And also...

Wedding plans have changed almost 100%. The owner of the old venue called me a few weeks ago and said she had some bad news: they are being shut down and their last day of operation is Sept. 9th. So we had to find a new place, new caterer and less expensive bridesmaid dresses to help make up for the cost increase for the venue. Needless to say I was pissed, but now everything is fine and we're having our wedding on October 13th like we wanted in the first place. Ahhhh.

This is our new baby, Malcolm:

What a handful!

It's about time...

...and my abundance thereof. I have a new job coordinating system access set ups for new and current users at one of the biggest insurance companies in the US. It's easier than it sounds. So I've been diligently planning wedding and reception details and we've decided to turn it into a two day event. We wanted to get married on October 13th but, after looking at the calendar, decided to do it on the 14th because it's a Saturday. After a few headaches and several sketches of the table set up for the reception getting thrown in the garbage, I ran a bath ( I do my best thinking while I'm soaking in the tub). Ten minutes later, called for my sweetie and asked what he thought about having the ceremony the night before, on the day we originally wanted anyway. I said there would be no table moving, no "who has a seat and who has to stand" worrying, no rushing to get things rearranged while 200+ people are staring at us waiting for the party to start...no stress! Plus, it would make the ceremony more private - immediate family and close friends only would be invited - and we could have it at a park or down on the waterfront or at the Japanese Gardens... ahhhh. Beautiful. He got right on board with that idea and when we told our families this past weekend at the engagement brunch my parents hosted, they thought it was a great idea.

I can't wait.

my brain is about to explode.

I need to go get a manicure, pedicure and massage. I didn't sleep well last night with all the running around worrying if there were enough chairs for everyone and pages of cake pictures and bakery ads flipping through my head. Some decisions need to be made pretty dang quick so I don't have to go beg some doctor for valium or lunesta or something. Also, everything I eat is making me ill.

Eloping is starting to sound like a good plan.

it's on!

We're getting married October 14th. The planning phase is in full effect and our parents are meeting for the first time next weekend. I've pretty much decided on bridesmaid dresses and we're narrowing down places to have the reception. We're going to Disney World for our honeymoon and the girls, except my sister, and my mom and I are all going to a bridal show this weekend to taste cake and take notes.

I will need a nap some time soon.

*bells are ringing*

Matt proposed last night! EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Pfft.

So much for updating this more often. It seems like when I have free time, I just want to sleep or veg out. I'm tired more often than I think I should be and I'm ready for a break from work at Christmas. Nothing sounds better than three days of sleeping until I'm done (rather than until the alarm forces me out of bed), no plans and spontaneous, very low key, mellow activities like board games with the fam and maybe a movie or two.

It's My Dad's Birthday

As I can't be 2 hours away with him, I'll wish him happy birthday from here and go to Thanksgiving next week with gift in hand. Sadly, my sweetie won't be there. But my sister will and that makes me happy.

I think I'm coming down with something. I started getting a sore throat last night and nothing had changed when I woke up this morning. Meh.

Short week.

No, it isn't National Short Person Week, it's just a 4 day work week for me. We play bingo at work and I won the last round, which meant I got to spin the roulette wheel to determine my prize options. I spun green (the best one!) so I got to pick either 1/2 day off paid or a 1 hour massage. I opted for the 1/2 day off (duh) and, now that I don't have any mutual days off with my sweetie, I'll be enjoying this Friday doing whatever with him. Woo!

...And so the holidays begin...

Now that Halloween has come and gone (fun costumes, tasty drinks, early out), the winter holidays are right around the corner and I am NOT ready for all of that hullaballoo. The plan at this point is Thanksgiving with my folks (just me) and Christmas Eve with my folks (both of us). Plans for Christmas Day aren't really set (part of it will be spent getting home from Eugene) but I'm sure that will solidify soon enough. We talked briefly about getting a small tree since our place isn't really big enough for a regular tree... and this would be my first tree since I've lived away from my family. We're also talking about going to Disney World in January for 5 days... if we're good about money until then, it should work out just fine.

Photos from Halloween coming soon...

i'm having halloween costume issues.

It's only 10 days away and I don't know what to wear. I'm not opposed to making something myself but my time is limited and I'm at a loss for good ideas. If anyone is still out there...help!

It's me, South Park style. Woo!

captain's log: star date: 050505.13.04...we've been notified of the arrival of an alien life form...

So, my sister is coming up for a visit tomorrow. We haven't seen each other since September of last year in Dublin so she hasn't seem my new place or met Matt. Her boyfriend, Grant, will be coming out to meet my parents next month and hopefully they'll come up here to visit as well, as I haven't met him either. She'll only be here tomorrow and Saturday so we'll have to pack as much in as possible. I'm making it my mission to convince her that text messaging is a necessity and she needs to get with the program. I don't know how it would work, as far as range goes, with her being on the ship most of the time but if that's not a problem, she needs to get it.

In other news, I got my first paycheck and holy crap! It's not even a full 80 hours and it's significantly more than what I was bringing home before. Niiiiice. If I keep up what I've been doing these last couple weeks, I'll be asking for a raise around June during my 90 day review. I've been given a project that entails revamping the interior design of our model apartment and the lobby of the building and I'm so excited about it! I get to pick and install new furniture, new artwork, new knick-knacks, new paint....fun, fun, fun! I took pictures of the model as it currently is and I'll take more when the project is complete so I can have this for my resume. Who knows...maybe I'll become the resident interior designer.

Since we here in the USA have stolen Cinco De Mayo and turned it into just another excuse for a party, I'm torn as to whether or not I want to fight the crowds and go out tonight. I should get some sleep and pick up the apartment a little before my sister gets here... I can always drink margaritas with her tomorrow anyway.

Money Issues.

I have ridiculous money management problems. I don't make tons of money to begin with, but the issues are really my lack of control when it comes to keeping the purse strings drawn tight and spending money on other people and things I don't really need. I horribly abuse the overdraft cushion on my checking account and end up eating the $25 fee for each transaction all the time. I am VERY bad. M bought The Idiot's Guide to Money Management at Goodwill the other day and I've decided that since I'm willing to give hundreds of dollars to my bank for no good reason, I must be an idiot and I need to read that book. I also really need to hear from the new job soon...if I put myself on a budget and make more money, I'll actually be able to save some and still get to spend the way I do now without having to worry about anyone seeing an overdraft notice in the mail and feeling guilty about it.

Groggy McGroggerson Here...

The weekend was really busy and I didn't get half enough sleep. My 2nd interview got postponed to Wednesday because the regional manager of the property won't be in town until then and I'm hoping I'll be caught up on sleep by then. I was ready to walk in and say, "When do I start?" today, but I think I can muster up the confident thing again on Wednesday.

Saturday was long....really long. We left for IKEA around 9am-ish and didn't get home until 9pm-ish. Oi. But, we have the right bedframe now and it's made a huge difference in how comfortable the mattress is. It was fine before, but now it's dreamy. We also got curtains, rods and finials for the bedroom, a matching apron and oven mitt, some plants and ceramic containers to transplant them into, lightbulbs, tea lights, and plastic storage containers for under the bed. I love IKEA. They really need to put one here in Portland...or maybe it's better for everyone's wallet that they haven't yet....

We picked up most of the stuff from M's folks' place yesterday, the rest of which he's getting today before they get home, and by the time we go to bed tonight, we'll pretty much have the living room finished (for the time being until we can get the couch we want) and ready for company with enough seating for at least five people. In fact, all of the rooms are about 90% done...we have a few boxes to deal with in the second bedroom and the living room and I have stuff to organize in the closet across from the bathroom, but aside from that, we're fairly well settled.
If all goes well with this job I'm up for, I'll see if we can plan a small house warming/hooray for a new job get-together.

I Feel Special.

It's nice to know that what I write is interesting enough that people are talking about it.

NOT Part Of The Plan.

When I agreed to pay all of my half of this month's rent at the old place, I did not anticipate being asked to have my things out by the 15th. I did not anticipate paying the whole 1/2 month's rent for someone else to live there for the rest of the month. I did not anticipate having to move my stuff out and clean the room when I was finished moving after working all day on Tuesday. I did not anticipate being told I'd get my 1/2 of the $400 deposit back in smaller monthly payments. I definitely did not anticipate being this pissed off about moving.

So Much To Do, So Little Motivation...

Moving day is exactly one week away. We can pick up keys this week but can't start moving in until the 15th and I have to work Monday and Tuesday so the major moving of my stuff won't happen until we have the U-Haul on Wednesday... and I haven't done squat about packing or selling anything. I know Lara wants the purple futon couch and the entertainment unit so if Dex and Taryn actually want some of my bookshelves, I'll only have my bed to deal with selling. The new landlord has decided NOT to resurface the bathtub, which kills me, but offered to credit us $100 towards rent if we have it done on our own, which I'm seriously considering. We'll have to see what CLR can do for the rust stain and the bottom before I'll even step foot in it. If that doesn't help, it's getting resurfaced, dammit.

I'm already tired just thinking about next week. Hopefully, we'll get out to the beach on one of my days off so I won't feel like I took off time from work to do nothing but work.

It's Happy Birthday To Me Week.

I'm at lunch, which consists of Dannon fat free vanilla yogurt over vanilla almond granola, sweet baby carrots, popcorn and water. I'm trying to decide where to go tomorrow night for my birthday dinner. I'm thinking either Todai, Yuki, Koji (all of which are sushi) or Taco Bell. I know, I know...Taco Bell? Yeah, well...It's my damn birthday and I'll have Taco Bell for all three meals if I want! So shut it.

I have to work tomorrow and I know the office is buying big sub sandwiches, cake and ice cream for lunch so that will be nice. After tonight's festivites, I expect tomorrow to be pretty quiet. Dinner with the boy and maybe a movie is all that's on the agenda and I kinda like it that way.

Oh, How We Shopped...

$1200 of super fantastic furniture from the glorious shopping mecca that is IKEA got crammed into a rented Toyota Matrix on Saturday evening. The furniture cramming was followed by a stop in Tacoma for grub at Hooters. They didn't have the black Hooters tank top in stock, so I didn't get anything there other than a yummy grilled cheese sandwich and curly fries. I heard the hot wings were delicious.

Sunday, after a few moments of panic and indecision, I chopped my hair and now have a very different 'do. The folks at work yesterday morning asked if I'd gone to the Oscars last night because they think I look glamourous. I'm still adjusting but even if I never get used to it, it's just hair and it'll grow back quickly. It suits the dress I'm wearing for my birthday festivities on Wednesday night so that's something. If you don't already know, come to the Boiler Room Wednesday night around 9ish in a fancy vintage outfit and help me celebrate the official leap into my 30's (good lord, I'll be 31...oi). My actual birthday is Thursday but I'm starting the party a day early. Be prepared for karaoke rock blocks galore...