Cuba!!!

Joey and I are safely back from Cuba. We spent just over two weeks there rock climbing and smoking cigars. Actually smoking cigars was cheaper and easier than burning citronella to keep the mosquitoes off. The country is amazingly poor and lacking what we consider many basic human needs. The area we were in, Vinales, was one of the worst hit villages from hurricane Ike. Many homes are still without roofs, even though they were still in the heart of their rainy season. We met many local climbers and we left them much needed climbing equipment so that they can continue to develop a strong local climbing community. We hope that their economic condition improves with increased diplomacy in the upcoming Obama administration. It is hard to see our neighbors doing so poorly. We had fun but it is nice to be back with our families for the holidays.

Honeymoon

Joey and I have been tucked into a little desert canyon in Utah, eating Trader Joe's camp meals and rock climbing. If you haven't heard from us, just remember no news is good news!

Wedding Photos!

Check out our wedding photos on our new slide show link (next door). We would like to thank everyone for making our wedding day so much fun. As we look at the photos we were impressed to see how many good looking family members and friends we have!

If you were sporting a camera during events and have any good photos to share be sure to pass them on and we will post them on the blog!

Joey and I have been spending some time with his family in Texas and will be heading to Utah next week to go climbing as the first stop on our honeymoon tour.

We are Hitched!

Thank you all for attending- Joey and I are now happily married. Stay tuned for more photos and stories.

Two Thumbs Up

Grandma gives Joey two thumbs up. Joey and I swung through Arizona on our way from Nevada to New Mexico and saw Grandma Margaret Gish. It was a quick 2-hour visit in Tucson Tuesday morning. Joey greeted her with a big bundle of flowers and we gave her a good surprise. We got the idea to sneak in for a visit the night before as we were driving through Flagstaff and looked on a map- it seemed like we were passing right by grandma. We are sorry she could not attend the wedding and thought she could get a sneak preview of the groom, before anyone else in Melis' family. It was nice to have a visit with her. Melis enjoyed the old wedding photos grandma pulled out from her duaghters' weddings. Joey enjoyed the old photos of Melis. It was nice to see grandma's smile and get a big hug and sign of approval. Joey and I are now in New Mexico with Judy finishing up the details for the wedding. Guests start arriving as early as tonight.

On Our Way

Melis leaves Alaska in two days.

She heads to Nevada to work for two weeks before getting married. Her friends gave her an amazing send off party yeserday. It will be hard to leave the gorgeous fall colors up here, but it has been a rainy and cold summer and now its time for some New Mexican sunshine.



Joey is off in the mountains carrying loads for a Discovery Channel production called- "Out of the Wild: Alaska." They have flown 10+ contestants up hear from all over the country and all walks of life to survive and travel through the Alaskan Wilderness just outside Talkeetna. This small town has become a virtual little Hollywood.


We are really looking forward to our wedding and will send out final RSVP cards soon.


Signing off for now- Thanks to my Alaskan girlfriends and Holly Sheldon for throwing me an awesome party.

3 Weeks! Are you ready?

Wow- Now it is really getting close, we can almost taste it- and all these catering menus ARE helping.............

Worried we are going to feed you too much? You should be! That's why we are encouraging guests to join a run sponsored by Santa Fe's local running club the "Santa Fe Striders." They are hosting a fundraiser run Saturday morning, October 4th at 9am. It is a 12-mile run ascending 2,000 feet to the summit of Teusque Peak (12,043'). It is an out and back run on a maintained dirt road. It could also be a nice hike. Event fee is $22 and proceeds benefit an organization called "Wings of America," a non-profit supporting American Indian youth development programs.

Click to see the event details below:

http://www.santafestriders.org/race_info/event_info.aspx?eventname=BigTesuque08

Check out Wings of America:

http://www.wingsofamerica.org/

Should be fun! Pack your sneakers.

5 Weeks

The wedding is now only 5 weeks away. We are busy settling up details and will soon email guests with a more specific and up to date list of wedding events. Our promises to the guests:

#1 A festive and informal "Rehearsal BBQ dinner" open to all guests.

#2 A beautiful ceremony starring the bluesy guitar licks of our close friend Joe Balsamo.

#3 Yummy and local southwest fare and beer.

#4 Dancing tunes by a hot local New Mexican band.

#5 Lots of good times and memories.

I hope you are ready...we almost are!

(Above is a painting at my mom's gallery by Native American aritist Marcus Cadman: The wedding and recpetion will be held at her gallery "Coady Contemporary.")

Propoganda

Joey and Melis have decided they are going to use their wedding as an excuse to sell their friends and family on coming up to Alaska to visit them! Melis is in Juneau this week teaching an 80-hour Wilderness First Responder course to students at the University of Alaska Southeast. She arrived a day earlier to go sightseeing and hiking with friends. Click on the video to see what she saw.

WELL

It was a big day for Joey and I. We drilled a well and found crystal clear water at 70-feet below our property. It flows at 15 gallons per minute. Over the last year, Joey and I have been hauling water to our cabin in 5 gallon containers. Our current water use averages 10 gallons per week. We hope to put a sink and shower in our new addition. We can hardly wait. For now we will have to settle for squirt guns.

7 Weeks

Our wedding day is quickly approaching. Be sure to book your rooms soon. It is a busy and festive weekend in Santa Fe. We have a list of hotels and links to them at the bottom of our blog. Many of the wedding party are staying at the El Rey Inn. If we have reserved a room for you be sure to pay for your first night soon to hold your reservation. Then contact us and let us know where you are staying. We'd like to make a list.

Out of town

Joey and I have spent the last couple of days planning an amazing wedding celebration. We have been on and off the phone non-stop and are excited for what appears to be an big turnout for the festivities. We head into the mountains today to teach teenagers how to iceclimb and won't be back until August 8th. Talk to you then.

RSVP

We know it is short notice to plan on attending our wedding, but be sure to RSVP as soon as possible so we have plenty of time to plan a great celebration. If you are a couple mark yourself down as bringing a guest. If you are single let us know if you are bringing someone special.

A Date!

After much math- we have come up with a wedding date. We would be flattered if anyone reading this blog came- just send us an email and we will send you an invite.

We are going for the world's shortest engagement. The wedding will be:

Saturday, October 4th at 4pm
Ceremony and Reception at Coady Contemporary
Santa Fe, New Mexico

See below for travel ideas and tips:

Comments

Be sure to leave you comments and well wishes below: click on "comments"

ENGAGED

Joey and I are now happily engaged! This is how it went down:

July 14th at about 7pm

Melis was on the office phone at the Alaska Mountaineering School talking to Caitlin about the rations necessary for their next expedition (meanwhile Joey was out back drinking a beer- gaining courage for the big question).

Joey walked into the office and looked antsy. He asked to speak to Caitlin and then got on the phone and said, "Hey Caitlin, do you mind if Melis calls you back in 5 minutes?" Then Joey hung up.

Next, Joey got down on one knee and took my hand. He said, "Melis, I am sure there is probably a better time and place for this, and when that time comes I will ask you again, but I have to do this right now." (His voice was shaky) "Melis I want to spend the rest of my life with you, will you marry me?"

I was surprised and taken off guard. I could hardly believe the words coming out of his mouth. However, I think I was still able to answer with a big "Of course!" before Joey had hardly finished his sentence.

We then went outside to smooch and get some fresh air as Joey's legs regained their strength.

"The spot" is now marked on the floor of the office with a piece of duct-tape.

We currently don't have a plan or wedding date set so stay tuned........

--Melis Coady