Packing and Relaxing

This is what I woke up to today. Before I went to sleep last night, Mike informed me that he needed to go through and pack up some of his papers. Apparently, he got distracted before that last key part was complete. href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCt4hYoxpGIMMxuBXBfYQyevQHXaZ6I994Zl-TocOqPnqHnbus9XGNu8QAQ5BofD-xf4NtIJYAH4e80soynpH8TgXwkUw41s7H_dee6GdFUHADAExbLtJH1th-hyCaSppyohYij0Kadink/s1600/IMG_0205.JPG">
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Here's the deal. I can't figure out how to write in between the pictures, and I don't know why there are weird symbols showing up, so I am just going to write what I need to write down here. First of all, the second and third pictures show just how much packing we have left to do. That has been our designated spot for wedding presents since we have run out of storage. Surprisingly enough, we have actually packed up quite a bit of it....you just can't tell. Look at sweet Lullabelle. I don't know who is going to have the panic attack first - her or me.

The next pictures were to show that we took some time off Saturday night to spend some much needed quality time with some of our favorite people in St. Louis. Mike grilled, we drank wine and played board games. It was a lot of fun, and something to look forward to as we continue to wake up every day trying to figure out what to pack next. Thankfully, Mike's parents are coming in town Wednesday. Mike's father has volunteered to drive the U-Haul truck, and I am hoping that we might get a little extra packing help from a new set of eyes. Sometimes it is easier to pack/clean when it is not your house!

As promised before, I need to tell you about our trip to the University of Texas - Dallas (UTD) and the floozie secretary. Mike and I met with the graduate director of the school to help him figure out more precisely what his plan is next year. She then took us to meet the Dean of the school. As we walked into his office area, we were met by what I can only call a Texas Barbie. Her blonde curly hair flowed gracefully down her shoulders and her flawless skin and perfect smile greeted us when we opened the door. Mike's teacher introduced her, and I quickly dismissed her name because I didn't think we would be having a lot of interaction with her. UNTIL, the teacher introduced Mike and stated, "Mike is also in the Phd program with you." Of course he is.

Mike began babbling about how he will "see her in the fall" and walked away to meet the dean as I stood there feeling very short and pimply. Kind of like 7th grade all over again. I stuck my hand out and introduced myself as Mike's wife. She was very nice and of course, I don't think she is out to steal my husband, but it was a little intimidating. As we walked outside, Mike's professor whispered to me, "Don't worry, they don't all look like that." See - even she gets it!

So, we are going to be packing up the rest of the week. Please be thinking about us as make this crazy move without hopefully going crazy ourselves!!
Now, if I could only get this one to get out of the bed....




Have a wonderful Monday!!!

A Slump

So, we are moving in exactly a week. We haven't started packing. I feel like I am sitting in cement and just can't get the strength to to break out of it. I have never moved by myself (without my parents) and although this sounds very childish, I just don't know where to start without my mom directing me. I finally went to Target today to get some bins for our clothes, but never actually got any clothes into them.

Our real estate agent came by a few days ago and stated, "I really don't envy what you have to do in the next few days." Aside from assuring us that we will lose lots of money on our condo, I felt like we were in a episode of "Hoarders." Outgrowing this space is an understatement. We are bursting at the seams. I kept apologizing as we went through each room, desperately trying to convince her that we are generally much neater when there is space to put everything. The wedding presents do not help the situation. People were so generous, but we have presents stacked in their boxes behind the couch. And now I am beginning to question, do I really need a wok?

Last night was my last night at work. I will not miss these days of coming home at 3:00 am, but I am going to miss the girls that I recently met and really clicked with. I think that even after all the complaining I have done for the past two years, we have made some incredible friends and incredible memories in St. Louis. It is a very bittersweet time, and that is also an issue. Not a lot of time to process the change.

Finally, my husband. Isn't it fun to call them that? He seems to think that we are going to pack up this place in a day. And so I come home to find that he has found multiple new trashy day time television shows and no movement from the couch. I can't fix this, as much as I have yelled/screamed/cried. The most response I have gotten is when I sit quietly. He knows there is something wrong when I am not talking a mile a minute. Talk about the stress of your first year of marriage! When asked what his plan was, his response is, "I have one." That just doesn't put my mind at ease.

So, I ate some ice cream for dinner. I am hoping to throw some t-shirts, etc into these bins tonight and get a fresh start in the morning. And yes, I know that people move all the time and maybe I am being a baby, but this is what we are dealing with right now. Tomorrow night we are having a bbq with some of my favorite people in St. Louis, which should be a lot of fun. In addition, I have this looming knowledge that I am turning 30 in exactly 13 days. That, and the thoughts that come with it are a post for another day. So, I will be updating because writing always makes me feel a little better. Hope all is well and everyone enjoys their weekend!

There's Always Drama With Us

We got a house!!! After my last blog, we got on the road and made the ten hour drive to Dallas. Luckily, some of Mike's parent's friends, and quite possibly the nicest people I have ever met, allowed us to stay with them during the frenetic week. We had previously spoken with a real estate agent who was going to find some rental properties for us and planned to meet with her the next day.

First I have to tell you about the great people we stayed with. The wife is retired and they have three children (one is my age and has wonderful connections in the city.) The husband works from home and at 5:00 every day there were cocktails and appetizers waiting for us. Quite honestly, I couldn't hang. I woke up with a headache every morning! As we began to look at houses, we realized how much furniture we have and began to get an idea of the square footage we would need. I have desperately wanted a guest bedroom ever since I moved in with Mike, but we just didn't have the room for him to have an office and a separate bedroom. I had my heart set on a 3/2. We found the perfect place that INCLUDED the washer, dryer and refrigerator, but then found out that we were in competition with another couple for the place! Once we finally signed the lease, we were told that the owners of the house liked us better :-). I personally feel that it was all because of a dog.

When we walked into the house, their dog was caged so he wouldn't jump on anyone. Apparently earlier that day, the other couple came to the house and the dog was growling and barking at them. When I knocked back on the door and asked to take a few pics of the house (I know, that's annoying) the dog was out and running around....AND..he loved me. We played around and I am pretty sure that sealed the deal.

So we got the house and were able to leave TX in time for me to work on Friday. One a side note, the people we stayed with have a neighbor who hangs out with them quite a bit. He is divorced and enjoys spending time with other people. Well, he called around 10:00 one evening as we were drinking martinis and watching a movie. He had locked himself out of the house. Mike nominated himself as the criminologist of the group and assured us all that he knew how to break into the house. After attempting to use a tennis ball with a hole in it to blow the lock out, and the a paper clip to pick the lock we were still standing outside. The people we were staying with decided to take a leap of faith and check the window we were standing by the entire time. It was open! And so, they reached right through the window and unlocked the door.

Keep in mind, the entire time the neighbor was on the phone talking to his friend about how he was locked out of his house. I was pondering how Mike knew how to break into houses and wondering if there was a connection between that and the length of time he has been in school. As this post is getting long, I will leave you with the thought that I must tell you about the floozie secretary Mike will be working with. Yes, everything is bigger in Dallas.

It's 4:45 am...What Are You Doing?

You must be wondering what in the world I am doing up at this hour. Although this has become close to my regular bedtime, there is a reason that we are up and about. I am waiting for Mike to finish packing so we can drive to Texas. We have some news. We are moving to Dallas!! Can you believe it? Just after the honeymoon, Mike got a potential offer to move to the University of Dallas, Texas and continue his education there, along with some other perks. The more we talked about it, the more it sounded like a great idea. Let's be honest. I think we all know my feelings about St. Louis, and I have an amazing number of contacts that have come out of the woodwork since we started throwing this idea around.

For Mike, this is a chance to get his name out at another university and show what a great Criminologist he is! Really the most important thing is that it will be something that we are starting together, just as our married life is beginning. Yes, I will have to find a new name for the blog, but I think we will be able to handle that. So, we are leaving this morning to make the trek down to Dallas and start looking for a place to live. Here's the deal. Dallas is one of the biggest 9 cities in the U.S. I didn't quite realize this, but after talking to one of my friends in San Antonio, she told me that I am going to have to get used to getting on the highway to get from point A to point B. I have gotten somewhat used to that here, but I think there is some sort of spaghetti spiral or something that they call the highway connections down there. It makes me nervous.

Another great thing - no ice and hard winters. From what I understand, it does snow, but it is similar to snow in Alabama. I can handle that. I may actually leave the house in the winter, rather than bundling up for 5 months in front of the television. Now, things are a little overwhelming at this point. Mike has to be at school by August 18th - that gives us exactly a month to sell this condo and get moved down there. It's not going to happen. So, we are getting this place put on the market and looking for a place to rent. When I heard what the starting prices were to lease a house my jaw dropped. I don't know where we will end up, but let's all keep our fingers crossed that it is not in a trailer down by the river. (And on the wrong side of the tracks!)

So, that's our news. I am trying to take things one day at a time and as my mother in law suggested, "Drink a lot of coffee." I really am just so excited about this new chapter in our lives!! On a side note, just as we are moving to Dallas, I will be close to be becoming an aunt for the second time to my friend Ellen's baby, Kate! Something is in the water, but don't worry, I am not drinking it yet. Hope all is well with everyone!

Some News

First of all, I have to say CONGRATULATIONS to one of my best friends, Emily Miller and her husband, Ryan. They had their first child today, a sweet baby girl named Harper Elizabeth. I started crying when I actually heard the news. It is such an indescribable feeling - knowing someone from the time we were in middle school, through different boyfriends, marriage and then a baby! (Also, please keep in mind, I have 2 more BEST friends having babies in the next 5 months.) I have been trying to breach this subject with Mike, but I am not sure where we would put the baby or what we would feed it... I am just thrilled for the Miller family, and missing Birmingham more than ever. I was thinking about what a different dynamic I am experiencing up here in the mid-west. More because I don't have the friend base that I would have in Birmingham, but please let me tell you about my evening at work.

Let me preface this by the fact that it is 2:51 in the morning. Yes, Mike and I have become nocturnal.(It goes well with the new Twilight movie, doesn't it??) However, it does not help our social life. Anyway, I went to work this evening around 5, hoping that some people would want to get drunk on a Wednesday night. (Let's be honest, that's what it's all about isn't it??) So, I did ok with all the normal customers (aside from one jerk family who left me NO TIP.) But that is a story for another day. My boss is a great guy - he is probably in his 40s and hired me even when he heard that I was a horrible waitress. However, it seems to be more about personality, and dare I say it, looks, in this particular venue. Regardless, he usually comes in every night to make sure that things are going well, since it is his livelihood. It is interesting - you get to see him in his element. Host, friend, and sometimes, wasted. Well, this evening he had a friend in town and we were told that he would not be in until later because they were headed to the "East Side."

If you are going to the East side in St. Louis, you are trying to do one of two things. A) You want to get shot. B)You are headed to the strip clubs. So, we assumed that my boss and his friend were attempting the latter, and didn't see them until almost 10:30. I can't tell you what his friend would be like if he was sober, but he did not make a positive impression on me this evening. After ordering more alcohol - (which is fine - I don't judge) however, when it affects me, we start to have an issue. As this fine older gentleman asked me where all the hot girls went, and I replied, "They may still be on the East Side" he said, "Well, let's go!" I told him that I was good. His response: "I Bet you are." I'm pretty sure there is a sexual harassment claim there. After my sideways glance, he went on to slap my rear end. If you are the bosses friend, does that make it ok? My boss did make a valiant effort and say, "Hey, she's a married woman!" His response: "Well, so am I!" When I asked him where his ring might be, he got very quiet. And so, another night passes when I thank the Lord that I have this fabulous law degree that keeps me away from the creeps.

I came home to watch some DVR'd programs and tried out a new wine, called "Mad Housewife." If you are interested, it is actually pretty good. One of our friends gave us seven (7) bottles of wine for one of our showers (I know, she knows us too well) and this one was surprisingly very good! When Mike got home, I was not a mad housewife, I was dancing to "So You Think You Can Dance" and hoping that he was in the same mood. (He wasn't. And still isn't.) So, I will continue to entertain myself until my bedtime around 5:00 am. We desperately need a routine...

If you are bored and want a new song, try "Jar of Hearts" by Christina Perri. That is what I debuted this evening for Mike. (It was on So You Think You Can Dance.) He shut the door, but I think it is pretty great!! Hope all is well with everyone!!!

Also, if anyone knows how to upload pictures from Picassa to your computer to a blog, I would be most grateful. I really would love to share some pics with y'all!

Where I Have Been

Sorry I haven't written. I am digging myself out from underneath a pile of thank you notes, and when I get done writing those, I don't really feel like writing much else. The tricky thing about thank you notes is being able to truly express your thanks in different ways over and over again. I just hope that people don't compare notes!
We are back in St. Louis and back to reality. I still haven't changed my name...supposed to do that tomorrow. It is such an odd thing, changing your name. I really love both my middle and last name, but hopefully we can implement one of them into a baby name in the future :-)

So. We got married. Did I tell you our ceremony was supposed to start at 6 pm sharp? That is exactly when a huge thunderstorm hit. Talk about drama. Vases were flying off tables into cement walls. I was in a room with all windows and had to go hide somewhere else. Thank goodness 1) we had a tent and 2) I had 10 bridesmaids that all ran over to calm me down. One had her phone with her to show me that the storm was about to blow over. It actually did and the procession went on....until....I was supposed to walk down the aisle. Another thunderstorm came through! My dad and I waited while he showed me HIS blackberry assuring me that the storm would blow over. Thank goodness it did as well and the rest of the night went smoothly. The storm cooled down the weather so it was comfortable to dance outside and we had a blast!

The next morning our flight for Aruba left at 6:30 am. Yes, we were half asleep when the car came to pick us up, but we made it and had an awesome week. If you are looking for an incredible place to spend a vacation, I strongly suggest Aruba. We were able to lay out and hang by the ocean/pool, but there was also a mini night life and excursions during the day so we were never bored. I was so sad when we came back. I really wanted to accidentally miss the plane, but unfortunately we made it back.

EXCEPT. Michael and I almost spent then night in a customs cell in Aruba. What?! you may be asking. Well, here we go. Mike decided that it would be really cool to bring my father back some illegal Cuban cigars. He bought 2 from a street vendor and assured me it would not be a problem to SMUGGLE them back into the US. When I heard the word "smuggle," I am not going to lie. I got nervous. But of course, Mike assured me there would be no problems. So, as we are going through customs (and I am grumpy because we are leaving a beautiful island) we get pulled over for a "random" agricultural screening. The authority figure guy asked if we had any fruits, veggies, and point blank, cigars. Mike answered no to each of these questions. By this point, I have my arms crossed and am trying not to cry as I imagine us locked in a cell while we attempt to call home and explain this debacle. The customs man had us open all 6 pieces of luggage and he went through them very thoroughly. SURPRISE! He just happened to find 2 cigars not well hidden at all under some shorts.

The guy told us to wait there while he went to get the captain. Are you kidding me?? Now Mike was receiving non loving death glares from me while I paced back and forth. The Captain, came in and gave us a history lesson on the embargo on Cuban goods (not what we cared about) and then told Mike he could voluntarily give up the cigars with no consequence other than a signed form. (We are probably on the no fly list now.) The Captain proceeded to then tear up the cigars and the tins they were in in front of us. It was a lot of fun. People kept walking by thinking they needed to stop in that area. Nope, this is just for the criminals people, keep walking.

We finally left and Mike gave my dad the signed piece of paper for his souvenir. This better not be the beginning to the way our trips are going to go in the future! I will make the next post all pictures so you can get an idea of how much fun we had!

We're Married!!

I know it has been awhile since I wrote, but we literally got back from Aruba on Sunday. Since then, we were in Atlanta and Birmingham, celebrating just a little bit more with our families. When we got back to St. Louis last night, it was almost like the wedding had happened a year ago. Everyone tells you to cherish the day and remember as much as possible about every single minute because it will be such a blur. It was true - all I remember is how incredibly happy I was that the majority of people that we truly love were all together to celebrate this momentous occasion with us. I am actually exhausted and realize that I am going to have to do the wedding and the honeymoon in installments, but I wanted to leave you with this. Our videographer (Nick Weeks - he is awesome) showed this towards the end of the ceremony and I loved it. I am now Mrs. Jennifer Blackburn Cherbonneau - kinda weird, but so exciting!!!

www.snaplifestudios.com

(Right now we are the "featured clip" but you may have to search for us in the future.)