Caitlin in her natural environment at Gullfoss, in Iceland
Hi, I’m Bones. I like long walks on the beach, Yoga in the wee hours of the morning, spending time with my dog, Woofy, and I have an incredible dinosaur bone collection, hence the ‘Bones’ nickname (not really).
Just as a precursor, I have a very dry, very sarcastic sense of humor. Don’t judge me, because baby I was born this way. I’m also not a fan of Lady Gaga.
Some of you may be asking yourselves, why ‘Bones’? And the answer is simple: that’s not a real nickname of mine. My name is Caitlin. Call me Caitlin, call me Cait, call my Toni, or call me Tones. But Bones? No thank you. Bones implies: A.) I have an affinity for skeletons, which we already established I do not. B.) I’m into something sexual that would make people (including me) blush or C.) I am nothing but skin and bones.
None of these are true. I know very little about the human body. In fact, I’m learning textbook anatomy in a yoga certification course and have already established I should perhaps give up eating chicken (a human without skin looks a lot like uncooked chicken…). I am not into something weird sexually, and if I were I certainly wouldn’t tell the internet about it. I am also not skin and bones. By all accounts I am a pretty average size. My doctor says so. Mike says my rear has a little extra, but he swears it’s appealing.
Woman’s best friend, Woofy.
The real story of “Bones” is actually pretty funny. I’m sure you are dying to know, so I’ll tell you. Towards the very start of our relationship, Mike sent me flowers when I was having a bad day. He wrote a very sweet note (I’m sure) but I never received it. Instead, the florist included the wrong note which read “Bones, I love you very much”. At the time I thought it was mighty forward of him to drop the L bomb, and I didn’t care for his new pet name for me.
So, let’s get down to it. Why would Mike let me write on his blog? What if this was just a fleeting relationship? How embarrassing for him to report another breakup to all of you nice people! Don’t fret my (new) pets, I have good news – this is not fleeting. In fact, Mike recently made sure I would never fleet away at all. Just a couple short weeks ago, Mike popped the big Q and boop boop beep boop I am his BEYONCE. That’s what it’s called, right? Your trusty travel friend is getting married!
The newly engaged couple on Christmas Eve. Fun fact: the tree behind us is 40 ft tall; we’re giants!
I know what you are saying, “she seems odd…why would he marry her?” and I think the answer is, I am odd but so is your trusty travel friend. They will call us the Odd Couple. Or maybe they already do. Who are they?
Mike and I met at work. We both love our jobs, and spend lots of time working at them so why not meet your future husband at work? It’s actually quite nice, we don’t spend a lot of time talking about work outside of the office because WE BOTH ALREADY KNOW WHAT HAPPENED! That leaves plenty of time to plan our next trips which you are sure to read all about.
Mike snuck up behind me at our Guest House in Lisbon. I was pondering life, but mostly meats and cheeses.
You and I already have something in common, and we just met. One of my favorite things about Mike is also one of your favorite things about Mike – he loves to travel. I grew up going everywhere. My parents loved to travel and loved to bring their kids with them, and their kids brought their love for travel into adulthood. Next on my list: Nicaragua in a couple days. Maybe I’ll tell you guys all about it. Mike is salty he was not invited but I think he should be grateful I like to venture out on my own. “Ferociously Independent” I believe is the term he uses…
Anyways, Mike is handsome. He is sweet. He is funny. He is smart. I think I’ll marry him.
Nice to meet you,
Caitlin aka Roam-about-gal
ROAM ABOUT MIKE 
I’m not sure I should have laughed as much as I did (well, silent mind laugh, who laughs outloud on their own?) but this was great!
On a side note, I wouldlove to visit Iceland although being brought up in England I feel like I’ve had enough Ice for one lifetime.
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Thanks for reading and I appreciate your silent laughs. 🙂 I went to Iceland last year around this time, and surprisingly it was about 20 degrees warmer than it was back in Ohio. I say make the trek.
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I can’t believe you hijacked my blog.
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You asked for it…
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You’ve outed me as a sweet man – my badass persona has been compromised.
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This blog post was FAR more interesting than usual. What happened? Is this an alter ego? You look great as a blonde Mike.
Great post Caitlin and can’t wait for future writing and travels. Congrats to the both of you. Time to part-hey.
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Thanks, Paul.
Yes, an alter ego. Like the time I dressed up as Axl Rose and no one knew who I was…
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Caitlin! Congrats, you two go together like peas and carrots. And nothing wrong at all with baby having back. All the best women do.
Seriously, congrats to you and Mike and here’s to more of the good life to both of you.
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Thank you for the kind words!! I figure if there are so many songs about it, it’s definitely a positive.
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Congratulations on your engagement! I loved hearing about how you got your nickname – I think all the best relationships have hilariously awkward stories like that. My now husband got drunk in the parking lot before a Jimmy Buffett concert and let it slip that he “fell in love with me last month”; this at a time when we’d only been dating for 2 months or something. He was so embarrassed and stressed he proceeded to get blackout and doesn’t remember any of the actual concert. I knew then he was a keeper.
Please hijack Mike’s blog again soon!
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Thanks Erin! I love that nickname story – when you know, you know. AmIRight? I will hijack whenever he lets me 🙂
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Amazing post. He did the right thing locking that shizzle down. (I’m pretty certain that’s how Beyonce describes her marriage). Congrats to you both!
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I think you’re right about Beyonce’s marriage, Beyonce and I are good friends (she just doesn’t know it). Thank you!!
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What good news! We’ve all wonder about “Bones” … Who was she? Was she good or bad looking? (Mike never let on), I figured Mike would never land a good lookin gal. Was Bones a figment of Mike’s imagination? Was she in the witness protection program? So many questions.
Anyway Congrats!
Unless of course Mike is pulling an April Fools deal early this year…which he could, what with a Christmas Eve photo done with photoshop. He just might as qwell put the Abominable Snowman next to himself. Yeah, and that photo of “you” in the window in Portugal showing “your” back…well it might have been Miss Piggy for that matter…
Yeah I got this all figured out…I’m not crazy you know. Put Mike back on the phone…
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While Mike is a jokester, this is not one of his crazy antics. Alas, the mystery of “Bones” is over. I almost feel like I’ve ruined something by coming out of the woodwork… I like the idea of being mysterious. Maybe in my next life I’ll be a mysterious Miss Piggy look-alike. 🙂
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Haha!
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Is that us?!
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I think I’m the one on the left.
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No, those are the Garcia sisters taking a closer look. Sizing you up, Caitlin. (They have very strict standards for reading material. So far so good, I think.) Meanwhile, nice to meet you! Not you Mike (or your new profile pic) but you, notBones — great story for a hideous name! -Laura
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I like my new pic; it’s slacker chic!
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Absolutely. That might’ve come out crooked — didn’t mean to imply anything negative, I was just saying… new pic! But the focus was on newwriter 🙂
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Can you dress your chickens in hoodies and ties?
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Yeah, Russian bride or Munchkin I was Thinking ‘…Mike’s been everywhere else, why not Oz?
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Russian OZ.
Wizard of OZsky.
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Mike, you updated your gravitar. You got a new hoodie, congrats on that! As I said before, you are one lucky dude. Roam-About-Gal, nice job on hacking the blog. I hope you two will enjoy many years roaming together.
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I updated my hoodie and even wore a tie for the occasion…I’m all growed up.
I really am, Honie. Thanks for the love.
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I’m so very proud and happy for you, Mike. Best wishes for a long and happy life with your roam-about-gal. She seems lovely.
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Thank you, Honie!
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Funny 🙂 and congrats
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Thanks Michele! 🙂
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Man, just when I thought we had Zeller on lock-down. We’re cool, we’re hip. Not too young, not too old. An all around nice, good looking family that contributes to the community, does a little travelin, hits up the farmers market on occasion. Surely we will be the Zeller #1. I’ve been to Peru once! All the neighbors will cast envy upon our adorable cape-cod!
Now you guys are here with your dry wit, your roam abouts, and photos so beautiful at least one of you must be a professional trained model (yeah I read that one too). It looks like we’ll have to settle in at #2.
Seriously though…congrats to you both. Let me know if you want help hacking down a shrub or something.
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Woofy and Pistol will be best friends.
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Agreed! I’m ok with being 2nd in stellar-ness on Zeller if it means that our neighbors are the Odd Couple (we are “they”). Except I’ve never said Odd, just Awesome Couple. Anyway, I’m SO happy for you guys 🙂
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Sjan your Avatar game is weaksauce
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Thank you!!!
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Thanks for the love, Neighbor. Maybe we should sync our travel prowesses, become an unstoppable team of Zeller travelers.
Caitlin is a much better model…
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You had me at “not a fan of Lady Gaga.” *weeping with joy* (not really, but you did have me at that phrase…Roam About Mike, I approve. Carry on.)
(I know you were on the edge of your chair waiting for my approval, and now you have it. *feeling a bit smug*)
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Ok, I read your entire post and have a request: please do not compare yourselves to Jay-Z and Beyonce’. They are far, far beneath the two of you in so many ways. (Along with Gaga, I don’t like “Mr. & Mrs. Z”.)
Congratulations to both of you! Mike can get as salty as he chooses about your Nicaragua trip. I’m sure he’ll get on fine.
I happen to love your nickname, even more so now that you’ve shared the real story.
Love really is a beautiful emotion, especially when shared with someone you want to spend your nights and days. May you remember that the wedding is just a day…a special one, but yet just a day. How you treat each other before and after is far, far more precious and rewarding.
Happy engagement!
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Thank you, I love that. We’re excited for our marriage, and would just assume elope (the family members involved put a quick stop to that idea! 🙂 ).
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I must say, Roam-about-gal writes a more interesting blog than you Mike 🙂 Congratulations! Have fun in Nicaragua.
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Ha- Mike should have me around more often then. 😉 Thank you!
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As Father of Roam about Mike I would have approved a 6 people at a beach adventure for the nuptials, but the female units became combative so negotiations lead to the full blown event.
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This is a first – in all my years of blogging, Roam About Gal is the one that garners a response from Mike, Sr.? Yeesh!
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I cannot believe that Mike’s life keeps getting cooler and cooler. Damn you, Mabukach!
Congrats to both of you. 🙂
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Thank you, Mr. Calahan. Caitlin is way cooler than I, so I only get the ‘cool’ distinction through association.
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Huge congratulations to both of you! I am so passionate about traveling so I hope I can find a love like this – something rooted in what you both have with the other (your home is wherever you are).
Also, I just loved this post in general. Wish you two all the best.
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Thanks, Sam – that’s very sweet.
Happy travels to you and thanks for reading.
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Congrats on your engagement! Your post had me laughing. 🙂
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I’m glad you enjoyed 🙂 Stay tuned for my Nicaraguan treat!
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