Hip Hip Horray!

I was a little nervous about moving so far away from my hometown and everything/everyone that I know. With the thought of a long-distance move, I looked forward to getting a new computer that has a webcam; however, I think I can make due without for a little while yet... especially since I had planned on upping my cell phone minutes to compensate for my need to talk to people I know. That's when my fiance surprised me... by telling me that the phone system that he had set up has UNLIMITED LONG DISTANCE CALLING!

Hip Hip Horray! That's great news! FANTASTIC FIND, HONEY!

Heck, if my twin brother could make it through a year in Afghanistan, then I should be able to make it through a year in Minnesota. It certainly will be an exciting new adventure.

Nearing the end of packing - the countdown begins.... MN, here I come!

Oh my goodness, oh my goodness

So, here I sit – feeling like one of the orphans from the movie/play "ANNIE" because Mike is gone and I have been starting to feel slightly overwhelmed with packing all of our belongings by myself. When you look at everything left to be done, you kind of want to say "Oh my goodness, oh my goodness..." but when you look at how far you've come on your own, you're pretty proud of the accomplishments.

Just taking things one day at a time.

I am attempting to have everything packed and ready to load in the Uhaul by this weekend. I would LIKE, in an ideal world, to have everything cleaned as well so that all we have to do is pick up the mattress off the floor, grab the cats and pitch the old, dirty litterbox. That way, all my mom would have to do is one final run-through with the Hoover to get any remaining litter pieces off of the carpet.

The fridge still needs to be wiped out and there still is plenty left to do/pack. Tonight, my focus is organization more than packing. I would rather not move all kinds of crap that I don't plan to keep. So, with that... I had best log off and get back to work. Only have a few more days and will eventually need to unplug and pack the computer so that I have no more distractions.

Did I mention that moving by yourself is not all that fun?

Missing Mike,
The Busy Bee Packing Queen

CHALLENGE: something positive about myself and something I believe in...

FROM: http://cathyzielske.typepad.com/my_weblog/2008/06/presenting-mond.html

Yes, you have to leave your name in the comments, but in my own personal effort to rid all of that wanky negative self talk out of my own brain, I'm asking you to do the following: tell me one thing about yourself that you really dig and that you actually BELIEVE to be true.

That's it. Simple. Goodness. About you.

Here, I'll start: I have really thin wrists and I'm funny. (HEY! Look at me! That's TWO things. I actually believe them, too. I'm not just blowing smoke up my own... well, you get the drift. Because remember: I DON'T SMOKE!)

So how about you? What do you like about you? It's a positive self talk, no holds barred, balls to the wall celebration! And I don't even HAVE balls!

Sarah's MY TWO CENTS:
SO, here was my posting (as well as my opportunity to win one of Cathy's giveaways):

Interesting challenge.... something positive about myself and something I believe in...

ABOUT MYSELF: My fiancé informed my neurologist that I am "annoyingly happy". (Slightly embarassing situation at the time, but definately true to who I am.)

I BELIEVE THAT: Happiness is contagious.

Sarah in WI, but soon movin' to MN

Dear Mike... Love, Eddy

Dear Mike,

I sure hope you are coming home soon. I keep waiting for you every night to come home. My mom tries to talk me into coming to bed, but I insist on laying in the hallway so I can keep an eye on the door where you always come in. The floor isn't as comfortable as our bed, but I don't want to miss my chance to say HI as soon as you get home.

The cat grass has been good. Otto ate most of it this morning. Mom let us go outside to smell on the deck. I sure wish she would let us go downstairs so we could lay in the grass and roll on the sidewalk like we used to do at our house.

Mom keeps telling us that we are going to move. I'm not sure what that means, but as long as we have you and our mom - I think Otto and I will be OK.

Mom doesn't do a very good job digging in my ears either. I really miss our quality time in the recliner. I can't wait to stretch out and scratch my paws on your pocket as soon as you get home. I love you.

Love,
Eddy

Poor cats miss their best friend

So, when I was married, my cats NEVER slept on my husband! So, I found it comical the first night that my boyfriend-turned-fiance stayed over at my place when my cats slept right between his legs. I told him that it was a fluke and that obviously, he had to stay again another day.

Well, over the past year, my cats have grown to LOVE him. He teases me often because there are a lot of days when they run to greet him before they greet me and he always says that HE is their new best friend.

With him being on vacation, it is so sad to watch that they are sleeping in the hallway faced towards the apartment entrance door. I am pretty convinced that they are waiting for it to open and for him to come home so we can all go to bed together. Multiple times this past week, I woke to discover that I had a shortage of feline friends in the bed with me. Last night, I don't think Eddy ever came to bed.

Poor, poor putties.... they REALLY miss their new best friend. (Good thing he'll be home soon!) Granted, I sleep better with him here too, but I am managing to make it through the night without him. It will be so nice to have him home again. (I love to snuggle.)

De-stressed for the weekend

I had been sent home a little early today, which is not a bad thing on a Friday – especially on my weekend off. I would have probably had more than just chocolate milk on my break had I known that I wouldn't get lunch though.

So, it was a nice surprise to leave early. I can now take time to go home and hop in the shower before going to the spa for a massage. I had wanted to do one earlier in the week, but my masseuse was never available when I had time off of work so, a Friday night massage is a good way to start the weekend off right!

I did manage to put away all of my neglected clean laundry pile. I am pretending not to see the mailpile and few dishes in the sink. I really should run the vacuum and clean the bathroom, too. One thing at a time... I think I'll get ready for my hour of relaxation now. Time to shower and mentally prepare for it.

Nice.

LIFE: Turned upside down in a whirlwind

My fiancé had a telephone interview for a promotion yesterday. It was for a job that is 6.5 hours away from my native hometown. He has been apprehensive because I have never lived more than 30 minutes away from my parents before (unless you count the two weeks that I was away as a college freshman before calling my mom to say "I hate it here; please come get me.")

He had an opportunity to interview at a store that is 1.5 hours from my hometown and parents (Wisconsin state capital), as well as 6.5 hours away in Minnesota. It just so happens that both locations have pro's and con's and the farther distance happens to be the one who called him first.

Either way, chances are – we'll be relocating rather quickly. (Initially, when he came to this community, he was given about 3 days notice.)

Did I mention that following his 40-minute telephone interview, corporate decided that he still MUST meet face-to-face; therefore, we are traveling 13 hours (at more than $4/gallon) for a technicality. I'm thinking we'll get a tour of the store (which will be the same as what we are used to already) and shake the General Manager's hand. Although, if it means that he gets the job, it will be worth the drive.

I did feel bad calling my boss to see about getting out of work for a mini-roadtrip with VERY LITTLE forewarning. I'll be working just a few hours before we leave Thursday morning and I will come in later than originally scheduled on Friday. He says I owe him a beer or a gift of some sort. It kind of put the damper on our wedding gift registry at Target when we got the telephone call informing us that he'll have to drive all that way for the interview he already had over the phone.

6.5 HOURS AWAY
(+) Pro's

• Great opportunity for advancement up the corporate ladder.
• Life is an adventure. Explore territory outside of your comfort zone.
• A small-town environment is less intimidating, but exciting and new.
• It is a great opportunity to meet new people.
• Great demographics for the community: low crime, high(er) average per household income.
• It is twice the size of my native WI hometown, but not as large as a state capital. It will be a nice change of pace.
  
• We'll be able to enjoy the thrills of marriage as we get to know each other.
• While he stays with the same company, I'll have the opportunity to find a new job and/or career path to follow, which can be exciting.
• I'll have more incentive to get a new Macintosh computer so that I'll have a built-in camera to say HELLO to my parents.
• Most likely, it will be less expensive to live here vs. our other option in Wisconsin's state capital, which tends to have more opportunity to spend money rather than to save it.
• My fiance has LOTS of experience with moving around; he can show me how it's done.
• Most likely, it is only a one-year commitment because this store is good about developing people for advancement in their careers.
• Our cell phone still offer coverage there. (We may just need to UP our plan since we'll need to talk on the phone instead of hop 4 minutes across town.)
  
• It should be cheaper to live here vs. Wisconsin's state capital.
• They have Culver's there so, if I need comfort food - I know where I'm going for a hot fudge malt, a Butter Burger Deluxe and fried cheese curds! (Ooh, and the Cheeseburger Snack Pack is A MILLION TIMES BETTER than McDonald's!) YUM! I absolutely LOVE Culver's!
• No matter what, we still have each other.
  

(-) Con's

• We'll be 6.5 hours away from my comfort zone and everyone I know.
• It will be more difficult to continue planning our wedding from a far, but certainly still do-able. However, without having my own insurance through work, we'll need to consider marrying a few months early (on paper) so that we can avoid extra costs and complications. Heck, we're ready with all of our October wedding planning; we could have easily pulled it all off by June anyways. (The only exception is that we have not taken care of our prenuptial agreement yet.)
  
• With a longer drive, it is more difficult to make treks home in a pinch.
• BBRRRR, winters will be cold. (Although, we had record-setting snowfall in Wisconsin this past winter.) Good thing I got a new Columbia coat and matching accessories for Christmas this past year!
  
• Once we decide to start having children, we will be farther away from our parents, support system and baby-sitters, but did I mention - we still have each other.
  

1.5 HOURS AWAY
(+) Pro's

• Only 1.5 hours away from my comfort zone.
• Nationally voted #1 place to live in America multiple times.
• Last week, on the TODAY show, it was nationally voted as #5 Friendliest City to live in.
• There is still another store nearby for me to continue working for the same company and remain in my comfort zone of dealing with the public.
  
• My neurologist is in Madison.
• Our wedding can remain as scheduled – in October.
  

(-) Con's

• Living in the Wisconsin state capital, there are LOTS more opportunities to spend money exploring all of the shops and restaurants that make Madison, WI great.
• Higher crime rates.
• Higher cost of living.
  
• Missing out on an opportunity to work somewhere new, which could be rather exciting (since there is a nearby store for me to transfer to).

I have been awake since 1 a.m. and finally dragged myself out of bed around 2 a.m. Now, it is a little after 3 a.m. and I am still WIDE AWAKE. (My fiance is concerned about my worries and inability to sleep, yet I reminded him that I will be OK... I've got him!!!) It was pretty nice to get an EMERGENCY HUG in the middle of the night though. (Thanks for that, honey!)

So, it appears that my life may be turned upside down in a whirlwind in a very short timeframe. Life is an adventure – exciting and new. I'm looking forward to this journey together.



Now, since I still can't sleep... I wonder if I should shop online to look at my new Macintosh computer options..... apple.com, here I come!

HGTV Green Home

I have registered online to win the HGTV Green Home. I registered to win it almost daily - missing just a few. (The reveal of the winner is coming up... within the week, I believe!)

Last time, they gave away a 1.2-million dollar dream home in the Florida Keys. It was absolutely beautiful! I looked at it online a lot, dreaming about what it would be like to win it and what I would do to change it. (For example, one of the bedrooms was an awkward shade of green that I was not absolutely lovin'.)

This time, I didn't go online to explore the house from every angle and dwell on the fact of how nice it would be to win.

I was SO DISAPPOINTED with the winner of the Florida Keys Dream Home. On live TV, she showed almost NO EMOTION! I would have been thrilled! It was a beautiful home in a beautiful location! It seemed like such a social injustice to show such a lack of emotion and so little enthusiasm for winning.

It seemed like such a social injustice to show such a lack of emotion and so little enthusiasm for winning.

So, I plan to clean up my tiny apartment so that the live TV crews don't capture my mess. (Perhaps seeing such a small space will make me more deserving to win it...)

Since it is an energy efficient Green Home, perhaps it is best not to leave every light in the apartment on while we watch the reveal of winner on live TV. (That would be ironic.) So, if I just can't manage to win the lottery, a free home would be OK with me – just as long as I can afford to pay the taxes on it.

Yep, that sure would be nice....

Hands Portrait

So, we set up our engagement pictures a few weeks ago. Since most wedding portraitures do contain a hands portrait, I asked our photographer if he could shoot a photo of our hands at the engagement picture session because we had wanted to frame a picture for our wedding ceremony. Despite my mother's persistance that everyone NEEDS a guestbook, we would like to have a picture framed and have all of the wedding guests sign the matte for the photo in lieu of a guestbook. This way, our wedding memories can hang on our wall.

My uncle is a municipal judge who will be marrying us. These beautiful words came off of one of his sample ceremonies and we have continued to tweek them to make them our own. These words will also be part of our ceremony, as well as a reminder of the love that we have now and will continue to have throughout our future life together.

So, here is our picture:



Good thing I was a graphic designer in a former life, eh?

(And for the record, I do NOT believe that it is a bad omen for him to wear his wedding band BEFORE the wedding. It was on for just a few minutes worth of pictures, as well as in the jewelry store when we were trying to pick the perfect ring for him.)