It's been a while

Well, I haven't posted anything for a while. A lot has happened, yet nothing has really happened. Everything is still the same. I'm still engaged, still working, still living my life. Shall I recap my past month?

We went to the Indy 500 Memorial Day weekend (first time for me), and had a ball! I've been to Key West for a week with Ryan for vacation, then we flew out to Pasadena, CA for an old friend of Ryan's wedding. We then spent the last week in St. Louis, MO for our national convention. Oh, and I lost my camera. :( I've been home for a total of three days in the past three weeks. It's been hectic, but fun. We are finally home for a bit and now my mother is coming for a visit.

As far as wedding planning goes...well, it isn't right now. I'm starting to get back in the swing of things. Our main goal is to nail down the place to have our wedding in the next couple weeks. That is a must.

So you see, a lot has happened but then not a lot. I'll put up some pictures when I get them.

Surprise of my life!!

I had to go out of town this past weekend for a conference. I left Saturday and returned on Monday. Ryan went home to Illinois for his nephew's birthday party, so he left early Friday morning. I went to the conference and hung out with friends and colleagues I haven't seen in a while (including my BFF Sara) and learned a few knew things along the way.

On my way home Monday, Ryan called and asked how much longer until I got home and I told him, about an hour and a half. He then told me to make sure I didn't eat because he was making dinner.
"Okay," I said. "Whatcha makin'?"
"It's a surprise." he said. So of course I immediately think he ordered a pizza. I figured we would eat on the couch while watching Family Guy or something. I get home about 8:00pm and drag my stuff inside the house from the garage. I open the door and step inside to see rose petals on the floor. At first I didn't know they were rose petals. I thought Rocky destroyed something that I was going to have to clean up. "Oh great." I thought. "What did he get into?" Then I really saw what they were.

"What is this?" I said aloud to no one in particular. I followed this trail of rose petals, ditching my stuff at the door, all the way to our dining room.

There was Ryan sitting at the table with candles, a vase of red roses, and dishes set out all ready to serve dinner.
"Oh my God!" I said, my jaw dropping. "Wow!!! What's the occasion?!"
"Because I wanted to make you a nice meal cuz I love you and you deserve it." Ryan replied standing up from the table.

Timeout.
I have to tell you about what exactly I looked like, at the time. My chin decided to explode a few days before (thank you very much Aunt Flow). I took out my contacts at some point on the road because my eyes were red and tired. So I had on my glasses that the dog decided to chew on about a year and a half ago. My hair was windblown and up in a messy ponytail, and I was wearing my work khaki pants, and Ball State Athletic Training polo. Hot, right?
Ryan was showered, wearing a nice casual shirt and nice khaki pants. He even was wearing cologne (I realized this later).
Time in.

"Wow!" I said again, sitting down at the other place setting, after I kissed him hello. "This looks amazing!"
You would think that at this moment I would start to put it together...well, obviously I'm stupid. I was oblivious. Ryan takes my bowl and gives me salad with homemade dressing, and then places a slice of Italian bread on a plate with pesto, red peppers, and olive oil. I'm still completely flabbergasted at everything, thinking, "This is so romantic."
After the salad, he took my plate and put on the main course: grilled chicken pesto fettuccine. It was really good. Now, an active observer would have realized that when he served himself he only put about a fist full of food on his plate and was barely eating.
At one point I shivered and realized that it was absolutely freezing in the house. "Is the air on?" I asked him. "Yeah, I was sweating like crazy while I was cooking." Ryan said. I asked him if we could turn it off and he looked at me with pathetic, pleading eyes "Can we keep it on a bit longer? I'm still sweating." Still, I didn't put it together.

I was about halfway done with my food but was starting to get full. I said this to him and he grabs my plate while I'm still holding my fork and takes it away. "Dessert time." he said.
"Okaaay." I said, putting my fork down.
Ryan walked back into the dining room carrying a plate and a small cake. I see the cake first and think, "Why did he get a cake?!"
"It's ice cream cake." he said, seeming to read my thoughts.
Oh! Ice cream! Okay! I start to get a bit excited. I love ice cream!
He put the cake down on my right and then put down a platter in front of me. I looked at the platter and it had chocolate syrup on it. I realized after a second that the syrup actually said something.
My hand flew up to my mouth and I stared at it and then exclaimed, "WHAT?!" By this time Ryan was standing to my left, so I looked from the plate to him, still with my hand over my mouth. "WHAT?!?" I exclaimed again.
Ryan then got down on one knee, pulled out a ring from his pocket and asked me, "Will you marry me?"
Me being the composed romantic, asked him, "Are you serious?!"
"I knew you were going to say that." he said and gave me a frustrated look.
"Oh my God!" I said looking at the ring and then at him. "Yes." I said and laughed. I held out my hand and Ryan put the ring on me.

I sat there for about half an hour trying to get a grasp on what just happened. "Now you know why I couldn't eat and was sweating so much!" Ryan said. He had gone with his sister and brother-in-law to a jeweler in his hometown and picked it out that previous Friday. He said he had been feeling like he was going to throw up for three days because he was so nervous.
The ring is exactly what I would have chosen. It is a white gold band with a circle cut diamond in a solitaire setting. I love it.
He proposed exactly how I wanted him to, with just me and him and in such a romantic setting. I'm surprised I didn't cry but I think I was too shocked to even think about crying. I couldn't have wanted anything more...except maybe to not look like total crap during it. But...that is my karma I guess. Makes for a better story, right?

Sign of the apocalypse?

I'm sitting here at work...you know...working, and I have our t.v. on because it is eerily quiet around here these days. The Today Show is on and I'm not really paying any attention to it. I just like the noise.

I'm feeling pretty productive when all of the sudden I hear: "Step by step...ooooo baby....really want you in my woooorrrrrlllld." My head snaps up and I whirl around in my chair to face the t.v. because my 4th grade brain cells start screaming at me that, "Hey! You know that song...by heart."

My mouth drops open and I stare in horror at five grown men that I haven't even thought of since I was 9. New Kids on the Block are doing a reunion tour or something. Shouldn't they be called New 30 to 40 Year Old Men on the Block?

The end is nigh.

Happy Birthday!!!

Happy Birthday to "Nephew Turo!!!!!"

I can't believe you are 7 years old today! I hope it was a great one! Keep your eyes peeled for you gift. Love you!

Jedi

The other morning, I rolled out of bed and started trudging around the bedroom, rubbing the sleep out of my eyes and trying to figure out whether to a) shower first, or b) eat first. Now, I have to tell you that Ryan and I are complete opposites in the morning. Once his eyes open, he is all smiles and energy. I, on the other hand, need about 10 minutes wake up and decide if I am happy to be awake or not.
This morning, Ryan was egging me on about something and I was getting frustrated because I decided to be easily frustrated this particular morning. For some reason he was talking about his very famous Jedi powers. And I guess I was saying something kind of snide in that regard while I walked by the bed and wouldn't you know it, I banged the crap out of my knee. I hit that sweet spot on your patella that makes your eyes water, suck your breath in through your teeth, and renders you handicapped for about 2 minutes.
"You see." Ryan said. "I made you do that."

So proud, Yoda would be. :)

Why do I always look the worst?

Here are some photos after the mini marathon Saturday. No comments on how grotesque I look...believe me, I realize.

Me, Shawn, Lainie, and Michelle

Me and Michelle

Me and Shawn

Ryan, Rocky, and me

FINISHED!

Well, I did it! I ran the mini marathon this past Saturday. It went pretty well overall. I finished it in 2 hours and 19 minutes. Last year I finished in 2 hours and 14 minutes...oh well. Maybe next time (if there is a next time) I will try to beat my best time. This year I ran it with a friend of mine named Michelle. She and I normally run about the same pace. Since it was her first time to run it, we implemented a strategy that my dad told me to use last year: "Kiddo, we were built for distance, not speed. Start out slow and just go slower as you go. It's worked for me for years!" Thanks Dad. So, that's what we decided to do. However it always ends up that we start out slow and speed up as we go. Same difference really.

I was nervous this time around. So much so that I pretty much made myself sick that morning. Let's just say I was in the bathroom for a while before we left. So whatever I ate that morning before the run, didn't stay in me long...it came out in one form or another. So, I had a sense of impending doom before the race. We got to the race at 6:45am and Ryan looked at me and said, "Don't be a hero. I know you don't feel great, so don't hurt yourself." He's always the voice of reason. "Don't worry. If I don't feel good, I'll stop and catch a ride on the injury bus." I told him.

Ryan and Rocky came with us and cheered everyone on from the sidelines. So, Michelle, Shawn, Lainie, and myself all piled into our starting corral with the other 32,000 participants (just like cattle) and waited to go. We stood there for a bit and then I looked at Shawn and asked the perverbial question: "What are we doing this for again?"
Shawn gave the perverbial answer: "How the hell should I know?"
Excellent.

The gun went off (supposedly, but I didn't hear it from my spot 1/2 a mile back), and everyone started to go. It took us 15 minutes to cross the start line and then it is an endless game of bob-and-weave. Here are the rules:

1. Don't run into someone else's line if you can help it. You don't want to trip up yourself or anyone else.
2. Give a wide berth around people that are slower and infront of you.
3. Say "excuse me" when you are passing by someone so they know you are there, and "thank you" after you have passed them.
4. If you are going to stop and walk, make sure no one is close behind you that is running so you won't have a colision.

I don't think many people knew the rules. I have never had to dodge so many freakin' people in my life! They were cutting right in front of me and one guy actually stepped on my foot, that is how much he cut me off! But, that's what you get when you run with that many people.

The first 4 miles were good. Michelle and I talked and laughed and I tried to show her that this could be a lot of fun. We were enjoying it! The half-way point is on the Indianapolis 500 Speedway. This race track is 2.5 miles long and at a slant for the most part. There's no shade and everyone crams themselves onto the flattest part of the track. Needless to say, it's a lot of fun...nope. Once we entered the track, Michelle and I look up at a video screen and the first woman just crossed the finish line after 1 hour and 1o minutes. I looked at Michelle and said, "That does a lot for my ego. How 'bout you?"

Around mile 8 on the track, Michelle says, "Oh crap. I think I'm hitting the wall." In other words, she was almost done with her energy and it was feeling like she was about to literally slam into a wall. "No! You're doing great! Just keep going and you'll hit your second wind!" She kept going and made it all the way through. About mile 10.5, I felt I was starting to hit my wall. "Crap. Here I go." I said. But Michelle cheered me through.

We finished and both smiled all the way to get our tacky medals! Ryan saw us running down the last mile and cheered for us. When we met up with him later, he said, "Were you feeling okay? Last year you seemed in better spirits when I saw you at the same spot." I told him I was okay but trying to focus on finishing cuz I had nothing left.

We ate our complementary fruit, BBQ potato chips, and two bottles of water then headed for home. I got home, showered and immediately went to sleep for about 3.5 hours. It was awesome. I remembered why I am glad I did it, but I'm so freakin' glad it's done. Thanks to everyone who checked on me that day! Michelle took pictures afterwards so I will put them up when I get them.

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