Scream, Expletive, Scream

One of the many internet memes that float about in the subculture of automotive enthusiasts is the video of a race-car driver taking his significant other, his mother, or a celebrity for a lap around a race track. Screaming, swearing, and wild gesturing ensue. Although these videos appear to reinforce the stereotype that women are afraid of driving fast, a few of them are actually pretty funny.

Here's a vid of former Formula One driver Riccardo Patrese taking his rather expressive wife for a spin in a Honda Civic Type-R. It's a street car, and they aren't wearing any safety gear, and, given Mr Patrese's relaxed and subtle smile, I don't think they are going all that fast. Still, Mrs Patrese is moved to offer her husband the traditional Italian gesture of love and respect.

In the below video, Rolex Sports Car series driver João Barbosa* took his bride for a lap in a Dayona Prototype. They are clearly wearing full safety gear (minus her gloves and probably shoes), the vehicle is a race car, and I've read that they reach 185 mph in the video, so Mrs Barbosa probably has a lot more to scream about. And scream she does. Indeed, its sometimes difficult to tell whether the high-pitched wails in the soundtrack emanate from her or the car's gearbox.

* And by the way, how crazy-cool is that first name?

Five Years Ago

Five years ago today, I married this amazing woman. I hope she'll agree to be married some more tomorrow.

Three Years Ago

Three years ago today, I somehow persuaded this beautiful and brilliant woman to marry me:

Do you think she'll agree to be married some more tomorrow?

Big Dress

I've learned many things from Alison.  This one I learned during our first dance at our wedding:

Big dress, small steps.

The Mailman? Seriously?

Those of you who know us in meatspace are aware that Alison didn't take my surname when we were wed.  She made that choice, I believe, not only because it would be strange to abandon her family name after 29 years with it, but also because she had already established her work identity under her birth name.  Certainly, since she'd already published several papers, changing her name would not be helpful.

Anyway, her grandmother insists on addressing cards to us with "Mr. and Mrs." followd by my full name.  What I find hilarious about this approach is that she writes our address in this manner because she doesn't want the mailman to think we aren't married.  Seriously.

And just in case you thought he was kidding...

...or at least exaggerating about the wedding cake thing:

Nope!

Two Years Ago

Two years ago today:


And I haven't regretted it for a minute.

A New Gift-giving Occasion!

I was poking around on this gift ideas site for Christmas ideas for my extended family. It's kind of a cool idea...you put in the category of recipient (man, woman, teen, family, etc) and the gift-giving occasion (Christmas, birthday, graduation, etc) and it comes up with some pretty nifty ideas. However, there is a gift-giving occasion that I was not aware of - "Breakup/Divorce". I never really thought that the end of a marriage was a gift-giving occasion, but OK. You know I had to click on it. So, here are the gifts that, apparently, are appropriate to give a newly single person. I knew I had to post when I saw this idea, the third on the list.

What are these people smoking?

One Year Ago Today

One year ago today, Alison I were wed.


I'm very happy with how our marriage is going, and I'd do it again today.

Antiversary

I yoinked this perfectly cromulent word from a friend:

antiversary, noun. The anniversary of the day a marriage or other relationship began, but occurring after the relationship has ended.

For example, if Jack and Diane are married on January 1, 1983, and are divorced in 1998, then January 1, 1999 is their first antiversary.

No Benign Musings, Though

Todd hasn't posted any screeds or diatribes in over a year. I can't help but notice that he stopped putting new ones up at about the same time he became engaged to his now-wife, Laura. Awww, she must make him happy. Well, not too happy, I guess; he still hasn't posted any benign musings. Still, when I consider the material she had to work with---this is the main I like to call Sarcastro that we're talking about here---I'm amazed at her progress.

Giving Hope to Nerds Everywhere

Last Saturday, as promised, Todd married the lovely and intelligent Laura, thus giving hope to nerds across the land. My congratulations go out to the groom; the bride has my condolences. ;-)

It's a Nice Day For a White Wedding

Regular readers will recall that Alison and I were married about a month and a half ago. (Yesterday was our sixth weekaversary---awww.) Our photographer just delivered to us a CD containing all 702 photos she took. Here is a very small subset of them:

And in the Darkness Bind Them

Alison and I were wed this past Saturday, August 12 at the Liriodendron Mansion in Bel Air, Maryland. The weather was perfect, and both the ceremony and reception came off without a hitch. The "cast" of the wedding was as follows:

• Team Grondul: Alison and Michael, duh!
  
• Bride's Chick, First Class: Ashley, sister of the blushing bride
  
• Bride's Chick: Lisa
• Co-Best Dudes: Tom and Shuaib
  
• MC: The Reverend Doctor Nick
  
• Walking-the-Bride-Down-the-Aisle Guy: Frank, uncle o' the bride
• Poem-Reading Girl: Melanie
  

In addition to the above, I'd like to thank the following for helping make the rehearsal, rehearsal dinner, ceremony, and reception go so well:

• Melinda
• Leah
• Amy
• Greg
• Ketan
  
• George
  
• Sharon, mother o' the bride
• Mary, auntie o' the bride
• Candace, auntie o' the bride
• Mickey, mother o' the groom
• Chuck, father o' the groom
• Lynn, cousin o' the groom

Update: For photos from the event, see this post.

Mmmm...Curry

Check it out: a small study indicates that (chemicals found in) curry and onions may help prevent colon cancer (in those already at risk). So, anyone who is skeptical about our rehearsal-dinner site shouldn't be; we're just looking out for your colon health.

Movin' on In

Alison and I moved all of our belongings into our new co-residence this weekend, with lots of help from Lisa-and-Greg, Nick-and-Amy, Megan, and Andrew. Now, we just need to put everything were it goes before Ashley and Sharon arrive next Monday. Ready...set...unpack!

One Ring to Bring Them All

I'm sure you've been waiting eagerly for the latest wedding update. Well here it is.

My wedding band arrived from Boone a few days ago. Here's a poorly lit photograph:


Based on our experience, I'd recommend Bruce and Trish Boone's mom-and-pop organization very highly. Here's why:

• Bruce started out making titanium-alloy bike components, and, as a cyclist, I think that's cool.
  
• They make-to-order rings in a wide range of styles from two alloys of titanium: 6-4 and 8-1-1. (Please note that these links are for alloys with specific heat treatments; I'm unsure what heat treating is used on Boone's rings.)
  
• Bruce very promptly answered the questions I e-mailed to him when I was narrowing my choices.
  
• The price was quite modest, even for the stronger 8-1-1 alloy.
  
• The band arrived surprisingly soon after it was ordered. (I think Alison placed the order on Friday night. On Saturday night, we received an e-mail saying the ring was done and would go out in Monday's mail. The package arrived on Wednesday.)
• The ring is very light as would be expected with a density of 4.37 g/cm^3. (For comparison, Alison's platinum ring has a denstity of 21.45 g/cm^3.)
  
• The band is clearly well crafted, and as a surprise bonus, it came with a silly certificate of authenticity, signed by Trish:

This Advert Brought to You by Brian & Kristan

I forgot to mention the uber-cool favors Brian and Kristan gave to Todd and me for being ushers in their wedding. First, each of us received a Gerber multi-tool with bitdriver. That was pretty generous, right? I mean who doesn't like multi-tools? But wait, there's more! We each also received a black T-shirt bearing the address of our blog/site, along with the title/cathphrase. Here're a couple of photos of mine:


Neat, eh?

Brian and Kristan Sitting in a Tree

Two weekends ago, Alison and I traveled to Buffalo for Brian's wedding to Kristan, at which Todd and I were ushers. It was great fun to see Brian, Kristan, and Todd again. We also got to meet---and pass judgment on---Laura, whom Todd will be marrying in October; we decided that we like her.

Lynx

I've just decided that all the men in our wedding party will wear these.