Today is the 26th anniversary of the day I asked Amy out.

Today Amy and I wrote a sweet piece about the gamble she took when she said “Yes.”

Unfortunately, the gamble that I wish that I didn’t take was to hit the “Save” button without copying and pasting into another document.  The server was down and we lost everything.

Amy: I’m sorry.
Scott: Wanna rewrite it.
Amy: No.

Well there you have it.

We laughed, and then we laughed again when I typed “We laughed”.

We will (re-)tell the rest of the story tomorrow.

My Nook Color to Android Tablet Challenge has been the third time I completed the task.

My mission was to bless my dad with the same options to expand his Nook Color’s power as I was enjoying. The bonus was that I was able to offer you, mysilentscream readers, the secrets to my success.

As I finish this week I’m left with a desire to share four truths about completing a project. I’ve been blessed with many good role models, high expectations and caring support, but with that in mind I know that when I take on a challenge I still have to do the work.

Embrace your style; while it lasts.

If it changes, let it.

Maybe you wear glasses, contacts or you don’t.  Embrace it!

Maybe you’ve had short hair, a perm, a mullet, a mohawk, faux-hawk, crew cut or short cut.  Embrace it!

Maybe you colored it blue, red, silver or pink — I did — or maybe now it’s graying on it’s own.  Embrace it!

Maybe you’ve got fur or not.  Embrace it!

Maybe you tried a mustache for a day.  Shrug your shoulders, smirk & then embrace it!

Guest post by Amy Volltrauer

The Legend of the Hippo Pillow

A little set up.

I am a traditionalist and had been looking forward to when I had a boyfriend on Valentine’s Day and what special gift he would give. So needless to say, I had expectations.

Scott on the other hand is a non-traditionalist and hates having to live up to the expectations put on him by marketing, etc. And we didn’t know each other well enough yet to know these things about each other.

Hence the story.

Growing up in Chicago I loved the change of seasons.  Each season seemed about three months long.  Each season had its unique features and unique fun.

When I was in my teens my dad and I learned to ski.  Years later I learned to snowboard.  Having moved to Minnesota where winter seems to have a five-month grasp finding ways to have fun in the snow has become an important way to cope.

Snowboarding is fun and challenging.  I miss the challenge of skiing moguls, but I love the spins and the multi-direction ride — regular to switch and back to regular – as I glide down the slope.

At our house we’re talking about our upcoming Thanksgiving week.  Questions abound.

Will we all be able to get together at Grandma and Grandpa V’s?  Will we travel together?  How long can we stay?  Who has to get back when?

My dad does not like turkey, we do.  No problem, we have a turkey dinner at our house during the Thanksgiving week.

More questions: When will we get together?  What time?  Who can help with the meal?

Questions. Questions. Questions.

Holiday gatherings are stressful times for many people.

A couple years ago we had some homeless mice take residence in our home.  After they mocked us mercilessly we sought to trap them.  We assumed we caused one’s demise as the house filled with a nasty odor.  We checked our traps and set about to use our sniffers to find the body but to no avail.

A few stinking days slowly passed and after a while we could smell the dead mouse no more.

Last week we smelled a “dead mouse” again.  A search turned up nothing.  Each visitor was warned vociferously about entering our stinky house.  Graciously they persevered and enjoyed our company despite the odors.