No. 9 Unplugged.

Today is our 9th anniversary. It has been 3,285 days since our first date, and we're still very much in love.

To celebrate, we spent this past weekend hiking and fishing (...sort of...the water was a little too high and too fast...about 8 of the 12 worms we purchased ended up being released into a soggy section of mud) in Ohiopyle, as well as touring two of Frank Lloyd Wright's houses, Kentuck Knob and the very famous, Fallingwater.

We stayed in the quaint little town of Confluence at a bed and breakfast by the name of The Confluence House. Upon arriving, the proprietor-a lovely woman named Barb-left for us on a silver platter, a bottle of wine, glasses, chocolates and a sweet note wishing us a happy anniversary. We also lucked out in that we had the entire Victorian home (circa 1900) to ourselves!

We checked in on Friday around dinner time, unpacked our belongings and then ate at the Lazy Dog Cafe. Then we returned back to the house and enjoyed an evening unlugged. Our cell phones got no reception, there was no television and no computer. All we had was a stack of CDs, a player, books, and magazines. It was wonderful. We went to bed early and got 10+ hours of sleep. Saturday we spent hiking and made an attempt to fish that was unsuccessful. After lunch at the Firefly Grill and some ice cream (of course!) enjoyed by the falls, we drove up to Kentuck Knob and toured the impressive home.

When we returned to the house, I soaked my tired bones in a bubble bath drawn in an old fashioned clawfoot tub. Dinner was at the Shepheard Farm restaurant and then is was back to the house for another quite night of good conversation, wine and cards.

Sunday we got up and were fed a delicious breakfast of sausage and strawberry & cream stuffed french toast by Barb, and then it was off to our brunch tour of Fallingwater. If you are ever in the vicinity of Mill Run, PA, do yourself a favor and take the tour of Fallingwater. It is something so unique and impressive, you won't likely forget it.

The whole weekend was just wonderful. Relaxing. Quiet. Just the two of us. We are back home and life continues to move forward. I think this ninth year together will be a good one. I've got a new job to look forward to, we have our new home, and my hope is that Big Red begins to put the wheels into motion for his business.

He has been having a tough time with his current job, but he's not the kind of person who will take initiative to change his fate. Usually, Big Red won't get going on something until he is forced or has to. My hope is that through encouragement and support from his lovely wife and friends, he will find what he needs within himself to be proactive in creating the fate of career. I truly believe in him and know that once he gets going, it will only lead to success.