Wow!

I got my first RSVPs in the mail today! That was fast!

How exciting!!!

Sing Us A Song

Wow, I'm chatty today.

Pandora just taught me: a song that I would love to be serenaded with – Billy Joel, "For The Longest Time". Sweet and fun!

Oh, Oh, Oh
For the longest time
Oh, Oh, Oh
For the longest time

If you said goodbye to me tonight
There would still be music left to write
What else could I do, 
I'm so inspired by you
That hasn't happened for the longest time

Once I thought my innocence was gone
Now I know that happiness goes on
That's when you found me, 
when you put your arms around me
I haven't been there for the longest time

Oh, Oh, Oh
For the longest time
Oh, Oh, Oh
For the longest time

I'm that voice you're hearing in the hall
And the greatest miracle of all
Is how I need you, 
and how you needed me too
That hasn't happened in the longest time

Maybe this won't last very long
But you feel so right
And I could be wrong
Maybe I've gone this far
And it's more than I'd hoped for

Who knows how much further we'll go on
Maybe I'll be sorry when you're gone
I'll take my chances, 
I forgot how nice romance is
I haven't been there for the longest time

I had second thoughts at the start
I said to myself, 
hold on to your heart
Now I know the woman that you are
It's wonderful so far
And you're more than I'd hoped for

I don't care what consequence it brings
I have been a fool for lesser things
I want you so bad, 
I think you ought to know that
I intend to hold you for the longest time

Odd

I have weird hair. Or maybe I just don't have the "hair gene" that some girls seem to possess. The one that makes them magically able to style their hair in all sorts of fashion forward coifs. Or maybe I just don't care enough?

Anyway, most mornings I blow dry my hair sitting in my bed while I read a book, usually my Bible. I originally started to read while I blow dry my hair just to give me the patience to blow dry it completely. I have thick hair so it takes a while to dry. I tend to lose interest halfway through the drying process, but if I don't dry my hair completely, the wet parts curl as they dry, and I end up looking... I can't even find a good description... but it's not good. So reading while I blow dry keeps my drying til it's dry. Ha!

But some days I find myself in a situation where I can't sit and read while I dry my hair. I am house sitting, or slumber partying or whatever, and there just isn't a spot for me to sit/read/dry. The funny thing is, my hair looks better when I dry it while reading! It must be something about how I tilt my head... my hair falls forward rather than backward, and it is more flattering.

So my point is, I need to figure out a spot in the new place where I can sit and read in the mornings while I dry my hair, without bothering Brett. I have 51 days to think about it. WOW! 51 days! I guess if I have a long enough cord, and a comfortable enough bath mat, I can just sit on the floor.

Of course, I am also cutting my hair after the wedding, and that will help. Shorter hair means shorter drying time, and more obedient hair. So there you go. Everything you ever wanted to know about Kim's hair.

Oh Dear

Have I already said that I don't ever want to live somewhere with extreme winters? Let me repeat... I don't EVER want to live somewhere with extreme winters. The picture looks cool, until you read the accompanying article and see that there have already been 23 reported deaths due to the extreme cold. And this is Kentucky! Not Russia!

How about that fog this morning? It was like driving in the clouds. Crazy!

A Little Relief

Thank goodness for simple pleasures, even when they are guilty pleasures. Some things just never fail to cheer me up. Tonight, I am referring to a movie that I love, Bridget Jones Diary, and one of my all time favorite snacks, turkey and crackers.

I had a yucky day. I risked my life to drive to work on ice only to get there and feel stupid for three hours because I was the only one who did so. It wasn't so bad when people started to show up at 11:30. And honestly, I got a lot done while no one was there.

My doctor's appointment, the one that I FINALLY scheduled, months after I should have, was cancelled, because of the weather.

Brett had a rough day. He is freaking out over all of the wedding things that I freaked out about 6 months ago. I totally sympathize! There are a lot of details to get together for the big day. Brides get books and magazines galore to shed some light on the subject, but grooms are just told to dress up and expected to show up smiling that day. Maybe that is easy to do when someone else is paying for the wedding. Maybe it isn't. Either way, he is a bit overwhelmed. And my assurances don't seem to be quite enough of a tranquilizer. But I will keep doing my best.

After work, I went to Brett's old apartment and spent two and a half hours cleaning. I got a TON done! I think another 4-5 hours more, and we will be ready to turn in the keys on Saturday. I'm a little achy now though. And sneezy. His apartment seemed to be breeding two things, push pins and dust. Weird. It was also about 50 degrees when I got there! Brr!

But laying in bed, watching Bridget, while I snack on a hundred calorie pack of crackers and two pieces of turkey lunch meat is just the relaxer I need before I nod off. This movie reaches out to every girl, on some level. Well, at least every single girl. It is a perfect portrayal of how even the most well meaning gal can somehow find herself in the most uncomfortable, unbearable, or unfortunate situations possible. But with good friends and the ability to push through, life will always go on.

Okay, I'm freezing! I'm still glad that I didn't buy a laptop, but it has been fairly entertaining sitting on my bedroom floor shivering while I type away!

Simpsons Quote of the Day - 1.31.09

Homer: Lisa, Vampires are make-believe, like elves, gremlins, and Eskimos.

Simpsons Quote of the Day - 1.30.09

Homer: Your mother has this crazy idea that gambling is wrong. Even though they say it's okay in the Bible.

Lisa: Really? Where?

Homer: Uh... Somewhere in the back.

Simpsons Quote of the Day - 1.29.09

Homer: This is some way to show your gratitude, no gold, no diamonds, no rubies, not even a lousy card! Wait a minute, there was a card... that's what got me so mad in the first place!

Simpsons Quote of the Day - 1.28.09

Bart: Do you realize what this means?

Milhouse: Yeah, but you say it first.

It's So Quiet

Well, I came to work. Roads were frozen the whole way. And now I am sitting at my desk. Alone.

haha

No one called me and said "don't come in", and I didn't want to get in trouble! I couldn't tell how bad it was going to be until I was out on the road. Once I got to the road, I realized it was fairly bad. I drove on ice the entire way here, but every car was going 20 mph, I took a way that kept me from having to get on the highway, and it was okay.

I am going to try to get some things done so my boss will think I'm a good worker. Instead of the idiot who didn't stay home when the roads were covered in ice.

I feel dumb.

It's True!

Campbell's Soup At Hand Creamy Tomato flavor is the perfect warm weather snack. It feels so good going down my throat... it really IS mmm, mmm, good!

Simpsons Quote of the Day - 1.27.09

Homer: A woman is a lot like a refrigerator. Six feet tall, 300 pounds... it makes ice...

Yikes

I'm not used to big rent payments. It has been a HUGE blessing to live at home these past two years. I love our new place, and Brett and I make plenty of money to pay all of our bills, we are just not used to each other's schedules. It is time to figure out a bill schedule and all that jazz... would be easier if there weren't still so much to pay for on the wedding.

Sigh. I don't love cold weather. I like sweater weather, but I don't love electric underwear weather. And I'm a Texan, so ice of any kind is not my friend, unless it's floating in my Dr. Pepper. Cold weather seems to have Brett's spirits down as well. If we were married and we could stay home and cuddle all night, that would be one thing, but we are not married. So instead, I have to go home after work and he has to go home after work and we won't see each other because the stupid roads might get bad if the stupid freezing rain shows like they are saying it will.

Honestly, I don't have time for bad weather this week. We have a lot to do... I need to find a way to productive from home tonight. There are definitely things that I can do, they are just not what I was planning to do, so I need to rethink and form a plan. We have 53 days to do 1,000 things. I can't let the weather slow me down so much that I don't get anything done.

haha... no matter how cold it is, I still crave ice cream. Go figure.

Simpsons Quote of the Day - 1.26.09

Homer: Maaarge, the dog is hungry.

Marge: Well, then, feed him.

Homer: Yes, Master. (Mumbles) Do I have to do everything around here?

A Big Moment

I just finished assembling the wedding invitations. Wow. I'm getting married. At a wedding. Once I drop them in the mail on my way to work tomorrow, it will be officially too late to elope. Well, too late to elope without inconveniencing a large group of people.

The wedding is 8 weeks from yesterday. My goal was to send the invites out 8 weeks before the wedding. "They" say to mail them anywhere from 4 to 8 weeks before the wedding. We went with 8. I like to plan. I am mailing 109 invitations. Invitations to my wedding. Where I will be getting married.

Wow.

It's one of those moments... a right of passage I suppose. There is a certain amount of pressure where the invitations are concerned. How much pressure depends on the bride. Some brides freak out about everything and some brides pick random things to freak out about. Every bride wants to have pretty invitations. Even if they are super simple, you have to pick out wording and fonts and all of that. And of course, being a designer, I wanted to love my invitations. I started finding samples that I like months ago! In the end, there were way too many things that I liked. I picked the one that I seemed to go back to the most and I created something similar with our wedding colors. It's not formal! It's whimsical. I am okay with whimsical... but I hope it doesn't look like I went to Kroger and grabbed a random card to use as my invitations. Also, I didn't hand address them. Not unless you consider typing everyone's address into Quark before I printed labels hand addressing. I know there are people who will think it is tacky, but I decided I was more embarrassed by my handwriting than I by labels. John said that I should write a note on the envelopes that says "if you are offended by these labels, please do not come to the wedding - just send a gift". Silly John. Of course, I found two typos when I was putting them on the envelopes. One was inverted letters - I typed Maire instead of Marie. And she's a bridesmaid. Way to go Kim. And then I completely left off the apartment number on Daniel and Nicole's address, so I couldn't use that label. I had to hand address their's, and, like I always do, I got carried away with my loops, so it looks like Damiel instead of Daniel. AND... haha... most of the labels are crooked. I don't know how that happened. They looked straight until I pressed down. Then suddenly they were crooked. So there you go.

But it's done. I'm done with the invitations. Tomorrow morning they will go in the mail and then I will be waiting for RSVPs.

Wow.

Today was the first day since the move that I didn't get to go to the new apartment =-( Brett did laundry tonight. I want to do laundry in the new apartment! I like to do laundry. I'm so thankful that there are a few chores that I enjoy doing - I like to do laundry, I like to do dishes, and I like to vacuum. So I'm not happy that I didn't get to go over today and because of it, I missed a load of laundry. Of course, I did 3 loads of my laundry here, but that's not fun. It's just normal. Fun is doing laundry at the new place, like a wife.

I haven't been home except to sleep since the move. I needed to spend some time at home today to do laundry, to take care of the invitations, which took twice as long as I expected it to, by the way, and to reassemble my room somewhat. I moved my desk last weekend to the new place. It is the only piece of furniture there that is mine. And without it, my room at home was a MESS! I didn't realize how much I kept in, on and around the desk. But now things are a little more organized, so that's good.

Okay, time for bed. This week we will be cleaning out Brett's old apartment. I may not get to go to the new place much =-( I'm not happy about that. But I will be THRILLED when the old place is empty and we turn in Brett's keys. Sigh.

Wowza!

Well, today wasn't totally painless, but it was definitely productive. Last night we took care of our Direct TV issues. $200 and an hour and half phone call got us up and running and able to record shows. Life will be much more pleasant in the apartment now that that is all taken care of. And I hope we never have to speak of it again. haha.

Today we started the day with round 2 at Men's Warehouse. TOTALLY different experience! Junior (who by the way, we were right... he is only 16 so he has NOT been to prom yet, and has never worn a tuxedo before) was not there. We got there right when they opened, and an hour or so later, we were all hooked up! Brett picked a tux and we picked outfits for the guys. I am happy with all of the prices and I hope that the guys like their duds.

After MW we went to the AAA travel agent. It is past time to book our honeymoon. We can't afford it yet, but we are going to try to figure out exactly what our goal needs to be. The woman who helped us was incredible. On Monday, she is going to email us with some package options. And she told us about a great website called... okay, I can't remember what it is called at the moment. But I am GOING to remember on Monday, and it will help me to make an informed opinion about our hotel choices. Score!

Tomorrow, we are going to clean Creekwood. We won't finish, but we are going to get started. Brett has to turn in his keys next Saturday, so we have this week to get it cleaned up. Then tomorrow night, I am getting the invitations ready to mail and they will go out Monday. NO WAY!!! Yes way.

Okay, I'm exhausted!!! And tomorrow will be exhausting. But every day we are making progress and learning as we grow in this crazy time.

Simpsons Quote of the Day - 1.23.09

Homer: Oh Marge, I'm so sorry. I should have listened to whatever it was you were saying.

Pandora

My two greatest discoveries on Pandora thus far:

Lola by The Kinks

and

Pork and Beans by Weazer

Songs that I have probably heard a few times and nodded along to, and now I sing along and love them! Pandora. It's greatness.

I Love Nice People

It's so funny how one nice person can make your day. Sometimes without even speaking to you. Just a smile. A stranger who smiles at you like you are old friends. Stinks that one mean person can ruin your day though. One mean comment, or hand gesture, or rolling eye.

So, 3 pieces of cool info:

1. My envelopes and labels are sitting on my desk RIGHT NOW! The invites and reply cards still need to be cut down, but I have seem them printed. I think they are fun! And I have cash in my purse to buy stamps with. Woohoo for mailing invitations!!!

2. I bought a cheap bookcase at lunch that will enable Brett and I to get MUCH further in the unpacking process. I also realized that the coffee table that we want is $10 less than I thought. I think we will pick it up tonight after dinner. Rock on!

And on a different note - 

3. I heard that Dakota Fanning was cast as Jane for New Moon. I like it!

Hope everyone has a great weekend full of productivity and peace!

Simpsons Quote of the Day - 1.22.09

Milhouse: If I wasn't your friend, I'd tell you you sucked.

Fully Dressed! I Mean Addressed. I Mean Ready to Address.

I just got the final address that we were waiting for. Woohoo! And I sent the invitations and reply cards to the press this morning. Tomorrow I am going to send a file with the addresses on it. I know some people are highly offended by labels on wedding invites, but listen. I have really bad handwriting. And this way I can do a cute font. And you're just going to throw it out anyway, so leave me alone!

On another note, my back is killing me! I need a massage! I'll see what I can do about that. =-)

Seriously?

I can't believe the wedding is two months away. Two months from today. 59 days, in case you are wondering. Goodness gracious! I remember when it was a year away!

I know that I say this every week, but I am going to say it one more time. "We still have a lot left to do, but hopefully we will get a lot done this weekend." haha. And HOPEFULLY I won't post on Sunday night saying "we didn't get as much done as I had hoped"... this time.

The MOST important thing to do on Saturday is to finalize our decisions on the guys clothes. Jenn's shower is from 2-4 in McKinney (I'm SO excited!), but we are going to start at 10 and have a good 3 hours of getting things done. I would also like to mail the invitations this weekend. I just sent a proof of the invites and I am about to start the reply card. If we don't get busy, then I think our pressman will be able to print them on Friday. I hope, I hope!

The apartment is really coming along! There are probably 20 or so boxes left to unpack, but they are books and games mostly. I can't wait to post pictures! Of course, we will have some key pieces of furniture missing, and probably no artwork yet, but you can get a basic idea.

Okay, off to design the reply card! Woohoo!

Simpsons Quote of the Day - 1.21.09

Mr. Burns: Quick Smithers, bring the mind eraser device!

Smithers: You mean the revolver, sir?

Mr. Burns: Precisely.

Simpsons Quote of the Day - 1.20.09

Homer: Quiet you kids. If I hear one more word, Bart doesn't get to watch cartoons, and Lisa doesn't get to go to college.

What A Weekend!

There are way too many details. If I told the whole story, we'd be here all day! So let me sum up.

After weeks of packing, the day finally came. I know that I said on Friday that after I went to the apartment at lunch I was worried it was too small. Now that our furniture is in place, I think it's perfect. So far, I love the complex. It's very pretty, the parking is covered and free, there is curbside trash pickup, which I have never had before, the ceilings are tall, the blinds are wooden, the view of the creek is GORGEOUS and I hear that the shower head is tall enough that Brett doesn't hit his head on it. A first in YEARS for him! We had a couple of minor issues on Friday/Saturday - there were a few things that needed fixing and we thought it could have been done in a more timely manor. And actually, some of them still need fixing. Two light bulbs are out that are way too high for us to reach. And we need those lights! I gotsta see the inside of our closet! But as far as the move goes, it could not have been better. We had wonderful helpers, the perfect sized U-Haul and PERFECT weather! Nothing broke, and the pizza we ordered for lunch for ourselves and the movers was tasty! Two bonuses!

We've had a couple of mishaps. Little adventures, if you will. While he was putting his desk together in the study on Saturday night, I started to assemble the new bookcase that we had bought. I like to assemble furniture. I like feeling handy. It's something that I have always enjoyed. But honestly, I have to admit... I am kind of notorious for messing up a step somewhere in the process. And it's pretty much the same problem every time. I don't know how - I read the directions VERY carefully - but somehow, something always ends up upside down. You can't tell when you look at it, but when it is time to screw in a connecting piece, and the pre-drilled holes are on the wrong side... yeah. No good. I have done it on Jenna's old desk, my current desk, my current tv stand... the list probably goes on, but that is all I can recall. Oh, and our new bookcase, of course. (I also glued my finger to the entertainment center that I assembled in our dorm room my junior year. That hurt pretty bad... but the skin grew back, eventually.)

I was almost to the final step. It was time to attach the top and I asked Brett to help me stand it up. We spent at least 20 minutes, it could have been 30, trying to push the two middle sets of holes into the top shelf. I didn't understand how they could have under-drilled the hole by so much! And then suddenly it hit me. It was upside down. The connectors at the bottom were totally wrong for the kind of screw that was holding them in place. We had to lay it back down, unscrew the middle two boards, flip them around, and re-insert the screws. Then it took ANOTHER 20-30 minutes to get all 8 connectors lined up perfectly to drop into all 8 holes.

Brett was SO great though. He didn't even come close to getting upset with me. Or laughing at me. He got frustrated with the furniture! But not with me. I was so thankful.

Listen, if they would give written instructions along with the pictures, it would be easier for me to follow. Maybe. haha. Anyway, the bookcase is in place and lookin' fine!

Mishap number 2 happened this evening around 8:00. I took today off to get some wedding things done, but there were some apartment things that needed doing as well. Actually there are millions of apartment things that need doing. Lots of unpacking left to do! But the only apartment thing that I had written in stone that I was definitely going to do was be there from 8 to noon and wait for the Direct TV guy to come.

Brett hasn't had cable in over 3 years. He gave it up when he needed to make adjustments while he was job searching, and he never reordered because it was an unnecessary expense. There were/are plenty of things to entertain Brett in his apartment without cable. He did miss it though. And I, on the other hand, like to have cable. I will rework my budget to pay the $40 a month for basic cable. I know that I don't "need" my HGTV, but sometimes it sure feels that way! A girl needs to be able to wind down now and then!

So last week, I called Direct TV and opened an account. Brett had shown me the package he thought was right for us several days earlier, but he never had time to make the call while he was preparing for the move. So I called. I opened an account and chose the package he mentioned - or so I thought. Boy was I wrong! I ordered the Choice Package. I was supposed to order the package, not one, but TWO steps up from that, the Plus DVR package. The thing is, we weren't talking about "packages" that day, he just showed me the site and the option that he thought had everything that we needed. I just remembered wrong when I revisited the site. I didn't realize that the package I ordered didn't have DVR, and it was also missing 2 of his favorite channels. I have had my favorite channels at home for 2 years now. He has been without his for a LONG time! So I felt really bad. We could upgrade to the package one step up from ours, which includes his missing channels for only an additional $5 a month, so we did that. But the promotion with the discounted DVR only applies to new customers. We had been customers for 6 hours when we realized my mistake, so we no longer qualified for the discount. Once we accepted the equipment, we were stuck with it.

We are going to pay the money to upgrade to DVR, but we won't be able to do it right away. I suggested we both save for a couple of weeks and split the cost for a mutual Valentine's gift.

Again, Brett was wonderful. He was disappointed that we didn't have what we intended to have, but he didn't get upset with me even for a second, even though it was totally my fault! what a man =-)

So I took off today to get Direct TV set up, and to get some things done for the wedding. The DTV guy was scheduled to come between 8 and noon (I think I already said that) but at 9:00 he called to let me know that his first installation was going to take much longer than expected, and he probably would not arrive until 1 or 1:30. That cut into my "wedding errands" time, but it gave me time to get lots done in the apartment. I unpacked tons of boxes! There are probably 30-40 left to unpack, but you can now walk freely around the apartment, and all of the dishes are washed and in place. 

I didn't do everything that I had hoped to wedding wise, but the most important wedding errand today was to rent chairs for the ceremony, and that got done. I am VERY pleased with how that worked out. The chairs are incredibly reasonably priced. We used At Once Party Rental in Irving. The City of Irving recommended them when we reserved the park. They also rent table linens, which I need, but they were more expensive than I expected! So I need to get on top of finding linens. I also found and purchased Madilyn's flower girl dress. She LOVED it when she tried it on in the store. The top is white and the bottom is the color of our bridesmaid dresses. The store that we went to was rumored to have inexpensive veils as well, but they were nowhere to be found.

I need to do the invitations this week. It is hard to be away from the apartment... I love our new home and I want to be in it with my husband. But, alas, he will not be my husband, and it will not technically be my home, for another 60 days. And the invitations MUST GET DONE this week!

I CAN'T BELIEVE the wedding is that close! We are still experiencing some drama from some outside sources. It is actually at an all time high. But I am going to attempt to put an end to that tomorrow night, peacefully, I hope! Pray for me.

Okay, it is past my bedtime. I am still a little sore from the move - I hurt my left shoulder and my left foot - but mostly I am tired. So tired. Could sleep for 24 hours tired. So goodnight.

I Know I Need to Post, But

Okay, I have been asked for updates and for pictures. I am just posting really quickly to say that I will post soon! Not tonight. I am so exhausted, I think that my yawns have started to mutate. They are breeding. If I am not in bed in the next 90 seconds, they may take over the world, and that's not good, because I have a lot to do tomorrow!

The move is over. I love the apartment. We have tons of unpacking to do. More details to come!

Shout out to all the Rockstars who helped us move! We couldn't have done it without you.

So Far, So Good... I Think

Okay, my first impression when I walked in was "I wish it were a little bigger". But then I remembered, apartments always seem smaller when they are empty. I think that when we put our things in and then realize we have room left over, it is going to feel just perfect! The windows are awesome... there is a lot of natural light. The closets... I've had bigger, but I think they are more than adequate. The master bathroom has an awesome shower/tub combo. The kitchen is narrow, but the space is really well utilized. There is probably twice the amount of usable counter space than we have in Brett's apartment right now. And the cabinets throughout are big!!!

I will feel good when we are moved in and unpacked. I'm glad that we are moving 8 weeks before the wedding week. I want some time to settle in.

I hope this afternoon passes quickly so I can get the real work started!

And I hope Brett feels good about it when he sees everything!!!

EEK!

Today is the day! We pay the rent and get the keys at lunch! Oh goodness. I'm nervous and excited AND drinking an iced coffee from McDonald's (with vanilla and hazelnut... yum!), so I'm all kinds of jittery.

I'm sure when I get back from lunch after seeing OUR apartment for the first time I will just HAVE to post again. Or maybe I will be so nervous I will have to wait until Monday. We shall see.

Pray for Brett and I this weekend. Pray that we speak kindly to each other and not boss each other around. Pray that we view the apartment as belonging to us equally and not try to dictate to each other our preferences. Pray for safety for us and all of our movers tomorrow. Pray for little unexpected expenses that I am sure will pop up. (I already realized this morning that I forgot to buy trash bags and shelf liner when I bought things for the apartment on Wednesday.

And on another note, I read the second chapter of the book Bob gave us, The Hardest Year of a Woman's Life. Did I mention it the first time? It is two books in one. One half is The Hardest Year of a Woman's Life and then you flip it over and the other side is The Hardest Year of a Man's Life. It is SO helpful! It is going to teach me to be a better communicator and a better wife. I recommend it to all of my married or soon to be married friends.

Okay, I am going to attempt to focus on work now. We'll see how that goes...

Simpsons Quote of the Day - 1.16.09

Homer: Kids, let me tell you about another so-called 'wicked guy'. He had long hair and some wild ideas. He didn't always do what other people thought was right. And that man's name was... I forget. But the point is... I forget that, too. Marge, you know what I'm talking about. He used to drive that blue car?

Simpsons Quote of the Day - 1.15.09

Homer: Marge, I know you didn't believe me about the vending machines, that's why I had the firemen write me a note!

Marge: (Reading) 'Mrs. Simpson, while we were out rescuing your husband, a lumber yard burned down.

Homer: D'oh! (Ruefully) Lumber has a million uses.

Two Things

1. I am super excited about He's Just Not That Into You. It comes out on Feb. 6, and I could not be looking forward to it more. After Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince, it is probably my most anticipated film of the year. Yeah, I said it. So what?

2. WHY do I watch trailers for scary movies? I just watched Trailer 2 for the new Friday 13th remake. NO WAY will I ever see that movie! So why can I not ignore the little "watch trailer" button on my widget? Now I will never be able to camp again (not much of a loss there, really) and I will also fight thinking about him all day!

Stinker.

Good Times with Bob

We started our marriage counseling last night =-)

Bob Harper is greatness! I am so glad that we asked him to play this role in our marriage. I think we are going to learn a lot and I think our future will be better because of it.

It was a crazy night. We just can't seem to please some people. But we are trying to look at all of the good things going on in our life right now. We are so excited about the move! This time tomorrow I will be walking around our new apartment checking it out. Woohoo! I think that we will get a lot done tomorrow night, and I HOPE that things will go smoothly on Saturday.

I wish today were Friday! hehe

Simpsons Quote of the Day - 1.14.09

Comic Book Guy: Shortness of breath, left arm and chest pains, can't go on describing symptoms much longer...

Breakfast... The Most Important Meal of the Day

I know it sounds weird, but for the past year or so, I have been eating a Boca burger for breakfast. Boca makes meat like products for non meat eaters. I have only tried a couple of the products, but I have enjoyed them, and I look forward to trying more.

When I rejoined Weight Watchers a couple of years ago, one of my first steps was figuring out what to eat for breakfast. Breakfast is so important! It's important to eat something that is not too pointy, but will stay with you. For months I ate oatmeal. Nutritionists suggest starting your day with oatmeal because of all the good stuff inside. And it is supposed to be filling and leave you feeling full for a while. Well, at first I was eating a bowl of oatmeal and I would feel full for pretty much just until I left the house. So I started cutting up an apple and putting it in my oatmeal. An entire apple! That left me feeling full until 9:00 or so.

Well there was a girl at my WW meetings... one of those people who is kind of a show off. She had lost 40 pounds or so and taken up swimming laps as exercise. Her routine really worked for her and she loved to talk about it! One of those people who can't hear someone else say something positive that they are doing and just be happy for them, she has to try and top them or share a story of her own. You know the type.

She talked all of the time about her Boca burgers. She ate one for breakfast every morning. It was so filling and it helped her swim and blah blah blah blah blah. So for the longest time I didn't want to try it because I thought they would make me think of her and get all annoyed. But I bought some Boca burgers to try anyway. I loved them! I heat it up in the microwave for one minute, fifteen seconds and I eat it on a toasted English muffin. They are one point a piece, so I can add mustard, lettuce, pickle and onion and have a really tasty, super satisfying burger that leaves me feeling full for hours, for only 2 points! Throw in some Baked Lays and you are living large!

When my oatmeal wasn't cutting it, I eventually tried eating Boca for breakfast, and I have never looked back. I am not tired of them after eating them for a year. I look forward to them.

The point of this email is to say, guess what? I tried something new with my Boca this morning! I have been eating spaghetti this week because I bought some Tofu Shirataki noodles. They rock my world! And I bought a jar of the new Healthy Choice spaghetti sauce. It is delicious! This morning, I don't know what it was... I just wanted to do something a little different. So I toasted my English muffin, heated my Boca and then topped it with some spaghetti sauce and 1 point of WW cheese, and voila! Boca parmigiana. Delicious!

If you have never tried Boca, I suggest you do. They come 4 to a box and they range in price from $3.49 to $3.99. Pricey, I know, but worth it for me. I save money because I snack less. You will find them in the freezer section of your local grocery store =-) Buy the flame grilled version.

Woohoo for Boca!

You Have Got to be Kidding Me

Okay, wedding drama that I create for myself? That's my fault and I will suck it up and shut up about it... eventually. But I am just about fed up with people other than myself and Brett creating drama for us.

"Be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry."

That is one of my life verses. I think it all the time. You can't take words back. Once you say them, they are out there. Ever question the damage words can do? Read the book of James. 

I see proof of that damage every time Brett hangs up the phone after listening to ten minutes of screaming. I want to be a graceful, Godly woman. I am supporting and nurturing and I will bandage his wounds every time that he lets me. But how many times do you fall down in a fight before you decide to stand up to the bully? Or in my case, how many times do I watch someone that I love take a beating before I decide to step in?

I am reaching my limit. But I want to watch my words. Once they are out there, I can't take them back.

God, grant me the SERENITY to accept the things I cannot change, the COURAGE to change the things I can, and the WISDOM to know the difference.

Ready For Moving Day!

Okay, well, technically we're NOT ready for moving day. But I am ready for the new apartment! I can't wait to see it again! And I can't wait to move Brett in this weekend! And I can't wait to be married and living in it!

I am going there Friday on my lunch break to pay rent and get the keys. At first I was thinking that Brett would want me to wait to go see it until he gets off Friday night, but yesterday I realized that I needed to go check it out on Friday while they are still open and make sure there are no major problems, to which Brett said "duh". So I get to see it in 3 days and I get to walk around and see it for the first time all by myself. Woohoo! I'm so excited!

We have a lot of packing left to do, but each day we make tons of progress. Tomorrow night we have a pre-marital counseling session, so we won't really get packing done. That means tonight we are going to try to get to the "almost done" point. This weekend I thought we had tons of boxes but now I am starting to think that really, it will be just enough. I think we will use them all.

Friday night we are going to use my mom's van to take all of the electronics over. We play it safe =-)

I'm excited!

Simpsons Quote of the Day - 1.13.09

Kent Brockman: Tragic news tonight, 120 dead in a tidal wave in Kuala Lala, pure. Kuala Lum, per... (Crosses it out) France!

Simpsons Quote of the Day - 1.12.09

Homer: Wait, I'm no missionary! I don't even believe in Jebus! Let me out.

Pilot: Sorry, no can do.

Homer: Oh, save me Jebus!

I Feel Sick

I have been experiencing periods of anxiety. Sometimes it lasts all day and sometimes it's just a few hours. I am so jittery I feel like I need to throw up. I have never been one to throw up from nerves, but I feel like I would feel better if I threw up and got it over with! But I don't want to start letting that be okay and then throw up on my wedding day. You know. The Pablo's dog thing.

ugh.

haha

I have a dozen things that I was still going to try to do tonight, and what am I doing? Tearing up while I watch Kate Winslet's acceptance speech. Thanks Kim. That's real helpful.

I started to do my taxes online and then I realized that I haven't received my statement that shows the student loan interest business, so I had to stop. I emailed the rest of the ceremony house party, so that's helpful. I took my dress to the seamstress today, so that's good. Brett and I did a TON of packing this weekend, so that's good. I took care of a couple of Sunday School things that needed to be done, so that's good.

I was up way too late last night, so that's bad. We didn't find groomsmen outfits this weekend, and that's bad. There has been some confusion trying to reserve the U-Haul for this Saturday's move, so that's bad. And my back is hurting because I've been sitting on the floor for way too long, and that's bad. I also have a couple of awkward phone calls to make. That's a long story, but I will just say I am not looking forward to them, so I will make them tomorrow night and get them over with.

I am going to see what I can do on our wedding invitations tonight. There are a million things that I like. It has been really hard to pick a few of those things and put them together in an invitation.

All I can do is take things one day at a time. I think this week will be stressful, but I am going to pray often, cry as little as possible (hah) and just keep chugging along.

Sigh.

Simpsons Quote of the Day - 1.10.09

Homer: Okay, Gabriel, this is a bar. It's where I go to drink alcohol, which is the mortal equivalent of your ambrosia.

Gabriel: Homer, I am not an angel.

Homer: Pfft. Well not with that temper.

Homer: (Later and drunk) Look, the thing about my family is, there's five of us: Marge, Bart, Girl Bart, the one who doesn't talk, and the fat guy. How I loathe him. (Falls off the barstool)

Simpsons Quote of the Day - 1.09.09

Homer: Marge, I know you didn't believe me about the vending machines, that's why I had the firemen write me a note!

Marge: (Reading) 'Mrs. Simpson, while we were out rescuing your husband, a lumber yard burned down.

Homer: D'oh! (Ruefully) Lumber has a million uses.

Small Victories and Huge Blessings

What a day it's been! If I am this emotional before the birth control, I dread getting used to all those extra hormones! Sheesh! I just cried for the last 5 minutes of "How Do I Look" on the Style Network. But honestly, it was the best episode I have ever seen. She was SO sweet!

I feel so much better now. Brett had a wonderful afternoon at work and his spirits were more than lifted. Sometimes a little affirmation can go a LOOOONG way.

Today we had some small victories:

- Brett and I are both down on the scale this week

- We finally have enough boxes for the move

- I found a pair of boots that I have been looking for and thought I had missed the boat on

And some huge blessings:

- Brett had a great review and a great bonus! (that will get us MUCH closer to being able to book the honeymoon)

- We are finding affordable options for the rehearsal dinner

And best of all, tomorrow is Friday. It has been quite a week, but we are almost through it.

Tomorrow night my family, minus Dad, Jenna and Chris, will be celebrating Melanie's birthday at dinner. Then Brett and I will be listening to a funny movie while we pack his last two bookcases and the remaining action figures, along with our Mister Potato Head collection. Then Saturday morning we will be helping our amigos Kelly, Steven and Alexis move into their new apartment. And then sometime after lunch we will be taking our second shot at finding clothes for the groomsmen. On Sunday I am going to visit a seamstress that Melanie knows. Hopefully she will be able to do what I need on my wedding dress for less than the woman who I have an appointment scheduled with on the 19th. If I could cancel that appointment, I would be able to be home and get the cable set up at the new apartment.

That is my schedule this weekend. It would be really great if I could design our invitations, reply cards and thank you cards somewhere in there. I don't think that's impossible... I can at least get started, I think.

And Wednesday we start marriage counseling, finally! Then Saturday is the move! The ball is rolling! I hope we can hang on!

What's with all the exclamation points?

When 3:18 Feels like 6:00

I hate days like this. I feel like I've been at work forEVER! And it's not even 3:30.

My meeting with the girls last night was helpful, but I am no less stressed. I was over-reacting this morning. It's a wedding. Not the rapture. This event is not going to make or break me, so why am I so worried about the little details. I think I have just been slightly overwhelmed by the "little" details because when they all rise up together and lumber towards me, they seem more like Godzilla than decorations.

Sigh. It's going to be okay. Brett is stressed and that always puts me on edge, but his afternoon is going well, so maybe by the time he gets home tonight he will feel better. We have to get it together and finish packing so we can move. At the same time, we have to get it together and take care of some wedding details that are needing to be managed.

Our box hook up, Mikey Mike, is bringing us another 13 boxes tonight. I have 10 in my car right now and we picked up 8 or so from Brett's mom on Monday. I think we are good to go. We just need to fill them now!

Again, it's going to be okay.

My head hurts =-(

Holy Ticking Clock, Batman!

Okay, so now some of the wedding things that I have been thinking/worrying about for a few months have suddenly come under Brett's radar. He is asking a lot of questions and I really need to have my lists handy to get into a lot of detail with my answers.

I am REALLY hoping to have a productive meeting with my girls tonight. I think I will feel better when I leave Jenina's house...

But goodness! So many questions! Making me nervous!

Simpsons Quote of the Day - 1.07.09

Lisa: Our Father, who art in Heaven...

Bart: Lisa, this is neither the time, nor the place!

If I Were a Bear, I'd be Rich!

Still juggling!

The last 7 days have been very productive. I've crossed some large things off of my list. I created the wedding blog, I found a doctor, I emailed addresses to the people throwing me showers, I found earrings for the bridesmaids. And that one was a bonus! I wasn't even looking for them! Um, there was more, but I can't seem to remember it now. That list doesn't sound very impressive. Probably because no matter how many things I do, there is still so much LEFT to do!

Here are some things that need to happen in the next 7 days:

1. Design Wedding Invitations and Thank You Cards

2. Create a Schedule for the week of the wedding (My Matrons of Honor are going to help me do that tomorrow night)

3. Recruit a team to help me set up for the reception

4. Recruit a team to set up and man the food for the reception (it doesn't sound complicated, but we have some serious time restrictions. Whoever performs this task won't be able to make it to the ceremony. So I need people who care about me enough to help out, but don't mind missing the wedding itself.)

That is my short list. In the month of January we need to:

1. Finish packing up Brett's apartment

2. Move into the new apartment

3. Clean Brett's old apartment

4. Decide on the groom and groomsmen outfits

5. Find necklaces for the bridesmaids

6. Begin the final part of the bridesmaid gifts

7. Start practicing cupcakes (We are doing cupcakes instead of cake at the wedding, and I am sure that if I play with it enough, I can make them myself and make them pretty enough for the occasion)

8. Reserve chairs and linens for the wedding day

9. Find shoes

That is all that I can list without having a panic attack. Lately I've been freaking  out and I have to go to my happy place. Know what it is? Brett's arms. Sometimes we are sitting on his couch, sometimes we are on a private island, sometimes we are in a horse drawn carriage. Wherever we are, I can always manage to calm down if I think of being in Brett's arms. No matter how stressful the next 73 days are, they will be worth it because in the end, I will get to fall asleep in his arms every night.

It's so crazy. We have been dating for so long, but some days it still seems so new. I think because we have so many new experiences coming up. I feel like we know each other so well, but how well do you really know someone who you have never lived with? But still... we have been dating long enough that I remember things that I didn't realize I had forgotten. For instance, driving home tonight, I remembered how I used to tell Brett, when we were just friends, that I was going to be his next best friend. I would say "I just know it. We are going to be best friends." Even then, I always felt calmer when I was anxious if I could be near him. I remember being shocked the day that I realized that was the case.

The first time I saw Brett I knew I was going to marry him. I don't know how, but I did. Of course, no one just "knows" something like that, right? I saw him sitting alone at the table in the basement and in my head I said "Oh, there's my husband". And then I said "What??? That's crazy talk". But I thought I should introduce myself anyway. I was immediately into him, but it is against my policy to like someone who doesn't like me. That's a lesson I only had to learn once! So we were friends, and God guarded my heart. I didn't obsess over him or pursue him. I just let things happen. But I confessed it to Kim and Ashley on mission trip. One night at dinner, we were talking about boys and being single and I said "actually, I think that I've already met my husband". They giggled and forced me to tell them who. I said "his name is Brett Bacon. He is just a guy in my Sunday School class. He is tall and cute and totally nerdy. I'm pretty sure I'm going to marry him."

And now here we are. 73 days from being married. We have been through so much. They haven't always been easy years. But they have been good.

I'm talking too much. It's bedtime for me. I am watching Return to Oz for the 6th time since I got it for Christmas. I love this movie!

Phobia or Baby?

Why do doctor's appointments make me so nervous? I've always thought that it's just because I am so unfamiliar with all things doctor related. I had a pediatrician growing up, but I can't remember when I stopped going to him. In middle school and high school I have only one memory of going to a doctor and that was to get a shot. And it was a clinic, I think.

In 2003 I got a bad case of bronchitis. I had insurance through Lane Bryant at the time, but I had no idea how to use. My roommate ended up calling a doctor for me. I felt pathetic, but there you go. Since then I have been sick several times, but I was without insurance for about 3 years, and after that, I just stuck it out.

Just the thought of calling a doctor makes me sick. Literally. Like, I just hung up the phone after making an appointment as a new patient, and I feel like I need to throw up. Not because I am sick. Just anxious. What's that about? Am I just being a baby or is this a phobia? Trembling and nauseated... well, either way, it ain't fun!

But I have an appointment set up. I am taking one more step towards joining the grown-up world. I am 27 years old! You would think I would comfortable with all that jazz, but there are things that make me feel 5. Like car trouble and doctor's appointments.

Ick.

Simpsons Quote of the Day - 1.06.09

Mayor Quimby: Remember, if anyone asks, you're my niece from out of town.

Lady: I am your niece, uncle Joe!

Mayor Quimby: Good Lord! I'm an abomination!

Case of the Mondays

Anytime I have a frustrating day and it happens to be Monday I think of Office Space and I sympathize with one of two people. The guy who wanted to get a little revenge and take back from the company who was sucking the life out of him, OR the guy who was sick of it and just wanted to burn the building down.

Today was a burn the building down kind of day.

I hate this building. For the past 6 months or so, anytime someone flushed the toilet in the girls bathroom, it sounded like there was a person inside the wall banging on it, trying to get out. Well the last week or so, the toilet has started backing up. It's gross. I hate it. I hate the bugs, I hate the toilet, I hate the freezing rooms. It makes me crazy. And John is pouting. I sympathized for a long time, (this has been going on for months) but now, I'm kind of over it.

I also haven't been home since 8:30 in the morning on Wednesday.

All of these things combined made me grumpy. It's not a case of the Mondays. It's just general annoyance.

Grr.

I Opened The Box

I gave in. I am officially hooked on Pandora. Sigh. I still love you iTunes!

I tried it out last week and it really is greatness. But I have learned that it's better to put in a band name than a particular song when you are creating a new station. I have a Beatles station going that is so great! It's mostly Beatles, Rolling Stones and Simon and Garfunkel so far. A little Queen, Creedence Clearwater Revival and The Kinks thrown in. Good times.

I feel like I'm cheating on my iTunes =-( Pandora is rockin' my socks though.

Simpsons Quote of the Day - 1.05.09

Bart: I am through with working. Working is for chumps.

Homer: Son, I'm proud of you! I was twice your age when I figured that out.

Oops

This is my last day in the house where I am house sitting and I wanted it to be super productive!

It started well, I woke up on time, but my luck ran out quickly. I was almost ready to leave for church and time was on my side. But I grabbed a cup to take it to the kitchen so the dogs wouldn't knock it over while I was gone. Well, the cup, or should I say glass (it looked plastic to me!) didn't make it to the kitchen. I bumped it on a chair in the living room and it shattered. I immediately had terrible images of the dogs swallowing glass so I searched for a broom and dustpan and swept the area three times. But because there had been a tiny bit of water in the cup, the floor was wet and I was concerned that there was still glass lurking that I couldn't see because it was wet. So to be safe, I made the decision to leave the dogs outside while I was at church. I felt bad doing this because, like I said earlier, it is 50 degrees cooler today than it was yesterday. And I had two quick errands to run on my way home! But these are big dogs. They have long hair, and they wrestle frequently. So I told myself they would be fine and I dashed out the door.

Church was great. If I've said it once, I've said it a hundred times - Brett is such a gifted teacher. I love being in his Sunday School class. And Brother Ken gave a moving sermon.

I was very pleased with my first errand after church. I was looking for Central Market. I looked it up last night and there is one fairly close to this house. But on my way I passed a Whole Foods that is even closer. There are some tofu noodles that I learned about on Hungry Girl, but they can only be found in a few stores. I bought 10 bags, and I am happy to have them. They are a SUPER alternative and can be used in so many ways.

Unfortunately, my second errand was not so fruitful. I am looking for some new clip art. I have at least 1,000,000 pieces of clip art... probably 1,250,000... but there is not a single decent willow tree in the bunch! There is a "willow trees" but it does NOT look like a willow tree to me. I have looked everywhere that I know to look. It's just not happening.

Anyway, I got back to the house, swept two more times, ate lunch and then worked for about an hour. Then I fell asleep. How is that for productive! I really needed a nap though. Hopefully I will be able to stay up and get 8 hours of work done in 4. It can happen. Wish I had some coffee though... but I promised the dogs I wouldn't leave them again - today.

Seriously Weather Man?

Okay, when I left the house yesterday, it was 81 degrees. I went to sleep with the fan on because the room was stuffy.

I got up and let the dogs out this morning and it was freezing! So I just checked the forecast. What??? The high today is 44 and tomorrow the high is 37 with rain?

I'm just saying... What???

I guess the bright side is I have a sweater to wear to church today. I thought I was going to be miserable hot, but I guess not!

Becoming the Bacons

I finally created a wedding blog! I still have things to add to it, but it is up and running.

Check it out!

http://becomingthebacons.blogspot.com/

Happy New Year

Well, the first change I made in the new year was updating my blog design. Do you like it?

Remember a couple of months ago when I was house sitting and I was kind of sad because I thought it would be my last time to house sit? Well, I stand corrected. The wedding is 79 days away, and the family I like to house sit for went on vacation for New Years, so here I am! I LOVE this house. I love pulling into the garage and listening to the door close and imagining that it is my house I am pulling into. Overall, the contemporary country feel is not my style, but there are elements, like the curtains hanging on the window I am sitting in front of, that I totally dig! And the flow of this house is great. It wraps around the backyard and there are large windows in every main room so you can see the gorgeous green backyard. And the bed... oh my goodness. It is the most comfortable bed I have ever slept in.

So this is probably supposed to be a New Year's Resolution post, but seriously? 2009 is going to rock my world! The wedding is so close I can hardly think of anything else. My main goal this year is to be a good, Godly wife, but I know very little about how to do that, so I am just going to pray hard and take it one day at a time. 

We get the keys to the new apartment on January 16. That night, a Friday, Brett and I will move our electronics and anything delicate to the apartment and then Saturday we will load up the U-haul, with the help of as many friends we can convince to come to our aid. I am SO excited! I haven't been this excited about a move since I got my own apartment in 2004. I was SUPER excited when I was moving in with Jenina, and again when I was moving in with Jennifer, but I knew from the beginning that I was going to love those experiences. I had very clear pictures in my head of what that would be like. But living alone... there was an element of the unknown that gave my excitement a nervousness that raised the stakes. That is how I am feeling about this move. I have NO idea what it will be like. Marriage. I am so used to talking about the wedding, I have grown desensitized to the word. But marriage? Yeah. I shake in my slippers a little.

I mean, on one hand, Brett and I do EVERYTHING together, so there are some things that will be familiar. I mean, Brett and I have been dating for 3 years, and we were friends for 2 years before that. Things like cooking together and going everywhere together... old news. But there will be a lot of new things too! Like brushing teeth. I've never brushed my teeth with Brett. I've never gotten ready for work with him. Are we going to drive each other crazy? I'm not a morning talker, and I have had roommates be really sensitive about that before. Will he think I'm grumpy in the mornings? I'm really not grumpy, I just don't have much to say. haha... I'm not very good at waking up. That's another thing. Brett is a very light sleeper. We have napped together before and he tosses and turns at every noise. Me? I sleep through my alarm for hours every morning. HOURS.

I am not going to freak out about those things just yet though. I still have too many wedding things to potentially freak out about. I am going to take advantage of this time house sitting. I have a list of wedding things to get done and I have a list of lists that I need to make. Go ahead. Laugh. I'm used to it.

I'm too tired to proof read this post past clicking spellcheck, so I apologize for any words that don't make sense.