Engaged!

I'm normally a terrible blogger and that probably won't change anytime soon.  But I want to remember December 12 for the rest of my life.  I want to be able to read this 10 years from now and still burst into tears like I am right now.

Our long weekend started off bumpy.  We were leaving Thursday night for Montgomery so Brian could get all his graduation preparations out of the way for the big day.  Little did I know he was hiding something huge all weekend.  I got home from work and just felt sick and unfocused.  I'm normally very organized when it comes to packing.  But for whatever reason, I couldn't get it together enough to even figure out outfits for the weekend.  I ended up forgetting my toothbrush, toothpaste, my camera charger, and the receipt to pick up Brian's cap and gown... oops.

We got on the road later than I would have liked, but still in time to have a late dinner with his grandma once we got to Montgomery.  After dinner, i passed out... and woke up feeling sick again later that night.  Go figure.

Friday morning we got on the road later than we would have liked... again... And, as luck would have it, forgot stuff... again.  Brian left his paperwork for his internship that had to be turned in that day at his grandma's house... which was locked and alarmed.  And she didn't have a working cell phone either.  So, many panicked calls later, we got the password, got his paperwork, and finally got back on the road. Made it to Auburn... got everything turned in... got Brian's graduation present.  Then we ate lunch and drove around looking for Auburn Alumni stuff and looking at apartments/houses/neighborhoods.  The people we were staying with weren't at home so we ended up sitting at Mellow Mushroom until around 5.

That night was... fun?  Brian made it very clear that it was "his night" and that he got to have all the fun. I ended up driving... which wasn't really a big deal.  But it's not fun being sober when everyone else is wasted.  And it's not fun going to bars that suck when you're sober.  Skybar?  Never again.  NEVER.

Near the end of the night, me and Brian were talking about random things... he was a bit drunk and started going off on the "I love you and I know I want to be with you forever..." speech.  I was like "Yea, yea... I know.  We're good."  I don't entertain those conversations when he's been drunk because I usually can barely understand him.  We went to bed and I was still in the dark about what would be coming Monday.

Saturday we were supposed to go on campus to take all of Brian's graduation pictures.  It was a beautiful day and there weren't many people on campus either.  Of course... Brian was waaaaaaay too hungover to even thing about going outside.  So that plan was ruined (which worked out later...).  We go back to Montgomery without taking pictures, planning to come back (again) on Sunday.

That night we were talking about something or another and I casually mentioned to Brian that once the time came when he was going to propose that he needed to talk to my parents.  He lost it... freaked out!  He even got mad.  I didn't understand it at the time (now I do!)... but he kept saying that it was stupid and that I had never said anything about it before.  I didn't see what the big deal was all about!

Sunday was a gloomy day and EVERYONE had the same idea we did.  And Mr. Graduate was in a GREAT mood, too.  He kept complaining and saying how stupid this was and how he didn't care about these stupid pictures.  So we rushed through all of them.  The only one we didn't get was in front on the Auburn sign.  There had to be at least a 20 minute wait.  So we decided we would try again Monday before graduation.

Monday... haha.  I was mad at Brian most of the day.  We overslept.  Lunch plans were... unplanned.  Brian didn't tell me that his family was joining us and my family for lunch.  And times were all crazy.  I was pissed.  We barely spoke for most of the ride to Auburn.  The only thing that saved him was work related drama that took my focus off him.  When we got to Auburn, the sign was packed out with people taking pictures again... So we agreed to wait until after graduation.

The whole day I was trying to make a big deal about the whole day. Brian just kept blowing it off and really being a pain in the ass.  I didn't understand why he didn't think things were as awesome as I did.  I remember sitting in the stands wondering if I would be as un-enthused as he was during my graduation.

So, Brian walks... We all cheer.  We meet afterwords with him to take pictures with the family and stuff. I go with him to get his diploma and take pictures with friends.  We go back to the car and he says he wants to give the sign one more shot.

We drive over to Samford Hall and he freaks out as I pass the parking lot.  I tell him that I was to drive by the sign to make sure there isn't a line because I'm not waiting in the freezing cold for one stupid picture.  As fate would have it, there was no line and a spot was waiting for us right in front of the sign.

We get out of the car and cross the street to take the picture.  I'm getting my camera ready and telling him to get in place when he says "Come here for a minute."  I was like "No... let's hurry up and take the damn picture... I'm freezing!"  But he keeps insisting so I walk over there.  I'm thinking he wants to take a stupid self-portrait of the 2 of us which didn't sound good to me at all.  I felt like crap and my eyes hurt and I was wearing my glasses... Not something I wanted a picture of.  Then he reached into his pocket and said he had something for me.  Now I'm about to get really pissed.  I thought he was about to fake propose, give me something stupid, or give me the finger... I didn't know but I was cold and pissed off.

He pulls the box out of his pocket and says that I kept trying to make this whole day about him and make it a day for him to remember.  But he wanted it to be a day that was special for both of us.  He said he loved me and that since we met and Auburn that this seemed the perfect time and place to ask.  He got down on one knee and asked me to marry him!  I said yes, of course!  I also had to tell him to put the ring on my finger... he just left it in the box!  And I did crying that was worthy of "The Notebook."  I totally lost it... And I didn't see it coming at all!

Apparently he had been hiding the ring at his mom's house.  He had gone up there to buy it a few weeks ago and I got mad at him because I thought he was wasting gas going up there twice in one week.  And I didn't even notice when he said he left his phone in the house and he had actually left the ring and hid it in the truck or in his hat or whatever.  No clue at all.

But it couldn't have been more perfect.  I'm sad that we don't have pictures of the moment or anything.  Someone did honk at us and they drove by when Brian was on one knee.  I just never thought it would happen now.  But then again, I don't really know when I thought it was going to happen.  We continually have conversations about how we're happy where we are and we'll get engaged and married when we're ready... no rush.  But apparently he's been planning it for most of fall.  So sneaky...

I keep thinking it's not real... Like I'm going to wake up and it was all a dream.  I'm constantly looking at my ring or fidgeting with it.  It just doesn't seem real.  But in a good way!

After we left I called my mom and told her.  Apparently Brian had texted her that morning in a panic because I had told him he needed to talk to my parents before asking me... I really timed that conversation perfectly!  He thought that she was going to tell my dad... she didn't!  It was just a crazy day!  But it's one that I will never forget now.  And anytime I drive by that sign or that I'm in Auburn I will always think of this moment.  I couldn't have asked for anything more perfect!

Cooking Success!!!

I am addicted to Pinterest.  In a very bad way.  I find all these great things that I want to cook/make/wear/read... and so on.  But let's be honest... most of those things will never happen.

Tonight I was feeling really domestic (and hungry), though.  I decided I was going to cook!  Rather than make something that I always make like tacos, pasta, bbq chicken, etc., I decided to venture out into the world of cooking and find a new recipe.  After passing on some more difficult ideas, I settled on potato soup and some mint chocolate chip cookies.

I LOVE potato soup.  It's one of my all-time favorites!  I'd had several different people make it for me, but always forget to get the recipe.  And I have one or two more that I like... but they are slow cooker recipes and I was hungry NOW.  As in I almost decided at Wal-mart just to but some pre-made stuff.  But I overcame laziness and starvation to get the ingredients that I needed.

With the potato soup, I made a few changes to the ingredients.  First, I used frozen hash browns instead of cutting and peeling potatoes.  It was late and I didn't have any patience for it.  I used the Ore Ida regular hash brown cubes (32oz bag).  I wanted to use the Potatoes O'Brien, but it was a smaller bag.  I also used chopping green onions instead of the yellow onion.  It took about 3 bundles. And, in place of the ham/chops, I used pre-cooked bacon.  Took about 8 pieces.  I also added some garlic powder.

I was going to be all fancy and do a "cast of characters"... And I did for the soup!  But for some reasons, I have eggs in the picture and left out a few of the cast members... so we'll just save being fancy for next time.

It took about 45 minutes with the prep and cooking.  I really liked it!  Although, I think I might use less mashed potato flakes next time.  The soup came out tasting (and looking) like loaded mashed potatoes.

Now, on to the cookies!  I love me some mint chocolate chip ice cream.  Baskin Robbins is the best with Ben and Jerry's Mint Chocolate Chip Cookie Ice Cream coming in a close second.  Baskin Robbins even used to make Mint Chocolate Chip hard candy.  Why not put all that into a cookie?

My cookies turned out a little less minty than I expected.  But they were still good.  A little flat.  I think I might use a different butter/margarine next time.  And maybe leave out the food coloring.  With them browning on the bottom, they just look funny.

Hopefully, I'll venture out into the cooking world again soon.  Maybe next time, with pictures.

FRESH START

Ok!  I've been putting off posting this for a long time.  I love blogging.  There is just something therapeutic about writing (or typing) things about your day on paper (or the internet).  But I usualyl go back and re-read what I wrote and decide it's stupid and toss it.  But not today!  So if anyone is actually reading this (Is anyone reading this?), I apologize ahead of time for this blog that I will probably hate by the time I get done typing.

What's new?  Only (just about) everything.  I graduated, moved to a place where I had no friends, got a job that has nothing to do with my degree... Maybe a little backstory in necessary here.

Brian and I started dating almost 3 years ago.  The way we met was so romantic... I was out at Skybar with some friends from work, drinking like a fish.  I took pictures with a friend of a co-worker I didn't know.  Those pictures ended up on Facebook and I decided this guy was cute.  So I decided to friend him and stalk him on Facebook and in life until he noticed me.  Mission Accomplished!

But seriously.  That's how we met.  And the stalking part is partially... or, mostly true.  I mean, I didn't randomly show up at his house or peek into his window or follow him to class or anything.  But I did make sure to hang out with my co-workers who knew him more often and I even got myself invited to his birthday party at Skybar!

But that's where my creepy behavior stops.  Brian decided to get my phone number off Facebook and text me... at 2:00 AM.  So don't be fooled... he's just as creepy as I am!  However, that late night text led to a date, which led to more dates and hanging out and eventually becoming boyfriend and girlfriend!  Like I said... totally romantic.

But after all those dates and hanging out and putting our relationship on Facebook for everyone to see, we became serious.  We were in love and all that junk.  And when you're in love you start to make awesome plans about what an awesome like you're going to have together.  Not that our lives aren't awesome... but those awesome plans rarely work out.

One thing that stuck was moving away from Auburn.  Don't get me wrong.  I love Auburn... bleed orange and blue... always have.  But living there for a long time in the wrong environment can really eat away at your soul.  You either graduate and grow up and live in Auburn Adult Land (which I'm still not sure actually exists)... or you continue going out and partying with all the college kids.  Except you're not in college anymore.  You're 36 with a beer gut and a bald spot and hit on girls who are young enough to be your daughter.

Anyway... we both agreed that we wanted to move south.  Anywhere north of Auburn was out of the question.  Mostly because I hate winter.  Really, really hate winter.  The only time winter should actually exist is on Christmas and Christmas Eve.  The rest of the time it ends up ruining my life.  So after pretending that we could actually move to Florida and go to grad school in Gainesville or St. Augustine(hahaha... we were so cute back then!), we settled on Fairhope/Daphne/Spanish Fort.  That's where Brian was from and I liked the area of the many times I had visited.  We actually settled on Gulf Shores.  Oddly enough, it's cheaper to live there and commute to wherever we ended up working.

We had this decided a year ahead of time.  A year before Brian would be done with all this coursework. He would either do his internship in the summer or wait until we moved.  I would be done with school after summer so everything would work out.  And it really did.  Except for the whole moving part.

I hate moving almost as much as I hate winter.  Which is surprising considering I moved every year I lived in Auburn until Brian and I moved in together.  And despite all planning, I always end up shoving things into my car at the very last minute and throwing away a lot of stuff that I would like to keep.  It didn't fit and I hate to be out of my apartment at noon at it's 11:59.

This time was going to be different though!  I had plans to take a trip a month to Brian's mom's house in Fairhope with carloads of stuff.  We were giving away stuff to Goodwill.  We were actually going to sell back all those textbooks.  I was getting rid of all the junk we never use.  Moving was going to be a breeze!

And it really should have.  There were 3 trips to Fairhope with a carload of stuff.  I gave away clothes to friends and Goodwill.  Junk got thrown out.  But with those 3 trips, a moving truck, and a carload of stuff on the way down to move, we still ended up shoving things into cars at the last minute.  Food that I wanted to keep got thrown out.  Swiffer mops and brooms (that I'd really like to have right now...) bit the dust.  It was ridiculous.  Needless to say, I'm never moving again.  Ever.

So here we are.  Moved into our new apartment that is big and awesome and way better than anything in Auburn.  I'm 2 minutes from the beach.  We have a spectacular pool (that I have yet to use...).  I've been told there is a fitness room.  Lucy has room to run throughout the house like a wild banshee.

But Brian and Lucy are my only companions.  I have no friends here.  Everyone at work has children and lives.  And not to mention that I don't get to see Brian that often.  He interns during the day and I work nights so we see each other in passing.  My sleep schedule is a mess.

So I guess I'm stuck.  It's weird... I'm exactly where I wanted to be when we made all these plans.  Away from Auburn.  Away from the crazy lifestyle and crazy people.  Living in what is supposed to be Grown Up Land.  But I don't feel anymore grown up.  Except for that whole paying bill and working thing... but I've been doing that for awhile.  I guess I feel like everyone is moving on and living their grown up life and I'm just in limbo waiting for something... not that I actually know what I'm waiting for.

So I don't know what I'm going to use this for.  Maybe I'll gripe and complain about work.  Maybe I'll post pictures of my dog (child).  Maybe I'll talk about books that I've read or food that I've cooked (or ordered...).  Who knows.  We shall see.  And maybe I'll find whatever it is I'm waiting for.