hopefully someone cares...i'm back! i can't believe how ridiculously long it's been since i've been here. wow. well, my big update is...

i got married!!!

no more single mom complaints, since i have been so awesomely blessed to now have a husband and finally a father for my little man. sooooo exciting. here's a picture of us on the big day (i think, if i figured out this attachment thing properly)! for those of you who remember way back when i first joined here, this is the guy who broke up me because "we needed time to work on our issues". now i hassle him about it all the time...like, hey husband, remember last year...when you BROKE UP WITH ME?!?!?!? but it's sogreat to have had that experience and have it just be a funny story now for our grandkids.

anyway, i think the whole process of wedding planning was just crazy enough to keep me too occupied to come on here and check in with you guys. we did everything ourselves (meaning i did everything myself) on a very small budget, in only 3.5 months, so it was really just nuts. guess who designed and printed the invitations, responses, program, wedding website, etc...(actually it's still up there, www.rachelandkris.com, if anyone wants to fill out our registry - JUST KIDDING!!! but i thought it came out kinda cool)?it all turned out beautifully - august 7th was one of those crazy gorgeous days, especially for philly where it is NEVER 75 and sunny in late summer! and now i'm mrs. rachel ryan. which is just entirely too weird. no more "any relation to erik?" questions.

it was an enormous pain changing my name but i'm finally done, i think, although just about every day i realize another customer service number i have to dial to change things up. but despite mourning my previous identity, i think my new name is kinda catchy. especially for a writer who will now have an alliterativebyline.

so...after a whole year of doing the freelance thing, i think i might actually be starting a new FT writing job in a week or two. which probably means that i will be looking for something to fill my time during downtimes. hello GDF!!! i believe this forum was created expressly for that purpose. i will have to practice up on my rapid-window-minimizing skills.

well, just wanted to check in with everyone and announce my return. i'm so glad to be back!

rachel