>Waaayyyy back when I first started blogging, I wrote a post about our married life, 36 days in. While reading, I thought it would be fun to do that again. I see that not much has changed, but here is a run down:
At 36 days, we had not yet had our first big fight (and I mean EVER...we are that good). Now I can say we have had at least 3 big fights that had me in tears and him in a fit of anger to end...well, how most fights end. ;)
We have had some great family get togethers: Thanksgiving when his dad proposed to his girlfriend, Christmas with my fam in Denver, New Years week for his bro's wedding (which meant I got the best SIL EVER!!), Lent (I gave up alcohol and B enjoyed more since I was DDing....), Easter with B's mom in her house before she moved, Mother's Day in Denver and up here. Lovely. I love our families and I love how close we all are.
We took our official honeymoon last month and can't believe it has already been a month. We did not fight or argue while there and traveling by plane for the first time together was wonderful.
Household stuff...
I still do about 2 loads of laundry a week. If I stay on top of it, then that is all I really need to do and starting tomorrow, we will no longer need to share one!! Also, B still has no part in this chore as he "hates it with a dying passion". Okay then, let's let the man live!
The TV is rarely an issue. I will watch important games with him (go Nuggets!) and jump around on the Internet and maybe watch some tv online, but regardless, we are together doing whatever. Don't tell him, but B enjoys watching Gilmore Girls with me. I even get to hear a laugh from him every once in awhile.
Chores in general are always up and down. Sometimes he is way on top of things and sometimes he's not and that is when I get frustrated and we have fights. He just hates doing anything like that, but loves to mow the lawn. Great, except what am I going to do now that we won't have a lawn to mow??
Our schedules are much more alike now. There might only be one or two days a week where we won't see much of each other during the day but it works out. We need alone time sometimes. I just can't wait to have natural light to read by!
The dogs make us most happy and taking them to the park or the pond make us laugh more than we do alone. They are our best friends and we love them so much. Tulo has totally turned into a mama's boy and I think B thinks that is really "cute". Tulo grew up with B so I was not around constantly until he was one. I think the fact that we live in a very dog-friendly town helps.
That is about it! We agree to disagree and try to work things out in the moment so that we can enjoy the rest of our day peacefully. Since I have been having some issues with my anxiety lately, B has been so sweet and loving. I love him more every day and thank God that he is mine.
Friday, May 29, 2009
>Moving Prep
>WOW!! We are FINALLY Moving!! I can't believe that tonight will be our last night in this hole-in-the-ground!! Most everything is packed. I just finished packing all bathroom items and deep cleaning it. So gross! I am a clean freak when it comes to the bathroom but have been pretty lazy about it this month because of the move. The kitchen is about half way done. I packed a bunch of that stuff a few weeks ago that I knew we would not need until after the move and have found that I am a) out of newspaper and b) out of boxes. So I will be keeping my eye out for this stuff at the store for free, of course!
My brother took our entertainment center yesterday and most everything in the common areas is ready to go. The only area pretty much untouched? Our bedroom. Figures. We use it so much I was worried to pack anything we might need so I have left it until the last minute. When I get home from work I hope to pack most of that stuff later tonight.
That news you have been waiting for?? Well...you're going to have to keep waiting!! Sorry, I know that is cruel but really, it will be worth it when it's time...
Have a great weekend. It is possible that it might be a week before I will post again as our internet will not be hooked up until Thursday. Until then, enjoy the start of summer! It has been just beautiful here!!
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
>Such A Blessing...
>All of your encouraging words are bringing me to tears! I know this is blog land, but I truly feel close to several of you and only hope we can meet someday.
Today has been great! I am going to finish as much packing as possible, run a few errands, make some important moving-related calls, and then spend the evening with a dear friend who is celebrating her birthday AND moving away. :( I love this girl. She is one of the strongest, Jesus-loving women I know. I will miss our evenings out and cooking dinner together.
Also, I am hoping to have good news for you all soon. ;)
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
>Anxious Anxiety
>I have been so anxious the last two weeks I can't even think straight, I feel lazy at times, get bursts of energy at times, and then, as I saw this weekend, succumb to this unhealthy thinking and become sick. Not because of the anxiety, but because in all those anxious thoughts, I forgot to sanitize my hands regularly, stop touching my eyes, nose, mouth, and face and wa-la: I get a 24 hour pukey bug.
My anxiety got sick. Is that even possible? This month has been BEYOND insane. In the nine and a half months that B and I have been married, we have not had a busier, more stressful and exciting month. A quick recap:
1) We came back from Cabo on May 4th. I was loopy from dehydration and traveling for a few days, but was able to do all the laundry and unpacking within a few days of our return.
2) B made his first two appointments with Aflac prospects and we should be seeing something lovely and green from that soon.
3) We finalized our move out date for May 30th--that means only three more nights in this place! AMEN!
4) There are always money issues, but we knew this month would be super tight and with lots of prayer and keeping a tight grip on our wallets we were/are able to be getting by just fine.
5) We had the garage sale this past weekend AND I was sick, but the few days before hand I had to gather and organize all of the things we knew we wanted to sell and pack up.
6) We had a nice dinner with my parents last night as we watched the Nuggets destroy the Lakers. That was aweee-summm!
7) I made my first international student placement on Friday and that was a huge blessing!
See...I told you. My poor stomach is a wreck. While the anxiety is mostly out of excitement, there are the stressors or preparation and general things that are just wearing me down. I hope and pray that after this move, things will settle down and the sunlight we will be enjoying will perk me up.
Sunday, May 24, 2009
>so sorry
>'This sucks.
Twitter was not really my thing. My poor phone was freaking out with all the updates I had sent to it (so I eliminated some of those) and still just did not find much interest in it. I do think it is funny to hear Spenser Pratt say "Praise Jesus!" I hope he is being genuine. My husband will not get it, which kinda sucks and NONE of my real life friends had it either. I loved seeing all your updates, but for me in general ( and especially after the misunderstanding on Friday) I just don't feel that I should have Twitter. There are so many instances that could come up that could be questionable or something of the like. I just don't and CAN'T handle the stress of it. I hope you can be understanding of that.
____
This weekend:
Friday night we got into Denver late. We only got a few hours of sleep as we had to get up early for the garage sale. However, I woke up at 4am puking my brains out. And it did not stop until sometime late yesterday. I hope it was just a 24 hour bug as today I have not gotten sick, but I have had waves of nausea come and go depending on what I eat. I have been very picky as to what I have been eating as nothing has really sounded very good to me at all. Friday night at work I was not feeling well and the drive down was very uncomfortable so I could tell something was wrong.
I tried to hang out at the garage sale but I had to leave I was so sick. I don't even know how I let B talk me into going over there. He was also feeling terrible, however he did not actually get sick. It was not until that evening that I started to feel a little better and all day today I have felt just off.
It sucks. But we did manage to make over 100 dolllars in the sale and that was great.
I am going to bed. Exausted and still not feeling so hot. Have a great day off tomorrow, for most of you, I hope.
Twitter was not really my thing. My poor phone was freaking out with all the updates I had sent to it (so I eliminated some of those) and still just did not find much interest in it. I do think it is funny to hear Spenser Pratt say "Praise Jesus!" I hope he is being genuine. My husband will not get it, which kinda sucks and NONE of my real life friends had it either. I loved seeing all your updates, but for me in general ( and especially after the misunderstanding on Friday) I just don't feel that I should have Twitter. There are so many instances that could come up that could be questionable or something of the like. I just don't and CAN'T handle the stress of it. I hope you can be understanding of that.
____
This weekend:
Friday night we got into Denver late. We only got a few hours of sleep as we had to get up early for the garage sale. However, I woke up at 4am puking my brains out. And it did not stop until sometime late yesterday. I hope it was just a 24 hour bug as today I have not gotten sick, but I have had waves of nausea come and go depending on what I eat. I have been very picky as to what I have been eating as nothing has really sounded very good to me at all. Friday night at work I was not feeling well and the drive down was very uncomfortable so I could tell something was wrong.
I tried to hang out at the garage sale but I had to leave I was so sick. I don't even know how I let B talk me into going over there. He was also feeling terrible, however he did not actually get sick. It was not until that evening that I started to feel a little better and all day today I have felt just off.
It sucks. But we did manage to make over 100 dolllars in the sale and that was great.
I am going to bed. Exausted and still not feeling so hot. Have a great day off tomorrow, for most of you, I hope.
Friday, May 22, 2009
>Blog world, Meet Real world
>I love having my blog, but I quickly and carelessly forgot that blog world and the real world meet up sometimes. This is great. I want everyone to enjoy my blog, no matter who is reading. However, I misspoke on my last post, which is why I took it down. I am grateful for the awards that those of you have given me and you deserve praise and thanks (thank you!). One of the "Awe-summ" things I wrote about was something about my job. I DO NOT and HAVE NOT received a promotion. This was simply wishful thinking on my part. I would love to do more in my job, when the time is right. I definitely do not want to be in the spot that I am now for forever. I love change. I love growing. I love challenges. I love my job. I am grateful to even have a job and I thank my Lord everyday for that blessing. Whatever happens, happens. For now, I am only wishing to ditch the uniform and walk around a little more. However, if that happens, I will not be talking about it here. My work life and personal life need to remain separate and I lost sight of that in maintaining this blog. I love the prayers and support all of you give me and if I need a little lift, you'll know. It is so easy to share so much here, but there are boundaries I set for myself that I have learned I was being a bit too relaxed about.
We can all dream. I will just be keeping some of those dreams closer to my heart. Thank you for understanding. Now, I ask you, reader friends, what do you keep private? How do you set boundaries? Do you have boundaries? Any juicy stories? It is always nice to know that I am not alone.
Have a great Memorial Day weekend! We are hoping to make some money at a garage sale before we move and also hoping that the rain does not come while we are running the sale. Take Care!!
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
>Nothing Much
>Who watches gossip girl?? I am still waiting for megavideo so finish loading so I can watch the last five minutes. Honestly, so glad there is not a major cliffhanger. Too many of my shows this season have ended that way and my poor anxious brain just can't handle anymore of it.
I have the next two days off of work and I intend to pack like a mo-fo. Seriously. I am going to pack every box I have left in the house and then go find more at the grocery store. We have a WEEK and A HALF left!! OMG!!!
Lil woman, your precious hat will be in the mail either today or tomorrow to the addy you sent me. I don't want to pack it and forget because that would make me a a)bad blogger and b)bad giveaway host. We don't want that now do we?
It is SUMMER here!! Up to 90 today, clear with a breeze=perfection! Yes, a little hot for just hanging out outside, but I will shave my legs and wear some cute new shorts only Cabo and hubs have seen.
And that is all for now...
Monday, May 18, 2009
>Shameless
>This is so NOT my shameless attempt to get all of you to FOLLOW me on Twitter.
This is NOT a formal "Not Me! Monday", although I wish it was but I am too tired and lazy this morning to make it a real one.
I did NOT spend an hour last night finding all my favorite celebrities on Twitter, which is definitely NOT what is contributing to said laziness.
I did NOT start a tift with B last night about the dishes and trash, only to go and do it myself this morning.
+++
Okay so for real here. I went to the memorial service for Lisa on Saturday. It was a beautiful service, laughing and crying from seeing old pictures and family members speak. I saw people that I had not seen since high school. The whole day was very nostalgic.
I went into work early on Saturday after the service and had a great meeting with my boss. She has something very awesome in the works for me and when I know more, you will know more. Lets just say it will include a raise, no longer wearing a uniform, and a lot more fun! I can't wait!!
Sunday I worked. I took the dogs over to this new pond down the street from where we live (for now) and they had a great time! They swam and played. It was a beautiful day! Then we headed over to my parents house for the Survivor finale and I am Oh SOOOOO happy that JT won!
Sunday, May 17, 2009
>To Tweet, that is the decision!
>Are you excited? I am! I will be getting a twitter account sometime in the next day or so, but you have to promise to follow me there because this will be so pointless if I am just going to talk to myself. I already do that.
"Today I ironed and did three loads of laundry! So glad that is over with!"
"B just flug poo on a school!! OMG!"
"I so did not think I was supposed to work today! What is wrong with my brain?!"
"We just watched Taken and it was siii-iiick!!"
See what I mean? I could go on for hours...and I know you are just dyyiinnng to know what I am doing. So...please? I will set it up tonight (I HOPE!). Have a great Sunday!
P.S. Who else is excited to see who wins Survivor tonight??!!
"Today I ironed and did three loads of laundry! So glad that is over with!"
"B just flug poo on a school!! OMG!"
"I so did not think I was supposed to work today! What is wrong with my brain?!"
"We just watched Taken and it was siii-iiick!!"
See what I mean? I could go on for hours...and I know you are just dyyiinnng to know what I am doing. So...please? I will set it up tonight (I HOPE!). Have a great Sunday!
P.S. Who else is excited to see who wins Survivor tonight??!!
Saturday, May 16, 2009
Crazy Week!
WOW! This week went by so fast. I can't believe it has already been 2 weeks since we left Cabo.
This week at work was crazy for me. My GM was fired on Monday, on the spot, without any warning. This, of course, was a major blow to all the residents and employees. She was a great GM and will be deeply missed. However, I hope and pray that the change that is coming will be exactly what we need. We are a new building with lots of flaws to work on and hopefully this will be the thing that needed to happen.
In other news, we received our beautiful wedding album. It is our wedding gift from my parents and we could not be happier! It is just beautiful and all the pictures and the layouts turned out perfect! We hope to be able to show this to as many of you as we can in the near future.
Brendan's job is going great! He was able to set a few appointments this week with some businesses in town, which will hopefully take on Aflac and make us some money!!
We are moving in T-2 weeks! We can't wait to get our heads out of the ground and into the sunshine and I know our dogs feel the same way. I have started to pack and will be having a garage sale next weekend with Patty to get rid of some things before we move. The sad part about all this is that the house is a disaster right now. I have not picked up a vacuum since before we left for Cabo and I don't intend to until we move. What is the point? I will pack and clean as I go along and that should help the entire process once it comes to the big day.
Today, we attended a memorial service for a family friend of mine from church. Lisa was the mother of three step children and two boys of her own when she left this earth the day before Mother's Day, succuming to Leukemia. The service was beautiful and I was able to see some people that I had not seen since high school.
Also, I had a meeting with my manager today, as she had asked me to meet with her a few days ago so that she could "run some ideas past me". I was so excited and could not wait to hear what she had to say. When we met, she started out by asking me what my goal(s) is here at the retirement community. I told her that I have always wanted to be involved with the activities department, as I have loved seeing the things that they do for our residents and would also love that kind of interaction with the residents. She said, "That is awesome and sounds like we are on the same wave length here." She then went on to tell me that I have been doing a great job at the desk and that she never has to worry when I am here. That was such a nice compliment, I almost cried! Then she told me that there might be some changes coming soon to the activities department and wanted my go-ahead for her to discuss some ideas she has with those folks. Those ideas being, me joining the team! This is not final, nor is it guarenteed. But it is great to know she sees potential in me and wants to help me nurture my accets and creativity. More to come on this later...and soon, I hope!
That is all for now! I hope everyone is having a great weekend!
Love,
Sarah and Brendan
This week at work was crazy for me. My GM was fired on Monday, on the spot, without any warning. This, of course, was a major blow to all the residents and employees. She was a great GM and will be deeply missed. However, I hope and pray that the change that is coming will be exactly what we need. We are a new building with lots of flaws to work on and hopefully this will be the thing that needed to happen.
In other news, we received our beautiful wedding album. It is our wedding gift from my parents and we could not be happier! It is just beautiful and all the pictures and the layouts turned out perfect! We hope to be able to show this to as many of you as we can in the near future.
Brendan's job is going great! He was able to set a few appointments this week with some businesses in town, which will hopefully take on Aflac and make us some money!!
We are moving in T-2 weeks! We can't wait to get our heads out of the ground and into the sunshine and I know our dogs feel the same way. I have started to pack and will be having a garage sale next weekend with Patty to get rid of some things before we move. The sad part about all this is that the house is a disaster right now. I have not picked up a vacuum since before we left for Cabo and I don't intend to until we move. What is the point? I will pack and clean as I go along and that should help the entire process once it comes to the big day.
Today, we attended a memorial service for a family friend of mine from church. Lisa was the mother of three step children and two boys of her own when she left this earth the day before Mother's Day, succuming to Leukemia. The service was beautiful and I was able to see some people that I had not seen since high school.
Also, I had a meeting with my manager today, as she had asked me to meet with her a few days ago so that she could "run some ideas past me". I was so excited and could not wait to hear what she had to say. When we met, she started out by asking me what my goal(s) is here at the retirement community. I told her that I have always wanted to be involved with the activities department, as I have loved seeing the things that they do for our residents and would also love that kind of interaction with the residents. She said, "That is awesome and sounds like we are on the same wave length here." She then went on to tell me that I have been doing a great job at the desk and that she never has to worry when I am here. That was such a nice compliment, I almost cried! Then she told me that there might be some changes coming soon to the activities department and wanted my go-ahead for her to discuss some ideas she has with those folks. Those ideas being, me joining the team! This is not final, nor is it guarenteed. But it is great to know she sees potential in me and wants to help me nurture my accets and creativity. More to come on this later...and soon, I hope!
That is all for now! I hope everyone is having a great weekend!
Love,
Sarah and Brendan
Friday, May 15, 2009
Thursday, May 14, 2009
>Should I, or Shouldn't I?
>It has been great without Facebook. I don't miss it one bit. I do miss networking with friends, but that is what a phone is for. Anyway, I have been trying to decide if I should get Twitter, or not. So I need you to tell me everything: the good, the bad, the great, the annoying. Anything that you like or dislike about Twitter and why I should or should not get it. I am not going to post a poll, as I do want a more detailed answer, rather than a simple yes or no. So help a sister out! Thanks ladies!
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
>The One Where B Flings Poo
>I wish I was joking.
Nearly every evening, B and I take our dogs over to a school with a huge, fenced field to let them run and play. Tulo is a greyhound, yes, but Butte can keep up with him pretty darn well. It is so fun to watch and the weather had been "so choice", as Ferris would have said. It was beautiful!
We were getting ready to leave. The dogs were tired and we wanted to get to the drive in before our movie started. As we headed back, Tulo started to do that awkward crouch he does when it's time for number two. He is our only fur-baby that does this anywhere other than his own yard. Butte is very particular about this. Anyway, Tulo did his business and B picked it up with a bag we had on hand.
He ties it off.
Goes in for a swing.
And tosses the bag.
In the past, I have asked B not to do this. It is just plane disgusting to see poo fly and splat. But for some reason, he finds great entertainment in doing this.
Last night, though, there is a slight hole in the bag and as B tosses it (like one of those fox tails you play 500 with) the poo flies....out...of...the...bag. The bag is still in B's hands! And we watch, as time slows down, the poo sails a good 20 feet high and over 60 feet away from us.
We are in a fit of laughter, as we cannot believe what just happened. I just thanked my lucky stars that a) no one saw us, b) I was not under the sailing poo, and b) that neither of the dogs where under the poo.
We continued to laugh as we rounded up the dogs and headed back to the car. The poo sailed so far, that it was not until we reached the blacktop that we started to see remnants of Tulo. It was so nasty! We started to look for the big blob that we could see when the poo was flung and as we approached the school building, we could not see it. But B noticed all this poo splattered at the base of the building wall. I looked up and just one foot from the roof was the big blob, plastered to non other than an elementary school building.
We seriously, could not stop laughing. It was the craziest thing we had ever seen happen and we booked it out of there to the drive in.
I think we will stay away from the school for awhile. And no, B is not a gorilla. He just likes throwing poo!
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Monday, May 11, 2009
>We Have a Winner...
>Okay, so my first ever giveaway is closed and we have a winner!
This lovely lady is such a sweet heart. I love her blog and most of all, her Hot Topic Tuesdays! Know who I'm talking about here??
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...
...drumroll please...
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...LIL WOMAN!!!
She is going to be the proud owner of the playboy bunny hat and, Lil Woman, I sure hope we can get a pic of BOTH of us sporting this sexy hat TOGETHER sometime.
Congrats!!
This lovely lady is such a sweet heart. I love her blog and most of all, her Hot Topic Tuesdays! Know who I'm talking about here??
...
...
...
...
...
...drumroll please...
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...LIL WOMAN!!!
She is going to be the proud owner of the playboy bunny hat and, Lil Woman, I sure hope we can get a pic of BOTH of us sporting this sexy hat TOGETHER sometime.
Congrats!!
>Not Me! Monday, and Other News as of Late
> 
1. In no way, shape or form have I (we) been allowing the dogs to come into bed with us. The puppy dog faces they make when the rest their heads on the edge of the bed does not make us weak in the knees, nor does it make us give into this very bad habit. Not. One. Bit.
2. I am so not letting the house turn to crap as we are down to three weeks before our big move. The dishes are not sitting around, food pasted to the insides, and beer bottles layered here and there.
3. It did not take us all week to finally take our trash out this morning, only because Tulo pooped three times in the house without telling us he needed to go out.
4. I am sure that I did not spend 10 hours this week trying to catch up on all the shows I missed, not only last week, but this past week as well. I did not camp out in bed (not with the dogs!), watching one or two shows at a time while eating in said bed. Nope, Not Me!
5. I do not have just one box packed for moving and that one box is so not our garage sale box. I do not have empty boxes laying against the walls in hopes to being filled soon and I have not thought about filling said boxes numerous times and then decided I didn't have to do it now. Nope, Not Me!
6. I did NOT have a dream about posting this post on my charming kids and then not being able to because there were too many and mr. linky did not like me. Haha, no way.
7. I did not tell our family about how badly b sleep walks over mother's day lunch and they did not laugh out loud, even after b asked me to keep that on the DL. Not Me!
8. I am so not kicking myself in the ass for allowing myself to say such a thing in front of family regarding something that is sensitive to my dear husband. I would never let myself stoop that low to the point of pure and utter dismay in myself that I am secretly making it up to him in ways he is a) enjoying and b)has no idea it is due to this slip us (he was not present). Please God! Not me, again!
______
This weeks edition. I don't know about you guys, but I am so glad NMM is back! I missed it while MakMuffin was sick and in the hospital. And the best part? I was so happy to see that he went home while B and I were in Cabo! PTL!!
HUGE PRAYER REQUEST: Prayer is such a powerful thing that I am amazed by each and every day. Like Stellan's Name Gallery?? That thing is incredible, showing how many people all over the world are praying for that little guy. INCREDIBLE!!
A little background: My very first boyfriend and kiss EVER was with this guy named Devin. We were 15 when we first met and I knew him from our church youth group. We started off just as friends and I quickly got to know his family, as they were all very active in our church. I learned early on that his mother had died when he was 10 from ovarian cancer. His dad had since remarried a woman that Devin and his brother really were not fond of at all. But I liked her. Her name was Lisa and, while the boys talked poorly behind her back, she was always kind and loving toward them and their friends (including me). A weird twist to this story is that Lisa is my uncle's cousin and so when we started to become friends, we learned all about this and it just blew our minds how small this world can be sometimes.
Saturday, May 9th, Lisa died from leukemia. She died the day before Mother's Day. I had no idea that she was even sick, as Devin and I have lost touch since high school. I was floored and can't stop thinking about it. My family told me yesterday and I am shocked.
This is one of those times were I am seriously looking God in the eye saying, "Really? Two wives with cancer that die? That you take from this great man with two great sons? Really???"
I don't get it. I know being with God is the best place to be and she is no longer in pain and hurting. But it's like getting struck by lightening twice-in the same spot! I love my Savior and know that there is a reason for everything. I am just so sad for Devin's dad, and them as well, but his dad lost two wives to cancer in 10 years time. Oh. My....you get it.
So please, say some prayers for this family.
Friday, May 8, 2009
Thankful
It has been almost five days since we came home from Cabo. I can't believe how fast time is flying by! It was two weeks ago that we were counting down the hours to when we would step on the plane to head to Mexico. Our jobs were stressing us out, preparing to move was/is stressing us out, and general whims found their way into the mix at some point. We could not wait to leave the country and go on our first plane ride together and touch foreign soil together. Today, a coworker commented and said that I seem so much happier since our vacation. It truly did change my mood. I know that both Brendan and I are happier and more relaxed since taking our vacation.
We could not have done this vacation without a very important person. Plan as we might, we would not have stayed in one of the most beautiful and centrally-located hotels in Cabo. This wonderful, gracious, generous, loving person is Ruthie, Jerry's fiance. She has been apart of our family now for almost two years. Together with Jerry, she offered us the opportunity to stay at a resort in Cabo that she has a time share with as part of our wedding gift. We were speechless the day that they told us and could not wait to start planning.
This was nearly a year ago and she had not even known us for a year yet. Her heart is so big and full of love! For us to have been able to stay at the resort that we did, we would not have made it there on our own for a VERY long time.
Brendan and I are so grateful to have such loving and caring parents, in all forms. We could not have asked for anyone better and feel as though we hardly deserved to spend 8 whole days laying on the beach all by ourselves. I know this is just a dream for most and we do not take that for granted.
Thank you, Ruthie, from the bottom of our hearts. Our week in Cabo was incredible and we could not have had a vacation like that without your generous heart. It is a gift that we will treasure for the rest of our lives. We love you deeply and hope to see you and Jerry soon!
Love,
Sarah and Brendan
We could not have done this vacation without a very important person. Plan as we might, we would not have stayed in one of the most beautiful and centrally-located hotels in Cabo. This wonderful, gracious, generous, loving person is Ruthie, Jerry's fiance. She has been apart of our family now for almost two years. Together with Jerry, she offered us the opportunity to stay at a resort in Cabo that she has a time share with as part of our wedding gift. We were speechless the day that they told us and could not wait to start planning.
This was nearly a year ago and she had not even known us for a year yet. Her heart is so big and full of love! For us to have been able to stay at the resort that we did, we would not have made it there on our own for a VERY long time.
Brendan and I are so grateful to have such loving and caring parents, in all forms. We could not have asked for anyone better and feel as though we hardly deserved to spend 8 whole days laying on the beach all by ourselves. I know this is just a dream for most and we do not take that for granted.
Thank you, Ruthie, from the bottom of our hearts. Our week in Cabo was incredible and we could not have had a vacation like that without your generous heart. It is a gift that we will treasure for the rest of our lives. We love you deeply and hope to see you and Jerry soon!
Love,
Sarah and Brendan
>Landlord from Hell
>We have the worst landlord. I would not wish her on my worst enemy. Can you beat that? This is no competition, but I want to hear your best stories about how terrible your current or past landlords are/were.
B and I are great tenants, and I am not saying that just to get an ego high. We rarely complain, if there is an issue, we report it right away and do not badger her if she is not here right away, we pay our rent on time, and we have properly submitted our notice to vacate the property this month.
She and her husband are unbelievable. We reported a faulty light switch back in September and when another one went out in our bedroom in January, neither were fixed until Easter Day. And then they had the nerve to tell us we never reported the first switch not working, while completely disregarding the fact that it took them almost four months to fix the one in our room!! WFT?! In January, I also reported that a burner on our stove does not work and the handle in our shower is broken, neither of which have been fixed. The burner is not a big deal, just an inconvenience. The shower handle, however, is a risk. It's metal and has sharp edges, which I have explained to the landlord, and I am just glad I have not hurt myself yet.
Wanna know the kicker?? We live in the basement of a single family home. There is a great lady that lives upstairs that B and I are very fond of and think of as a surrigant mother at times. Our heat is shared, mail is shared, laundry is shared, and all little (or big...) sounds, bumps, bangs, that either us or the animals make, is shared. Yes, we have our own kitchen which is nice. The kicker: the house is not zoned for multiple tenants (as in a duplex) and in our state, that is wayyyy past illegal. All we need to do is call the post office and let them know what is going on here and they will call the city and all other necessary people to make sure that our landlords are fined heavily for trying to pull off this skeem. Obviously, it has worked, which is one of the many reasons we are leaving. And no, we are not going to call the city to let them know. We already know that the city is on their asses about the place. Everything is falling apart and now they are running around trying to bring certain things we have told them about over the last year that needed to be repaired or replaced up to code so that the city won't take the house from them. It is so effing crazy!! We can't wait to get out of there!!
Oh, but wait, it gets better. Back in April, the day before they came to fix the light switches, we gave them notice that we would be moving out on May 16th. This was verbal notice and I followed up our conversation with written notice. This gave them 35 days of verbal notice and 30 days of written notice of our departure. These people are now saying that would be in violation of our lease (we are no longer on our lease, it's a veral month to month...) and that we would need to pay for all of May, unless they rent the place when we move out. This, in turn, has not only just pissed the hell out of us, but also caused us to move our move out date to the end of May, so as to not cause any legal issues or to lose money. I hate that she wins. I hate it! She is a liar and a slumlord. GRRR!!!
K, now your turn.
Thursday, May 7, 2009
>Lets Try This Again..
>It has been a few weeks since I posted my giveaway and I know I said I was going to close it on the 6th, but I just want to remind those of you that may have missed out to go ahead and leave a comment if you want a shot at this cute hat! You can leave the comment here or on the post, either works. I will officially close the giveaway on Sunday, May 10th (Mother's Day!). Thanks and good luck!!
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Honeymoon Bliss
We woke up early, less than six hours after we had laid down to sleep, and quickly got ready to leave. It was not until we let our dogs out that we noticed four wet inches of snow stuck to the ground and it was still coming down. I checked our flight reservations and everything was on time so we dashed out the door.
Snow did not slow us down, but Monday morning rush hour slowed our pace. Checking in was easy and quick. Short lines and happy people moved us to our gate without a hitch. I called my dad, as I knew he was flying back to Denver that morning to fill him in on the weather and say "goodbye" one last time.
We boarded on time and our plane left the ground not a minute late. We left 32 degrees and snow and landed less than three hours later in Los Cabos to humid 90 degree heat. It was beautiful!
Customs in Cabo was slow. Everyone wore blue masks over their faces to protect them from the foreigners. We left the US days after the Swine Flu was taking over every media outlet. Fear was not apart of our vocabulary as we touched the dry desert land that Americans were openly cursing back home.
Our bus ride to our resort was long, due to the multiple stops along the way. We checked into our hotel situated right on the beach, a quick walk from the marina, a thirty minute kayak ride to the arch, and eight seconds from the water. Beautiful does not even begin to describe how incredible this place was and happy does not even come close to how we felt. Therefore, speechless is what we were as we stepped into our room: dark blue doors, colorful bedding, baby blue trimmings, a round glass table and a quaint kitchenette to cook at. The view from our fourth floor bungalow took our breath away.
We were starving, as breakfast was the last thing we had eaten almost nine hours ago, and made our way to Cilantro's, one of two hotel restaurants that overlooks the water. Margaritas and chicken quesadillas eased our hunger pains. There were several hours of sun left, so we changed into our beachwear and spent the rest of the day's rays on the beach.
Each day after our first, we ate breakfast, lathered up, gathered several bottles of water, granola bars, our books, music, and some cash. Most days we were out to the beach or the pool early enough to get a great spot.
A few highlights:
On Tuesday we went grocery shopping at a store similar to Sam's Club. We budgeted $100 for the week and came in at $96. We bought two bottles of tequila for $6 each and got a sack of six avocados for $2!! I wish my two favorite things were that cheap in the US!!
Wednesday, we played poker with some folks by the pool for free drinks. I beat out B, the poker shark, and ended up heads up with the lady next to me. Blindes were so high I had to go all in at the end with a terrible hand and was swept out.
Thursday, we rented a sea kayak and some snorkel gear. We took the kayak over to the arch and Lover's Beach. On our way over, we came upon a sea lion who was playing with a fish, throwing the limp meal into the air and chasing it back into the water. It was the most surreal moment we had all week and by far, our favorite. Once the sea lion disappeared, we continued to kayak over to the arch. The water was a lot rougher, as it kissed the Pacific Ocean. A group of sea lions barked at us as we approached the beautiful arch. The beach was not as "loving" as one would suspect, but very special nonetheless. It was a walk way from the Sea of Cortez to the Pacific Ocean and we were able to enjoy the much bigger, much stronger crashing waves that B had enjoyed a few days prior. (no one is allowed to get in the ocean as the rip current is too strong. B was pulled out by none other than Jesus. I only wish I was kidding...)
Friday was another beach day that ended with both of us acquiring painful jellyfish stings. These jellies are little, but pack a powerful punch and we both steered clear of the water for the next day (and paid closer attention to the flags that were posted, warning of the jellies' presence).
Saturday and Sunday were days that just got us that much closer to the end of our trip. I packed on Sunday night and we enjoyed another great meal at our hotel.
Customs coming back to the states was not as bad as we were anticipating, as the Swine Flu hype had doubled in the week that we had been gone. We had our body temps taken and filled out a form stating we were healthy. The flight was bumpy and stressful, unlike the flight to Cabo. We were very ready to be home. Patty picked us up and took us out to dinner.
This vacation was our best so far. It was our honeymoon and while it was nearly nine months after our wedding day, we would not have wanted it any other way, despite the flu scare.
Today, I unpacked, did laundry, picked up the house, and am getting ready to go to a midweek wedding.
You can find our pictures here:
www.photobucket.com/mcfadden
Snow did not slow us down, but Monday morning rush hour slowed our pace. Checking in was easy and quick. Short lines and happy people moved us to our gate without a hitch. I called my dad, as I knew he was flying back to Denver that morning to fill him in on the weather and say "goodbye" one last time.
We boarded on time and our plane left the ground not a minute late. We left 32 degrees and snow and landed less than three hours later in Los Cabos to humid 90 degree heat. It was beautiful!
Customs in Cabo was slow. Everyone wore blue masks over their faces to protect them from the foreigners. We left the US days after the Swine Flu was taking over every media outlet. Fear was not apart of our vocabulary as we touched the dry desert land that Americans were openly cursing back home.
Our bus ride to our resort was long, due to the multiple stops along the way. We checked into our hotel situated right on the beach, a quick walk from the marina, a thirty minute kayak ride to the arch, and eight seconds from the water. Beautiful does not even begin to describe how incredible this place was and happy does not even come close to how we felt. Therefore, speechless is what we were as we stepped into our room: dark blue doors, colorful bedding, baby blue trimmings, a round glass table and a quaint kitchenette to cook at. The view from our fourth floor bungalow took our breath away.
We were starving, as breakfast was the last thing we had eaten almost nine hours ago, and made our way to Cilantro's, one of two hotel restaurants that overlooks the water. Margaritas and chicken quesadillas eased our hunger pains. There were several hours of sun left, so we changed into our beachwear and spent the rest of the day's rays on the beach.
Each day after our first, we ate breakfast, lathered up, gathered several bottles of water, granola bars, our books, music, and some cash. Most days we were out to the beach or the pool early enough to get a great spot.
A few highlights:
On Tuesday we went grocery shopping at a store similar to Sam's Club. We budgeted $100 for the week and came in at $96. We bought two bottles of tequila for $6 each and got a sack of six avocados for $2!! I wish my two favorite things were that cheap in the US!!
Wednesday, we played poker with some folks by the pool for free drinks. I beat out B, the poker shark, and ended up heads up with the lady next to me. Blindes were so high I had to go all in at the end with a terrible hand and was swept out.
Thursday, we rented a sea kayak and some snorkel gear. We took the kayak over to the arch and Lover's Beach. On our way over, we came upon a sea lion who was playing with a fish, throwing the limp meal into the air and chasing it back into the water. It was the most surreal moment we had all week and by far, our favorite. Once the sea lion disappeared, we continued to kayak over to the arch. The water was a lot rougher, as it kissed the Pacific Ocean. A group of sea lions barked at us as we approached the beautiful arch. The beach was not as "loving" as one would suspect, but very special nonetheless. It was a walk way from the Sea of Cortez to the Pacific Ocean and we were able to enjoy the much bigger, much stronger crashing waves that B had enjoyed a few days prior. (no one is allowed to get in the ocean as the rip current is too strong. B was pulled out by none other than Jesus. I only wish I was kidding...)
Friday was another beach day that ended with both of us acquiring painful jellyfish stings. These jellies are little, but pack a powerful punch and we both steered clear of the water for the next day (and paid closer attention to the flags that were posted, warning of the jellies' presence).
Saturday and Sunday were days that just got us that much closer to the end of our trip. I packed on Sunday night and we enjoyed another great meal at our hotel.
Customs coming back to the states was not as bad as we were anticipating, as the Swine Flu hype had doubled in the week that we had been gone. We had our body temps taken and filled out a form stating we were healthy. The flight was bumpy and stressful, unlike the flight to Cabo. We were very ready to be home. Patty picked us up and took us out to dinner.
This vacation was our best so far. It was our honeymoon and while it was nearly nine months after our wedding day, we would not have wanted it any other way, despite the flu scare.
Today, I unpacked, did laundry, picked up the house, and am getting ready to go to a midweek wedding.
You can find our pictures here:
www.photobucket.com/mcfadden
>Honeymoon Bliss
>We woke up early, less than six hours after we had laid down to sleep, and quickly got ready to leave. It was not until we let our dogs out that we noticed four wet inches of snow stuck to the ground and it was still coming down. I checked our flight reservations and everything was on time so we dashed out the door.
Snow did not slow us down, but Monday morning rush hour slowed our pace. Checking in was easy and quick. Short lines and happy people moved us to our gate without a hitch. I called my dad, as I knew he was flying back to Denver that morning to fill him in on the weather and say "goodbye" one last time.
We boarded on time and our plane left the ground not a minute late. We left 32 degrees and snow and landed less than three hours later in Los Cabos to humid 90 degree heat. It was beautiful!
Customs in Cabo was slow. Everyone wore blue masks over their faces to protect them from the foreigners. We left the US days after the Swine Flu was taking over every media outlet. Fear was not apart of our vocabulary as we touched the dry desert land that Americans were openly cursing back home.
Our bus ride to our resort was long, due to the multiple stops along the way. We checked into our hotel situated right on the beach, a quick walk from the marina, a thirty minute kayak ride to the arch, and eight seconds from the water. Beautiful does not even begin to describe how incredible this place was and happy does not even come close to how we felt. Therefore, speechless is what we were as we stepped into our room: dark blue doors, colorful bedding, baby blue trimmings, a round glass table and a quaint kitchenette to cook at. The view from our fourth floor bungalow took our breath away.
We were starving, as breakfast was the last thing we had eaten almost nine hours ago, and made our way to Cilantro's, one of two hotel restaurants that overlooks the water. Margaritas and chicken quesadillas eased our hunger pains. There were several hours of sun left, so we changed into our beachwear and spent the rest of the day's rays on the beach.
Each day after our first, we ate breakfast, lathered up, gathered several bottles of water, granola bars, our books, music, and some cash. Most days we were out to the beach or the pool early enough to get a great spot.
A few highlights:
On Tuesday we went grocery shopping at a store similar to Sam's Club. We budgeted $100 for the week and came in at $96. We bought two bottles of tequila for $6 each and got a sack of six avocados for $2!! I wish my two favorite things were that cheap in the US!!
Wednesday, we played poker with some folks by the pool for free drinks. I beat out B, the poker shark, and ended up heads up with the lady next to me. Blindes were so high I had to go all in at the end with a terrible hand and was swept out.
Thursday, we rented a sea kayak and some snorkel gear. We took the kayak over to the arch and Lover's Beach. On our way over, we came upon a sea lion who was playing with a fish, throwing the limp meal into the air and chasing it back into the water. It was the most surreal moment we had all week and by far, our favorite. Once the sea lion disappeared, we continued to kayak over to the arch. The water was a lot rougher, as it kissed the Pacific Ocean. A group of sea lions barked at us as we approached the beautiful arch. The beach was not as "loving" as one would suspect, but very special nonetheless. It was a walk way from the Sea of Cortez to the Pacific Ocean and we were able to enjoy the much bigger, much stronger crashing waves that B had enjoyed a few days prior. (no one is allowed to get in the ocean as the rip current is too strong. B was pulled out by none other than Jesus. I only wish I was kidding...)
Friday was another beach day that ended with both of us acquiring painful jellyfish stings. These jellies are little, but pack a powerful punch and we both steered clear of the water for the next day (and paid closer attention to the flags that were posted, warning of the jellies' presence).
Saturday and Sunday were days that just got us that much closer to the end of our trip. I packed on Sunday night and we enjoyed another great meal at our hotel.
Customs coming back to the states was not as bad as we were anticipating, as the Swine Flu hype had doubled in the week that we had been gone. We had our body temps taken and filled out a form stating we were healthy. The flight was bumpy and stressful, unlike the flight to Cabo. We were very ready to be home. Patty picked us up and took us out to dinner.
This vacation was our best so far. It was our honeymoon and while it was nearly nine months after our wedding day, we would not have wanted it any other way, despite the flu scare.
Today, I unpacked, did laundry, picked up the house, and am getting ready to go to a midweek wedding.
Happy Hump Day!
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
>Swine Flu Didn't Keep Us Home
>
the pacific ocean from the sunset resort (not ours)
the arch is in between the small rock in the middle and the rock to the right of that one.
our last night out. looking good!
the beautiful sunset!
on the beach
b's jellyfish sting. the photo does not show how red and inflamed it actually was.
a view from our room of the pool and beach.
the *amazing* cheesecake we had one evening for dessert.
our footprints, side by side.
b enjoying his first dip into the pacific ocean.
my look for 7 days.
paradise!
b enjoyed a total of 3 cubans while in mexico. i tried it as well--not for me.
(full update coming soon!)
Monday, May 4, 2009
>I'm Back!!!
>WOW!! What an incredible vacation!! You will have to wait another day or two for me to get pics and an update up of our week. Here is a super quick recap of things to look forward to in more detail. I hope you are all having a great week and I will be catching up on all your posts as fast as I can! I missed this little world and all your little on-goings.
Trip recap:
1. I HATE papaya. Eew.
2. I forgot two very important things: a razor (hello sexy legs!) and my sunglasses. oops
3. We were both stung by jellyfish on Friday within minutes (seconds, really) of each other.
4. Happy hour is the best time of day! (3-4pm)
5. I don't burn. Having Cherokee in my blood is quite the blessing. Poor B, Irish boy, burned like eggs on cement.
6. Not a fan of snorkeling.
7. LOVE ocean kayaking.
8. Mexican food in Mexico really is the best.
9. AF arrived on day uno and was outa town by day cuatro. gracias!
10. 8 days is a reaaaaalllllyyyyyy long time to be away from home. Really, I would have been great with 5, but that is not to say I didn't enjoy every day. It was wonderful.
More to come manana! (funny how quickly the 5 years of spanish i took kicked back into gear).
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