2...1...0..days!!

WOW. If we had not chosen to celebrate Christmas Day in MI we would be pretty close to moving....actually we would be moving today...maybe if Bryan did not have to work.

Monday, day 2, I pretty much caught up on shows and did laundry...again. (I already need to do it again today....) I honestly DO NOT understand how we go through so much laundry...I spend so much time sorting it (this washer does not have hot or cold settings), washing it, drying it, folding it, putting it away...then doing it all again because...well there's always A TON TO DO!

Tuesday, day 1, I got the oil changed on my car like 2,000 (at least) miles early. I personally DO NOT want to spend time within the first 1.5 months trying to figure out where to get my oil changed in between finding a job, settling the house and trying to find my way just to Walmart.... the guy was quite weirded out that I wanted to change my oil so early, but when it is 1. free and 2. necessary to stay sane when I move I really did not care and just tried to explain it to him...however not all people are great minds like myself...haha. ;)

I finally got accepted into Pinterest. I really did not understand what it was..I still kind of do not understand...but it is fun to make Pins and to look at things I could have done for Christmas...too late now because so many things have been purchased! NEXT YEAR, Valentines day, STP Day...Birthdays...it will be a fabulous resource!

I am being tortured by the wrapped presents for me next to the ones that I have wrapped for Bryan! I really, really, really want to open them!!! I cannot wait! I hope that the presents that I got for Bryan are up to Par! I. AM. EXCITED. We still do not know if we're opening here or at home...but Bryan has to decide!

I am pretty excited to move and to get going...I am just ready for a change of scenery and life. The only thing that makes me un-nerved is that everything will not fit between the two cars! I am not good with spatial thinking, especially when it is so many different shapes and, well we have nothing packed...also there is two coffee tables....ahhh!

I am pretty ready to move and come back to ski and to visit.

4...3..Days!!!

5 days until Christmas!!!

Saturday was family Christmas number one...in Greenville, MI where I am from. It was nice and Bryan's second holiday with my Mom's sister and Mom's Mom (she couldn't attend). There's always good food and lots of people in a small, crammed space...and it is hott, hott, hott because even in the 80 degree small apartment my Grandma still had on a long sleeved shirt and a sweater and was still "chilly"...I was sweating.

I have been sucking at updating but 1. I have not felt good 2. I have been tired and 3. If I do not do it early enough it frustrates Bryan when I am on the computer when we're watching TV. I need to use all of the real, high speed internet I can since we are not having real internet at our house...I would personally rather have internet than cable...but Bryan disagrees.

OMG. HGTV in the morning is weird...I don't want to know how to make a painted flower lampshade by hand OR a clay basket to hold fake eggs...I do not want that crap in my house!

Anyways. Today, Day 3 was so fun. We have to take advantage of every free day that we have because we no Michigan days left to frolic and play. We really like TC (Traverse City) and really like their wine and beers AND North Peak, a local Brewpub and restaurant that has AMAZING drinks and food. We walked around downtown which is really nice and has some cool shops and is fun to look around. The M22 store (M22 is the road that almost every Grand Traverse Winery is on or off from) had THE BEST SHIRTS EVER. It is a line called Love Michigan and of course I want a tshirt and a hoodie. The XL women's shirt which were the colors I wanted was about the size of a shirt my sister who wears a size small...so that made me feel sad and a little fat...even though it was simply because the shirt is ridiculously small LOL. (here's the website: http://www.lovemichigan.com/?wpsc-product=love-ladies-fitted-tee-deep-heather-grey) I am currently also emailing the website so that I can get one in an appropriate size! We bought a Michigan cookie cutter, and some Cherry Malt Balls. We had a great time walking around and enjoying the nice day (it was almost 40 out!)

We love the Shops at the Village (mostly the ones where you can spend $5 to taste 6 wines. So we of course went to Left Foot Charlies which is awesome. This is just a tasting room but the whole complex is an old State Hospital that has been rescued and re-purposed. We bought the greatest growler EVER and also got some loose wine to drink this week and also found a Christmas Present for Bryan's Brother. Why would anyone not go to this place it is AWESOME! We found a beverage for our New Year's in a new place and the lady was even kind enough to let us have some tastes! It was great. I am going to miss our Sunday Drives to TC!

Mostly the point in this trip was to eat our North Peak which is amazing and one of our absloute favorite places in Michigan and anywhere to go! They have egg roll wrapped mozzarella sticks that are to do for when you dip them in the pesto ranch...om nom nom. WE have never had bad food here...it's always AWESOME! We love the drinks and the food and the place!

It was a fabulous day and we had so much fun!

I am so tired that I can only relive what we did today...I'm tired and have some wicked acid reflux going on...

I am getting excited to have Christmas, have the condo clean and ot just be done...the condo needs to be cleaned before christmas...but still...I just want to be done and be moved and just come back!

6, 5 Days...

oh, man....it has been a fast two days.

Yesterday (day 6) I was supposed to work my usual three hours per week...one of the brilliant girls that is my fellow employee did not know she worked...so I was the only person available to work since our "boss/manager" is a shut-in, drunk, idiot. (there is way more...but I want to keep my calmness I have created for the next two weekends which includes moving...) I essentially was never asked to work and I am sure Friday when I go to pick up my money (he owes me for two weeks and I intend on quitting so he'll owe me for three) he will have something b**** about...and I will listen and then probably turn into vapid, mean sorority girl and make him feel less than an inch tall...of course I am usually too nice to do this...so it is more of just a wish than anything!

I am getting pretty worried that I am going to be sick for the Holidays...I have that little pain in my throat on the right side...I try to poke out the infection (these rubbery white pieces that come out when I sneeze and smell like the shallows of Bass Lake in August...*gag*)BUT when these nasty little white tonsiliths...I wish I could poke them out without puking my brains out! THAT IS ALL I NEED! To be sick for Christmas's, moving and trying to start a new life...but probably internal stress, ridiculous weather changes and not sleeping well are all contributing to my general feeling of illness...

Every year I never understand what the Holidays do to people and their level of courtesy. It is almost like Bryan and I wear invisibility cloaks when we go out and about...people rudely bump into us and sometimes seem to not notice that we are taking up the space that we are...it is just crazy to me how people are so, so, so, so RUDE! The holidays are supposed to be a time of giving and happiness OH and being nice to your fellow man! SO, I am just waiting to move and be able to hole up in the house and avoid people...I have never liked people that much (the general public) and unfortunately it is even worse when people are in their holiday haze.

Presents are pretty much bought (except one person) and wrapped....they are organized into piles either on the table or on the floor according to what house they must travel to...it is going to be interesting to see if I get everything where it is supposed to go...

We sent home four boxes of clothes that a few other things mixed in...we're pretty worried we are not going to have enough room to pack everything...but we're going to have to because there's no getting it to mom's house once we have come back from Christmas up North. We have like three outfits meaning I have to do laundry everyday to make sure there are shirts and pants for everyone to wear...socks in my case because I was dumb and accidentally only left like 3 or 4 pairs! So that is fun....

Also with moving from a rental means CLEANING. I feel like I JUST did this in the apartment. Luckily we keep the condo quite clean and we just deep deep cleaned it for a showing our landlord had about a month ago. Working less than any other employed person in the world affords me the time to clean, clean and clean and to cook and do laundry. SO hopefully next week I can get everything we do not need to the garage (that we just got emptied) and get it one step closer to being moved to Missouri. Looking back there are somethings we should have taken on the uhaul...but it was thought to be needed and we cannot change it now!

It is hard because we are going up to My Mom's house up North on Christmas Eve and Leaving there Christmas Day in the afternoon...packing up the Jeep because the Mazda will already be packed and then eating a frozen/leftover dinner...re-cleaning anything in the kitchen...re-cleaning our bathroom upstairs and sleeping then waking up...checking out with our crazy landlord and then driving. I still need to plan our driving trip because there is not frikin' way that I am going to go straight there without doing a couple fun things because it is the holidays and as of now I have no idea where we need to be when...but I can only assume the 27th we will be back in the car driving to see family.

I am just ready to be wherever we are going to be. And I want to figure out who's going to be where and what is going to happen. I also have still been looking for a small dog for protection when Bryan is gone and I am home alone...it will look precious and cute and then it will bite the crap out of people!!!

I am not nervous I am just ready to be done like I said above. I just want to leave and get it done quick like pulling off a band aid because it is very hard for me to leave Michigan because it is way, way, way, way better than Missouri. lol

7 Days!

7 Days (11 Days until Christmas!)

About 2 weeks ago I started a new bank account. I was told 5-8 business days I would receive my debit/visa card...it has been 12 Days since the first and that includes 4 weekend days...so 8 Business days. Yesterday I called PNC to ask them perhaps if they sent it to my Missouri address..NOPE...sent to the Bay City address. They told me that I can wait or I CAN PAY $10 TO GET A NEW ONE...um sorry...I have never had possession of the card...so I am NOT going to pay you MORE money to get the card I have been patiently waiting for...because I have less than 2 weeks to be moved and no longer at the address. They tried to tell me that the holidays make mail go slow...however Last Wednesday I sent out Holiday cards and people got them Friday...and I dropped them off at the last drop off time at the post office...so I find it very, very, extremely hard to believe Santa Mail has slowed the delivery of my precious card! I. NEED. MY. CARD! aaaah!

I wrapped presents today...some for Bryan some for my family some for his family...it gets hard to remember what is what...but I have very organized piles and even label what is a stocking...so hopefully it works out! It is also hard to imagine taking these presents in our car when we already have very little room for our own stuff!

I think I am beginning to believe in global warming. We are in Michigan...it has been at least 40 degrees out the past 3 days and there is absolutely NO fresh or accumulated snow in like 2 weeks...I am just going to go ahead and assume that the weather is going to just open up when we are getting ready to move...so packing the cars...driving 500 miles...and trying to just get home...the snow is going to punish us and I will never get to enjoy it :,(

#BeyondScaredStraight is on (from our DVR) and it is so intense and I just cannot concentrate!

7 Days and I am just ready to be done here...in reality it is a few more but in 7 days Bryan and I will be able to chill all day and get ready to leave MI and have some time to spend together before mayhem begins!

10, 9, 8 Days...

Weekends this next two weeks (and last weekend) are essentially all planned out for us. They're filled with Holiday Celebrations and last minute visits with people until we permanently move to Missouri and only use Michigan as a vacation state just as so many other people that I cannot stand in the summer...or on the slopes...(at least I will know where I am and also FOLLOW THE RULES OF SKIING!)

This past weekends family events included my younger Sister's formal graduation from Central Michigan University! YAY! However going to this pomp and circumstance event has only reinforced my good decision making of NOT participating in formal graduation. It is really not my taste to sit with hundreds of people that I do not know except for a sorority sister here, some other Greek mixed in the group with maybe 2 classmates...I would have had to pee the entire time because my bladder is smaller than a new born baby's and I would have had the urge to be texting everyone and possibly playing words with friends. Due to the two hour plus ceremony and driving back to the sorority house and getting all of Shannon's belongings my sister had to scurry to her Alternative Break Trip to Boston (it is a trip where she feeds and helps the poor, homeless whatever). So that left me, my mother, my step-dad and Bryan to eat dinner in a place that had very few people, was nice and had FOOD!

Sunday, after we finally woke up, yes, I got two days to sleep in...which is fabulous because I sincerely feel that anyone who PURPOSELY wakes me up super early EVERY weekend day every week has a seat reserved for them in the deepest, darkest, hottest circle in hell...I mean not to be a "bia" but sometimes you just need to sleep in and have a lazy day...

We decided that we would go to the outlet mall (we never went to the outlet mall) and go to downtown Detroit to get pastries (that we should not eat) from our FAVORITE bakery, Astoria in Greektown! om nom nom nom. We ate a couple of our favorite breweries (we split lunch between two places because we're awesome!), then we went to the "D" and got our sugar ladened goodies!! We somehow found our way to Somerset mall which is the most amazing mall not only in Michigan but probably one of the nicer ones in the continental US (it has an option to Valet park your car...). They have a "normal side" but the normal side is still very posh and filled with many awesome shops. THEN we crossed the beautiful skywalk that has people movers like they have at airports. It was just as pretty and awesome and even more beautifully decorated than the "normal side". The most exciting part of this extremely posh side of the mall is the home to Michigan's Tiffany & Co. I could have stood there all day frikin' staring at anything and everything that sparkled. They had small versions of the beautiful windows that they have displayed at the New York store! It was exciting and awesome and I was like a little kid in a super nice Toys 'R Us!

We made reservations for this Christmas Train ride at Crossroads Village which is a part of Genesee County Parks and Recreation. IT. WAS. AMAZING. The little village is so cute and amazing! The train is a restored one from like the 1860's and it was actually from the wild wild west!!! It was BEAUTIFUL! It even got Bryan in the Christmas Spirit...which he told me was impossible. We were both singing and having a great time! We even listened to Christmas music on our drive back to Bay City! It is one of those things that we will never forget and if we're around to go again we would totally do it! It. Was. Magical!! :)

I am not nervous about moving. I am more worried about how things will be when we actually live there for an extended period of time...not just 4 days. It is easy to think that it will be perfect...because living in Bay City has been nearly perfect..but who knows what Missouri will bring! In two weeks will be in Missouri...or at least almost to Missouri!

Terra Nova is on and it takes concentration to follow this show...WE. LOVE. THIS. SHOW...among many, many others!

11 Days...

With 11 days left all I can think about is getting the tears over when I leave my mom's house and when we leave the condo...and we get to Missouri and do not have to worry about if we reserved a rental or will make it on time for our return flight. Last night as we walked through the door the blaring TV had a news blip about busy holiday travel and that flights are getting backed up fast. My immediate reaction was a quick drop of the stomach and heart and an immediate "BRYAN DID YOU GET OUR TICKETS BACK FOR AFTER CHRISTMAS!?!?!" I obviously know that we are driving and not returning (well, immediately) but that is just what I am used to...so I am ready to be just in one place for, hopefully, a significant amount of time!

Slippers. I used to only wear them because I felt I had to wear them on Christmas when they were given to me...especially if they were ones that my Grandma made me..however any other day that was not Christmas you would not catch me wearing them. My feet are always sweaty, even in flip flops...like grossly sweaty...like it's summer and I have flip flops on and my feet have puddles under them making my flip flops slippery. Although right now my feet are still sweaty and gross...they are FREEZING...all of the time, so naturally I've been wearing my EMU slip-ons or my Gap booty sock things. It's weird. I think that I have caught Bryan's cold appendages...unfortunately. It's more clammy than cold...but still...I now have it.

Why are shows always so unrealistic. That's really all on that...but who literally goes for a roll in the hay? Hay is itchy...it makes me break out in hives. Barns typically do not smell the greatest...even if they're animal free...I love my stories that I watch...but they're so unrealistic...no wonder so many people in my generation act so strangely between Disney movies and all of these love story shows and reality programs they think they're gonna drink like snooki, fall in love like Cinderella and sing about EVERYTHING! lol

well...I just realized I NEED to watch Dexter...and apparently The Office, Parks & Rec, Community or Up All Night was NOT new last night...so I need to watch Dexter, go for another walk and then figure out WTF we 're going to (if we do anything)do for Shannon's Graduation...so...I gotta get on it!!! ALSO I need to go tanning (NEED!)

11 Days and I am so excited to move...I am tired of Bay City...I love Bay City...but I am 1. sick of my job 2. ready to live in a place a crazy woman does not own and 3. I want to have a home not just a temporary place of living.

12 Days...

This is what my life has become...sitting on this UGLY floral patterened couch, watching our FANTASTIC HD TV...stuffing my face with either lunch or carrots and GARLIC Hummus (all day long when I'm not eating real food like chili, leftovers, nuts or salad)

I just got done stuffing my face with River Rock Chili (om nom nom) and garlic bread, which is like nothing you can get anywhere else...and so now I am for THE FIRST TIME watching The Hangover Part II...which is a tragedy it so late because it is surely to late to put it on my Christmas list because I am sure it will be a movie I want to watch at least thirty-five to forty more times! Hopefully when I am officially in Missouri I will not have the time to watch the Hangover series hundreds of times over! (so far Hangerover two seems exactly like the original but in Thailand....)

Today I am not stressing, worrying about or whatever about moving. I am however sad about the fine eating establishments that we are leaviing behind in Bay City, MI...I mean that sounds absolutely ridiculous but they are SO SO SO SO GOOD! I know of ONE place well TWO places in St. Charles that are amazing...and I can only assume that there are more that are undiscovered to me! So at least I get to look forward to finding new places that are comparable (or better) to the ones in Bay City!

Every night I make pick dinner, I make dinner, I serve dinner, I pick up after dinner...knowing that we go out on Monday's to Latitude (when we're in Bay City) and that usually Thursday or Friday we go out again...WHY should I have to pick if we go out or where we go...I spend every other night making sure we have the ingredients for dinner, for lunch, for breakfast and then I choose what we will eat, I figure out how to make it and then I make it and then we eat it. I do not understand how it is difficult for someone ELSE to decide if we're eating in or out...

Bryan just called me to tell me he is on the road today for some project at work...which I appreciate because than at least I know he is not in Midland. However...when I ask about dinner why does it have to become a frustrating disagreement! So, NOW, because Bryan is grumpy pants because of work I get to pick because saying "well we won't eat" is a false statement because I cannot go three hours without eating...and dinner is my favorite meal and Bryan needs to eat dinner so that he can take his special pill that is supposed to fix his blood sugar...so I cannot even bluff! AND to top it off now I feel like an A-hole because Bryan was just calling to be nice!

Now I am just going to sit here, watch my movie, wrap presents so that they get done and then figure out dinner...as usual.

Today the only thing stressing me out is frikin' DINNER!!!!

13 Days...

I never thought that I would work at place that values stupidity more than the Deli I work at downstairs from the condo. They act like dicing meats and cheeses and neatly placing these cubes on a tray covered in decorative lettuce takes a degree in some form of culinary rocket science. I can guarantee you that it doesn't; common sense tells us this and my vast experience proves it (I have a simple Bachelor's degree in Education from Central Michigan University..NOT Rocket Science!) This was essentially the start to my day...because I of course, now, have very little to do within the walls of the condo. Another form of stupidity I work with is 19 and 20 year old's that make this job their careers and have no other lofty goals to obtain...working at this deli is it...I mean seriously if these were my goals in life I would want to go to the roof of the building and jump onto the fancy SUV's below. I could go on and on and on about how much stupidity surrounds this place of employment...but 1. it would take way too long (too much energy...) 2. Who really has not worked at a place that requires stupidity to be successful (yes, I believe at the deli the more stupid you are the more successful you will be in the eyes of our "boss")

I tracked down the rest of the needed addresses (all two of them) and filled out the envelopes and personalized each one to make it more festive...otherwise you're just stuffing an envelope with a card wal-mart printed out (and I spent 2.5 hours creating and deciding on) and making it very impersonal. While I realize many of my friends and family do this...I strive to be different and to make people feel important...it is probably whatever part of teacher is left in me...you find something about each person (or family in this case) and share it with them...I dont' know...Let's just say I will not and SHOULD not be writing for Hallmark anytime soon! I just hope that people enjoy the cards and feel special with the special personalization (LOL)

We LOVE and most likely should own stock in any seasoning that has the ingredient Garlic in it...we eat it on everything...EVERYTHING! Today I feel as though I used extremely too much as it is like almost, about 3 hours later and I am still drinking water like a camel that has been on an expedition for 3 weeks. We are currently trying to eat more veggies, more fruit, more whole grains and less carbohydrates. This makes creating meals easy but also difficult as EVERYTHING has carbs. Today we had chicken, yellow squash, zucchini, grape tomatoes and sliced carrots with lots, lots (too much) garlic (2 kinds) seasoning and finally mixed with a Philadelphia Creme Dinner mix...which also involved Garlic...so lots of garlic. Bryan said it was perfect, just right and that he wasn't lying (his words). I however have drank enough water for three people in the last 3 hours.

As a part of our quest to lead a healthier lifestyle we have started walking (more healthy than we already live...we already eat the same...I just add more veggies and use less regular pasta and now use whole grain, veggie filled pasta..lol). NOW if you know ANYTHING about Michigan you know that it will be sunny out, say that it is 35 out but then--you look at the "Feels Like:" area of the weather.com forecast and it says "Feels Like: 22" and surely no one in their right mind wants to go and walk..maybe ski, maybe sled, maybe snowmobile...but NOT GO RECREATIONAL WALKING! One can imagine that at night it is only colder (and they'd be right, it is!)...and it is much colder..the "Feels Like becomes closer to feels like 12 (that may be dramatic for today...but that is most likely what it is on any other given winter evening in MI).

With this obstacle of freezing weather and Bryan's lack of cold weather love that I have a sick passion for, we have started "Mall Walking". NO, we do not go in our matching yogging suits, NO, we do not swing our arms vigorously with each step, NO we do not get into like some of our senior counterparts that we watch while we walk--we do wear tennis shoes and we do have a routine...but we most certainly do not appear to be mall walkers until about our third lap around. I am just glad that we are out getting exercise after dinner. I go for walks during the day...but usually after dinner and doing the dishes I need to do something because otherwise I want to go to sleep!!! TRY MALL WALKING! :)

I am still excited to move. The more days I have to work downstairs the more excited I get to move and the more I want to move like within 24 hours of working because 1. that means I do not have to work there anymore and 2. I will hopefully get one of the new "REAL" jobs that I have been applying and phone interviewing for!

I now need to figure out if I am road tripping the Mazda down early so that we can drive only one vehicle after Christmas...but I am horrible at finding flights and Bryan has been too busy to do it for me (he is my Ask Jeeves of Southwest.com...so hopefully we get that locked up! :)

15, 14 Days...

Today I realized that the parking lot engineers do not have the same degree as someone who builds large skyscrapers! Parking lots are inherently dangerous...so why in the *heck* would you design one like someone who has never lived in America would!?! (like the one at Bay City's Walmart...or most other establishments in this town) There is not access drive to the road...but there is a fake intersection with stop signs and special lines... however you must cut through the entire frikin' parking lot to get to this stop sign that is the ONLY exit to this WHOLE, LARGE parking lot (that has WAY more than just the Super Walmart!) It is absolutely ridiculous and extremely, extremely dangerous as everyone(most people) drives like an a-hole in this town (as in most other towns...) SO, today moving did not stress me out...the frikin' Parking Lot did...AAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHH! I. Hate. Parking. Lots!...AND stupid drivers.

Today we also decided upon pictures for our Christmas card...it is the most Christmas'ee thing that we have done this year yet...they turned out pretty fabulous. That (creating the cards online) took up most of my day...so that was pretty great because I really did not want to do laundry or pack up Bryan's 100's of T-shirts and locate the UPS store. Currently I AM ATTEMPTING to get addresses...I of course have mine saved in my fancy address book on my computer which is also synced on my droid...however the addresses I must get for Bryan's friends I do not have...some I could find but TWO I cannot...and now I am done trying (after at least 20 frikin' long minutes)...white pages claims to be free but keeps taking me to their "sponsored site" RIDICULOUS!

Hopefully tomorrow I will get the cards sent out...meaning I must walk down the street to the post office...LOL

14 Days...plus Christmas and I will BE HOME! Finally!

18...17...16 Days...

So I am not going to "Journal" about my weekend...because it was pretty stressful and pretty fast. We left early Friday morning for Missouri where the house is...of course right now we live in Michigan and it is December and therefore it snowed (which we've been lucky because sometimes it starts in October...). I swear to f'ing the Spirit in the Sky that Michiganders forget how to drive in the snow even though most people have probably been doing it since they had their learner's permit...so it is BEYOND ME how people drive like such idiots in freshly fallen snow...it is quite irritating and it for sure brings my stress level up, up and up.

After the irritating, stressful and painful (I had to pee so bad for like 70 minutes that it physically hurt to stand, walk, and to pee...) We got through security very quickly with our A list tickets...however we were the very last people to board the plane...so we did not even sit next to one another...which was fine...because at this point I needed to be AWAY from Bryan and his grumpiness....

Of course I got an end row seat...whatever. HOWEVER...I was sitting next to a gentleman and his wife...and yet he leaned away from her and encroached on my space. This of course pissed me off...why do you need to have your elbow in my rib? I pushed and pushed to get my own space and after he told his wife that I was rude and should have paid for two seats I just looked at him and jabbed him in the funny bone...seriously. Eff you dude...I paid for a whole seat...not a seat where i have to lean into the isle and get hit every five seconds by people walking and dilly dallying about! SO THAT SUCKED!

Thankfully I had downloaded "Sucks to Suck" so I had something to read and made sure to jab him harder when I was quietly laughing at my hilarious reading material...there was an especially fabulous part about cat crazy ladies and I just lost it...and he probably has bruises!

SO the point of going "home" within four days was because Bryan needed to have a follow up for his ER trip on Thanksgiving...we went to a Doctor a half hour away (at least) because it is his whole family's Doctor...we must have went in with high expectation of awesomeness because we did not really like her. Bryan can choose to have her be his general doctor...but I will find someone 1. closer and 2. who is running 45 minutes late and treating me like I am some fatty fat fat person who does not know how to lead a healthy lifestyle. She did not sit down with Bryan and explain the medicine she was prescribing, or ask us about our eating habits or lifestyle choices...she just said drink less, eat less, and shove this pill down your throat. I guess I had a spoiled life in the medical field growing up...but I feel all doctors that I have seen after being a sheltered child of Greenville, MI have taken the time to explain things to me, ask me questions and get to know me a little bit so that can try to understand why I am sick or how I can get better. So, that was quite the experience and I for sure am not driving there when there are 100's of hospitals between St. Charles and the STL...

Fortunately for us on the trip back we once again had to pass the awesome mall...I do not know the name yet...but I do know it is awesome and that they have both a Nordstroms and a Macy's and that the Victoria Secret is the largest one I have ever seen in my life. After using a VS coupon, getting an iphone charger...I learned that bryan is not "cool enough" for the apple store. I almost died laughing in the middle of the mall. I tried to explain to him that no one is cool enough for the applestore but what makes it so overwhelming is that there are about 20 more "apple workers" than actual customers...and none of them are Geniuses I learned from overhearing a conversation...so why the hell are there so many of these people milling about in Red Apple shirts? I had to force myself from touching every single Apple toy there was...because...besides the iPhone I like all of their other products and own most of them...but older versions! lol Sadly..I do prefer my Motorola Android to Bryan's iPhone...but whatever...

I still do NOT understand the frikin' smoking laws in Missouri...it has always been and always will be beyond me as to why ANYONE would want to smoke while they eat...and why it is an issue to go smoke outside...I mean honestly smoking in an establishment is absolutely disgusting...I mean I do not want to smell your effin' second hand smoke...I want to enjoy my food and not have my throat close off because I am allergic to cigarette smoke...it makes it super hard to eat my food...or rather taste it. I understand that people have the right to smoke...but I should have the right to enjoy my food without smelling and tasting smoke...because I make the choice not to smoke. WHATEVEr. I have to get used to it because only in St. Louis County (the next county over) can I enjoy eating without dying...I am so spoiled by these posh Michigan laws bahaha.

I really just wanted to stay and not come back to Michigan this past weekend. I am getting tired of getting all ready to be in St. Charles just to have to get in the rental and get back on the stupid plane. It is crazy that I do not want to come back to the Mitten but...the traveling is just crazy and I am ready to start living without putting myself on hold...mostly meaning a job...and trust me...it gets depressing and lame sitting up in this fancy pants condo...but seriously...I cannot wait to at least have a house to put together.

Well, gLee is on....and that means nothing else in the world exists...I mean clearly it is the recording...but this is the only time I have found to dedicate to gLee...and well...even though they are about the same as every episode ever...I still love it!

The only thing that has stressed me out is being in limbo between two places...oh and Bryan's frequent grumpiness...but whatever...hopefully day 15 is good...

19 Days...

Well..Once again today...19 Days left and 24 days until Christmas...I felt horrible...so...that was just a fan-f***ing-tabulous start to my day...it was just awesome.

After I decided to be motivated with life and try to accomplish stuff on my check list for moving (get a bank account, get proof of address for a new license, get PAID from my fake job...)

I first tackled getting paid...because it is f***ing ridiculous to have to wait and wait and wait to get paychecks...well cash under the table because apparently I am not worth putting on payroll...because apparently it is too difficult...which I know it is not since I used to assist with payroll at Blimpie...but he treats me like I am brainless and that this place takes a degree in rocket science to work at (by the way it doesn't...the "manager" is 19 and doesn't finish classes at Delta...) I got my money documented everything and went back up to the bed and died for a couple hours..mostly just watching some southpark online and feeling like crap.

THEN I got up...and decided it was time to go and get a new bank account that will work in Missouri...well St. Charles...and it is mostly online and on my phone that I have to pay so much for services that I might as well use it for EVERYTHING absolutely possible! I went to PNC and started to open account...the lady was nice but TALKED AND TALKED AND TALKED.. I really was not in the mood...but you gotta be nice to the people who store and manage your money...but I unfortunately had to leave and go back because I only had one legal form of ID so I had to go back which subjected me to another hour of senseless chatter...I just wanted to cry because I was 1. tired and 2. really did not feel that well.

Once I finally walked out of the bank with my precious orange folder I decided it was time to go tanning...because that of course is my solution to stress...tanning or drinking and since drinking has been out...tanning was my only choice..I also took a basket of stuff to Goodwill and went to Hallmark to get the snoopy for our peanuts band and a cute countdown to Christmas thingy...it is so cute! SO after my dose of Vitamin D...goodwilling to others and shopping I proceeded to my old bank to put money in because I still have a card there..and if you know me I cannot live without my card...and of course the bank is RIGHT next to the mall where there is Target and Old Navy...so that resulted in some shopping...but Tis' the season for buying stuff for other people when it is ON SALE!!!

I did not really feel stressed about moving today..just concerned that I will never have enough money to upgrade my account like a baller...but that is just negative thoughts because I HATE trying to find a job!

Besides feeling ill..almost seasick 19 days left was good...

20 Days...

20 Days and all I can think about is why can we not just be done...minus the fact that I am going to be missing frikin' PRIME ski season time...but those are the sacrifices you have to make for true love I suppose (*barf*) LOL

We had our first snow of the season. I of course thought that it was beautiful, amazing, exciting, fluffly, simply gorgeous; Bryan did not...I think that I saw a tear... With the first snow (and frozen rain and slush) comes intense car scraping...I live with a stubborn person who would rather park out in a public parking lot than in our EMPTY garage. I woke up as usual, went downstairs made his grits, made his healthy lunch, and prepared his vitamin, mountain dews, and well whatever else...THEN being the caring, awesome, girlfriend that I am I pulled on my boots and my coat and my mittens and took our kitchen broom and tried my darndest to de-snow and de-ice the Jeep...my attempt was less than a success but did make the car legal to drive down the expressway to Midland...

I ate breakfast and checked my internets and suddenly had this intense feeling of sickness..like the spins, the pukes and whatever else...I felt horrible and it made me NEVER want to be pregnant. I get "morning sickness" frequently (NO, I have no bun in the oven) and I never enjoy it and it makes my whole day tired and off...SO I died in our bedroom watching South Park until I had to get ready to go to my stupid, high school, lame job that I hate.

I still have not been paid and I only got 3.5 hours this week...so it is not really a job..I spend more time doing laundry and making dinner than I do working...so this job is just not even a job...I mean it is technically the WORST job I have EVER frikin' had...I hope I get the job at Community Living in St. Peters, MO because I am so ready to have a real job that I make a salary and not piddley money!

I have the task of finding a bank that exists and is located not only in Missouri but in St. Charles. Unfortunately 5/3 does not exist really in the MO...just in the Gateway City (STL) and that is NO good for me...because driving in STL is as bad or worse than driving in Detroit during rush hour! So BYE BYE 5/3 that I have had an account at since I was like 16...It's been a good run! The problem I am having is so many banks charge a fee if you do not have x amount of money in it you get charged y...and for me..why the heck should I pay for my bank...SO as of today...I have chosen PNC...the sign up application is quite lengthy and require my license number and something about taxes that even Bryan doesn't know what it is...so hopefully I do not falsify an application to open a bank account...

Like I said...today the only thing I stressed about was MISSING ALL OF MY PRECIOUS, BELOVED SKI SEASON...I will probably only get to go like two weekends...and that is only if I am lucky! I have been going at least 4 times a month for 3 years...FML! LOL but I guess living and being with Bryan is better than skiing...I GUESS (because I doubt he would say living with me is better than like the Cardinals...LOL JK)

Day 20 is over and I am excited to be in the teens...because that means it will be almost Christmas and that even though we will still be in MI we will be celebrating the Holidays and enjoying our last days in the mitten AND I WILL GET TO SKI!

21 Days...

Today was just hot mess outside...actually a cold, wet, icy mess...but you get the picture!

I went down to get my paychecks today...which apparently I get paid in cash (which, by the way, is illegal...) and in two weeks I have worked 32 hours at $7.40 so that is like $266.80 and today I went downstairs and was handed $40..so about 16%...that is complete bullsh**...and I am pretty sure the department of labor would NOT be too happy to know that 1. an employee is not being paid and 2. the employee is illegally being paid under the table. SO to say the least I was pretty angered as I had planned to go buy stuff with my own money and not Bryan's...but oh, well...I never went...which is probably okay lol

I was very unmotivated to do anything today...maybe it was the weather...maybe it was the feeling hungover (I have not had a drink in like 2 weeks) or maybe it was just that it is depressing to sit in this empty, ugly condo when I know I could be home (in MO) doing significant projects in our house...

I never really thought about moving today...I am actually looking forward to it these days...I am sick of working a janky butt job and sick of constantly being everywhere...I am ready to be in just ONE place (hopefully we get to just stay in one place...)I will miss being in Michigan and miss being so close to my friends and family but I am excited to just perhaps have a nice job, have a nice house to live in and have some stability in schedule and friends and just LIFE!

On the topic of jobs...I had a lengthy conversation with a prospective employer and I feel that it went positive...I am not getting my hopes too up...but it is exciting to know that it may not be as difficult to find a good job as I was anticipating in another state that does not accept my teaching degree...so yay on that because I am tired of having nothing to do except look good ;) (and do laundry and cleaning and making dinner and grocery shopping and packing and preparing a weekly flexible menu...)

Today while reading my tweets...which I do every morning...I go to bed quite early because that is just our schedule... I miss what goes on in the world when normal people are awake...ANYWAYS...I ramble. I am feeling bad for one of my sorority sisters. Now, I cannot say that we are besties or that we have spent a significant amount of time together..but a sister is a sister and we are forever bound together by ritual, letters and sisterhood. She is recently engaged and it is a whirlwind romance (I think that it is very movie worthy...just sayin') I totally get the whirlwind romance and although mine is going on a different path...I understand that you want support from friends and family and that ultimately YOU HAVE TO DO WHAT MAKES YOU HAPPY! I feel bad for her because (by reading tweets) she has been getting negative feedback and unsupportive vibes from friends and probably sisters. I hope that people start to respect her choices and her new life...because it is HER life...not theirs! I am proud of her for doing what makes her happy and for working her hardest to deal with the negativity I wish her the best of luck and I hope that they (her and her fiance') truly live happily ever after--that is all any of us deserve!

So now I have to go get laundry started so it looks like I have done something successful today and get dinner kind of started...I never know when it needs to be exactly ready so alls I can do is prepare...like a girl scout! Day 21 has been stress free...minus my stupid "boss"!

22 Days...

Today I was not stressed about moving but rather when I am going to work...and when we did FINALLY receive our schedules for the week (3pm on Monday) I found that I only work one slow shift all week...so essentially I should have just stayed home (in MO) and worked on our little projects (like de-fraternity housing the walls--beer signs everywhere...but they're old, classic and stylish..but for our awesome 60's bar in our sweet basement!)

Like I said in the previous post there is not too much moving stuff to be stressed about...it is stressful that I will have to get used to some new things and figure out like how to get a license and how to get my car all set for missouri (you cannot live in MO with a car that is leased from MI...so I need to buy my lease out since that is what Bryan says is best..lol)

I am stressing about finding a new job...it has been a struggle in the Mitten...so I can only imagine what it is going to be like in another state...but I have had a few good leads and fingers crossed I actually get one of these jobs...because I am 1. bored sitting at home and 2. need to contribute financially...even though I do all of the housework..ALL OF IT!

SO...the stress is more just lots of worries today...I feel way more relaxed now that I have a place for my stuff..or at least see that there are potential places for my and our stuff...it has just been a lot of work because the house was quite full...and we have been working on getting it well, less full!

Hopefully tomorrow is the same...I am doing research on why it would be good for us to have a dog...and I am going to make an actual presentation...kind of like that commercial on TV...however I do not think that my results will be as successful as the young boy on the commercial...also I have a mac...not a windows' cloud pc 7 or whatever it is!!! lol

Days 27, 26, 25, 24, 23

OH. MY. It has been a LOOOOONG, STRESSFUL, FUN, UNIQUE 4 or 5 days. I literally never had time to "blog" and when I had extra "free time" it would have been inappropriate to be on my phone or the iPad...

ALSO! I officially, technically live in St. Charles, Missouri in a cute, adorable, awesome house with Bryan...I just now have to see if they'll let me get a new license so I can be an actual resident! lol It is so nice to live in a real house and have a real house that I can do things to!

let's see...Day 27 Well...Bryan was still sick...I woke up and raked leaves so when the yard people come to OUR house they will be able to suck them up...because I had high doubts that they would go through our car port...IT. WAS. BEAUTIFUL OUT! This was probably one of the last gorgeous days I will get to see...but I am a Michigander and seeing a 73 degree day at the end of November is quite an experience! I decided that it was finally time to unload the flippin' Uhaul that I just drove for 10 hours and packed less than 12 hours early...I was enjoying the weather and the sunshine so I just opened up the Uhaul and started making piles for Bryan and I to take in (Bryan tried to help...but he was NOT looking too good...)

We got everything into the house...most things that were in the basement pile went to the basement...and somethings just needed to wait until we could make homes for it...which...was a bit challenging in some cases because Bryan (this is joking) is a hoarder and should be on an A&E special...LOL

This day still seems kind of like a blur...I was pretty much exhausted still from driving across three states and in a uhaul and in the rain...yes, it POURED rain the entire 542 miles! We did get rid of the uHaul with our friend Matt and went and got the rental car since both of our cars were the Mitten. We went to MY FAVORITE ST. CHARLES ESTABLISHMENT, Tubby's which is pretty much a bowling alley dive...but the steaks are amazing...beef and butter...two of my favorite ingredients! I was supposed to go out with some of our friends...but I passed out on the couch watching 5 minutes of TV...so I just decided not to feel bad because I was obviously beyond tired!

Day 26 TURKEY DAY!
It is amazing how different people celebrate holidays...I am learning this a lot from Bryan's family as most of my friends celebrate similar to my family...I also learned that in Missouri they call lunch dinner and dinner supper...so I am always just confused! so Thanksgiving Dinner was served at like 11:45..I was so hongry and so ready to just eat!!! It was just like any other Thanksgiving dinner...family, food, cranberries! After we got all of the dishes put away and ate up dessert...there was a significantly large conversation that Bryan should go to urgent care/er to go get his noggin and well sickness looked at....I'd been trying to get him to do this for about 2 days...so I had my doubts and I refuse to force someone to go to the doctor if they do not want to...unless they are a child or a bone is sticking out....

We ended up driving back east to St. Clair Hospital (it was very churchy...) and got to the parking lot of the ER/Urgent care sat in the parking lot and he decided we would come back if it was still bad...we drove almost all of the way back to 70 Bryan decided we should go back and get him checked out...I was fit to be tied...but sometimes you just have to go with it...especially when someone is sick...and let me tell you...men are super needy when they're sick...I can only hope that I can be so needy when I am sick...but I find it hard to do that...because I always feel that I have to be moving!

Bryan ended up just have high blood sugar...super duper high blood sugar..which is not good..but at least it was not like a brain tumor or bleeding on the brain...which were all things that Bryan thought was wrong with him! So, he has to go back to the doctor for a check up but I am still (today) doubting he will go...maybe...

We went to Walmart which was a frikin' mistake...crazy people were wondering the aisles or standing in ridiculous lines...we saw pallets all around with shrink wrap around them and signs saying when they would open so the crazies could get their special deals...people are so crazy...we somehow managed to find ourselves a dvd player that did not get us trampled and got some stuff to make a healthy but quick dinner...we went home, watched movies, ate food and passed out camping on the floor... So we had an eventful and unique Thanksgiving!

Day 25...BLACK FRIDAY

We did not wake up to go shopping...we did not even wake up until like 10am...everyone (all two of us) was exhausted and obviously in need of rest...I got up...went down the road to IGA got some food for lunch and for breakfast the next day..so just some SILK and Honey Nut Cheerios. I had to clean the kitchen up a bit from our dinner to be able to prepare lunch...we ate...watched TV and then I got Bryan to go through the hallway closets which were filled with stuff no person needs to save lol. We had 7 years of Playboys to move....I have no idea why they were saved...but I think Bryan just has a hard time throwing things away...

I got one of the closets organized and filled with our bathroom extras, meds, and other things. I feel horrible because we have to use pink sparkly drawers...but it makes it organized and clean! Bryan even told me it was okay because no one should be looking into our closets! LOL So now we have one empty closet awaiting it's stuff...which will most likely be linens and maybe my jewelery boxes or I have no idea...it is just nice to have space that is clean and can be organized! We got the rest of the close closet in our bedroom cleaned out and I got rid of ALL metal hangers... I detest them and they are not allowed in our house! LOL So I got my closet at least hung up...we still ahve to get our seasonal stuff to the den..but the den closet is filled with unused hangers!!! It will all come together eventually!

So Day 25 was all spent cleaning, organizing OH and we went and ate at our favorite Mexican Restaurant, El Maguey!

Day 24 I spent a lot of time getting the trash into the car...because we had to clean out the expired foods from the cupboard and fridge...there was a significant amount...so we had lots of trash to say the least! It was raining, cold and this is what the whole day was forcasted to do! I kept getting more and more excited the less and less that we had in the house and the more open space that we had! It is takes so much time to do it and I was pretty stressed at how little seemed to be getting done...but it was more than I gave myself credit for...

We went downtown to eat and it was and still is Old Time Christmas days. Lunch at R.T. Wilers was of course AMAZING and the best part of the whole weekend and that day was that as we were walking in the drizzle back to our car that Chuck the Budweiser Clydesdale was out for picture op! IT. WAS. AWESOME. I got to pet him and stand next to him! It was so cool! We went back home and cleaned and organized...we warmed up leftovers and just chillaxed in our house!

Day 23 TRAVEL DAY :,(

We had to wake up early to get to the airport. For being the Sunday after Thanksgiving it was not busy at Hertz...we did have a colorful driver who was essentially cussing out the Hertz rental staff! The airport was the airport and I hate being there and security is a pain...it was super depressing yesterday because I just wanted to stay and organize and get the house super perfect...but there could be work and Bryan is still sick and needs someone to cook and watch him! The flight was quick as usual and the drive was painful as usual...when you get to the airport you're at the point where you just want to be "home". Before we could go back to the condo we had to go to Meijer to get food that will be healthy for us to eat and possibly assist in lowering Bryan's blood sugar...so we got lots of fruits and veggies, whole grains and just healthy stuff. We finally got back and I just had to clean and organize...I was exhausted and wanted to go crash but groceries had to be put away, fridge needed some cleaning out of older food and food had to be made. Bryan tried to help but 1. it is hard to have two people doing things in the kitchen and 2. he still didn't feel good so I felt bad putting him to work. It was frustrating that I got to the condo and had to clean and organize and put laundry away...but it had to be done ... we ate a good dinner had a snack of carrots and hummus and watched some of our stories!

It was a long week...but it was fun and a lot was accomplished. Now that 97% of my stuff is moved I am less stressed about that...now it is just stress trying to see everyone and get everything done for getting a license and trying to know if I am ever going to work...because now it is Monday at 9am and we still do not have a work schedule!

28 days...

I just got to Missouri...it is 1:48am MO time...so 2:48 MI time...let me tell you...driving 10 fliplin' hours in a uhaul, in the rain, through construction in 3 entire states....with someone who is/was ill is NOT FUN...NOT AT ALL.

Today I packed a uhaul, drove a uhaul and tomorrow or rather later today will unpack a uhaul...I. hate. The. Uhaul.

I did not stress over moving today...because...moving stressed me out in real life...not a thinking about it life....

Hopefully by tomorrow my forearms and wrists are normal and I can feel my back...

I am over moving today!

29 Days...

Today was not at all what I had imagined it being...but..life is an adventure...so whatever!

I planned on vegging out, working out, cleaning up and packing the rest or our stuff for the uhaul...but I ended up driving to Detroit to pick up Bryan so he could leave the Jeep at the airport and because apparently now has the flu...so not only did I get t o drive for 4 long hours I got to deal with a 37 year old baby...

We did accomplish picking up the uhaul in Saginaw so now tomorrow I can pack it up and we can hopefully leave and get a head start to Missouri!

I had plenty of time to think about moving but I was frustrated that I didn't get to do my plan and that I had to drive in horrible traffic to and from Detroit.  I got actually excited when we picked up the truck...but I know we're coming back on Sunday and that this is just stuff leaving Michigan...not me!

Now I am sitting on the floor watching tv because I can only assume that Bryan is riddle with germs and.disease...so I am separating myself as much as I can without being extremely rude!

So for now I am excited for the uhaul in the parking lot and packing tomorrow and I guess moving...the day count has changed...bc now we are apparently staying in Michigan for the holiday...but the 21st is still when we are free to leave Bay City and go go go!!!!

30 Days.......

WOW! well, today I spent a lot of time cleaning up beer bottles and cans...and other random trash. I suppose that is what I get for staying home and NOT going to the Lions game lol. It is also what I get for being a pretty awesome girlfriend and hostess.

In my time of peace and quiet and some cleanliness. I found that I have fallen in love with the show Grimm. I thought it was going to be a total bust...but it is actually quite intersting and like True Blood it has become quite addictive. I now will have to watch the other fairy tale themed show that is going to be on ABC (I think...) THIS IS WHY WE CANNOT NOT HAVE CABLE IN MISSOURI...how will I watch my stories!!! lol

Today, again, I had very little time to think about the move...even though in less than two days we will be packing up the uhaul to move the majority of our (my) belongings. BUT I still think it will not be terrible until we move move for reals!

I kept myself busy today...even though I had imagined to use the day to relax and enjoy even MORE time to myself...

FIRST, after watching my new favorite show, I drove over to Shepherd...so pretty much Mount Pleasant an went to this facial lotion foot party at my "Big Sister's" house. It was really fun, quite chill and I got to spend some time with a few of my faves which is always fun! We had a nice time being in a at home spa and talking! I will definitely miss the fact that I am within 2 hours of all of my friends that I love to spend time with! I keep telling myself that Missouri is not that far away and that we have or rather Bryan has many, many, many, many frequent flyer miles. Even though I know that I will not be back much, it is comforting to know that there is always the possibility to visit!

Second! I went and visited my FAVORITE HALL DIRECTOR EVER. Bill O'Dell of course. He is the person who is always there to chit chat with about Greek Life, real life and future dreams. Bill is the person you can count on for a quick visit that lets you leave feeling that you are just going back upstairs to your R.A. room and that you'll see him tomorrow. Bill has had quite the semester and I sincerely wish him the best for everything going on! Bill was always there for me in college and most likely still will be there for me always. It is so important to me that I have such a great, older friend that cares about my life and is interested in staying in touch for all of the years to come. I sincerely hope that Bill comes to visit us in MO because not only do I love seeing and spending time with him, he is AMAZING at doing home improvement and would give me fabulous ideas on how to improve our great little house!

I tried the new Chinese restaurant just down the street and I was dissapointed in what I was served. I will try it again because most likely Bryan will want to, so I am willing to go and try NOT chicken...it was just like in balls of meet and the sauce was too thick and too not orange sauce enough. I am always willing to try something again if I feel there is potential!

Now, I am sitting here writing what I am assuming is a pointless blog and watching Animation Domination on Fox...by myself. After this I am going to look for student life and resident life positions at the local colleges in Missouri...I had the thought of perhaps spending my money for extra schooling on continuing on with an Educational Leadership Degree...I love all of the careers in that bracket and would probably actually be pretty good at it!

I miss Bryan so I have to keep myself busy. He is at work all of the time, but it is so lonely when it is night and we should be camping out in the living room watching our stories, drinking some beer or his specialty drink and having some good cuddle time. BUT, it is a true fact that he needs to spend times with his friends without me and I need to get better at sharing...I think.

ALSO I think that I am losing hair on my hairline from the weird things I have on my scalp...so that is pretty weird and gonna be pretty unattractive if it continues...I never understand why I have so many weird and painful ailments!

30 DAYS YAY!!!!!!!

31 Days

Today I had no time to really think about moving..UNTIL I talked on the phone with my Mom..she always somehow manages to bring up the fact that I am moving and that life will never be the same as we know it (that is of course only 5% more dramatic than it really comes out of her mouth)

WE ACTUALLY GOT TO SLEEP IN TODAY! Essentially Bryan works ALL of the time, Saturday, Sunday, Mondays at 11PM when the buildings flood...so it was amazing to go to bed late, wake up late, lounge around and do nothing and then get ready just to go eat lunch an hour away. It was pretty fabulous.

We had a nice lunch some brews and some good talk about WHERE we will be on what days for the holidays...VERY COMPLICATED! Very.

Me being the person with the LEAST Holiday spirit 2 months before the holiday...I mean come on..Downtown Bay City has been decorated since BEFORE Halloween. I tried to GET INTO THE HOLIDAY SPIRIT by going Christmas ornament shopping for family. I usually make or buy them some sort of Holiday trinket that can be cherished for years and years to come and yadda yadda. I decided "oh, hey, Bronnors Christmas World is just on the way home!" so I stop...I swear to you that it was busier than Disney World on Mickey's Birthday. People were aimlessly walking around amongst the thousands and thousands of decorations...WHICH ARE LABELED and SORTED INTO CATEGORIES...so it is beyond me how people CANNOT find what they are looking for...using the flippin' map that you get handed 4 of when you walk through your entrance and FOLLOW IT. I am quite certain that many people in the general public are just ignorant/stupid and refuse to use the organ that is placed in their head...

ANYHOW. I found the very specific and special ornaments for the people that I needed them for. I also bought a Santa key because our house in Missouri is NOT equipped with a chimney or fireplace so how will I get my presents? lol. As I was making my way from the abyss of the store to the cashier's station in the south end exit I was still just flabbergasted by the amount of people just wondering around, not paying attention to the fact they were hitting small children and full grown adults with their half of a mini cart. I am sure I looked like a scrooge with my horrified and disgusted looks...but just because it is ALMOST the holiday season DOES NOT mean that you have the right to wondering around being inconsiderate to your fellow man!

I made it out of the store and I immediately was thinking of the route to get to a bar...unfortunately to turn left out of Bronner's was worse than trying to navigate through the Christmas Crazed customers. I decided it was safer and most likely quicker to just head home.

Going to Meijer to get the forgotten groceries and gas was of course just another, fabulous experience...

I am tired of Christmas Music and I have been for two weeks..it is not even Thanksgiving yet!!!!

Bryan's friends came over from MO and we ate dinner at Zehender's in Frankenmuth, went out in Old Downtown Bay City and then went to Midland Street...it was quite the experience of people watching.

Now, as I am finishing this they are sitting around discussing the game tomorrow and Bryan is, of course, sleeping...lol

Hopefully tomorrow is as stress free as today!

32 Days...

So...as of today and the current plan (things can always change with Bryan's work...) is to be moved or rather, on the road in 32 days.

Am I nervous? Heck yes. Am I worried about being more alone there than I have been this year? Yes, I mean who would not be worried about being hundreds of miles away from friends and family. Am I afraid of living Bryan's life and not mine? TOTALLY.

It is hard to be the person moving to a place and a home that the other person has an established group of friends, their family and their way of life. I will of course be included...but it is scary.

It is hard to move where there will be very little room/time to make new friends that are my age and share in the interests that the circle of friends I will inherit will be interested in. It is very difficult to be a 24 something year old in a world of people who are married and have families...who do not like loud, bumpin' clubs, who worry about if their child is behaving the sitter or allowing Grandma to have a relaxing night, who have bed times to follow and must eat dinner by 6 or the world will crumble...(that's dramatic...but seriously...kid schedules are INSANE and rule everyone's world around them!)

It is difficult to be the only person floundering around trying to find what they want to do with their lives...teaching in MI was a bust and it will require more schooling in MO...everyone else in "our" group has a steady job and will not be changing anytime soon. I'm 24 I am supposed to have time "figure out life" and to do the best for me...But I feel this makes me look not only like a gold digger and lazy S.O.B. but like a failure...WHICH IS UNACCEPTABLE!

WHAT ARE THE POSITIVES? Well, despite the above long list of worries, complaints and whines, there are many great opportunities that will just take some time to get used to.

Although I am individual who hates change, almost to a debilitating level (I came home and cried because our landlord moved the furniture, moved our kitchen stuff, touched our bed spread and sprayed nasty old lady smelling chemicals...) I work very hard at embracing, accepting and working with change. I know sometimes change cannot be controlled...but this HUGE change in lifestyle and well, location is MY choice and no one else's...but somehow I am still stressed...so finding the positives is what is keeping me sane and ready to move...

1. In such a crazy short time I have fallen head over heals for this guy (he has also fallen head over heels) who happens to be from the Show Me State. He has a fabulous job that can keep us in the STL or can move us all over the country year after year and he has no say in what happens (I hope the next project is the one in Hawaii...that'd be a great move!). Point being...if I still had a teaching job we could not stay in Michigan...because who's job should we follow..the unstable teacher or the stable Clayco job...I can teach most anywhere or make do with any stupid, piddly part-time job. I will move anywhere he does...because I know if roles were reversed he would do the same. We share so many interests and LOVE spending every minute we can together. I'd say it's worth moving anywhere and everywhere to be with the one person who completes you and accepts you.

2. It's an adventure to live somewhere else. Even though I have been there many, many, many times in the past 9 months it will still be new and different for me. There is only so much you can do when you're there for three days and the limited time is spent visiting everyone like: traveling to the farm, working on the farm, hangin' with friends, and maybe having time to paint and clean and prepare the house for a new life. although I have been there there's so much to still experience. So, I am excited to go there and have time to experience everything that there is! (and perhaps I will have a small dog to explore with!!! YAYYYY!) LOL

3. It will be fun to try to find a job or to figure out what I can do with a unusable teaching degree. Afterall, I've been applying for jobs for three months...so hopefully something will work out and come to be a reality! So although I DETEST the job hunt and just did it in MI...I kind of look forward to finding something in MO. I feel there are so many options and that I will FIND the one thing that is better than teaching...or equal to it!

4. I am excited to work on the house. The house is awesome. It is better than anything I could have imagined. It is cute and retro and ready to be loved (Bryan has failed to love it... he has only shown it like...LOL). It will be fabulous to create something that is ours and that is what we would like to live in. We want to have a place to live, love and grow and to entertain our friends and family. The backyard already has a dog fence that is perfect for the mini pet I will be allowed to get...SO that is all taken care of! ;) I love the feeling of accomplishment we get with our first time paint jobs and re-decorating of a room--we may not be awesome at it but we are learning and as we create and the end product will be amazing!

5. I look forward to the time that we get to spend with Bryan's good friends, Bryan's Family and the time we get to spend having my family and friends come over and see my new life outside of the watery mitten. I am excited to see what things we do with our friends and families and the other people that we pick up on the way!

There are so many worries that I have been struggling with the last two months...my hopes are that in the next 32 days (preferably earlier) that they go away or are more at peace...I am sure this is an impossible feat! It will be a bittersweet moment when we pack up what will remain at the condo, hop into our cars and start heading West to Missouri. There will be tears and probably a HUGE ball of worry and sadness but what will lie ahead on I-70 is a great adventure!