Nerresta's Xanga

I live in Missouri

Fri, 22 Sep 2006 22:08:05 GMT

Hello everyone!!!

Guess what, I moved to MO. Isn't that interesting?

We moved on the 11th. into a lovely little house near where Jim's new workplace is. It actually has a yard, so next spring I am going to have a garden and plant beets!! Beets beets, sing a song of beets. Don't worry, I'll plant other things also. Jim hates beets, but that just means that I will get more myself! ha ha ha ha ha! Yes, I know, I'm wierd. I'm just tired right now, and a little bored. I am currently at a scorekeeper's meeting for bible quizzing. We are learning how to use the new software.

So anyways, We are renting a little house, and I have a book-room. That's right, a book room. I'm excited. Right now all my books are still in boxes piled up against the walls. I am working on getting some bookshelves.

My kitchen is really huge, but there isn't much counter space. It's ok, it just makes me clean up after myself more consistently. I am enjoying being all housewifely and making food in our kitchen. A couple of days ago I decided I wanted to make a pie, so I did. I made an apple pie. Jim liked it ALOT.

We have mice living in our house. I thought that they were just in the kitchen, but now today I saw one in our bedroom! We have mousetraps set out all over the place, but I think they much be unusually intelligent little mice. I am quite certian that one is going to climb into our bed and eat me in the middle of the night while I am sleeping.

Anyways, It's time to leave now so I'm going to go home. Love you all. Miss you my family. bye!

Our Honeymoon

Mon, 04 Sep 2006 18:19:59 GMT

Greetings all...three of you that still read my blog. Jim and I just got back this last Friday from our cruise. We had a wonderful time! I sincerely hope that we will be able to go on a cruise again someday, it was truly that best thing we could have done. We left on Monday, and flew down to Florida where we got on the boat. From then on, we spent the entire week stuffing ourselves with amazing food, enjoying the shows, sleeping, eating more delicious food, and generally enjoying doing no work at all for a whole week.

There was food everywhere, always available. Every night we ate dinner in the fancy dining room. I had four forks, three spoons and two knives. If that isn't fancy I don't know what is! lol. Oh, and I would like everyone to know that yes, I did in fact know exactly to do with all of them. The second night was "Formal night." We both enjoyed getting all dressed up and going to the "Captain's Welcome Reception" and dinner all spiffed up. I wore my green dress that I had worn at Alan's wedding last year, and Jim wore his suit. Jim looked rather dashing and I looking pretty fine myself. :) Oh, and we danced at the party! It was so fun!

We stopped at two islands in the Bahamas: Nassau and Coco Cay. It was very fun, even though it was very commercialized. There were two things that we noticed first when we got on Nassau. First, TAXIS! Taxi drivers everywhere fighting past one another for your business. Even after we DID choose a taxi driver to take us out to a beach, there were still other taxi drivers calling out to us as we got into the taxi. It was crazy. Secondly, HAIR BRAIDING! There were people everywhere offering me hair braiding. You couldn't go anywhere without people calling out, "Pretty lady need a hair braid?" "Pretty hair braids for pretty hair!" and other such advertisements. I did NOT get my hair braided.

Once we learned to just tune out the crazy people wanting our money, we found some ways to really enjoy the islands. We went to the beaches, and I got stung by a Jellyfish. Woohoo! Yeah, that wasn't as fun. We made a sand castle, and I discovered that lake sand stays put better. We went on a "Nature Trail," on Coco Cay and discovered numerous wild hermit crabs! It was so funny. The last time I saw hermit crabs was in an aquarium at Missy's house. It was funny to see all different sizes skittering around on the rocks. there were tiny little babies in tine little shells, and massive one in huge shells. Eventually, we ended up finishing the trail looking only down at the ground because we were afraid of stepping on one. (They were seriously all over the place!)

One night there was a "Chocolate Buffet" at midnight in one of the dining rooms. The line was so long I am sure the whole ship's population turned out for this event. We left with two plates full of all sorts of yummies. I ate my fill in chocolate covered strawberries and other such delicacies. It was so good! MMMMmmmm!

Another night our waiters, (we had the same waiters all week at dinner), brought us a tiramisu with a candle in it and the phrase, "Happy Anniversary" on top. They sang "Happy anniversary to you," and everyone clapped. (Side note: they DID know that it was our honeymoon. They asked us how many days it had been and said something like, happy two and a half week anniversary!)

Here are some of the highlights of the cruise, in consolidated form:
1.)Chocolate buffet at midnight
2.)24-hour FREE room service
3.)Waiters singing
4.)All staff knowing at first glance that we were honeymooners.
5.)Getting all gorgeous for formal night
6.)Finding a secret hermit crab city.
7.)Finding tiny graveyard with one gravestone marked, "Blackbeard."
8.)Watching the evening shows
9.) Tasting champagne for the first time. (You were right Alan, it does taste like Windex)
10.) Sneaking free sewing kits from the guest service desk.
11.) NOT GETTING SEA SICK! halleluia!

I Got Married!!!

Mon, 21 Aug 2006 17:55:43 GMT

It finally happened; the day finally came. It has been more than a week now, but I am still having a hard time getting myself into the "married" mindset. The reality is slowly setting in, and let me tell you, it's weird! :) But of course it is the best sort of weird.

The wedding was absolutely perfect. Friday night I laid awake in my bed after arriving home from the rehearsal dinner, completely awake. I eventually went downstairs to make more chamomile tea for myself. (I thought it would help, but perhaps tea does not have the powers I have always supposed). I laid awake until about 2:00AM, then woke up at 4:30AM. I didn't actually have to wake up until like 7:30, but I could not get back to sleep. All of my girls and I went to get our hair done, then Hannah, my mom and I went back to get our dresses on and do our makeup.

Eventually I finally got to the wedding site. I made it down the aisle somehow, and found myself standing in front of everyone, looking at my future husband and taking his hand.

(Side Note: Meredith, you gave me a lovely pep talk before hand, and I just want you to know that it meant a great deal to me. I love you!)

The whole day passed by like a dream. There were no serious mishaps to break up the flow of the day, nothing that I had to worry about. Before I knew it, I was married, and everyone was on their way to the reception.

(Side Note: Fitting a large, puffy white dress into the front seat of a car is a humorous sight, especially if the bride is trying her best to keep the dress clean.)

The reception was absolutely beautiful. I would like everyone to know that anything you saw that was pretty, decadent, beautiful, or attractive in any way was almost certainly the doing of my mother. I could never have planned such a perfect event without her. THANKS MOM!!!

The food was ok, I should have ordered the chicken. But it was still fun. I didn't even have any room for the cake once it came along. I'm not sure if I was actually full, or if my dress wouldn't let me eat more.

Missy caught the bouquet, I was hoping she would. But let it be known that I didn't do it on purpose, I didn't even know where she was standing!

None of the guys caught the garter, I think they were probably afraid of it. Jim had to throw it again, and it actually landed in Brandon's arms.

All in all it was wonderful. I don't have any pictures for you, but you can go to Jim's photo blog, there are a whole bunch there now. link-> http://tfclumpy.textamerica.com

(Side Note: My never really got sore. It was instead the reality of 2.5 hours of sleep and not being able to take a deep breath all day that caught up with me.)

Funniest sights of the Day

1. Missy sitting on my veil at the beauty salon and freaking out when she realized it.
2. Me almost laying across the back seat of our car the whole way there, in an attempt to not wrinkle the dress.
3. Trying to hide a cell phone in the flower girl's basket so we would know what time it was.
4. Girls randomly breaking into tears all around me.
5. Jim's 8 year old cousin being afraid of the garter, "I don't want to get married!"
6. All my bridesmaids ate half the chocolate covered strawberries. (They were not supposed to be eaten yet.)
7. Jim yelling, "Groomsmen assemble!!!" every time they were supposed to do something.

Most Lovely Moments of the Day

1. Seeing my future husband smiling at me, waiting for me at the altar.
2. My Dad's tearful goodbye.
3. My Sister's toast, "I'm the fairy now!"
4. Meredith's toast
5. Jim's toast
6. Saying the vows (no giggles this time!)
7. All our family and friends, there to celebrate with us
8. Actually eating at the reception, the first time of the day.
9. The calm after the storm
10. Knowing you are going to spend the rest of your life with someone you love.

3 DAYS TO GO

Wed, 09 Aug 2006 16:35:34 GMT

Hello people. It's true, there are three days to go until I get married. I am really stressed out, but it is slowly getting better. I have to keep reminding myself: "There is nothing else you have to do, it is all finished. All you have to do it get all gorgeous on saturday morning."

I'll live through it. Stress may be difficult, but it is not impossible.

I have been spending the majority of the last week or so packing all my stuff up. I didn't realize how little I actually have. Most of it was all books, and now that almost all my clothes are packed, there really isn't much left. There is TONS in the garage though. All the shower gifts Jim and I recieved are all boxed up and in the garage, waiting for our move to Missouri. Wow, I'm moving to MO.... Honestly, that doesn't really feel real yet. Preoccupation with wedding plans have forced any and all stress for the move out of my mind. I am sure it will catch up with me some time after the wedding, as the time for that draws closer as well.

Stress is a funny thing. On the one hand I know that I don't have to do anything, and it's all taken care of. On the other hand, I still feel like there are many things still on the to-do list, and I need to HURRY! I have to keep reminding myself by looking at my lovely little list, (the one that has everything crossed off already) and try to relax.

Anyways, enough about stress. PLEASE pray for nice weather on Saturday!

I promise to post a nice, long picture-filled post some time after the wedding. (If my computer doesn't crash in the attempt that is).

My Wedding Dress

Fri, 07 Jul 2006 15:31:20 GMT

I am sitting here in my wedding dress.

I would post a picture for you, but then I am absolutely certain my fiance would stumble upon it. Of course we all know what an atrocity that would be!

There is something about a wedding dress that trancends the usual wording used in the description of apparel. Sure, you could use such words and white, off-white, diamond white, ivory, halter top, strapless, spaghetti strap, etc. etc. But there is something about a wedding dress that inspires a deeply emotional reaction. The day I wear this dress, my life will have changed dramatically, in such a way that I hardly know how to describe it. There are dreams of marital bliss, the idea of being with the one you love "till death do you part," and somehow it seems, though we may not be entirely concious of the idea, it feels like this moment is somehow fullfilling a great need in your life. It is as though your whole life has been cumulated into this moment, to create for a you a new, entirely different identity.

All these thoughts and feelings encompass me as I sit here, wearing this dress. It may seem silly to you readers, Cassie is getting all emotional AGAIN! But when it happens to you, (girls) you will know exactly what I mean.

The appeal of a wedding dress goes back into a girl's childhood. I have known very few girls who do not enjoy gazing at bridal magazines, a veritable hoard of dresses in itself. I myself was subscribed to both "Bride's" and "Modern Bride" for a good two years before I actually got engaged. I think that I am unusually sappy, an attribute which, in my case, rarely manifests itself outside of the privacy of my own head, or the occasional slumber party (especially the ones that involved too much haagendaas and not enough common sense). But what can I say? However calm, collected, and rational I may seem to the common observer, I am still a woman, with emotional days and "blonde moments."

My wedding dress makes me feel girly, and I don't care! :)

After all, what's wrong with being girly? I am perfectly entitled to put on my wedding dress, do a little dance, and call myself pretty! I am not ashamed!

>>Interesting note: I've actually lost too much weight for my wedding dress. I didn't know that such a thing was humanly possible! Maybe I should have purchased a smaller size?!?!? Well, Bring on the Haagendaas baby! Woo hoo!

Monday, May 29, 2006

Mon, 29 May 2006 22:02:16 GMT

::::cough:::: ahem....

First off, I believe it would be quite fitting to inform all of my faithful readers that I am, in fact, still living.

I am sure you are all relieved.

If anyone is confused by this obscure statement, please note the significant expanse of time preceding this post.

I feel compelled to say that not much has happened in my life since my last post, I am not certain as to the source of this impulse, as my life has been far from mundane.

At first I thought the stress of planning a wedding would break me; I could do naught but gaze in terror upon my ever growing list of To-Do's as I found myself sinking deeper and deeper into a sea of tulle, flowers and butter cream frosting.

Sanity, however, has prevailed.

I think that if my mother hadn't repeatedly dug me out, I would have suffocated.

I now sit quite comfortably upon the mountain that was once piled on top of me, with only a few things remaining.

I know, I am being very dramatic, and perhaps uncharacteristically figurative, but such are the ramblings of a one particularly satisfied with one's situation.

My wedding will be perfect, if only the weather is fine.

In the beginning of May, Jim and I flew down to Alabama to meet his family. I was very nervous. I tend to get more nervous in situations where I will be meeting new people, thus it follows that something as important as meeting my future in-laws would leave me feeling...shall we say slightly perturbed? Once we arrived, however, I was considerably more relaxed, and eventually found myself quite comfortable in their company. Anticipation always makes an uncertain situation seem more daunting. I had a wonderful time with Jim's family and also seeing where he grew up. We went to FL at the end of our trip to stay with his grandparent's. I had never been to FL before, the farthest I had ever gone south being Missouri. AL and FL were very different from MN, so.....warm, and humid....and everyone had accents. lol. Several people made fun of my accent (even though I obviously don't have one :p) so we were even I suppose.

I still work at Target, nothing exciting there. It's a job, I work, I get paid, end of story. I hate wearing red an khaki. OH well.

In my last post I predicted that the summer months would fly by, and this has most certainly proved to be true. I remember anything that happened in April....hmmm Alan's B-day was in April...(yes I sent him a card). It seems like just yesterday I was my birthday, (march 8th) now all of a sudden I have about two and a half months until I am MARRIED. Where has the time gone? I seam to remember thinking in November: "Wow, I have a whole 9 months until I get married, this is going to seem like forever, I suppose I don't have to start planning yet."

Boy was I wrong.

Well, I am tired of typing now, so I'm going to stop now. Next time I will hopefully post a little sooner than three months from now...

Sunday, February 26, 2006

Sun, 26 Feb 2006 13:05:30 GMT

Hello everyone!

A great deal has occurred since my last post, so I will get right into it...

First off, I am a Nationals coach! (Bible quizzing) I am really having a good time. We just went to the Iowa Invitational this weekend. Iowa was a good time, we didn't do as well as we could have, but we were missing one quizzer. It was a great time though! One of my quizzers got 15th. place! That's 15th out of about 230! very cool.

Lately I have been working like crazy (still at Target), and trying to see Jim every once in a while. Both of us are extremely busy right now because of work and all the Nationals events.

I can't wait until summer comes! I keep pretending that I like winter, but it is a hard facade to maintain this time of year. I actually DO love winter: the snow, icicles, hot cocoa, ice skating, and general festive-ness of it all. However, once Valentine's Day ends and it's not all that pretty outside anymore, I find myself wishing for warm weather. Summer will come soon though. The months since my initial engagement have flown by (where did they go?), and I am sure the coming months will pass even faster as the looming prospect of "marraige" continues to draw near.

WEDDING STUFF: (I have decided to have a special section for "wedding stuff" in each post.) We ordered bridesmaid dresses exactly one week ago: very exciting. I went with my girls to David's Bridal. I was so relieved, all of them liked the dress I picked out. And I don't even think that they were lieing to make me happy! lol. We all went out for ice-cream afterwards.

END WEDDING STUFF

It is my theory that the reason for the uncanny way in which we all began to crave ice-cream at precisely the same moment stems from the fact that, upon trying on the dresses and deciding on a size for each of us, the word "diet" undoubtedly found it's way into each of our thoughts. This, complemented by the fact that two of us had eaten lunch at a restaurant that had ice-cream, immediately got us thinking of all we would have to give up in our eating habits.

Thus, naturally we all went out to eat ice-cream. Rational? You decide.

Today, I am going to try and relax. Days off are rare now, so I am going to enjoy it to the fullest.

Farewell for the present

Monday, January 30, 2006

Mon, 30 Jan 2006 23:35:23 GMT

TAGGED!

Meredith says I must list five weird habits I have. Here goes nothing...

1. I am obsessed with blankets. I always have one while watching a movie, when I am sitting at the computer, reading, etc. It makes me feel all warm and cozy. I have been known to do this in the summer as well.

2. I tend to sing random phrases throughout the day.

3. I mentally correct everyone's grammar. Getting better at not verbalizing it.

4. Twice a year I feel compelled to clean everything in sight. This has lasted up to three days at a time, usually no more than two. On these days I feel an overwhelming need to organize and clean all day long, eating while I clean. I sometimes wonder if spring and fall cleaning were invented by someone like me.

5. I put things off until the last moment. Interestingly enough, my best work usually comes when I don't plan ahead.

Ok, the last one wasn't so "weird" but I couldn't think of anything else....

Hey! There I have it! I have a tendency to end my conversational sentences with "..." weird? you be the judge...

BTW, I took this quiz and here we go...

As Minerva McGonagall, your strict facade is complimented by a warm heart, and you always do what is for the greater good.

Wednesday, January 25, 2006

Wed, 25 Jan 2006 11:12:55 GMT

Greetings

I have not posted in some time, the reason for which is, as I believe, the fact that I have been falling into a sort of rut in all aspecs of my life. Sleep, eat, work, repeat. My life is a neverevdning cycle of shampoo-like instructions punctated only by the occasional stressful pile of wedding plans. Why do I need a specific flower? Why cant I just go pick a pile of flowers from random lawns and call it beautiful? Why must we have a stressful time making sure the dinner napkins are the same color as the beverage napkins?

At the same time it must be done. I know everyone does not want to hear about every detail of my planning, so I won't bore you with such information as I feel compelled.

Monday Jim, my mom, and I went and tasted all the food on the menu. T'was a nice time, I was very full afterwards. Later in the day, Jim took me to a used book store he had found while waiting for me to arrive at the caterer's. (Jim is always freakishly early for everything. This time, it was half an hour! lol) That was vry fun. I bought two books, "Journey to the Center of the Earth," and "Politically correct Bed Time Stories."

After the book store, we were driving around and we found a comic book store. Seeing as comic books dominated the better part of Jim's childhood, we were of course required to give it a visit. It was fun to see Jim all excited about the many comic books therein. He found his favorites, and showed me a number of action figures that are still back at his parent's house. It was a new side of him that I hadn't seen before.

Jim's mom gave me three books for christmas that I am very excited about. One of which, as seen above, is "The Dragonriders of Pern." I am really enjoying this book. The story is about the planet of pern, and the dragons that were bred to protect it along with the consequential dragonriders. I am not finished yet, but I can say that the writer does an excellent job of involving the reader in the lives of the characters, though she uses a great number in her story. The book presents the planet as a whole, rather than simply the story of one or several characters. I like it alot.

Friday, December 23, 2005

Fri, 23 Dec 2005 22:52:33 GMT

Brief update:

Working at Target during X-mas season is insane!!!

Going to sleep now...

Ahh, "A Christmas Story," the classic holiday movie. My family will probably be watching it tomorrow; we do so every year.

Merry Christmas everyone! Hope you're having a lovely time!

OK, actually leaving now...