When One Door Closes ... Another One Opens...

As per usual, it's been "decades" since I've updated you on all of my crazy adventures - and there are many to be told! But I think the most exciting news is that I have a new man in my life. He's pretty wonderful I must admit... and as much as I'm trying not to get too excited about it - I must say - I have never met anyone who has met me on so many levels... intelligence, humor, accents, skill, agility ... and ... he treats me like a princess. :)

I must say - life is pretty perfect right now. I'm gonna "ride the wave" as long as I can... more soon and definitely more to come as things develop!

See you on the flip side!

One of the WORST dates ever

Once again, I've been drop-kicked back into the dating world. I'm not exactly happy to be here, but I figure if it's not meant to be, it's not meant to be - so I guess we'll see what fate has in store for me. Upon my arrival back into the dating world four and a half years later, I made it a point to BROADCAST that I was single to everyone and their brother. Thinking back - this may not have been the best approach. As with this comes many blind date offers. Take for example, one of the WORST blind dates I've ever had a few weeks ago. I should have known it was going to be bad as one of my friends - friends set it up. I'd only met her a few times but she figured she knew me well enough to "know my type" and "set me up." I always look at blind dates as the worst case scenario as how bad could it be? If it's that bad - I'll have a HILARIOUS story to tell. And with this one - that I did.

So to begin - his name was a combination of my 2 ex-boyfriends (first name - the same as my first ex; last name - the same as my most recent ex)... I should have seen the red flag there but no - I kept going. We emailed a bit back and forth and talked on the phone too. He seemed pretty normal. He told me he was an accountant, was 5'10", blue eyes and blonde hair. I figured it couldn't be too bad. Well - I was wrong. He ended up taking me to a local keno parlor FOR DINNER. Granted, this could have been fun and funny if we were going to play keno or something - but no - this was for dinner. The conversation was okay - but he had a twitch... so I couldn't really look at him. Not that a twitch is/was bad... it was just distracting. He was also nowhere NEAR 5'10". I think he was lucky to be 5'4" and that's stretching it. He also would burst out randomly into weird 70's songs in the middle of conversations. And I mean LOUDLY. It was so awkward. And embarrassing. He also had about 8 beers - I'm not joking. One after the other, after the other, after the other... I was scared to ride home with this dude. The bill came and I paid for my own dinner too. Good thing it wasn't expensive I guess! More and more went on but those are the "highlights". Needless to say I haven't gone on any more blind dates and I don't plan to for awhile. But like I said... worst case... a HILARIOUS story ensues!

Always a Bridesmaid... Not Yet a Bride...

So this past weekend I was in yet another wedding... this one was number SEVEN for me. Yes, number 7. Everyone I tell this stat to says "you're only 20 more away from the movie!" I always laugh and think - if they only knew that that movie is the STORY OF MY LIFE... I can only hope that one day I'll too find my prince charming and live happily ever after like the main character does.

But all jokes and movie references aside - call me crazy - but I actually LIKE being a bridesmaid. There is a certain power you hold when you wear a bridesmaid dress and everyone looks to you to either get the party started, solve any crisis that arises and look perfect and calm while doing it. I think too that my bridesmaid experiences are all a testament to the type of friend I am... caring, loyal, a good listener and ALWAYS there. Plus, who doesn't love to get their hair and makeup done and look great? Even if the dress is ugly? I'm not complaining...

When I'm not being a bridesmaid, I'm often asked to be the personal attendant. This is a job I am going to say no to in the future as the last time I was a personal attendant (I've been one 3 times), I was asked/forced to drive all over a city I wasn't familiar with running errands the day of the wedding and then drag a cooler full of beer for the wedding party about 8 blocks... in heels... Then at the reception - the mother of the bride asked me to "stand guard" at the gift table while the rest of the party went on. Halfway through the wedding guess who got to take ALL of the presents out to the car (while still in her heels)? Yes. Me. Again - no more personal attendant duties unless I get to just look pretty and party. I would rather be a reader in that case.

Everyone always asks if I've ever worn a bridesmaid dress a second time and the truth is yes - but just one... and it was for Halloween. I was a 40's girl and the dress just happened to look as if it was from the 40's era. Otherwise, they're all tucked away nicely dry-cleaned in the back of my closet. They'll most likely stay there and remind me of the memories of the great times and friendships I've had.

So here's looking towards number 8... I figure there are only about 4 more friends who would deem me "bridesmaid worthy" for their weddings so I'll have to wait and see. In the meantime, I'm hoping I'll "trip and fall in love" too so that I can have all (20) of my closest friends stand with me on my day too... and in a dress they'll happily never wear again.

From Crappiness to Creepy: Stories from the Bar Scene

So my newfound single freedom has forced me back into the bar scene. I swear I'm getting too old for this but thankfully there are some entertaining people that keep me at it. Besides, I'm not going to meet anyone - especially a husband - if I stay home every night am I?

So NYE 2009 ... I thought I would be miserable. How annoying ... I was single and all of my friends were hanging out with their boyfriends/fiances/husbands/families and I was all alone. Not to worry though - my sister and her husband rescued me and invited me to dinner and a couples party they were having. I didn't care - I refused to stay home.alone.on new years eve 2009.

So we partied at their house for awhile when we decided to get out and go to a bar (thank goodness - I needed some entertainment!) It was fun and pretty low key... around 1130 we meet these 2 guys. They're nice enough to talk to me and one of them whom my sister and I have nicknamed "Brett the Blowfish" because he was tall; yes... but a little on the puffy side. And I don't mean fat when I say puffy... I mean puffy. Red and puffy like a crab rangoon shell. I think he must have been drinking since noon that day or something.

So Brett the Blowfish and I continue talking and as the night progresses he asks if I want to hang out/post party at their house. I politely declined and said - you don't even remember my name I bet... why would I come over? I was right - he had no idea what my name was. And before that - the best part... he answered my other question (why would I come over/what would we do?) matter of factly and said...

"Well if you come over we will listen to 80's music and drink beer."

Wow... how romantic. Needless to say I did not go to after hours party at their house and hopefully I never run into "Brett the Blowfish" anytime again soon.

New Year. New Stories!

Oh my gosh friends! It has been WAY too long since I updated this and my do I have lots to share!

First off - I got a NEW JOB! And I love, love, love it. It was hard to leave the other one but in order to grow we must experience change. The new job was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that I could not pass up! I miss my other job and the people that work there. I also miss knowing a lot of the information and where the staples and the bathrooms are - but I'll get there with my new job eventually. I just know it!

Second of all - no more bootcamps but a new diet program entirely! It's through a hospital so it's pretty drastic (I eat meal replacements and fruit and veggies only) but it's given me drastic results! So far - 15 pounds in 7 weeks which is good for me when I couldnt barely lose 5 lbs in 6 months! I'll keep you updated.

Thirdly - I should start a new blog titled: "From Crappiness to Creepy: Stories from the Bar Scene." I am not joking you - I have met some of the most INTERESTING people over the last month and my, my the stories I have!

Okay. Happy New Year! Happy Blogging! Happy Everything!

A Solution

And just real quick - a quip and a suggestion. I've now switched to starbucks. I like their lattes better. But here is my problem with Starbucks. The line - no matter what time of morning I go - is always miles long! It's really frustrating. And you know why that line is so long? You pull up to order and the people in the window have a 5 minute conversation with you on how your day is going - how do I know how it's going? I just woke up and now I need some coffee so I can function at work. Don't talk to me. Then after you order they suggest about 5 other items on their menu that you could possibly buy to add to your coffee. So here's my suggestion. STOP TALKING. Take my order, my money, give me my coffee and let me start my day on time. Although it's a nice gesture - I think they could make their lines way shorter and increase their effectiveness and customer satisfaction.

An Update. Topic: My Life

I'd like to give a shout out to Amanda for reminding me I need to update this. My life has been crazy. Not a very good few weeks. Here's an update - bullet point style:

• Erik (my boyfriend) and I broke up. Over chinese food. My life is a Seinfeld episode. Need I say more other than I am very sad but I know that God will lead both of us to what is best? At least that is my hope. In the meantime, if you're looking for a girl to hang out with, go to dinner with, go a movie with, babysit your kids etc. I am now available.
• I'm STILL writing my thesis. Make that RE-writing my thesis. It's crap but my interviews are done so now I can really dig in. Nevermind the professor who told me I didn't have any writing skills (note the re-write part)
• I just work and sleep. But on Thursday's I'm taking a calligraphy class. If you need someone to address your wedding invites or christmas cards - I'm where it's at. I've got time and now - I have the skillz.

That's it for now. Although now that I am "single" again - maybe I'll have some enchanting love stories. Or horrible first date stories. Although I doubt it but you never know. This thing is titled from crappiness to happiness. I'm back into the crappiness hoping and praying that someday... I'll find happiness. :)

I am a freaking sitcom character

I've been thinking about this post and its glorious entrance into the web world for quite some time now... well... since yesterday morning when I RAN A MILE. Well, at least I think so. We had to run 2.3 miles and I ran most of it; and walked some of the rest. I was so proud of myself. To think - all I needed was a knee brace and an inhaler and I can do it! And I did it - but I felt like such a goon. I took the shortest route and at the end of the race I came running in with my hands up, my knee brace on - waving my inhaler - I had just gone from 28 years old to approximately 72... maybe my gramma reggie was with me in spirit because I feel like that's something she would have done. But in the end - I'm proud of myself... because I didn't give up, I didn't give excuses and I ran most of the way. I just wanted to share. Thanks for being proud of me too.

Now back to my thesis - and for those of you keeping count - I'm up to page 21 now... only 60 more or so to go! Rock.On.Oh.Yah.

And a Happy Day to You Too Mr.Coffee Man!

So every morning I treat myself to a nonfat latte at my all time favorite coffee place... . I also love it because they have a new person working the windows every day that I go... so my fear of them saying "oh lord - here comes that girl again with the bright lipstick, correct change and beat up car"... so anywho ... my story. Usually these people aren't that entertaining. Just your usual college kid up early trying to make a few bucks at the coffee shop. Well today - not only was I in for a surprise but a greeat source of entertainment!

There are 2 windows... you pay at one... pick up your coffee at the other. Oh and one other thing I must add as a prep to the story - you usually pay and then you drive to the next window and they shove your coffee at you and say - thanks have a great day! and you drive off... okay so back to my story.

The first window is the same as always. New person but nothing new. The second window. I'm waiting for my coffee for a few minutes and out of nowhere - a younger guy with brown hair and a beard opens the window, looks at me, gives me a giant smile, holds my coffee up to his side (like a vanna white pose) and says "Tall skinny latte no whip?" and then gives me this smirk. Then I say "yep! that's me!" (what? what an idiot I am - yep that's me? to coffee?) He gladly swoops the coffee at me and I'm off.

But anywho - this story was so much funnier in person. I wish you all could have been there. Um yah.

Knee Update

Great news - I've figured out that if I wear a knee brace, warm up 5 minutes on the treadmill before going to bootcamp (I now wake up at 4:50 a.m. everyday), take my painkiller and inhale the medicine from my inhaler - that I can run! I can jump! I can lunge! My knee is like new. Which is great... it's not like new just yet really; it's still sore; but at least now I can walk and keep on keepin' on. As a side note - how dumb is this - I've been working out and eating less but have managed to gain 4 lbs. What on earth?! My sister and I are going to do a detox thing. I'll let you know how it goes! :)

p.s. how lame is my life that all I have to report on is my weight gain, gimp knee and meds I'm taking. ... wow ...

In Need of a Motivation Sensation

So I have a new obsession - my thesis. Although it's not really an obsession; it's just more of a thing that I CAN'T GET OUT OF MY MIND. I think about it all day and night. At work. At home. At social functions. In fact, I'm sitting here right now admist books and articles and propsals and I can't do anything but... update my blog. :) I'm also babysitting and dead tired so that could also have something to do with it. But still. I can hardly wait until it's all over with and I'll have nothing to think about except what shall I have for dinner?

I've got 7 pages written so far though... it's a start - eh?

Bootcamp Back Again

Well, I went to bootcamp on Thursday when it started up again - although this time I'm doing it through a different company. It was great! Until my knee went out. Yes. We had to run 2 miles cold turkey (no warming up or anything) so my knee definitely did not like that. It was great... the rest of the day I couldnt walk and I was the second to last one to finish the jog. I went to the dr's to get it checked out and apparently I have tendinitis in my knee. I'm to get a knee brace, not run and take some anti-inflammatories. I'll let you know the status... I'm just bummed... i need to work out and run! I'll keep ya'llz posted.

Things are Looking Up!

What's up party people? Sorry for the lack of updates in oh - the last 2 months! The good news is - things are looking up and I always knew tomorrow would be brighter. Here's a rundown of an update:

- Erik and I are talking! Working on things and taking it day by day. Yay! Breaking up is still hard to do but things are nice when they actually do start to work out :)

- Only 4 months until I have to turn in my thesis. I haven't really started working on it - that'll be this weeks project I hope! I plan to turn into a hermit and finish it by Thanksgiving. Wish me luck!

- I havent worked out since Kelly's wedding (and have gained like 20 lbs - no joke!) so I start a new bootcamp next week. Ill try and keep you updated in between writing, working, traveling for work and workin' out

- I also moved into my rents house for a year. It's been an adjustment (answering to my dad about where I'm going, when I'll be home and why am I not working on fridays?) but they do have a nice pool and I'm hoping to save some money.

I think that's it for now. I really want to get back into writing so I hope that I will continue to write on here more and more regularly.

In the meantime, I'll try and think of some funny stories to post. Love you all!

Breaking Up Is Hard to Do...

(deep breath)... So Erik (my boyfriend and I) broke up and boy does it suck big time. Never in a million years would I thought I would ever have a break up in my life... I went through one and I thought that would do me in for good... but alas, here I am again - alone, single, solo - you know the drill. I also seem to have things happen to me at the worst time. Not only did we end up breaking it off on the night of my sisters wedding; but it was only 5 days before my birthday... so I'll start my 28th year of life just as I came into it - single. On the bright side of things - maybe now I'll have more exciting things to talk about and blog about. I'm sure I'll continue to meet my share of random guys and can add lines to one of my books titled "the worst pick-up lines ever" or maybe we'll get back together or maybe I'll meet mr. perfect - not just mr. right - I have pretty high standards ya know :) For now, I'm taking one day at a time, remembering that I'm number one; and trying to remember that it's no good to live life sobbing all day in bed. So here's to my 28th year - a one where I have no idea where it will take me - but whatever it does... it'll be a surprise.

Round 6 ~ Not Going So Well...

It's t minus 23 days until my sister's wedding and I'm in my 6th round of bootcamp. However, even though I'm in the 3rd week - I think I've only been able to go for 4 days. I had the flu, went to South Carolina for my cousin's wedding (which is an entirely different story I'll share), came back and it's been RAINING here for 5 days straight! I'm petrified of getting sick before the wedding so I don't go when it's raining. That and I had nachos and an ice cream cone for my meals today... this isn't looking so good... I better kick my rear in gear. Blah. I hope it doesnt rain tomorrow so I can workout! Blah. wow - this post went downhill fast

I think I've bruised my abs...

Well, not really - I mean, I don't even know if it's possible to bruise one's abs - just from doing sit ups... but I've done enough in the past 2 1/2 weeks that I think I may have internally bruised them. I'm in for the long haul this week and next - going to bootcamp every day and my abs - they are a feeling it. I can sit down now though - which to me is a major improvement. I'll keep you updated - until then, it just hurts to breathe!

Bootcamp ~ Round 5

After a week of illness, lots of eating out and only t minus 3 months to wedding wonderland (my cousins and my sisters - not mine), I began another round of bootcamp. Only this time - it's back outside. Remember I live in Nebraska - so this morning at 4:5o am it was SNOWING. And I couldn't find my hat. I was in for the long haul.

It actually wasn't too bad! This group has some older ladies in it (read, I won't be the last runner in the pack) so that made me feel better and I felt very much accomplished as this time I was able to run the usual 2 laps we begin with without passing out and without walking! I was also the 3rd from the front. Quite an improvement from the last camp in which I always came in last, had to walk most of the laps and thought I would faint just after warming up.

I also got some handy dandy new running shoes which make me feel like the wind (cue - she's like the wind song from dirty dancing). I thought they were hurting my back, but when I'm actually running in them - they're terrific. All I could think was the song by Paola Nutini "I've got my new shoes on, and everything is all right".

Alas - it was a good start to the bootcamp - hopefully I'll continue to improve, firm up and lose some weight while I'm at it too.

As always - I'll keep you posted.

Only To Me...

If there is anything my friends can count on from me - it's a damn good laugh. For instance - last night while having mexican food and margaritas - I happened to spill my purse under the table. Now it's not just any table - it's a small booth with the table nailed into the wall and there is not much room to move. You must also know that I am known for carrying some of the biggest purses possible (I have a lot of stuff okay?!) so not only did my purse spill all over the grungy floor of mexican restaurant - but it took all 4 of us to gather my things up and put them back in my giant bag. At least my friends were rolling around on the floor because it was so funny - and thanks to them for helping me pick up my stuff too. :)

Friends...

I just wanted to say how blessed I am to have so many caring, awesome, wonderful friends! Thank you to all of you for giving me advice, standing by my side, listening to me, cheering me on, laughing with me and sometimes at me and for being able to get together at a moment's notice! I love you all and am so excited to have you as a part of my life! THANK YOU!

I have found my match...

There are only a few "ah ha" moments that I have had in my life and the most recent ones involve my boyfriend Erik. This is why I know we're meant to be together - forever...



1. We had a serious discussion on how cool minivans are and how at some point in our lives, we will definitely own one - kids or not. They have tv's and swivel chairs in them now!



2. He sent a dozen roses to me at work on Valentine's Day - aka in my book as "Black Thursday" - he has renewed my love of Valentine's Day and has made me feel more loved than ever!



So this Bud's for you - awesome boyfriend Erik... this Bud's for you!