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Sunday, July 27, 2008

Not much going on...

Well, the past week or so hasn't been much to speak of. I have gotten some good ideas for school, and I am actually getting excited for the school year. I want to be the best teacher in the whole world and not make the same mistakes I did last year. God bless my class for sticking by me.

Let's see, hmmm....I hung out with Kevin, Cody, Luke, and Allison on Wednesday. We had a 5-way date to Applebees and then went to Cody's to play Guitar Hero. Words can't express how much I want that game....but first I would have to actually get a gaming system. I am definitely pushing for a Wii...I don't know if Luke will go for that, but I am hoping it comes to me in the form of a Christmas present...or maybe a "just because you're awesome" present.

I have 2 full weeks left of summer, and that is it. Yikes. I want to make the most of them...but I don't know exactly what that will entail. Probably more of watching Jon & Kate Plus 8 and Take Home Chef. The life of a teacher in the summer!

Sunday, July 20, 2008

Amazing Week

So, Luke and I have spent one night in our beautiful home over the last 7 days. I am looking forward to sleeping in my own bed for the first time since Wednesday. However, the memories I have made this past week are worth the late nights on my parents' futon. Let's recap...

Last Sunday, Luke and I went out on the boat on Prairie Creek. It was great....I got lots of sun and was able to relax for a couple of hours. Sunday night, we hung out at my parents' house and relaxed.

Monday, I had lunch at Puerta with some teachers from Royerton because one of our teachers' husbands got a job transfer and she has to move to Arizona. After the lunch, Luke and I headed to Indy for a quick few minutes so we could pack and go to Valpo for a night for the Mariapolis (a religious retreat that his family partakes in every year). Basically, the point of going to Valpo was to get closer to Chicago...

Which brings me to Tuesday. Tuesday morning, we got job and headed to Chicago! It was a combo birthday/anniversary present from Luke. We hit the ground running and went to Shedd, the planetarium, and the Field Museum. We took a water taxi to Navy Pier, and we had dinner over there as well as rode on the ferris wheel. We took an amazing architectural boat tour on the Chicago River. We saw all the famous buildings and had a great tour guide. It was very relaxing to be on the water on a hot summer night. We walked all the way back to hotel and enjoyed a great night in the city.

Wednesday was my 24th birthday! We woke up, went to Dunkin Donuts, and ate our treats in a park with half a dozen homeless men. Awkward. We walked the Magnificent Mile and went to Millennium Park (with the bean and all that jazz). We had lunch with Erik & Kevin, which was great. I also got birthday cards from each of them. How sweet! We left from there and went to see Shaun & Rusty's apartment. I greatly enjoyed catching up with Shaun...I miss him so much!

After our visit, we left the city and headed to Howl at the Moon in Indy. However, not before stopping for my birthday dinner at McDonald's! We went to Howl with Nick, Chris, Megan, and Megan's roommate. We enjoyed some nice beers and a gigantic sex on the beach courtesy of Chris. I was called up on stage thanks to my husband, and I had to "sing a solo" (i.e. repeat dirty lines after the piano player). It was TONS of fun and I can't believe I have been over 21 for 3 years and haven't been to that place yet. I look forward to going back soon!

Wednesday night, we got back to our house and rested up before another trip to Muncie the next day!

Thursday, we got up and headed to Muncie to get ready for Abel & Elizabeth's wedding weekend! I spent some time with my mom while Luke went and helped clean their house for the rehearsal dinner. My mom and I shopped and got some teacher stuff for me. She's so good to me. I then hooked up with Allison and Jenn, and they assisted me in purchasing my 2nd Vera Bradley. Love it so much! After that, we went to Johnny Carino's and had some FABO food. So fattening but so wonderful. I got to have dinner with my best girls and it was great. Minner, Hopper, Jenn, and Al got me a gift certificate to get my nails done, as well as Colts earrings! After dinner, we all progressed to Target where we tore the hell out of the shoe department and bought useless things as usual.

Thursday night, I went to see the Dark Knight with Luke and some other friends. It was definitely worth the hype. Very awesome movie. I have to say it was hard to keep my eyes open given that we saw the 12:01 showing, but it was worth it! Heath Ledger was so talented....

Friday was rehearsal day, so I tried to just lay low and help when asked. I got my nails done and went tanning. Rehearsal was at 6 and the dinner followed. It was a good time...it was surreal to see another wedding happening in a similar fashion as mine almost a year to the day. I was definitely nostalgic and emotional, but in a good way.

Friday night was the most intense game of Flippy Cup anyone has ever seen. The "big kids" (all the bridesmaids, groomsmen, etc) played in the basement of Luke's mom and dad's house...and it was incredible. Boys versus girls....riots ensued...beers were spilled...the girls TOTALLY should have won given that the boys were cheating the whole time....it was so amazing....none of us had voices the next day due to screaming.

Saturday was the wedding day! I went to help the girls get ready and had McDonald's with Clare & CeCe. It was hott and gross outside, but everyone's spirits were up and everyone was excited. E looked great...all the guys and girls looked great....the ceremony was beautiful...unfortunately a downpour of rain came as we were all leaving the church, so they couldn't make an exit through their guests. The reception was beautiful at Horizon, and Abel & his mom did the most amazing mother/son dance ever! They basically recreated the "Evolution of Dance" YouTube video...and NO ONE knew about it ahead of time. Huge surprise! It was a crowd favorite for sure!

The wedding ended around 11 p.m. and we were bushed. We slept like rocks and now we are FINALLY back home. And tomorrow is our 1 year anniversary. Whew. I'm tired of typing and I'm sure you're tired of reading. Peace out!

Monday, July 14, 2008

Big week ahead...

It's been a hot minute since I last documented the happenings of life. I have an exciting (not to mention long) week ahead. Tomorrow, Luke and I are visiting Chicago. We are staying the night Tuesday and then doing more sight seeing on Wednesday before heading home. I am excited to explore something new with Luke. In more or less 8 years of dating, we have never ventured to Chicago. I look forward to meeting up with Shaun & Rusty at some point (I know you're reading this), maybe Erik or Josh, too. I can't wait to take new pictures with new scenery behind them.
Wednesday also turns out to be my 24th birthday. I think it is a trend these days to act like you don't care about your birthday, but I can't lie bitches...I care. Your birthday is the ONE day per year when you can be a selfish person and do what you want. Why? Because you can say, "It's my birthday. That's why." And whoever questioned your behavior or wants feels like an asshole. I think it stinks that as a society, once you turn 21, no one seems to care about your day of birth. Just letting everyone know that I still care...and birthday well wishes are appreciated!
When we get back on Wednesday, we are going to Howl at the Moon. I have never been, but I am quite excited!
Thursday, we are going back to Muncie (the current location in which I am writing this) because Luke is going to help set up for Abel & Elizabeth's rehearsal dinner at the Ernstberger home. I am going to go to my classroom for the first time since May 22 and try to do some good. Officially, one month from today, I will be arriving at school, coffee in hand, ready to teach some kids. I should probably get prepared.
Thursday night at midnight, we will be going to see the Dark Knight. I am pretty excited about it. Friday, I will be working in my room again, and then going to the rehearsal & dinner. My goal I think is to just stay on high ground, be there as I can, but not be in the way. It's not my wedding, it's not about me, I'm not in the bridal party...I just want to be there if they need me.
Saturday is the big wedding all day and night, and then Sunday is our decompression day. Monday is our 1 year anniversary! I had dinner for my parents at our house on Saturday night, and they walked in carrying our top layer to our wedding cake. It had been frozen for this whole year for us to eat on our 1 year anniversary. Hahhaa. It is a big block of frozen foil right now. I got real excited because 1) I can't believe it's been a year already, and 2) I freakin loved our Concannon's cake. I can't wait to eat it, even if it does taste like toothpaste after a year in a freezer next to my parents' frozen chicken fingers.
For the big anniversary, I have a couple of surprises planned for Luke. We are also going to be enjoying a great meal at the Melting Pot. We haven't been there since my 21st birthday. So, I am pumped. In many ways, I wish it was a year ago. Our wedding was so much fun, and our honeymoon was SOOOOO great. However, a year ago, I didn't have a job, or our beautiful house, or our awesome cats, or all these memories we have made this year...so, I am happy where I am. It's always fun to reminisce though....
Well, time to shower.

Monday, July 07, 2008

I can breathe

Such a weight has been lifted off of my chest. I can breathe finally...for the first time in a long time.

It took 3 emotional breakdowns on the way from Muncie to Indy with Luke before we finally got to the bottom of what has been bothering me for months (but felt like years). Being able to be myself...to be an ugly crier...to have snot dripping out of my nose but feel unbelievably beautiful through the cleansing process really made me so grateful for this person...who wear's a wedding band...to represent me (us). He listened...and I talked...and that was that.

We have vowed to take better care of each other in our 2nd year of marriage. I will take better care of myself, he will take better care of himself...and we will then care better for each other. Not so much in the physical sense...but in the emotional connection. I am really excited for this next year....

I am also really excited for the next 2 weeks. Luke is taking me to Chicago as a birthday/anniversary present, and this makes me really happy. We are going to do all the stuff there is to do, plus see Shaun & Rusty! Abe & E's wedding is coming up, and then our 1 year anniversary. I have a great idea for him... AND we are going to the Melting Pot. Yum. (and thank God for gift cards as we could not afford that place on our own!)

I have the same feeling I have on New Year's Eve...this is, in a way, my own personal "New Year." A new year of marriage, of teaching, of learning...HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ME!

Wednesday, July 02, 2008

And so it goes

Hurt people, hurt people. It's so true. Dr. Phil said this once, and I find myself falling into that trap. The childlike instinct that when someone pulls your hair, you want to find the most innocent, unsuspecting kid and go kick him in the face, just because it makes you forget for 5 seconds that someone hurt you. My life is good...and when it is really good, I feel amazing. But when someone hurts you....the one person who was never supposed to but always finds away to cut you deeper than you thought you could be cut....you want to relinquish every good feeling you ever had about your life...and you want to wallow in your self pity until you get tired of it. And you say things like, "my life sucks."

My life doesn't suck. I have great friends (who I don't see often enough, but it is a common epidemic that is going around right now among the many groups of friends I either claim as my own or stalk through facebook. I stalk because I want to know if I am normal...if other people are going through the same thing. It's a therapy of sorts). I own a house. I say I because my name is on the mortgage. It was my income that qualified us for this house...and I own it. Sounds selfish, huh? The house is MINE....but it is. The sole financial responsibility of this house rests on my shoulders...which is both a good and bad thing at the same time. I have parents who love me, and I also have a great job. I am married...which is something that many women aspire to be...

But with marriage comes great joys and great sorrows. Remember that line about someone finds a way to cut you deeper than you thought you could be cut? Yeah....my other half in marital bliss can be a great person...that's why I married him. I love him. But because I love him, I open my whole heart to him, which makes me vulnerable to the occasional criticism he provides.... and I can tolerate being told I'm messy. I can tolerate being told that my clothes are on the floor again, or I need to stop spending so much money. But I can't tolerate or stomach the complaints that I don't exercise enough or eat healthy enough or stick to my plan to lose weight. It slices through me because it makes me feel like he is noticing...and that he is unhappy with the way I look....that he would love me more if I looked different.

I don't know. I have a great husband. Don't get me wrong. But he and I are not on the same page when it comes to diet and exercise...he is naturally thin and athletic. He can eat whatever he wants, but he CHOOSES to eat healthy and make good choices. I battle with those types of things, and he knows it. Why does he have to throw it in my face?

I went too deep on this entry...I hope no one reads it.