- Posted from my iPhone
Saturday, June 19, 2010
California, Here We Come!
Brian and I are currently sitting in the airport, waiting to board our plane to the West Coast! This is my first ever trip to the other side of the U.S., and I can't wait to stick my toes in the Pacific Ocean for the first time. We have lots of exciting things planned for these next two weeks, and I'm so stoked today is finally here! I had high aspirations of scheduling some posts to keep my blog busy while I was gone, but time just got away from me. I didn't even finish packing until literally a couple minutes before we left for our hotel by the airport last night. So, sadly, things will be pretty quiet around here unless I get some free time to update on our adventures (but knowing my thrill-seeking boyfriend, I'm not sure how much of that free time there will be). I will definitely be back in July with lots of pictures and stories from our trip! Until then! :)
- Posted from my iPhone
- Posted from my iPhone
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Flag Day at Fort McHenry (kind of!)
Monday was Flag Day, so we embarked to downtown Baltimore to go to Fort McHenry! Celebrating Flag Day there is a tradition in Brian's family...they have gone every year for about 17 years! This is the first time that Brian has been home in a while to enjoy it, and we were excited to spend some time with his family.
I'm not sure if the story of Fort McHenry is only familiar to me because of my MD public school education, so for all of you non-Marylanders, here is a quick explanation. During the War of 1812, the British navy tried to infiltrate Baltimore's Inner Harbor, and it was from Fort McHenry that Americans successfully defended against the attack. During the battle, Francis Scott Key was inspired to write "The Star Spangled Banner" when he saw the American flag still waving over the fort. Quite the fitting place to spend Flag Day, right?
It was...until we got there and it was empty. We quickly realized that we had missed the memo that the celebration and fireworks had been moved to Oregon Ridge due to construction on the fort. We decided to picnic at Fort McHenry anyway, and then relocate and catch the fireworks later on that night. It worked out perfectly!
I'm not sure if the story of Fort McHenry is only familiar to me because of my MD public school education, so for all of you non-Marylanders, here is a quick explanation. During the War of 1812, the British navy tried to infiltrate Baltimore's Inner Harbor, and it was from Fort McHenry that Americans successfully defended against the attack. During the battle, Francis Scott Key was inspired to write "The Star Spangled Banner" when he saw the American flag still waving over the fort. Quite the fitting place to spend Flag Day, right?
It was...until we got there and it was empty. We quickly realized that we had missed the memo that the celebration and fireworks had been moved to Oregon Ridge due to construction on the fort. We decided to picnic at Fort McHenry anyway, and then relocate and catch the fireworks later on that night. It worked out perfectly!
Us at Fort McHenry
Flag Day festivities at Oregon Ridge
<3
First fireworks of the Summer!
I can't say that I have ever celebrated Flag Day, so my first experience was definitely successful. A great way to get in the mood for the summer season and especially the 4th of July (which happens to be one of my very favorite holidays)!
Monday, June 14, 2010
Weekend Recap. . .
Friday. . .
*We relaxed. Brian hung out with Riley.
*We rented Edge of Darkness with Mel Gibson. I couldn't tell you if it was any good, though, because I fell asleep around 9 and only saw the beginning and the end. Definitely leading an exciting, blog-worthy life over here, people.
Saturday. . .
*Met up with some lovely friends and their boyfriends at Boordy Vineyards...
...and listened to a Beatles cover-band, the Mahoney Brothers, while sipping on Sangria and Tango Peach wine. Even though I spilled red wine on my white shorts, plenty of fun was had by all!
Sunday. . .
*After church, we headed to the mall for some last-minute vacation shopping and lunch at Bahama Breeze with Brian's mom. I had pan-seared salmon with mango butter sauce and garlic mashed potatoes...yummmmm!
We are now 4 days out from our two-week California/Nevada vacation, aka Adventure Tour 2010! Lots of running around and packing to do...I officially have no idea how to pack for this kind of trip so wish me lots of luck and send along any fabulous packing tips you have! Along with any San Diego and Lake Tahoe suggestions (especially for food!) :)
*We relaxed. Brian hung out with Riley.
*We rented Edge of Darkness with Mel Gibson. I couldn't tell you if it was any good, though, because I fell asleep around 9 and only saw the beginning and the end. Definitely leading an exciting, blog-worthy life over here, people.
Saturday. . .
*Met up with some lovely friends and their boyfriends at Boordy Vineyards...
...and listened to a Beatles cover-band, the Mahoney Brothers, while sipping on Sangria and Tango Peach wine. Even though I spilled red wine on my white shorts, plenty of fun was had by all!
Sunday. . .
*After church, we headed to the mall for some last-minute vacation shopping and lunch at Bahama Breeze with Brian's mom. I had pan-seared salmon with mango butter sauce and garlic mashed potatoes...yummmmm!
We are now 4 days out from our two-week California/Nevada vacation, aka Adventure Tour 2010! Lots of running around and packing to do...I officially have no idea how to pack for this kind of trip so wish me lots of luck and send along any fabulous packing tips you have! Along with any San Diego and Lake Tahoe suggestions (especially for food!) :)
Thursday, June 10, 2010
On Making Adjustments
Having Brian home since his graduation has been nothing short of amazing. Would you believe that in the over two years we've known each other, we've never spent more than two weeks (and a couple of days) consecutively together? Honestly, after coping with so much time apart, being together is kind of easy. There's always been a kind of effortless and comfortable way about 'us,' and I feel lucky to have so much of that time lately. I still remember what it's like to be apart, and I still remember that it sucks.
While I expected to have to deal with some growing pains associated with finally not being a long-distance couple for the first time in our relationship, with a little bit of effort, negotiating time spent together and time for our own separate lives has actually been relatively easy. I also expected to start to take our time together for granted, and I would be lying if I said that I haven't. But in the back of my head, there is that reminder that this is temporary, and that there will be other goodbyes.
However, there is one large problem I've discovered since Brian has been home; we definitely tolerate temperatures differently. The weather here has been perfect (to me); sunny and 75-85 degrees. Which means wearing lots of fun summer shorts, skirts, and sundresses and driving with the windows and sunroof open, listening to country music. But for some reason, Brian is trying to freeze me! Anytime we are in his room or in the car, he has the AC cranking full-blast; eventually, it feels like we are somewhere in the Arctic. On the way to the beach this past weekend, I had to steal a pair of his socks because my feet were so cold.
Now, I know that I get cold more easily than the average person and Brian is really sensitive to being hot. When he's too hot, he might even get a teeeeeny bit grouchy. But certainly our life together (which will eventually take us to Georgia, which, if you didn't realize, is definitely in the south) isn't going to involve me carrying around sweaters, sweatshirts, and thick, woolly socks in the heat of the summer...
Is it?!
While I expected to have to deal with some growing pains associated with finally not being a long-distance couple for the first time in our relationship, with a little bit of effort, negotiating time spent together and time for our own separate lives has actually been relatively easy. I also expected to start to take our time together for granted, and I would be lying if I said that I haven't. But in the back of my head, there is that reminder that this is temporary, and that there will be other goodbyes.
However, there is one large problem I've discovered since Brian has been home; we definitely tolerate temperatures differently. The weather here has been perfect (to me); sunny and 75-85 degrees. Which means wearing lots of fun summer shorts, skirts, and sundresses and driving with the windows and sunroof open, listening to country music. But for some reason, Brian is trying to freeze me! Anytime we are in his room or in the car, he has the AC cranking full-blast; eventually, it feels like we are somewhere in the Arctic. On the way to the beach this past weekend, I had to steal a pair of his socks because my feet were so cold.
Now, I know that I get cold more easily than the average person and Brian is really sensitive to being hot. When he's too hot, he might even get a teeeeeny bit grouchy. But certainly our life together (which will eventually take us to Georgia, which, if you didn't realize, is definitely in the south) isn't going to involve me carrying around sweaters, sweatshirts, and thick, woolly socks in the heat of the summer...
Is it?!
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
A Weekend Getaway
This weekend, Brian and I did a whole lot of driving.
First, to Southern MD for Joella's graduation party to spend time with some of my sorority sisters!
And then to Ocean City, MD for the OC Air Show!
In OC, we tried to squeeze in as much as was humanly possible. Strawberry crepes for breakfast at Bayside Skillet (a must!)...
...watching airplanes from the beach (my own personal version of heaven)...
...crab pizza at Seacrets for a break from the sunshine, meeting up with Amber and her boyfriend...
...for all-you-can-eat crabs and corn on the cob (and fried chicken, hush puppies, steamed shrimp, and clam strips...but who cares about that other stuff?!) at Hooper's...
...a quick stop for fudge and popcorn on the boardwalk, and then, finally, applying aloe to the worst sunburn of our lives (a quick note: don't buy Target's generic sunscreen...it sucks!)
Sunburn and all, the driving was definitely worth it! Brian even got to experience Sonic for the very first time (twice!) :)
A very successful weekend! Now excuse me while I go reapply aloe for the 300th time today...:)
First, to Southern MD for Joella's graduation party to spend time with some of my sorority sisters!
And then to Ocean City, MD for the OC Air Show!
In OC, we tried to squeeze in as much as was humanly possible. Strawberry crepes for breakfast at Bayside Skillet (a must!)...
...watching airplanes from the beach (my own personal version of heaven)...
...crab pizza at Seacrets for a break from the sunshine, meeting up with Amber and her boyfriend...
...for all-you-can-eat crabs and corn on the cob (and fried chicken, hush puppies, steamed shrimp, and clam strips...but who cares about that other stuff?!) at Hooper's...
...a quick stop for fudge and popcorn on the boardwalk, and then, finally, applying aloe to the worst sunburn of our lives (a quick note: don't buy Target's generic sunscreen...it sucks!)
Sunburn and all, the driving was definitely worth it! Brian even got to experience Sonic for the very first time (twice!) :)
A very successful weekend! Now excuse me while I go reapply aloe for the 300th time today...:)
Thursday, June 3, 2010
The CRAZY Hotel Debacle
I've talked before about signs. The silly things that happen that just let you know that things are okay. The inexplicable little things that are just too crazy to explain.
On the night of Brian's graduation, we were SO so exhausted. After a long day spent in the heat, and a week of running around and chaos, we were really looking forward to getting back to the hotel and relaxing for a night before our friends' wedding the next day. I had been staying with Brian's family that entire week, but after Brian graduated, we could finally stay together...very exciting! This part is kind of confusing, but bear with me: my parents had come up for graduation and made a hotel reservation for the entire weekend (Friday and Saturday night). We agreed beforehand that my parents would use the room Friday night, and then Brian and I could use it Saturday night since we had to stay an extra night for the wedding. On graduation day, my mom gave me the key cards to the hotel room and we assumed Brian and I would arrive there late Saturday night and the room would still be ours...
I'm sure you can tell where this is going.
Of course, when we got to the hotel and attempted to use those key cards, the little light on the door shone red and the handle refused to budge. We were quiet for a second in our confusion, and then realized that the sound of a television was coming from the room...our room! Brian went to the front desk, where they proceeded to be rude to him and told him that someone had called to cancel the reservation (UM, not true!), and that the hotel was sold out for the night! Turns out, because my parents had taken all of their stuff and 'vacated' the room, they assumed we were done using it and just gave the room away. While still charging my parents for both nights, obviously.
We had very few options for what to do next. We needed somewhere to sleep, it was almost midnight, and there was only one other hotel in the area; a huuuuge 20-something story Sheraton across the highway. Even though we knew it would be a lot more expensive, we didn't really have a choice in the matter. We went over there (and were a bit frightened to discover that the bottom floor housed a nightclub that appeared to be right out of Jersey Shore) and got a room. We were just relieved to have a bed to sleep in for the night and figured that we would sort out the ridiculous hotel mess in the morning, when I looked down to see the key to the room we had been given.
This totally absurd and frustrating series of events on the day that Brian had graduated as a member of the USMA Class of 2010 landed us in ROOM 2010 in a hotel with literally over 20 stories and thousands of rooms.
Seriously, how crazy and bizarre is that?!
So, with a room for the night and a little reassurance that God has an eye on us, we got a good night's sleep. And after a few choice words, that other hotel offered to cover all three nights we were charged for that weekend, with their sincerest apologies.
On the night of Brian's graduation, we were SO so exhausted. After a long day spent in the heat, and a week of running around and chaos, we were really looking forward to getting back to the hotel and relaxing for a night before our friends' wedding the next day. I had been staying with Brian's family that entire week, but after Brian graduated, we could finally stay together...very exciting! This part is kind of confusing, but bear with me: my parents had come up for graduation and made a hotel reservation for the entire weekend (Friday and Saturday night). We agreed beforehand that my parents would use the room Friday night, and then Brian and I could use it Saturday night since we had to stay an extra night for the wedding. On graduation day, my mom gave me the key cards to the hotel room and we assumed Brian and I would arrive there late Saturday night and the room would still be ours...
I'm sure you can tell where this is going.
Of course, when we got to the hotel and attempted to use those key cards, the little light on the door shone red and the handle refused to budge. We were quiet for a second in our confusion, and then realized that the sound of a television was coming from the room...our room! Brian went to the front desk, where they proceeded to be rude to him and told him that someone had called to cancel the reservation (UM, not true!), and that the hotel was sold out for the night! Turns out, because my parents had taken all of their stuff and 'vacated' the room, they assumed we were done using it and just gave the room away. While still charging my parents for both nights, obviously.
We had very few options for what to do next. We needed somewhere to sleep, it was almost midnight, and there was only one other hotel in the area; a huuuuge 20-something story Sheraton across the highway. Even though we knew it would be a lot more expensive, we didn't really have a choice in the matter. We went over there (and were a bit frightened to discover that the bottom floor housed a nightclub that appeared to be right out of Jersey Shore) and got a room. We were just relieved to have a bed to sleep in for the night and figured that we would sort out the ridiculous hotel mess in the morning, when I looked down to see the key to the room we had been given.
This totally absurd and frustrating series of events on the day that Brian had graduated as a member of the USMA Class of 2010 landed us in ROOM 2010 in a hotel with literally over 20 stories and thousands of rooms.
Seriously, how crazy and bizarre is that?!
So, with a room for the night and a little reassurance that God has an eye on us, we got a good night's sleep. And after a few choice words, that other hotel offered to cover all three nights we were charged for that weekend, with their sincerest apologies.
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
Playing Catch-Up...
When I looked at the calendar on my phone this morning, I literally could not believe it was June! I am so excited that summer is finally here; there are so many exciting things going on in the next couple of months (including a big vacation in exactly 19 days!) Here is a quick recap of what has been going on in my life since we got home from the whirlwind of Brian's graduation:
*Brian's roommate and one of his best friends, Josh, got married on Sunday, the day after graduation. Cadets at West Point have to be single, so a lot of engaged couples use graduation weekend to tie the knot...some graduate and get married on the same day! While it must be a super busy time with a lot of stress, it was really neat that their families and friends were all there to celebrate with them. Brian was honored to be asked to be a part of their big day (and you can see him in the top left of their saber arch).
Jessi and I have gotten the chance to get close in the past year, and she is seriously one of the sweetest girls I've ever met! She was a gorgeous bride, and her and Josh are seriously a perfect match. They are definitely a couple we are going to try to keep in touch with, and we could not be happier for them! It was also nice to spend time with some of Brian's best friends before they all head their separate ways.
*Two of my very best friends graduated from college! Luckily, their graduation was on the Monday after Brian's, so we got to drive down to Baltimore to be there.
These girls are seriously my rocks, and I have no idea what I'd do without them. I am so proud of everything they have done, and am lucky to call them my friends! Decorating our graduation caps has become kind of a tradition since my own graduation two years ago...it makes it much easier to pick our Phi Mus out of the crowd!
After their ceremony, we headed over to Cheeseburger in Paradise, one of our favorite places to get together after big events, to continue the celebrations! It has almost become a graduation tradition. :)
*It has been hot, hot, HOT! Brian has some leave before he has to report to his first assignment, so we have been spending a lot of time together at my house doing this:
We also got joint membership to a 24-hour gym between our houses, and have been pretty good about working out between cookouts and dinners with our families. Obviously, we were the only people cool enough to be there at 9 p.m. on a Friday night, but this body needs to be in beach shape for vacation!
*I finally got my grades for this past semester. I am officially halfway done my Master's with a 4.0! :)
*We celebrated Brian's graduation with a huge party at his house! Being a super fun occasion with lots of people Brian doesn't see very often...I, of course, forgot my camera. Hopefully I can get some good pictures from his mom! In the meantime, here are some beautiful cupcakes I made for his party.
I hope you all had an amazing Memorial Day weekend! I hope to be much better about blogging and responding to comments now that things are starting to settle down around here. :)
*Brian's roommate and one of his best friends, Josh, got married on Sunday, the day after graduation. Cadets at West Point have to be single, so a lot of engaged couples use graduation weekend to tie the knot...some graduate and get married on the same day! While it must be a super busy time with a lot of stress, it was really neat that their families and friends were all there to celebrate with them. Brian was honored to be asked to be a part of their big day (and you can see him in the top left of their saber arch).
Jessi and I have gotten the chance to get close in the past year, and she is seriously one of the sweetest girls I've ever met! She was a gorgeous bride, and her and Josh are seriously a perfect match. They are definitely a couple we are going to try to keep in touch with, and we could not be happier for them! It was also nice to spend time with some of Brian's best friends before they all head their separate ways.
These girls are seriously my rocks, and I have no idea what I'd do without them. I am so proud of everything they have done, and am lucky to call them my friends! Decorating our graduation caps has become kind of a tradition since my own graduation two years ago...it makes it much easier to pick our Phi Mus out of the crowd!
After their ceremony, we headed over to Cheeseburger in Paradise, one of our favorite places to get together after big events, to continue the celebrations! It has almost become a graduation tradition. :)
*It has been hot, hot, HOT! Brian has some leave before he has to report to his first assignment, so we have been spending a lot of time together at my house doing this:
We also got joint membership to a 24-hour gym between our houses, and have been pretty good about working out between cookouts and dinners with our families. Obviously, we were the only people cool enough to be there at 9 p.m. on a Friday night, but this body needs to be in beach shape for vacation!
*I finally got my grades for this past semester. I am officially halfway done my Master's with a 4.0! :)
*We celebrated Brian's graduation with a huge party at his house! Being a super fun occasion with lots of people Brian doesn't see very often...I, of course, forgot my camera. Hopefully I can get some good pictures from his mom! In the meantime, here are some beautiful cupcakes I made for his party.
I hope you all had an amazing Memorial Day weekend! I hope to be much better about blogging and responding to comments now that things are starting to settle down around here. :)
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