"I used to live in a darkened room, had a face of stone and a heart of gloom. Lost my hope, I was so far gone
cryin' all my tears with the curtains drawn. I didn't know until my soul broke free, I've got these angels watching over me.
Oh watch me go. I'm a happy girl everybody knows that the sweetest thing that you'll ever see in the whole wide world is a HAPPY GIRL!!" - my life's motto, courtesy of Martina McBride
Sunday, December 07, 2008
Chairs and drinks
So for the longest time we've used Tyler's old recliner that drops parts when you move it and sometimes sticks you in the butt with sharp bits when you sit on it.
That has been not so fun.
So this year we decided that our Christmas present to each other was going to be a new recliner. We've searched high and low and finally found a good coupon/selection at HOM furniture store.
But it wasn't just any deal. It was buy one chair, get the second chair... FREE.
WHO DOES THAT WITH FURNITURE?
So naturally, we snapped it up.
Ta da!
Make no mistake about it, there is absolutely no room in our apartment living room for two huge recliners. But we're ignoring that fact. And this is now our life:
Except for when I take a break to play with the giant box the chair came in... (please know I had a giant margarita with dinner and I was 'high' off the new-chair joy!)
Well, my blogging has certainly suffered lately but real life has been great so I can't complain. We have the church and reception hall booked and I bought THE DRESS. So I feel like I have a good grip on the wedding end of things. So far I'm having fun planning. I figure there will be meltdowns but I'm hoping to keep a fairly level head.
Last night Tyler and I decorated our tree. It's the second year in a row that we've splurged and gone for a real one. Words cannot describe how happy Christmas trees make me. As I got ready for work this morning, I had to turn the lights on and play my Bette Midler Christmas CD. I admit that when I was little Christmas was all about the presents. Now I could really care less. Don't get me wrong, I love getting gifts and I love buying them for people in my life, but that part is less fun than the just getting home and seeing the people I care about. I'd probably be way more excited about gifts if I actually had some money to spend on them.
We're not going to talk about money right now though because money stresses me out.
Between holidays, wedding plans and everything else, I am ALSO starting a new job on Monday. TA DA!!! It only took me 2 years past college but I finally got a FULL-TIME job that I'm excited about and that's in my field. I'll be doing event-planning/marketing and sales stuff. So basically micro-managing, obsessing and organizing... in other words, I should rock at it.
But the coolest thing I'm doing right now (bu far) is dance class. It's really hard work but I'm having an absolute blast. I've tried learning ballroom dance in college and never felt like it was clicking-- I see now that's because I never had a really great teacher. The man who's teaching us, Victor Gelking is wonderful! He is perfect for beginners and really fun. I would recommend people go just for the fun stories he tells about his life --travelling the world, dancing and flying planes in World War II. Seriously, he's in his 80s and can move better than me!
I must leave you now :( but before I go... some Disney for the day!
I try not to be so mushy and public with my affection towards Tyler. But I just gotta say he went above and beyond recently.
I left my part-time job at the mall last night. Ya see, I've been pulling some crazy schedules -- 8 hours at regular job then 4 more at part time gig so when I get home (near 9:30pm) it's very hard to cook anything.
Anyway, as I leave work and walk to my car, I see a bouquet of flowers in my front seat with rose petals everywhere. Also a printed menu with the meal I would be served when I got home. It had lots of flowery french language but it boiled down to taco bar/salad and dessert. Which sounded pretty much perfect after the day I had.
Stuff like that reminds me how wonderful he is. Not only is he great to me on a day-to-day basis, he will go out of his way to show me that he's there for me when times get tough.
I had to take some pics with my cell phone. Here are my flowers:
and a shot of the penguin clip art that was on our menu (cause when I think tacos, I think of a penguin Maître d')
and the photo of the table set all cute for when I got home
Not bad-- a lit candle and some wine! We ended up being too full for dessert.
There was also soothing classical music playing and when we were done eating, I could take a bath and get right in bed. It was pretty much heaven.
Anyway the "Ristorante" as he calls it, will be open again from 9pm-11 pm. I can't wait to see what the chef has for me tonight.
I am ready for pumpkins. At work, I've been surfing the net looking for a pumpkin patch to visit. Last year, Tyler and I went to Buffalo River Pumpkin Patch (with the petting zoo) and that was awesome but I figure we should try something new this time. I found a great one but it was out near Bismarck. 'Lil too far. Even with gas below $3 again....
I love this time of year. Fall has such a special quality. And it means you can get away with cozy sweaters and scarves but are not yet confined to winter coats and boots. And I have lots of kick ass scarves. Seriously. I should count them. I may have a scarf problem.
Much like my previously discussed problem with penguin stuff and candles.
Also fall proceeds the best holidays. And fall has the best beverages. Apple cider! Hot cocoa! PS: I found my new favorite thing. "A rich melange" of four cocoas = AWESOME. I've only had the one on the end so far but it was awesome.
GO. TO. STARBUCKS. NOW. Forget the crumbling economy and get yourself some $4 cocoa, dangit!
In other holiday-related news. I got a part time job and I start Sunday. I shouldn't speak too soon and jinx it but it sounds like the best thing ever. I will be a visual coordinator for Macy's. Which in real speak means I decorate the store for Christmas. The best thing is it's 4 weeks, 20 hours a week. So I won't be burning the candle at both ends for long AND EVEN BETTER. I'm not involved in holiday retail around Thanksgiving or Christmas! It's like the best thing EVAH!
God bless us everyone :)
In news that bugs me:
#1 Why do I hear New Kids on the Block on the radio? WHY? I'm sorry, Sarah but they just aren't my thing and they are way too old for this boy band business and the songs they are putting out are DREADFUL. If you're gonna foist a 'reunion' on us then at least put out decent music or JUST STICK TO THE OLD STUFF!
I defer to this video for my feelings on the NKOTB:
#2 Why can't I find a decent stereo? In sad news, my desk stereo died. I loved it. It was small and non-imposing. Kind of like this
It had a 5 disc CD changer, great speakers and a tape deck (which yes I still used from time to time).
I cannot find any of those things anymore. If you want a 5 disc changer, 99% of the time the stereo is obscenely huge and really, everything I've seen has been big, and some sort of sleek, macho, black thing. And very imposing. Like this
I don't get it, are they only making stereos for the 14 year old boy market?? Cause other than those two styles, I've only really seen novelty ones like, an old time jukebox looking one or Sponge Bob & Hello Kitty boom box. *sigh*. Maybe I just have to hum my music from now on?
So yeah, this was a link-happy post, and I have one more for ya. I had to look through a lot of old posts for some of the links I found here and in the process had fun reading old posts of mine. Go here to see a SUPER CUTE retro PSA I posted.
PS: Just one more good news bulletin. My cousin Shandra got engaged and my best friend Randi had a baby girl (her first, she has two boys). So weddings and babies. Pretty much the best thing ever. Hooray!!
There are certain things I remember with starling clarity.
Too many of those moments are about humiliation or hurt, but I also recall some very happy moments in my life.
A few days ago, I decided to make a kettle of German knoephla soup. Knoephla is probably on my list '5 favorite comfort food' meals. I have made it so often that I don't need to think while doing it and I've gotten much better at making it. I can get the dumplings plump, the seasoning right and I've quit scorching the milk! I have a problem scorching things as I tend to be impatient.
Anywho. I had a nice kettle of knoephla and Tyler and I took a bowl to the balcony and ate under the stars. It's that time of summer where the nights are very cool and a bowl of hot soup is heaven. There was a light breeze and no bugs and we had found some random music channel on the TV playing opera. Yes, it's definitely a weird combination but I would say it was perfect.
We had one of those conversations that makes me forget we've been dating for four years. It's still new and exciting and romantic. Sometimes I'm amazed that we still have so many things to talk about. I hope we're still in love and eating under the stars in 40 more years.
I told him that this was one of those moments I hoped to remember forever. I felt calm (so rare for someone with an anxiety disorder), safe, and I was loved and warm. I got to thinking about other moments in my life where I had that. It was a fun exercise and I'd recommend trying it yourself-- very much a 'count your blessings' sort of deal.
*I remember laying outside in my grandparent's backyard on an old quilt. My grandpa gave me a butterfly net and I was trying to catch something. We ate strawberries together that we pulled out of my grandma's garden. He told me, "They taste better with a little dirt on them."
*I remember in 6th/7th grade, it was fall and my mom took me to Menards. She bought me some of those clear stickers for my bedroom window. It was Winnie the Pooh characters playing in piles of leaves. Later when I was in my room applying them, I had the window open and could smell fall (the smell that is part cold air, leaves and part chimney smoke). My mom called me out to the kitchen and we had slices of banana with honey, toast and hot cocoa. Just an average day, nothing special but she and I were very happy.
*I remember taking a trip to St. Louis. I was in a hotel room with Laura and Rehema (exchange student from Tanzania, Africa) and we were laughing so hard that we were gasping for air. I think it had something to do with the Swahili word for 'butt' being "taco."
Those are just some of my moments. I hope I have years and years to create more. But life is a fleeting thing and we have to try and create bliss moments wherever we can.
In other bliss-related news, I have a new fave show... Tyler found out that our TV pulls in channels like National Geographic that we didn't have before. I started watching "Cesar Millan: The Dog Whisperer." And I LOVE HIM. This youtube clip shows part of a show I watched the other night. Observe what happens when Cesar tries to acclimate Gracie, the puppy with a chicken (who Gracie wants to eat). The chicken has an interesting reaction...
I laughed for 10 minutes straight when I saw this clip... literally had tears. That poor bird!!
