It’s Day Two of my vacation in Ohio. Things have been alright so far. The plane we took to Detroit and then drove a Mazda 6 all the way into Ohio (like a two hour drive). Not bad. On the trip, we stopped in Monroe, MI to get some food and ended up stopping at a country restaurant franchise called Country Barrel. They had a really neat gift shop and the food way delicious (also, REALLY sour lemonade). But after that, it was on the road again. Oh, they had these really awesome fountains there too.
Since we got into Ohio pretty late, we decided to almost immediately crash, although I really couldn’t sleep. Waking up this morning was also awful because I had some allergies. We’re still not sure to what, but I’m thinking it might be the sheets on this bed (my face and throat were swollen). Hopefully it doesn’t happen tomorrow, because there’s a big family reunion and I’d rather not be all puffy for that experience.
Today was really nice though. My family went out in the morning and grocery shopped and drove around town while I slept ‘til one. I got up after my uncle had come over and we chatted for a couple hours. My family (Mom, Dad, Grandma, uncle, and brother) had burgers for lunch and then we went to church at five. The ceremony was lovely. (This is really the only part I’m glad my fiancé didn’t go to-he would have hated it). At six, my other uncle and his wife came over, bringing with them my only cousins that are younger than me. We all hung around and watched TV before we had dinner. After that we had cookies and played Uno.
I could hear my mom joking about something dealing with my wedding plans (she was in the other room with her siblings) but I couldn’t tell what it was. I really hope she won’t do it tomorrow. Tomorrow is our big family gathering. Six of my seven aunts/uncles will be there and many of their children. It has been a couple years since we’ve been out here, so it’ll be really nice to catch up with them.
However, I am sad that I have to be out here alone. I miss my fiancé terribly and wish he could have afforded to come out and be with me for this trip. He was generously offered a spot. Tomorrow is our anniversary as well. It marks the magical day after graduation when he invited me to a LAN party and I cuddled/flirted with him. Our relationship quickly blossomed from that point.
I miss you terribly, dear. I hope your weekend goes wonderfully.
’Cattle crosses down the road,
People honk their horns and stare.
Their gentle walk and quiet pace,
Will lead them there’
May 28, 2012 (Morning of)
Yesterday was pretty great until it was over. It was also my first anniversary with my fiancé. It’s too bad we couldn’t be together for it.
In the morning, we had my younger cousins over for lunch along with their parents and my other uncle. It was really nice. From there, we travelled to my aunt’s house were their daughter (and her two kids) were. I had a lot of fun playing with the kids and taking TONS of pictures of them. I even got to hold the newlyweds’ (well, like two years ago) baby. She was fussy. Honestly, being around all that screaming is really intimidating, but I know I do want kids. I just wish that he was here so I could have seen how he reacted to all of it. Plus, I think my family really would have liked him. The bonfire was great and I look some really awesome fire pictures. AND SMORES (YUMMY!)
Today is Memorial Day, so that you, Veterans. Even though I’ve never been fully supportive of war or this country, I’m glad that you’re pursuing what you think is right and I respect you for that. You’ve been through a lot. I honor you.
We’re going to my grandfather’s grave today. I miss him a lot, even though I never really got to know him before he had Alzheimer’s. I wonder how my grandmother manages to stay so reserved at times like this. It’s weird to think that I don’t have any grandfather’s anymore. I guess being married will change that.
We’re going out to lunch today (Mexican food) and going bowling with another one of my aunts, her daughter, her daughter’s boyfriend, and my younger cousins (and their parents). This will be the last day my younger cousins are in town. They’ve really shot up since I saw them two years ago. It’s crazy.
Ta-ta for now.
Afternoon: It’s five o’clock now and we’re home for the night. Today was full of surprises.
We started the day by going to the Memorial Day services, which were lovely. We sat in the grass and listened to a couple speeches about service and how much veterans mean to our country. The phrase “ultimate sacrifice” was tossed around a lot. They had a choir come sing (which was awful) and two people re-read famous speeches. I can’t believe that was the best they got. I was literally falling asleep listening to the most tragically uninspiring re-read of the Gettysburg Address. It was home and then to Mexican food after that. My dad and I got our orders mixed up, but cheese enchiladas were DELICIOUS. I never realized how good their food was. After some GPS issues and going to mapquest, we went bowling. We had so much fun. I won the first and second games playing against my cousins. I found out that my dad is an incredible bowler. First game he bowled a 170 with a turkey. That’s crazy! He never even mentioned that he played. During the second game I was kind of running around dealing with the Jukebox (which took my money and never played my songs), so I would run up, bowl, and then run back to talk to the manager. By the time I realized it, I had bowled something really amazing. Two strikes, 5-3, a turkey, 5-2, strike, 7-, and a spare followed by six. I got a 172 and it’s the best I’ve ever bowled.
Note: Be more distracted.
Today was the last day I got to see my younger cousins, so it was a sad goodbye at the bowling alley. We had a lot of fun though. Can’t believe that next time I see them I’ll be married!
I miss him terribly though. I keep picturing what it would be like if he were here. Who he would talk to, who he would bro-fist, who he’d crack jokes with. I wonder how well he’ll get along with everyone. I guess next year we’ll just have to find out.
I need to get our engagement photos taken and hang out with my bridesmaids.
P.S. Buy a planner.
Ta-ta, Time for Skyrim!
May 29, 2012
Today was pretty laidback. I go up pretty early and took a shower. I mention this only to say that the water here is really soft. It must have a lesser mineral content or something, because the water is SUPER smooth.
I did some yard work with my mom and grandma, we laid mulch down in the garden and spread it around the plants. Sounds simple enough, but carrying those fifteen pound bags and then standing in the sun made it very tough work.
From there, we mainly relaxed until my family decided to go see a movie. Since I wanted to go see Dark Shadows a comedy about a vampire starring Johnny Depp, and my brother and dad wanted to go see Battleship, a movie starring Rihanna that would have been exactly like Transformers all over again, we decided to see neither and go see The Avengers again. Seriously, that movie is AWESOME. I’ve seen it three times already in theatres and it’s not getting any worse. I love the character development, the actors, Tom Hiddleson’s smile (mmmm). The only thing I dislike is freakin’ Scarlet Johansson and her retarded role. She was seriously only there to look good and her character had the most cliché background story (Russian spy). But other than that, the movie is great.
Toodles.
May 30, 2012
I liked today, but it’s still very sad for me to be out here. I miss my fiancé dearly and wish he could be here to share these moments with me. I can only hope he’d enjoy them as much as I would. My family can tell I miss him too.
I went to the zoo today with my aunt and uncle (and, of course, my family). We had a lot of fun, I think. We began in the artic area, and looked and seals and polar bears. The seals were pretty active, but all the polar burrs did was sleep. They were adorable though. From there, we wandered into the Safari area, and enjoyed listening to some Disney music as we looked into their version of an African savannah. They had zebras, giraffes, ostriches, and other creatures on display while songs from Tarzan, Pocahontas, and Snow White played in the background. After that, we crossed into the main part of the zoo and saw some bald eagles. Then, we went in the aviary and they had TONS of birds. So many of them were really beautiful. Some had really odd calls
We got food after we saw some cheetahs and then we went to the aquarium. From there, we saw the elephants (and a new baby elephant), the hippos, rhinos, and muskrats. And then we saw a sloth-burr and 4 tigers-an adult male, an adult female, and two adorable eight-month-old cubs (a boy and a girl). At birth, the babies were only 2/3 pounds and now they weigh almost a hundred. But they were SOOOOOOOOO cute.
After that, we went back to their place to have bratwurst and sauerkraut. They just got rooster (for the chickens) and him and his “girl” wandered the yard and he cock-a-doodle-doed a lot. After that, we played a game of Botchy Ball, but with improvised rules.
Here’s the simple version:
Goal: Throw your teams’ ball as close to the white ball as possible.
1. You pick sides and arrange players (four players-each player gets two balls in either color, red or black; six players-each player gets one ball of their teams’ color and the last ball goes to the person who threw their original ball the closest; eight players-each player gets one ball in their teams’ color)
2. One person throws the white ball any distance away from themselves.
3. That person then stands on that same spot and throws their teams’ first ball (red/black) at the white ball. 4. Each player (from step 3) must alternate teams to throw their balls and must throw from the spot the original white ball was thrown
5. Whichever team has the closest color ball to the white ball (after all balls have been thrown) wins at least a single point.
6. If the team who has the closer ball has more than one ball closer to the white one before the alternate team has a ball (ex. Two reds are closer to the white ball before the next black), then said winning team collects the amount of point equal to the amount of balls in the range before the opposing teams’ ball(s).
7. Games play to ten.
8. After the first round, a player from the winning round tosses the white ball.
But yeah, Botchy Ball=super fun
-reapply for my job
-buy a planner and start scheduling wedding meetings (venues, caterers, florists, bakers, etc.)
-work out!
-pack for going over to my fiancés’
-sand, stain, fix, and clean my new desk
-clean the house
-get in contact with my tattoo artists
-start my D&D campaign
SO MUCH STUFF
Time for sleep. Nighty night!
May 31, 2012
Today is the last day of my birth month (how sad!). We went to the Erie Canal Park (from Ohio, not New York) today and it was pretty neat. I went on a boat.
I have been missing home a lot. When we went to the general store (along the tour), I bought my fiancé a gift and also got another shot glass for my collection. I really hope he likes his gift. Oh, I also got some soap that smells like sunshine (it really does!). Here are the ingredients: “Saponified Olive, Castor and Coconut Oils, Beeswax, May Chang, Sweet Orange & Lemon Essential Oils, Red Clay”. I’ll try it out tomorrow and find out how amazing it is. The general store had all these lovely tea-light candles and they’re making me realize how much I still need to do for the wedding. And it is a lot! More than just deciding all the stuff we want to have, we have to buy it and arrange it.
So many things!
Tonight we’re going over to my eldest aunt’s place and hanging out and having dinner. We’ll see how that goes.
Today: July 5, 2012/(Morning of July 6, 2012)
Let me get you caught up internet.
I got my tattoo.
I still have no job, but I apply to a new place every day and have been in for multiple interviews (Getting better at the process).
My desk is finish except it needs a new screw for the hinge to the top cabinet.
but the biggest news is... I HAVE A CAT! His name is Atlas and he's a Russian Blue. The reason why this news is so exciting is because he's MINE (and my fiancé's). My parent's aren't contributing. Atlas had his first set of shots today and we think his birthday is sometime around the thirteenth of March. He lives at my fiancé's apartment. He is freaking adorable~!
Also, my fiancé and I had our engagement photos taken. Here's one of my favorites:
I'm taking his sister swimming tomorrow before physical therapy. Goodnight!
