GET HUBBIED

Now that the Home Show in Santa Barbara has opened, I can finally settle back into LA matters and focus on the very deserved R&B. They invited us over for a home-cooked meal a la Ruben. We were promised the wildest of arugula salads - promise delivered, and then some. A cornucopia was laid out for us in their colorful, artful and charm-full abode with finesse. There have been only a handful of meal meetings I can remember when I've felt as welcomed and appreciated - they made sure I understood how excited they are about this Get Hubbied adventure. Of course we talked about the wedding logistical details, gave them a list of things to do, caught them up on where all the artists are in the process, who we need to meet with first and what steps to take, but more importantly, we bonded and laughed a whole bunch of a lot.

They showed us their rings. How's this for good mojo:

Ruben: "Firstly Bec's mother, Kathy, brought her original wedding ring to Arizona to give to me. She had no idea of the news Bec and I would be bringing that weekend. My mother, Grace, hearing that Kathy was giving her ring, also wanted to contribute and she offered to solve the problem of no stone being on Kathy's original ring by giving a stone from a wedding ring that she no longer wore. Lastly, my father Jesse, who I am very close with, offered his original wedding band to me."

That would be a meaningful ring to wear, and even a reason to wear a diamond. I've never been quite fond of diamonds, but will be a diamond with some serious soul.

the first image shows Ruben's ring (on my gnarly fingers), and the second is Bec's (which will have the stone from Ruben's mom's ring added soon)

And they took me on a tour of their house. I kept stopping to admire and/or ask questions about so many of their artworks, objects and photographs, that it made it hard for them to finish the tour before dinner was cold, but they did. Here is a humorous vignette I found in their office, and a photograph taken by Ruben of his father.

And we were joined by their charming neighbor, Alison Kudlow, who happens to be their landlord-ess. We made her stay and eat with us - she offered to help with the engagement party which will be held in their yard. Here's the crew - sorry about the picture. At least one person was moving/biurry in every photo, but the images serve to set a tone.

Some people do indeed radiate contentment in their couple-ness - Bec and Ruben have that market cornered; their house even seems to be smiling. I look forward to every single meeting, email and phone call, of which we will have many in the coming months.

Here's a picture of Tif taking copious notes in the midst of quinoa and vino:

We'll be posting their engagement video that Tif filmed in Venice (CA) last week in the next few days, so check back in.