It snowed again. I'm not very fond of snow, especially after the massive dumps we got in December.

I'm using the bread machine for the first time today. My foray into yeast breads continues...

I also recently discovered a recipe for beer bread, which I'm very eager to try.

Lent has begun. I've been eagerly awaiting Lent since last year, which was the first time I observed it and an amazing experience for me.

Today I went to the noon Ash Wednesday service at my church. My forehead was marked with an ashen cross, which was wiped away shortly thereafter by my acupuncturist who didn't realize what it signified. I found it quite comical.

My apologies for the long hiatus. Things have been hectic...

Since the last update, The Dude and I have gotten engaged. Being engaged pretty much is consumed by wedding planning, and since ours is going to be a DIY wedding, it's going to require a lot more energy and time.

Although I'm very happy to be engaged to a man I love very much, when I think about my gay friends in California who cannot get married I feel badly...and almost guilty. If I weren't legally able to marry The Dude, I'd be so devastated and pissed off as hell at the same time.

It's been about five months since I've been back in Vancouver, and I feel a lot more settled down. Living in a house I enjoy and one that actually feels like "home" definitely helps. I feel really lucky to have found my current place, and with such great housemates, too! The Dude and I agree upon communal living as a lifestyle choice, and I hope we can live this way for a long time.

Now that I have more free time, I can finally get to wedding planning and painting the walls. (And perhaps more blogging!)