The Story

Everyone has been asking how we got engaged, so here's the story.

For those that didn't know, Maeve and I had gone to Washington DC b/c we wanted to do a road trip while we were still dating. I had told her beforehand that I would be taking her out on New Year's Eve and that she needed to bring a dress...and that's all she knew. We had reservations at 9pm at a five star restaurant in DC called Two Quail. It was very romantic and private and we had a great time.

At 10:45pm we left and drove to this really nice hotel right by the White House. In front was a horse drawn carriage that was waiting for us at 11pm. For the next hour we were huddled together under some warm blankets (it was very cold) while the carriage took us around all of DC's famous sites, The Capital building, the National Mall, Washington Monument, etc.

The original plan (which I had organized with the driver) was supposed to go like this: once we got to the White House Christmas Tree the driver was going to suggest that we get out and look around (or something like that) and then the actual deed would be done there...at midnight. That was the key b/c I wanted to do it at midnight on New Year’s Eve. HOWEVER, two things messed that up. One was the fact that it was freezing (actually below freezing) and Maeve had a dress on, not good for her. Two, the Christmas tree lights are turned off at 11pm every night, not good for me.

But we get out anyway and briskly walk to the dark tree in the distance. As we walk I notice other things that I didn't want in my proposal picture...things like a bulldozer from construction nearby and other people who also decided that they wanted to look at a dark Christmas tree at 11:52pm on New Year’s Eve. It was then that I decided to scrap the tree idea and just head back to the carriage and Maeve was all for that. Plus I don't think I could have made Maeve stay at a dark tree in the freezing cold for 8 more minutes.

Back at the carriage I start talking right away (so the driver won't say something stupid like "Congratulations!) and explain that we were freezing so we decided to come back after a minute so would you just mind driving us around until midnight so we could be in the carriage when the New Year hits? He gave me a big wink and said sure....ok that's a lie, he didn't wink but he did say sure.

One odd think about DC at New Years, they don't do fireworks or anything for that matter. So I had my cell phone on my lap so we could count down the minutes until midnight. At midnight we kissed and I told Maeve that I loved her and that she has made me so happy this pass year and that I hoped I could make her happy in 2008. Then I kissed her again and during that kiss I grabbed the ring (which was strategically placed the coat pocket away from Maeve) and said "I hope I can also make you happy for the rest of your life. Will you marry me?"

To which she immediately said "YES!!!"

And that's the story.

Currently Reading Dave Barry's Greatest Hits By Dave Barry see related

It was all a blur

Well it's been almost a month since I ran the 10k and I don't really know where to begin with it so I decided to draw a picture of what the experience was like.

Yep, it kicked my butt. My main goal was to not stop no matter how slow I was going...just to run the entire 10k (a little over 6 miles). However mile 3 was one stinkin long hill, I was dying. My mental game in this run was to focus on someone ahead of me going about my speed and then try to slowly pass them. However once I stopped on the hill more and more people started passing me so I had to keep changing who I was going to catch.

Eventually my standards had lowered to trying to catch up with a 65 year old woman who was going a shade faster than "speed walking". I finally passed her and a little while later had to walk again and it was then that she made her move. She whisked past me at the speed of toddler and once I had caught my breath it was too late. She never stopped so I just gave up.

Then I lowered my standards even more. I looked behind me and picked out someone who was going so slow and looked so out of shape that I was determined I would not let them pass me. That seemed to work pretty well. Eventually I finished and got the same shirt as everyone else so I guess it's not that bad that I was so slow.

PS - I was looking around on youtube and found some old commercials. They are of Outpost.com and they were the funniest commercials I had ever seen, so much so that I still remembered the name of the company to this day and that's how I found them on youtube.

Commercial #1 - Gerbils

Commercial #2 - Wolves

Commerical #3 - Toddlers

Thoughts?

Currently Listening Portable Sounds By Tobymac see related

The Mystery Limo and Dumb Exercising

My, my, my...2 months. I do believe that is a record.

So I was driving down the highway today and I was passed by a limo. You don't really see many of them around where I work so I decided to speed up to see if I could see who was in it. As I slowly start to pass it I look in and see old people...I mean REALLY old people. When I get in front of it I notice that the lights are on. Immediately I think they are going to a funeral (because seriously, what 80 year olds are going to be riding in a limo on a Monday afternoon in Lansing, KS?) Obviously they had lost one of their own. However I look around and see that there are no other cars following it which would lead me to think it's not for a funeral...but I don't buy that. I'm guessing the limo got caught at a red light....OR, the deceased only had four friends...all of whom were in the limo.

Cruise news: I've decided that I need to get in shape for the cruise this Oct. Originally I thought "this will be a piece of cake, 10 months is plenty of time." Which it is...but the problem is that I'm not doing anything. It's tough to get motivated for something a year away. So I decided to sign up for something that will make me work out or kill me in the process...so I signed up for a 10K (which is a shade over 6 miles). The race is in mid March and I've been pretty good about working out over the past few weeks but I'm nowhere near ready for it...so I signed up for a 5k for next weekend. The logic is there: the 5k will help me get ready for the 10k. But it's been so long since I've run that right now the 1k is right in my comfort zone. Running is one of those things that I get excited for when I'm sitting on the couch watch 24 and thinking to myself "I need to exercise more." However when I start to actually run I'm like, "This is dumb. Why do people even do this?"

But I'm doing it anyway. I'll keep you updated on my progress.

Currently Watching Arrested Development - Season One By Arrested Development see related

The Mystery Present

This has been a really good Christmas. My mom asked me want I wanted and on a side note I mentioned that I had never seen Arrested Development but always heard how funny it was....so she got me all three seasons.

Stinkin hilarious. You should watch it.

That was a few weeks ago and today (since my parents are divorced) I had Christmas with my dad. What was strange with this year was that since October he and Theresa, my step mom, were talking about how we were going to "love" our present and stuff like that but I just couldn't figure it out. The thing is, I don't ever want anything, I like to get stuff but there is never something that I just have to have. Then he shows me this great gift under the tree...it was just a small box, like I was getting a watch or something (but it wasn't a watch b/c I picked it up and after much shaking determined it wasn't a watch). So now I really have no idea.

We had lunch on Christmas Eve over there and I showed Cameron my brother from my mom's side of the family (we have a complex family) the box and as I picked it up I pretended to take off the lid...only to find that it actually came off. Then I got freaked out b/c my parents would flip if I found out what it was b/c they were really excited about it and I would feel guilty for doing it....so I got Cameron to do it for me. hehehe. I kept guard and he looked in it.

It was a note.

Now my head is really spinning. A note?! That means it could be anything. He asks me if he should read it and I say no b/c of the fear/guilt thing kicking in again.

Well I found out today. They are taking the whole family on a cruise!  

To be honest I feel weird even saying it b/c we're not the kind of family that does stuff like this. We grew up on Malt o Meal cereal (Frosted Mini Spooners, mmmmmm) and we had to pay for our own trips to CIY and take out loans for college...normal stuff. But Theresa got a new job and all the kids are out of the house so things have changed. I guess all those years of working in the Kansas mafia finally paid off (it's code name is 4-H).

Now all I need is to buy some swim trunks and to quit being so doughy and pasty and I'll be ready when October comes around.

Warning!

So every Wednesday and Sunday night a group of about 12 of us get together and play Texas Hold'em beginning at 9 and going until the early morning. Once we got done last night Jessica tells me as I'm heading to my car, "oh by the way, you're not going to want to eat that chocolate cake at your house."

As the wheels began to turn in my head I remembered that Mike, one of my roommates, brought about 4 pieces of cake home from some dinner he was at...and I remembered how I helped myself to a piece before I left to play Hold'em that night.

"Why shouldn't I eat it?" I asked.

"Let's just say bad things will happen if you do"

That was late Wednesday night. It's now 6pm on Thursday...and bad things have been happening.

Right now I'm debating if I should chance a 10 minute drive to the post office (for fear that letters won't be the only thing sent out)...or just go home.

It is at these times I reminded of Josh Hollander, who endured 12+ hours of this with that 130lb body of his...I don't know how he did it. Well, it's not so much that he wanted to as it was that I....yeah.

So anyway, this goes out to everyone as a reminder to watch out for chocolate cake this holiday season because some of the ingredients have gone bad (maybe the milk or something).