2007 In Review

So...2007 is almost gone so I thought I'd think back to the past year.

New house, new husband, new dog.
The year of new stuff.

Finally decided to buy a trailer and live in it until we can afford to build "comfortably" without strapping us of our finances. It was hard moving out of living with my brother, i've lived with him for 26 years!!!

Marriage...after 5 years we finally got hitched. Great wedding, awesome honeymoon, and realized we really have a bunch of people that care alot about us.

My life as a mommy...a doggie mommy that is. Buddy joined our humble household in the fall. We luff him! He's such a fun addition to our little family.

Supervisor...got promoted the first of the year at work. Got a great pay raise with it. ;) Then I went from supervisor to taking upon another person's entire job as well. It's been a stressful year at work, but it's a job I truely do enjoy. (saturday working aside).

Goals for the new year:
Be healthier, be happier, and look more to the good.
The other goal...BE MORE ORGANIZED. I guess I need to clean my house/desk first for this to happen but I am going to try very hard to be more organized.


Cheers to a great 2007 and hopefully an even better 2008!

2 More Days

It's 2 days until christmas and surprisingly I'm pretty much done. Granted I'm not cooking dinner and I didn't make hardly any cookies or treats but that's alright. That's what the mom's are for. This will be our first Christmas as husband and wife, which is a little strange. It's hard to believe we've been married almost 5 months now! But I am thankful that we have what we have and have made it this far.

Scary Day

Yesterday was a very scary day for me. My mom called me in the morning to tell me she was going to the Dr. because she had a pain in her stomach. I told her to call me when she got done. She called me about 11:30 a.m. to tell me she was in the ER they thought she had a kink in her intestine. So I flew down to the hospital and sat with her through all the tests and etc. We laughed and joked and watched lifetime in the ER while they took forever. Finally we found out the Dr's office was wrong, it was actually GERD in her GI system that caused the severe pain. I could've killed the woman at the dr's office that told my mom she'd probably need surgery. Mom was all worried because I missed my office christmas party to sit in the ER with her. But she's my mom and I would've stayed all night with her if I had to. Dustin and I talked last night about how the roles have really changed, it's not longer our parents taking care of us, it's us taking care of our parents. *sigh* Getting old really does suck! lol.

Annual Fall Weekend Getaway

This weekend was our annual fall getaway. We always go to Gettysburg in October to visit friends of ours that live there. Dustin went to college with Adam and his wife Kelly. We only see each other a few times a year but they are "true" friends.

This weekend 2 other couples went with us, as it was a surprise birthday for Adam at their house on Saturday. Saturday mornin the guys went farm touring (rolleyes) and the girls went to hagerstown to the outlets shopping. It was alot of fun! Then we came back and started cooking. Such good food and good drinks! And he was totally surprised with his John Deere tractor cake and the collector pedal tractor we bought him.

It's so nice to get out of town for a weekend and just relax. We had a great time! I can't wait until we do it again!

Our New Ride

Dustin decided that we needed a new "toy" A friend of his was selling his ATV, so we decided to buy it. We sold dustin's old sport atv to his brother and we bought a grandpa atv with 4 wheel drive and reverse. It's an automatic too, so no shifting. I wasn't sure I'd use it, but since we've had it, I've used it to go to his parents and take my garbage down. And it's a nice mailbox getter! lol!

Here's the new toy!

Bored...OUT OF MY MIND!

I never in a million years thought I would hate living in the sticks. Oh boy, do I ever. I am so bored that I dread coming home at night. Dustin has lived there all his life, he knows people and has things to mess around with. Me...I live with dialup internet, a shabby satellite TV system, and me in my house by myself. All 900 square feet of it. :rolleyes: This weekend was literally my downfall point when I realized I hate it. I can't tell Dustin I hate it but he knows I do. And that was my big sacrifice getting married, he has a farm and land that he loves and that was my sacrifice

So starting today...I am going to start trying to deal with it. I am going to go back to the gym TONIGHT after work. That will shave an hour off my time at home. If dinners not done until 700 pm, so be it. If he gets hungry, make a sandwich.

Also...I am going to start back to my scrapbooking. I went to AC Moore this weekend and bought some new stuff as inspiration and now that I have all these great vacation, rehearsal dinner, wedding, and reception photos (and let me tell you, I HAVE A TON FROM THE WEDDING!) I am going to get back into the groove. I am turning the spare bedroom into a little sb room since the office just isn't big enough. And my goal is to start my christmas cards before October 1st. Atleast figure out what I want to do and get a sample made.

Those are my first 2 tactics...hopefully I can learn to live out in the middle of nowhere.

Old Married Woman

Is alot like being a a nonmarried woman. when you dated for 5 years, and lived together for 2 of those years, yeah, not much changes. Things I have learned in the past 3 months.

1. I have married the most picky eater in the world, and no I will not make steak and french fries every night for dinner.

2. I do hate living out in the middle of nowhere. I have never lived less than walking distance from a gas station/convenience store. Now I live 5 miles from one! No walking for a gallon of milk. But the things you do for love!

3. I did not marry bob villa by ANY means. I am scared for my future home if he is put in charge of anything. I hung all the mini blinds myself. Now that's bad! lol.

4. Not much changed, but my life seems busier! Strange!!!!!

Almost moved in!

We are almost moved into the new place. Last night the water and electric were hooked up. We vacuumed, steam cleaned the carpets, and did some more misc. cleaning. Today the gas man came and inspected everything. Tomorrow the furniture company comes to deliver our mattress, box spring, and new end tables and coffee table. Now all we need is a COUCH! lol. We have a sectional but it probably won't fit (and I hate it) so I'm trying to get a new couch out of this deal. Heck, what's another $700! I can't believe I have so much stuff LEFT to pack up. How does one accumulate this much CRAP in 5 years time? It's just nuts!!!!

We hope to sleeping in our new bed Sunday Night. We'll see...since I have to work Saturday until probably 1 p.m. the moving will have to go on either without me (eek!) or wait until I get out of work.

Things we still have to do/buy:
INTERNET SERVICE! (#1 priority)
New desk
Couch
Gravel the Driveway (it's a complete mess from digging up the yard this weekend)
Figure out what we are doing about the stairs or build a new deck. (eek, dustin's not exactly BOB VILA!)

Oh and did I mention, it's 5 weeks until the wedding! lol

Farm Living is the Life FOR ME!

Ok, not really. but it is for Dustin. They used to have a full-time crop farm growing potatos but got out of it probably 2 years before we started dating. Now they grow corn for area farmers who don't have land to grow their own. Along with a few acres of sweet corn for the sweet corn stand. So as I marry this boy, I marry into the life of a farmer!

Here's some pics from the camera of him farming!

Commencement

Have you been to a graduation that doesn't say "commencement doesn't mean the end, it means the beginning." Today was Dustin's brother Devon's college graduation. Dustin and I had a bet going on how long it would take before the speaker would say that quote, 10 minutes into the ceremony! It was kind of weird, I sat in that same auditorium in Williamsport, PA 2 1/2 years ago when Dustin graduated college, it just seems weird that I've been with Dustin that long. When I first started dating him, 5 years ago, his brother didn't even have his driver's license. Now he's a college graduate with an associates degree. He is truly like a brother to me, and strangely enough, he's a lot like my own brother. It's also funny to consider myself part of the family. When Dustin graduated we did the family picture, then the picture with the family and me. Today when we did the pictures, there was no family picture that didn't involve me. It was a moment that I realized I actually am part of this family whether we have an official marriage certificate or not. And as dorky as that sounds, it seems pretty cool to me!

It's Official!

We now own a mobile dwelling. I HAVE A PLACE TO LIVE! We signed the paperwork over last night for the mobile home. We will move it from it's current location to the lot we are putting it on on May 30th. The current owners will be moved out by May 26th (we did the paperwork early with a little contract giving her rights to live there until May 26th because most notaries are not open Memorial Day weekend). We will go up on memorial day weekend and tie everything down and zip-tie the cabinets shut so that everything is ready for the moving company.

I am so excited it's not even funny. We went to walmart tonight and I was like "we need this and this and this" and Dustin told me to slow down, I could buy stuff, I just need to wait until we are IN it before I buy anything because we have NO room right now to store stuff in our current house because of all the wedding stuff and everything else.

I will post pictures when we go up Memorial Day and get the keys. Dummy me forgot the camera!

Work Ethics

It's amazing how work ethic's vary from person to person. This week has been a very draining and time consuming week at work. Thursday I had to go to upstate NY with one of the VP's to visit one of our terminals, the main dispatcher in that terminal is retiring and due to the small size of the terminal, we are doing his work from our terminal, 3 hours away. Let me rephrase that, I AM doing his work from our terminal. Last night I worked until 7:00 p.m. as well. I work it because I was raised one of those people that you work until the work is one. I just wish the 2 other people in my department had that same theory. Thankfully I have the entire weekend off this weekend to do whatever I want. :)

On that note I think I am going to go Mother's Day shopping today. I also have a list a mile long of little stuff here and there I need for the wedding. A few fake trees, white lights, some tulle, cardstock, vellum, ribbon, flip flops, little shot glasses, bridesmaid gifts, flower girl gift, parents gifts, ok, so i have ALOT of stuff to get! ha ha!

Spring Cleaning

Yuck! I am not a big cleaning person, I like organization and stuff like that but I hate the road to get organized. I started tonight on the downstairs entryway in the basement. My house is a split level, the entry way is kind of like a family room but the heat runs aren't set up for it, so it's cold down there and we just use it for storage. I flattened and cut up no less than 20 boxes to burn this weekend. 3 bags of garbage I dragged out of there and I'm still not done. The bad thing...not ONE thing down there was mine except for a bag of sandals and flip flops!!! BOYS!!! Momma's don't let your babies grow up to be PIGGIES! lol

Tomorrow night I shall tackle...the closets! EEEEK!

Cabin Fever!

I seriously have cabin fever!!! It's April 17th and there is snow in the air. That is just wrong on so many levels! I have sat on this computer for days now just surfing up a storm, and why, because it's depressing to go outside in wool socks and turtlenecks. Yes I wore a turtleneck to work today. I want my capri pants, my flip flops with my pretty glittery painted toes, and most of all...I want to put my winter coat in the closet for another year.

The wedding is almost three months away. Now that is scary!!!! I have so much done, and yet so much left to do. However, most of the stuff left to do, most people wouldn't notice if I did do it or I didn't do it. It's nice to live in an area when people don't expect fancy receptions with $100 bottles of wine, fancy china, and formal ballrooms. I could have this thing in my backyard, with plastic chairs, a bonfire and hotdogs and people would still come and still have fun. And I thank my great friends for that! It's not the quantity of friends, it's the quality of your friendship with those few individuals you do have.

And for those that aren't sick of listening about this wedding yet....THE DRESS IS IN! :)

My new book...

I'm reading Motor Mouth by Janet Evanovich and I can't put it down. It's just too freaking funny. Dustin actually told me last night to quiet my laughing a bit because he was trying to sleep. Whoops!!!!!!

Tomorrow is friday! What a freaking week this has been. I've been training a new guy who won't even be in my department but they kind of threw him in with me because he needs to know some of the stuff, but he's no where near ready, and his department is "too busy" right now. :rolleyes: Oh well. It's physically draining on a trainer to train someone, not only do you not get your work done, but when you do get to it your are so far behind it's not even funny. I am a "routine" person. Don't mess with my routine. Don't mess with my 10 a.m. bagel and tea break, don't mess with my 1 p.m. lunch at the gym, and don't move my mouse! lol.

Engagement Photos are here!!!!

The engagement photos are back. Some turned out good and others, well...not so good. We both have to work real hard to take good pictures. If you want to take a look you can go here http://orinfoto.smugmug.com/gallery/2605267 and check them out. I think they turned out well considering. Thankfully she is also our wedding photographer, so it helped to get warmed up to her and her style.

Mag-Pie

Oh the joys of having a puppy. We finally talked mom into getting a dog. We picked up her sheltie puppy yesterday. She's named her maggie, I refer to her as MAGPIE! She is a adorable. Almost makes me want one. I told my mom it's like having a baby again (she's only 8 weeks old) only without the breast feeding. lol! The sad part is, my mom thinks magpie likes me better than my mom. If i sit on the floor indian style she prances right over and hops in my lap and just lays there. I told my mom she's got a lot of fun nights ahead of her. But I do love the little magpie!

pics to follow!

Phil Vassar

His latest song out "last day of my life" has been playing through my head alot this week. Last week we lost a young doctor in a snowmobile accident. He was only 31 and we all are snowmobilers so it makes you stop and think and drive a little more careful. Then on Wednesday one of Dustin's drivers were killed in a tragic accident only about a block from Dustin's shop. I found out about it via the grapevine and hadn't heard from Dustin yet. He regularly drives these short loads if needed. Thankfully I found out a few mins later he was ok. Dustin is still pretty upset over it, and will be reminded by it daily for a while. He actually had to help remove the driver from the truck. That night on my way home I heard the song "Last Day of My Life" and it made think alot. We cannot stop our lives because of tragic accidents and not do what we love, we just have to continue on with life and try to remember to slow down and let those people we love know that we love them.

Packing Away

I know I HAVE to move in the next 6 months, however where, that's not so easy. Dustin wants to live near the farm. Within a 2-3 mile radius for the most part. However, there's nothing really around there for sale. We have a lot we can build on/put a trailer on, etc. But he doesn't want to live in a trailer for a long time. I have NO problems trailer living for a few years to save money.

Anyways in thinking ahead with needing to move soon, I am slowly packing/sorting all my stuff. It's amazing what one can accumulate within 26 years of one's life. Actually 5 years, my mom has all my childhood stuff at her house. It is a little sad at the same time, as much as I complain and bitch about my brother, I love him to death, and have lived with him for 26 years. It will be very very hard to accomodate to life without him there everyday. I think that it will take both of us some time to adjust.

As I sort through things I find some very comical things such as an inflatable flamingo can coozie. How funny is that? Does if have meaning, you betcha, but to anyone other than me it's pure junk. It will be hard to part with the "junk" I've accumulated.

Flowers...CHECK!

Moving right along I am with this wedding stuff. ha ha! Today my mom and I went to check out a florist, I ended up booking her on the spot. She is so awesome! She didn't try to sell me flowers I didn't need or want. Even told me my cake topper could be my throw away bouquet to save money!!!!! My mom and I were SHOCKED to find out the pricing was alot LESS than what we were expecting! How cool is that?!?

I decided on the girls bouquets. They will look similar to this. Only with light pink gerbera daisies and yellow and light pink roses.

My bouquet will be very similar to this, without the pearly looking flowers in it.Both pictures are courtesy of theknot.com. A very resourceful place! :)

I am so excited to find someone who is great to work with. This wedding stuff is going WAY TOO EASY. I'm worried for the next few months!

The Dresses

We finally found a dress for the girls. And everyone loves it. I'm so excited. Our trip was a little interesting though. I got everyone rounded up except Kelly because she lives out of town and we went to the bridal shop Saturday. It's in Erie so it was about an hour drive to get there. We turn the corner and the shop is DARK! I almost cried, I thought they were closed. But the sign on the door said "We are OPEN we just have no electricity!" I was relieved!!!! We got in and got the girls trying on some dresses and we finally found one we liked. Actually it matches my dress perfectly which I think is very cool!!!! Later we went out to lunch and for a little shopping. It was great spending time with my girls. They are a great group of girls and I couldn't ask for better friends. Below is a pic of me in my dress, Jamie in the dress we decided on (theirs will be in sage green instead of red though) and a group picture of all of us. Please excuse my crappy facial expression, I was tired and still a little sick from my cold. And my mom takes horrible pictures!!!!! Plus it was in the dark so we were as close to the window natural light as possible! :)

I did it

Not willingly, but I did it. About 2 years ago I started a Coding Basics online distance education program to learn medical billing and coding. I was in a rut and needed a new job. I completed the course last year Jan 06. I have yet to take my certification exam, partially because I am afraid I will not pass it. I don't LOVE medical billing and coding, so that's another reason why I didn't take the exam. I still have a certificate saying I have completed the coding program, so I could still get a job in that field. I just have not taken the CCA cert. exam. Well after being hounded about it from my dad, Dustin, AND my grandma on CHRISTMAS for god sakes, I ordered a study guide online today to help refresh my skills for the exam. Here goes nothing!

Not a Morning Person

I am so NOT a morning person. Since my current supervisor will be moving to another department and I will be taking her job, I have been in training learning all aspects of the department. Kind of a crash course really. My boss currently works 7am-3pm. I will not be getting her hours but I need to know what to do incase the girl that does take that shift is sick or takes vacation I am able to fill in. Let's just say, I am NOT a morning person. I normally do not have to be to work until 9. I get up at 7:15-7:30 and am fine. Well getting up at 5:15 is HORRIBLE. It's also cramping my style at night, I missed CSI Monday night! ha ha! I have only 2 days left of this shift and I cannot WAIT to go back to my sleeping in!

Tonight I had bowling as well. I am not a consistant bowler by any means. I got a 109, a 141, and a 106! lol. Oh well, I only bowl because my mom enjoys spending the time with me.

5 more months...

Until another day off of work. :( Kind of sad actually. I should get a dog and become a stay at home mom! Think dustin will go for it?

Well it's official..the new wedding colors are sage/celedon green and pink. :) Dustin actually went for it! I am in love with my new colors too. And so is my mom and Dustin's mom. They liked the red but they LOVE this! We are going to go in a few weeks and pick out the girls dresses. I am excited!!!! I have a few in mind but they can decide themselves what they want.

This is sort of what I have in mind. Picture is courtesy of theknot.com. I absolutely LOVE this look.

I am going to take this pic and another few pics to the florist this week and see what they can do. That is the only thing that is really not set in stone, a florist. I will however, have that taken care of by the end of this month.

I told everyone I had all my deposits in and didn't need to worry about anything until after the holidays. Well it's after the holidays, is it time to freak out yet? ha ha!!!!!