my name is not nick.

i happen to see it as a cryin' shame for someone to have a perfectly serviceable blog, but to have it languish inactive for almost 4 months. i also have an inordinate amount of time on my hands right now and am slowly working my way through a long list of shameful things i can remedy. updating nick's blog is on the top of that list.

so here's the summary of what's happened in nick's life in the last 4 months:

june highlights
...nick met his lovely (some might say ravishing) girlfriend's parents for the first time. he was a bit nervous, but stood up to the scrutiny admirably, fitting in some male-bonding fishing, a eureka springs excursion, and a ride the ducks trip.
...while mowing said girlfriend's lawn (as he tends to do to prove his undying devotion), he found 4 tiny kittens and without further ado claimed the black and white one for his own, naming him ransom pendragon.

july highlights
...nick & kate roadtripped to colorado to meet more of kate's family. her sister-in-law promptly got him inebriated then plyed him with questions about his intentions toward kate. he again stood up to the pressure, showing himself to be a man. they went camping in some of the most gorgeous country on earth and then visited the garden of the gods.
...nick took that ever-present girlfriend out for their six month anniversary (of dating) and made it the most memorable date up to that point by professing his love for her.
...nick made his harvest debut as little jimmy, supporting mr. science in educating the little vbs-ers in the scientific ways of the world. those little tykes will never be the same.

august highlights
...nick finished his last month working at doulos with mixed emotions. his buddy rob bought a house and they moved in together, which helped nick not feel too cast adrift on the sea of life. he's currently enjoying the challenge of turning his bedroom into his own space by painting the walls and building furniture... their friend, jen moved in to the basement apartment with them, so they're one co-ed happy family.

september highlights
...nick looked about for a job, finding a few options, but finally hitting the mother lode of opportunities at artfolk, a shop that specializes in making dulcimers, but also does all sorts of other woodworking-like things. the owner, art, is excited to be training nick in a number of things including sign-making and sweet harp-making. hopefully this job will evolve into something nick can continue expanding into a career. it fits with his love of making things with his hands perfectly and art is a wonderful older gentleman who is already a mentor figure in nick's life.
...nick was in a car accident that totaled his explorer, but was thankfully uninjured. he is currently carhunting, and would love to find a toyota tacoma within his price range but is also open to other options.

there you have it! the highs, the lows and the mediums of nick's life over the past few months.

in case you haven't figured it out yet, that ravishing girlfriend... well, that's me. he doesn't know i hacked into his blog, but i don't think he'll mind.

i love you, slinkydooda!