364 Days

I realize the cooler thing would have been to write this post yesterday and have it named "365 Days" but I was too busy spending each hour yesterday thinking about where I would be in exactly one year. Yesterday marked the one year mark for Robbie's and my wedding so as I told him, "Happy -1 Year Anniversary!"

I would look at the clock yesterday and think about how at 1 pm I will be getting into my dress, at 3 pm I will be walking down the aisle, at 4 pm Robbie will no longer be a single man, at 6:30 pm we will be greeting our guests, and at 10 pm I will be "backing that ass up" on the dance floor . . . it will be magical.

In order to not go crazy for the next year, I have placed a brief hiatus on wedding planning and will pick back up again in January. I feel that we have done the most important things -- ceremony will be at the Duke Chapel (confirmed), reception at the Washington Duke (confirmed), rehearsal dinner at the Angus Barn (confirmed), really good photographer (confirmed -- Kristin Byrum photography), officiant of my choice (confirmed), wedding party notified, and budget is set (hopefully confirmed). I think I can sit back now and enjoy the next few months through Fall and the Holiday season and get excited for a 2010 of wedding planning.

Robbie and I are both very blessed with our family and friends and each day I realize more and more how lucky we are to have each other. I've been listening to that Michael Buble song "Everything" and it is true that in these crazy times, it's rare to find someone with which you can share everything. I am looking forward to the next forever with RLS3, but also am grateful for each day we have together now while still cherishing the journey that led us to where we are in our relationship today.

I've Been Neglectful

Gosh, September 20th?! That's the date of my last blog entry?! This is getting embarrassing. I sincerely apologize for neglect -- please do not report me to the Department of Social Services for Blog Writers.

It's Friday night and I'm sitting out on our balcony watching the sun set over W.T. Harris Boulevard (believe me, it's even more romantic than it sounds) and thinking about how Friday nights have changed for me since entering the "real world." In high school I would be going strong -- entering my twelfth hour of pure energy which started at 7:45 am when school started and was followed by hanging out at Bojangle's or Bowman's for after school socializing then dinner at Osaka, Dairy Center, or Dos Amigos for pre-football game fuel-ups with the next step being to head over to Gurley Stadium to see some Red Devil Football. And then there would be three hours of cheering on Big Red inevitably followed by three more hours of after dark debauchery around a bonfire or in the basement at someone's house. *sigh*, memories . . .

Then, in college, Friday night became just another night to go out. On average, I had no classes on Friday so I was probably just now showering so I could look presentable at the very fine institutions of Shooters or the nearest Flip Cup table. I would be at either one long enough before heading back to the dorm and hanging out with my dearest friends until the wee hours of the morning.

Now, my 9 to 5 job and busy evenings have led me to cherish Friday evenings -- and by cherish I mean see the other side of my eyelids by 10:30 pm. It's amazing how routine can drain you and make you worn out on the very first night you have off for a few days. These past few weeks have been particularly excruciating with a lot of important work activities like grant writing and Board meetings followed by equally as important evening activities like hair appointments and Junior League meetings. Seriously though, even Newt-the-cat is beginning to feel neglected due to my absence from the apartment for hours on end (I know this because as I am typing he is giving my ankles love bites).

Even with all of this added responsibility, one good thing about being a grown up is that at least now I appreciate, more and more, sitting down on a balcony and watching the sunset -- even if it is over the local Applebee's while the waft of cigarette smoke curls around me from our neighbor below. It's still good to be home.