hankrules2011

A polymath rambling about virtually anything

Posts Tagged ‘anniversary’

My First WP Post Anniversary

Posted by Scott Holstad on June 20, 2015

Today is my fourth anniversary of my first WordPress blog post! Yay! I migrated over from Xanga to WordPress, a little unsure of things, but eventually found my way around and the rest is history. I’m going to post my first post from June 20, 2011. It’s short.

 

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Hello world!

Posted by Scott Holstad on June 20, 2011

Hi there! My name is Scott Holstad. I’ve been blogging on Xanga since February 2004, and while I am still there, I have decided to try a new, different blog over here on WordPress.

Let’s see … what should I say about myself? I was born in Boston and have lived in several states and two countries. I have moved roughly 26 times. My favorite place I have lived has been Los Angeles. I’m now living in the Chattanooga TN area. (I moved up here from an island I was living on. By the beach. Across the street from the bar I frequented every night. Sweet living. Good times….)

I’m a professional student and teacher. Thirteen years of college at six academic institutions, resulting in three (underused) degrees. Taught at three academic institutions.

More importantly, I’m a professional writer and editor, with decades of experience to my credit. I have experience in the newspaper, magazine (print and online), and book publishing industries. While I have authored 15 published poetry collections over the years, I have generally supported myself through technical writing and editing, project and program management, and consulting.

I am currently serving as the poetry editor for Ray’s Road Review, an excellent online literary journal founded by a fantastic fiction writer named Chris Duncan. He is also serving as the fiction editor. Please stop by the site and read. If inspired to do so, submit as well. We’re eager and open to submissions.

I guess that’s enough for now. If anyone stumbles across my new blog and wants to say hi, please leave some comment telling me about yourself. It’d be greatly appreciated. Cheers!

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There! That was it. Not very impressive, was it? Still, my first effort. My first effort on Xanga back in 2004 was even worse. My next effort was better. I might reprint that in another day or so. Thanks for reading.

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Been Sick

Posted by Scott Holstad on March 30, 2015

Man, I’ve been sick for several days now. Not violently ill or anything. Just sick. As in a bad cold. Or bad allergies. Or something. For awhile now, I’ve been getting sore throats and earaches. I made an appointment to see my doctor, but they couldn’t fit me in for two freakin’ weeks, so I’ve been waiting to see them. Meanwhile, on Friday I got much worse. My throat started feeling incredibly sore, very, very sore. My ears hurt. My head started pounding. I started sneezing. And I was both congested and blowing my nose, violently, if you can believe that. Over and over again. I was wearing the Kleenex out. I talked to a different doctor who thought it might be allergies, although I don’t think that’s what it is. I’ve never had allergic reactions like this to anything. Anyway, she suggested I start taking Allegra and Mucinex, so I did. Gretchen also put me on some natural stuff. I also took Advil and vitamins. And Ricola for the throat. I couldn’t sleep. I had to blow my nose every 10 minutes, so I literally couldn’t sleep. Friday night, I got about an hour and Saturday night, again about an hour. I was up by 1 each morning. I was miserable. I tried taking naps during the day, but had the same problem. Last night, I was able to sleep a little, until 2. I’m feeling some better. My earache is gone. My throat has improved. My head still hurts and my nose is sore as hell and is still bothering me like crazy, but even it’s improved some, so I think I’m through the worst of it. However, I may have given it to my wife and that’s a disturbing thought. She started feeling poorly yesterday. I truly hope she doesn’t come down with this. Meanwhile, our two year marital anniversary is coming up in a week, so that’s exciting! We both better be healthy for that, darn it! I guess that’s it for now.

Posted in Health | Tagged: , , , , , | 5 Comments »

An Anniversary

Posted by Scott Holstad on December 8, 2014

Four years ago today, out of the blue Gretchen told me of some feelings she had for me, which was a really big step on her part. I felt similarly, and soon we had a special relationship. Of course, we had no idea it would lead to marriage. Now we’ve been married over a year and a half and we have a wonderful relationship and I’m eternally grateful to her for her bravery. Bebe, I love you!

(Here’s another picture of our new kitten, Ace.):

Ace

Ace

 

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged: , , , , , , | 4 Comments »

One Year

Posted by Scott Holstad on July 4, 2013

One year ago today, I got engaged! I wrote about it too. This year, I wanted to go down to the walking bridge to relive our moment, but it’s rainy and dismal out, so that’s shot, which is a pity. Now we’re aiming for Saturday. Go down to the bridge, go out to eat at the Mellow Mushroom, and take in a ball game at AT&T Field, watching the Chattanooga Lookouts taking on Jacksonville. The only problem with that plan is it’s calling for a 60% chance of rain on that day too! Pity.

Whatever the case, we got engaged, but as you know, we weren’t able to get married in December like I wrote about. Instead, we were married this past April 6th, so we’re still “newlyweds” I guess. Married life is suiting us well, I think. I couldn’t have picked a better bride and I feel very lucky. Here’s to the rest of our lives together….

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It’s Been a Year!

Posted by Scott Holstad on August 15, 2012

Today is the one year anniversary of when my then-girlfriend (now fiance) and I moved into our house to start our new life together. We had been dating long distance for some time, but I started looking for a place for us to live last June, with the intention of Gretchen moving down from Baltimore to join me when I found a place. Fortunately, my parents helped me locate our house. It’s a one story, ranch style house that’s got about 2,000 square feet, hardwood floors through most of the house, a huge kitchen with the longest island I’ve ever seen, and an even bigger den. Monstrously huge. Three beds, two baths, and a backyard patio to boot. All for a nice financial arrangement. So, we signed up and my parents and I went up to Maryland to rescue Gretchen and move her down to Tennessee.

On move in day, we unloaded Gretchen’s truck with the help of a friend. It wasn’t too hard; she didn’t bring too much with her. It was a bit of a tiring day though, so when everyone had left, we got some Arby’s to go, came back to our new home, opened a bottle of wine and dug in. That empty bottle of wine (a Biltmore Riesling) is still on the mantel over the fireplace in the den.

Two days later, we moved my stuff out of storage and into the house with the help of a moving company. I had a lot more stuff, and the house started filling up. We had to put some 80 boxes of my stuff in the garage. Over the course of the fall and winter, I’d gradually go through the boxes, keeping some, throwing much away, repacking some so that now there are about 20 boxes left stored in the garage and room to park.

Gretchen and I slept pretty well that first night — we were tired. I woke with a pain in my back though from her bed — a new bed for me, one I wasn’t used to. A hard mattress. It took a long time for me to get used to that mattress.

We started unpacking right away and got most of the house unpacked rather quickly. Fortunately, we had just enough storage for most things, so it went well. We set up our new 46″ HDTV in our huge den and it looked great there. I know, I know — we could have gotten a 60″ or bigger. Didn’t want one. Surely 46″ is big enough, don’t you think? My last TV was a 42″ one. I like the one we bought.

I’ve always lived with nice and interesting neighbors around me, so I waited for new neighbors to drop by to welcome us to the neighborhood — a large residential neighborhood. I waited a long time. No one ever came by. I’m still shocked by that. To this day, I’ve spoken twice to the crazy woman to our left, not at all to the couple on our right, and a few times with the people across the street when I’ve gone over to be friendly. The other disappointing part of living here is the noise. We hear trains, planes, and lots of noisy cars cutting through the neighborhood, stereos blaring. It’s truly annoying, but I try not to let it get to me.

This time last year, I had just undergone a surgery just like the one I had this past Monday, and I was in considerable pain for another affliction. My dad had to come over to mow our yard; I couldn’t do it. Gretchen also had to shoulder a large part of the load. I couldn’t bend over at all. I finally had surgery for that last December.

During our year here, we’ve celebrated Halloween and Christmas together, with my parents coming over to join us, and we’ve enjoyed watching sports on TV, going for walks in the neighborhood, riding our bikes on a trail nearby, going shopping together, reading together, eating our meals together — with our two cats, Henry and Toby, we’re a little happy family.

I’m so grateful for this last year. The preceding year had been hellish for me for several reasons, and for Gretchen too. We have spent the last year helping one another heal. We’ve enjoyed this year, we enjoy our time together, and we look forward to a lifetime spent together. We’re quite fortunate. I love my fiance.

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