Wow, life can be funny.  Just as I was basking in the glow of departing Two Thousand and Great with 21 exceptional fiancées, Mother Universe threw me a year-end bonus:  Fiancée Number 22.  Listen people, this one really snuck up on me.  Never saw it coming. 

There are complications, however, but Ms. Watkins has pretty much rubber-stamped this thing to go through the entire nomination process before year's end.  Although there are a couple of "T's" to cross and "I's" to dot, Jill decided last Thursday night to make it official:  Jeremy Vasquez of the Shuffle Tones is my Twenty-Second Fiancée.  We are all very fortunate that Mr. Jim Primock captured the proposal moment on camera.  Some men engender a ring, others a solo, but regardless of the gesture, it's still a proposal. 

Back to those "complications:" there's really only one, and that is Mr. Vasquez does not qualify under the must-live-at-least-250-miles-away statute, so expediting an exception such as this required Herculean efforts on Jill's part, and this being so close to the holidays and such…well, she's a real pro, organized and flexible even during stressful times.  Adding to her stress is the reality that Bryan Gordon has been under consideration not only to become Fiancée Number 22, but also only the second Fiancée for whom the distance rule would be waived.  So, Bryan's nomination is still pending, but clearly won't be sanctioned until Two Thousand and Mine.  Probably in January, but it really depends on Jill's schedule.  I dare not push her further.

This Friday the Ricky Earl Band is back, and although I wasn't at their IBC competition performance, I was told my many they tore it up.  It's been too long since I've seen them, so I'll be dancing off my holiday binges to their fabulous groove.  

So what else is going on…Oh yeah!  Saturday's my birthday!  And the Joyous Jill Watkins (I'm pretty sure I've mentioned her in the Blues Letter before) welcomes her birthday on January 5.  She's celebrating her birthday on December 27, because we're nothing if not efficient. And generous.  We are giving our birthdays over to the CBS' Blues in the School, and GCBS' Blue Star Connection by passing the hat and asking our loved ones to donate in lieu of gifts (well, not the really rich ones; they can do both).  This will be my second birthday fund-raiser, but this one is even more special as I'm sharing it with what's-her-name.  And My Beloved Delta Sonics!  And a whole big bunch of other musicians joining the jam!  Yay!

On that note, as it's a busy week, I'll just say from everyone at the Outlook and the new Blues & Greens, Happy, Happy Holidays and Peace on Earth!  

  ~A soon-to-be-one-year-older, Honey Bee Sepeda