Like a phoenix from the flames...

Greetings faithful readers & followers---if there are any of you left!  I know it's been months and months since we last posted an update to this blog...and we're sorry.

I was going to use some zombie-like metaphor about bringing this blog back from the dead---but that seemed more than a little bit morbid so I decided a better image would be: a majestic phoenix rising from the flames!!

So here we are...reviving our blog!!  This post is just a teaser...as we are boarding the Disney Magic for a weeklong cruise out into the Atlantic and then up the Eastern coast of Canada (with a couple stops in Nova Scotia)...but during our trip I intend to finish up several blogs that are long overdue to be posted here.  So in the next week or ten days look for some blog updates on the following:

1. Our April Wedding (which was A-MAZ-ING!!!)
2. Our honeymoon trip to Hawaii
3. This current trip to NYC and cruise to Nova Scotia
4. ...and I may even go back in time and try to post a blog about our trip to Walt Disney World and aboard the Disney Dream back in September 2011

So keep an eye out for our updates and LOTS of fabulous pictures coming very, very soon!!

World AIDS Day 2011

Well, this is a few days late....but this past Thursday, December 1st, was World AIDS Day.  This is always an important day for me both personally and professionally.  I hope everyone took the time on that day to commemorate the way that HIV & AIDS have changed and shaped the world in which we live-----to remember all those who have been lost, to honor those who are still a part of the struggle and to celebrate the future heroes who will hopefully be a part of one day creating a world without HIV & AIDS!

Here in Rochester, there were events all over the place....we had a luncheon at work and there was a large community reception and ceremony on Friday the 2nd at which one of my employees was honored with an award for HIV Prevention Educator of the year (an esteemed award named after a colleague of mine who passed away a few years ago....and an award of which I was the first ever recipient a few years back).

In addition there was a benefit concert with local musicians, singers, poets and dancers performing to commemorate the day and to raise money for a great program called "Safe Sex Inc." that is co-led by my organization and that empowers urban youth to educate and advocate around health and safety issues.  It's an annual benefit show, actually, that chooses a different youth-oriented program or agency to support every year.  I haven't been to the show in several years, but this year I was encouraged to attend by some friends and colleagues.  The event was a very nice evening out (Jason came with, of course---and we were able to connect with some of my coworkers there)....and it also included a surprise:  I was honored by the organizers. with the "Embrace Life" Award for excellence in the field of HIV prevention.  It was a really touching honor on a professionally & personally significant day!

Our apologies.....

Greetings readers, followers and fans….if any of you are still even out there!!  I know that we have have left this blog woefully stagnant for a very long time now.   Life has been crazy here with both our jobs and cheerleading and planning the wedding and everything there has just never seemed to be any downtime for blogging; and every time I think I'll sit down and post an update, I can't muster up the energy or creativity and find it's just easier to either take a nap or turn on the TV or play with our puppy, Merlin (who is doing wonderfully!!)…or some combination of all three!!  LOL So please accept these flowers as a token of our sincere apology….and be assured that there are new posts coming to this blog very, very soon!  We do intend to post a little about our vacation earlier this fall….and, of course, there will be wedding updates to post as plans are starting to fall into place!  So check back soon and often for updates on life here on our end!!

Long overdue...and long awaited....MERLIN UPDATE!!

OK, OK, OK......I know that we are excited about our recent marriage....and our upcoming wedding (April 21st everyone!!!)...and our Labor Day weekend/week trip to Walt DisneyWorld and Disney cruise (we actually arrived yesterday and I started writing this post in our hotel room while Jason and Kimberly got ready this morning).....and I know that many of our followers (all of YOU!) are also excited about those things...

...but there's one other thing that many people have been waiting on, as well....

...a Merlin update!!  And so, before I start posting blogs about our time in Florida at Walt DisneyWorld and our first trip on Disney's newest and biggest ship, the Dream, here is a little update for all you Merlin fans....

Gay marriage comes to Rochester, NY....

....and the Libey household!!

Yes, that's right----it's heinously overdue...but finally a new post on our blog.  I know I've once again gone into terrible delinquency in posting to this blog lately (it's been over a month since our last post was about our July 4th trip!!)

Anyhow...it's been a busy time here the past weeks....work has been crazy, our summer schedules have been very busy, Gay Pride was in mid-July (which is a lot of time and effort through my full time job), we've been doing work in our house and yard while the weather is nice (bought a new bathroom sink/counter/vanity top---which is now installed----and ordered new storm door and sliding doors for our deck...anxiously awaiting their arrival), Merlin has started obedience classes (post to come on that later---I promise)....and, of course, there's also the teensy little fact that WE ARE FINALLY LEGALLY MARRIED!!!

So here is the (belated) story of how same sex marriage came to the Libey household here in Rochester...

Merlin's Great Adventure...

OK...I've been meaning to post this for a few days now....but it was a busy holiday weekend followed by a busy week back at work!!

So this past weekend was quite an eventful one for our little family!  We celebrated the 4th of July weekend by visiting Jason's family and so there was lots of fun for everyone....including Merlin who got to go on his first big boy road trip.....AND visit with quite a few puppies---most of whom are part of Merlin's extended family!!

We were leaving on Saturday evening to head to Jason's parents' house in Central NY (about an hour and a half south of Syracuse...so about a 2.5 hour drive from home).   This was going to be the first time that everyone except Jason's step-sister, Bridget, had met Merlin-----AND his parents live in a rural area with lots of trees and tall grass----so we decided we wanted to make him look spiffy by giving him a bath and then also giving him his first flea/tick treatment before we headed up there......

Merlin update

Merlin in one of his new little doggy Tshirts.

OK....so for those of you who have been anxiously awaiting updates and more pictures of Merlin.....here's your fix for this week! *smile*


Merlin has had a pretty eventful couple of weeks since he moved in......

Something to be excited about OTHER than our puppy....

I know that many of you who read our blog have been waiting for more updates on our new puppy, Merlin....and I promise they will come soon (we have more pictures and he had his first grooming appt. and vet appt. this past week, too...so there are new haircut pics, etc.----but we have to load them off the camera and stuff).

However, right now Jason and I have something even more exciting to celebrate than our new puppy (although I know that's probably hard to believe *wink*)-----and that is that tonight in the late hours before the NY State Senate closed its session....we won same-sex marriage in NY State by a 33-29 vote (we only needed 32 votes to win)!!

I certainly don't presume to believe that everyone who reads this blog because they love our Disney trips or our stories about our new puppy necessarily supports the cause of same-sex marriage....but I do hope that no matter who you are, if you have gotten to know me and Jason (either personally or through our blogs) that you know what an important issue this is for us.  I was literally in tears as watched the senate session vote live on TV and it became clear the vote would go in our direction.  Words really can't express how profoundly this moves us.

So.....anyways....for those of you waiting for more Merlin-related posts, yes they are coming....soon I promise.  BUT....there will also be other adventures to blog about in the near future, as well----like our September trip to Disney and Cruise on the Disney Dream.....AND A BIG GAY WEDDING SOON, TOO!!!!

Merlin's first few days at home!

Me & Merlin on the drive home from picking him up

WARNING:  I am becoming one of "those people"-----you know, the annoying ones who share tons of pictures of their puppy thinking everyone wants to see them....and talk incessantly about their puppy and his habits and quirks and potty successes and failures and thinks others want to hear about them. LOL

I'm sorry, I can't help it.  MERLIN IS JUST TOO CUTE!!! *smile*

So anyway....Merlin finally, after months of waiting, came home for good this past Saturday.  I would have posted about it earlier except I seriously could not pull myself away from him long enough really to even check emails...much less write posts on this blog!! *LOL*

So anyway...he came home on Saturday and it's been great so far.....

Puppy Prep---the next phase!!

So here is the most current picture of our new puppy, Merlin, that we've gotten.  Isn't he adorable?!?  We can't wait for him to finally come home and live with us full time----which I learned this past week will happen THIS COMING SATURDAY, JUNE 11TH!!! HOORAY!!

Of course that means that we have to kick the preparations for Merlin to come home into high gear!  We have already done quite a bit....