?</a><br />
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7019626846268524660#Question4">4. What's the dress code?</a><br />
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7019626846268524660#Question5">5. What time does the ceremony start?</a><br />
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7019626846268524660#Question6">6. Will the ceremony be long?</a><br />
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7019626846268524660#Question7">7. Are kids allowed?</a><br />
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7019626846268524660#Question8">8. Who can I bring with me?</a><br />
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7019626846268524660#Question9">9. What if I don't want to cart your gift all the way to Brockton?</a><br />
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7019626846268524660#Question10">10. What's on the menu?</a><br />
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7019626846268524660#Question11">11. Will the reception be open bar?</a><br />
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7019626846268524660#Question12">12. What time does the wedding end?</a><br />
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7019626846268524660#Question13">13. Where is the afterparty?</a><br />
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7019626846268524660#Question14">14. What is the social media plan for the wedding?</a><br />
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7019626846268524660#Question15">15. What's the hashtag for the wedding?</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7019626846268524660" name="Question1">1. Brockton? Who decides to get married in Brockton?</a><br />
The <a href="http://fullercraft.org/" target="_blank">Fuller Craft Museum </a>in Brockton, near the Stoughton line, offered everything we were looking for in a venue - interesting environment, easy to get to, plenty of parking (and bathrooms) on site, and the option for an indoor event JUST IN CASE the weather (knock on wood) is bad.<br />
<br />
As a bonus our guests get to explore the museum during the event, and we get the privilege of having their facility event planner help with the wedding. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7019626846268524660" name="Question2">2. How do I get to the ceremony?</a><br />
The Fuller Craft Museum is located at 455 Oak Street in Brockton, MA.<br />
<br />
Type this into your GPS to get directions from your home/hotel. For our part, <a href="https://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&tab=wl" target="_blank">we'll be heading to the fiesta from our home</a> by way of Rte 93 S to Rte 24 S. We'll get off at exit 18B, and take a right after the shopping plaza to get onto Oak Street. If you pass the the Panera you've missed the turn.<br />
<br />
If traffic is horrible, then we'll likely go back roads (e.g. Rte 37 or 123).<br />
<br />
If you are <a href="http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/bosqu-boston-marriott-quincy/" target="_blank">staying at the wedding hotel,</a> the concierge can give you directions. We're good like that.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7019626846268524660" name="Question3">3. How long should I plan to get actually get to the Fuller Craft Museum?</a><br />
That depends entirely on where you are coming from! We are budgeting 45 minutes each way from Hingham.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7019626846268524660" name="Question4">4. What is the dress code?</a><br />
Gretchen is wearing a formalish dress, Jeff is not wearing a tie or jacket. That's code for nearly everything goes.<br />
<br />
Need more direction? Our theme is vintage family picnic. Imagine a family reunion at Gramma's house (and Gramma lives in a craft museum) in 1959 or 1966. Way more family members have shown up than we expected, so we've had to comb through the cupboards to make it work. That's the energy we're going for - fun, casual, family-oriented, innocent.<br />
<br />
Do you prefer instructions in the negative? Please don't dress like you are going out for wings and beer, and black tie will be excessive (unless you are George Cutler, and then black tie is 100% appropriate.)<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7019626846268524660" name="Question5">5. What time does the ceremony start?</a><br />
Promptly at 4:00 PM. We're both sticklers for things starting on time.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7019626846268524660" name="Question6">6. Will the ceremony be long?</a><br />
We're planning a 30-minute ceremony. Does that feel too long for you? No worries, we'll have activities to keep you entertained during the ceremony.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7019626846268524660" name="Question7">7. Are kids allowed?</a><br />
Nope. Gretchen is devoted to her nieces and nephews, and wouldn't dream of having a wedding without them. As a result, we've invited our twelve nieces and nephews. But that's where it ends.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7019626846268524660" name="Question8">8. Who can I bring with me?</a><br />
We researched invite etiquette extensively to make sure we were being clear in our invites. The people specifically named on your invite can come. That's it. Sorry, but space is tight. We look forward to meeting your sweetheart/best friend/favorite son at another event.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7019626846268524660" name="Question9">9. What if I don't want to cart your gift all the way to Brockton?</a><br />
Awww...thanks for thinking of us! We will have a gift table at the wedding, along with a card baskety thing. And Gretchen's family is on deck to cart gifts back to the house on Sunday morning. With that said, if YOU don't want to bother carting a gift to Brockton, feel free to drop it off at the house ahead of time, or ship it to us and the return address on your RSVP card. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7019626846268524660" name="Question10">10. What's on the menu?</a><br />
We'll host a cocktail hour and then a buffet-style dinner. That's all we're saying.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7019626846268524660" name="Question11">11. Will the reception be open bar?</a><br />
Yup. That's how we roll.<br />
<br />
But open bar is not an excuse for bad behavior or poor choices. If you are driving, please be sure to eat enough, drink plenty of water, and try not to overindulge. If you DO overindulge, we will make sure the facility is prepared to call a cab to get you safely to your bed.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7019626846268524660" name="Question12">12. What time does the wedding end?</a><br />
Promptly at 9:00. Seriously.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7019626846268524660" name="Question 13">13. Where's the after party?</a><br />
Uhm....there is no after party. At least not one that we're organizing. That's NOT how we roll. We plan to be in bed by 9:45 PM. Seriously.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7019626846268524660" name="Question 14">14. What's the social media plan for the wedding?</a><br />
We're social people. But space and money make it impossible for us to invite everyone we know through our social networks. So, we are happy for you to post pictures, videos, and commentary on the Interwebs so more people can feel like they are there. We aren't concerned with our "privacy."<br />
<br />
If you do, please follow these rules:<br />
<ol>
<li>We don't want pictures of the kids posted on any social media sites. That's just good common sense. </li>
<li>A handful of guests have expressed concerns about online privacy. So, if you plan to tag a photo, please make sure you have the person's permission before naming them online. </li>
</ol>
<br />
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7019626846268524660" name="Question 15">15. What's the hashtag for the wedding?</a> <br />
#wwjcmClownfacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16219707395144242168noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7019626846268524660.post-1300424327281017502013-06-26T08:54:00.003-04:002013-06-26T08:54:26.831-04:00RSVP OnlineInvites are starting to trickle out for the big event on August 17th. <br />
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If you want to RSVP online, you can do so here: <a href="http://jeffandgretchen.blogspot.com/p/rsvp-online.html">http://jeffandgretchen.blogspot.com/p/rsvp-online.html</a>.<br />
<br />
And yes, yes we know! If you are responding online, you aren't really saving a stamp, because the response cards were all pre-stamped. Clownfacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16219707395144242168noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7019626846268524660.post-30283222714252795762013-06-23T06:37:00.003-04:002013-06-23T06:37:32.565-04:00This is happening!So the invitations are officially out the door to our guests who are traveling from far away. This is really happening! We're getting married!Clownfacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16219707395144242168noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7019626846268524660.post-86503400177787299352013-04-28T20:30:00.000-04:002013-05-05T18:02:19.781-04:00How does Gretchen and Jeff's registry work? <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_wEzhrAPCteKNaluke1cPzQUohJepvrhyXq9nJxXRG7ZqV_GM_AcZo3B-abVrHwudNBy99IF_SR1Ylk_Dmbe-o6DthhtLin9pKrMKAoR5R1ovDctLlHchdhzKQVKd4Jz3msz4v_LGrK7w/s1600/Screen+Shot+2013-04-28+at+8.24.38+PM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_wEzhrAPCteKNaluke1cPzQUohJepvrhyXq9nJxXRG7ZqV_GM_AcZo3B-abVrHwudNBy99IF_SR1Ylk_Dmbe-o6DthhtLin9pKrMKAoR5R1ovDctLlHchdhzKQVKd4Jz3msz4v_LGrK7w/s320/Screen+Shot+2013-04-28+at+8.24.38+PM.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You can browse everything Gretchen and Jeff <br />
might like from a variety of stores on the Internet at <br />
http://www.myregistry.com/public/gretchenandjeff</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Over the five years we have lived together we have negotiated a shared style that is thoughtful, eclectic, rustic, and quirky. <br />
<br />
Given this we knew we couldn't find just ONE store that captured our style. So our wedding registry is designed to share with you items we like from around the Internet.<br />
<br />
We use a service called Myregistry.com. This lets us add things from stores across the Internet to our registry. Stores ranging from Crate and Barrel to Napa Style to Target to Jackson and Perkins. You can view everything we would like at <a href="http://www.myregistry.com/public/gretchenandjeff">www.myregistry.com/public/gretchenandjeff</a><br />
<br />
If our online registry is too confusing, please use this guide:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>The <i>dishes we would like</i> - to replace our shared collection of dishes left over from old relationships - are the La Rochere Napoleon Bee collection - available on Overstock.com - <a href="http://www.overstock.com/Home-Garden/La-Rochere-Napoleon-Bee-6-piece-Dinner-Plate-Set/3866787/product.html">http://www.overstock.com/Home-Garden/La-Rochere-Napoleon-Bee-6-piece-Dinner-Plate-Set/3866787/product.html</a></li>
<li>The <i>silverware we would like</i> - to replace our Dollar Store finds purchased in between relationships - is from the Stanton Collection at Crate and Barrel - <a href="http://www.crateandbarrel.com/Gift-Registry/Gretchen-Kinder-and-Jeff-Cutler/r4910258">http://www.crateandbarrel.com/Gift-Registry/Gretchen-Kinder-and-Jeff-Cutler/r4910258</a></li>
<li>We want to do some landscaping around the house. So we've registered for <i>rose bushes, forsythia and climbing hyrdrangea </i>at Jackson and Perkins - <a href="http://www.jacksonandperkins.com/">http://www.jacksonandperkins.com/</a></li>
<li>We have a <a href="http://www.garnethill.com/johanna-quilt-and-sham/bedding-bath/quilts-coverlets-shams/quilts-shams/117769?defattrib=&redirect=y" target="_blank"><i>duvet/quilt we love </i>for our queen size bed from Garnet Hill </a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.kohls.com/product/prd-c20181/500-thread-count-deep-fitted-egyptian-cotton-sheet-set.jsp?src=k54442&clickid=0004dbffa3ff9ed40ae0c2c190004f03" target="_blank"><i>Towels and sheets</i> from Kohls are a-ok with us</a>. We decorate using warm fall colors - garnet red, rich teals, mossy greens, rich camels, etc. </li>
<li>We have registered for a wide range of cooking and home decor items at <a href="http://www.crateandbarrel.com/Gift-Registry/Gretchen-Kinder-and-Jeff-Cutler/r4910258" target="_blank">Crate and Barrel</a>, and <a href="http://www.williams-sonoma.com/registry/3210091/registry-list.html?bnrid=3117895&cm_ven=AfRegistry&cm_cat=RegistryOth&cm_pla=GAN&cm_ite=Std" target="_blank">Williams-Sonoma</a>.</li>
</ul>
<div>
There are many unique items you can find on our registry - Eiffel Tower bookends, hurricane lanterns made from recycled wine bottles, etc. We <a href="http://www.myregistry.com/public/gretchenandjeff" target="_blank">invite you to peek at the registry online</a> - even if you don't buy online - to get a sense of our negotiated style. </div>
<div>
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<b>Or do nothing at all. </b>Please remember, we both love presents, but this isn't why we're having a wedding. We're having a wedding to formalize our commitment to each other, and to share with you our excitement about living the rest of our lives together.Clownfacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16219707395144242168noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7019626846268524660.post-38537790343511773562013-04-27T06:39:00.000-04:002013-05-04T06:42:24.229-04:00What was your favorite part of wedding planning?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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As of this morning we FINALLY have the big things done for our August wedding day:<br />
Venue - Check<br />
Caterer - Check<br />
Florist - Check<br />
Musicians/DJ - Check<br />
Officiant - Check<br />
Cake - Check<br />
Photographer - Check<br />
Dress - Check<br />
Invites - Check<br />
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Now we are moving onto the little details. Things like finding embellishments to to package the invitations together, deciding aisle runner or no aisle runner, and selecting music for the ceremony.<br />
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There is no <a href="http://www.wetv.com/shows/my-fair-wedding" target="_blank">David Tutera</a> on hand to help us. Thankfully Gretchen relishes considering the small details (while Jeff wants little to do with any of it).<br />
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Bickering over some of the minute decisions made us wonder - what were your favorite parts of planning your wedding? (Or planning a child's or friend's wedding?) What parts gave you the heebie jeebies?<br />
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<br />Clownfacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16219707395144242168noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7019626846268524660.post-50330894062981672522013-03-23T14:27:00.001-04:002013-03-23T14:28:39.709-04:00It doesn't get any better than this<h4 style="text-align: center;">
<b>SPOILER ALERT </b></h4>
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If you haven't seen <i>The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel</i> yet you might not want to read any further. </div>
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Now, back to our regularly scheduled blog post....<br />
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We were watching <i><a href="http://www.blogger.com/In%20other%20to%20meet%20the%20goal%20of%20negotiating%20new%20partnerships%20intended%20to%20serve%20150%20new%20children%20and%20families%20by%20September%202013,%20and%20an%20additional%20100%20new%20children%20and%20families%20by%20September%202014,%20Raising%20A%20Reader%20MA%20is:" target="_blank">The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel</a></i> last night. Towards the end of the film an unhappy marriage ends with the wife leaving her husband of nearly 40 years with this sentiment, "We both deserve better than this."<br />
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Vaguely panicked by the melancholy statement, Gretchen turned to Jeff and said, "I don't want either of us to ever be in the position of saying 'I deserve better than this.'"<br />
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Jeff replied, "Don't worry, because we don't deserve any better than this."<br />
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As you might expect, this was followed with some good-natured and slightly hostile pinching.<br />
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Nursing his bruises, Jeff clarified, "What I MEANT was it can't possibly get any better than this, than us, together."<br />
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Jeff will be 48 and Gretchen will be 43 when they get married on August 17th. It is possible their marriage could last 40 years. They're both counting on the fact that their lives together will certainly get better, and minimally won't get any worse.<br />
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<br />Clownfacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16219707395144242168noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7019626846268524660.post-53865142047706852622013-03-13T20:17:00.002-04:002013-03-13T20:17:44.211-04:00PinterestGretchen has surprised herself by loving to talk about the wedding. Jeff, not surprisingly, can handle ten minutes of discussion before allowing his boredom (or anxiety) to completely distract him.<br />
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Do you love to talk wedding? <a href="http://pinterest.com/clownface3/the-wedding/" target="_blank">Pop over to Gretchen's wedding Pinterest board</a> to see some of the ideas being floated around. Her username is Clownface3.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFOW-LZeHd-n4vvKZnPrN-DwseoU_K2NwXR8nSgkP-gp_kexgR17tncEsWjwJ-QSiV-LW9XKb5Evfoc418iTgEuR3OyXwBtj82li0A1W18CuYUEfAuRi1xPhOuj2gtyBqX5vFQ3ln0azxB/s1600/Screen+Shot+2013-03-13+at+8.16.50+PM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFOW-LZeHd-n4vvKZnPrN-DwseoU_K2NwXR8nSgkP-gp_kexgR17tncEsWjwJ-QSiV-LW9XKb5Evfoc418iTgEuR3OyXwBtj82li0A1W18CuYUEfAuRi1xPhOuj2gtyBqX5vFQ3ln0azxB/s640/Screen+Shot+2013-03-13+at+8.16.50+PM.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<br />Clownfacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16219707395144242168noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7019626846268524660.post-15526452075118616662013-02-18T09:36:00.004-05:002013-03-06T17:29:19.086-05:00Saving the date and planning ahead<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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We were engaged to be married on 12/12/12. Hooray!<br />
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And now we're planning a wedding for 8/17/2013, just two days shy of the anniversary of our first date, seven years ago.<br />
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If you have received a save the date card from us, we hope you can come to the party. (And if you haven't, I'm sorry - our budget allows only so many people to join us on the 17th. We have zillions of people we want to celebrate with, so we're planning a handful of other events. Stay tuned!)<br />
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So back to those of you who received a save the date card. We DO hope you can join us on the South Shore of Boston for our wedding.<br />
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<h3>
<b>Overnight accommodations </b></h3>
If you need a place to stay for the weekend please consider staying at the <a href="http://www.holidayinn.com/hotels/us/en/rockland/rklma/hoteldetail/amenities">Holiday Inn in Rockland</a>. They have been kind enough to set aside a block of rooms for us at a special rate. Their number is 781-871-0545. <b>Make the reservation BEFORE April 16th and use the code KCW to get the special rates.</b><br />
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(If you don't want to stay at the Holiday Inn in Rockland, no worries. we won't lose anything if all the rooms aren't used.)<br />
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<h3>
<b>Registry </b></h3>
There are <a href="http://insideweddings.com/articles/anna-post-on-etiquette-registry-rules" target="_blank">many schools of thought on registries</a> - ranging from "They make you look greedy," to "They are really helpful." We've decided to share our registry here in the spirit of being helpful.<br />
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We've created <a href="http://www.myregistry.com/public/gretchenandjeff" target="_blank">an online registry using the tool MyRegistry.com.</a> This is a cool website that lets you put items from around the Internet on your registry - so you aren't limited to items available in one or two stores. This also aggregates registries from some of the biggies (e.g. Crate and Barrel, Target, etc.) into one place. (We ARE registered at Crate and Barrel, William and Sonoma and Pottery Barn.)<br />
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<a href="http://www.myregistry.com/public/gretchenandjeff" target="_blank">So, hop online to look at our registry.</a> If you want to buy us a gift, (a) thank you, and (b) consider the online list as a guide to our style, rather than a mandate. We both love to shop and appreciate that you might want to go to a real store to have some fun thinking about what gift would appropriately demonstrate your feelings our wedding and future life together.<br />
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More details on the wedding, showers, TweetUps, and bachelor parties are coming soon!Clownfacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16219707395144242168noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7019626846268524660.post-65376160150623598812011-08-07T15:47:00.000-04:002011-08-07T15:47:06.530-04:00What do you do with your mate?That's not a probing question, it's actually one that really wants to get at the heart of what occurs in your house on a lazy Sunday afternoon...or any day of the week.<br />
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Right now, I'm watching as Gretchen plays video games. Unlike when I was obsessed with N64 and other game systems, she uses these to unwind and also to fill time around her other projects. While working 70 hours a week has its benefits (I can't name any), she definitely needs time to set aside work for lighter pursuits.<br />
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I'm on the couch writing a self-imposed 11 blog posts in three hours as she plays - then the two of us will go to the supermarket together. Is that something you do as a couple? Is the guy in your house responsible for some things and the woman other things? *For the guy-guy or girl-girl houses, how do you break down the work?<br />
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And after work on a regular day, is there an assigned dinner maker? Is one night a week (a month, a year) your date night? Do you have a 20-minute daily debrief over a glass of wine and a Zima like we do?<br />
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From where we sit in the Bungalow, we like to think we're pretty normal. But maybe we have blinders on. What's your routine? What special things do you do? And what keeps the sparks flying?<br />
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How about it <a href="http://twitter.com/mikelangford">Mike</a>, <a href="http://twitter.com/jennalyns">Jennifer</a>, <a href="http://twitter.com/gradontripp">Gradon</a>, <a href="http://twitter.com/kevinmic">Kevin</a>, <a href="http://twitter.com/chrisbrogan">Chris</a>, <a href="http://twitter.com/peplau">Derek</a>, <a href="http://twitter.com/bobbiec">Bobbie</a>, <a href="http://twitter.com/cc_chapman">CC</a>, <a href="http://twitter.com/lardito">Lois</a>, <a href="http://twitter.com/btrandolph">Todd</a>? Give us your thoughts - and share this with others.<br />
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We'd like to find out if we're going about life the right way or if we're odd people out when it comes to chores and enjoying each other's company.<br />
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Comments open....have at it.Jeff Cutlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02095350031114092271noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7019626846268524660.post-73009776020759764902010-12-25T09:02:00.000-05:002010-12-25T18:33:44.153-05:00The Gift of the MagiFor Christmas this year I gave Jeff a mini bamboo steamer for cooking shumai and gyoza snacks. He gave me a bamboo steamer for cooking vegetables.<br /><br />For Christmas this year I gave Jeff two poach pods for cooking poached eggs. He gave me fried egg molds for cooking eggs in the shape of roosters.<br /><br />A sign perhaps, that we were meant to be together? At least for the next year?Clownfacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16219707395144242168noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7019626846268524660.post-61205788106492965012010-09-11T18:55:00.000-04:002010-09-11T19:14:37.965-04:00In for a penny, in for a pound$ 617 - New couch<br />$ 800 - Plumber to replace the water heater on the weekend<br />$ 120 - "Donation" to Animal Rescue League of Boston as a thanks for getting our <br /> cat out of the neighbor's tree<br />$ 260 - New BBQ grill and various accoutrement<br />$ 300 - Trip to Syracuse to visit Gretchen's family<br />------<br />$2,097<br />That's how much we've shelled out in the last three weeks for various and extraordinary house expenses.<br /><br />To be fair we've brought in cash too.<br />$111 - Garage sale proceeds<br />$150 - Sale of the futon<br />$600 - Garage sale proceeds of two year ago<br />-----<br />$860 - That's our cash in hand to cover these expenses<br /><br />So, the total we've shelled out in the last three weeks is only $1,237. Maybe not as high as $2,097, but still overwhelming. Gulp.<br /><br />One of the upsides of the cash spent is that we've decided to build a joint checking/savings account to pay monthly expenses and to build a slush fund for things like hot water heaters and vacation. <br /><br />We may not be getting married (yet) but if we're in for $1,237 we're in it for the long haul.Clownfacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16219707395144242168noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7019626846268524660.post-86370232384008464952010-09-06T09:08:00.000-04:002010-09-06T09:34:33.488-04:00Ideal partyWe hosted an impromptu BBQ last night, for all of the very very smart people who didn't schlep to the Cape this weekend. <br /><br />The idea for the party was started when a girlfriend and I, while enjoying a workday lunch in Somerville's Union Square, realized our <a href="http://www.bu.edu/ssw/academic/msw/dual/sw-ph/index.shtml">grad school gang</a> had not seen each other in a while. She said she'd host a party, but then agreed to let me and Jeff host so we could invite other friends. The vision I had was a backyard filled with people, playing badminton while laughed echoed off the porch. <br /><br />About 90 minutes before the party, while reflecting on the nine definite RSVPs which included Jeff's parents and godmother, Jeff asked me how I was feeling. Only one of my grad school pals was on the "yes" list for the party. One never even replied in spite of an email and a follow-up phone call. He then said, "I feel bad that you put so much energy into planning these parties, and then always end up being for my friends and family. I think you need to plan around them better." <br /><br />My reply, "I give up too much of my own desires already. I don't want to plan parties around people who are inconsistent. I think what I need to do is adjust my expectations of the people I call my friends, particularly those with young children. Between their obligations to their children and their own families, and the alleged difficulty of traveling with kids, I can't count on them to be present when I want them to be." <br /><br />Jeff countered, "I think many people don't realize the point of dragging yourself out of the house is to spend time with people you care about. If the venue is less than ideal - maybe you don't want to go to that golf tournament, or concert, or bat mitzvah - but you do want to see the person who invited you. So just go and be with the people you care about." <br /><br />With that as the reflective thought for the day, we headed into the party. Jeff's best friend from childhood and his lovely wife were the first to arrive. Followed by Jeff's godmother and his parents. We sipped water and wine and caught up with one another. Then our neighbors arrived, the wife a friend of Jeff's, with their 15 year-old son, who promptly got to work setting up the badminton "court" and exploring the bocce set laid out on the dry grass. We started cooking, laying out the meager but delicious potluck. Then, to my surprise, two friends from graduate school arrived. One sans her 3 year-old daughter and the other with her two young boys in tow. We all got food and drink and settled into the grass to reconnect. When the badminton set was fully assembled we popped up and played three or four horrible but fun games while Jeff's dad took photos from the porch. As the end of the party the neighbor and her family were still here, along with two friends - sweethearts - Jeff and I have both met through social media. We did a little trash talking, poked around on the Internet and generally relaxed with one another.<br /><br />It all felt nearly perfect. What would have made it perfect? If my family had been there too, and maybe a relaxed board game or card game at the end of the evening.<br /><br />And, because there was such a tiny crowd, clean-up was a breeze.<br /><br />The lesson for me? It's not entirely who's in the room but how you use the time that makes the ideal party.Clownfacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16219707395144242168noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7019626846268524660.post-47755597751747398572010-05-27T21:08:00.001-04:002010-05-27T21:20:58.949-04:00Duped<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDkqjYLNX0og848vi21oyKI3kvoqvgclAzNrkBzDqzYzbnyEZuhTAzAMgdvJtUl9M6wI0d7RHjFwLUNpVTiAi3TsgniWRCeszdrIrLmg8YKuAj6t99WOOmxS1_Audtd1yc2awOJ4XqC703/s1600/Ice+cream+sundae.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDkqjYLNX0og848vi21oyKI3kvoqvgclAzNrkBzDqzYzbnyEZuhTAzAMgdvJtUl9M6wI0d7RHjFwLUNpVTiAi3TsgniWRCeszdrIrLmg8YKuAj6t99WOOmxS1_Audtd1yc2awOJ4XqC703/s200/Ice+cream+sundae.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476124569900777906" /></a>Jeff called me at work at 3:40 PM to ask if I would be at the office in the next few minutes. <br /><br />"I have a meeting at 4:00," I replied.<br /><br />"Okay, I'll hurry over there. I have something to give you." <br /><br />"Oooh!" thought I. Earlier in the day Jeff and I had a virtual exchange about the possibility of ice cream which didn't pan out. But I knew HE had gone for a scoop or three with a friend and I immediately assumed he was bringing me an ice cream treat as solace for my inability to get out of the office to get my own. <br /> <br />4:00 rolls around and there is no Jeff, so I head into the conference room to run what I think is going to be a 30 minute meeting. All the while I'm day dreaming about the <a href="http://www.icecreamsundae.com/">ice cream sundae</a> Jeff is bringing to me. "Will he know to put it in the freezer if I'm not at my desk?" I continue, "Maybe someone will tell him to find me in the conference room and he'll hand deliver a banana split." Panicked for a moment I also thought, "Gosh! What if the place gets locked up and he can't get in? Will he eat MY ice cream? Will he wait in the parking lot with it?" <br /><br />I look up at the clock and realize the meeting has been dragging on for 70 minutes. I excuse myself and run to my office, imagining a small Ben and Jerry's cup in a ceremonious puddle on my desk. But no. What I find instead is a thermal bag from the Lindt chocolate store standing upright in the middle of my workspace. I think to myself, "Do they serve ice cream? Ohh! I bet it is good!" I open the bag eagerly and find three pounds of their famous truffles. "Huh. This is odd. I bet Jeff got them for free and he thought I might enjoy them because work has been SO stressful lately. It isn't ice cream, but it is nice."<br /><br />I grab the bag and head back to the conference room where the meeting is breaking up. I open each of the bags of truffles and offer them to my colleagues, and then fill our chocolate bowl. <br /><br />*****<br /><br />Later I speak with Jeff and learn that the truffles weren't a gift for me, but rather candy he bought for himself that he wanted me to ferry around on his behalf.<br /><br />*grumble*Clownfacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16219707395144242168noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7019626846268524660.post-77492855272762296842010-05-23T19:52:00.000-04:002010-05-24T05:27:35.456-04:00Different PerspectivesI drew a very bad picture of Jeff while he and I sat in a bar together. I had been teasing about tattooing a flower on his forehead, or maybe drawing one in permanent magic marker. He wouldn't let me (go figure) so I got my doodlebug on by drawing his picture. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQNoFgwoOKgijm-YKAaBdjP_0WinL4n4Rjdsj_MmWYodQXcTBIq5-Bl8jIeZfY2VQuBhtYoUFAbei-o17s1Jb89reU0MWRPpMMkAi5qELY_KjkEEQ1trNo-0E52TJ8PIGdxRgtgOTekDJ8/s1600/My+picture+of+Jeff+001.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQNoFgwoOKgijm-YKAaBdjP_0WinL4n4Rjdsj_MmWYodQXcTBIq5-Bl8jIeZfY2VQuBhtYoUFAbei-o17s1Jb89reU0MWRPpMMkAi5qELY_KjkEEQ1trNo-0E52TJ8PIGdxRgtgOTekDJ8/s200/My+picture+of+Jeff+001.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474619425423050594" /></a><br />He snorted derisively and said, "That's supposed to be me? I don't look like that." I admit I'm not a remotely talented artist. But I TRIED to capture the shape of Jeff's head, his round cheeks, his messy, vaguely spikey hairstyle, and his square glasses. It wasn't a museum quality, really wasn't even a fridge-worthy, portrait. But I felt I deserved a "B" for effort. <br /><br />"So I'm not a good drawer," I sniffed defensively. "You try to do better." So he did.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk5dSYYwZuCNtN-s9TP2IvfK_x1S2KRECbWsQgyJuYb1Yw0e3cAY2biCVecWV1QRCRdz27g5diKKOsoOpvs9i_9TulHo3GswzYvnlp0hqmKWQETGjrKB7pvMCUUwFKaN76DU07WxM3t0WU/s1600/Jeff's+picture+of+me.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk5dSYYwZuCNtN-s9TP2IvfK_x1S2KRECbWsQgyJuYb1Yw0e3cAY2biCVecWV1QRCRdz27g5diKKOsoOpvs9i_9TulHo3GswzYvnlp0hqmKWQETGjrKB7pvMCUUwFKaN76DU07WxM3t0WU/s200/Jeff's+picture+of+me.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474619532504712018" /></a><br /><br />I have nothing else to report.Clownfacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16219707395144242168noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7019626846268524660.post-23906631006621061542010-03-10T21:42:00.000-05:002010-03-10T22:30:17.500-05:00JeffronymsJeffronym (jeff-row-nim): An acronym for an activity/relationship that partially defines Jeff Cutler's life.<br /><br />Why Jeffronyms? My sister lovingly complained earlier this week that she "had no idea what all of the "x"s mean in Jeff's Facebook updates." SXSW @ NOMX3? What DOES that mean? So I'm here to help you understand these acronyms so you can interpret and appreciate Jeff's life as I do. Have a Jeffronym not yet addressed here? Put it in the comments and we'll try to answer, or feel free to add your own Jeffronym here.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;"><a href="http://bostonmediamakers.wordpress.com/">BMM</a></span> (bee emm emm): BMM stands for Boston Media Makers, which is a monthly gathering of "media makers" (e.g. bloggers, video bloggers, twitters, etc.) for networking and professional horn tooting. They gather over breakfast at Boston's (in)famous <a href="http://boston.citysearch.com/profile/4740463/jamaica_plain_ma/doyle_s.html">Doyle's</a> Cafe.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">iRoadtrip </span>(eye road trip): This was a road trip Jeff took with a group of four other social media gurus last year. They drove from Detroit, MI to Austin, TX (see SXSW below) in some sort of fancy Ford provided by, well, Ford Motor Company. Along the way they visited companies, like my <a href="http://www.zappos.com">beloved Zappos.com</a>, that are doing interesting and innovative things with social media to reach out to their customers. This was a <br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;"><a href="http://nomx3.com/">NOMX3</a></span> (Nahm ex 3): Jeff's TV show he co-hosts with @mikelangford. NOMX3= nom x 3 or nom nom nom. Nom is geek speak for yummy. The TV show is like a talk show for guys, and involves eating lunch, thus the yummy yummy yummy or NOMX3.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">RT<span style="font-weight:bold;"></span></span> (retweet): This Jeffronym is popping up on Facebook. It is actually <a href="http://www.twitter.com">Twitter</a> speak for repeating something someone else has said on Twitter. People retweet if they read something particularly witty, smart or compelling. RT is also used for political reasons - to show your support for someone else's great work or to be noticed by someone you admire professionally or personally. While Jeff is an excellent writer he is humble and/or smart enough to pass along cool info he finds on Twitter.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">SPJ </span>(ess pee jay): Society of Professional Journalists, the professional organization of journalists. Jeff is the official social media trainer for SPJ, and he is flying all over the US delivering training for news organizations and journalists on the use of tools like Facebook to research stories, find sources, and deliver content.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;"><a href="http://sxsw.com/">SXSW</a></span> (south by southwest): The annual social/new media conference Jeff attends in Austin, TX. It is sometimes called South By. <br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;"><a href="http://thingstoworryabout.blogspot.com/">TTWA</a></span> (things to worry about): Jeff's blog in which he inspires readers to be afraid of the things he is most afraid of.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;"><a href="http://wwjce.tumblr.com/">WWJCE</a></span> (double you, double you, jay cee, ee): What Would Jeff Cutler Eat, the picture blog that details on a meal-by-meal or snack-by-snack basis what Jeff has been ingesting. Want to know how many Twinkies one person could possibly eat in a single day? WWJCE can tell you. How much cheese can one man eat between lunch and dinner? WWJCE has the answers.Clownfacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16219707395144242168noreply@blogger.com0